preston

Today we sat on the bus (a lot) and I was mad at myself (a lot) because I forgot my camera for the trip that will probably have the greatest picture-taking opportunities ever.  Dang.  So instead you get some not so lovely Instagram pictures that don't do anything justice.  But oh well.  On our way to the Lake District, we stopped in Preston.  There we had a tour from the MTC President and his wife (she's President Hinckley's daughter and the aunt of one of the girls in our group).  It was great -- even the part where a billion missionaries were staring out the window at our bus and holding up "We Love You!" signs since apparently three weeks is just long enough to make them desperate.  But I digress.

This is an obelisk at the square where the first missionaries in England, including Heber C. Kimball, would stand and preach to the crowds.  

This is the River Ribble, where thousands of converts were baptized.

Between 4,000 and 6,000 curious people gathered here on July 30, 1837 to watch missionaries perform the first baptisms in Preston.

This is 15 Wadham Road, the apartment where President Hinckley was living when he received the famous "forget yourself and go to work" letter from his father. His daughter, Sister Walker, told us the story and was very emotional about it. It was amazing.

And here is the Preston England temple. So great! After we arrived in Ambleside and checked into our hostel, half of the group (including me) headed up to Grasmere to William Wordsworth's house, Dove Cottage, where we had a candlelight dinner with his traditional family recipes. It was so great. And the Lake District is incredible. No wonder he wrote such amazing poetry here.