Jim's first mission, Preston Temple and Manchester England

The last week of our family history vacation honored Jim's first mission, then called the Northern British mission, which included Leeds, York ,Beverly, Hull ,and Harrogate at the Mission office. We started by stating at the Preston Temple apartments.This included waking up in the shadow of the Temple everyday and serving there part of the day, The rest of the time we saw the church history sights. including. the baptisms in the River Ribble, Ribchester Parish church, Clitheroe castle, and first places Elder Heber stayed around Preston. We found an out of the way fish and chip place with the fish in newpaper! Just the way Jim loved on his mission. The next day we went to the Lake District, with Beatrice Potter, Windermere. hiking around White Moss and Wordsworth. We moved from Preston to Manchester to stay with the cat lady in another bed and breakfast, This one had a great bathroom. Then we rode the double decker bus in Manchester and saw the John Rylands Museum library and Piccadilly circus. We drove to Leeds (dont even get me started on the driving on the other side of the street with the steering wheel and everything. I was a nervous wreak the whole week!) In Leeds,we went to the train museum  and the park/garden downtown and saw a play about the creation! Sunday we went to the Leeds l ward in the building that Jim helped build on Jim mission. After we went to the CES center and shared our meal with the Elder and Sister Young. Our last day, we went back to downtown Manchester to do two more museums! As you can tell this week was all about Jim and his mission. The countryside was beautiful and we loved seeing where many of our ancestors came from.

We returned to Geneva tired and spent the rest of our last few hours trying to figure out how to get all of our 250 pounds of stuff home,

Good night ,,Bonne soiree, tomorrow we sleep in Orem!

Denmark- part 2 vacation

After a great visit we took off by train, again very early to Paris.  We took a bus from the train station to the Charles DeGaul airport and got to see Paris in a just flash,I even saw the TOWER,,, twice, Then we flew to Denmark, The flight was super clear and I got a good idea of the land scape.- many islands and much farming. It  was clean and neat and so are the people. I have Never seen so many natural blonds, with a nature beauty.We decided to try a bed and breakfast. Our first was two college co-eds.and they did warn us about the shower. BUT, they didnt warn us about the toilet which you could use and answer the front door at the same time. But, it was clean, and we had the whole place to ourselves, which was about the size of our living room in California. We did the down town on Saturday, beginning with a flea market. the Tivoli gardens, the Church of our Lady with the original Christus and his other statues, and of course, the Denmark temple. Sunday we went to church and saw the Institute and had dinner with our new Danish friends.  We also visited the Frederiksberg gardens and cemetery. I saw names LUND and Poulsen and pondered by relatives  to converted in Denmark. I am so thankful that they heard and listened to the missionaries. And , I am blessed to have had this time to ponder in the beautiful land.  

We did not know the language, the money , alphabet, but we did feel their spirit

Brittany with the Banks.- part one of vacation

We began with Jim's dream of taking a long train ride up to the Northern part of France. We stayed for several days with the Banks, parents of Jenny Herr, twice returned missionaries and truly an amazing couple. They are from England but retired in Brittany and transformed an old barn into a dream home After exploring their area we went to.La Rouche Jagu, a beautiful jardin,cote de ceranit rose, then we took a walk along the beach,, the Atlantic!, at Tregastel rocks. For dinner we had a lovely visit with the Plante family in Plumgal, The nexct day everyone said it was necessary to see Mont Saint Michel, an abbey, monastery, prison,,on an island.. Then we went to a 12th century medieval town, Dinan, and finally at Lambelle for their fete, including roasted pig, clams, and dancing and singing. We had a great visit and continued with the missionary spirit with them.

our LAST official Post for This mission,, or the end of the middle

We began our mission going to a Spanish speaking baptism our Saturday and are ending with several this weekend. Way to go young Elders and Soeurs!

 In President Uchtdorf message this month..we are in the middle of our life journey and will continue on life's path in service!

 Our goal is to leave this place better than the way we found it! So we continue to clean,paint, and give away.

We have had many parties so say goodbye. again and again! From barbecues,to Italian. French, Swiss, Germans, and United Kingdom

Here is  our location for the next two weeks, as we will Probably NOT have internet and we are not taking our computers

Tuesdaywe take a train up to Northern France, Renne, also called Brittany (American History ,,WW II)

Friday we talk the train to Paris and then fly to Denmark for the weekend

We fly to Preston England and stay in Jim's first mission area for the week.We are happy  to visit our Family and Church history sites and serve in the Temples in those countries. We fly back to Geneva, wash, sort, and repack for our flight home ,very early Aug 15, We don't know about internet use for these next weeks.But, we do know that we will continue our blog and email when we can. We are still Missionaries, and happy to continue so .I just gave out two Livre de Mormon !(  to friends we see every week at the marche (dry fruit guy!) )

SInce I started writing this entry, there have been many challenges and changes. In solving these we have seen the Lord's hand,, Briefly,,our train ticket was reserved for the wrong day,,it was either Jim not understanding french or ..but, it turns out that we need the extra day that we lost on our vacation to solve other problems. For example, our reservations with the B@B were canceled in Denmark.  AND we  think we have solved that problem. 

 But we had lots of good stuff has transpired. Friday, after helping the Sisters, we went for our last drive in the Saleve Mt above Geneva.. we had already packed the tomtom ( liahona ),but last minute I ran back to get it.. And sure enough, we  needed it! We began the way we started this mission,,, getting lost and almost running out of gas. we even needed help at the "gas station" but luckily I have now had enough French and practice describing our problem.  The bonus  of our beautiful travels is viewing the beauty that God has created.. Our little adventure ended at 3pm. and when we returned there was a message,," Come swimming at the Bishops house,", exhausted,, Jim slept,, but I was too excited to rest, as I have not gone swimming outside for 2 years.!! With out air conditioning here on one of the hottest days, it was a great blessing!

Happy BIrthday to JIm. my sweet husband , who has loved serving continually

The Field is White

We have tried really hard to find and talk to our neighbors about the gospel, but, it looks someone else will have to harvest our seeds!.We talk to everyone (As Cousins Debby and Claudia got on their recorder ) but  feel sad that we did not have success in that area, Our greatest success has been with those in transition, those from somewhere else coming to Geneva for.... a job, a better life,,the gospel?

Good news for us, though!  We have finished our goal of reading and studying the 4 Standard works--with the help of BYU tv.. So, we started back to the beginning and are ready the Book of Mormon.. I have only to finish the Livre de Mormon with a few more chapters to have finished that goal also.. Of course, both these goals did not include comprehension! And , of course the good news of our Mongolian friends!

More good news,, We finally got to go to Lyon for business and pleasure. We went to the Institute and to the Mission office and settled some of the organizational problems with leaving our apartment , car, cell phone,, plants, extra food and clothes,, all of the same problems we had to deal with before we left,, deja vu!

Our drive took 2 hours, through beautiful mountains and fields. Lyons is the gateway to the North and South since ancient times, It started as a commercial and military capital, Gaul , founded by Julius Caesar in 44BC. So we visited the Roman ruins o  which the city was built, the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere and the Cathedrale St, Jean, The town was famous for Renaissance mansions and homes of bankers and silk merchants.... but we were DEAD Tired when we returned.

But, sleep did not come easily for me, for I knew that my oldest daughter Karina was probably in labor 8 hours away, After a sleepless night, we received the information that baby Nikolas is healthy and all is well with MOM, after a hard labor and delivery, being as he is 9"15 and 21inches. We say Felicitations to the McDonald family!

So, the joy of a healthy baby boy is a miracle and I am so happy to be a part of this

Hoe to the end of the Row

ho, ho. ho,  or the beginning ot the Good byes .Starting this second week of July none of the Presidency in the Bishopric or Relief Society in our Geneva l Ward! is in town. The UN couple missionaries and us are in charge of our ward, Since Jim is on the High Council, we also have an assignment in another ward to speak in french, luckily they are at different times.It is necessary to wear many hats for these next couple of weeks. Jim is finishing painting with a family.   I continue to sort and pack.  and I get to help with various neighbors an their babies.(preparing to renew my skills with our  grandbabies).

When we prepared to  come on our mission we knew we would return back to all of our friends in the states,  But, this is different.  We know we may never see many of our new and dear friends here.

So,,this week we cleaned some more, but mostly we worked on our humanitarian project for Africa, And in the cleaning of our stuff, we added to the shipment.

Today is French Independence day and last night there were alot of fireworks, today most places are closed and it is Saturday, The french people take their vacations very seriously and dont worry as much about the income they are losing.!

But, we did make it to the Ferney Voltaire Marche.  We were told today by our UN missionaries who have lived abroad that this is the second ,next to New Zealand best Marche they have been to.  And we will miss it dearly, fresh fruit and vegetables from local and exotic places.

We are planning a Rondez vous Labor Day weekend in Draper, hoping to see family and friends in the SLC-Provo area.  We will send more info as we have it