Mission Blog #38 Cork Transfer

 Nine Months Later, Transferring to Cork

It's official. This past week we learned that we will be transferred to the city of Cork, in the south of the Republic of Ireland. Our flat is #12, upstairs.

We've lived by the song, 'We'll Go Where You Want Me to Go', so when the Mission President asked us a few months ago if we'd be willing to transfer at some point, that is how we answered him.

This is the church in Cork that will be home to many of our Sunday services, and other activities. We have contacted the missionaries there - they are really happy we'll be there with them. Later this week we will contact the Branch President and talk about the various focuses that they'd like us to have, to help the individuals there.

We had committed to perform some service for Alice Gernon, the Elders' landlady, and neighbor. The Elders did a fantastic job on painting the shed.

In Alice's yard, we tackled the very long grass, re-strung her trimmer and got it looking pretty good in the end.

After mowing and trimming, the Elders' yard looks pretty good too. It hasn't rained here for about 2 weeks now. That isn't said very often in Ireland...

We made a last visit to our friend, May Matthews. It was a lovely evening to sit out on her patio and talk about the beauties of nature, the various changes she's made to her home over the years, and the joy of beautifying one's home. 

May's grandson was in Calgary for the last month staying with his uncle, Brian. Daniel had a painful ordeal while there - a 14mm kidney stone, and all I can say is, Ouch! He had a 'procedure' the details of which I will spare you - at the Rockyview Hospital, and arrived home today and heads to the local hospital tomorrow. Our prayers are with Daniel for a speedy recovery.

May has enough room to have all 13 of her family gathered together for the warm evenings of summer. The Matthews will be our forever friends, and we'll miss our times together in Dundalk.

Sister Miles, Sister Judd, Elder Caswell, Elder Aina, Elders Schneider and Truman - our District who we will miss alot. In the words of the late and great Tina Turner, they are 'simply the best'.

After a night of service by the Elders with Tidy Towns we met the Elders at their flat for a treat. Elder Truman had to eat something healthy - he is a great chef.

They both can bake banana bread, cookies, and they give them away to new friends or church members all the time.

After a trip into Drogheda to meet some folks, we stopped for lunch. They love when we take them out anywhere. And they always reciprocate with cookies or pudding.

James & Lorraine (Tina's brother and sister-in-law) from Belfast, came down for a day of exploring. We went to Battle of the Boyne Historic Site first.

The Octagon Garden behind Oldbridge House, built a hundred years after the battle, was something unique. Nine 300 year old yew trees help frame this area that used to be filled with various flower blossoms, and made for a wonderful place to walk and enjoy nature.

Oldbridge House is way in the background, the Tea House just behind us next to the walled garden.

An ex-military man inspecting the weaponry of 1690.

Next stop; Monasterboice cemetary, dating back to about 900 AD. The most detailed high cross in Ireland is said to be one in this cemetary - the carved stone figures represent events or people of the Old and New Testament. After four or five previous visits here, we finally spotted this plaque containing an explanation and key to what the engravings represent. 

The tallest high-cross is 10.5 metres tall.

There is nothing but farmland in any direction so it is a wonderful, peaceful place to pay respects or ponder ancient days of yore.

Near the Battle of the Boyne Historic Site, we met 2 policemen directing traffic for the outdoor concert of Harry Styles with 80,000 of his closest fans, which was taking place at the Slane Castle. We drove past the bus station in Drogheda and saw the throngs of fans, many wearing a boa in his honor, boarding buses to head for the late afternoon concert. 

Sister and brother - it has been wonderful to have been able to see family so often while we've lived in Dundalk, for these last 8 months.

And that includes you too, Lorraine, and the whole gang up in Belfast, our daughter Michelle who visited us from Lichfield, England, and Tina's nieces in England and family!! We love you all.

Church today was great, but full of mixed feelings. We were given 5 minutes each to say our goodbyes and bear our testimonies - so long, farewell Dundalk Branch.

A few of the kids from the Branch. Belle, the smallest, turns 8 soon and has chosen to be baptised in August. We'll do everything we can to be there to support her.

We managed to get a few of the Branch members in some photographs after Church. Grenaliene's, Poznanski's, Ann McCartney (who drives over an hour each Sunday from Cavan). We love them all.

These are a few of the brightest, sharpest young people we know. Their parents should be very proud, and hopeful for their futures. Belle is looking extra smart in her new eyeglasses.

Even Ben, the 14 yr old son of the Branch President, is going to be some kind of tech wiz billionaire some day!

Not the last meal together, but we're starting to empty out the cupboards and refrigerator. The Elders are very willing and able to assist with that.

A joint effort to make us some pudding for dessert.

And so, this chapter of our mission experience concludes this week. We will reach the mid-point of our mission on June 19th, albeit it in a different corner of this beautiful garden isle of Ireland. We will miss our comfortable home, our amazing neighbors and quiet neighborhood, our favorite little seaside villages of Carlingford, and Blackrock, and all the other familiar things - grocery store, barber, car wash, dry cleaner, and all the other things that have helped us feel at home here.

Tonight we have already been contacted by gracious church members in Cork who were contacted by a church member here in Dundalk, to ask what they can do to help with our transition. That is amazing, and so appreciated. Everything is going to work out just fine. There are helpful, dedicated and consecrated people everywhere in the church. And, there is no one I'd rather be here on this mission with than Tina. As long as we're together, I know we can do whatever is asked of us.

May you all feel the hand of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, in your lives each day... as we do. Stop and count your many blessings - they are many. But don't stop too long. Keep moving forward, stretch, and reach out a little more to others, and upward to heaven through prayer and study of the scriptures just a little more. I promise that as you remember the blessings you've been given and fill your day with service to others, you will find more joy, and peace.

Love,

  Elder Eric & Sister Tina McMurray