Last week serving our Mission

Monday - February 26th - OUR LAST VISIT FOR PIE WITH THE DOWLINGS
We were invited, along with the Sprouses, to a FHE with Brother and Sister Dowling.  Delicious blackberry and apple pie with cream and ice cream - DELICIOUS.

Tuesday - February 27th - OUR LAST GROUP OF ARRIVALS.  Six new missionaries arrived from the Preston MTC today.  Sister Sprouse handled all the check ins, but I did get to do one to show her how.

Last ADDICTION RECOVERY CLASS - February 28th, 2018
It has been such a special experience to facilitate this class - we have come to love those who attend.







March 1 - OUR LAST VISIT WITH THE FELLS - We have learned so much by watching Brother and Sister Fell - they Serve - Serve - Serve.







March 2nd - Friday - OUR LAST DAY IN THE OFFICE

We kept busy during the day saying goodbyes to missionaries and those we served with in the office.  Many mixed emotions and gratitude for the amazing experiences we have shared over the past 18 months.  We had our final interview with President Leppard and then went to dinner with them at my favorite Indian Restaurant.  It has been a wonderful day and we are ready to turn our thoughts to what is ahead.  We are looking foward to returning home to our family and friends.  We will forever be grateful for these memories which we will enjoy and treasure.  We have beautiful roses for the December of our Lives.






We have had freezing temperatures for the past few days and snow enough to cause closures of airports, school and church.  It is starting to warm up now but we still have snow on the ground.  Even a few inches of snow stops things in England.















(Picture with Blumells later)


Saturday - March 3rd - We are now waiting for Nichol and Kurk to fly into Birmingham.  They had their flight canceled in Amsterdam and took a flight to Germany to try to come to Birmingham tonight around 11:00 - Our adventures with them will begin....We will tour England, Scotland and Wales with Kurk and Nichol and then Conley and I will take a 12 day bus tour through Europe.

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.

Our First 2018 Arrivals

Tuesday, January 16th, and Thursday, January 18th, we received eleven new missionaries into the England Birmingham Mission.  This arrival group will be the last that I do without the new secretary taking my place.  Our replacement couple, Elder and Sister Sprouse enter the MTC tomorrow and will arrive in England on February 6th.

Arriving from Preston MTC

On Tuesday, January 16th, we had nine missionaries arrived by coach from the Preston MTC and one that arrived at the Birmingham Airport from a temporary assignment in Virginia while he was waiting for his visa.  Elder Willmore and I picked him up in the afternoon and brought him to join the other missionaries and their new companions.

Arriving at EBM

Sister Willmore with new arrivals

Our January 2018 Arrivals from Preston MTC

Elder Erickson arriving from temporary assignment in Virginia

On Thursday, we picked up one more missionary that came from the Provo MTC - Elder Barton from Chicago.

Farewell to eight missionaries

January 9, Tues and 10th Wed. -

Departures - January 10th, 2018
Sister Timu, Gjika, Carson, Rydalch, Smyrnova,
Sister DeCapite, Elder Langi, Sister Tofilau-Maneafaiga
President and Sister Leppard

Transfers and Departures.
We had 7 sisters and 1 elder return home this week.  They had flights to SLC, Canada, Tonga, Ukraine, Albania and New Zealand and Australia.  It took some two to three days to fly home.  Elder Langi and Sister Smyrnova served in the Tamworth Ward with us.  It is wonderful to hear their departing testimonies but sad to think that we will never see some of them again.

Sister Smyrnova, Sister Willmore, Elder Willmore

FUNERAL OF PRESDIENT MONSON - Friday evening we went to the mission office and watched President Monson's funeral service with some of the elders.  We are so grateful for President Monson's example of being christ-like to others and listening to promptings of the spirit.

On Sunday, we picked up our two missionaries that attend our Tamworth ward - we now have Sister Carson who took Sister Smyrnova's place. 


Happy Birthday to Jamie this Thursday - January 18th.  We are also grateful for her example of giving and thinking of others.  Thank you, Jamie, for blessing our lives.

An Amazing Week With Eric and Kaeli

Christmas Day  - December 25th
We had a quiet Christmas Day and then had the AP's (Elder O'Hare and Elder Kjar) for Christmas Dinner and the Wylde Green Elders (Elder Terry and Elder Edmunds) for Boxing Day (the day after Christmas)

It was wonderful seeing and talking to our family on Christmas Day through facetime.







Wednesday - December 27th - Eric arrived - what an amazing experience it was to share our common mission sites and experiences.  We wanted to go to England to pick him up after his mission, but this was an even more amazing experience to share our missions together ten years later - What a blessing!
We picked him up at the coach station in Birmingham at 5:00pm and went shopping at the Bull Ring

Of course - we had to have fish and chips

Many memories for him walking around the Bull Ring.   Stopped on our way home for Fish and Chips in Sutton Coldfield near the mission office.  Eric even remembered his way around the area.  He was ready to have a nights rest after the long travel and the time change of 7 hours.


Thursday - December 28th - Visiting Derby, Burton on Trent and Tamworth.  Places Eric served on his mission.  We went to his mission flat and then walked around the market street in Derby.  Eric was hoping to get a German Sausage and there was one stand left from the Christmas market there.  He was very excited.

Eric and Conley at the Derby Market

Enjoying a German Sausage in the Derby Market

Eric's flat in Derby

Kaeli arrives by coach from London Airport

Friday, December 29th - Kaeli Arrived in Cheltenham and then we went to Stratford Upon Avon (Shakespear Country).  Kaeli's arrival was an answer to prayers and a tender mercy from our Heavenly Father.  She found out that she has lost her passport two days before her flight.  Jamie and Kaeli worked for 2 days together to find a way for her to get a new passport quickly.  She flew to Denver and the next morning had her passport in time for her flight at noon.  The passport people told her it would be impossible - but we believe in miracles!  It is a great story - one that needs to go into our journals.

Eric, Jolayne, Kaeli at Ann Hathaways (Shakespeare's wife)
Cottage in Stratford Upon Avon

Outside Shakespeare's cottage in Stratford Upon Avon

Saturday- December 30 -  We went on a road trip to the Cotswold's.... 

Eric and Kaeli visiting shops in Stow on Wold

Burton on the Water - a lovely village to visit.  We stopped for tea (hot chocolate and pasties)






...and traveled on to Worcester (my favorite place in England)

We climbed the Malvern Hills - it was very windy
such a brilliant view

Eric, Conley Kaeli on top
of the Malvern Hills

Kaeli at Gadfield Elm Chapel

We had three generation of Thomas and Ann Oakey's grandchildren together at Gadfield Elm.

Jolayne - Eric - Kaeli

It was dark but we had to make use of every minute of the day to fit everything in.

Sunday December 31st (New Years Eve) - Newport Ward in Wales where Eric served - it was so fun to see the members greet him and remember when he served there.  They wanted to talk and talk to him.  Lots of hugs and reminiscing.

Eric's missionary flat in Newport -
it was pouring rain

Coch Castle near the Newport Church -
the perfect princess castle.













A Drive to Swansea to see the Ocean Cliffs in Wales - Breathtaking!!!  One of Eric's requests was to see the ocean cliffs in Swansea, Wales.

Kaeli made us do it!

Three Cliffs in Wales 

Eric and Kaeli were our photographers on the trip - I just got to enjoy the time and they shared their photos.

Eric and Kaeli arriving back to Birmingham by train

Monday - New Years Day 2018 - Kaeli and Eric went by train for a day of walking around London.

Happy Birthday to Conley - they bought him a ship in a bottle for his birthday at one of the antique shops on Tuesday.  Eric helped Conley find some ships to take home - we are losing more and more space in our suitcases for clothes.  Oh well!


Tuesday - January 2nd - Our last day together.  We drove through Lichfield and Tamworth and went to antique shops.  I think we got Eric and Kaeli hooked on these wonderful little shops.  They learned to share my love for teapots and china.  Of course at the end of the day we had to stop at Asda (grocery store) and buy lots and lots of english chocolate for them to fill their suitcases with.

We also made a stop by Bob and Carol Dowling's home who also knew Eric from our Tamworth Ward and had a visit by their fire and were served Carol's delicious gooseberry pie with custard.  They are always so kind and generous to all the missionaries.

Wednesday - January 3rd - Goodbye - We took Eric and Kaeli to the coach station at the Birmingham Airport at 5:00 a.m. for their coach ride to London Heathrow Airport.  What an amazing visit we enjoyed.  We are happy to report they made it home safely - probably a bit of jet lag but we have wonderful memories to last a lifetime.  Thank you Eric and Kaeli for sharing this experience with us.
We picked up our replacement couple on Wednesday morning at the train station and they came to see our flat that they will be living in and also came to see the mission office.  They were on vacation with their family in London and decided to come to Birmingham to see where they will serve.  They will arrive to serve on February 3rd and we will spend a month training them.

We received news of President Monson's death.  He died on January 2nd in America, but it was January 3rd in England.  We will miss this good, kind prophet who taught us to serve and love others.

Thursday and Friday - January 4th &5th we turned out thoughts and deeds back to the office - had Self Reliance meeting for the missionaries leaving in six months and MLC on Friday.  We helped with the lunches and enjoyed seeing missionaries in the office.  Next week is our transfers and departures so we made sure everything is ready for those big days.

Saturday - January 6th - Pday -Recover from keeping up with Eric and Kalei!  I could say just kidding but I'm not.  It was a wonderful exhaustion.

Sunday - January 7th - we started teaching our primary class out of the New Testament.  We have the same class and it is amazing to think that we only have 7 more classes with them.  I also received my subjects for teaching Relief Society for the next two months.