A Full Week - #17

We started this week with a "bank holiday".  This is what they call many national holidays.  Monday we were off work and it was Annie's first day up (partly so) after being sick for several days.  We went grocery shopping and Paul got a haircut.  The rest of the day was spent cleaning and washing and ironing.

Tuesday, we left the digitizing early and went upstairs to do family history research with our friends from the Staines Ward.  Helen and Paul Baden have the spirit of Elijah in full swing.  They both love doing genealogy.  Sister Helen Baden is a member and her husband, Paul Baden is not a member.  We love spending time with this family.  After time at the London Family History Centre we came to our flat and had dinner together.  We pray that Brother Paul Baden will accept the gospel and be baptized.  He is truely a dry Mormon.

Paul and Helen Baden

Paul teaching family history to Helen Baden

Wednesday we hopped on the bus after work and headed to our Staines Ward House to teach the young men and young women how to index.  We left early so that we could get set up before everyone arrived.  We caught the first bus and then waited for our second bus that comes every 20 minutes.  We had a 15 minute wait until the scheduled bus was to arrive.  We waited and waited and that bus never came.  We waited and waited and the next scheduled bus did not come.  Finally the 3rd bus showed up and we got there just as it was time to start.  All was well because the young men's leader that was to go early was at the next bus stop.  He too was waiting for the buses that did not arrive. 

View from the bus

Saturday we had the opportunity to go with the young single adults on a church historical tour in the Herefordshire area.  Getting away from London and into the country was so beautiful.  The green country side was an awesome view.

English countryside

More countryside

Ledbury, Herefordshire

Baptist Church in Ledbury.

 We first stopped at Ledbury for lunch and saw the Baptist Church that Wilford Woodruff was allowed to preach in and baptized members there in 1840.



 We drove a few more miles to the Hill Farm (Benbow Farm).  It was here that Wilford Woodruff came into contact with a group who had left the Methodist Church and organized their own religious group called the United Brethren.  He arrived at the home of John Benbow on the 4th of March 1840.  Elder Woodruff arrived their after being referred by William Benbow, the brother of John Benbow, and spiritual promptings.   Two days after his arrival, he baptized the Benbows and 3 of their friends.  During the next 6 months he baptized all of the United Brethern ministers and most of their congretations. 

Benbow Farm House

In front of the Pond

Wilford Woodruff dug a pond on the Benbow farm to baptize in.  We were able to see that pond and feel the spirit there.  The missionary efforts of Wilford Woodruff, Brigham Young and Willard Richards brought more than 1800 people in to the Church.




Our next stop was in Castle Frome, the local parish church just below the Benbow Farm.  At first Wilford Woodruff was invited to preach here, but soon wore out his welcome.  The minister soon began to complain and sent a constable up the hill to stop Wilford from preaching.  The constable listed for a short time and after the meeting asked to be baptized.  The minister later sent two of his churchwardens up to find out what was going on.  These two were also baptized following the meeting that they attended. We entered the Castle Frome 0church building where Wilford Woodruff taught the gospel.

The Castle Frome Parish Church

Tour group listens to the tour guide

Annie preaching from the pulpit of the chapel

Inside the Castle
Frome chapel

Our last stop was the Gadfield Elm Chapel which also happens to be the oldest LDS chapel in the world.  This church building was built about 1836 by the United Brethern.  Since all of the United Brethren joined the LDS Church, they no longer needed a chapel and gave the building to the LDS Church.  As most members left Herefordshire to emigrate to America, the chapel was abandoned and used by local farmers for equipment storage.  Most of the roof was gone and one wall was mostly gone.  Some local business men and members of the Church bought it and restored it and gave the title to the Church.  It is now used as a visitors center

Gadfield Elm Chapel

 

Annie in the Gadfield Elm Chapel

The old people's bus

We sat in the back of the bus

We both learned a lot about Church  history in England  It was fun, educational and spiritual.


Today, Sunday, we taught our first temple prep class.  All went well and we are looking forward to next week.

We love and miss all of you.  We know the gospel is true and we are serving where the Lord wants us right now.

Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Paul and Annie

The 4 cygnets and mom