Mission Blog #18

 Winter Arrived - for a minute!

Yes, it snowed! Kids are yearning for snow so much that we saw a couple of young girls doing snow angels on the sidewalk, on frost the other evening. There was no snow anywhere but they improvised to have their winter fun.








Sister missionaries in Scotland slid on some frosty, snowy road and cracked up their vehicle. No injuries resulted. The Mission President and Sister McCrudden however, were a bit shook up. Next morning, all missionaries who drive cars in the mission (which isn't many), received a memo from Pres McCrudden to install 4 new tyres immediately. I would have recommended All-weather tires which will provide decent traction in virtually all conditions. What we were instructed to have installed are just all-season, which should be labelled ‘All-seasons except winter’ tyres. Anyway, we have 4 new Michelin Cross-Climate 2 tyres.
We visited Graciellie and Tommy in Drogheda and had a wonderful meal, of her homeland, Brazil. Grace is a returned missionary and Tommy is not of our faith, and we had an amazing evening with them. Grace's journey to Ireland, finding work first as an 'extra' in movie productions, TV advertising (currently an ad for Health Services reminding anyone feeling ill, to stay home), and now as a stunt double and actress, is pretty amazing. You might be familiar with 'Foundations', 'Krypton', and 'Disenchanted'. Patrick Dempsey helped her launch a bit - he learned she was a Brazilian born 'extra' but he loudly announced that she was the new Brazilian actress. Then she started getting more parts. Tommy has an office job in Dublin as a regulatory compliance manager. Tommy will be coming to our Branch Emergency Preparedness seminar on Saturday.


Blayney Castle, on a very calm day in Castleblayney, on a walk with Daniel. 











All we were missing was the sun, but it was a nice walk around Blayney Lake.

Yesterday an industrious man cleaning the gutters of homes in our little cul-de-sac, came knocking looking for new business. Referred him to our landlord, but then talked about where we're from and what we're doing here. Turns out he has 2 sons in Canada - Halifax and Toronto. One is a professional golfer. I explained about Calgary - foothills, mountains, horses, cattle, clear streams for fishing... He then mentioned he lives in Cavan and has an amazing trout stream running through town that he is about the only one who fishes - caught a 9lb brown trout awhile back. I may need to figure out a way to get in that river with him one day. There are many angling opportunities in Republic of Ireland.

We went for a walk on Saturday and found a nice little bookstore, and bought a roadmap; intention being to mark all the roads and towns/cities we get to during our mission service. As the spring weather arrives we'll venture further afield. We'll be taking the young Sister missionaries to our favorite medieval seaside village of Carlingford tomorrow - filming site for the movie 'Finding You' that I may have mentioned previously. We'll be taking the 'high road' as we'll drive the mountain road over Slieve Foye (Mount Foye) of the Cooley Mountains (weather permitting).







Mary is one of the long-time members of the Church in Dundalk, and is such a nice friend. We visited again to finish the puzzle we started earlier in the week - we talked about her family, the challenge she had of raising 3 children on her own, and staying faithful in the gospel. She's an inspiration.
 




Streets are narrow wherever you go and parking up on the sidewalks is acceptable and facing either direction is also okay. We do what they do when it is convenient. 










This represents the missionaries in Ireland - a photo taken in December at the all-Ireland zone conference in Dublin attended by the Europe North Area President, Elder Boom and Sister Boom. Elder Boom asked us to sit next to them and it was a great honor. It's an honor to serve with all of these dedicated missionaries too. An all-Mission gathering is being planned for Edinburgh sometime in late spring or early summer this year, likely the only time the entire Scotland-Ireland Mission will be together in one place.


Thank you for your interest and support. In your challenges, may you all find a way to find rest in Him, our Savior. He has already paid the price. Let's lay our burdens at his feet and feel strength and hope. We humbly testify that He lives, and loves each of us.

Love you all,
   Elder & Sister McMurray 

Comments

  1. Can’t get over what a beautiful country you’re in! Summer will be so gorgeous!!

    ReplyDelete

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