Ambassadors

No, we didn’t meet any foreign ambassadors this week. :) But we’re surrounded by ambassadors every day—missionaries just like us who are here representing Jesus Christ and His church as we go about our service in the Area Office. As I’ve mentioned before, most of us are not doing what might seem like traditional missionary things. We (meaning all the senior missionaries) are serving in all sorts of ways (legal, administrative, communications, humanitarian, etc.) to help keep the Church functioning smoothly in this Europe North Area and serving with the local members and doing whatever we can to be examples of Jesus Christ.

Last week a dear friend of ours replied to our weekly email with this poem. He had been playing around with one of the new AI websites where you can input a little bit of information and it’ll create a story or poem or essay based on that input. I don’t know the exact phrases he put in, but we just loved what he shared with us. Somehow it captures the way we already feel about this beautiful place and the people here. I truly hope that we are being “ambassadors of love” in all that we do.

In the heart of England's green embrace,
Where ancient stones whisper tales of grace,
Senior VW Missionaries tread with purpose and might,
Guided by the Lord's celestial light.

A leap of faith, they left behind kin and all,
Trading comfort for a higher call,
Their mission clear, their hearts ablaze,
To serve, uplift, and offer praise.

In quaint villages and bustling towns,
They share their heritage, their gospel crown,
Ambassadors of love, they bridge the travail,
Uniting souls on both sides of heaven’s veil.

Yet sometimes, as the rain-kissed wind blows,
They yearn for distant laughter, the love that glows,
Missing grandchildren's giggles, their tender embrace,
A call of sacrifice made for a heavenly space.

Navigating roads where lanes twist and turn,
Driving on the left, their hearts still burn,
For every encounter, every tea shared,
Is a testament to the joy they've dared.

Through rain-soaked streets and sun-kissed lanes,
They find beauty in service, in life's refrains,
Sacrifice blooms into gardens of grace,
And joy dances freely in each kind face.

As twilight paints the ancient spires,
They feel the Lord's whisper, their souls on fire,
Senior Missionaries . .  steadfast and true,
In England's embrace, they find love anew.

So let their footsteps echo through time,
Service etched in verse, a sacred rhyme,
For they are more than mere travelers passing by,
They are emissaries of faith, under England's sky.

Thank you, dear friend! We’ll treasure this poem written by you, with a little help from your AI friend. :)

This view from our flat will never get old.

In other news, this week was fairly uneventful with busy days at the office. We’re both getting into a little bit of a routine and feeling more comfortable with what our responsibilities are, and even driving is starting to feel less terrifying so that’s great progress.

On Friday night we went out to dinner with another missionary couple to the Royal Standard Pub, a nearby icon that claims to be the oldest pub in England. Good traditional pub food and very cool old atmosphere with original beams and tile flooring.

The door says, "Welcome Pilgrim" and the sign says, "Welcome dear pilgrim to the oldest freehouse in England. For over 900 years this hostelry has been known throughout the land for giving shelter and hospitality to the wayfarer. Go in peace. Go gently pilgrim.

Jon had "bangers and mash" and I had a delicious chicken pie.

♥ Until next time, we love you! Cheerio! ♥

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Words of the Week:

(Words or phrases we hear “on the street” that either delight, confuse or amuse us.)

Fly-Tipping - the unauthorized dumping of garbage on someone else’s property, see below

Straight Bit - I think this is referring to the straight part of the road, because the road up this hill is most definitely not straight and is hardly even suitable for cars haha.