Merry Christmas to All

Since Christmas is next Sunday - I will not write a blog so we send our Christmas Wishes to all -

Merry Christmas to All

We want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and send our love.  As we reflect on our Saviors birth, we are so grateful for his love, for his life and example of how we should live to have happiness and most importantly for his atoning sacrifice for us.  We are so blessed and feel his tender mercies in our lives each day.  We know that he is aware of each of us and that he knows our needs and even our desires. He has certainly blessed our lives and we find joy serving in the England Birmingham Mission this wonderful Christmas Season.  We are surrounded by amazing young Elders and Sisters who are sharing His glorious Gospel and sharing their light with our Father's children.  What an experience to be surrounded by these special missionaries!   We thank our Heavenly Father each day for this lovely and brilliant opportunity He has given us.

We want our dear friends and family to know how much we love each of you and are so blessed to have your influence in our lives.  Each of you have made our lives better by your friendship and love.  We truly miss each of you and want to express our love and gratitude for your friendship, example and the light you are in our lives. 

May our Heavenly Father bless each of you with His peace this Christmas Season and throughout the coming year.  

With all our Love,

Elder and Sister Willmore

(COMING SOON - Picture of Elder Willmore/aka Santa at the Ward Christmas Party)

Happy Birthday to Hannah on the 20th and Ryan on the 25th (Christmas Day)




Farewell to Our Dear Elder Turner

Elder Turner

Saturday one of our office Elders who is serving a Service Mission went home after serving for a one year mission.  He has truly helped us learn our office duties and has helped us every single day with questions about how to do certain procedures on the computer.  He has also written programs just for our mission to help us accomplish tasks easier.  He has magnified his talents that Heavenly Father has given him - he has a very unique gift and shares with others so freely and with such a sweet spirit.

Elder and Sister Veater, Elder Turner, Elder and Sister Willmore

We will miss him so much.  He lives in our mission boundries so we hope to see him once in a while if he happens to by driving past the mission office.  Thank you Elder Turner - what a blessing you have been in our lives!







Welcome to our new office missionary - Elder Ashwell -
Elder Ashwell arrived on Monday, December 12th and will be with us for four months.  He lives in our mission and will serve a Service Mission.




Packages, Packages and More Packages - Merry Christmas

Elder Turn, Elder Hellyer, Elder Wagner and Elder Cohen
Love Them All!

Our wonderful Office Elders and Assistants to the President keeping track and a watchful eye on all the packages delivered to the office.









The packages are piling HIGH and we still have one more week to go!  Merry Christmas to all the Elders and Sisters from their wonderful families.

Preparation Day This Week - The Black Country Living Museum

- 27 Acres of Original Buildings moved and rebuilt
The Black Country is an area of the West Midlands in England, West of Birmingham, including Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell. In the Industrial Revolution, it became one of the most industrialized parts of Britain with coal mines, coking, iron foundries and steel mills producing a high level of air pollution. It's said that the Black Country gained its name in the mid-nineteenth century from the smoke from the many thousands of iron working foundries and forges.  There was an old back to back house that was moved to this Museum.  This is like the house that Elder Willmore's GG Grandfather - George Willmore lived in downtown Birmingham.  They are very small with one bedroom upstairs and held over 10 people in a house.  On the back is another house. 

Elder Willmore in front of  a Back to Back house

Enjoying our fish and chips by a coal fire

Black Country

Black Country Pasty Shop

Old Coal Mine where many people worked in terrible conditions,
 even 8 year old boys worked for 2 pence a day

Stake Conference and Gathering in Supplies

Happy Birthday to Kurk
On December 16th



IN WITH THE SUPPLIES

This week we are starting to collect all the pamphlets, Book of Mormons, videos, pass-along cards and other odds and ends from the missionaries apartments - oh my! We asked for it and we got it - Only have 1 1/2 zones out of 8 turned in and our hallways and offices are full. I think Elder Willmore separated Book of Mormon's in 70 different languages. A lot of work left to do.  Late night at the office and Chinese take out. 

Elder Turner and Elder Cohen, our office elders, got to the point that all they could do was LAUGH - it was better than crying.





STAKE CONFERENCE IN LICHFIELD

Amazing stake conference - it is fun to see people in the congregation that we actually know and love. One of our favorite things was the beautiful singing - They are like the Polynesian people that sing with much feeling.  So lovely and especially with the Christmas music.  Even the familiar Christmas Songs in the Hymn book they have their own version of and sing with gusto.

CAN'T GET ENOUGH CHRISTMAS MUSIC THIS YEAR.  



Goodbye to the Brunts who are returning home to Idaho Falls, Idaho - Dec 7, 2016.  They served in Milford Haven and his sister and her husband
are replacing them as MLC missionaires.



Parable I loved from our Stake President:  SO TRUE

THE REDS and GREENS of CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND

Red Berries on Green Holly Bush on our walk

Green and Red German Pyramid-an at the
Christmas Market

The Red Double Decker Bus

The Red Church Door in our neighborhood

The Red Post to mail our Christmas Cards

Our Royal Mail truck delivering all the Missionaries packages

Our green and red lights on our Christmas Tree

Classic Red Telephone Booth - it really works

Arrivals, Departures and Meetings - Wow!

Arriving Missionaries

ARRIVALS, DEPARTURES & MEETINGS

Arriving Missionaries from the Preston MTC

It has been a very busy week with arrivals, departures, and Mission Leadership meetings.  We had a group of thirteen new missionaries come into the mission on Tuesday, and had a group of nine missionaries departing.  It was  busy but organized with many missionaries coming in on coaches to be paired up with their new companions.  We had a bus that was stalled because of a traffic accident so we had missionaries all day in the office.  Tuesday late afternoon we all met together and had a testimony meeting with those missionaries that were departing which was amazing.  We then met at the mission home for a farewell dinner for them.  Such wonderful young men and women.  Off they go to make their mark in the world. Wednesday started with a parent picking up their son and then President and Sister Leppard made three trips to the airport - morning, afternoon and evening. The rest of the week after arrivals and departures is a very busy one with all the paper work - getting their visas and passports arranged, all the information in our rosters changed, assignment letters sent out for Zone Leaders, District Leaders and Trainers.  We also send an email to all the parents of the new arrivals to let them know that they have arrived safety.  Busy, hectic and fun times with the missionaries in the office.  We love those missionaries!

November 29th Arrivals

Departing Missionaries

Now that this week is over - we start preparing for the next group of arrivals and departures - a six week cycle.

Taking our office elders out to dinner after a long day at the office

Thanks to the Miracle of Modern Technology - We attended a wedding on Friday

Even though we were not able to attend Jairon and McKenzie's wedding, we had the miraculous opportunity to watch them come out of the temple, see them at their ring ceremony and reception.  It was beautiful.  Thanks to family, who included us through facetime.  Such precious moments!














Tamworth Castle
We drive past this castle every Sunday when we go to church and decided to visit it this Pday.  It was built in the 1100's and is a very medieval castle.  Another site that Eric sent us when he served here.

Tamorth Castle with the Veaters

Tamorth Castle - Built in the 1100's

Sister Willmore and The Knight

Off with her head

Big Week Coming for Jairon and Kenzie

Jairon and McKenzie's wedding announcement

Congratulations to Jairon and Kenzie - We are so excited for them as they begin this week before their big day on December 2nd.  Friday, Kenzie went to the Rexburg Temple to receive her endowments and then they will be married this Friday in the Rexburg Temple.  We are so happy for them and we will be thinking about them all day on their wedding day - We love them both.  If you could see us, you will probably see Grandma and Grandpa shed a tear or two that day - it will be so hard not to be there for their special day.  WE SEND OUR BLESSING AND LOVE.

Well, Thanksgiving is officially over  - we cooked a Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday and invited Elder and Sister Veater and two elders - Elder Griffin from Ogden and Elder Clayton from Salt Lake, over for dinner.  After dinner they gave us a message and that was our favorite part.   We also had our Senior Thanksgiving Dinner on the 12th so we have definitely celebrated Thanksgiving in England.

Light the World - mormon.org

Our Christmas Tree

With Thanksgiving over- we pulled out the flat's Christmas Decorations that had been left from missionaries before us and had our flat decorated in a half hour.  So simple and I think I quite enjoyed the simplicity of it.  We received a special package in the mail on Thanksgiving day at the office from our children.  They sent us stockings to hang in our flat with something inside for Christmas Day - they were very disobedient children to send a package but I must admit it was wonderful to receive a package from them.  After we put up the decorations and opened our package I sat and listened to Christmas music and got quite emotional thinking about family and the holidays.  Although we will definitely miss family and friends this Christmas Season, we are thrilled to concentrate more on the real meaning of Christmas and Celebrate Christ.
 We watched the video Light the World at the beginning of November with our Mission President and are so excited to start our 25 days of service beginning December 1st.  We invite everyone to join by watching Light the World at mormon.org and then doing 25 days of service.  Each day there is a video clip to watch.  We enjoy the opportunity to watch these young Elders and Sisters give service everyday and they are a wonderful examples to us.  We are getting our office filled with packages coming in for the missionaries.

Our Christmas Package from our family

Our Christmas Stockings

Comings and Goings

The office is staying busy and we are loving every minute of it - even the times when it gets a little (or a lot)  hectic.  We are blessed to serve in the mission office and love the other Senior Couples and President and Sister Leppard. The days and weeks fly by and we can hardly believe it when we look at the clock and it is time to go home.  We even had a little trauma this week and had to visit the local emergency care doctor but everything is good.

Sister Leppard, Sister Richards, Elder Richards, Pres. Leppard

We had a new couple arrive from Rexburg, Idaho on Tuesday - Elder and Sister Richards.  They will be serving in Wales and will be about four hours from the mission office. It is a small world - they are friends with my dad's good friend from Rexburg, Golden Linford.  We had a good time talking to them about some things in common.

Elder and Sister Crump

Last week we had Elder and Sister Crump leave who returned home to West Jordan, Utah just down the street from where Elder Willmore used to work.  They did record preservation for the Family History Department.  Many of the senior couples are returning to Utah so hopefully we will be able to see them again.

Christmas German Market in Birmingham

A week ago on our Pday we went to downtown Birmingham where they were having their German Christmas Market.  We tried a few German foods and it felt very festive.  We tried Bratworst and chocolate covered marshmallows in all kinds of different flavors.

German Christmas Market

Downtown Birmingham Mall Bull

We received this same picture of the Bull at the Bull Ring at the Birmingham Mall when Eric was on his mission.  We remember the picture and it was fun to see what he saw.

Government Building Downtown Birmingham

So many old, beautiful buildings in downtown Birmingham.  Birmingham is where Conley's great great great Grandfather lived.  His old home (or at least where it used to be) is on our list of things to visit on our pdays.

Special Delivery For the Young Elder Willmore

Elder Willmore received a letter at home and Eric and Brandee opened it for him.  It was addressed to Elder Conley Willmore and was from a lady he taught when he was serving his mission in Ohio in 1970-72.  She expressed gratitude for being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and told how it has blessed her life.  He is anxious to contact her.  We were touched to hear her testimony and love of the gospel.  What a blessing it is to share this wonderful gospel and it's truths to the world.

We are Grateful for....

This week we just want to give GRATITUDE for all our many blessings:
✽For our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ - whom we owe everything to  - for the gospel truths and ordinances, for tender mercies and guidance.
✽For five special children who have brought joy and meaning into our lives. We love you dearly and are so grateful we were chosen to be your parents.  
✽For seventeen amazing grandchildren who bring fun, laughter and wonderful memories.
We cherish each of you with your different personalities and talents.  Our Greatest Blessings call us Grandpa and Grandma.
✽For loving, kind and patient parents who have shown unconditional love and sacrificed for us.  We miss those who are gone and express love to Evelyn - she is a blessing in our lives.
✽For our siblings and their families who expand our happiness beyond our immediate family.  We have shared many wonderful times together now and while growing up.  We felt sad to miss Jenaya's wedding this past week.  We love you and miss you.
✽For friends and neighbors who helped raise our children and were special friends with us and our children. You have shared in our happiness and sorrows and have blessed our lives.
✽For our health and strength and the ability to enjoy life in the fullest.  We know life can change in an instant.
✽For the beauty and wonders of nature and this magnificent earth we live in.  Each day we enjoy seeing our Heavenly Father's masterpiece.
✽For trials (yes trials) because we know that is how we are stretched and molded into who we need to become.
✽For our ancestors who have left us a legacy of faith.  We are blessed to see and walk where so many of them lived.  We love and honor them and the heritage they have left us.
✽For our Freedom and the wonderful Land of America.  For those who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for this great privilege we enjoy.
✽For one another and forty three years of marriage.  For the great blessing we have to serve a mission together and see the miracles before our eyes.  For angels that are on our right hand and on our left.  (Both those that are living among us on the earth and those we cannot see but feel their influence.)
✽For the comforts of life we enjoy - life is simple right now and we are enjoying our cozy, warm, little flat.

Our  fresh Fall and Christmas Wreath we bought at the German Christmas Market
in Birmingham

WE LOVE YOU ALL AND WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A HAPPY THANKSGIVING