Day 56: WALES TRIP--Water, Blood, and Spirit

Reflecting Eternity Our last weekend trip is at an end. It was really delightful to end on such a high note; we stopped in Herefordshire to see Benbow Farm. A congregation of Methodists met nearby; hundreds of people, who realized that their religion was deficient somehow. They decided to fast and pray for a messenger from God to bring them the full truth. A few days later, Wilford Woodruff arrived to tell them about the restored Gospel. One Brother Benbow offered them the pond on his farm to be used as a baptismal font. Hundreds were baptized in one day. We stood on the banks of this little pond, bundled up against the chilly mist. Some of the girls went up and read the history of Benbow farm; Nikki got up and told her conversion story, which left most of us in tears. Dr. Tate got some great pictures of us, just looking into the suprisingly clear, calm water, imagining the excitement of so many baptisms. I looked in and thought about serving a mission myself, hoping that those I teach would feel the stirrings of something long-forgotten , something like eternity tugging at their hearts and minds, feeling something familiar. Such a cool place. Similarly cool was Gadfield Elm chapel, the very first LDS chapel in existence. The building we visited had been rebuilt and rededicated by the church, had a little visitor's atrium with pictures and video recordings. The chapel has gorgeous walnut pews and a little Protestant organ; Jordan sat and played hymns they would have sung some 160 years ago. Penny led the music and we had a good time singing hymns like A Mighty Fortress is Our God, A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief, and the Spirit of God. So delightful. I wandered outside to take pictures and found Tony lingering there. "You didn't want to come in? It's a bit cold out here." "No. I hope you don't mind." I was about to ask why when several girls came spilling out of the building at once, wiping tears from their cheeks and piling onto the bus. Apparently they all climbed up into the loft, where a little television screen was. Morgan pressed a button and there was President Hinckley, talking about the Gospel going to all the earth, come from England. Everyone started crying. I was sorry to have missed out on such a spiritual experience...I turned around, still wanting to talk to Tony, but he had disappeared. It still bothers me. I guess the trip home was a lot different this time. It was our last overnighter, and we felt peaceful and a bit more patient with ourselves and with each other. Where does homework fall in the grand scheme of things, anyway?