Classical Spectacular, Canterbury, and 19 Names

I'll tell about the 19 names first, because that's one of the best parts of this month. I finally had a break-through in family search.  We have some days when nothing is scheduled and we work on our FH.  I had been rather frustrated with only finding knots that need to be untied or dead-end searches.  Then one day I had a breakthrough on the Beck line and found 7 names in the Hodson family!  

Then I decided to check out Puzzilla again.  It is a program on familysearch.org that shows descendants so you can find your cousins.  Looking at Edward Thomas (I788) and  his descendants, I could see wide open spaces.  I could see this was a good place to start.  I have found 12 names in 3 days!  And I have only scratched the surface!  No, the work for our family is not yet done.  

Last Friday, Elder Syme and I volunteered at the London Family History Library at Kew.  While there, I had some time to look at some microfilms.  It was very helpful.  We are going next Friday, so I may be able to do some more research there.

I am impressed with the many countries represented here in England.  It truly is multicultural,
especially in the church.  Only about half the people in the wards we have visited speak with a British accent.  After church once, we talked with a man who told us about his family in India. He told us about his family being part Christian and part Hindu.  His patriarchal blessing told him he was from the tribe of Judah, and his DNA test shows roots from India and Lebanon.  Very interesting.  Even the missionaries are from all over.  Four new missionaries were introduced in our ward from California, Hungary, South Africa and Taiwan. 

On the March 21st the senior missionaries had a night out.  There were 10 couples including the mission president and his wife.  We went to dinner at a restaurant, then to the Royal Albert Hall for the Classical Spectacular. The concert really was spectacular!  The hall was impressive.  (This picture isn't very good, but I was trying to keep up and didn't have time to get a better one. You can google for better ones.)

At the end of the 4 flights of stairs, these are the doors to the balcony seats.

It's an amazing hall, and we found out it was built about the same time as the tabernacle in Salt Lake.  The music was classical, but they chose the most popular that almost everyone knows.  The performers were excellent.  Our favorite of the evening was Rhapsody In Blue.  The pianist was amazing! 

We had seats on the balcony below the middle opening to the left of the cannon.   (See the video about 12:40) When the cannons went off during the 1812 Overture, it made me jump even though I expected it.  It sounded like they were blowing holes in the walls.  This is a video from 2012, which is like what we saw, only there were more fireworks this year.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk2ayJD3JVs&feature=share

We went to Canterbury to meet with the Family History leaders there.  It was another wonderful visit with remarkable people who are dedicated and working hard.  They have the same needs we see often, lack of space and needing more family history consultants in the wards.  They also have a large group of young single adults in the area.  While there, we were able to show them how Puzzilla works, and they were so excited!  

Here are some pictures of our trip.  First is Elder Syme on the "wrong side of the car."

Always like seeing the country side.

 This is the Queen Elizabeth Bridge over the Thames.

You have to pay a toll when you cross.

 We aren't very far from the "Chunnel."  Maybe some day we can go there.

 The church house in Canterbury.

 The Canterbury Castle is inside the city walls and there is almost no access by car, only pedestrian traffic. It's too far for me to walk, so these are the best pictures I could get from the road surrounding the area. This is the West Gate.  It is the largest city gate in England.

You can't see them, but there is a couple up by that steeple kissing.  :)

This is Canterbury Cathedral.

 On to Dover.  This is the Dover Castle.

It was getting late in the day and we didn't really know how to get to see more of the "White Cliffs of Dover" besides walking along the cliffs, so here is the best I could do.

On the way home, I found where I would like to live if I had to live in England.

 On the way back to the city, you don't cross the bridge, it's one way.  This way you go through the tunnel.

And there is home up ahead.  Ahh, so nice to get back to the city.  Uh huh.

This has been a good month for growing.  I am closer to the Lord than I have ever been because I need Him so much.  I love Him, love this church, and love the people here.