Winter comes to the London Temple

We have finally received a good snow fall, not that we would have missed it had it not come. Because it was going to snow all day yesterday which could create bad road conditions the Temple President, President Lowry asked that the van not be taken to Church in Crawley so we held a Testimony Meeting in the dining room of the Accommodation Centre. It was a very spiritual meeting with most in attendance bearing their testimonies. Today David went out and took some photos of the new snow fall, some of which are shown below. Today we also cleaned house, did the laundry and relaxed for a while. David even took some time to create some snow angles. We look forward to tomorrow when we will be back serving in the Temple.

 Frozen reflecting pond

 Manor House

Snow Angels

Our flat is on the second floor (3 last windows)

Love from Elder and Sister Kiddle

Canterbury Cathedral

At the Temple right now we are training another couple to be Baptistry Co-ordinators. This is another first for us to be trainers. In Crawley Ward this past Sunday Elder Kiddle gave the priesthood lesson in High Priests Group which involved a lot of preparation and which was very rewarding. We continue to thrill in our service in the Temple.

For our day off yesterday we were able to visit Canterbury Cathedral, parts of which date back to 1070 AD. The workmanship is excellent. It contains the coffin of King Henry the IV which was very interesting as the carved likeness of him on the top of the coffin looked a  lot like King Henry the VIII. There were many beautiful stained glass windows which we have always enjoyed when visiting old Churches. Also we walked around what they call the Crypt in the lower level of the Cathedral. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures in the Crypt as it is regarded as very sacred. To our amazement we found a prayer roll desk in the Crypt with instructions that said that the prayers deposited there would be placed on the Altar at a certain time each day.

The part of the city surrounding the Cathedral was also a lot of fun to explore. We had lunch at a Pizza Hut. It was like we were back in Calgary inside the restaurant. The shops and stores were different from those in Calgary and many unique items were available which we would have loved to buy if we weren't on a mission. It was fun window shopping.

Here are a few of the pictures we took:

HEVER CASTLE

This past week we continued to have unique temple experiences in the Baptistry, Initiatory and Endowment sessions. It is especially uplifting when a patron comes with their own family file to do. One such experience was when Elder Kiddle helped a couple do baptisms for their family names and then was in the Initiatory when the Brother brought the same names for receiving the initiatory ordinances. With one name the spirit was very strong. After doing that name the brother explained, without being asked, that the relative they were doing the work for was a young 19 year old boy who died as a soldier in the 1st World War. It is so special to work in the Temple.

Yesterday we didn't have any exciting outings but a few weeks ago (December 17th) we went to Hever Castle. We didn't report this outing at that time, instead we reported on some spiritual activities related to Christmas. This was the most exciting of the old castles we have visited because it was very old and was the home where Anne Boleyn grew up. She was the second wife of King Henry the 8th and the castle also had rooms dedicated to him as he lived there sometimes. We weren't allowed to take any pictures in the Castle but the rooms were full of exquisite woodwork. To think they had such wonderful craftsman that long ago is incredible. Another unique feature that we enjoyed was that it is still heated by huge stone fireplaces in almost every room. It has never been upgraded to modern central hot water heating as most of the old buildings we previously visited. We will be going back to it in the summer as it has beautiful gardens that will be alive with thousands of blooms then. The castle also has a proper moat and drawbridge.

Here are a few pictures from our visit there.

 Some shaped bushes(topiary) along the approach path to the cattle

 Hever Castle with some Christmas lighting

Christmas lighting in a small portion the Gardens

We knew there were historical places to see in England but they seem to be endless.

We think of our friends and family every day and wish you could have the same experience we are having. Get your mission papers in soon.

Love Elder and Sister Kiddle

New Years Day 2013

Happy New Year Everyone.

Today, one of the drivers was given permission to take out the van and 10 of us went to Eastbourne. The most sun we have seen in one day since we arrived so total blue sky and then darkness did not hit until  4:30 p.m. Eastbourne was quite the little seaside town. We walked out on the pier & had delicious fish and chips. Loved being by the sea for the first time since we got here. The beach is a gravel beach so we just walked along the sidewalk in front of it. Quite the display of hotels and Bed & Breakfasts along the front. It was very chilly  but the warmth of the sun was great. We then  drove to some cliffs at Beachy Head. The cliffs were called the Seven Sisters. We climbed up the back side of the cliffs and looked over. Quite the fun day. 

Tonight we went to a pot luck supper at 6:00 PM for which Sister Kiddle made potato salad. With all the food we have had we will want to sleep in tomorrow. We are on the afternoon shift tomorrow so we can take it slowly in the morning.

 Beach on North Side of Pier

 Elder and Sister Kiddle on the Pier

View from South side of Pier

Us at Beachy Head above the cliff

May 2013 be a great year for everyone. 

With all our love

Elder & Sister Kiddle

Christmas in Loughborough, Leicestershire

Hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas. We had the pleasure of spending Christmas with Sister Kiddle's Aunt Joyce and Aunt Valerie. We travelled by train from Gatwick Airport to London, St. Pancras and from there to Loughborough where we were met at the Train Station by the two Aunties. Christmas Eve was a very rainy day but we enjoyed a trip to the town centre and market square. We enjoyed looking through the stores watching many local people as they did their last minute Christmas shopping.

Christmas Morning we attended the Loughborough Ward Christmas Carol Service at the Ward Chapel. After the service we enjoyed a refreshing walk along the Canal Bank that runs in front of Joyce and Valerie's Apartment building and can be viewed from their living room window. We then spent a leisurely day with Joyce and Valerie, enjoying a wonderful traditional English Christmas Dinner. In the evening we joined with our two families on skype and had a three way conversation with Elder Lybbert ( our missionary grandson) who is serving in Argentina. He was on the speaker phone and we were able to hear him and he was able to hear us over Skype. He is doing well and it was so good to hear from him.

Boxing day brought more visiting and great food. We feel blessed to have spent the Christmas Season  with these two special aunties.

Today (December 27th) we caught a train and arrived back at the temple at 12:00 noon and returned to our service in the Temple.

Us with Aunt Valerie, Aunt Joyce and cousin Pauline

The Canal Bank

Swans on the bank

Christmas Dinner

The childhood home of Sister Kiddle's Father (Reg Carter)

The home in which Sister Kiddle was born

Thanks for a great Christmas Aunt Valerie and Aunt Joyce

Wishing a Happy New Year to everyone.
Love Elder and Sister Kiddle

Performance of The Messiah at Royal Albert Hall

We had the privilege of going into London this past Friday December 14th to hear a very large choir perform The Messiah at Royal Albert Hall. Our seats were up in what is called the Circle (Seats 78 & 79 row 4). We had an excellent view of the choir and orchestra. The choir had about 300 members so we could hear it great. Brother and Sister Rushforth (friends of Sister Kiddle's aunts Joyce and Valerie) drove us into London. Royal Albert Hall is incredible. As the picture we are including shows, it is a round building with many entrances that move the audience in and out very efficiently.

   

Royal Albert Hall

                        us at Royal Albert Hall               view of Choir and Orchestra  

This past week we also received a package from home. Katrina & Brett's family sent us some angels made out of foam craft (displayed on the Mantel) and Cameron & Amber's family sent us angels they had made out of polymer clay (displayed on our little tree). The pictures are below. We love them and are enjoying them.

This past week at the Temple we were trained as Baptistry Co-ordinators by Elder and Sister Bartschi who have completed their mission and are on their way home to Utah. They will be missed at the temple. We will be on our own this week in the Baptistry. 

We wish our family and friends a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.

Love Elder & Sister Kiddle

Hyde Park Chapel with Elder and Sister Bartschi

This past Sunday we attended church in Hyde Park Chapel to hear Elder and Sister Bartschi speak in one of the Wards there. They are going home to Utah at the end of this week and were invited to speak. After Church we walked back to Victoria Station to catch our train back to Lingfield which is close to the Temple. We have included photos of some of the sights we saw on our way to the train station. It was a wonderful day.

Hyde Park Chapel

 Wellington Arch

  

Prince Albert Memorial

   

Buckingham Palace

 
           In front of the Palace Gates                     

               

          Window Box still blooming in December              Birds on the Serpentine

Monday December 10th we attended a Christmas Dinner and Program at President and Sister Lowry's  residence in the Manor House (Our Temple President and Matron). Elder Kiddle sang White Christmas, our Temple Choir performed and several Christmas readings were given. A great meal was served by the Temple Presidency.

This week we are being trained as Baptistry Coordinators. There will be 27 young adults from the BYU Study Abroad Program coming to the Baptistry on December 12th.

Hope everyone has a great week.

Love, Elder and Sister Kiddle