Beautiful, Bright Baptism Day--a Porridge Perfect Day

Choose ye this day to serve the Lord God who made you.  Moses 6:33

Elder Blain had the privilege of baptizing the sister on the left and he will confirm the one on the right tomorrow.  They are close friends.  The one brought her friend along to the first lesson.

There is nothing like a baptism to bring the spirit of all the missionary work in the world into one little room and set it glowing with happy hearts.  This is what missionary work is all about--bringing souls unto Christ!

This photo doesn't do justice to this tree.  It looks like I imagine the Tree of Life would look like!  It is next to the Family History Centre on the Preston Temple grounds.

The tree doesn't have white fruit on it like in the vision of the Tree of Life, but it has these beautiful blossoms (1 Nephi 8 and 11)

The flowers bloom and are gone so fast, I sometimes almost miss what is going on with the temple grounds!

The goal in Chorley and Preston Stakes is to get everyone to the temple.

Summer is here in England and the last three days have been perfectly gorgeous--not too hot or too cold, but just right as when Goldilocks ate the Baby Bear's porridge.  If all the days in England were like this, it might be difficult to get me off this mission.  The reality is my Dry Idea deodorant will run out if there's really hot weather and the other stuff here makes me break out.  The only reason I have any left is a daughter brought some from the U.S. when she visited (plus Jello and pistachio pudding mix, which probably won't work as a substitute when the deodorant runs out).

As usual, with the weather nice, I've been out snapping pictures everywhere trying to capture all things bright and beautiful and interesting before we have to leave.

Temple grounds

Temple grounds

Temple grounds

Sometimes ya gotta get up close and personal to really appreciate these little ones

Temple grounds

Temple grounds

Temple grounds

We were doing "search and rescue" the other day (finding loss sheep/less actives).  We found two out of seventeen home.

Since no one seemed to be home, I told Elder Blain to knock on the door and I'd come if anyone was there.  That way I didn't have to take the Sat Nav (GPS) out of the car.  He always takes a Book of Mormon to the door for three reasons:  1.  So they know he isn't of another religion  2.  He can share it with the person who opens the door if the members no longer live there  3.  He can always hit a dog in the chops with it if the need arises.

Bakery shop with apparently large hamburger buns?  (also called baps)

One of those two-lane roads in a Blackburn neighborhood

The only thing different people can do with homes like these is paint the door a different color, or have a unique door--well, they can have a yard--sorta--or a parking lot

This is the road to our church building--Muslim people run the businesses and live on this street.  There are many Mosques in the area and one across the street from the LDS building, which I already posted a picture of a few months back.  The Mosques are very beautiful buildings. 

See the white van at the end of the road?  Elder Blain hates those.  They are all over England and they often take more than their fair share of the road.  Obviously, on this road, there is no share to take unless you're in the other person's lane!

Can you see the date on this building?  Do you think these neighbors discussed painting their doors?  I told you they try anything to be a little different than next door.

There are always some nice surprises like this is a yard as we looked over the shrubs.

Found in a little lady's yard whom we visit almost every week.

A treasure.  We're glad we saw these as they are almost over the hill.  Many had already started to dry up.

Elder Blain keeping his basketball shooting ready for competition with the Elders (and grand kids when we get home)

I've noticed the special technique of opening the mouth gets the ball into the basket better-ha, ha

Special dance step called, "backboard shuffle."

The sister support from Blackburn Ward for the sister going on a mission.  This was her set apart night.  Her family members weren't there, but her ward family was.  These wonderful women live love and service!  I think they are as beautiful as any of the flowers I've posted.