Nearly Settled

Our landlord, having just returned from vacation two weeks ago, checked out our complaint of pet urine odor in the carpet, and we had new carpet 48 hours later (great response!).  While the old carpet was up we treated the worst spots on the floor with vinegar, then baking soda, but the odor returned when the new-carpet smell faded.  However, sprinkling half a pound of baking soda on top of the carpet and letting it work its way in may have finished the odor, though it’s a bit early to declare victory.   Febreeze helps too, but we’re giving most of the credit to the baking soda.  Why put this in a mission blog?  Well, you may need to know it someday.

With the carpet replaced, we have now added a dresser, a wardrobe, and a permanent bed to our furnishings.  Our Vauxhall station wagon is very handy for hauling furniture home.  We really feel for the couples in London with unfurnished flats and no cars in which to haul furniture.   On the other hand, gasoline (petrol) is a bit over $8 per US gallon.

In the past two weeks we’ve met with local church leaders to receive further direction on our assignment with the Center for Young Adults and have met a number of the young adults with whom we’ll be working.  We spoke in church on Sunday.  There are roughly 200 young adults in the three congregations with which we are concerned.  We are greatly impressed with the caliber, vision, and commitment of the church leaders here.  When we mentioned to the stake president that we are without Internet access until Aug. 1, he pulled a cellular wi-fi hotspot out of his pocket and said, “Here, use this.”  Talk about being prepared for everything!

New Forest Free-ranging Horse

The Andrews, our hosts and guides for most of the past month, took us to their place at the beach in Dorset via New Forest, a large park and former hunting ground of kings, where horses and cattle roam without fences.  The beach reminds us of the Oregon coast, where one may need a jacket in the summer.  A distinctive feature of this beach is that it has ocean-going swans.

Ocean-going Swans with Isle of Wight on Horizon