Misc. pictures from Rachel

Starting from top left going clockwise...

1. Sister Anderson had my camera and took this pict! Ha ha I thought it was great!

2. Me and Sister Anderson

3. Some of the Sisters in the mission on a very windy day at Lyme Park

4. Sister Holbrook and I getting soaked on our way home

Starting from top left going clockwise...

1. Same pictures of Sisters at Lyme Park

2. Me in my old flat (Manchester) wearing this coat I had just found in the closet!

3. Waterloo Sunset! Took this one for you, Dad!

4. Mom's object lesson she gave me! It went great!

Church News Article on Heritage Open Day

Visitors flock to Preston temple grounds during England's Heritage Open Days

Church News -- Published: Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010

CHORLEY, ENGLAND

On Saturday, Sept. 11, more than 400 non-LDS visitors flocked to the grounds of the Preston England Temple in Chorley, Lancashire.

The Chorley England Stake hosted an open day as part of England's national Heritage Open Days initiative: "Heritage Open Days celebrates England's fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission. Every year between Sept. 9-12, buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors, ranging from castles to factories, town halls to parish churches. It is a once-a-year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities which bring life to local history and culture."

Visitors were invited to join tours of the temple grounds during the day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., or wander unescorted around the many pathways through the peaceful gardens. Three different repeating tours were available with one starting every half-hour: an architectural tour conducted by Peter Trebilcock, one of the architects who worked on the Preston temple; a garden tour conducted by Keith Kirby, one of the temple gardeners; and a general tour by local historian Peter Fagg. Younger visitors enjoyed spotting features of the site with a 'Seek and ye shall find' map and quiz. While waiting for tours to start visitors were invited to view a rolling sequence of Mormon Messages video clips projected on a large screen in the chapel.

The tours took visitors around the landscaped site, starting in the chapel of the stake center, and continuing to the lake and gardens outside the Missionary Training Center, into the Accommodation Centre, the Family History Center, the Distribution Center, and around the exterior of the temple. Specialist tours concentrated on the award-winning gardens, and the architecture of the temple and the development of the site from green fields.

Some were disappointed not to be able to enter the temple, though this was explained in the advance publicity. However, it provided an excellent opportunity to explain the sacred purpose of the temple and why entry was restricted to members in good standing. Several were surprised to learn that the temple was not a large cathedral-like hall, but comprised many different rooms.

"One big message that came out in each of the five tour groups I conducted," said Peter Fagg, "was that many people considered the temple site a closed community. We made it clear that visitors are welcome to the temple grounds, worship services and other events in the stake center, and the Family History Center."

Visitors came from as far as 40 miles away and from many walks of life. One mother brought her daughter with a school assignment to attend one of Heritage Open Days properties and write a report. They came along accompanied by their Catholic priest.

A visitor from Blackburn who went on both the garden and architectural tours commented, "I went to the open house in 1998. I wanted to come back and bring my wife so she could see it. The quality of the workmanship was first class and the grounds are wonderful. I work in the construction industry and know that this level of quality is rare."

Roy Robinson, a non-member retired architect who had worked on the temple project, was one of the day's visitors and was impressed to see the project 12 years on. He later wrote, "A very rewarding day. The landscape is really superb and maturing well with the buildings. In the last few years I have visited a number of the greatest gardens and buildings in Britain. Those gardens are beautiful but just an appendix to the building. Whereas in the case of the Preston Temple the gardens and buildings are a total combined vision. Nice to see a concept reach such a rewarding result."

A visitor of Indian ethnicity remained behind after a tour to seek clarification about tithing. He was impressed with the faith and commitment of those living such a principle. One couple said that they already used the Family History Center, "but we wanted to find out more and join the tour. This is a wonderful place."

Brother Trebilcock reported, "There seemed to be a constant influx all day. All were positive. The most repeated comments were, 'This place is beautiful and well looked after,' and, 'I didn't realize the grounds were open to the public at other times; I shall certainly come back.' At the end of each tour all expressed appreciation and said that they found the visit very enjoyable, informative, and commented on the impressive quality of the facilities. One person commented, 'The quality of care is evident. A tribute not only to those involved in its design and construction but also to all those who look after it today.'"

As they left other visitors spoke of the emphasis on the family that they had picked up from what they saw and heard.

As well as the grounds tours the Family History Center director Catherine Carter gave two different family history presentations, which were very popular with visitors.

Another visitor, Richard Parker, explained that in his family history he found a Parker ancestor who was an LDS Branch president in the area in 1856 and an ancestor of Butch Cassidy. Arrangements were made for him to meet with a member local historian and to be introduced to the Family History Center.

Missionaries assigned to the local area (Rachel was one!!! Way to go Sister!) were on hand to answer the many questions visitors had about Church doctrine and practices. Several impromptu missionary lessons took place during the course of the day. Others toured the chapel where several displays taught about core beliefs.

Visitors were also given a flyer advertising future events at the stake center to which they are most welcome, including the satellite broadcast of general conference, stake conference, the annual Festival of Nativities and the Christmas Carol Concert.

The idea to join the Heritage Open Days was first suggested to Chorley England Stake President David Pickup by Brother Fagg, a member of the stake's high council. The stake has the goal to double the active membership of the stake by 2015 and has planned a number of initiatives to bring the Church out of obscurity in Lancashire. A committee of high councilors was quickly formed and members including single adults from the Center For Young Adults volunteered to "meet and greet."

"We thought that this would be an ideal opportunity to welcome non-member visitors to the landscaped grounds of the Preston temple," said President Pickup. "We hoped these visitors would be able to feel something of the special nature of the temple and feel prompted to seek to know more about the gospel. And it worked! They were introduced to Church members and our beliefs in a non-threatening way. They saw couples going to the temple to be sealed, children involved in a Primary activity and families walking to and from the temple on a busy Saturday.

"Although we didn't specifically promote any doctrine other than the purpose of the temple, most visitors were naturally curious about what we believed and asked probing questions, which members and missionaries were on hand to answer. We also made good use of the new passalong cards and other Church literature. As they left many commented that they had noticed an emphasis on the family as they listened to the tour guides or wandered around the various displays in the stake center.

English Heritage Open Day Pictures

All Photos by David MW Pickup

As part of Heritage Open Days, visitors tour the grounds of the Preston England Temple. Peter Trebilcock answers visitor's questions.

Abby Crompton, center, completes child's questionnaire during a visit to the grounds of the Preston England Temple.

As part of Heritage Open Days, visitors tour the grounds of the Preston England Temple.

English Heritage Open Day

RACHEL - Hello family!

I hope everyone is great because life is beautiful even though it might be hard to see it that way at times. I just wanted to say thank you to the Mays, Reese's, Jefferson, Grandma and Grandpa Kullick and Coombs for your letters!! Thank you so much for taking the time to write! When I went to Zone Conference, I received 3 letters from you, mom! haha thanks soo much for them!

Tell Katy that I love her so much and that I am praying for her. My trainer reminded me so much of her and it was wonderful because Katy has always been a wonderful example to me. It was nice to feel like I was around my cousin all the time!

And if I know Colton at all he just has facial hair for kicks right now and as a joke haha hey... Halloween is coming up soon!

I got to go to Lyme Park again and apparently I am the ONLY sister that has gotten to go twice! haha It was great and this time we went with quite a few sisters because the seasons are changing soon; gotta catch it while everything is in bloom! But I got to become great friends with a Sister Kerr! She is from California, down south close to Oceanside! And she is amazing; we get along so well together and really want to serve one day with each other. Keep my fingers crossed! I was also able to go on exchanges and got to go to Lancaster for two days with a Sister Anderson! She is great! She is from St. George Utah and I believe lives in or near Santa Clara! She is so fun loving and is a great sister! I am definitely fortunate to have so many wonderful Sisters in my mission! I can't wait for and opportunity to serve with all of them!

We exchange back at Zone Conference and that was really amazing! The President's wife, Sister Bullock, released to us the new standards and appearance dress codes for Sister Missionaries and let me tell you I was somewhat surprised! haha Some of the BIGGEST changes is that 1) We don't have to wear nylons anymore 2) Our skirts don't have to go to mid-calf anymore but it only has to cover the knee 3) we can wear Really bright colors (well we were allowed to do that before but now it can be as Bright and stand-out“ish” as you want)

But those were the biggest changes but I'm sticking with what I got already and I'm not going to change cause it's not that big enough of a deal to me as it was to some other sisters.

On Saturday it was English Heritage Open Day, this is where some places are opened up for tours and what the church decided to do (this was brilliant by the way) was to have tours around the church, MTC, Accommodation Center, Family History Center, and Temple grounds! They put this in the Newspaper and Sister Holbrook and I were asked to be there to help direct people where to go and to answer ANY questions! And surprisingly enough from 10:30am to 5:30pm there was around 220 people that came for these tours! It was amazing! I honestly now know what it feels like to be a Temple Square Sister and it was a lot of fun! We stayed the whole time and answered questions for all who came! Mostly everyone who came in didn't know that these grounds are open for everyone to enjoy respectfully, they just thought it was for members of the church only. This was a great experience for the church and I hope they continue to do this at least twice a year now!

This Saturday we are having a baptism! Brian Hill is 38 years old and was an investigator that the Elders had prior, so when we white-washed we got to continue to teach and prepare Brian for his baptism! We are excited for it!

Unfortunately Allison Smallshaw we had to drop because of a lot of issues of her getting mixed up in legal problems and her not being sincere in wanting to be baptized. I pray that things get better for her soon though. But we are doing ok with teaching and finding people and I continue to pray every moment to be guided by the Holy Ghost to have those individuals who are waiting to hear the restored Gospel placed in our path. Thank you for all of your prayers and letters I hope everyone is doing great! Love you all!

Love Sister Rachel Kullick

Without Apology

TERESA - Hi ya!

Colton, if you’re reading this, please, for the common decency of man, do not grow facial hair! Yuck! But anyways, I hope all goes well though with the family and you guys are always in my thoughts in prayers.

Well life in the mission is going and going. Got to be honest, still not too much happening but this week was a builder’s week. We should definitely see some results with new investigators as of next week! Our District and Zone is very hopeful :)

Hmmm, let's see, some new and interesting experiences to share...

Well Thursday was quite the day - meetings all day long! We had a Zone Conference, which was super helpful. It’s really funny because whatever I seem to be struggling with the most in the work at that moment, is what our meetings are always on! This is no coincidence :) But it was working with members and how to get them more excited about the work and all that and to help them raise the bar and not lower it to adjust to their lack of effort. And funny enough we had a monthly ward council meeting that night with all the ward's auxiliaries. Now, the ward I'm serving in is great, they really are. There are amazing people in this ward. But as a whole, they are kind of slow on the member missionary up-take. And throughout the meeting they kept trying to minimize their efforts, not maximize. And all us missionaries were getting a little worried. And when they started to discuss the ward activities and how they should do less and then I couldn't hold it in anymore! I then raised my hand and said that I understood their concerns, but my fear with them lessening the amount of activities would eventually lead to less and less until there is next to none. And that would cause disintegration on missionary work because investigators feel way more comfortable at activities than church. And the question isn't how much less we should do but what we need to do to get the ward more excited about activities. And after I said it I felt sooo much better! And even members of the ward council agreed with me, whew! That could've ended badly...haha But it was ok and then the meeting sort of shifted on the 'do more' side. So that was good but we are still a major work in progress. So my question to everyone reading this is, are you raising the bar in your callings? Or are you lowering them to fit the "realistic" circumstances in your life? Just think about that for me!

So a fun experience: Sis Sheffield and I were walking along and we saw these two women weeding in their garden and we asked if we could help them and they said "Yeah actually." haha what?! That never happens mind you, everyone usually says no thanks. So we got down in our skirts and all and helped them weed! It was so great :) We talked with them about the gospel and prophets and had really good discussions. Although they said they were not interested we gave them a card with our number on it just in case, so they knew where to go. Who knows, maybe something will come out of that. But honestly, it was the neatest experience ever! I loved it.

I have learned so much being out here. I know that the Lord does prepare us and qualify us for the work we are called to fill! Everybody has a huge role to play and if one person isn't on board then the work suffers. We have to be on board! Here's a quote by

Elder M. Russell Ballard:

"This worldwide effort has been referred to as “raising the bar” or “raising the standard.” We thank you parents, bishops, and stake presidents for your support in this effort. We also thank the faithful youth of the Church for your willingness to live up to the Lord’s standard. May our Heavenly Father continue to bless you as you prepare to serve Him in this troubled world.

But as we raise the level of expectation for the performance of our missionaries, we must also raise the level of expectation for the performance of all of the members of the Church in fulfilling our missionary duties. We need your help, brothers and sisters, to support and assist our missionaries in finding and baptizing many more of our Heavenly Father’s children. We need you to watch over, protect, and inspire the missionaries, who are servants of the Lord. If the standard is to be raised, it is raised for all of us. We must be more faithful. We must be more spiritually in tune. We must prepare ourselves to assist the missionaries in finding those of our Heavenly Father’s children who will embrace the message of the Restoration."

Here's a quote by Virginia U. Jensen, 1st counselor in the RS General Presidency. I like this but instead of women think people, because this applies to ALL of us!

"Like those “noble and great” women who came before us, we cannot be ordinary women. We cannot be women who seem too much like women of the world. We must speak up for righteousness without apology. We, like Mary, Eve, Sarah, and Emma, are unique. We have ripples to make and water to share. Given our eternal heritage, we must remember how powerfully our simple, righteous actions can ripple through the hearts and homes of those around us. We have such a great opportunity to do so much good..."

I LOVED the "without apology" statement! We cannot lower our standards of excellence for anything. And we must be bold about it! There is soooo much we have to do and so little time.

I love you family and I want you to know that I appreciate your prayers for Rach and me! Thank you again! LOVE YOU!

Love always, Sister Teresa Kullick

Pick your "Istic"!

TERESA - Hello Hello!

I'm glad to hear things are going....well? Sorry about the TV situation. But I'm glad that dad finally finished the shelf thing! (It took Steve a year to custom build and paint our new bedroom entertainment center and the TV lamp burned out a day later!!) It was really looking good when we left. So I was just thinking the other day of you and dad and when Rach, me, and you guys would take our road trips to Utah and how much fun we had together! Stopping at Black Bear Diner and The Peppermill! Good memories! (It might ruin the sentimentality to point out that she usually slept from the Black Bear Diner in Sparks, NV to the Peppermill Casino in Wendover, NV!) I want you to know that I miss and love you and dad and I am looking forward to taking more trips with you to black bear in the future! haha Sorry, random thought! (I don't think it is random. When you work hard, good memories are part of the fuel that keeps you going. You may recall my assertion that one day you would look back on that trip and think it was much less boring than you did at the time. BTW I loved it too. -- Steve)

So Sis Sheffield and I are taking an aerobics class every p-day now! We just did one and it was a lot of fun! It's only £1.50 so we were like, why not? But yeah, that's kind of funny :)

So we have new missionary Leaders in our ward now! They are great and I can feel that things will pick up. For the past couple of weeks the work has been moving pretty slow. Just when we think we've found somebody they disappear! It can be a little frustrating at times but obviously there is a lesson to be learned here! I'm still trying to figure it out, but I'll get it, don't you worry! haha Also a new family moved in and they are the BEST missionaries ever! The mom's name is Julie Williams and she makes friends with people just to share the gospel with them! Wow. She has a daughter who is serving on Temple Square at the moment. But I can see that the ward is slowly but surely turning more missionary minded! Things are looking up! And that family is a major example to me. Makes me think about how I should be when I get home...

So with the work being slow it's been kind of tough for our district. And I came up with a saying that the District Leader has made our motto. It is: "Pick your Istic." When things are going wrong or not going your way you have two choices. You can either be pessimistic about life of optimistic about life. Pick your Istic! haha we love it and we say it to each other now :) But it is really true. No matter how dark the clouds become the sun is shining behind them. And we should always choose to be optimistic about things. So that is one of the lessons I am learning :)

Hmmm not much else is going on...I will let you know though if anything does! Oh and mom, Sis Sheffield and I were wondering if you could send some healthy crock-pot recipes. And make sure they're easy ha. Well I love you all and I thank you for everything that you do for me!! Thank you so very much! And tell Lauren to get off her bum and get writing us!!! haha Talk to ya later! Love you!

Love always, Sis Teresa Kullick

Change, accomplish, do something specific...

RACHEL - Hello!

How is everyone?? Great? Good!

Sometimes I get these moments when I stop and think, "Whoa, I'm in England..." haha because honestly it doesn't feel all that different, at times I can recognize it but it's mostly the atmosphere of the place.

So yesterday was church and then church again and then church again! Haha It was basically Church ALL Day long and honestly it is like having two P-days in a row! Its great! In both wards we had a combined Priesthood and Relief Society meeting and presented these new Pass Along Cards. And guess who had to do Role Plays to show how to give them out in casual conversations? haha yep you got it, the missionaries! haha Sister Holbrook and I thought we did a good job and got the wards a little more excited about doing missionary work! But I was a little nervous about demonstrating how to do this at first because it was a little difficult to step out of missionary mode and to just be a member of the church giving those Pass Along Cards out. haha But I managed and it wasn't hard at all :)

We had a potential investigator come to Ward 2 (the one that starts at 9:00 am) and he loved it! His name is Fionn, he is about 17 and we haven't been able to teach him yet so we invited him to come to church and he did! He already knew an acquaintance that is a member and she did a great job at fellow shipping him! He said afterwards that being at our church felt so welcoming and friendly! Everyone kept coming up and introducing themselves to him! I was amazed how amazing everyone was! That's what we need to see in every ward around the world! Just saying "hi" with a smile... it isn't hard at all and it makes the investigator feel a lot more comfortable (and makes it easier for the missionaries!). I never knew before my mission how much of an impact that truly makes. It is such a small thing but really does make a huge impact!

After tea (dinner) we went back to church again for a Young Women & Relief Society Fireside and it was amazing! I loved it, they really focused on Personal Progress and being the best you can be. And there the YW, YSA, and Relief Society were all so friendly and loving towards each other! They were all so welcoming and not clique, being here is really teaching me the true importance of reaching out and making others around you feel more comfortable.

Here are some things that were said at Church and at the Fireside that stuck out to me:

• You are better than you think you are

• We as members share a desire to become better than what we are - to become like Christ

• "When I am going through trials, then I know I am on the right track."

• "I know this is the true church because Satan wouldn't bother with me if this church wasn't true."

At the end of the Fireside they ask us to decide to:

1. Change something specific in my life

2. Accomplish something specific

3. Do something specific for someone else

I am so grateful for you mom and dad to help me to understand the principles of the gospel from the very beginning and to take the time to talk to me and to develop friendships with me. I am so grateful for the love you have always shown me and for the advice you both gave along with helping me to understand what is most important in this life! Thank you, being here helps me to recognize how important to base a home on the Principles of the Gospel.

I am so grateful to be a missionary!

Love always, Sister Rachel Kullick