Weather Forecast

     Sister Blunck thinks that I should put my two cents worth in here also, so how about a weather report.  This is the honest to goodness one month forecast from last month, as given by the weather report.

·         Sun        A couple of showers

·         Mon      Occasional rain and drizzle

·         Tue        Variable clouds with a shower

·         Wed      A few AM showers then rain

·         Thur       Cloudy with rainy spells

·         Fri           Mostly cloudy

·         Sat          A touch of morning rain

·         Sun        Some showers

·         Mon      Cloudy with a shower in spots

·         Tue        Some sun with a stray shower

·         Wed      Mostly cloudy with a shower

·         Thu        A morning shower with, overcast

·         Fri           Clouds giving way to some sun

·         Sat          Veritable clouds, a thunder shower

·         Sun        A little afternoon rain

·         Mon      Considerable clouds

·         Tue        Very windy, cloudy, showers

·         Wed      Windy with a few showers

·         Thu        Very windy, rain

·         Fri           Windy with rain

·         Sat          Overcast with a little rain

·         Sun        Periods of rain

·         Mon      Clouds and sun, A few showers

·         Tue        Times of sun and clouds

·         Wed      AM showers, then a shower

·         Thu        Sunshine and some clouds

·         Fri           Windy with clouds and sun

·         Sat          An afternoon shower

·         Sun        Breezy with rain and drizzle

·         Mon      Occasional rain and drizzle

·         Tue        Clouds, a little rain

·         Wed      Sun with showers

·         Thu        Rain all day

·         Fri           Clouds, wind, rain

·         Sat          Some sun, rain

     No need to be a meteorologist in England, you need to graduate in creative writing.

New Year 2015 Letter

Hi Loved Ones!

We are celebrating the New Year today by catching up on our letter writing, Elder Blunck gave a blessing to man in the hospital this morning and we will be having dinner with the sisters later.  We have had a very amazing and full Christmas season and have loved every minute of it.  The experiences we are having are a treasure to us and we know we could not learn the things that we are learning anywhere else but here on our mission.  This is where Heavenly Father wants us to be and we are grateful that He is willing to trust us with this sacred responsibility.

At our district meeting this week we were asked to write down three things.  1.  What is my most sacred experience on my mission?   2.  What Christ like characteristics have I developed?  3.  What do I need to improve on or what Christ like characteristics do I need to develop?  I would like to share one of my most sacred and special experiences with you.   I received a blessing with all the elders laying their hands on my head while Elder Blunck gave me a blessing. We have 12 missionaries here in our district.  4 Elders in Preston and 2 Sisters, 2 Elders and 2 Sister in South Ribble.  Elder Blunck and I are in Preston and that adds up to 12.  Elder Blunck and I serve in 8 wards or branches in our zone but we live in Preston.  We spend most of our time during the week with the Preston Elders and Sisters and have come to know them and love them.  They are in our home often and we have activities together.  At our district meeting in November the sisters were preparing for transfers and so they asked if they could have blessings.  We all gathered around the baptismal font and one by one the sisters received blessings from one of the Elders.  Each sister had a different elder give a blessing so that all the elders and all the sisters either got a blessing or gave a blessing.  When the entire group of sisters had blessings one of the Sisters asked me if I would like a blessing.  I said “no, that Elder Blunck could give me a blessing later.  I was fine and didn’t need one.”  They persisted and so I agreed to a blessing.  I am so glad that I did.  Elder Blunck gave me a beautiful blessing of peace and comfort.  All the other Elders stood in the circle and laid their hands on my head.  I could feel the spirit very strongly and recognized the power of the priesthood that was there in that room through the faith of so many servants of the Lord.  Later Elder Blunck was also given a blessing which was so beautiful.  He rarely gets blessings.  These Elders and Sisters have dedicated themselves to serving the Lord full time right here and now.  Their humble service is such a great example to us.  We are so blessed to have the power of the priesthood in our home, in our church and in our communities that guide and protect us from the evil that is all around us.  It doesn’t matter where we go Heavenly Father knows where we are and what our needs are.  We are never alone and we always have protection from sin and evil.  We will face trials and difficulties but everything will be okay.  We can feel peace and trust that we are being guided and strengthened through our faith in Him.  Even when we are weak we are made strong.  Even when we turn away from Him he is there to bless us.  Also we are promised that angels will be round about us to bear us up.  I believe that with all my heart.  I know that the work I am doing here with my sweetheart is the best thing that I could be doing for my family and for those we are serving here.  Sometimes I expect big amazing things to happen as a missionary but I am realizing that it is by the small and simple things that we do each day are how we make others strong and how we do all that we can to return to our Heavenly Father.  I am grateful that I can learn this at this time.  I may need to be reminded from time to time throughout my life of the blessings that I am given through the priesthood but I hope that I can always communicate to others my trust in my heavenly father and my faith in the priesthood power.  It is real.  It is God’s power and authority here on the earth this very day.  We are never alone.

We love my family and we are here serving at this time to strengthen and testify to them of the truthfulness of the gospel.  We know they will be blessed far more by our service here and by our example.  Yes, we miss our family terribly.  We love them all so much and want to be with them but we know Heavenly Father can take far better care of them far better than we can and that our sacrifices are consecrated for their good.  We sacrifice and serve for our family because we love them.  We know that only through faith in Jesus Christ.  His atonement is the greatest gift of all.  By our serving a mission and giving everything to the Lord we are still unprofitable servants.  He blesses us far beyond anything that we can do but it is a small gift we can do for others, our brothers and sisters here in England. 

This is a new year and a new beginning.  Recommit yourself to reading the scriptures, double your prayers and focus on knowing the Savior better, to know His will for you.  It will bless all that know and love you.  We promise.

We love you all!  Keep reading your scriptures and saying your prayers.  Trust in His redeeming love for you!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Elder and Sister Blunck

England Manchester Mission

New Yaers Eve Fun!

We had so much fun with the Elders and Sisters on New Years Eve.  We played volleyball, chair football and ate lots of good food.  We laughed till we cried.  Besides Sister Blunck being hit in the face with the ball it was great fun.  But it didn't hurt!  I'm fine!  We hope your New Years Eve was fun for you too.

Kendal Branch

 This is a road just outside the Kendal Chapel.  Don't you just love the rock walls and tiny roads.

 It was a wonderful day visiting with the Kendal Branch today.  The members are so loving and welcoming.  The sisters there are teaching a few investigators and we are praying that they will be baptized.  It has been four years since they had a baptism.  We look forward to future visits to this beautiful village!

 On our way home from Kendal we took a little detour and got lost.  We ended up on a small muddy road out in the middle of nowhere.  There were some quaint farm houses and barns among wooded areas and green pastures.  We are glad that we got lost or we would have missed this area all together.

Elder Blunck

 Elder Blunck found this huge stock of brussel sprouts at ASDA and he had to buy it.  It cost one pound.  Yep, one pound!

 Getting older has it's perks.  The street sign shows two old people crossing the street.  It is an "look out for old people" crossing.  Dad doesn't quite match the sign yet but some day soon......

Love these old phone booths. 

Blackpool

We travel to Blackpool quite often so we thought we would share some pictures from there.  It is a city that tries to be like Las Vegas  but it is more like a cheap imitation.  The wind mill is on the side of the road as you travel out of town just before you get on the motorway.

Geowei's Baptism

This is our friend Geowei.  He is from China and was recently baptized.  Elder Mongie is a Chinese speaking missionary and does a wonderful job teaching the Chinese people here in Preston with Elder Candland.   President and Sister Ulrich came for his baptism and spent a few hours here with all of us.  It was nice to spend some time with them. 

Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas!

We are grateful for the birth of our Savior and love celebrating it every year!  This year is special for us because we are able to serve a mission here in England.  We visit many people who are struggling and suffering because of loneliness, bad choices of their own or others, or they don’t know where to turn to find peace.  We want to help them, to bring the love of the savior into their lives, and we have prepared ourselves to do so, but so many people will not listen or they just don’t have the strength to see beyond their trials and weaknesses. When the Savior lived on the earth He administered unto the weak and down trodden, He spent much time lifting them up and letting them know that they are loved.

 We hope that you too will take some time in your celebrating and look for one person that you can uplift this Christmas season.  Tell someone you are sorry, write a letter to someone you have not spoken to in a long time, call a friend, take dinner to someone who is alone, visit a sick friend, say “I Love You” one more time, or give milk and cookies to a homeless person that you pass by on the street.  Do something beyond your usual comfort zone, but bring the light of Christ into someone else’s life.  He is the gift.  Remember why we celebrate Christmas.

 Good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given.

The gift is for us! You, me and everyone is the gift given.   In the form of a child’s birth we celebrate, but it is the gift of the atonement that He gives to each of us that we are eternally grateful for.

We hope that you have a joyous and Christ filled Christmas.  He is the reason we celebrate.   We love you and pray that you are happy and well.

Love,

Elder and Sister Blunck

England Manchester Mission

Christmas Dinner 2014

 We had the Sisters over for Christmas dinner.  I cooked a turkey with mashed potatoes and stuffing.   We opened our Christmas crackers and wore our crowns.  It was a fun day!  Sister Hunter and Sister Amichia are in the Preston Ward and Sister Manning and Sister Brimley are in the South Ribble Ward.

Christmas Eve Dinner

We had dinner with Mark Chadwick and the South Ribble Elders on Christmas Eve.  We also watched Studio C and talked.  Mark is a newly baptized member and comes regularly to our Book of Mormon Class.

Christmas with Cassandra Helen

 All the Elders and Sisters in Preston got together to bring some Christmas cheer to Cassie on Christmas Eve.  We played games and had treats.  Elder Blunck and I showed the everyone what good mind readers we are by playing a game by choosing an object while a person is out of the room and they have to come back in and tell what the object is.  So fun!

 The Elders played a game that made us all laugh so hard.  They used curly spaghetti noodles to pick up life savers but they could not use their hands.  Elder Goodman and Elder Schofield were the moist coordinated.  Elders Candland and Mongie struggled just a little bit.

Sister Hunter and Sister Amichia played with Cassie's cat while we sang Christmas carols.

England Manchester Mission Christmas Party

 The Senior couples put on a skit at our Mission Christmas Party.  We did the 12 Days of Christmas.  Each one of us held up a sign which represented one of the twelve days of Christmas and the Elders or Sisters would act it out.  We laughed so much.  It was fun to be silly and to watch the Elders and Sisters having so much fun.

 This is one of the districts skits.  They wrapped themselves in boxes and danced.  Two of them jumped off the stage and danced around the floor and fell right in front of President Ulrich.  It was hilarious!

Good food, lots of laughs and Christmas cheer made this a very special party.  President Ulrich taught us the true meaning of Christmas through the scriptures.  He is an amazing teacher! 

What is it?

We saw this on the way to Blackpool.  It looks like a crystal space ship out in the middle of a field.

White Elephant Gift Exchange FHE

We had so much fun at FHE with the Young Single Adults.  We had a white elephant gift exchange and it was so crazy.  Everyone kept stealing from each other and we had really funny gifts.  Baby bibs, Utah license plate, huge New Year's popper, garbage bags that were costumes of super heroes and lots of chocolate.  We all had such a fun time!  We need to do it again next year!

Christmas Tree

   

Hi Loved Ones!                                                                                                         December 3, 2014

Life is good here in Preston England.  We have put 2,000 miles on our car since we have been here.  We still dislike driving here in England but we are willing to do what needs to be done.  When our mission president or zone leader calls and needs something done we always say “Yes”!  We love the people here.  The missionaries are fantastic and are energetically serving our Heavenly Father as best they can.  The missionaries are wonderful examples to us.  They serve with great faith and dedication as well as have an amazing knowledge of the gospel. 

We had a multi zone conference last week.  Elder Dykes and his wife taught us for two hours, as well as President and Sister Ulrich.  We were taught for a total for five straight hours before we had a break.  Oh, they gave us a minute to stand up and stretch but then we went right back to work learning how to be the best missionaries that our Heavenly Father needs us to be.  During our training, if you needed to use the rest room you had to sneak out quickly and get right back as soon as possible.  When we finally had lunch we had been spiritually fed and really didn’t notice that so much time had gone by.  It was a wonderful day!

Visiting the less active members is a special experience.  There are many reasons why a person goes inactive but the most difficult to deal with are the ones who just stopped caring.  We have found it difficult to encourage them to return to activity because nothing seems to touch their hearts.  We have talked to people who have been offended, have had major health problems or their lives have just gotten too hard to manage to get to church, such as no car and major financial problems.  We are not sure how to help them but Heavenly Father knows.  He can cause miracles to happen in their lives.  We are just reminding them where to look for the miracles they need and how to ask for them.

We met a sweet nineteen year old girl who became sick a year ago and is house bound.  She grew up in foster care and when she turned 18 she had to move into a very rundown apartment building.  She has migraines and her joints become dislocated at random times.  Sshe is in a great deal of pain which causes her to be on major painkillers.  She passes out often and so she cannot cook or do things for herself.  She walks with crutches and is so thin, yet when she met us at the door she had a huge smile and was so happy to welcome us into her home.  We are looking for ways that we can help her and look forward to meeting with her again soon.  The Elders and Sisters want to do a service project for her on Christmas Eve but we need ideas.  Do you have any?

All the senior couples got together on Saturday for a Thanksgiving Dinner at a Pub in Warrington.  The food was amazing as well as the conversation.  It was nice to finally meet and talk with the other couples serving here.  They all complain about driving here and even told us to expect a fender bender or two.  Our mission president talked to us about how the mission is growing.  He said that Heavenly Father is sending people from other countries here to England so they can learn about the gospel.  He said the three top baptizing ethnicities are the Asians, Muslims and then the Brits.   It is surprising how many Chinese and Japanese people are being baptized.  The University here brings students from all over the world whose hearts and minds have been prepared to learn the gospel and when they hear it they recognize the truth.

We are doing well.  We have been blessed with health beyond what we were experiencing at home.  We have energy and strength to do the work that Heavenly Father needs us to do.

We pray that you are being blessed in all that you do.  We love you all so much and miss you!  Keep smiling and working hard to learn the Lord’s will for you and your family.  He knows you and He loves you!  He is blessing you to bear your burdens so that you can accomplish the things that will bless you and your family.  Trust in Him and all will work out for your good.

Love,

Elder and Sister Blunck

District Meeting

We have the funnest district meetings! We usually play a game to choose who does what concerning prayers, songs etc, then we are taught a lesson by our district leader.  After that we play fun games to relax and get to know each other better.  Elder Blunck and I always make a treat of some kind to bring to out meetings. We also taught a lesson on companion unity!  I know, can you believe it? 

Lancaster City Offices

 Elder Blunck is doing a great job with photographing the beauty of England.  We were traveling home one night and noticed this beautiful old building located in the middle of Lancaster.  The moon was peeking out from behind the clock tower and it looked amazing. 

Cleaning checks

Elder Blunck and I have the wonderful opportunity of visiting with all the missionaries in their flats.  Unfortunately it is not a social call but cleaning checks.  Sister Blunck has a check list to go through to make sure things are well cared for but more importantly to make sure the missionaries are well cared for.  We make sure that they are safe and are in a good neighborhood.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving Dinner was celebrated by all the senior couples in the England Manchester Mission at the Memphis Belle in Warrington England.  We had turkey, ham, and roast beef with lots of different kinds of potatoes and vegetables as well as Yorkshire pudding.  The food was delicious and we wish that we could have eaten much more then  our stomachs could hold.  Thank you President Ulrich for the wonderful dinner.

Christmas at the Preston Temple

We love the Preston Temple!  The night we were there it was cold and foggy.  We noticed that the fog was creating a background for the reflection of the angle Moroni and it was as if Heaven was so close we could reach out and touch it. 

The Nativities

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This has been an amazing week.  We went to "The Nativities" at a church located next to the Preston Temple.  It was absolutely amazing.  The stake went to so much work to put this together and it was well attended by the communities in the area. We loved feeling the spirit of Christmas in celebration of the Saviors birth.  Be sure to look at Christmas. Mormon.org to see the new Christmas Message put out by the church beginning in December 2014.  Tell all your friends about it and you will see miracles happen this Christmas!