The Land of John Benbow

The next day was probably one of my absolute favorites. We had the privilege of going to a small ward in Cardiff for Sacrament. 

It was such a beautiful experience. 

It was in a little building on this little strip of shops, squished between two businesses, but that only added to the incredible spirit of humility I felt as I walked through the doors. 

We went up the stairs to their little room designated for Sacrament meeting. We had the blessing of witnessing one of the recently baptized members getting confirmed as a member of the church and receiving the Holy Ghost. After that powerful experience, one of the counselors in the Bishopric's wife spoke and the Stake Patriarch spoke. Both talks were so moving to me and they were just exactly what I needed to here. It was such a sacred experience for me that I don't really know how to explain it.

It reminded me a lot of my cousins' home ward in Callahan, Florida (out in the boonies) that I used to visit a lot growing up. It was small in size and the rooms were probably not big enough to fit over 100 people. They had to have a lot of their meetings in little trailers just outside the main building where Sacrament was held. But the Spirit of the ward could have fit into a thousand regular-sized chapels (and then some).

In Cardiff, as we were getting settled in for the meeting and singing the first hymn, the man in front of me accidentally knocked the hymn book off of his chair without even noticing. I had such a strong impression to pick it up and hand it to his wife sitting next to him. So, I did.

She immediately thanked me and asked in a fabulous Welsh accent, "Who is this beautiful lady sitting behind me?" It took me a moment to realize she was talking about me (How are these Brits so witty and polite, so naturally? And why am I always two steps behind them?) I introduced myself after a beat and we talked for a minute or so. It was in the middle of the hymn that we were having this conversation that she so much wanted to engage in with me, but I think that little interaction made me feel the Spirit more than the hymn could have in that moment.  She wanted to talk to me afterward, but got caught up in helping others in her ward.

As I was taking notes during the Sacrament talks, I kept going back to that minute, powerful interaction we had had when, all of a sudden, the words "Kindness is the Kingdom of God" came into my mind and heart. They struck my spirit so deeply that it actually brought me to tears. That was the epitome of that little ward. Christ's love was embedded in every single person; you could just feel it.

I wish I would have gone up to her afterward and continued taking in her beautiful spirit. Christ was so much in her countenance it almost moves me to tears thinking about it now and regretting not talking to her more. She is what a disciple of Christ looks like.

After that incredible experience, we made our way to the Gadfield Elm Chapel where the church started it's work in the United Kingdom. That too was an unforgettable experience. The senior missionary couple that was serving there was just so completely kind and so warm. 

After our visit to the Chapel, we made our way to the farm where Wilford Woodruff baptized so many of the first Saints to be baptized in the UK. He actually had to do most of these baptisms at night in a little pond in the cold because of all the mobs that would come and persecute the Saints when the baptisms were performed in the daytime.

Our professors trying to figure out where the pond was.

You can see the pond in the near-distance of this picture.

The farm was gorgeous and the fact that it had a bajillion sheep running around made it an even happier place for me.

My fluffy friends and me.

While Wilford Woodruff did a lot of the converting in the UK, it would not have been possible without the influence and deep conversion of John Benbow. His story and the story of the United Brethren he was a part of struck a chord with the part of my testimony that knows Heavenly Father prepares the hearts of each of us in specific, individual, loving ways to take in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a testament to how deeply He loves me and how much He needs me to love those around me. That was really the theme of the day for me--loving others as Christ loves me. I'm so grateful to know that love and I'm going to try a little better to show that gratitude by loving others just the same.

Because I have been given much, I too must give.