It has been a busy week at the office. Sister Hawley is getting things ready for transfers the first week of September. We continue to learn new tasks and details that need to be done, and most on a periodic repeat basis. The iMOS computer program the Church recently implemented online is a very useful tool, but being new it has some glitches which we are trying to work through/around until some of them are fixed by programmers in Salt Lake. Some of what worked in the U.S.A. does not work with the banking system in other countries -- this is just an example. However, we are moving ahead. Sister Hawley completed on her own the entering of baptismal records and the Church report and sending them to SLC through iMOS. Pretty good stuff! This week coming up is our last week of training with one of the two office elders, because next week he will be transferred as part of the regular 6-week transfer cycle. This elder has given wonderful service in the mission office for seven months, and he is excited and eager to be teaching the gospel again in the field. He has been an AP and will most likely be given a ZL spot in his new area.
On Monday evening many of the senior missionaries [some 8 or more couples + 2 senior sisters] went to see the stage production of "Hello, Dolly." It was performed outside at a half-round theatre in Regents Park, and it was a wonderful production. We went by TUBE [subway] for our first experience and we did very well on the stairs. We handled the four flights of stairs [each way x2] quite well and were pleased, since we had worried about that. Portia slipped and sprained her ankle this week but she did quite well and had no problems at all. All of the walking must be paying off and building up our legs.
Saturday morning we invited 2 couples, 4 elders [office+APs], 3 sister missionaries, and 2 senior sisters over to our flat for American waffles. The flat was crowded, but it worked out quite well, and we thoroughly enjoyed having them here. One of the young sisters wrote such a lovely thank you note, and when Portia spoke to her afterwards she said that there was a good feeling in our flat, and that it felt like a family gathering at home.
It seems that our flat is considerably larger and better outfitted than some others, and definitely a step up from what the young elders live in. It is about 800 square feet, and we are especially happy with it, even with the dinky kitchen as it is big enough for 2-3 people at one time. The washer-dryer works, even if the clothes don't come out completely dry. We take the finished load and dry the clothes the rest of the way on a folding rack that came with the flat. There is even a dishwasher, a counter-top model that is large enough to do two enough dishes from a meal for two. The beef is good here: Sunday for dinner we had pot roast, baked potatoes and corn on the cob. Sounds like a Utah dinner at home....
The Hyde Park Chapel was very full on Sunday, as usual, with many tourists and visitors who come for vacations or business trips to London. Portia spent time with and befriended a sister from Denmark. There are many Americans, but also Saints from Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Russia and other lands. This is a very multi-cultural place. I have never heard English spoken in so very many ways--and some of it we can even understand, but not all. There are many dedicated Saints here. Every area of the England London Mission is covered by a stake. There are no districts here as the Church is fully organized in all areas. The president and his wife have been gone for 5 days to the annual mission presidents' seminar in Preston, England. We have been taking care of business without them since last Wednesday. Nothing very difficult. One elder reported in with the flu and we recommended he be put to bed and given plenty of liquids and try to be careful to not give the flu to his companion elder. England is all on alert about the Swine Flu.
We see the need and have some desires to share the gospel with others, but our calling and time in the office will probably not allow for much of that. We are happy to support and provide what the missionaries need to be successful in the work. We keep copies of the Book of Mormon in the office in perhaps 50-60 different translations. I was asked the other day to find a Book of Mormon in French and another in Hungarian. This is quite the adventure to even recognize what language some books are printed in. I finally went online and found a site that listed the books by language. I might not be able to read it but if I know the letters I can find it. We were out of copies in these languages and so we ordered more.
We still sometimes feel out of our comfort zone, and there is much to learn, but we are getting to feel more relaxed day by day. Portia loves every part of being in London and working in the office, even on days past when there was so much to learn so quickly. She says it is a challenge that is energizing and exciting. Thank you for all the prayers and emails and encouragement! They keep us uplifted and inspired.
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