Chapter 4 - Day to Day. The Lord’s Tender Mercies.

Winter in London can be gloomy.  Most days in December are pitch dark by four in the afternoon.  Fortunately, the place gets excited about Christmas.  There are spectacular lights and a festive atmosphere all about.  Here are a few of the scenes experienced by me and my Dear Companion, as we have been window shopping, hosting YSAs at our flat, joining the sing-a-long at Royal Albert Hall, etc.

I have made a point I now repeat.  Many things about this mission are way cool.  But coolest of all is the relation — the family connection — with all these brothers and sisters we never knew before coming here.  Brothers and sisters from litrally everywhere.  Who are human, with human personalities and flaws.  But who are, so many of them, doing their best to follow Christ.  And are so deserving of love.  Brothers and Sisters who seem to actually like us.  And to welcome our parent-like friendship.

It’s that exchange.  The tender mercy of familial warmth, day to day, that make this mission a joy.  And what I hope, perhaps more than anything else, to capture and convey through this blog.  I offer a few more glimpses.

I talked last Chapter of our beloved Chinese.  Before arriving in London I had no idea, for example, that young members in Mainland China were receiving calls and going abroad to serve missions.  But they are.  And some are right here with us. Sister Zeng, whom we love and see about every day, is one of them.  Hear some of her story:

What pioneers!  Really.  These Chinese.  Just believing in the Lord, building branches, and trying to follow Him — without even missionaries there to help.  (It's reminiscent of those congregations springing up in Ghana and other parts of Africa before the Priesthood and the Gospel formally arrived.)  Sister Zeng mentioned her home town is Chengdu.  There in central China.

And, for reasons I don’t quite understand Sister Zeng and her mother — because they were the first members in their family to join the Church — were required to travel across the country to Hong Kong in order to be baptized.  Sister Zeng says others can be baptized in her city — without that great sojourn — if they are members of a family who has already joined the church.  That’s interesting.  I want to talk with Sister Zeng about why it works that way.

Sister Zeng is proud that Chengdu raises and protects the Pandas of China, and those sent to the rest of the world.  She is also proud of the very hot and spicy cooking of her region (Sichuan) — and a bit disdainful of other Chinese who can’t take the heat.

No question. The China Story we are witnessing and touching via this London Mission is one of the great pioneer miracles of the Last Days.  But by no means the only one.  Here are two more super sweet sisters.  Varsha from India.  And Hina from Pakistan.  Listen to some of their story:

What do you think?  Were the pioneers who crossed the plains in the 1800s more valiant?  Than these sisters and their families from lands where the Gospel is just beginning to rise?  The better we get to know them, the more we think not.  And how about that other point they made?  About all the hate between so many of India and Pakistan.  But look at these two.  The love in the hearts that flows from knowing they are sisters in Christ--truly daughters of the selfsame Father in Heaven.

Could there be a better poster?  A better object lesson than that photo — of the Peace on Earth and Goodwill the world craves?  And where it is to be found?

And how about these three Amigas?  Just another glimpse at the fun of this worldwide family we enjoy week to week:

All these great people from everywhere.  And I can’t not mention some of our great Americans.  Like Henry.  

In order to update and cleanup the records of our constantly roving YSAs, they have made me an Assistant Stake Clerk.  In that capacity I work under our Stake Clerk, named Henry.  Henry is in his thirties.  Has a cute wife and two kids.  He is diligent, efficient — and humble.  Only gradually, over time, do I learn that Henry is also brilliant.  He has a PhD from Harvard.  And, straight out of Harvard, he has landed a highly prestigious professorship here at the London School of Economics.  Nor is Henry quick to tell me that his last name is Eyring.  Yes, he is the grandson of Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency.  And son of Henry J. Eyring, now the President of BYU Idaho — and, more importantly, former mission buddies with our own John Gordon Allred.

Henry says my brother John is fondly remembered in the Eyring Family as “Johnny Kwong.”  And he offers this shoutout:

Yes.  Great things are happening.  The Lord’s blessings are all around us.  But now for something I hoped I wouldn't have to talk about.  A word of caution.  One of the great scourges of the Last Days is also upon us in London.  It’s all over Britain and Europe, and may have spread to the US.  You may have guessed what I’m talking about.  But in case you haven't, I shall speak bluntly of the outrageous practice.  At the risk of giving offense.  I’m talking about what those, who have posted the signs below, are so courageously standing against. 

Yes.  I refer to fly tipping.  Though it grieves me to speak those words to ears as tender as yours.  Fly tipping.  Please, if you have not engaged in it, don’t.  Avoid it like plague.  For that’s exactly what it is.  A plague.  And for those who have slipped fallen.  Those who have touched this unclean thing.  Remember it is not too late.  See your bishop immediately.