First post from London

Here we are in London as PEF Self-Reliance Missionaries but, after getting all excited about that new program, what we are really going to be doing, at least for now, is serving as Area Employment Specialists.  We are spending most of our days in the Employment Resource Center in the Hyde Park Chapel helping people who come in looking for work. There are some great volunteers from the Hyde Park Stake and they have helped us learn the ropes. We are still receiving training from Martin Gardner, our direct supervisor in our calling while Pres. David Jordan, President of the England London Mission, will be our ecclesiastical leader. 

We arrived 20 September 2013 and spent the first few days getting established as legal residents.  This involved much walking as we went to the Council House to sign up for taxes for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, to the Post Office to apply for a Freedom Pass which allows residents over 60 years of age to travel all over London for free, set up a bank account, ordered internet for our flat (which was just installed today), etc.  This is in addition to buying groceries and minor household goods to make our flat more homey and usable, including a little step stool so we don't have to high jump into the bathtub!  We were extremely blessed as we did these things on our own with very little instruction or assistance.  

Two couples from England who are serving at the Visitors' Centre in Hyde Park Chapel live in our building and Sister Brooks invited us for dinner the first night we arrived.  Elder Brooks was formerly a counselor in the London Temple Presidency.  They are delightful people and dinner was delicious.  We so appreciated their warm friendliness.  Elder Brooks loaned us his mobile hot spot so we could have moments of internet in our flat until we got our own.  Our flat is good sized, very nice, and freshly painted.  

We must tell about some of the sights we have seen.  We went to see the Queen at Buckingham Palace but, unfortunately, she was in Scotland.  When she leaves in the summer time, tours are given of the State Rooms in the Palace.  The Centre was closed on a Friday and it happened to be the last day tours were given.  We were impressed with the beautiful building , the lavish decoration and furnishings.  The property is a total of 39 acres and the gardens and the lake are beautiful (see above).  We came out way round the back so had to hurry about ¾ mile around to the front of the Palace to see the changing of the Guards.  We arrived after it had begun and couldn’t see very well at all through the crowds but, as time went on, people began to leave and we ended up right by the fence with a great view of everything.  The whole thing is very elaborate.  We can’t believe they go through that much to change two guards by the front door.  It takes a whole bunch of troops, two marching bands and they stand at attention and maneuver for a half hour.  

Another morning we walked through Kensington Gardens and visited Kensington Palace where Prince William and Kate live with Prince George.  We didn't take the guided tour that day.  We were charmed by the delightful children’s playground which is a memorial to Princess Diana.  We then walked over to the Round Pond and through the whole excursion Lynn got three lifers—birds he’s never seen. Below, Lynn with Kensington Palace in the background and an arbor near the palace.

Another morning we visited Harrod’s, the world-famous department store.  Kaye priced a handbag, just for fun, and it was the equivalent of $1500!  Elder Larsen, in the office, had told us that men’s shoes start at $440 or something like that.  Harrod’s has a really great children’s area with lots of books, games puzzles, and toys. There were a lot of people there but we didn't see anyone buying anything, other than the toy area and the food court, which is fabulous; we bought two lovely sandwiches 

Saturday we went to Portobello Road to experience the Saturday Market.  Half of the world's population seemed to have the same idea.  We saw more people in the one-mile length of it than you can imagine.

We have witnessed tender mercies for other folks, too.  A small “coincidence” as we came out of Sainsbury’s grocery market.  You come out and immediately go round a corner of the building to get onto the sidewalk.  As we rounded it, a woman coming from the opposite direction exclaimed, “You’re Latter-day Saints!"  She was a smiling, blonde lady with light in her eyes and she told us she had gone to Temple Square on a visit and she had wanted to be baptized.  Someone had taken her name and address and said that missionaries would visit her in Australia but she has never been contacted.  Lynn told her that she should come to the Hyde Park Chapel.  She said she knew where it was.  We hope she stops in.

A very interesting lady from India came in, Shirley, and we had a few computer issues to work out.  Her daughter has lived in England for 9 years and will sponsor Shirley to stay here if she can get a job.   So, later in the week, Brother and Sister Reynolds (from Provo) in the Visitors’ Centre told us that Shirley had come and sat with them after she left the Employment Centre.  They chatted for awhile and Sister Reynolds asked her if she would like to watch a Church film.  The sister watched it, then sat another minute with Sister Reynolds.  As they sat there, a family came in by the name of Bates.  They are from India and as they chatted with Shirley, Brother Bates said he knew of a job tending children—being a nanny. That was the kind of job she had wanted to find.  So---it looks like she has a job.  We are delighted.  If the timing had been any different, she would not have been there at that moment to meet the Bates.  They had come to visit a departing missionary.  Tender mercy.

One of the job seekers is a girl from Hungary!  Her name was Angela Karolyi and she is from Pápa.  She was very happy to meet us and vice versa. 

We have met some old friends here, Ron and Hildred Cobia.  Lynn and Ron roomed together their freshman year at BYU.  We have had a delightful reunion.