Britannia Rules

I think that we are finally getting over the jet-lag and the 12 loads of laundry and all of the other chaos associated with returning home from a week away in a foreign country. First of all, MANY THANKS to all who helped take-care of our kids while we were gone. We're pretty sure that it wasn't easy. Thank you for your sacrifices and all that you did for us. We couldn't have gone without knowing our kids were in good hands.

I plan to write more details in journal/email form but these are the brief highlights: The original reason for this trip was that Michael was invited back to train the Church Public Affairs representatives from each of the countries of Europe. We had met many of them last year when we attended the same conference in Frankfurt. They are amazing people and we have grown very fond of them. I also liked being able to watch Michael do his training workshop. He's done it for many professional groups and I never get to see it, so I enjoy that part too.

The day before the Conference we were able to go with this group on a tour of Church history sites in Lancashire. I love Lancashire because I have a lot of Lancashire blood flowing through my veins. We visited two places: Avenham Park in Preston, the site of the first LDS baptisms in England in 1837 and also the site of Michael and Amy's first conversation (one that was both brief and awkward as we were both missionaries at the time.) It was very cool to return there together and this time to be able to hold hands.


We also visited a little town named Downham which looks nearly like what it would have looked like 170 years ago when Heber C. Kimball was teaching the gospel there. Some special stories associated with that site that we can share with you sometime. Also special about it: I have ancestors from that town! It's one of my favorite places in the world and we loved going back!!


The other wonderful reason for this trip was, as mentioned above, we both served missions here and this was our first time going back. Wow, it was so emotional. I've dreamt of what it would be like to go back to Manchester and Lancashire for years - it was amazing to finally have the opportunity. We visited started the trip in my 'greenie' area and were able to spend a lot of the day with Michael Mellor and his wife Shaziah. My companion and I found and taught Michael before his baptism. Wonderful to see him again and to see him so strong in the Gospel. Shaziah is from Pakistan and was raised a Christian there. They are recently married. We loved meeting her - she is a special girl.
The area I stayed in the longest as a missionary - 6 months - was the Isle of Man. It is really expensive and time-consuming to get there from England so we sadly knew that we couldn't go there in the short amount of time that we had for this trip. In one of the greatest tender mercies of my life I found out, just days before we went, that a group of members from the Isle of Man would be at the Preston temple the very weekend we were there! It was truly a miracle as I was able to see my dear friend, Tanya, who I also taught as a missionary, and to attend the Temple with her. She is an amazing example to me - facing a huge trial in her life right now with so much courage and faith. Michael and I both felt inspired by being with her.
Seeing the Temple itself was a wonderful experience for us. Michael was there for the ground-breaking and it was under construction the whole time I was in England as a missionary. So this was our first time to see the finished product!
Another great visit was with Ken Cummerson, a sweet man that Michael taught as a missionary. He has since been active in helping the missionaries and working in the Temple. I loved meeting Ken. He was such a lovely man! He and his wife took us to a pub for a meal. (Another first for us as we didn't get to eat in pubs as missionaries!)We spent a lot of our time tracking-down and visiting people. Members of the wards we served in, people we taught as missionaries, and former companions. None of whom we had seen for 12-15 years, and yet it instantly felt as if no time had passed in between the last time we'd seen them. It was so wonderful! Some instances were exhilarating to see them doing so well, and some instances were heart-wrenching, to hear that things in their lives had been very difficult since the time we'd last been together. It made for a very special, but emotional week. On the last night of our trip we were staying in Wales and through some really miraculous circumstances we found Teresa Jones, a woman Michael had baptized in Colwyn Bay, Wales. I loved meeting Teresa! She is one who had been through some incredibly difficult times since Michael last spoke to her. We were able to spend some time with her and gave her a ride that night. After we dropped her off, I felt so strongly that the Lord really is mindful of 'the one who is lost' and I felt humbled that Michael was given the opportunity to find her again.

In between all of these people we did do a little bit of sight-seeing. The Lake District was wonderful. We stayed in a charming Bed and Breakfast in Ambleside where we made a wonderful new friend, Bob. He was awesome! :) We'd be happy to give you his number if you're going to the Lakes anytime soon.
In the Lakes we took in some gorgeous scenery and even drove past Beatrix Potter's farm. (Thank you again, Michael.)

Our last stop was in Colwyn Bay, North Wales. My first time visiting there. Absolutely gorgeous! (Quite the contrast from Liverpool where we'd been the day before. Although, Liverpool has charms of it's own -mainly the cheeky people.)

Here is Michael at Ros-on-sea with Colwyn Bay behind him.

Conway Castle built in the late 1200's in North Wales.
Michael did a great job driving a clutch on all those narrow roads on the other side of the street. The first day was kind of scary, but by the end of the week Michael had regained his form and we were even getting good at navigating our way around. I love those round-a-bouts!We also had great food! Good old fish'n'chips, KEBABS!, pub grub, Wagamama's in Manchester, Vimto, curry made by Shaziah (Michael's favorite), and British crisps and sweets. I also brought home a suitcase full of many more favorites (Hobnobs! Lion Bars! Jelly Babies! - I'm hiding them from the kids so I can ration them to last a really long time.)

It was also funny to hear ourselves start talking like Brit's again - not necessarily the accent, but the words and inflections. I love it, me. It was right lovely. Cheers to you all!

There are more photos and commentary for those who are interested at this WEB ALBUM.