Mission Blog #24

We Drive Alot...... 

10,000km's since we arrived on Oct. 19, 2022.

Did we tell you the streets are narrow? This is in Ardee, on our way to Mullingar to inspect a flat.

 

For about 30 minutes, we were in a bit of a snowstorm. On the way back, snow had all disappeared.

The N52 has a few straight sections, and in a few weeks when all the leaves are out, we'll be driving in a tunnel of tree canopies. 

The inspections are scheduled prior to 'transfers' so any new missionaries come to clean apartments.

Sister McMurray is our diligent inspector general. I utilize our laptop and the inspection checklist to score the inspection, record any notes or make any recommendations. It takes 45 minutes or so to go through it for one apartment. I send in the reports to the Housing Coordinator in a batch afterwards.

Both Elder Coffman and Truman are transferring out of Mullingar on Tuesday but their apartment is ready for the next ones. They are two of the finest missionaries you could find anywhere. Humble, dedicated, and knowledgeable.

The Mullingar missionaries appreciate when we come since they do not have a car - we take them to lunch, then grocery shopping, and any other errands - like on this occasion, going to the gas store to reload their card that will activate their heating system. 2 days since they had heat.

We hold weekly District Council Meetings in Dublin, but we also have a brief Come Follow Me scripture review and discussion on Friday night, 8pm. Sister Gardiner & Hoffman also did a quiz game, posing questions like: Who is most likely to become a General Authority? Who is the most chill? Who is the Mission President's favorite? Sister McMurray won, 'most likely to win in a street fight' - I voted for her and said, "She's from Liverpool!!!" I won for 'Best storyteller'. 

Spring has been trying to blossom forth, but mother nature gave a dose of reality to show who is in charge, the other day. This is the view of the nearby Cooley Mountains. For 2 days we had snow/rain and winds. Luckily there was no residue of snow in town.

Check out the 'precipitation' total, 17.7cm's in 24 hrs. That's between 7-8" of precip. So, yes, it can be a wee bit damp here in Ireland.

Some of the blossoms are coming out in spite of the cool weather last week. Today it was 13C. We're supposed to have our grass cut next week.

When Noeleen met the missionaries, about 5 years ago, she was in crisis. They rescued her in several ways, the least not being, spiritually. In her words, 'they saved my life'. She absolutely loves every missionary who comes through Dundalk. She feeds them, teases them, and dishes out some frank advice as only the Irish can. She also befriends their mothers on Facebook and stays in touch with every one of them. A friend for life.

Noeleen has been a blessing to all of us. We honor all those like her who, even with meager means, consistently feed the missionaries and supports them in other ways as well.

A Chance To Repay Favors of the Past

Back a few years ago, 2007 or so, our son Stephen served his mission in the Ventura California Mission. For 8 or 9 months he was in a Ward in Thousand Oaks California. One of the families there who, like Noeleen above, welcomed the young missionaries into their home, fed them, and buoyed their spirits often, was the Gardiner family. 

Shortly after we had been assigned to serve in the little town of Dundalk, a pair of young Sister missionaries was sent here, and one of them was Abigail Gardiner. Stephen made that connection to the Gardiner's of Thousand Oaks, after he learned her name.

For 3 months, we were blessed to get to know Craig & Kristi Gardiner's daughter, Abigail, and to be able to support her and her companion Sister Judd - take them grocery shopping (when they learned how much I don't like to shop, they tried their hardest to convert me), take them to see castles, feed them in our home, play games during times when they needed to compete and chill, eat cake and ice cream, give priesthood blessings, team-teach friends investigating the Church, drive to District Council together, counsel with them, discuss gospel principles together, feed them Sunday dinners. 

Abby's parents, and younger brother and sister arrived today in Dublin, on their way to Edinburgh to pick up Abby at the Mission Home after she has completed her 18 month volunteer mission. We went to the airport and met them during their layover, and took some of their heavier excess baggage to our flat that they won't need as they tour around Scotland, before arriving back here on Thursday night. We'll see them again for a celebratory dinner out. For a couple of hours we talked about our connection through our son Stephen's mission, and their daughter Abby serving with us here. 

And as we visited together, wouldn't you know it, we learned that Craig was born in Montreal. I mentioned that dad was the Branch President there 1954-57 for the short time that they lived in Montreal. Mom was Primary President. Craig immediately sent a note to his father, asking if he remembers Jeddy & Loretta McMurray from Alberta, in Montreal. The McMurray/Gardiner connection circle widens!? 

Abigail Gardiner on the left with Sister Hoffman. They both leave the mission tomorrow.

Check out Abigail and her sisters, The Gardiner Sisters, on Youtube as they sing uplifting music and share their talents and their testimonies of Jesus Christ.

St Patrick's Day is coming on Friday, a national holiday here (of course). We'll get our green on, and travel into Dublin for a cultural celebration at the Finglas Stake Centre on Friday night. Should be a grand time.

Welcome Home to Randy and Mary Ellen Johnson who returned this week and reported their mission to Hawaii. We have appreciated their examples, and regular communication with them. All the best to them as they adjust back.

Love you all,

   Elder Eric & Sister Tina McMurray