Our three months of European touring are nearly complete. Two of our children have been over to visit their mission fields and acted as our guides and interpreters in Holland and Spain. And we took leave for two weeks to meet a new grandson in Seattle. It has been exciting, interesting and exhausting...all at the same time! What a marvelous blessing it has been to see what we have seen and do what we have done. If not for the upcoming mission we would surely feel like unprofitable servants. Each Sunday we find church meetings and on special days we find a temple. This level of worship is not the same as having a calling, home teaching or compiling a ward newsletter. We will surely be ready to return home on the 21st.
ENGLAND & WALES
June 11th - 20th, 2011
Cornwall, Somerset, Devon - English countryside
A week of incredible B&B's...picturesque, hedge mazes, manicured gardens, lush green pastures, turn of the century estates, working dairy farms and family cottages.
Lane checks out this fascinating computerized milking machine. Most amazing is,
the cows walk themselves into the stall, then the machine attaches and detaches itself.
He studied it for a good hour and then went outside to moo with the cows.
Each morning we awoke to a beautiful table set
with linens, fine china, fresh fruit, juices,
a selection of cereals & yogurts, brown or white
toast, and a selection of preserves & local honey
plus a
Full English Breakfast
always bacon, fried egg, sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes & fried bread
A short road trip delivered us to Land's End
...the extreme southwestern tip of England.
Later, we spent an afternoon in Plymouth...the "Mayflower Steps"
played some ipad games and...
loved this scenic view of the lighthouse.
The charm of the week included proper cornish pasty,
vicious seagulls, the underbelly festival, graveyard
searches for the oldest headstone, 15th century
museums and a resident ghost. But most importantly,
fish-n-chips with vinegar!!!
But the real attraction of touring the English countryside...it is Lane's mission field.
A blast from the past!
We drove past some of his apartments, tracting areas,
meeting houses and several notable other church houses.
Salisbury Cathedral ~ coincidentally during
it's annual flower festival. Hurrah!
and Winchester Cathedral, burial place of Jane Austen.
(It was closed for a memorial service.)
Lane made certain to cross paths with the Burgess family; the momma and all three adult children - two in northern Wales, one in central Wales and another in Southampton, England. Elder Howell and his companion tracted out this family on a rainy evening 43 years ago. (Pictured below is Lane with Steve in front of the former Burgess family home.)
From the faithful Burgess family there have been
10 temple weddings and 9 missionaries.
Gail & Steve, parents of 4 amazing children, hosted us for an overnight stay. It was great fun to reminisce and hear about their family and to feel of their appreciation for the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Lane asked what attracted Steve, at age 15, to be baptized. His answer surprised us. Steve said that he rebelled into the church. Because his father chose NOT to go to church, Steve did! That simple. And he has been a stalwart follower ever since.
We dipped back into WALES to find the youngest of the Burgess family. Gillian could only see us on the job so we sat with her over a sack lunch. We were all surprised by a visit from one of her lovely twin daughters. Gill and Greg have raised 6 fun-loving and accomplished children. The last time we saw Gillian was in Salt Lake City, 1999.
Enroute back to London this sign practically spoke to us.
Carmarthen, Wales...birthplace of Carolyn's
GGG grandparents William Butler and Ann Morris
We capped off the week with 2 plays in London; Billy Elliot and Pygmalion.
and a session in the London Temple.
Saved the best for very last!
After weeks and weeks of travel we are filled with weariness and excitement.
By the time some of you read this, we will be in Salt Lake City.
We love you, Mom & Dad
Lane & Carolyn
