19.xii.2006

by Anthea

At this moment in time I am sitting with my husband David in Gadfield Elm chapel. We are so honoured to have been called as Church Service Missionaries to this historic building.

We have now served our mission for about six months and I want to share some of my experiences.

Gadfield Elm is situated in the idyllic, picture-postcard county of Worcestershire, England. This area is known as Elgar Country after the famous composer who lived here.

David and I started our mission in July, which proved to be the hottest summer on record. We have been coming twice a week since then. My main experience at Gadfield Elm is one of utter calm and peace of mind. It has also been a humbling experience when I think of all of the souls who left this lovely county to trek across the plains of America.

As I sit here I am surrounded by pictures of my own countrymen and women who left all to establish their faith in another country. I sit and think of my warm home with all of its labour-saving devices and feel humbled. Would I have been willing to leave my beloved country and suffer as they did?

I look out at the lovely trees here and wonder if they were just little saplings when Wilford Woodruff was here preaching to the people. I sit in the chapel and feel a spirit here that is so special that I invite anyone to come and feel it for themselves. I walk out into the grounds and look towards the Malvern Hills and know that the everlasting hills have not changed since Brigham Young preached from their heights.

We would be happy to welcome you here.