Friday, April 4, 2014

Forty Years!!!!



I haven't much time today to devote to our blog. We are taking a Costco run (1 hour 15 minutes there; 1 hour 15 minutes back) with Pres. and Sister Jordan. If we keep these up the Jordans they will be our best friends! (Actually we truly love ALL the Senior couples here. They are diverse in talents, personalities and gifts, but every one of them love the Lord and are committed to serving Him with their best stuff! How can you NOT love people like that?)

Last week was devoted to writing down our family miracles. It was such a sweet experience "remembering". The day I wrote that blog just happened to be our 40th Anniversary. Forty years!!! Now THAT is a significant number. Ashlee I truly loved your anniversary post. It made me cry. Those same words have come out of my mouth! I, too, don't know where Starla ends and Jim begins. Who we are is so entwined that I truly believe my heart would cease to beat without him. He is the love and light of my life and now, more than ever, I rejoice and thank the Lord that my life is linked ETERNALLY with his.

To celebrate our anniversary we decided to see "Wicked". I've seen it with all the girls, but it's been years ago. Jim had NEVER seen it so I was very excited to take him. Another plus is the lead, "Glenda" is played by Savannah Stevenson who just happens to be a YSA member of the Britannia ward. (I'd never met her. The show's schedule keeps her from attending right now). She's been a huge endorsement for the church here in London and is a beautiful girl.

The Whites (the couple that came to see us at Christmas) told us a clever plan. They said that if we were willing to go at 8:00 am and stand in line the box office would open at 10:00 am and usually had left over front row VIP tickets that they would sell for discount of only 29.00 pounds. Since I was writing the blog that morning Jim volunteered to go and stand in line.

Now you all know your dad. Within a couple minutes he'd made friends with the people waiting. On one side was a girl that had literally seen the show over 100 times. Her name was Amanda and she was actually there to buy tickets for a friend. They became fast friends. She was the one who told Jim the exact BEST SEATS in the show. On the other side was Sasha and Mandy. Sasha was from Croatia and Mandi was a Brit. They had met at a hotel in Canada because Mandi is a flight attendant and Sasha worked at the hotel she would stay at. They had such a darling friendship and were outrageously funny and flamboyant. They, also, had seen the show dozens of times. Jim said it ended up being a party as they waited in line.

Jim got there early enough to get his pick of tickets. We were dead center, front row. When the show started we were probably 12 feet from the actors. I felt like we were onstage with the cast. IT WAS AMAZING! More about that in a minute.

Jim came home with the tickets, I finished the blog and we got ready and went to The British Museum. It is an amazing building full of artifacts from Egypt, Greece, Rome etc. We went through the ones that followed up on what we'd seen on our cruise. We decided that for it to be meaningful you really need a guide. Poor Jim has a very hard time just looking! Then we went to Covent Garden. It's an area of London full of shops, restaurants and street shows. It's electric with energy and showcased different performers on every corner. We ate dinner there and then made our way to the theater.

The show was fantastic. We sat next to Mandi and Sasha who loved watching Jim as much as the show and had continuous commentary that was almost as entertaining as the show itself. Savannah was amazing; a perfect Glenda. Elsaba was the understudy but I thought she was fabulous. Being so close you could see every nuance, facial expressions, details of the amazing costumes and feel the energy coming off the actors. It really was fabulous. Best of all, your father LOVED the show.

Afterwards, Sasha and Mandi took us up to the stage door where the actors come out from so we could meet Savannah. While we were standing there a very handsome couple walked up and in American accents asked where we were from. When we said Orem, they told us they were from Pleasant Grove. Our tags gave us away (it happens ALL the time. Mormons are always stopping us and asking where we're from and what we're doing here). When we told the Pleasant Grove people whose name was the Singers that Savannah was LDS they stayed with all of us to meet her. We were not disappointed. Apparently Amanda (from that morning) had emailed Savannah that two Senior Missionaries were going to be there to see her. Savannah came right over and said she's seen us on the front row and had actually winked and waved at us during curtain calls. She was so gracious and allowed us to take pictures and talked with us for several minutes. We were able to meet all the leads of the show. Every one of them were so down to earth and unpretentious. By time we were done we had two new Utah friends and Mandi and Sasha will be friends forever. It really was a memorable evening; our 40th wedding anniversary spent on our mission in London topping that off with seeing Wicked! Can't get better than that!

I want to share just two experiences from this week that has been full and fruitful. We are truly establishing meaningful relationships, giving prudent counsel and gaining the trust of the kids and the leaders.

Also your father has begun to be found out. He has done all his teaching with the two elders assigned to our Britannia ward. Well, I think the word is getting out. He's teaching more everyday as the missionaries realize what a treasure he is and how he can teach ANYONE! That brings me to our latest story.

Three days ago a set of sister missionaries had called to ask if Jim would come teach with them. When he walked in the building the sisters told him their investigator was late. As he walked by the other set of sisters he heard them teaching a young Christian man from Lebanon; Ziyed. This 34 year-old man really KNEW his bible and the sisters were having a hard time staying up with him. Jim introduced himself to Ziyed and they began to talk. Jim found out that for two weeks he had a strong spiritual impression to enter the church but had resisted until that moment. He had only been there for 10 minutes before Jim entered the building. That introduction ended up being a full hour long discussion and it ended with Ziyed begging Jim to stay and keep talking. He was hungering for what he was hearing. He had spent his life searching for the truth. Right on the spot he made an appointment for the next day.

When they met yesterday Jim said it was an amazing experience. One of Ziyed's first questions was how were those who never had a chance to receive the gospel going to be saved. Jim went to a scripture from the bible that he hadn't used in years but that came to his mind; 1 Peter 3:18-19 and 1 Peter 4:6. When Ziyed read it he proclaim, "This is in the bible!!! How have I never seen this in the bible?!!!! The hair on my arms are standing up!!!" Jim was able to testify of a loving Father who will give EVERY ONE OF HIS CHILDREN a chance to hear and understand. Jim taught baptisms for the dead and again showed him the scriptures in the Bible that testified of this principle; 1 Corinthians 15:29. Ziyed was overwhelmed. The whole lesson was one of questions answered and Ziyed's joy in finding answers he'd searched for his whole life.

After the discussion Jim brought him to our Institute dinner, introduced him to many of our kids, took him up to our precious Job Search missionaries; the Garners (Ziyed just lost his job. He'd managed 4 restaurants that had just been sold and he was laid off. It was all a part of God's plan. Ziyed would never have had time to search out the church working 100 hours a week. God loves and knows each of His children and opens the way for those that truly are seeking to find the truth!) And today they meet again. Jim loves this righteous man. It's been such a sweet experience.

This past Tuesday was a very difficult day for me. I woke up feeling very blue and homesick. I was tired. I felt stuck in the routine of cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping! I was feeling like I wasn't making a big enough difference. Just feeling sad. But it was more than that. I also knew I had Institute that night and that I couldn't begin to teach that class without the spirit. Yet I struggled all day. I finished preparing the lesson, finished making our dessert and cleaning the house. Then I just begged to have the spirit. The lesson was on redeeming our dead (temples), one of my favorite topics, but it was very deep subject. Right before the class was to start I had 2 different sets of missionaries call to tell us that they were bringing investigators to class (this had never happened before). I panicked. This was not a lesson for investigators but I had NO TIME to change. People were already arriving. I just prayed to be sensitive to who was there and asked Jim to add explanation as he felt inspired.

I was concerned as I taught, but the spirit came! I was very aware that it was in that room. I knew it. And the darkness I had felt all day was GONE (and has not returned!). After class the kids stayed, fellowshipping one another. There was such a sweet spirit of unity and love for each other and for us. I realized that the darkness I had felt all day was directly from the adversary bringing despair and overwhelm to dissuade and discourage. When I fully recognized what was going on I was so angry. But I'm also glad. Now I know that through the priesthood I can have the darkness cast out and keep moving forward. It was something I really needed to understand and a great learning for me.

One last thing; last night Jim and I gathered with our stake presidency counselor, Pres Stephenson, and a roomful of Chinese YSA to begin planning a Chinese YSA Conference to be held in November at Hyde Park chapel that will include Chinese members all over England. It will be a 3-day affair. It's a very big deal with very big implications. What wonderful, amazing chinese we have on this committee. They continue to amaze us with their valiancy and testimonies. It's powerful to behold. A great work is abroad on the land!

Well, Pres. Jordan just called and canceled our Costco trip. Darn! I'm needing to go again, badly! I've had to bribe kids to come practice choir for Stake conference next Sunday after General Conference. We are meeting between sessions; 1-3 and 5-7p.m. I told them I'd do our traditional conference breakfast; Swedish pancakes, homemade syrup, or strawberries and whipped cream. Need stuff from Costco. Hopefully we'll go tomorrow.

This choir business here has been hard. It's such a different set of circumstances than what we deal with in the states. Most our YSA lives at least 45 minutes away by tube, many live 1 1/2 hours away by tube. Not only is time involved but it's VERY expensive for them to travel, costing up to 5-6 pounds one way. It's no small thing to be active in the church for these youth! This makes it impossible to call rehearsals that are not attached to another meeting that they need to be at. But by doing it that way you run into the problem of conflicting meetings, home and visiting teaching that they do at church etc. And doing the choir this time for Stake Conference has been especially difficult because of the number of valid conflicts; last week was Mother's Day, which many of the local members go home for, university spring break which allows the kids time to go travel, general conference and then the very next Sunday is Stake Conference. Not a good combination for trying to rehearse. IT'S BEEN SO FRUSTRATING!!! That's why the bribe for brunch between sessions. Luckily I have two very easy hymn arrangements that we can hopefully pull together in basically one rehearsal hour. It is what it is! Just praying we get enough kids there to pull it off. I've been sending out emails the last two days to every person that might sing. (I finally got a ward list that allowed me to do it.) I'll let you know how it goes. I definitely have a new appreciation for the difficulties that the church faces here. NOTHING is simple or easy! I witness TRUE sacrifice EVERY DAY here just to be an active member of the church! It humbles me!

That's all for now. I've been smiling every time I think of our new granddaughter; London! Love the name! Now Bri let's make sure it's a girl, O.K. We got to finally see Skyler with open eyes and a darling smile. Made us very happy! We just love you all so much and continually pray that you will take advantage of this weekend's general conference and listen and apply the words of the prophets to your individual lives. How blessed are we to hear God's direction for us NOW! Don't take it for granted. (You should see our crazy schedule of when the sessions are broadcast! They are all over the place. Just grateful we can go and feel the spirit of the sessions, no matter what time it is.)

The work continues. We are being blessed and recognize the privilege we have in being called to this place at this time! We are so blessed. Love to all!





7 comments:

  1. Oh how I wish you had time to blog every day! I feel so homesick for you guys and once a week doesn't cut it! I will take what I can get though. So, so fun that you got to see Wicked and on the front row!!!! Amazing. 40 years, wow, what an example to your posterity. Hang in there with the cooking Toot. I can relate to the way you are feeling! You are doing what is necessary to build the kingdom. Two great quotes I try and remember when I start feeling like all I do is shop, cook, feed and clean: D&C 64:33 – Wherefore be not weary in well doing, for you are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great." and from President Spencer W. Kimball: “but what glorious consequences can flow … from small but deliberate deeds!” I am certain that "glorious consequences" are occurring because of your sacrifice. I love you both dearly. Keep up the good work.

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  2. Happy Anniversary my friends! Missing you this conference weekend and missing being with all day on Conference Sunday. I had a root canal this week, my first, and I am still in pain but getting better. I am up early on Saturday to take more ibuprophen and I am hoping it will kick in soon. Starla you are learning that the adversary always tries to frustrate the work by messing with the messenger - you! I learned this within the first months of my mission with my trainer Sister Steimle. After a day of getting upset with each other we realized the we had a discussion to teach that night with a wonderful investigator. We just started laughing when this realization came to us and from then on we could see the futile efforts of the adversary. We literally would get excited when we could see through the sham and would wonder what awesome experience with the spirit was going to be ours that day. The battle between good and evil is so real on a mission. Now you can realize what is going on and be excited for the spiritual experience that you will have soon. Because missionary service is such an intense experience the adversary will always try to frustrate you. Laugh and be excited instead!

    The pain is better now so I am going back to bed for a little bit. It is so good to read you blog and to finally talk to you last week. Love you both!
    Di

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  3. Oh, I love your blogs. I'm so glad you had such a wonderful anniversary. That sounded like SUCH a blast! It makes me "almost" want to fly there to experience it.

    I love hearing about the missionary work going on. What a blessing. I miss that fire.

    As for conference, we watched every session, including the in between and the priesthood session as a family today. Unfortunately I slept through the entire second session of conference while the kiddos napped. But I heard bits and pieces. I love general conference and am always sad when it is over.

    I have cinnamon rolls in the fridge ready to rise for tomorrow. I also have all the stuff to make your stew...yummy. Conference weekend is the time I get the most homesick. But it is fun to bring a little Shmartie into our home, and also start our own traditions. Trying to make it a very special day tomorrow.

    Love you, and have loved reading your updates! This will be priceless!

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  5. Missing you guys so much! Yesterday, watching conference I was overwhelmed with love for the two of you. And wishing we could be with you! Wishing you were holding our little Sky! Not wishing you weren't in London ! But just wanting you with us, and baby!! Every time I read your blog I blubber! I love reading about your experiences. Ps, Shmart, you are such an incredibly descriptive writer. It feels like we are there in the middle of it. I absolutely love it. You.are such a good writer and story teller! I've always known that! I read your entries aloud to Sky. Tanner also reads it to us!
    So thankful to have you as my family!! Just wanted to tell you some of the thoughts of my heart!! Love you and Paps so much!! So proud of you guys for all that you do, and the amazing people you are!!

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  6. DEAREST SISTER STARLA AND ELDER JIM,

    COLBY REPORTS ON MAY 21ST. HE'S EXCITED AND REALLY SO READY TO BE A TRULY AWESOME MISSIONARY AND MESSENGER OF GOD.
    I CUT HIS HAIR A MONTH AGO, AND HE LOOKS SO HANDSOME AND GROWN UP...NOW HE JUST NEEDS TO SEARCH OUT SEVERAL SUITS TO FIT HIM AND GO TO THE TEMPLE.
    STARLA, I READ YOUR BLOG ON MIRACLES AND JUST LOVED IT. I'M PLANNING ON PRINTING THEM OUT FOR EACH OF MY KIDS...IT'S SUCH A HERITAGE AND SWEET GIFT TO BE WITNESSES OF THOSE PERSONAL, TESTIMONY BUILDING MIRACLES. LOVED READING AND REFLECTING ON WHAT WONDERFUL PEOPLE BLESSED OUR LIVES AND HOW TOTALLY AWARE THE LORD IS OF EACH AND THEIR NEEDS. IT'S JUST SOMETHING SO PRECIOUS TO SEE THEIR, AND OUR OWN LIVES TOUCHED BY OUR SAVIORS HAND. JUST TRULY LOVED THEM.
    DIDN'T KNOW ALL THE EXPERIENCES JIM HAD ON HIS MISSION. WHERE WAS I WHEN THOSE EXPERIENCES WERE TOLD. JUST BEAUTIFUL. THOSE WILL BE SO IMPORTANT FOR COLBY TO READ AND KNOW THAT YOU REALLY ARE NEVER ALONE AND THAT ALL OUR EXPERIENCES CAN TAKE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE. JUST FUN TO READ.
    THEN YOUR NEXT ENTRY WAS JUST WONDERFUL ALSO. YOUR BIG 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND FUN, GOING TO SEE "WICKED" BUT REALLY SEEING AND EXPERIENCING SOOOOOO MUCH MORE THEN JUST THE PRODUCTION. IT'S FUNNY CUZ KAYLA, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WENT TO EUROPE, AND WHILE IN LONDON WENT TO THAT SAME PLAY. SHE LOVED IT ALSO, EVEN WITHOUT ALL THE FANTASTIC EXPERIENCES YOU AND JIM WERE BLESSED TO HAVE.
    THEN, OF COURSE, WERE YOUR EXPERIENCES AND TEACHING OF THE YSA THAT YOU ARE SHEPARDING. JUST LOVE TO HEAR THOSE FAITH AND TESTIMONY BUILDING EXPERIENCES....AGAIN, JUST MAKING ME SO VERY AWARE OF HIS PRESENCE IN EACH OF OUR LIVES. JUST REALLY GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS AND THRILLS ME TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THOSE MOST PRECIOUS EXPERIENCES OF YOUR MISSION. I FINISH READING YOUR ENTRIES AND FEEL LIKE I'M PART OF YOUR MISSION. WISH I COULD HELP YOU WITH THE MUNDANE, SO YOU COULD REALLY JUST BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE GREATNESS AND MEAT OF YOUR TEACHING AND DIRECTLY LIVES.
    GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS SPECTACULAR...AFTER EVERY TALK I TURNED TO LEE TO SAY "THAT WAS SUCH A GREAT TALK". THE TALK BY ELDER BEDNAR MADE ME THINK OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH, BUT ESPECIALLY YOU AND JIM, AS WELL AS OTHER MISSIONARIES THAT ARE SERVING FAITHFULLY, TAKING ON THE LOAD AND RESPONSIBLITY THAT COMES WITH MISSIONARY SERVICE. I'VE SAID BEFORE AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN..EVERY TIME I READ YOUR WONDERFUL ENTRIES, I FEEL EXAUSTED. BUT AS ELDER BEDNAR STATED, IT'S THOSE LOADS THAT GIVE US SPIRITUAL TRACTION!!!! ISN'T THAT SO LIFE. BUT YOU AND JIM HAVE CERTAINLY ACCEPTED, TAKEN ON, AND ARE CARRYING A BIG LOAD. WITH THAT BIGGGGG LOAD I CAN JUST HEAR AND SEE THE BLESSINGS AND REWARDS THAT ARE BEING POURED OUT ON YOU BOTH, BUT MORE THEN THAT I THINK OF THE UNMEASUREABLE AND PRICELESS BLESSINGS THAT YOU ARE (THE SPIRIT THRU YOU) DELIVERING AND SHARING WITH ALL THOSE YSA WHO HAVE WAITED AND LOOKED FOR DIRECTION AND ANSWERS TO BUILD THEIR TESTIMONIES ON. SO AS I HEAR THE SWEET, FAITH PROMOTING AND SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCES THAT ARE HAPPENING FOR YOU, I THINK OF YOUR "SPIRITUAL TRACTION"!!!!!! AND HOW STRONG IT IS. I WILL WATCH AS YOU MOVE MORE MOUNTAINS.
    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR BLOG AND JOURNAL WITH ME. I WAKE UP SAT. MORNING AND GO RIGHT TO MY COMPUTER TO FIND MORE MIRACLES HAPPENING IN LONDON.
    (TELL BRI I LOVE THAT NAME FOR A LITTLE GIRL)
    THOUGHT, PRAYERS AND MUCH LOVE, YOUR SISTER HEIDI
    P.S. A FEW QUESTIONS....DO YOU HAVE TO COOK, DO LAUNDRY AND THOSE OTHER TIME CONSUMING AND WORLDLY CHORES IN ADDITION TO YOUR SPEAKING, COOKING, CLEANING, SIGHTSEEING, TRIPS TO COSTCO AND MAYBE JUST A COUPLE HOURS OF SLEEP. LOL LOL WELL, JUST THINKING ABOUT IT MAKES ME TIRED!!! GO STARLA, GO JIM. LOVE HEIDI

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  7. This kills me! I want to be there to watch you teach, and to sit in on a missionary lesson with dad. It is so awesome Isn't is so awesome to see how God is in the tiny details of this work beautifully orchestrating all things and has US as part of it? Pretty amazing and humbling. I am so jealous you got to see Wicked. What an incredible memory you made. Conference was amazing and it made me miss you guys so much. I love you and am so proud. I have to say, going to church and being asked how you are is getting REALLY annoying haha.

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