Mission Blog #21

Meeting With New Friends 

Eric (on the left) is from Brazil and is attending the English Language Institute in Drogheda. Increased fluency in English will provide him greater job opportunities. Another Brazilian church member sat with him in church to help him feel welcome.

Jonas, from Uruguay, came to Ireland to earn a better living for his family who remain in Uruguay. He arrived in late summer and plans to be here for 2 years. He has his own home renovation business - a worker's hands, and a smile that never stops.

We met them for lunch in Drogheda, then went to visit another friend, Yuri, from El Salvador at Jonas' and Yuri's rented flat. These three have become fast friends and we love meeting with them and providing support any way we can.

Things That Are Different.....

In the Republic of Ireland, proof of vehicle registration (road tax), is required to be place in the vehicle front windscreen. It was a little nerve-wracking driving around for a week after ours had expired. Some important documents were lost in the mail between Edinburgh and Dublin, causing a delay. 

 

Any guesses on what this road sign is attempting to communicate? We learned the meaning in previous visits to UK. You don't see it on the QEII back home.

British pounds can be issued on Bank of England, but also Bank of Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, it's Euros.

Kilwirra Church Ruins, Templetown

St Mary's Church located on a gentle knoll surrounded by farmland, with the Cooley Mountains providing an amazing backdrop. The site is associated with the Knights Templar, who likely arrived in Ireland after the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169. These ruins date from 15th/16th century. It has also been a movie filming site.

Sister Waltman and Weston, who had only been in Dundalk for 2 weeks needed to 'Emergency Transfer' due to feeling unsafe after an unfortunate incident. Police report filed, and a day with us waiting for instructions from the Mission office. In the end, they swapped apartments/areas with 2 young men missionaries in Clonsilla/Dublin.

Lough Collingford oysters - first time for these Sisters. One loved it, the other had issue with the texture. Tina and I absolutely love them.

PJ Ohar'es - great place for the first pub experience.

The ferry departure point at Greenore, Republic of Ireland - and Greencastle, Northern Ireland, the ferry destination a few kilometres across the Lough in the background; the Irish Sea to the right of the frame.

The Emergency Transfer took place on Sunday afternoon - Zone Leaders (white shirts) and the Senior Training Leaders (to the right), drove Elder Schneider and Elder Morgan, and their luggage, to Dundalk. And picked up our Sister missionaries and their luggage and took them back to their flat in Dublin. 

After welcoming the Elders at their new flat, we had them over for Sunday dinner and updated them on everything here in Dundalk; and we've spent today taking the Elders to the grocery store, and to Blackrock, and around Dundalk just to get them oriented.

We had some misfortune in seeing the Sisters leave, but we look forward and not back - we will focus on supporting the two young Elders - Schneider from Berlin, and Morgan from Norway via England. 

We attended the on-line funeral for Bernie Orr with Ita Hardesty on Saturday. Sad, but a great tribute was paid and we were so glad to be able to support Ita through it. Someone who had been away for a few weeks returned to church, another friend gave an amazing talk in church on topic of 'gratitude' reminding us all to be grateful, even in times of adversity. Our Stake President (Coffey) attended here on Sunday and spoke a wonderful message about our Savior. It was wonderful meeting him. We'll see him again in 2 weeks at Stake Conference in Dublin. Additional loudspeakers were installed in the Chapel last week, and has really helped some who are hard-of hearing. 

We'll conclude by saying that spring has sprung here. Flowers are coming up, planting has begun around the gardens and public places. Days are longer, sun is more prevalent. 

The sun certainly doesn't shine every day here, and in our lives, we all experience loss and victory,  dark days and happy days. If you are experiencing those grey days, just know that the sun will shine again. Let's all of us look out for each other; be sensitive to what others are going through, be generous and kind, loving and forgiving. 

We are grateful to be serving here in Ireland and for support from all of you - and hope that your coming week is amazing.

Elder Eric & Sister Tina McMurray

Scotland-Ireland Mission