Day Before Transfers

 This is our fun group of missionaries in the Preston area.  We are going to miss Elder Goodman (DL), Elder Candland, Elder Fapuha, and Sisiter Hunter.

We are very blessed to have such amazing Elders and Sisters serving in the Preston and South Ribble Wards.  Transfer time is hard and also exciting.  These pictures were taken at our last district meeting. 

Prudance and David

Meet our dear friends Prudence and David.  We have been teaching David the discussions and he has chosen to be baptized next week.  We are so happy for him.  Prudence is a member of the South Ribble Ward but has been inactive for a while.  When we went to see her and invite her back to church we found David there visiting her.  On our first meeting we felt a special connection with them.  Elder Blunck was able to give both Prudence and David a blessing to help them with some struggles they are going through.  We love these two dear friends.  We will always treasure them.

Carlisle 2015

 This is a picture of the castle in Carlisle.  It was raining and very windy so we decided to take a picture from our car window instead of getting out and getting just a little bit closer.

 We love this street in Carlisle.  It is very British except the street is wide. Many people here in England live in flats that are connected to each other.  Love the cobble stone roads.

 This is a picture of hundreds of birds (probably starlings but maybe black birds)  Coming to land in the city park at dusk.  They were so noisy.

This is an entry way to a flat in Workington.  There is black mold covering the walls and ceiling.  We are in the process of finding a new flat for the Elders and helping them to move out of this one.  Sister Blunck is smiling because we love the Elders and enjoy spending time with them. 

Zone Meeting January 2015

 We had a really fun zone meeting where we learned from Preach My Gospel how to find and teach investigators.  In these pictures we are eating lunch and getting ready to go home.  We have amazing Elders and Sisters who are so dedicated to serving the Lord and are preparing the world for the second coming. 

Love from the Sisters

 Sister Hunter and Sister Amichia put hearts all over our front door.  They put uplifting quotes and scriptures on each heart.  We were so surprised when we went out side and saw the hearts stuck to our door.  We didn't hear a thing, they were so quiet!  We felt loved and uplifted by their kind words!

Workington

 The England Workington Branch was so welcoming and kind to us when we came to visit them.  Elder Yazvinsky and Elder Parry are awesome missionaries! 

Elder Blunck and I are grateful we can visit so many wards and branches here in the England Preston Mission.  We had to drive 2 1/2 hours to get there.  It is just below Scotland and is located closest to Ireland from where we live.  The Branch is very loving and kind.

Cordon Farewell Party

 Elder Cordon and Elder Blunck enjoy a moment of laughter as they fight over a piece of cake.

 Elder and Sister Cordon will be going home on Wednesday.  They are a wonderful Senior couple who worked in the Middleton area.  We appreicate their love and support as we were learning the responsibilities of a new missionary.  We will miss them!

 Sister Cordon and Sister Blunck hug one last time before they return home to Idaho.

Look at this cute baby boy named Santiago.  I watched him all night and when I finally had a chance to go and talk to his mom she asked me is I would like to hold him.  He is so cute.  Reminded me of Joshua when he was little.

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!