The Ottley Flat: 43 years of Marriage

On September 19^th it was our 43^rd Anniversary and Elder Ottley surprised me with a trip to London. He had it all planned out and permission from President. I thought we were going to spend the day in Woolwich as we headed out to the train station that morning. I can’t ever remember what side of the track goes where so he got me on the right train and it was a while before I realized we were not going to Woolwich. When we got to London we were walking to some destination that was pre-planned, I just wasn't aware of where that was. We ended up at Planet Hollywood for lunch and they let it slip out that we were going to a play because it was a package deal. I still didn't know what play we were going to however. After lunch we walked to the theater and watched The Lion King. It was very fun and we had a brilliant day (so they would say in England). We tried finding Buckingham Palace but couldn't seem to get our bearings.

I have the greatest husband! He loves to try to surprise me but I think I usually find out by accident. I almost did this time because we had to go to the bank and ask a question and the charges showed up. I thought he had bought me a sewing machine and I was so convinced that was what it was that he totally surprised me this time.

Roads in London are filled with buses
and notice the red phone booth

Piccadilly Circus

For Carter a giant transformer

Our lunch

Between us and behind is the sign for the Lion King

Elder Ottley standing where his Grandfather
stood 120 years ago on his mission and preached

Dinner after Lion King and walking around souvenir shops

The place we ate dinner 9/19/12

September 21^st we met up with Rod & Linda Larson

for a trip to Gilwell, also with Presidents permission.

This was Dave’s big treat!

We are standing in front of the old oak tree

The Baden Powell wanta be

A fence at Gilwell's fire bowl that they encourage
you to leave a message on

9-21-12 posted on fence "Elder David Ottley
Wood Badge SM & CD Blue Mtn BSA 2010, here 2012",
"Charlene Ottley mother of 5 Eagle Scouts Scott, Brett, Kirk, Chadd Adam"

9/21/12 One of the gates at Gilwell

Gilwell England where the first Adult Scout training took place

The last update ended with me saying that the next time we would hopefully have good news. Well the good news is our first investigator got baptized. The bad news is she went inactive the next week. This girl has had a rough life as she was taken from her mother and placed in foster care twice, as well as her sister and brother. She is 18 now and on her own so she has been trying to have a relationship with her mother the past year or so and part of that was attending church with her mother. Her mother and her mother’s friends have been telling her that they really miss her and our Ward isn't overly friendly so she just wants to be wanted and decided to go back with her mom.

Don’t we all want to be wanted? We have another young gal that has been trying to get back active and her husband has been taking the discussions. She has told the Elders that she might stop coming because no one talks to her. We went and visited her and she really appreciated it and has still been coming the last two weeks. Today I noticed she was sitting alone and the meeting was just getting started. I was about to get up and move by her when a sweet German Sister, Trixie, sitting behind me looked over to her and told her to come sit by her so Jennifer did move over and seemed very pleased.

9/22/12 Hazel Pacey, Elder Curran and us at Hazel's baptism

The YSA turned out for Hazel & Esters Baptism

This is the two eyes of the fox that seems to be waiting for
us on the nights we get home after dark.

Students waiting for the bus after school

10/12/12 Students trying to cram on the bus after school.
A lot of the stops have police every night at them
because the kids are so unruly and cut in-front of other people

10/12/12 Horses on a lawn in Abby Wood that belong to Gypsies who moved in
behind the apartments. The council are afraid of them so
they don't do anything about it. Look just to the right of the pole
(I will try to update with a better picture later)