Mission Blog #60

 Changing Seasons Here in Scotland

Rain overnite, followed by cold air moving in, meant that we awoke to a very foggy morning.

And by noon, we had a sunny day, but with crispness in the air. Last night it dropped to -7C which is the coldest we've had it on our mission to-date. Daytime temps are now about +7 to +10C.

Our First All-Scotland Zone Conference

Elder Schneider (left) came into our Dundalk, Republic of Ireland Branch back in February and he was there until our move to Cork in mid-June. We really came to love him and saw so much growth in him. Elder Caswell (right) became companion to Elder Schneider in March  - Caswell also transferred to us in Cork in August, so we have spent alot of time with these two. Schneider is in Liff in Scotland in the Dundee area and Elder Caswell is in Aberdeen.

Senior missionaries from all over Scotland do the food prep and serving of the lunch - for about 95 attending. The Conference is held at the Edinburgh Stake Centre, next to the Mission Home on Spylaw Road. This was the first time meeting some - like our Mission Housing Coordinator, Sister Goodison.

The Sister on the far right is Sister Findlay. She and her husband live in Utah. Elder Findlay retired as a Wing Commander for the Utah Air National Guard - and he knows people we know in Alberta as his mother is from Stirling, Alberta. I asked how I could help and was told, 'stay out of the kitchen'! the men set up the food tables and we all helped serve the food once it was time for lunch to begin.

We had many great messages, trainings, and testimonies shared. One example: Sister Cangelosi (and her husband), the Mission Medical Advisor, gave a great presentation on S.A.D. - Seasonal Affective Disorder. In northern areas of the world, as we Canadians know, we can fall into periods of low energy, feelings of sadness, or feelings of depression - all relating to the low levels of sunlight we receive in the wintry months being less the further north you live. Paisley is at about 55.8 degrees north. Home in Calgary is about 51 degrees North. Our sun sets about 20 minutes earlier here in Paisley that at home presently. The northern parts of Scotland are at 57 or even 58 degrees North. So, we were counselled to take our Vitamin D, get sunshine when we can, and use a 'happy light' of 10,000 lux for 30 minutes/day. We have ordered ours! 

Yup, Another Castle - Stirling Castle

Geographically, Stirling is very important. Adjacent to the River Forth, anyone travelling here would need to pass the castle fortress to pass east/west over it. Its strategic importance meant that it was the most besieged castle in the land (15 sieges). Two of the most important battles in Scotland's history - Stirling Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn (1314) - took place nearby.

In King James IV's time, the Forework towers were about twice as tall as present - 5 storeys high, and painted in the King's Gold color, giving a bright, elevated, and imposing frontage.

A member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was in the parking lot... He is a volunteer in the Regimental Museum in the King's Old Building - when built it was a suite of lodgings commissioned by James IV.

By the way, when we woke up and saw this blue sky, we knew we had to get out and do something, so off we went. Stirling is about 50 minutes' drive from our Paisley home.

East from the castle you can see the River Forth, near where the Stirling Bridge battle took place. On the hill you'll spot the National Wallace Monument standing 250ft tall. The movie, Braveheart, doesn't get any 'historical accuracy' awards as our guide pointed out, but you can go to the monument and get the true historical facts on the Battle of Stirling Bridge and William Wallace. We plan to do that another time.

First, as 'Historic Scotland' members, we arrived at Stirling Castle and were thrilled that we were able to park at the top of the hill next to the castle, for free. Then we paid 0 entrance fee. Enough good news to reverse almost any effects of S.A.D.  And, as a bonus, we were led on a free 1 hour tour by a knowledgeable and friendly guide, Patrick. Amazing!

The Great Hall, by James IV, the largest ever built in Scotland, completed in 1503. It was a great venue for courtly celebrations and state occasions. King's Gold, created by the King and forbidden to be used by anyone other than the King, is the paint color. At one time it was on all of the castle buildings but it became too expensive to maintain. Until the restoration of the castle in the 1990's even the locals in Stirling town, had never seen this color. The Historic Scotland society completed the restoration and brought the old color back.

The buildings visible on the site today, are mostly from the 15th and 16th centuries - and provided the setting for the Stewart court at its most magnificent. The remarkable buildings were created as the backdrop for the glittering courts of James IV, James V, Mary Queen of Scots and James VI - renaissance monarchs who put Scotland on the European map.

(Note: I often take descriptions directly from the souvenir guide books, and sometimes from things I remember the tour guide saying at some point, or from Wikepedia, or I just make it up...)

The tapestries hanging in the Queen's Inner Hall, Hunt of the Unicorn, are replicas, made in 1990's. The original survives, but hangs in the Cloisters Museum of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. We've seen many ancient tapestries and the colors are typically quite faded and dull. These re-creations really give one a sense of how majestic and bright they would have been, and how impressed any visitor or guest would have been to see them. The 7 new tapestries were woven in West Sussex, and on-site at the castle, and took a total of 8 years to complete.

The royal lodgings we saw were recreated in 2011, originally commissioned by James V, the seventh monarch of the royal Stewart dynasty. He may never have seen it completed prior to his death in 1542.

We always enjoy talking to people when we're out on excursions, like the folks in our tour group - with a red maple leaf toque...from Toronto; and two ladies from Boston (who we bonded with when we told them our favorite restaurant anywhere is Ristorante Limoncello in the north end of Boston). 

When I told the guard that I'm a Stewart, he decided not to end me...

King Robert the Bruce statue, and his 17th Great Grandson....

Senior Mission Fireside

Our Bishop asked us a few weeks ago if we would host a fireside discussion for adult Ward members, on the topic of serving a Senior Mission.

We covered off alot of the 'who, what, where, why, when, how' of serving Senior Missions, ending with a Q&A and refreshments. There were 10 who came.

One of them told us today at church that on Friday evening after she was home, she couldn't stop thinking about our presentation (maybe it was from what Tina put into her chocolate chip cookies!?)....so we'll call it a success. 

Remember, Remember

The weekend here in Scotland was full of Remembrance Day activities. Even shopping yesterday morning, Tina said that an announcement came over the PA at 11am for two minutes of silence. Our Sunday Service was full of readings from world leaders of wars past, soldiers, mother of a soldier, and so on - all to the end of honoring those who have served, lest we forget. Thanks to all who have served and are serving in any branch of the military. We owe you a great debt.

Another Year

On Saturday morning I awoke first, went downstairs then had a recollection of our wedding song from 1982, 'Endless Love' by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross. As I heard Tina stirring upstairs I raced to find the song video, and as Tina came down I had it playing, and then we danced to it, singing softly to each other, tears welling up. Awwwww! I know it's kinda corny but it really is our song.

We had a 41st wedding anniversary and it was a great one, beginning at Stirling Castle, and finishing with a nice meal in Newton-Mears. We are blessed to have weathered some storms, and battles, and challenges of almost every kind as you do when you've been together this long. 

It was great to reminisce together - talking about our marriage - where we've lived, places we've travelled, employment, church service, friends, extended family, things we've learned, or overcome, and the greatest blessings we could ever have imagined being our children and grandchildren. We love each of you dearly. And I love you Tina, more than words can say.

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