LASTS....

Monday - February 19th -
Our LAST SENIOR ACTIVITY - we went to Solihull on Monday night and had FHE with the Senior Couples.  We shared a dinner and welcomed the new missionaries and told the departing missionaries goodbye. We have learned so much by watching these amazing couples serve.  They will always hold a special place in our hearts.  So sad to leave but looking forward to what's ahead.  Remember what Sister Hinkley said,"What you are learning today is preparing you for something else."



Tuesday and Wednesday February 20th and 21st
Our LAST TRANSFER and DEPARTURE GROUP - We had transfers on Tuesday and also the departing missionaries came to the office.  They had their final interview with President and did their checkout with us.  Elder and Sister Sprouse did the check outs this time.  We had our LAST TESTIMONY MEETING AND DEPARTURE DINNER on Tuesday evening. What an amazing testimony meeting as we listened to each missionary share their feelings about their mission, their families and their mission.








Friday - February 23rd
Our LAST TAMWORTH WARD SOCIAL - they were so kind and gave us flowers and a book to remember them by. Over the past 18 months we have been blessed to serve alongside the members of the Tamworth ward.  They are a small ward of about 45-60 members that attend and they have been so kind and loving towards us.  We will cherish our memories of hearing their testimonies, they hugs, their munch and mingles, there monthly socials and their love.  We will miss our primary children - it has been a challenge but a rewarding experience and we will always cherish our time we spent with them each Sunday.




Saturday February 24th - our LAST TIME WATCHING AMBER - President and Sister Leppard had a Stake Conference to attend so we had Amber for the afternoon and evening.  It gave us a chance to cook dinner at the mission office and get some washing done.  The answer is "No - we are not getting a DOG when we get home!"  We do love Amber though.



Sunday February 25th - our LAST TIME TEACHING PRIMARY AND my LAST TIME TEACHING RELIEF SOCIETY.

More LASTS to be continued this coming week....it is all coming so fast.  Our LAST day in the office will be Friday - March 2nd.

Missionaries coming and going - MADISON RECEIVED HER CALL

February 5th, 2018
We said goodbye to Elder Clabuax.  He was our first missionary to check in and our last missionary to check out before our new office couple arrives tomorrow.  He has been helping in the office for a few months.  Later in the afternoon we moved all our belongings into the Ramada Hotel next to the mission office, where we will stay for the next month.










February 6th - We had the Preston MTC President and his wife arrive around 10:00 and dropped off Sister Iuhimciuc.













We went to the airport at around noon to pick up Elder and Sister Sprouse.  We brought them to the office and then took them to Asda and to their new flat so they could get settled in.  They are such a wonderful couple and will do an amazing job in the office.



February 10th and 11th - We stayed at the Mission Home and took care of Amber.  We took a 2 hour drive to Lincoln and then back to take Sister Iuhimciuc her passport and BRP card so she could do her police registration.

February 11th - We drove the Sprouses to the Tamworth Ward where they will be serving while they are here.

February 12th - We had our office meeting today as usual on Monday - only today Elder Willmore and I did not sit at the table - Elder and Sister Sprouse were in our normal chairs.  We are slowly feeling like we are being replaced!











February 13th - Another Senior Couple arrived today -Elder and Sister Bartholomew.  They will be going to Milford Haven where they will serve as Mission Leadership Support.  They came from Payson, Utah








February 14th - Valentines Day - We had a dinner out with President and Sister Leppard and some of the senior couples.  We went to an Italian restaurant and had a fun date night.


February 15th - Thursday Madison received her mission call and we joined in to watch her open it at 2:30 am our time.  She is going to serve in the Argentina Salta Mission and will leave on June 26th.  She will be an amazing missionary and we are so proud of her.

(Picture coming)





February 17th - Pday we went for a ride in the van to a manor house that was about an hour away.  We walked around the grounds and watched them feed deer.  It was cold but a fun day out together with some of the other Senior Couples.

Beginning of the End

Beginning of the End...

and the beginning of a new spring is popping up.



The past two week have been spent preparing our office files, computers, and drawers for our new replacement couple - Elder and Sister Sprouse.  They entered the Provo MTC on January 22nd and will arrive in Birmingham on February 6th.  We will train them for a month.

January 26 and 27th - We spent the night at the mission home and took care of Amber.  We also went for an afternoon ride to Tutbury to go to one of our favorite antique shops.

January 28th - Today was our ward conference and we had the Stake Primary president and a counselor visited our class.  We also had a much and mingle after church.  Elder and Sister Vernon invited us to their flat for Sunday Dinner and we had a wonderful meal and enjoyed such lovely company.  We finally took a picture of Sister Crandall who moved into the Tamworth ward in January - Sister Martynenko stayed with us from last transfer.  Sister Crandall is from Kaysville, Utah.



January 28-Feb 3rd We have been getting our flat ready to move out of and have the Sprouses move into next Tuesday.  Saturday we spent the day deep cleaning and packing up.  We will be moving into the Ramada Hotel tomorrow - February 4th.  We will be staying there for a month.  Many precious memories have been spent here at 87 Elm, Sutton Coldfield, B76 2PQ




February 4th - Sunday

We drove to the home where Eric lived while he was on his mission in Tamworth.  We did not get a chance to go there with him when he was visiting.  He lived with Debbie Smith and her family - we have Charolette in our Primary class.  It has been so fun to connect all  the common people we know and love in England.
There was a baby blessing in our ward today - a very rare experience.  First one we have had in the 17 months we have lived here.