The mission is growing. Last month saw 14 missionaries complete their
missions and return home, with 30 arriving to replace them. A similar increase is planned for the next
transfer. We have missionaries from 51
countries speaking 45 languages. Our
district is adding a pair of Cantonese- and Mandarin-speaking missionaries
because of the large number of Chinese students attending universities here.
We continue to support the Young
Single Adults program with cooking, transportation, and teaching Sunday school
in one of the three wards we attend.
Paul was recently asked to be the concluding speaker in church, just
five minutes before the meeting began.
Fortunately, he had begun carrying a talk with him to meetings. Now he carries two of them so as not to give
the same one twice.
Since the last update, we’ve been to
London for training (with more London driving experience), and visited Salisbury
Cathedral, Bath, Stonehenge, and ...(drum roll) a brand-new Costco. So far this year, the weather has been dryer
than last year, so we’re trying to see a few things before the rains return.
Vocabulary: Paul asked his driving examiner why there was a
poster announcing the date of the director’s surgery, and she said it was an
invitation for driving instructors to come meet with the director. Later we saw a news article about a local
police chief’s surgery. The online
Oxford dictionary describes this meaning as “an occasion on which an MP,
lawyer, or other professional person gives advice.” The other odd meaning is a doctor’s
office: after arriving here we signed up
for National Health Service coverage at a doctor’s office called West End
Surgery, but we don’t think they cut on people there. As for other strange words, the word here for
dessert is pudding: “What’s for pudding
tonight? Oh brilliant, biscuits!” Oatmeal is porridge. And as a bonus for reading this far, the
word the Welsh use for microwave oven is poppity-ping.
Pictures are shown below. Our apologies if you were hoping to see pictures of the new Costco.
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| Salisbury Street Scene |
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| Salisbury Cathedral |
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| Inside Salisbury Cathedral |
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| Salisbury's 404-ft Spire, Tallest in United Kingdom |
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| Salisbury Cathedral Windows |
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| Country Church Outside Corsham, Near Bath |
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| Roman Baths at Bath, About 115°F Hot Spring |
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| Almshouse at Corsham, Near Bath, Built for Six Poor Families |
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| Stonehenge |
