We had a wonderful week+ with Quinn, Amy, and Tenny. What a cool baby Tenny is. We took her through every uncomfortable environment imaginable and she did not once complain. In fact, the tour guide at the Old Globe theatre knighted her the “Best Baby in England.” And he was right!
I don’t think I have commented on how cool the Temple complex is here in Chorley.
In the picture above, the temple itself if at the top. Moving down, there are parking lots and then the Stake Center on the right of the drive. Continue down and the smaller building in the center is the distribution center and Family History Center. Then, you see three larger buildings in a horseshoe. The building on the right is the MTC. I always enjoy driving by at 7:30 am to drop Kathy off for work at the temple and the classrooms are filled with young missionaries all suited up and far into their training for the day. On the left of the horseshoe is the patron accommodations. Two stories of studio apartments for those traveling to attend the temple. I would guess there are 50 rooms. At the bottom of the horseshoe is the senior temple missionary apartments. This is a happnin place. There are about 30 senior couples who live here for the term of their mission (6 months – two years). As you might expect, there are social activities constantly. Every Sunday night is a devotional–come in your slippers. Every Monday is Family Home Evening and lots of dinners on the other nights. Last night we attended their St. Patrick’s Day party. Of course, the event was hosted by the real Irish folks. It was very hard to understand some of them; but they had a great time entertaining–with plenty of heckling from the Scots and Englishmen present. The large pad to the right of the picture is where many hope a visitors center will be built. The mission president’s home is one of those on the left of the picture. The temple is visible from almost any angle in Chorley. It sits on a small hill adjacent to the M61 Motorway.
Spring is finally starting to come to England. We took a long walk around our Buckshaw Village tonight. We met a lot of our neighbors (including one that was baptized about 20 years ago but is no longer actively participating).
Things are good. We are quite busy and enjoying our work very much.