Flying and Arriving in England

Chicago Airport

Friday, February 15, 2013, after breakfast, we took the shuttle from the MTC to the Salt Lake City Airport.  We had fun talking to family on the phone just before we flew out.  It took almost three hours to fly to Chicago.  When we landed we taxied by the President of the United States 747 Plane Air Force One.  It looked just like the pictures on TV.  Even though we had heavy carry-ons and personal items, we were able to maneuver through the Chicago Airport just fine. We walked about a half of mile to our next gate and had plenty of time (2 hours) to make the change. It was fun to call more family on the cell phone just before we left.  

Preston England Temple




 



Preston Missionary Training Center

It t took almost 8 hours to fly to the Manchester Airport.  We felt so blessed to arrive safely in the “ Mother Land” on Saturday morning 7:45 am England Time.   We had some English pounds so we could rent a cart when we arrived in Manchester Airport. We needed all the help we could get. President and Sister Lindley along with his assistants Elder Weitzel and Gee greeted us at the exit gate. The Elders took our luggage home in their car and the President and Sister Lindley took us in their car with our personal items.


Chatburn Stream

Then we spent several hours with the President and his wife seeing the Preston MTC, Preston Temple, and going to the stream where Heber C. Kimball baptized members of the church years ago in Chatburn. President Lindley conducted a beautiful devotional by the stream and David and I said a silent prayer dedicating ourselves to the Lord's work. It was a spiritual experience as we felt we were on sacred soil.  They drove us to Downham and saw an old church and graveyard there.  We even found a bench by a stream that said, “Presented to the citizens of Downham 25 July 1987 in commemoration of the 150^th anniversary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Great Britain and the many early Church members from the Ribble Valley.”  We could feel that the early members of the Church dedicated to the truths they had been taught.  President and Sister Lindley drove us to their beautiful home and we ate a delicious lunch.  She had prepared a traditional English dish, cottage pie.  We enjoyed every minute getting to know President and Sister Lindley.  We feel blessed to be serving with them. 


 

 

 

D 

       About 2 pm, the President drove us to meet Elder Randy and Sister Gayla Brinkerhoff.  We will be stay with them for ten days until the Barron’s leave and our flat and car will be available.  They have a larger home so they can house and feed missionaries as they enter or leave the mission. The assistants live on the 3rd floor with a large bedroom and bathroom. The Brinkerhoff’s live on the 2nd floor where there are 2 extra bedrooms to house missionaries, a bathroom and laundry room with the dryer and ironing board. The 1st floor has a living room, formal dining room, large kitchen with the washing machine. It is so nice and comfortable. 
Sunday, February 17, we slept in because the Leeds 2 Ward didn’t start until 2 pm.  Elder Gary and Sister Lorraine Barron picked us up for church.  David and I were asked to bear our testimony in Sacrament Meeting.  We enjoyed meeting the ward members.  When the Relief Society President met me, the first thing she asks was if I played the piano.  I told her that I always get flustered when people start singing and I am playing the piano, but I would be willing to play the top hand.  She was over joyed.  So I played the piano in Relief Society.  After church, the Elder and Sister Barron took us to their flat which would become our flat in ten days.  She invited Elder and Sister Brinkerhoff over for a delicious dinner.  We had so much fun being together as couples.  They are wonderful missionaries.

4 Brownberrie lived for 2 weeks

 

 

 












Morning Miracle

This morning I had a tender mercy. I finished my taxes and wanted to get them printed and mailed today. I asked Linda, the office lady, if I could use her printer. She graciously agreed and told me that she was in her office 6am-2pm. The only time I could connect with her was early in the morning or during our lunch break. After we eat, we usually have about 30 minutes to work on a project. Today we are finalizing and weighing our suitcases. The plan was that I would get up and not exercise with David, but take my shower and get dressed for the day and go to Linda's office. When I arrived this morning, she wasn't in her office. I plopped down my laptop and went searching for in the hallway and storage rooms. She was nowhere to be found. Since I was on a time crunch, I decided to proceed. I realized that I needed help. I asked a senior couple walking by if they knew the computer well, they said, "NO". As I rounded the corner by the elevator, I noticed two missionaries dressed in their casual clothes dusting and cleaning. I said, "Elders, do either of you know lots about the computer and could help me print off my tax returns?" The tallest elder said his companion was a majoring in computer science and would be the perfect person to help me. I was delighted. I explained to the elders that I had downloaded Turbo Tax on my computer, but I needed to hook Linda's printer into my computer. They crawled on the floor and found the right cord and attached it to my laptop. Now I was feeling much better. Just then Linda walked into her office with a box of donuts and a laundry bag full of blue dusting cloths. She greeted us and was happy I had started on my project. I went to the end of Turbo Tax and they said I would save my work on my computer. I was overjoyed that I finally had saved my tax returns to my desktop. We tried to print the tax returns and nothing happened. We realized that we needed an administrative password to download the printer to my laptop. Now with a saved document, we were set. The Elder put the document on my flashdrive and inserted it into Linda’s computer. We reattached the printer to her computer and hurray it printed. I was thrilled and overjoyed. The reason this was such a big deal was that in England all the electricity is 220 and the paper is thinner and longer. I was afraid the the Turbo Tax format wouldn’t recognize the smaller/ longer paper so I know that I would need to complete this task before I left the states. As I set their folding the blue rags with the elder who wasn’t working on the computer, he asked me where I was from and I told him Mesa, Arizona. He got a big grin on his face. He and his companion were both from Mesa and had attended Red Mountain High school, but never really knew each other. They are Elder Ficklin and Elder Buckley. Elder Ficklin is from the Thunder Mountain Ward and knows Lachelle and Mark.  What a blessing that these two elders were cleaning in the lobby this morning. The Lord knows our needs and provides the way for us to accomplish our righteous desires.

Second Week at the MTC

Monday, February 11, was the beginning of our four days of intense Office Specialist Training.  We learned about the IMOS program and we were working with the England Leeds Mission information in our training sessions.  It was fun to start seeing the names and faces of the missionaries we will be serving.  David learned about the finances, housing, vehicle, etc.  Sharilyn learned about writing newsletters, making letter templates, writing letters, printing address labels, mail merge, changing missionary contact information, assignments, Global Visa Management, referrals, etc.  On the Tuesday Devotional, Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer spoke about the five C’s of Conversion-Commandments, Commitments, Conversion, Covenants, and Consecration.  Thursday, February 14, was our last day of training.  During our lunch break, we packed and weighed our luggage one more time.  We had 4 large bags weighing 50 lbs. each, two carry-ons weighing about 37 lbs. each and two personal items that weighed about 25 lbs. each.  We were excited that everything was ready to go.  After dinner, Terry and Annette picked us up and took us to the Wilkinson Center were we got to visit the Kathryn, Rachel Kiene, Tate and Tenery Campbell.  We enjoyed visiting with them and catching up on their BYU lives.  We celebrated Valentine’s Day by eating chocolate covered cinnamon bears, a BYU tradition.  We drove to Costco and signed up for a membership, and then Kathryn drove us back to the MTC.  We enjoyed spending time with the Hills and the Blackhams before our mission and we appreciate the many kind acts of service they extended to us while in the MTC.  We appreciate Mary encouraging us use our cell phone in the MTC because it was a lifesaver.



Terry-Annette-Wilsons-Kathryn-Rachel-Tenery & Tate Campbell

Valentine's Day celebration at BYU

 

MTC

Sister and Elder Wilson enter the MTC on 4 Feb 2013

Elder Wilson-Rachel Kiene-Sister Wilson at the MTC Copy Center 

Elder and Sister Farnsworth & Sister & Elder Wilson

are both from Mesa, Arizona 

Annette-Sister & Elder Wilson-Kathryn

after Sacrament Meeting

Missionary Training Center

Monday, February 4, 2013, Kathryn came over and ate breakfast with us at Annette’s home. Sharilyn’s lips were still red and sore, so Kathryn called her doctor and he called in a prescription. It was such a blessing, because it took a week for her lips to finally heal. Annette and Kathryn dropped us off at the MTC=Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. Our accommodations in Building 2M Room 315 were beautiful and very comfortable

We settled in and went to our first meeting in the Stadium Ave. Chapel. There were 73 (36 couples and one senior sister) senior missionaries entering the MTC that day. What a great experience we had at the MTC. We ate three lovely meals their each day and had training on Preach My Gospel the first week. The Spirit of the Lord was strong as we gathered each day to learn our duty as full time senior couples. David was the District Leader and we had the following couples in our district: Elder and Sister Huff from-Montana going to Utica, NY Member Leadership Support; Elder and Sister Larsen from Portland, OR going to the Philippines Manila Temple; and Elder and Sister Malon-from American Fork, UT going to the Dominican Republic Temple. We also met Elder and Sister Farnsworth from Mesa, AZ going to Argentina. 



Elder and Sister Larsen-Huff-Wilson-Malon with Teache Elder Keddington

Tuesday evening, we attended the 7:00pm Devotional where Elder Don L. Clarke gave an inspirational message on the importance of helping to rescue others who are struggling to stay on the path that leads them back to Heavenly Father.  Elder Clarke is married to Marc Jackson’s aunt Maryanne who couldn’t attend because she was in Arizona helping her daughter with health issues.  What a thrill it was to seat on the ground floor and sing hymns with the missionaries.  It was inspirational to hear all the missionaries sing our favorite hymn was Called to Serve.   They had all the 18 year old Elders and 19-20 year old Sisters stand and it was about a fourth of the audience was.  On Wednesday, the largest ever new group of 829 missionaries arrived.  We could feel their strong desire to serve the Lord with all their heart, might, mind, and strength.  The work of the Lord is hastening.  The young Elders and Sisters are so kind to us.  They race to open our doors and let us go to the front of the food lines in the cafeteria.  It warmed our hearts to see and feel of their kindness.  On Friday, Annette and Kathryn picked us up so we could go shopping at Deseret Industries and Macy’s for boots.  Kathryn actually prepared in advance and had several boots shipped to her home for Sharilyn to try on.  One pair was a perfect fit.  Terry joined us for dinner at Maria Bonita. 

We enjoyed seeing Brandon Hill
at his business The Reef

Saturday morning we went to the Pleasant Grove Community Center and walked on the indoor track with Terry and Dennis Hill, Terry’s father.  It was a beautiful facility for only costs 50 cents per senior.  Terry and Annette took us shopping and Sharilyn found a few pieces of clothing to finish up my missionary wardrobe.  We drove by and visited with Brandon Hill at his business office, The Reef.  We saw the salt water corral and exotic fish he sales and ships to customers everywhere.  Sunday we attended church with the Hills and enjoyed a delicious meal with all of their children.  It is always fun to reconnect with family.  Annette drove us back to the MTC so we could attend the farewell devotional at 5:30 and the regular devotional at 7:00pm. 

Ready to go to the MTC

David and Sharilyn are ready to go into the MTC.

 

 

A+ Send off by Family and Friends

 

Friday, February 1, 2013, our children prepared an extra special dinner for us. Our children were all on their “A Game” and prepared food fit for a King and Queen.  We had bruschetta, garlic potatoes, special salad, smoked ribs and brisket, grilled hot dogs & chips for the grandchildren, raspberry frappe, and fruit pizza with the Union Jack flag made from strawberries and blueberries.  

 

Everyone made A+ Food

 

 

Elder David & Sister Sharilyn Wilson set apart by President Smith

President Clint W. Smith came to our home at 7pm and set David and I apart as missionaries to serve for eighteen months in the England Leeds Mission.  We feel honored to be called to serve the Lord full time. We know that Heavenly Father loves all of His children.  We know that He gave us the plan of happiness to follow so we can reach our full potential.  We know that Jesus Christ is central to Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness.  Christ came to earth to show us the way to live and he gave us a perfect example.  He then paid the ultimate price for everyone’s sins.  He bleed from every pore, was crucified, and then was resurrected on the third day.  Christ lives and loves all of us, regardless of where or when we lived on the earth.  His greatest happiness comes when we show our love for Him by making correct choices and treating others with kindness.  Since we aren’t perfect, Christ’s atonement helps us to be forgiven of our sins.  Christ stands at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and makes His will known through his living prophets.  He guides and directs His current Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who follow Christ’s command.  These truths are critical for everyone to know.  We will lovingly tell others through our words and deeds about the truths that have been restored to the earth. 

Friends and extended family members flocked to our home to wish us the best on our mission.  We even got to meet Brother and Sister Belliston from the Harmony Park Ward in the Kimball Stake.  Their son Elder Lincoln Belliston has been serving in the England Leeds Mission and we will get to serve with him.  We have the best family in the world.  We love the many acts of kindness that have been extended to us during our missionary preparations.    



Aunt, Dixie Krauss-Sharilyn-Mother, Bonnie Peterson



Nephew, Chase Petersen returned home from the Washington Tacoma Mission two days earlier.

Sharilyn with cousin, Holly and Gene Long

 

 Amanda & Hank Belliston's son Lincoln is serving in the England Leeds Mission.



David's Mesa High friends, John Osborne and Cathy Wheeler

 

Friend, Anna Steere, her grandchildren attend Eduprize School

Dear friends, Carolyn and Shawn Murphy

Doug & Marie Gallacher-David & Sharilyn-Louise Petersen

Ginger & Steven Peterson-Sharilyn & David-Mary & Bruce Kiene

Niece, Thelissa & Denny Blackhurst

Niece, Stephanie & Ray Johnson



Neighbors 

Maryjane Wilson's parents Kent and Mary Anne Koski





























 



Our children and grandchildren had so much fun mingling with everyone.  In fact they even helped us clean up after all the festivities.  Many of our children sent their spouses and children home and they helped us repack luggage.  David was tired so he snoozed for about an hour.  We appreciate the help that our children so willingly gave us.   We finally went to bed about 2 a.m.  It had been a long productive day!