Week 11 in Wigan

Hello friends and family!!! 

Today was a very special week!!! It was November 11 and it signifies 100 years since WW1 ended!!! Pretty incredible stuff! So it is a HUGE thing here. The poppy flower signifies peace and supports soldiers and veterans and so everyone wears one. The churches help sell them in poppy appeal stall and the profits go to the British legion which helps all the families of those who have died in conflict and the veterans who have returned home. This Sunday was the exact day of when it ended and the church did something really special where there was only an hour of church at 1. And at 11 am we all went to a cenotaph(a war memorial) and spent 2 minutes of silence, remembering those who have fought for us! There were actually tons of people there!!!! It was really special. It was kind of weird though because it was really cloudy and rainy before the minutes of silence and then 5 minutes after it had cleared up and it was sunny!! 

We had interviews with President McReynolds this week which is always fun!! Then we had a lesson with Debora!!! She is the sweetest!! We talked to her about callings and ministering assignments. Then also her records are in!!!! So hopefully we can go to the temple with her soon!!!!! She is also super excited to minister!!! She is just amazing. She said that the church and its members have helped her so much and she wants to help those in the church as well. 

We also met with Charlotte and Yvette this week!! Charlotte is getting married on May 31!!!! Now she is thinking of getting baptised soon after and her mom wants to get baptised sooner than that. Yvette wants to get baptised while her son is home so it should be pretty soon. 

Then Katie, the miracle referral, came to church!!! Apparently there is a hole in her ceiling and so that's why she couldn't meet with us this past week.... so solid excuse. But we are meeting with her this week on Wednesday!!! She is still reading the book of Mormon and she is still amazing. 

So this week I have been thinking a lot about all the wars and tribulations that we do have in this life. I love how British people have taken the poppy as  a sign of peace. The story behind it is that there was a war in France in this place called Flanders fields and it was basically a massacre. Many people died in this field and for years nothing grew on it. Until a few tears later and it was filled with poppies. Now, English people take it as a sign of peace. I can't help but think through everything we do go through in life, our church takes Christ as that symbol of peace. The talks this Sunday all talked about how all those men who fought in those wars sacrificed their lives for their country but how Christ sacrificed his life for everyone. He made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us so that we can be happy not only in this life but in the life to come. I am just so grateful for that sacrifice and I definitely have seen how that sacrifice has changed lives including my own. 

Well, I love you all!!!!

Sister Sever