Enjoyed visiting with the Ayles – as I always do.
This time around they were billeted in ‘my office’ for the night. Sitting in
the hallway this morning across from their door, I thought I had gotten up
early enough to sneak a little internet before anybody caught me. (Hadn’t
gotten dressed, or washed my face or anything.) No sooner had I sat down in my
pajamas, then out the door came Sister Ayles. She pulled up ‘a chair’ next to
me and sat herself right down. (You know, I was just thinking, she rather
reminds me of grandma Mary.) I started
showing her how my blog works and then shared some pictures of my parents, and
children, and grandchildren. She was very attentive. Very soon out a different
bedroom came her niece, Lynn. We all had a pleasant chat, and then off they
went to breakfast – while for me it probably was high time I skedaddled back to
my little cubby, to think about getting ready for church.
Lynn, who is probably in her late 50s – hard to
tell – and has one son, told me that she is the leader for a group of cubs – as
in Cub Scouts. I began telling her how I had done that several times back when
my oldest son was that age. (Once again – my, MY, how time flies - don’t even
want to think about how many years ago that was!) In our conversation I was
reminded that in England, where that organization originated and where they are
very much into being current with the times, scouts has included both boys AND
girls – and for sometime now.
From Lynn I also learned an interesting idiom that
I had never heard before. In our
chatting, the fact arose that I had been widowed at the age of 36 and pregnant
with my youngest child. She added a similar story of a relative of theirs who
lost her husband – actually her partner – in a motorcycle accident when she was
pregnant with their child. In reality, he had been on the way to complete the
application for a marriage license. (That’s pretty sad.) She had gone on to
raise that child and never did remarry. She does not ‘suffer fool’s gladly,’
Lynn had said of her. ‘Come again?!’ She explained, in other words, that this
woman does not have a whole lot of sympathy for people complaining about their
troubles – having had her fair share and still surviving.
The Ayles and I – and Malcolm, who walked over as
his car is in the shop – waited in the lounge for Loraine to get to the point
where she could drive us all to church in her van. (She had the postal group still,
you recall.) Finally Andy brought the key and wanted to know if Malcolm could
drive us, that they would join up with us as soon as they could. Off we went –
thinking, ‘oh, boy – we’re going to be late for the sacrament!’ I suggested to
Malcolm we drop the Ayles off by the front door so they could get in as quickly
as possible, and then we’d park and make our way. When I entered through the
glass doors I could see the branch president’s son standing there in the foyer holding
up the bread tray to Joan. Whew - hurray! I hurried in.
Our speakers were our high counselor, Brother
Kraftner, and his lovely wife, Melsia. He indicated that he’d been assigned to
our branch, and so we no doubt would be seeing a lot more of them. (Made me
think of Martin, who two weeks out of every month is off doing the exact thing
in Kitterminster! Sister Kraftner told me later they have been encouraged to
make it a ‘family visit’ whenever possible – except in the case where the wife
has a major calling in the ward (Leah!).) He’s a good-looking guy from Austria,
while his Afro-Caribbean wife (you could tell by the name, right?!), is from
the greater London area. At some point in their youung lives they connected up in
Poole – where they still live today. They have two older married kids (one
daughter in Georgia; Melsia said ever since she was a little girl she had wanted
to live in America – sounds like somebody else I know!) plus a caboose still at
home.
Sister Kraftner talked on the concept of paying it
forward, encouraging us to look for ways we can do something for others that
they cannot do for themselves, (Luke 6:38). Brother Krafter was assigned by the
Stake Presidency to address the subject of the godhead – one about which there
is a good deal of confusion in the world. There are varying beliefs on what exactly
constitutes the godhead. He confirmed that a major difference between our
church and other religions is that we have scriptures that tell us exactly WHO
they are as well as their purpose. God’s work and glory is to bring to pass the
immortality and eternal life of man; Jesus’ purpose is twofold – to help us 1) overcome
physical death, at the same time, 2) the consequences of sin; while the Holy
Ghost has many roles – comforter, teacher, testifier, to name a few. He is the
means by which our Father can communicate with us, (John 14:26).
In his discussion concerning how the Holy Spirit
teaches us correct principles, he shared a very interesting analogy relating to
the beliefs of science vs. our understanding of things as gained through divine
knowledge: if you take a watch all to pieces, place it in a bag and then shake
it and shake it – for eons even – will it ever be restored to its original
workings and structure? Never. The same with the mixture of elements needed to
create the earth and everything that inhabits it. Over eons of time could these
EVER interact to form a firmament – an earth – man?! Brother and Sister Kraftner
were both really sharp – can’t wait to spend more time with them!
Our closing hymn was Come, Come Ye Saints. Did NOT
catch the significance of the selection – if there was any. (But it DIDN’T
drag!)
Paul Dadds is such an awesome gospel doctrine
teacher – I think I would live here just so I could partake of his lessons! He
always asks the most intriguing questions to get our brains going. For
instance, this week for a visual aid he set out a clock, a topographical map of
the continental United States, and the profile of a man, thenasked the question:
what do these things have to do with our lesson today? Could have been a lot of
things, but what he was getting at was that the restoration of the gospel came
down to ‘the right time, the right place, and the right man’ – and then proceeded
to lead us through a religious history of the world following the death of the
apostles. Quoting the lesson manual as relates to the ‘right time, the right
place, and the right man”: thus, the Lord began to prepare those
social, economical, religious, educational, and governmental conditions of the
people in order to prepare the ground for the eventual restoration of the gospel. (This is the
second week I have been brought to attention as Brother Dadds closes each
lesson, ‘Thank you for your PAR’ticipation,’ as opposed to the way we say it ‘perticiPA’tion.’ (Always makes me chuckle to myself.)
Also liked the analogy Loraine brought up, that
she had used on her mission, relating to what happened to the true gospel after
the death of Jesus Christ. Imagine the good news of the gospel as a picture on the
wall, with the apostles as one nail holding it in place and the Saviour as a
second one securing it fast – two points. With the Saviour out of the picture,
the principles of the gospel were left to be twisted and turned – this way or that,
to whatever degree – to satisfy the whims of man.
Brother Kagi, member of the bishopric asked me
after sacrament meeting how I was enjoying my stay here – at which point I took
the opportunity to gush – all leading up to him asking me if he had asked me to
speak next week – as he said he’d written it in his calendar. Aaa, no – but
sure, I’ll be happy to take my turn. Oh, joy – lucky me! Seems the topic, as others in past weeks have
stated it, continues to be New Beginnings – it IS January, after all. Last week a single
member spoke, Gerrie Taylor, and Malcolm told me on the way home that he also
is speaking next week. Great, looks like they wouldn’t want their single adults
to be left out of the picture or anything! Even though it was obvious this ‘opportunity’
was coming – we are SO small, our branch – the call is always so unexpected and
catches you off guard when it does!
Photos_
What could be better than a moving one! Come, Come, ye Saints – the Mormon Tabernacle
Choir (stirring!)
&v=T4Uet-0joBI (splice that altogether - sorry, there's an ad you can skip in 3, 2, 1 seconds . . . ‘)
