The Perfect Welcome

Friday we at last left London and piled in the car. Our bags barely fit, but they did which was a little of a miracle. The drive to Crawley took about three hours with traffic. Greg drove with a driving instructor, and I sat in the back with the luggage most of the way. The roads are very narrow, people drive fast, and there is always traffic. Our "platform," which is British for apartment, is in the heart of downtown, right next to a bustling mall. 43 years ago when I served as a young missionary in Luton, a small town north of London, they didn't really have grocery stores or fast food chains. We had a fish and chips shop on the corner and bakeries, green grocers and a butcher on main street. 

In Crawley, there is a Subway, a KFC, Burger City, and an entire mall filled with stores. Oh, TJ Maxx is TK Maxx here, but it's pretty much the same. We went grocery shopping at Aldi's, and we hear there is a Costco about a half an hour away. There is even a Moss Bros, which is a men's fine apparel shop which we laughed at because our daughter is married to a Moss. 

Also, the accents aren't at all like those I remember from Luton. I don't know if it is because of the prevalence of media or if it was just that the little rural town I served in had much stronger accents. The people in Crawley sound a lot like us. The only difference is they use soft "r"s. They don't even say p- "aah"-th, or pull their mouths really tight to say an "o" like the people I remember. 

The day after we arrived, we went to Stake Conference. The Crawley Stake is booming! So many faithful saints. For the Saturday night session the chapel was full. They had snacks afterward in the cultural hall and we met some marvelous people. Two new converts spoke and a woman struggling with an undiagnosed condition who gave a powerful testimony on faith.

It was shocking to talk to the elders who said they work entirely from referrals they get off of social media. The church is really growing here, which is thrilling.

Then on Sunday, we met a woman Greg found on his mission who later joined the church. We also got appointments with our Stake President and his counselor to better clarify what they want us to do here. Best of all, the primary children sang "When the Savior Comes Again," one of my favorite new hymns. Then we ended the meeting singing "Gethsemane," also a family favorite. So wonderful.

One thing that President Hunt taught that I'd never heard before was the meaning of the two parables about the Hidden Treasure in the Field and The Pearl of Great Price. He explained that the man who sold all he had to buy a field after finding a hidden treasure in it so that he would have the right to the treasure was Christ. Christ gave all he had to redeem us and WE or all the faithful saints are that treasure. Then he said in the other parable that a man found a pearl which he knew was very valuable and sold all he had for that one precious pearl. Then the Stake President paused. "Each of you is that pearl. Whether you are doing all you should or not, you are worth everything the Lord has!"

I know that's true. Each soul is so precious to God and should be to us. Am I showing enough love? Am I feeling how valuable I am?

After the meeting, we went to visit the temple grounds. There were a handful of young families that had the same idea. So cool to see them feeding the ducks and playing ball at their picnic.

It felt like heaven on earth to walk the lovely grounds on a bright spring day. What a blessing to be here and a perfect welcome!