Boxing Day & Feast of Stephen

In 2010, Christmas and Boxing Day, (26 December), fell upon Saturday and Sunday - days that most people would not work. To correct the calendar’s injustice, the UK designated Monday as Boxing Day Bank Holiday, and Tuesday as Christmas Day Bank Holiday.
Boxing Day is also Saint Stephen Day. (Stephen was the first Christian martyr, who, before his stoning, saw the heavens open, and Christ standing on the right hand of God. Acts 7:55-56). Long ago in elementary school, I learned the Christmas carol, "Good King Wenceslas", who “looked out on the Feast of Stephen”, and took pity on a poor peasant. It took me over half a century, and two Christmases in England, to realize the connection between King Wenceslas’ generosity and kindness, and St. Stephen Day, or the Feast of Stephen. Wenceslaus, a third generation Christian, (907-935), lived in an era when nobles did not care about anything but their throne. He was a veritable one man Bishop, Mother Teresa, and Home Teacher -- clothing the naked, giving shelter to pilgrims, and buying freedom for those sold into slavery. His generous love extended to rich and poor alike. He was extraordinarily kind and compassionate every day, not just on the Feast of Stephen, and for this, I have come to admire Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia.

 Bing Crosby and DC Comics: Good King Wenceslas

Boxing Day originated in England as a day for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good service throughout the year, and the day for giving money and other gifts to the needy. This English holiday has also evolved into a day to visit the family that wasn’t seen on Christmas day, and a very busy shopping day with after Christmas sales. Because St. Stephen is the patron saint of horses, boxing day was a great day for a fox hunt, but since 2004, it’s been outlawed. It’s still a day for horse racing.

The London Family History Centre never closes on a Bank Holiday. Whereas the patron traffic is very light the last week of December, and whereas we close earlier this week, and whereas the missionaries richly deserve some time off – we’ll operate the Centre with just one couple each day. Gerry and I worked Monday, 27 December.

Look to the Light

Getting our Kicks on Week 66

STRANDED MISSIONARIES
Because of snow, Heathrow airport closed Friday 17 December, stranding eleven missionaries in London;ten had completed their missions, and one Sister from Uganda trying to start her mission in Salt Lake City. Sunday night, 19 December, we had nine of those 'strandees' in our home for dinner. Gerry had asked each of the Elders to share one story about their mission. I'll share just one:
Elder Hoffman from Chandler, AZ (Chandler East Stake) had served in Mozambique, in the "Malaria Belt". Taking anti-Malaria pills, and sleeping under a mosquito net are things one can do to stay healthy. Yet some missionaries, including their Mission President, found themselves infected with Malaria. There are three types of Malaria, and the worst type affects the brain - Cerebral Malaria. [Please tell me that the Mosquito will be banished to Outer Darkness in the next life!]
Elder Hoffman and his companion were teaching a lady who had had Cerebral Malaria, and her eyes would involuntarily jitter back and forth . The missionaries gave her a Book of Mormon, but since the Malaria, she was dyslexic and could not read. To prove her point, she opened the Book of Mormon, and instead found that she could read it very well. She opened another book, but she was still dyslexic. She returned to the Book of Mormon, and she could once again read. She has a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.
Monday, 20 December, two missionaries were able to fly home to the States. Tuesday, the remaining Elders and Sisters went to Heathrow early in the morning, and stood in line for three or four hours. Their tenacity paid off, for each was able to get a "Standby" seat. They flew to New York, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta - any port in a storm! By the time they had arrived in those hub cities, the Church's Travel Office had connecting travel reservations ready for them - on to their families for Christmas!


WINTER SOLSTICE & MISSIONARY "GROUNDHOG" DAY
21 December - the shortest day of the year. The sun is up for less than eight hours, and even on a blue sky day, we don't see very much of it, because it only rises enough to perhaps peek above London's tall buildings. Winter Solstice in London is also "Missionary Ground Hog Day". If the missionaries see their shadow, they'll go home in six weeks. If not, they'll finish their mission. Sure enough, no shadow, so we'll see you in three months - 23 March 2011.

MICROFILMS
We spent Monday and Tuesday sorting, checking, and labeling films. We put in long hours for the Christmas overtime bonus, and just to get that part of the chore behind us. I learned a lot from last years film project, and was determined to not have little "Easter Egg" surprises hidden all over the place. That really wastes time! Tuesday night, I knew it was time to go home when I asked Sister Crandall if she would "Please put more printer in the paper." I dragged myself home and "Three Amigos" (Advil gel tabs) really eased the pain. It seems that when I hit the wall, I don't bounce off it like I did ten years ago! Gerry has been such a great help, and I don't know how we could have done it without her.

A GREAT GRANDSON'S DISCOVERY
A couple from Williamsburg, VA came to the Centre, looking for the husband's Great Great Grandfather's marriage. Calculating from the date of the first child's birth in 1861, he started looking at 1855 through 1860 for the marriage. Nothing. I had a very strong impression that we should look in 1865. "Trust me", I said.
Reluctantly, he made the search, and yup, there they were. They've been looking for this marriage for several years, and were thrilled. The Spirit is very strong in the Centre, and promptings happen often, when we least expect them.

CHRISTMAS DAY
We invited all the missionaries in the area, and those who volunteer in the Family History Centre, to a waffle breakfast. Having them in our flat brings cheer and laughter to Christmas morning! Very few could not come, even though the buses and subways are idle on Christmas Day.
Front row: Me, Elder Skow (Pleasant Grove, UT), Sister Harbrecht (SLC), Sheila Clappison (London), and Elder Harbrecht (SLC). Back row: Sister Felix (Odgen, UT), Elder Curgenven (England), Elder Resolme (San Diego), Elder Shepherd (England), Gerry, Sister Araujo (Portugal), Sister and Elder Crandall (Mesa, AZ).

That afternoon, Richard Davies (with whom we lived the first five weeks of our mission), picked us up - Gerry and I, Elder and Sister Campbell and their visiting Daughter Emily – for Christmas dinner at his home in Kilburn (North London). We were joined by Richard’s friend, Scheherazade. What a great time with dinner, and English Christmas traditions like Christmas Crackers (they sound like a cap gun when you jerk them open, and a prize, along with a silly paper crown falls out). Then, everyone wears those crowns. My Cracker had a shoe horn and Gerry got a plastic paperclip! Christmas Crackers come in various values. Harrods sells a set of six Silver Luxury Crackers for $400! I wonder what’s inside?