#5 - Ireland, We Finally Made It

 We Made It

We made it to Ireland and what a nice welcome!

It seemed so long ago that we set out on this journey - about 1 year to be exact. That's when we got serious and agreed that a mission is what we should be doing at this time in our lives. No, this was not a smooth path. There were potholes, and curves, and washouts along the way. We could not itemize all of the challenges or detours. As in life, we just kept our focus on the end goal, and took one small step after the other. And here we now are in Ireland, meeting the nicest people on the planet, and focusing our efforts on serving the people in our little Branch (congregation) in Dundalk, Republic of Ireland. 

Our first photo after landing and awaiting our baggage at Dublin Airport. At this stage we had just been through the Border Security with an Immigration official, and had been given an initial Permission to Stay of 3 months. We now need to make an appointment with the Garda office in Dundalk, and present various papers, and request a Permission to Stay until end of our mission. 

Elder Gibbs and Roy (ofYorkshire) Zone Leaders (ZL's), putting 4 large suitcases into this little Hyundai. 4 other sisters and Elders met us and helped us after 11 hrs of flying; SLC to Atlanta, then Atlanta to Dublin. We took them to brunch, then they handed us the address and car keys and off we went. The sun was out on our arrival day, Tuesday, October 19, 2022.

Sister Gardiner on the left, is from Ontario; Sister Mueller is British - a great singer. They were all so chipper and positive. We really admire their positivity - and flexibility especially when Mission Pres phoned the ZL's and had our vehicle switched with the Sisters as it was marginally bigger/better.

The Marshes Shopping Centre - we had a few things to shop for - I binned my 17 yr old hikers that were falling apart. This is about 5 minutes from our flat; 50 or so shops. It was a weekday so not too busy. Our currency here in the Republic is Euro as Republic of Ireland is an EU country (not part of UK).

Ready for the rainy, cool day awaiting us. It was cool inside too since the boiler was off - waited 2 days for Seamus (Shay-mus) the handyman to come by and get it sorted. The overload switch had tripped. 2 days without heat was challenging but it's all good now - had one small electric heater in one room, and bought another so we could have 2 warm rooms. 

Once I wedge myself into this Hyundai i30 hatchback, it's great. Yup, we drive on the left, but I think the frequent visits to the UK in recent past has helped me adapt. The Hyundai fuel economy is about 6.5l/100kms. Petrol prices here in Dundalk are about 1.80Euro ($2.42CDN)/litre. (1.35fx rate). We have driven about 500km's in our first 5 days. District Meeting the day after we arrived was back in Dublin. And we went to Belfast in Northern Ireland for Prep Day to visit Sister McMurray's brother and family

South to Dublin on the M1 there are tolls, 2Euro each way.

Trying to keep up with locals on small lanes, is futile.

Somewhere between Dundalk and Belfast. Dundalk is about 10 miles/15km's south of the Northern Ireland border. Speeds go from 120km's to 70mph as you cross. 

The Irish countryside.

The M1 becomes the A1 as we get close to Belfast.

Fast traffic gets the right lane!!

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It's all good. Sibling love! Thanks for putting a shirt on James - (we surprised him, with Lorraine's help).

Cara, Sister McMurray's great niece, drew me a very nice picture. Not only can this 9 yr old draw, but she can skateboard too.

Julie, James, Lorraine and us - there is nothing more important than family and this was a sweet family reunion.

Dave, Tina's nephew with Connor her great-nephew.

The Blackthorn Business Park - church is in here. This former Blackthorn Shoe Factory is now modernized and utilized by various businesses, and one section is converted to the Dundalk Branch church meetinghouse. Quite nice. We forgot to get photos when were there this morning so we drove back in the afternoon but the gate was locked. 

When we arrived this morning - just prior to start time at 10:00am, we were greeted warmly - President Proznanski brought us in and we sat near the front. After song and prayer, we were asked to introduce ourselves and give brief testimonies. A young Sister Charles, from Nigeria, and a church member of about 5 yrs spoke after us, on 'Belonging'; how important that we choose to belong, and help others belong. It was a terrific message, and hit home with us newbies in the congregation. It was High Council Sunday so we had a great talk by a brand new High Councilman, brother Murtaugh. He traveled from Dublin to fill his assignment. Good sense of humor and alot of good insights on the importance of having the Spirit (the Holy Ghost) guide us in our lives. Right after Sacrament Meeting we began meeting a few people. As we first came in and sat down, a very warm welcome was given by Alice who said she had been praying for our arrival for a year. That was very touching. We caught up more with here during the break. We met a new church member who is going to the Preston Temple for the first time on Tuesday. She has a flight from Dublin to Manchester that is 40Euro return, then will take a train to Preston and then a taxi the rest of the way. Three other ladies are going with her. 

It came up somehow with Sister Proznanski, the Branch President's wife, about some Canadians that she and her parents knew - from when her parents were serving their mission as Ordinance Workers in the Preston England Temple; guess who these Canadians were that they knew? Yup, Bryce and Kathy Card.... of course we know them very very well. We explained how Allison was bestie with their daughter Becky, and that I was Stake Executive Secretary to President Card when he was Bonnie Doon Stake President. It was a really nice connection to make on our first day.

And then we met Liam O'Sullivan - can't get more Irish than that can you? What a great young man - introduced to the Church by someone in the Branch, and has been coming to worship for the last 4 weeks. He expressed to Tina and I how when he comes, he has feelings of peace and calm. I was able to explain that these are manifestations of the holy ghost. We sat together through adult class. Afterwards we exchanged contact information and agreed that we should set aside time to explain more about what he was feeling, and to answer the many questions that he has.

We met Jonas, from Honduras. He can speak very little English but he tried, and I tried. He was able to tell me that he joined the Church in Honduras 8 yrs ago. There is a young man in the Branch who served his mission in Guatamela, and speaks Spanish fluently. Throughout meetings we could hear him translating for Jonas. Jonas is a student, and a pretty awesome young man.

When the women are back from the Temple trip they are going to take Sister McMurray around town to show where different things are. On Friday or Saturday there is a party for the kids; Hallowe'en. We're told that it began in Ireland so we'll definitely get the candy and things ready for the Trick or Treaters. They even make it a holiday here....

To sum, our first Sunday in Dundalk was pretty awesome. The people are great. We are really going to enjoy being here and getting to know everyone better, and providing invitations to learn more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ - and serving in any way that is needed. 

This evening we participated in an All Mission Meeting by Zoom. We were asked to introduce ourselves. The President conveyed messages he received during the Mission Presidents Conference held in Lisbon for 3 days this week. Unfortunately Pres McCrudden was just over his Covid so could not attend in person. In any case the Area President, Elder Boom, presided at the meeting. 45 years ago I was a young 19 yr old missionary in Breda, Netherlands and Elder Boom was a teenager in the Branch. And today, he is a General Authority Seventy of the Church. In December he'll be touring the Mission beginning in Ireland and I'm pretty sure I'll be seeing him. I previously digitized some slides from my early mission so I'll need to remember to pull those out so we can reminisce together - if we get the chance. I'll drop one here so you can have a laugh.

Elder Eric McMurray, Elder Gerald VanBruggen, Elder Jim Bennet - all serving in the Netherlands Amsterdam Mission (Dutch speaking) concurrently. Invitation: Watch 'The Best Two Years' movie, as it is set in my mission and represents the challenges and victories of serving in the Netherlands in a very accurate way - with humor. We three grew up in the Edmonton 2nd Ward together although I was officially one of the first missionaries to be called out of the new Sherwood Park Ward. And now Sherwood Park is its own Stake. Photo was at Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Nederland, probably May 1978.

In our prayers together each night we ask for Father in Heaven's blessings to be granted to you - whether it be blessings of health, or emotional strength, or that you might succeed in employment or education or any other worthy pursuits. Thank you to those of you who take the time to drop us a note occasionally. It means alot to us. And thank you for your prayers on our behalf. Until the next time.

Love to you all, Elder & Sister McMurray