Experiences of an LDS Missionary Couple in Glasgow, Scotland.
Friday, January 18, 2013
CHEESEMONGERING IN GLASGOW
In Honor of Matt and Robb, and others in our family and extended family, who might be cheese aficionados, Sister Whitney and I, after she got permission from these two august gentlemen to take photos, actually stepped it up a notch and forked out a few extra pounds and purchased some fantastic looking bread, hard crust , and some cheese. For those who like cheese, what we had was as good as it looks. Got a good return on our money: we each got a pound back. Nothing of its type as good as this that I can recall in Utah or Arizona or Canada or the northwest : in short in the northern hemisphere, although we feel certain such places exist. We should mention the fantastic olives from Greece or Italy which, together with the bread and cheese, were a super compliment to a great walk in blue skies and frigid weather. This place is cold.
A FOREIGN TOUCH
We never thought of Scotland as a terribly diverse place. However, it soon became apparent that it is more diverse than Highland, Utah, from whence we recently sprang. I mean 5 out of every 100 people are neither Anglo, nor LDS nor BYU grads, or at least not all 3 of the above, which is about as diverse as it gets. Give us more time, and we may soon speak with a Scottish accent, which Sister Whitney mentioned she thinks might be interesting, since she and Elder Whitney have a hard enough time understanding each other as it is. Here below are some images of diversity, to include students from China, India and Africa, Scotland, America and Lithuania, all of which extraordinary young people we have had the extraordinary experience of getting to know and work with.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
CAN SHE DANCE?
New Years Eve found us at the LDS chapel celebrating as you might guess the ringing in of the new year. The next thing I knew, while I am really enjoying myself watching the locals celebrate with a small but very energetic band, Sister Whitney is up dancing as if she had been doing it ever since our marriage. Since I gradually retired from dancing soon after we were married, and since I am not that great a dancer to begin with, or so I have been informed, she was dancing with someone else, actually on occasion with multiple partners. I have always believed that perfecting the saints includes sociality, and the sociality of the saints here is just outstanding. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I have posted a few. Her primary dancing partner is from the Motherwell ward, and his name is Kerr (pronounced Car) He is indeed a very personable and most genuine Scotsman.
A FIRST EVER
The last thing that Sister Whitney imagined doing on her mission was conducting music. Her new talent is that of chorister. She would deny it. Just the fact that she did it is a minor miracle, given her tradition of saying she does not know how. Well, she has rhythm, so what else is needed? A willing heart and her mistake in thinking she had been asked to do it. So, we are waiting for the baptismal service, and I am wondering why Sister Whitney is up front studying the song book. Next thing I know, she is leading about 35 or so of us in singing at least 4 different hymns. She looked good if I do say so, although there were times when she was hesitant to move her arms. Then again, I have observed the best conductors in the world work an orchestra or chorus by simply raising an eyebrow.
It was bleak and dark outside, but gloriously white inside. As you can see, all the elders and the new 19 year old convert were as happy as they look. Just before we left, I snapped a picture of our new chorister, the convert, her boyfriend member and the boyfriend's brother, a soon to be graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and for lack of a better description a really fantastic speaker.
It was bleak and dark outside, but gloriously white inside. As you can see, all the elders and the new 19 year old convert were as happy as they look. Just before we left, I snapped a picture of our new chorister, the convert, her boyfriend member and the boyfriend's brother, a soon to be graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and for lack of a better description a really fantastic speaker.
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