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 

"Everything you are learning now is preparing you for something else." (Marjorie Pay Hinckley)

New Carpet in the Office and Flowers

A very special gift

Monday we started the process of getting new carpet in our office.  Elder Cohen and Elder Turner were amazing - when we arrived on Monday we found that they had moved all the computers and had them set up again in the building next to us.  We thought it would be a nightmare to get our work done this week, but it went very smoothly.
Monday evening our doorbell rang and Elder Cohen ad Elder Turner had brought us flowers and a card.  What kind and thoughtful young men they are - We love them!

On Tuesday we went to visit Sister Carol Dowling, a sweet lady in our ward that Eric knew when he served here.  Brother and Sister Dowling always invite the missionaries to their home for dinner.  Sister Dowling had eye surgery which was unsuccessful so she had to have another surgery to correct the damage.  They are a very Christlike couple and their light shines.  They are both in their mid 80's.

Also on Tuesday we were invited to dinner by the family of a young boy in our primary class - Mckye.  His mother has been feeling anxious about him having new primary teachers because he has autism.  We enjoyed time with their family.

Arriving and Departing Senior Couples

Elder & Sister Creer

Elder and Sister Alston

During the past two weeks we have had three senior couples leave the mission.  The Creer's (which we were very grateful that he was able to fly home to Salt Lake and be with his family - he was diagnosed with Leukemia and it was such a miracle that he was finally able to fly home after several delays), the Alston's (from California) and the Michaelis (from Orem, Utah).  It is such a small world - The Michaelis' are good friends with our neighbors - Dale and Grethe Larson.  Larson's son, Aaron, and our son, Scott, were friends. They served in the office next to us doing Self Reliance.   It is always sad to have our new friends leave, but also exciting to have new couples arrive.  Change is good.

Elder & Sister Michaelis

Elder & Sister Blumel

We also received a new couple from Canada this week, The Blumels will taking over the Michaelis' calling.







Thanksgiving Luncheon - November 12, 2016
This week we were busy getting ready for our Thanksgiving Luncheon for the Senior Couples, the flat inspectors, the Assistants to the President, the Office Elders and the Mission Presidency. I was in charge of the event and was so thankful for the experience I received through my life organizing dinners and events.   I love the saying on the front of my journal -
 "Everything you are learning now is preparing you for somethings else." (Marjorie Pay Hinckley).  I also know that we are learning things "now" that we will benefit from in the future.

Thanksgiving Luncheon - November 12, 2016

Elder and Sister Willmore at the
Thanksgiving Luncheon

H'orderves Table

Each morning that Elder Willmore and I wake up we thank our Heavenly Father for the amazing experience we have to serve as missionaries in the England Birmingham Mission.  We cannot even express in words the joy it brings into our lives.  It is something you need to experience in order to understand.

Remarks from President Leppard:  There was a reason that the Angel Moroni visited Joseph Smith four times delivering the same message -  the same reason that we need to repeat over and over the same message to our missionaries - THEY ARE 18 and 19 YEAR OLDS.  He also gave experiences he had in assigning missionaries to areas and companions as he is given instruction by the spirit.  They are placed in the area that certain people are in need of their individual talents.  He gave the example of two missionaries that were put together without the President knowing they knew how to do sign language.  These two missionaries were on a bus and met a man who needed their talents of signing. They taught this man and and he is being baptized today. We see the hand of the Lord each day in our lives.


Poppy Appeal in England



This last few weeks in England has been the Poppy Appeal.  Everyone wears a poppy pin and donates to the veterans of the wars.  In 1915, after the war had ended and many had died, a field of poppy's grew on the battle field.  They are very patriotic and the missionaries take part in the Poppy Appeal to raise funds for the veterans.  On November 11, no matter where you are, everyone has 11 minutes of silence and the church bells ring.  The Sunday closest to the 11th is a day of remembrance.  Today in Sacrament Meeting, we had a service to remember those who have lost their lives for our freedom.  Both in our time and in the scriptures.

"For the Fallen"
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning.  We will remember them. (written September 1914 by Laurence Binyon)




Flanders' Fields was composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium.

From the past:
It was interesting today as we were giving the Tamworth Elders (Elder Langi and Elder Ey) a ride to church, they showed us a report they found in the area book which was filled out by none other than our Elder Eric Willmore from 2015. They thought it was fun to show us the image.  MEMORIES.  We love talking to Eric about things we see and places we have been that he also has been.  Such a blessing to serve where Eric served.  We were very disappointed nine years ago when we were advised not to pick up Elder Willmore from his mission, we now feel like we are touring his mission as we meet people he also knew and areas he served.

Quiet Week - Wonderful!

Happy Birthday to 

Ashlee on November 12th

Elder Willmore and Amber

We received an additional assignment from Elder and Sister Leppard this week while they are away at a Mission President Seminar.  This is Amber and we are house sitting at the Mission Home and taking care of Amber for four days.

Elder Willmore and Amber
at the Mission Home

The office has been rather quite this week because we have not had as many Elders and Sisters visiting since President is gone and there have not been any meetings or interviews at the Mission Office.  It was nice to have a little time to catch up, which we did.  Next Monday we are having new carpet put in the office so is should make up for the quite week this week.

Elder Willmore was worried about missing fall this year, but as you can see we have had a colorful fall with the many trees that are turning brilliant reds and yellows, and then their leaves falling and covering the ground.  We love our walks in them and the picturesque scenery as we drive.

Walk in park at
Stratford-upon-Avon

Wooton Hall Manor House

Stratford-upon-Avon
Home of Anne Hathaway
Wife of Shakespeare
Thatch roof cottage built in the 1500's 

We are grateful Jamie is recovering well after her knee surgery. So glad she could get it done before Jairon and Kenzie's wedding.  Quick recovery wishes Jamie!