Elder Smart has had a very busy week trying to sort through all of the materials we gathered and copied from our Isle of Wight visit. The amount of information that we found is overwhelming and is taking a lot of time to organize, translate and take in.
Since there is not enough digitizing our supervisor has been trying to make arrangements for changes in our mission assignments. This has been going on for more than a month now. The other missionary couple, Elder and Sister Powell have been assigned to a German mission to microfilm. They are leaving Tuesday. We have been feeling a little like we are not sure what our purpose is here. Then Annie realized how much effort Paul has put into trying to find his Major family ancestors. He has diligently searched for them for many years. Having this free time, has allowed him to search areas in England that he has never been able to search before. It has been a great blessing. Annie feels that this time is a gift from our Heavenly Father to allow Paul to research and find his family. We know that all will work out with our mission assignments when the time is right.
We decorated our flat for Christmas this week. The decorations are simple, but so much fun!
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| Christmas doll #2 |
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Christmas doll from Isle of
Wight |
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| Tree(CD holder); wall ornaments made by Grandkids |
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| Decorated TV console |
Our Staines Ward had their Christmas party Saturday evening. The theme was Christmas around the world. There are so many countries represented in our Ward that we learned a lot and enjoyed a lot of food, fun, and dancing. Of course we did our little contribution and Annie did chocolate chip cookies and sloppy joes
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| Large Ward turnout for party |
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| Philippino's sharing song in Tagalog |
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| Amelia Petchy and mother |
We enjoyed a beautiful and moving Christmas Devotional and singing time with Staines Stake Sunday evening.
Happy Anniversary to Stephen and Rachelle this week.
We send our love this Christmas season. We are so grateful for the birth of Christ. We are so blessed by his love, life, teachings, example and atonement. We pray that we can serve him faithfully.
Grandpa and Grandma Smart, Mom and Dad, Paul and Annie, Elder and Sister Smart
More Isle of Wight pictures.
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| Missionaries in the PUB |
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Bargeman's Rest Pub, favorite eating place
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| Location of Rope Walk in East Cowes | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Paul & the Archivist, Mr. Smout |
The rope walk is probably where John Major had his rope making business.
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| Smarts on the floating bridge |
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| Floating Bridge between East and West Cowes |
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| Dock on the Medina River, probably where John Major's family docked their boat. |
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