Lunch with the MP

President Renn and Sister Deanne Patch invited us to lunch today.  We went to the Chef's Table.  Owner/Chef Kent Anderson was there to meet and greet us at the door and he seated us himself and stayed to visit & to wish us well.   The Patch's are friendly, very nice, and easy to be with.  They are very comfortable to be with and put us immediately at ease.  We spent time getting to know each other and sharing information and tips about London, some they know and some we've had passed along to us from missionaries who are serving there or who are newly released RMs.  We feel that we will enjoy a sweet and rewarding relationship with them.  They told us smilingly that "we passed" -- they have their challenges, too, and much responsibility upon their shoulders.  President Patch told us he has visited with President Foulger on the phone and by email but that he has been told to expect only 2 hours between the time they arrive and the Foulger's depart.  They receive their MP training at the MTC the last week in June.  President Patch said he expected to immediately be busy but that they would try to be the ones who will meet us at the airport.   We asked about office hours and whether they would want us to live close by so that we can get to the office quickly, or stay late and so forth. President Patch said "those are good questions" but that as yet he didn't know and so he would try to find out.  The Patch's also suggested that if schedules and time permit we could do a temple session together, which would be very nice.  We spoke about the approximately 100 missionaries in the ELM, some who will be coming, about the 16 sister missionaries including one coming from Pakistan, and how diverse not only London/England is now but also how diverse all the missionaries are as they come from all around the world.  I think we are in for an amazing experience.  We spoke about small things, like how the couples' missionaries warned us about the uneven sidewalks and that everyone has fallen at some point because in the rain the walks become slippery; like how there is no Jello or brownie mixes, so if someone likes either one they'd better bring their own.   How extraordinary this all is!  A bit surreal! Already we feel like there is a "comraderie" amongst the couples there, and we are looking forward to sharing in this wonderful blessing as ELM missionaries.