Mission Blog #19

Last Week Before Transfers

Missionaries serve 18 or 24 months typically, and when some leave to return home, it creates the domino effect of changes throughout the mission. Ireland has a higher concentration of European missionaries since Republic of Ireland is an EU country and no special visas or permits are required for them to serve in Ireland. In the below photo of our Zone, there are 19 missionaries - from 9 different countries; U.S., France, Germany, Norway, Canada, Sweden, England, Czechia, Spain. Sister Cruz, front row far left, is on her way home to Spain via Switzerland this weekend after serving honorably for 18 months. She was an outstanding representative of Jesus Christ, and is a terrific young woman.  We're excited for what her future will bring. Thank you Sister Cruz for your service.

Elder Gibbs and Elder Siebke, our Zone Leaders. 2 solid young leaders - Elder Gibbs is transferred to Aberdeen, Scotland. These are two amazing young men.

In the past, when a North American born missionary came to the mission and were assigned to Republic of Ireland (ROI), they would usually serve their entire mission in ROI. Recently the Mission President has begun a pattern of having these missionaries who have begun in ROI, apply for a UK Visa at about the 10-11 month mark of their mission so that they would be able to transfer to Scotland for the remainder of their mission. 3 in our Zone are on their way to Aberdeen, Perth, and Paisley, Scotland. 

In the week prior to 'transfers' we perform apartment inspections. This time we did 'in-person' inspections at 3 flats which gave us a chance to visit more with the young missionaries and take them to lunch.

We drove out to Mullingar to visit with the trio of missionaries there, Coffman, Truman, and Kutil. Did the inspection then took them to Wholesome Kitchen, then to the grocers. They don't have a car so it gave them a boost to be driven on some errands. 

Elder Kutil (on the right) is transferred into Dublin. He'll still be in our zone. All three are rock star missionaries!!

Carlingford - last chance for the Sisters

This beautiful seaside village was on the Sisters' bucket list before transfers. On a Monday, not everything is open but we saw some of the filming sites of 'Finding You', including Taaffes Castle, King John's Castle, antique shops, the Priory. The people are super friendly so one feels immediately welcome. 

This is the stage in Taaffes Castle where a great fiddle performance took place in 'Finding You'.

The Priory.

The fairy garden, cabin, and leprechaun caverns are located in Carlingford - leprechaun cavern was closed so we couldn't see any of them, but we did see where the fairies live.

We took the adventurous road, over Slieve Foye from Dundalk to O'Meath, stopping at Longwoman's Grave. 

Longwoman's Grave - quite a legend goes with it. 7ft 2inches tall she was.

This is at the waterfront in O'Meath looking north across Lough Carlingford to Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland. I won't recount all about the historic significance of Warrenpoint; don't want to get political. But some of the fairly recent past here is quite tragic.

We have church members in Drogheda, about 25 minutes drive south of Dundalk whom we visit occasionally. The Boyne River slices through town. The Drogheda Railway Viaduct bridge built between 1851-1855 is an impressive feat of engineering. Until it was built, train passengers going south had to disembark at the north side of Drogheda and make their own way across the Boyne River to meet a train departing at Ballymakenny some six miles outside of Drogheda.

Drogheda Scotch Hall footbridge is pretty impressive.

De Lacey footbridge also helps connect north and south sides of Drogheda

We met our friend, Laura Garza, for hot chocolate at the Scotch Hall shopping centre. Laura is originally from Mexico but has found a home in Drogheda. Her English is better than my Mexican. She is so sweet and kind and we love our visits.

On Saturday our little Branch hosted a Self-Reliance seminar - Food Storage, and Financial Preparedness. Our presenters did an amazing job. Tommy, in foreground, was quite surprised that our Church promotes self-reliance and emergency preparedness as much as it does. Tommy is husband to one of our church members, Graciellie - our Brazilian actress and salon owner. 

Eric, (the one on the left), arrived on Wednesday from Brazil (Rio), to go to school and work here. He is a former missionary in Brazil. This sharp-looking young man was walking from the Dundalk train station to church this morning, behind 2 other men who had ridden the same train from Drogheda. At a certain point they turned and asked each other if they were going to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Yes!  Now, they all know each other. 

We're really looking forward to getting to know him and welcome him into our Church family.

Our last night dining out with the young Sister missionaries, Sister Gardiner and Sister Judd, at a favorite, Atami Japenese. We're going to miss them alot.

A well-served mission is such a wonderful foundation that will benefit these young people for the rest of their lives. They learn to communicate with strangers, to plan, to collaborate, to compromise, to study, to teach, to set goals, to serve others, to overcome hardships - adapt to new cultures, food, cities, to live with different people, to take direction, to be leaders, to testify of our Savior. There is just nothing like it for a young person's growth. We have begun to provide counsel to all the missionaries (following advice and example of my amazing brother-in-law), that will focus them on entrenching these habits of discipleship, not just for their mission, but for their whole lives.

Tina and I are so blessed to be serving in the Scotland-Ireland Mission with these dedicated missionaries. We are trying to keep up. We study every day. We listen daily to living apostles and prophets in their latest General Conference addresses. We are studying the New Testament utilizing the Come Follow Me guide for Individuals and Families - and following along with our favorite Come Follow Me podcast from Scripture Central (Taylor and Tyler). We're loving it. We're visiting members of the church, new friends, and testifying of our Savior - and inviting them to learn more of Him.

This really is an awesome experience. May you feel the Lord's hand in your lives and a desire to reach out to someone and lighten their load this week.

Thank you for your support, and for being in our lives.

   Love, Elder Eric & Sister Tina McMurray