September 23, 2013

Dear Mum,
       I got to shake Clayton Christensen's hand!!! As he did so he said "God bless you, Elder" He came last night to Reading chapel/stake centre and spoke about why he loves this church. The way he explained things was so clear and powerful! He's a towering figure as well, much taller than I am! He and his wife spoke and afterwards had a Q&A session. That was a full chapel. I'll write to you all of the things he said.
     Sean (our baptismal date) just passed his interview with bishop and so will be baptised in 6 days. He's so excited, and his wife now wants to learn more and prepare to become a member. That's a surprise since gospel principles class yesterday was pretty terrible. Discussing priesthood organisation can either be fascinating or torture. Unfortunately, it was the latter. It was the second half of that lesson, the one the previous week was a great first half on the Aaronic Priesthood. 
      On Saturday we went with Linda and her daughter Elliana (Ellie for short) to the temple. President Hawkins was with us as well, and was the one who made it all possible. Linda LOVED the idea of a house to the Lord, a place which she said was so special. Evangelical churches not often have their own buildings to meet in, yet alone a temple to attend! Ellie wanted to know when she can go inside it! I said "not even members can go in right now; it's closed for cleaning!". The sister missionaries in the visitors' centre were great: one was a New Zealander, the other a Utahn. Everything from the Christus statue to the various rooms in the temple to Jeffery R. Holland's testimony was covered. The Prophet of the Restoration video never ceases to bring the Spirit. Linda and Ellie were so ready to be baptised by the end of it. Especially Linda, she really wants to do the work for her deceased family. After that we picnicked on the grounds with the food President Hawkins brought. It was lovely.
     That evening we attended the stake roadshow which was quite hilarious.  British people have a whole different sense of humour already, now imagine  British Mormon humour. Reading didn't win, but I was cracking up seeing some of the members (especially what some of the youth) did. Newbury ( a nearby ward) I thought did the best with the plot being a teacher thinking he's about to be fired and flipping out with his class over it. They brought Les Miserables into theirs. All the missionaries from the zone were there helping out. 
      Hey if you ever get into contact with Torben again tell him I met a Dane  who knows him out here. His name is Bjorn Graabek (Bjorn pronounced Byorn; I found out that Michel name is pronounced Meek-ale, not meek-ul). 
     Also cool is that Elder Poulino my dutch companion knows, guess who, ...Dalin VanOverbeek! I never put that connection together, that "Elder VanOverbeek" served in Holland the same time Elder Poulino was home. 
     At church yesterday we had so many people. 180 compared to the usual 140. Baby blessing and a good amount of missionary work accomplished that. That was with some of the core families missing! 
    So how many missionaries are out from our ward? With Jordan Preciado going out that's got to be more than 10! 
    
    Fun fact for Doug (from whom I'd love more random facts) and Heather. So on "My Fair Lady" Eliza says to her father who begs her for money "Not a brass farthing". Ever wonder what a farthing is? I found out! It's 1/4 a penny. A shilling is 12 pennies. And remember when Ebenezer Scrooge says to the little boy out the window "Get him in 5 minutes, and I'll give you half a crown!". A Half crown is worth 30 pennies, or 2 1/2 shillings. Now in Horse races they still pay out in Guineas, which are worth a little more than a pound. It's like a baker's dozen in pound currency. Back in the 60s they switched off that confusing non-metric currency. It's based on 12. Ever wonder why in school we learn our times tables up to 12? It's because of that partially. Cool huh? 
   
  I could write so much more, like the apple story with Elder Poulino or dinner with Bishop Pine, but I'll save that for the letters. (Sorry Aunt Luann, you probably hate me for that, but I have to write something original in those letters! Give me your address one more time and I'll send one your way!) 
   I hope you enjoy the photos! Love you family! 
            Elder Cooper
 P.S. Is everyone converging on Utah as the gathering place? We'll have  half of the family out there by now!