In institute this week we showed the YA devotional from President and Sister Oaks. As you would expect their counsel was clear and un-equivocating direction on our identity. We loved their good humor and insightful teachings. As a former member of the Utah Supreme Court and president of BYU, President Oaks has so many insights on the relationship between the law (keeping the commandments) and love (loving others no matter what they choose). Here is one of our favorite quotes from the devotional, by President Nelson:
Sunny Jumps In
In the North Shields Ward in our stake we were able to participate in the baptism of Sunny. A few transfers ago, Elder Gilbert and Elder Kitchen were on an exchange when they were able to meet Sunny. He was a self-referral from the church's website. He had been searching all the Christian church websites on the internet and only found one that supported asking questions on the website. He began to ask questions on-line and liked what he heard. He really liked the community aspect of our church and how we care for each other. He has come to grow a really strong testimony of Jesus Christ, and because of that, he loves the Plan of Salvation or Plan of Happiness contained in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is an amazing, sweet man dedicated to following the Savior. (Technology doesn't always deliver, but this was a big delivery!)
Run in the Park Day
Beginning Saturday, May 27th across the UK was celebrated the first ParkRun day of the season. We found this out accidentally as Elder Betteridge was doing a jog and Sister Betteridge a walk in the nearby park. On his jog, all of the sudden Elder Betteridge was overwhelmed from behind with a large group of runners on his path, since he was unusually slow he was completely swallowed in the crowd. He asked a nearby participant and she clarified, ParkRun.org.uk. Check it out. It is a worldwide phenomena. With hundreds of registered 5k park runs going on every Saturday across the globe.
Heaton & District Model Power Boat Club
In the same park on the pond where the runners were passing was a Model Power Boat Club competition (not radio controlled). This club was established in 1923 and a small hut was built next to the pond to house their boats and equipment. The object is set your boat upon the water between two markers that designate the starting gate and then at the other end of the pond (about 200 feet away) is a series of markers spaced every 5 ft. The goal is to let your boat go from the starting gate and hit the center gate white markers across the pond in as fast a time as possible. Maybe like being born and being let loose in life and shooting for the Celestial Kingdom? (Trying to bring some Gospel relevance into this story). The dates on the sides of the boats are the year they were built. We saw electric, gas, and steam powered boats.
Monument to Elder B's 9th Cousin in Newcastle
Maybe that last story didn't testify enough to you of the reason we serve missions and what we are doing, but this one will-- a story about Elder B's 9th cousin. I was poking around on the internet for some information about Charles Coulsen, my great grand uncle, brother to Margaret Ann Coulson my great grandma. I had discovered that this brother had settled in Newcastle upon Tyne, where we currently live, after being born in Scarborough, England - about 2 hours away. I was looking for anything I could find about the Coulson family, when I discovered that William Lisle Blenkinsopp Coulson (1841-1911) was a hero in these parts. A monument was erected to recognize his efforts to assist the weak and defenseless among mankind and in the animal world. I like this guy and feel honored to be related to him. The monument was unveiled on May 27th, 1914. On the back of the monument is the following inscription:
"What is really needed is an all-round education of the higher impulses true manliness, and womanliness, justice, and pity. To try to promote these has been my humble and earnest endeavor, and until they are more genuinely aroused, the legislature is useless, for it is the people who make the laws."
William Lisle Blenkinsopp Coulson.
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