Tower, Winchester, and Missionary Olympics

Patti & Dave at Tower of London, Tower Bridge with Olympic Rings in Background

Dave, Patti, and unknown tourist at Tower of London

The highlight of the past two weeks was a 3-day visit by daughter Patti and husband Dave Edwards on Dave's way to a combustion conference in Poland.  Our fears of congestion problems the day before the Olympics proved unfounded, as they breezed through customs and immigration with no waiting whatever, thanks perhaps to extra staffing and the immigration-officer strike being called off a day earlier.  We toured the Tower of London, where Thomas More and some of Henry VIII's wives served time or were executed, and viewed the armory and royal jewels displayed there.  We also toured Winchester, England's capital city prior to William the Conqueror's arrival in 1066, with its beautiful cathedral.  Their last day here, we saw the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum and got a nice view of Big Ben glowing in the evening sunlight and the outsides of Westminster Abbey (which closed early), and Buckingham Palace.  It was a pleasant 3-day tour, though a couple more days would have been nice.

Westminster Abbey

Winchester Cathedral

Big Ben in Evening Sunlight

 The young missionaries with whom we work here are a remarkable group.  They are spiritually mature and serious about their work; they also know how to have great fun with simple things.  Last week, for example, our little district of 8 plus us held our own Olympics, with us as photographer and scorekeeper, having a hilarious time with such contests as a raw-egg-in-a-tablespoon blindfolded carry, marshmallow-eating contest, and Kleenex contest (how fast can one empty a tissue box one-at-a-time with one hand?).  Ok, it sounds silly--you had to see it to appreciate it.  If you had, you too would pity people who resort to alcohol to have a good time, if you don't already.