Four Week Temple Shutdown

Four Week Temple Shutdown

February 25, 2018

     The London Temple has officially closed its doors for a four week shutdown. The carpark (parking lot) was plumb full yesterday as the patrons came for one last time. Brother Browne, a local member who attends the temple often told me this week that it is going to be a "rough slog" for him and his wife while it is closed.  I learned this means it is going to be a long haul for them.
     The Blackbadge Missionaries have been assigned to work two of the four weeks in an area, whether it be in the laundry, cleaning chandeliers, reception desk sitting while workers come and go, etc. Our dream came true. We were assigned to work in the gardens. We finally will experience that FM mission that we thought we were going on back in Missouri.  Even if this month of March is predicted to be the coldest the UK has experienced in years, we are looking forward to being outside and wearing pants (or trousers as they say over here).
     Our lodge is quiet today as many of the English missionaries have gone to their various homes throughout the country. They are called "whitebadge missionaries" and are not required to stay and work.
     After sacrament today, we took the train into London to meet Tammy Brewer and her daughter Kara for lunch. Oh, it was so good to see them! We found a little café and parked ourselves in the corner for a couple of hours and just talked. It was so comforting to me to see them. They are Home to me. Tammy promised to hug any daughter or grandchild she sees when she gets back. I'm counting on her to do it. It was a beautiful sunny cold day. As we rode the train back to Lingfield, the sun followed us. The scenery changed from city and people everywhere to small villages to bright green fields with grazing sheep. My Mikie slept off and on, a couple across the aisle were quietly speaking in a foreign tongue, the sheep rolled by and I again caught myself wondering how in the world we ended up over here so far from Home. It has been such a time of growth for both of us as we try to figure out the lessons the Lord is trying to teach us. We are so thankful for the opportunity.

Love from both of us!
Elder and Sister Seaman......My Mikie is in bed. We leave for Paris at 12:30 AM to go to the temple! More to come.....