Mission Blog #35

 Fun & Games

Alice Gernon, the Elders' newest landlord and neighbor, invited us all to come over for games. After retaining my champion title in SWOOP, we had fun singing some hymns while Elder Schneider accompanied us with piano/organ. 

In another home visit, we provided some training and suggestions for a sister in her family history. We love visiting with these Branch members in their homes.

We drove these missionaries out to the Cooley peninsula for preparation day activity. Kilwirra Church ruins was one of our stops. The church is from earlier centuries and associated with the Knights Templar. It's located near Templetown, with great views of the Cooley Mountains.

We enjoy initiating the young missionaries, to the local Carlingford cuisine, being oysters from Carlingford Lough. Elder Truman was a willing participant.

He said that it was 'slimy', but he liked it just enough to try one more. Atta boy Elder Truman. Expand those horizons.

King John's Castle in Carlingford built in 1190 or so by the Norman baron Hugh de Lacy. Hugh's family were pretty powerful, enough to make King John of England (my 20th great grand pappy) uneasy. So, John forced them into rebellion and he seized their property in 1210, and later stayed there himself.

The break, and harbor from the castle.

We drove from Dundalk north over the Cooley Mountains and down into O'Meath. This is a view as we were descending - Lough Carlingford, and Northern Ireland on the other side.

I learned something about Republic of Ireland vehicle license plates I wanted to share. The first figures on the left, 231, indicate this vehicle was manufactured in 2023, in the first half of the year, 1. The letter 'D' indicates that the vehicle was sold in Dublin. The last figures indicate that the vehicle was the 18,425th vehicle sold/registered in the first half of 2023. When the vehicle is 'sold' the dealer registers the vehicle and gets the plate issued.

The County of registration must be in Irish, 'Baile Atha Cliath' for Dublin.

I may have mentioned that we received this new vehicle after it had been operated by a young missionary who scraped up the front wheels against curbs, and dinged up the driver door opening it carelessly into a post. We previously had the dent repaired and this week we had the wheels repaired - now better than new. All part of the everyday life of us as missionaries.

I believe there may be a life/gospel metaphor in this story of scrapes, repairs, redemption.....

We've mentioned another of our favorite seaside towns, Blackrock. It's just 5km's south of Dundalk. 

When we arrived in mid-October 2022 the waves were crashing up hard against the sea wall built to protect the town from flooding. But, here we are in May 2023 and as you can see, the tide is wayyyyy out, probably 2-3 kilometres from the sea wall. I'll have to do more studying about tides....

There is a non-profit organization called Tidy Towns. They organize community clean-up, bedding plant plantings, or anything else that will beautify the community. We've been thinking of how we can get more involved in service within the community and agreed that joining up with Tidy Towns would be perfect. 

Elder Truman and Schneider participated on Saturday; giving a couple of hours of their day. They said that these are awesome people - and welcoming to the Elders. We'll join them in one of the next outings.

Cork Day Trip

On Thursday we were contacted by our new Housing Coordinator and asked to go perform an inspection of the senior missionaries' flat in Cork. It has been vacant since April 23rd when the Adcock's went home to Utah. There is a possibility of a transfer for us in the future. We'll see what happens.

Cork is about 320km's southwest of Dundalk, about as far from our home here as we could go. 3 hrs, 20 minutes one way.

We met the Elders at the Cork church building to collect the key for the flat, as they were filling the baptismal font for a baptism later in the day. When we got to the flat, the key did not work so back we went.

When we returned, the font was full enough so we took the Elders, (Botos, from Hungary and Durham from Sandy, Utah) out for a nice lunch; then dropped them back at the church while we raced to the flat with a pocket full of various keys. One of them worked and we did a hurried inspection. Front door handle needs repaired, and hot water heater in the shower needs repaired. But, clean and ready for the next Senior couple.

The Church is next to a funeral home - in a nice area just off one of the main highways in Cork. We made it back in time for the 2 pm baptism of Seun who lives in Waterford. The Waterford building doesn't have a baptismal font so the Waterford missionaries, Branch President, and friends came over and used the Cork building.

Seun is from Africa, has been a student, and first encountered the missionaries about 2 years ago. She was very excited for this important day, as were her two sisters who attended the service, and the two missionaries who taught her and prepared her; Elder Eyre, and Elder Coffman.

Cork is a city of about 220,000, sitting on an island in the middle of the River Lee. It's the 2nd largest city in the Republic of Ireland and 3rd largest on the island of Ireland. The quays and docks along the river lead towards Lough Mahon and Cork Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world.

Originally a monastic settlement, Cork was expanded by Viking invaders around 915. Its charter was granted in 1185 by Prince John. It's known as the 'rebel city' from its support for the Yorkist cause in the Wars of the Roses.

Locals may sometimes be heard referring to Cork as the 'real capital'.

On this warm Saturday in Cork, we found the city core to be very lively, and interesting. Many unique shops, including luxury jewelry retailers, bespoke menswear, and everything else you'd expect in a city of substance. And for the foodies, many choices.

Our target destination was the English Market. So many specialty spaces with fresh fish, cheese, chocolate, flowers, fresh garden vegetables, fruit, etc.

We had to get a few chocolate treats for later.

We love looking at unique architecture wherever we go in Ireland.

Elder and Sister Evenson are from Alpine, Utah. We began corresponding with them when we spotted them on the Mission facebook page, prior to our mission service beginning. We see them about every 6 weeks at the All-Ireland Zone Conference in Dublin. 

They live in Tralee, on the Atlantic side in southwest Republic of Ireland. They agreed to come over and attend the baptism, and then sightsee in Cork with us afterwards. They are very kind and generous people. We had a great time with them. 

They extended their mission by 2 months but will be going home in August. We hope to see them again before then.

We found an amazing Italian restaurant, Il Padrino, with a great patio to relax. Amazing lazagna there. 

The Evenson's have missed the birth of a grandchild, as well as its 1st birthday. We admire them for their sacrifices, to be able to serve.

The Tralee Branch is very small, and Elder Evenson is the 1st Councilor in the Branch Presidency. Sister Evanson also has a Branch calling.

While walking around in Cork city centre we were approached three different times by members of the Church in Cork who introduced themselves to us. In this photo is Sister Hanley, who has lived in Cork since 2021 but who had lived in Dundalk prior to that. She and her brother saw our badges and stopped to say hello.

Two other young men stopped us as well. The Cork church members are very friendly, and proud of their town.

We left Dundalk at 7:30am, and returned from Cork to Dundalk at 9:40pm. In that stretch of motorway, we stopped to pay tolls 6 times, and 2 other times our plate was photographed and we have 24 hours or so to pay those tolls on-line. Just gotta laugh sometimes. But the highways were wonderful and the scenery spectacular. We found that it was more rural in the south, more forested, and some nice mountains (the 8-900 metre variety). We really enjoyed our day. We'll go back hopefully soon to kiss the Blarney stone, when we have more time.

When we put the blog together we try not to fill it with all the negative, or crushing disappointments that occasionally affect us, as they do everyone from time to time. We know that some of you are dealing with challenges - employment, stressed family relationships, health...these challenges of mortality come at us in infinite forms. 

We do not forget each other in these moments or ongoing difficulties. We pray for you, and your loved ones. Through our Savior, Jesus Christ, our burdens are lighter and our hope is never dimmed. God bless each of you as you navigate through mortality the best that you can. 

All of us in Ireland look forward to a visit this Saturday, by Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and Elder Hans T. Boom, Area President for Europe North. It'll be a boost for everyone.

Love you all,

  Elder Eric & Sister Tina McMurray