Mission Blog #62

 The Week in Review

It's a small world..... on Monday evening my sister, Jayna Campbell, who lives in the Dallas area, sent us a note. She said that there is a young woman from her Ward, that is currently serving in our Mission, Sister Montgomery. I replied that we would keep our eyes open for her. Wouldn't you know it, the very next morning she was at our District Council in Kilmarnock.

She is one of the Sister Training Leaders for Scotland. Her mother is my sister, Jayna's, 'ministering sister', and also the Stake Young Women's President. Young Sister Montgomery is full of enthusiasm, is a great communicator and teacher and example to all the Sister missionaries.  I'm sure as she has traveled through Scotland she has been a real light to the other Sister missionaries. Unfortunately, she was transferred on Thursday so we won't see her here in our District, but we will see her on Dec. 6th at the All-Scotland Zone Conference in Edinburgh.

Our District Leader, Elder Bodkin, and his companion Elder Davison - are noticeably the only male members of our District in the photo; the Zone Leaders visit around to other Districts so they missed out on our Thanksgiving lunch.

We and the other Senior Couple, the Sylvesters, provided the main dishes of roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, gravy, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The other missionaries brought mac 'n cheese, roast vegetables, and cherry pie. 

I couldn't help myself but to give a bit of a history lesson while everyone were digging in. I spoke of how in that first winter of 1620 after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Mass., that half of the 102 or so (plus ship's crew) perished. The New England winter was nothing they were used to. But they felt blessed to pull off a good harvest the following year. That's when they decided to celebrate with a feast of thanksgiving. There is only one written eye-witness account of that first Thanksgiving on U.S. soil - a brief 300 words written by Edward Winslow.  The feast included the surviving 53 pilgrims and about 90 braves and leaders of the Wampanoag Tribe. Pilgrim men went out and hunted fowl; the braves returned with 5 deer. They participated in games or contests, and of course, ate alot of food. 

Sister Montgomery, knowing I was Canadian, asked if we celebrate Thanksgiving. That gave me a chance to talk about Canadian Thanksgiving, with its origins being in 1578. That initial Thanksgiving was hosted by the English explorer Martin Frobisher in Newfoundland, and annually celebrated since November 6, 1879. The date moved a bit and finally settled on the 2nd Monday of October. The U.S. Thanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday of November each year. It wasn't a national holiday in the U.S. for more than two centuries after first celebration. In between, it was celebrated by individual colonies and states. In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held in November. 

A Nice Farewell to the Sister Missionaries

Evelyn wanted to give Sister Judd and McKenna a nice lunch sendoff, since they both were being transferred out of Paisley on Thursday. 

We went to one of the well-known chippies, Alan's. The meal was really nice and the Sisters loved their gifts from Evelyn.

We stayed and visited after the Sisters left.

Trying New Things Is Fun

I'd heard the term, Scotch Egg, but I had no idea what they were. It's a boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs and baked or deep-fried. Some warm them; others like them cold. We purchased a 2-pack at the grocer so I could try it. I had mine at room temp, and with a little mustard.

Paisley Stake Family Christmas Ceilidh (kay-lee)

What is it? It's a social event with Scottish (or Irish) folk music and singing, traditional dancing, and storytelling.

The lobby entrance created a nice, welcoming atmosphere.

The tree looked like the one in 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'....oh well, the lights were nice.

The band was just a drummer, and two accordian players. The drummer would announce the song and type of dance, walk us through brief step instructions, then away we went.

It was alot of fun for all ages and skill levels. 

Sitting for a rest between dances...

We had heard alot about Paul from our friends, the Sylvesters, who live in Greenock. I sat for awhile with Paul and heard part of his life-story. He was born in Greenock, his parents divorced and his mother left with the children to America when Paul was six. Paul grew up in Washington state, found his way into crime, gangs and drugs. He was entirely estranged from his father who has always lived in Greenock. Making a long-story short (but not as exciting), Paul came back to Scotland a few years ago, is living with his father and loving the reconnection with him. He also came into contact with Sister missionaries in Greenock, investigated the church and listened to the missionary lessons; and was baptized 3 years ago. He is a body builder, takes care of himself now, and loves the peaceable things. His stern look in this photo defy his very kind, sweet temperament and wonderful smile. I really enjoyed getting to know him.

Sarah, wearing the LFC third jersey, is quite a character and a tease. She absolutely loves Geena who is like a big sister to her. She also loves Tina and gives her huge hugs every time she sees her. We love them both!

We didn't get too wild at the Ceilidh, but did get on the dance floor. The Canadian Barn Dance was one we had to dance to - although we had different partners (shhh, don't tell on us).

Sister Brown and Ross had the biggest smiles, at least until their curfew... We love seeing our young missionaries get into the spirit of the local culture.

Okay, I know, I know....where's the castle photos??  Well, it was a busy week, and any spare time seemed to be taken up in preparing for our speaking assignments in sacrament meeting today. Tina delivered a wonderful talk on 'Finding Peace In Prayer and Scripture Study'. She gave background on how she came to the decision to come to Canada; how she felt strong promptings after much prayer and that confirmation carried her through some early challenges. She quoted one of the former apostles, Elder Richard G. Scott who said, "The scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can be the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His beloved Son, Jesus Christ." 

My topic was 'Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace'... of course I began by talking about how while Tina was praying whether to come to Canada - and then whether to stay when employment problems arose - I was on the other side of the world praying hard that I would be able to find a suitable life companion. Tina moved from Ontario to Sherwood Park, Alberta, we met, sparks flew, and the rest is history; 41 years later we look back in gratitude for these answered prayers, voiced an ocean apart. 

My talk's primary focus was around how peace in Christ is found by doing as he did, reaching outward in love and compassion to others. This was the theme of devotional message given by Elder David Bednar of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles a few years ago to the missionaries in the Provo Missionary Training Center, titled 'The Character of Christ'.  I reviewed examples of how my parents exemplified His character of love and compassion to others all of their lives. The example of our Savior though, from the accounts in the New Testament, punctuate how amazing example was. How he healed the lepers, cured the centurion's servant, stilled the tempest, cast out devils, fed the multitudes...and in the hours leading up to his crucifixion, he continued to reach out - washing the feet of his disciples, healing the ear of one of the arresting guards after it was cut off, how on the cross he exclaimed 'forgive them for they know not what they do'... These are remarkable examples to us. 

At this season of giving, of reflecting on the greatest gift, that of our Savior Jesus Christ, may you feel the peace that He offers you.

God bless,

Elder Eric & Sister Tina McMurray

Member & Leader Support Missionaries

Scotland-Ireland Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

www.churchofjesuschrist.org