Konold Chronicles

I’m afraid our short summer may be over.  Temperatures are in the high 50’s and low 60’s–even into the 40’s at night.  Hopefully, the cold will bring with it some major colors in the trees.  I really don’t know what to expect.  Since last writing, we visited the ruins of another abbey.  Abbeys were built by monastic monks.  Although they had taken vows of poverty and total dedication (some not even speaking for the rest of their lives), the monasteries were among the wealthiest institutions in the country (including kings). This is why King Henry VIII raided the monasteries and killed many of the monks when he turned the Catholic churches into the Church of England.   Land was often granted to them and they built these magnificent structures using labor of the nearby villagers.  The people of the time clung to the church as their only hope to enter heaven and were motivated by the fear that if they did not do all they could to help God’s servants, they would burn eternally.  So most gave at least 2 days a week helping to build.  They also tithed 10% of their total possessions per year.  Many of the monasteries included grain mills which would charge a fee for use.  The abbot would make and enforce a law against building any other mill–so they had a monopoly on food.  They also made money off of farming and raising stock (mostly sheep).  I must admit this understanding colored my views a bit.  I had envisioned these poor dedicated monks using nothing but their hands and backs to build these huge structures; but they were using someone else’s hands and backs–sort of like government today.  Anyway, here is Bolton Abbey built in the 14th century.

Last Bolton Abbey

Last Monday, we decided to attack Manchester.  Up until now, Manchester was somewhere you only went when absolutely necessary–and when unable to talk someone else into doing it for you.  Think LA.  Always a lot of traffic and extremely confusing roadways.  It was a bank holiday–which means everything is shut down so we thought we could take a chance.  Plus, it was raining.  So, we went to the Rylands Library and the Manchester Art Gallery.  The Art Gallery was unremarkable; but the library was quite impressive.  It was built by Enriqueta Rylands, the third wife of Manchester’s most successful cotton manufacturer.  She was Britain’s wealthiest woman.  Pictures are probably the only way to capture the experience.

 

Yesterday, we tried another new venue, Blackpool–on the coast just north of Liverpool.  Blackpool is a combination of Coney Island and Las Vegas.  If you ever doubt that missionaries have a lot to do, go to Blackpool.  Casinos, tattoo parlors, amusement parks, and crowds of drunk people all smoking.  We did enjoy our walk onto one of the piers where we ran into a large gazebo-like structure called the sunset lounge.  People just go there and chill and watch the sunset while listening to a guy playing an organ and signing Neil Diamond–actually very well.  We sat for a few minutes, took a couple of pills and strolled back to the promenade. That was meant to be funny–not depressing.  We had a great time.  Again, a few pictures.

Indiana Kathy trying out the Blackpool style

Today, we had to go into Manchester to pick up a new senior couple who will be serving in the Temple.  So, we had to attend the Chorley 3 Ward.  It is always impressive that no matter where you are on Fast Sunday, you will hear strong and moving testimonies–even if you don’t know the people.  The bishop (our driving instructor) told of a time when he and his wife were so broke they could not both pay tithing and buy any food for the week.  You know the story from here; they paid their tithing and had 6 dinner invitations before they left Church (without telling anyone of their condition).  The world over, the same experiences are told in an almost matter-of-fact fashion every month.  Our lives really are blessed when we sacrifice to build the Kingdom.

At work, I finished my project of analyzing the Church’s ability to provide welfare assistance to undocumented immigrants in all the European countries.  There are several where we simply cannot help without violating the law.  I believe the Area Presidency will release the instructions to priesthood leaders at the mission presidents conference this coming week.  Immigration is such a dominant issue in Europe.  As we were waiting for the folks at the airport this morning, we watched hundreds coming out of the international terminal.  Middle Easterners out numbered others by at least 2-1.  They all had what appeared to be all their worldly possessions; but, by their attire and jewelry, it was clear there are also some unseen bank accounts.  My point is that the immigrants we see arriving here by air are not the poor and destitute capturing headlines around the world.  But the changing demographics are worrisome because it is happening so fast that there hardly seems time for assimilation.  Instead the immigrants live and group together for support.  It seems to me that is always a dangerous condition–clusters of cultural diversity.

Enough for now.

Cheers