Mission Blog Post #4

One day soon we'll walk the trails above these cliffs of Moher.

Waiting is the Hardest Part

Each day of this week, we have been expecting Mission Travel or the Mission Office to provide us our itinerary for departure for Ireland. We never considered for a minute that we wouldn't be on a plane within a few days of receiving our Pre-Clearance Authorization from Ireland Immigration. That was a mistake. 

In the Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission, they are used to having 'visa waiters' amongst them. In each case that we have seen, once the 'visa waiters' have their visas the missionary couple are on their way within a few days - to Japan, or India, or wherever. In our case, we advised Travel and the Scotland-Ireland Mission President last Friday morning that indeed we have our Ireland papers, but a week later we still do not have our itinerary. 

The steps in the process includes Travel confirming with the Mission that the Mission would like us to arrive on a certain day. Behind the scenes in the Mission they are ensuring that they have accommodation and a vehicle ready for us. We have learned that our accommodation is ready, in Dundalk, Republic of Ireland, but the other details are still being worked out. So, we wait.

We didn't wait long, as we received an email Friday, October 14th shortly after beginning this blog, with an itinerary - showing that we'll board a flight from SLC to Atlanta at 1:55pm on Monday, October 17th. Then we will board a 2nd flight in Atlanta at 9:30pm, which will arrive in Dublin at about 9:30am on October 18th. Woo Hoo! 

Temple Outing - Jordan River Utah Temple

Our MTC friends, Elder & Sister Johnson, are serving their mission in the Headquarters Mission, as leaders in screening missionary applicants who desire to serve as Self-Reliance missionaries. We fail in some aspects of self-reliance, such as in not having a car, so need a ride or things like that and the Johnsons have extended help to us frequently. They invited us to come with their Zone on a Temple trip to the Jordan River Temple, about 18 miles south from Salt Lake headquarters. They picked us up at about 4:40pm targeting 5:30 arrival at the Temple. Rush hour on I-15 is no joke but we arrived on time and changed and were ready to begin by about 6:00pm. We all (about 20) were scheduled for performing proxy sealings. Several sealing rooms were utilized simultaneously. Our sealer was Brother Gardner and he was great. Sister McMurray and I were given some leeway to do a total of 8; 4 couples sealed together and 4 children sealed to their parents - for time and all eternity; all on Tina's side of the family. It's a great feeling to have helped family having the blessings of the gospel ordinances, though they have passed on.

The Jordan River Temple is not familiar to us, but the ordinance workers were very kind and helpful which made it a very welcoming and warm environment. Outside afterwards we took a few photos. Met a family from Peru who had not been in Utah very long - they helped take our photos and we took a few for them. We made the mamma blush because we said that she looked like a sister, not old enough to be a mother to the others in the group.

The sun setting provided amazing colors in the sky and against the Wasatch Moutains to the east - some fall foliage on the mountains popped, like a painting.

The Johnsons are from Winslow, Illinois. With my previous employment with Alliance Pipeline I was in that area a few times. Beautiful country - farmland mostly. The Johnsons are 'salt of the earth', amazing people who love their family and their Savior, and are dedicated to serving; both are converts to the church. And as previously blogged - Elder Johnson was a missionary serving in Liverpool in 1977 at the same time Sister McMurray was there - a new member of the Church. Small world.

It was a perfect night, but we had to top it off with a trip to Leatherby's Creamery in Taylorsville. If you've never been to Leatherby's, do yourself a favor. Plan a trip. It is amazing.

Even the smaller sized sundaes were plenty - no dinner that night. On our way to our booth, a table of 4 people saw our missionary name tags and stopped us for a chat. 2 of them had served a senior couple mission in Alaska. The other 2 people seated with them (the Sims), were their Alaskan neighbors, and they connected here in Utah after their mission was complete. All 4 were wonderful people, and they were very encouraging to us. There are so many kind and welcoming people here.

Within the 60 mile radius of our Headquarters Mission boundary, there are 12 Temples.  

Hurry Up and Wait

As most of you know, I was gifted with an abundance of patience....... Ha Ha. Nope, that's not me - but I think I'm improving. LOL.  It has been difficult, this waiting. While in the current waiting mode here in Salt Lake City we've tried very hard to get out of our 1bdrm basement apartment for most of the day. It was just announced in Church that accommodations for senior missionaries will be discontinued at these Garden Apartments. There are security concerns, and they're old properties. Some on our level have already been moved out to other newer nicer apartments, and all missionaries will be out by Dec. 1st. 

We have spent several hours in the nearby FamilySearch Center, doing family history research. Tina was successful in finding a large family of 11 children on her side. I was primarily trying to confirm location of my early McMurray roots in Pennsylvania and trying to locate any land records from Nauvoo - but in 1844 when our McMurrays arrived, they would not have been buying property, as plans were already formulating for all to leave Nauvoo and head west. 

Other things we've done this week; toured the Beehive House (Brigham Young's home in early days), hiked up to the State Capitol and toured inside, and attended the Tabernacle Choir rehearsal again on Thursday evening, and went to the Music & Spoken Word broadcast Sunday morning (it's a 30 minute broadcast. Find it on YouTube). Had some Italian ice/frozen custard; got our flu shot and our Covid booster....went to dinner at the Johnson's and played our new favorite game with them, Swoop!

In the background of this photo is a couple on a walk around the perimeter path of the Brigham Young Historic Park. We spoke with them and found out that they were the Mission Leaders in the Papete Tahiti Mission until recently; until he unfortunately was diagnosed with cancer. He came to Salt Lake for treatment but they won't be going back to Tahiti. They served 18 months in paradise and loved it. They were so kind to us, encouraging us about how valuable senior missionaries were in their mission and how we'll help in so many ways in Ireland. 

The Brigham Young Park is on property that at one time formed part of the estate. They had various crops, fruit trees, vegetable gardens, barns, stables, and a mill powered by City Creek. Employed about 40-50 staff.

Water mills were very important

Brigham Young's bdrm

Main parlor

Zeppe's Italian Ice/gelata

Dome of the Utah State Capitol

The main hall under the dome is pretty impressive. Granite and marble.

The arches and pillars and stairways are very grand. 

The dome exterior is copper mined from the Bingham Copper Mine - it shows a very dark green color due to oxidation effects.

The Capitol was completed in 1916 but there is no doubt that the finest materials and workmanship were utilized.

We sat with our friends, Elder Nathan and Julie Johnson, at the Music & Spoken Word broadcast this morning. It was special to spend that time together in that sacred environment. We will really miss them but know our friendship won't end when we get on the plane tomorrow.

We have met the most wonderful people around Temple Square. We were sitting on a bench by the Assembly Hall enjoying the warm sun, and this couple approached us and asked, 'Where is the Temple?' We turned and pointed to the temple that was shrouded in scaffolding and surrounded by construction equipment. They are from Seattle, not members of our faith, but wanted to see the Temple. We visited and gave them some information about the seismic strengthening, and overall refurbishment of the Temple and surrounding area. Paulina is from Temuco, Chile and her husband is from Seattle. They had not been here before. We invited them to the Music & The Spoken Word performance. We found them to be so warm and friendly to our invitation but we were still surprised when at 8:30, shortly after we sat down, they arrived. We waved them over to sit with us. One of the most amazing moments of our mission so far was seeing Paulina sobbing as the choir sang their final song, 'God Be With You Till We Meet Again'. Sister McMurray gave Paulina a big hug and we lingered for a few minutes with our new friends soaking in the spirit that is there. I know that they felt something very special, and I predict that there may be more invitations that will bring tears of joy coming their way in the future.

Inside our Sunday School class looking to the chapel.

As we were in Church today they introduced new arrivals, one couple being the Burt's, originally from Glenwood, Alberta now living in Lehi, Utah. We connected afterwards, and found that I know his nephew Chris Burt in Edmonton, and Elder Burt grew up knowing McMurrays from southern Alberta, cousins of mine. He may not realize that Helena Archibald in Glenwood is Aunt Della's (nee McMurray) daughter. Our first month as missionaries has already been a remarkable time for us and we can hardly wait to see what's around the corner.

We now turn our thoughts and hearts towards Ireland, and meeting and making new friends in a new country. We go knowing we are not alone. We have thus far felt and experienced the tender mercies of a loving Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ and the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. We feel your support as well and it means alot to us. May Father In Heaven's choicest blessings be with you and your loved ones.

Love,  Elder & Sister McMurray