All Good Things Must Come to an End

This will be my last post on this blog.  If you want to see what we are doing now that we are home, I have started a new blog, "Linked By Cable" and I post things there once in awhile.  Thanks for stopping by.

England Birmingham Mission Reunion

I was so excited to be able to help a little bit with the reunion and it was a privilege to work with Amy and Dick Moffat (that seems strange because they are still President and Sister Moffat to me). There were a lot of missionaries, many of them engaged or married, and everyone had a great time talking with one another and catching up on the latest events in their lives.

I was most surprised to see Elder Hansen (center photo) from Sweden. He had to leave his mission early because of health reasons, he is doing really well now, and he has moved to Layton, Utah to run a potato chip business his family owns. His family has immigrated to Utah also, living in Draper. It was so fun to see him as well as so many other missionaries. They have great enthusiasm and goodness about them. It has been a privilege to work with and know them.

General Conference and Welsh Friends

We were so happy to be able to get four tickets to a session of April General Conference and were able to two of our grandchildren, Katelyn and Spencer. They loved being there as much as we did.

In addition to the friends we saw at Conference, we also had other visitors from Wales as well as Elder Gerber returning from his mission.And we certainly learned that God knows who Peter is and has been looking out for him. Peter has such amazing potential and we pray for him and hope for the best.

 Bev and Nolan Gerber, in the bottom center photo with Elder Gerber, have been so generous with us, allowing us to use their Bear Lake Cabin for a family reunion which was fabulous. We had such a great time building wonderful family memories there.

Our Homecoming, Melissa's Baby, and Family Gatherings

Julie never does anything half way. The cupcakes and other foods for Melissa's baby shower were divine and everything was breathtakingly beautiful. I was thrilled to be able to see Ellie shortly after her birth. All of my girls and their families were here for our Homecoming.  I loved being with everyone and truly appreciate the sacrifices they made to come. It was so nice of the Gerbers and the Bearnsons to come also. It was a fun day indeed.

Welcome Home

We couldn't have asked for a more joyful homecoming. It was fun to see our family at the airport with their Welcome Home sign.

Our daughter, Kim, kept us busy from the moment we stepped into our home. She is a delight.

We were only home five days before Elder Cable had his needed surgery. Within a couple of days he was feeling great and doing lots of things around the house.

Meals, Gifts, Songs and Love

We had already been scheduled to speak in Sacrament meeting on the 14th, so that turned out well as that was to be our last Sunday. After the closing song and prayer, the congregation had us stand while they sang, "We'll Keep a Welcome." Oh how we love that song. Indeed, we will have a feeling of hiraeth after we leave here.

The Young Single Adults held a big Family Home Evening to say good-bye to us. Students came from all over South Wales and it was so nice of them. Because there were some investigators, Elders Burri and Clark were able to come also. After the lesson Luc sang the solo introduction to "We'll Keep a Welcome" then they all joined in. This song is so poignant. Oh how we will miss these young people. Several have promised to come visit us in America. We hope so, but we shall see.

The 16th was our last day in Wales. David Beale came over from Bristol and helped us go to the EBM office, taking all our luggage because it would not fit in our little car. We love him and will truly miss him. We admire his goodness (he has never even tasted a cola drink and neither has any of his children). We also respect and admire his abilities. He is legend.

Sister Ogden provided a wonderful dinner at their home, then a sweet testimony meeting, one of the most powerful I have ever experienced, with the other departing missionaries. Elder Wark's (from Scotland) testimony was one of the most powerful and amazing I have ever heard. Then President & Sister Ogden had us and Sister Cunha stay overnight at their home. The Elders stayed at the mission office. President Ogden got up at 3:00 a.m. with us, we shared some sweetrolls and he wished us bon voyage as the AP's drove us all in a van to the airport. All went well as we flew out from Birmingham to Paris to Salt Lake City. Truly the end of a very sweet experience.

CES Departing Gift - Davy Miner's Lamp

As we will be heading for home next Tuesday, February 16th, our S&I Coordinator came to our Institute class this week to give us a departing gift of this Miner's Lamp. He read the following letter as he presented it to us in front of the class:

Dear Elder and Sister Cable,

A Davy Miner's Lamp is the traditional British farewell gift in the Seminaries and Institutes of Religion programme.

The miner's lamp is symbolic of many things. The Master said, "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16) For the last fifteen months you have held up a light to the young adults in Wales. The Psalmist tells us: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105) The scriptures have been your lamp and with them you have illuminated many a darkened path for students.

Welsh LDS miners have figured prominently in church history. You may remember that it was miners of Britain who helped bring about Fast Sunday. Originally, the first Thursday of the month was set aside by the Church for fasting. However, the hot conditions and heavy work in the mines caused severe discomfort for miners who were fasting, and "Fast Thursday" was changed to "Fast Sunday" in Britain because of this. Later, in 1896, this pattern was established for the whole Church. It has been estimated that some 14 percent of LDS immigrants in the mid-nineteenth century were miners, mostly from the British Isles and in particular Wales. Their contribution was considerable. Many were employed by Brigham Young to pioneer new mining colonies to exploit the mineral resources of Utah, especially iron and coal. You also have been pioneers developing the S&I programme in Wales and helping Welsh students discover their hidden potential.

The miner's lamp is a safety device--a lamp of protection, to warn in times of danger and prevent tragedy, even death. As you have served your mission, watching over and teaching Institute students, your light has been their protection. Wherever the miners went, they took their safety lamps, known as "Davy Lamps," after the inventor, Sir Humphrey Davy. The lamps were able to detect the presence of explosive gas, without causing an explosion themselves. One little-known fact is that Davy refused to patent his invention, even though had he done so he would have made a fortune, so widespread was its use. The reason he gave was that the lamp was created to serve the cause of humanity, for which he sought no reward. As you have taught the Gospel in Wales at great personal cost, the students and priesthood leaders have seen the same spirit of selfless service in you.

God Bless you. Wales and its Saints cannot thank you enough.

David Beale

S&I Coordinator

That was so nice. I must say it is extremely difficult to leave these students who are a bright and shining light to us. We have gained so much more from them than we have given. What a joy they have been.

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6 COMMENTS: [I had to add these as I deleted this post then re-entered it.]

Julie said...

That is so awesome!! What a great thing to have in your home to remind you of the experiences you've had and the relationships you've formed while in Wales. You have sure done a great work there, and it will be so nice to have a little tangible reminder of that.

February 11, 2010 9:46 AM

Becky said...

I can't believe you are coming home early. What an abrupt end to your mission. I hope Wayne is doing well. I bet Cherie will be glad to have you home -- and the rest of your family as well.

February 11, 2010 11:36 AM

Wren said...

Very nice blog! Thanks so much for sharing.

February 13, 2010 12:32PM

Kim said...

Very appropriate. Thanks for always letting your lights shine for me, and protecting me from hidden dangers as well. I love you.

February 14, 2010 12:38PM

Julie said...

I think you should continue blogging, now making it all about your awesome family. :)

February 18, 2010 12:17 PM

Katie Kerr Wrede said...

You must be feeling such mixed emotions. I hope the best for you and Wayne.

February 19, 2010 8:29AM

Just a Few More Hours

As Elder Cable requires some surgery that cannot be done here for quite some time, we have been advised by our Mission President and the Area Authority to end our mission three months early and return home to have him taken care of. It is with great regret that we leave the members, our Institute students and the missionaries whom we have come to love so dearly. We are excited to be home with our family again, but for today there is sorrow in leaving, even though we know it is right and for the best.

Everyone wants to say good-bye in a special way and they are showering us with meals and little gifts. They are far better to us than we deserve, but we love their warmth and kindness.

Sinead Cross, an investigator, wanted to fix dinner for us and the Elders. It was a fun evening. On Thursday we took the Elders to Interviews at the Ward as Elder Clark can't walk very far or ride a bike because of an unknown pain. We take them everywhere. Thursday we were off to Merthyr Tydfil for our last time teaching Institute there. We love those girls and they are hilarious. I recorded their Welsh accents. That was an experience!

Friday we did our last flat inspections. What a delight. It is something we will definitely miss. Our first stop was in Pontypridd, Elder Hummer and Elder Jagoda's flat. Elder Hummer had a teddy bear on his bed, Buster, and told me they have been together since he was a baby and that I should say "Hi" to Buster. I did. There are not a lot of missionaries who could get away with having a teddy bear, especially one that his companion must say "Good Night" to every night, but Elder Hummer is so cool, he can. In fact the missionaries call him Commander Hummer.

Elders Hummer and Jagoda really wanted to win the "Cleanest Flat Award" as Elder Clark nearly always wins. When we arrived they told me to look at the refrigerator. On it was a note: "Sister Cable, look in the fridge." I did, and there was a beautiful bouquet of roses for me. They won.

There's nothing quite like TGIFriday's. I wish we had discovered it sooner. It was fun to treat the Elders to lunch between Elder Clark's appointments with Dr./President Dearden.

Countryside in Wales

I thought I would put up a few photos of Wales. These were taken on January 29th after we did flat inspections. We decided to have lunch at Thornhill Farm, really close to where we live, and I think the countryside is beautiful. It was a clear, sun-shiny day, well at least part of the day. The weather here changes every five minutes. It rained within ten minutes of these photos. But that didn't last -- we soon had sunshine again.

You can see the Severn River and England in the background; and my beloved sheep grazing in the meadow. I am still amazed at how green things are, even in the middle of winter.

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(Because I deleted this post and added it again later, I will add the comments just so I don't lose them.)

4 COMMENTS:

Becky said...

VERY cool pictures. You are an awesome photographer!

FEBRUARY 3, 2010, 4:43 PM

Julie said...

Beautiful Wales. I'm sad to say that you're coming home to a place that is not that green in Winter. But if we get a little snow, it will be a beautiful white!

(Regretfully, I've lost the other two comments.)

22-29 January 2010: Baptism - YSA - District Mtg. - Paul's BD - Flat Inspections

When I look back over a few days, I am always surprised at everything that happens. Ken and Margaret's baptism was one of the best. They are so excited about being members of the Church.

I am ever surprised at how willing our YSA are to go to a lot of trouble for their "fancy dress" parties and dances. They have such a good time with one another.

It was also very kind of our students to come to our home for Family Home Evening when Elder Cable was too ill to go out. We loved having them there and we had a good time.

Any time we can spend with the missionaries is always an enriching experience. We especially love Elder Clark and Elder Burri and are so lucky to be able to spend extra time with them as we help them shop, drive them to teaching appointments, and teach with them. I love to listen to them discuss the gospel and express their love for the Savior and His work.
Another "fancy dress" party, this time to celebrate Paul Pratt's birthday. The theme was "suit up" and everyone was requested to wear a suit. We ate at Nandos in the new St. David's Mall which is first class all the way. The new John Lewis department store there is amazing.

Nathan East and Simon Hayes always wear their missionary name tags on the inside pocket of their suit coats. For fun they put them on the outside for a photo. They both miss being on their missions.

Sean Chen Chen will soon be going back to China. Oh how we will all miss him.

Flat inspections in Cardiff, Blackwood, Cwmbran and Newport. It has been hard to inspect all the flats we need to because Elder Cable doesn't feel as well as he would like. We love visiting the missionaries in their flats and you never know what you will find. Do you like the "Lads on Tour" flag in the Newport flat? In these photos we have missionaries from Italy, China, Germany, Sweden, England, and the United States.

Winter Loveliness

Invalids, Institute, Zone Conference & Friday Forum

Transfers, A Wedding & A Birthday

We absolutely love and admire Elder Clark and we are so happy that he is our new District Leader. He is an amazing missionary and one of the nicest people I have ever met. Elder Burri is from Switzerland and he will be a great co-senior companion with Elder Clark.

The Family Home Evening we had on the 11th was amazing. It is good to have Jess back and to have Ben meet with us, a pleasant surprise. Luc taught the lesson, always a treat, on Elder Holland's article in this month's Ensign, "The Best is Yet to Be". He used as discussion topics, "Remember Lot's wife." and "Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us." As each of us shared our feelings and experiences I realized that almost every one of these students were suffering hardship in one way or another, yet their faith was firm and they felt the comfort of the Holy Ghost in the midst of their struggles. These young people truly inspire me.

January Comings and Goings

With the joy of having our Institute students returning, though a few at a time, we are also experiencing one of the hardest parts of our mission. Just as you get really attached to someone, especially the missionaries, they leave. Elder Halaufia has only been in Rhiwbina for six weeks and he and Elder Clark make an awesome companionship. They work so well together, they teach with the Spirit, they are both dedicated missionaries and they are so much fun. Just as we become attached, they transfer missionaries. We are so thankful that Elder Clark will be here, but Elder Halaufia has gone to Nottingham. I would like to share a story he shared with our Institute class last Tuesday.

We asked the Elders to talk on some specific things to solidify the principles in the Institute lesson (Alma 17-24) which was emphasizing missionary work. Elder Halaufia said that after he finished his time in the MTC, while he was waiting for his visa to come through he was assigned to a three-some in Salt Lake City. He was excited to be a missionary and wanted to do his best and work hard. They lived in a member’s home and he said, “Let’s go knock some doors. I’m ready.” The other two Elders said, “This is Salt Lake City. We don’t knock doors in Salt Lake City.” Elder Halaufia wanted to know how they found people and the Elders said, “We go to the home of a member and they give us a referral, then we go teach that person.” Elder Halaufia was still excited and wanted to knock some doors because he had always thought that was what missionaries do. So the Elders condescendingly said, “Okay. Let’s let Elder Halaufia feel like a missionary. Where do you want to go?” Elder Halaufia said, “Well how about here, right in our neighborhood.” So they went across the street and knocked on the door. They could see someone coming toward the door. That was when Elder Halaufia got nervous, wondering what he would say, but he was determined. When the door was answered, it was a woman who said, “I have been waiting for three years for one of you to knock on my door. Come in.” So they went in and started teaching her the Gospel. You’ve got to love Elder Halaufia. He truly teaches with the Spirit.

A New Year Begins - 2010 is a Lovely Number