Week of Aug 9-16

Another busy week trying to grasp the ways of this mission office. The elders are great and patient with us. We now know how to process new missionaries, and we have 22 more coming is two weeks. We turned in the monthly mileage report to the area office in Solihull, England. We are learning much more about finding and getting flats ready for missionaries, closing out old flats, paying the various charges and council taxes and keeping current with 58 different flats through out the mission. I think that we are settling in and things do not frighten us as much as at first, but there is much to learn and comprehend. Sister Hawley and Elder Hall are preparing for transfers in two weeks. For the second time in a row, transfers include over 20 going home and almost 20 arriving. I guess if we want to gain experience, this can be categorized under "trials by fire!" Two of the elders needed something this week -- one a referral that was lost and another a binder with all his important papers. Sister Hawley knew where both were, and both said delightedly, "Moms always know where everything can be found!"

This week was Zone Conference week. Every six weeks President Patch holds three days of Zone Conferences at three different ward buildings throughout the mission. The Zones correspond to the Stakes organized in the mission. The Watford Zone corresponds to the Watford Stake, the Hyde Park Zone to the Hyper Park Stake, the Ipswich Zone to the Ispwich Stake and so forth for about 8 or 9 stakes. The proselyting areas are set up by Wards. And a great deal of emphasis is placed on the working with the ward mission leaders and getting the members involved in the teaching and fellowshipping. The Church uses a Key Indicator system to tract progress with investigators. It is a good measure of missionary activity and diligence also. Last week 10 were baptized into the church. The month of July produced 19 baptisms. So the work is moving forward.

It was good to be with the Elders and Sisters and listen to the instruction and discussion of the work that we are to be doing, and how to improve. The President spent some considerable time about the baptism of Christ, why is was that He needed to be baptized, and the final conclusion is powerful and known to us all. Everyone on earth (and in the spirit world) must be baptized by authorized agents of the Lord in order to have full participation in the atonement. John 3:5. We are the agents who have the knowledge and the delegated authority for this people and we need to listen to the spirit to be led to those whom the Lord has prepared to hear His message.

I don't think is rained this week! Maybe a few drops, but the weather has been dry and in the 70's with some humidity in the 60 and 70 percent range. We are learning the bus routes and times better. I have been wearing a pedometer and we walk about 2.5 to 3 miles a day in our routine. I know I am tired when we get home about 6:30 or 7:00 PM. We are finding new foods, but one can get most of the things we find in the States, just under strange names and about twice as expensive and such dinky sizes. I don't think they have large packages of anything. The fruits and vegetables are good and plentiful. I bought "Cornwall Pasties," which are meat pies that can be eaten like a sandwich. Interesting!

You might be interested to know that each missionary pair has a cell phone assigned. I also noted that the mission bill for cell phones runs over 3,000 pounds per month, that's over $5500 per month. This is a great way to contact missionaries and for them to do missionary work. Technology is working here. We have our phone and just pick-up a charger for it to use at home, since before we could only charge it at the office. Portia got to call one set of elders Friday in Basildon to tell them that we'd received the referral of a family ! and that the father had a set baptism date, and that he wanted to find the missionaries and to take his family to church [tomorrow] AND that he wants the missionaries to teach his wife! Sounds golden to us!

We were told by most of the missionary couples that everyone falls down. The sidewalks are mostly of cement pavers, so there are a lot of seams and many uneven areas, as well as cobble stones and the like. Portia had her fall this week as we were going out for lunch and she turned her ankle on one of these very uneven areas and down she went. Fortunately, she was unhurt by the fall. Her clothes were not even soiled, she has no bruises or scrapes, but she does have a sprained ankle and is limping about and was in a good deal of pain. She is a good lady and is fareing quite well. We hope this heals real soon. We know that the Lord is looking out for us and it could have been so much worse. We iced it and got a cab to take us home. We do not need to fall anymore as we have now done it and can forego any more such events.

Elder Weibell, a missionary from Germany working in the mission office, had his birthday this week and we knew of a German Bakery on Old Brompton Road and brought him German Pretzels and Apple Strudel for his birthday. Missionaries are always hungery and eager to eat.

A new couple entered the mission on Tuesday. Brother and Sister Miles. It turns out she worked at the Utah Department of Health in the HR Department and I knew her quite well there. They are assigned as proselyting missionaries in Wembley just north west of London. They get a car and a phone, and need to find a place to live just as we did.

The people of London are very diverse. Many nationalities and languages. There are so many varieties of English being spoken; we need to listen very carefully to understand. Most people are polite and outwardly friendly. We are doing well and are still way out of our comfort zones. The gospel is true and wonderful.

Love, Elder Hawley