Mission Blog #13

 Unity....... 

Sister Gardiner and Sister Judd are along way from home, as are we. We absolutely love them. They are talented, humble, generous, and a ton of fun. They live about 4km's away from us but we see them virtually every day - running errands together, dropping them off at an appointment to teach the gospel, taking them to District Council or to Church, or teaching a lesson together. After District Council in Dublin we stopped in Drogheda on the way back - taught Ose a lesson about the Commandments, then stopped by some other folks to drop off a small Christmas gift from the Branch.

We can do things together most of the time - but when it comes to going into a shopping center they know that they may have to go it alone. So later after one of those shopping excursions where I waited in the car, they surprised us with our own pair of fuzzy warm socks with a winter/Christmas theme, and we all put them on.

Whether it's the same Christmas pyjamas, or sweaters, or socks, they can all work to create a sense of unity. 

Saint Laurence's Gate in Drogheda, built in 1280. From a lookout platform at the top of the gate, the estuary of the Boyne River and a four-mile stretch of river from there to Drogheda can be observed. This is the only point in the town with a clear view of a potential sea invasion. The town wall extended from here.

Sometimes unity is found by keeping enemies out.

From Drogheda (remember, the g is silent), we went on to Dunleer for an unannounced visit to the Covasciu family - 9 children of 7 boys/2girls. The parents, Sorin and Irina, then children; Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Emmanuelle, Joseph, Manasseh, and ?, Naomi and Esther. Romanian, but have lived in Ireland for 21 years. Wonderful, happy people, so full of faith, and generous and kind to we missionaries. 

Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar

We also find unity in serving each other. One morning we were contacted by the 3 Elders in a newly opened area, Mullingar. We've been concerned about them - we knew that for 2 weeks they had no heat in their new flat. Since then they have had other challenges - like a broken washing machine. It broke, and clothes were locked inside for 3 days until the door could be opened (with force I'm assuming). While they wait for the repairman, they are doing wash by hand in their bathtub. 

Once the 3rd missionary arrived 10 days ago, they've awaited receipt of a bed for him. Deliveries are slow this time of year so he's temporarily on an air mattress - not ideal. We were called to see if we could buy them a dresser, desk, and bedding and transport it to them. 

So, we dropped plans for the day and off we went to Jysk Scandanavian furniture store. A sales flyer conveniently arrived that morning showing a sale of up to 60% off. In 20 minutes (my limit for any shopping excursion), we had made the purchases and loaded up the flat-packed items into our Hyundai i30 hatchback with help from Sean and Conner at the store. We then hit the bi-ways and country roads to Mullingar, about 95km's to the west. It would have been nice to linger and visit a bit, but all 3 of the missionaries are sick with colds/flus, so we just dropped off the load then got on our way again.

Dominick Street, Mullingar

Mullingar is a town of 21,000 in the County Westmeath. mul-in-GAR (An Muileann gCearr in Irish) means, 'the left-hand mill'. My dad would get a kick out of that, being left-handed, as is our son, Stephen, and my sister, Jayna. So now the question is - what's a left-handed mill??

The main tourist attractions are its nearby lakes which are visited by anglers. Niall Horan, a member of the boy band One Direction, was born and raised in Mullingar.

After our stop in Mullingar we drove back east to Carrickmacross for a 4pm appointment to teach someone how to begin their family history. Family history and Temple ordinances unite families. 

The sun setting reminded us of the beauties of this part of the world. 

Carrickmacross is a market town of about 5,000 developed around a castle built by the Earl of Essex in 1630. The town is now known for the lace bearing its name. After the Great Famine in 1846, a lace school was set up by the managers of the Bath and Shirley estates as a means of helping their starving tenants. Acts of kindness and charity unite communities and families.

Celebrating important life events together helps us to be unified. We weren't able to be with our daughter, Michelle, (who lives in Lichfield, England) for her 30th Birthday, but through the magic of technology we had a wonderful time visiting with her. We remember the moment and day she joined our family, and she has been loved by all of us in the family ever since.

We don't like to think about it much, but the fact is, we will all pass on one day. We were saddened to hear of the passing of a family member, Tina's brother James's mother-in-law, aged 93 and would be 94 on Christmas Day. We will join with James & Lorraine and other family this Sunday and Monday in Belfast to express condolences, hear tributes, and mourn with those who mourn. We love you all.

My first Christmas in the Netherlands, 1977, was in the home of this great lady, Tante Cato Reintjes-Kooijman. We could only afford this spindly little tree, but when we brought it into her home, she just lit up with appreciation. It was one of the best Christmases, ever.

Luke 2:

12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

     Love, Elder & Sister McMurray