Mission Blog #29

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Which Is The Most Beautiful Car of Them All?

Two newest cars in the mission fleet; Zone Leaders got the red Luna Hybrid and we got the Luna Sport Hybrid. The mission fleet is getting replaced soon - Hyundai i30 - but these two Toyotas were procured to fill an immediate need in the interim.

District Council, One Chip Challenge??

After District Council Meeting in Dublin, our energetic and competitive District Leader brought out this box - shaped like a coffin, and painted with red and orange flames. It rightly predicts a hot and fiery demise of anyone partaking of the contents - one triangular shaped corn tortilla chip, seasoned with the hottest chili in the world, the Carolina Reaper, with SHU (scoville heat unit) of 1.8-2.2 million.

The inside inscription, Dein Letzter Wunsch? I believe that is German for 'Any Last Wish?'  

The milk was poured and ready. Then it started to kick in. We saw Sister Judd's head turn very red, Elder Aina with tears streaming down his cheeks; and the others going through various levels of hooting, yelping, and gulping the milk to try and cool down.

Tina and I do NOT think this kind of challenge is safe, and it didn't look like fun to us - we briefly gave our cautions and advice, but they were undeterred. We just stayed alert to any serious medical reaction, ready to be the drivers to the Emerg if needed. Everyone survived.

Elders Guillen (Spain), Siebke (Sweden) and Caswell (U.S.). Transfers were announced Saturday so they knew on Tuesday that it might be awhile before they see one another. Friendships are made quickly in the mission field.

Elder Siebke (Zone Leader), in the middle, has been assigned as one of 4 Assistants to President McCrudden and will be moving to Edinburgh on Monday. We will miss him, alot. He is one of the kindest, and most spiritual young missionaries we've met. He will be amazing in his new role.

Elder Aina (District Leader) and Elder Truman; talking about serious matters with Sister Miles and Collado (Sister Training Leaders). Sister Miles is moving on Monday to Sligo to train a brand new Sister missionary.

So many changes. With each transfer, we can see their growth in faith and maturity.

The door dent, before....

And after the repair... we're pleased.

President Biden Comes To Dundalk

I won't voice my political views here - but just a few comments about President Biden's visit to Ireland. 

25 years ago the Good Friday Agreement was signed, which brought peace between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The U.S. helped make that happen. Joe Biden came to commemorate that signing, and to visit some of his ancestral homeland here in County Louth and Mayo.

There were hundreds of Garda (police) who were all through the main city centre here in Dundalk, from about 11am until 9pm or so. Barriers were put up, shops and streets closed, and he arrived at about 6:30pm. A short walkabout on Clanbrassil Street, then he stopped at one of our favorite restaurants, MacAteers Food House (below), and our favorite, The Windsor Pub & Restaurant (left).

We've met some of the restaurant workers and they seemed pretty happy to keep their place open for the leader of the free world.

We stayed at home and watched some of the happenings on live TV.

Elder Caswell (left) is from Utah and when we went down to the Market Square, with all of the American flags still flittering, he said it made him feel like he could be in a small American city. It helped him feel at home.

We were on our Preparation Day, so hence-why no white shirt. We took the young missionaries out for a farewell lunch as Elder Caswell is moving to Dublin tomorrow.

The Food House...we wanted to have our lunch meal there, but it was a 45 minute wait so we went elsewhere.

Every shop and window seemed to be adorned with American flags.

Dundalk is only about 15km's from the Northern Ireland border. People who lived through 'the troubles' here in Dundalk, perhaps feel gratitude for the peace agreement as much as anyone on the island. 

Prosperity is a byproduct of peace here. The young generation have been raised during this peace, and let's hope they never experience the uncertainty and the horrors of conflict. 

Many displaced Ukrainian families are coming to the Republic of Ireland where it seems they are being well-received.

Miscellaneous Assignments

Apartment inspections - we completed 8 inspections this transfer. We were able to do them utilizing WhatsApp video. It's a chance to see and talk to each set of missionaries and give them a pep talk if they need that. And of course, to ensure that they are taking care of their flat.

We took our new vehicle to the Toyota dealer and got the door dent repaired (from previous driver oops). 

The young missionaries move into a new flat tomorrow so I spent some time reviewing the rental agreement, getting new clauses added, obtaining the landlord's bank info for rent transfer from the Area Office, and getting signatures on the document. I'm glad I don't work in the office - this is too much like regular office work; but someone has to do it, so we helped on both ends of the flat rental agreement, and tomorrow we'll assist with the moving.

President McCrudden asked me to lead the all-mission zoom meeting on Friday evening, 8:30pm. My topic was the 'Come Follow Me' lesson for this week; Matthew 15-17, Mark 7-9. It went well I think.

The Best Part of Being a Missionary

When we can meet with wonderful people, and teach them about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ - that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father

- that He sent His son to teach the gospel of love, repentance, and forgiveness and to be our Savior

- that Jesus died for us and took upon Him our sins - that through faith in Him, and through sincere repentance we can enter into covenants through the ordinance of baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end

- that we can be clean and return to live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

This is the best day, when we can teach these truths.

We are grateful for the tender mercies we feel so often here in our mission assignment. Some days are very difficult, but most are filled with opportunities to serve, to grow our own faith, and to extend ourselves to lift others. 

The Gardiner Family

Life is fragile. We had previously advised of our young Sister Abby Gardiner's father Craig who while he was here in Ireland to tour with Abby and the family before she returned home to the U.S., had a stroke. Craig had brain surgery, a clot was removed, and a tumor. They did a full scan and found some spots in his lungs. He went home to Utah for further testing and it is confirmed that he has Stage 4 Melanoma. There may be more miracles yet for Craig. We hope so, but we all need to remember to treat each moment as precious, each person with love, and be grateful each day for another day with our family and loved ones.

God bless.

  Elder Eric & Sister Tina McMurray