Mission Blog #63

 Christmas Is Coming

When we serve as missionaries, we bring with us all of our experience and skills. How exactly they will be utilized we don't really know. Sister Cindy Sylvester is a very accomplished cook - along with a mother of 5, grandmother of 23, and great-grandmother of 2. Her husband, Rod, retired from a career as an architect, and project manager working for the Church all over the world. Cindy brought together recipes of food she and Rod enjoyed from the various places they have lived....(available on Amazon).

The missionaries in our District benefit from Sister Sylvester's kitchen and culinary skills. The little Branch of Greenock also benefit as she is a member of their Activities Committee. And each Sunday the young missionaries and at least one new member or investigator of the Church are invited into their home for a proper Sunday roast dinner.

When we arrived in Paisley, we found a small Christmas tree in a box under the stairs. In short order, Tina had it assembled and lit. 

Visits

One of our member visits this week was to Catriona Matheson. She is a former school teacher and social worker, and having never married, she was able to travel extensively throughout the world. All around her home are the nick-nacks and souvenirs that she has accumulated. We had a wonderful meal that she prepared and loved hearing about many of her travel destinations - east Asia being her favorite.

A fun fact is that Catriona has a cousin who lives in Tuscany in northwest Calgary.

We couldn't help notice the beautiful Tiffany lamp in the corner. Not only did Sister Matheson travel, but she was/is a stalwart member of the Church.

Another single lady that we visited was Anne, one having health and mobility issues that keeps her from attending Church. We will give her the Zoom information that will allow her to view the Sunday Sacrament Meeting. Anne served in leadership positions of the Young Women, and Relief Society organizations, and was a tremendous help to us as far as understanding the history of the Paisley Ward, Johnstone Ward, and Beith Branch.

Temple Road Trip

Something we looked forward to since arriving in Paisley, was the Ward temple trip. With permission of our Mission President we are able to travel twice a year to Chorley, England to perform saving ordinances for our family. Intel we gathered before departing (from Anne), said that we should stop at the family owned/run service area known as Tebay Station on the M6 south of Carlisle. Our view from the cafeteria shows some of the beautiful landscape, and snow.

Temperatures were around 0C during most of our drive down, with some areas having received some snow earlier in the day.

We had one skiff of snow during the last winter when we lived in Dundalk, Republic of Ireland that lasted until the morning sun came up - so this will be our first real winter since leaving home.

Can't say that we missed the snow!

After checking in at the Temple Accomodations, we set off to Tarleton to visit with Tina's family - niece Kimberley and her son Leo. We headed out on a short walk to the town centre where the rest of the town were gathering for the tree lighting ceremony. We stopped at a hot chocolate stand and met Danny for a few minutes. Their other son, Benjamin, was at a friend's party so we didn't get to see him.

The town centre was crowded for the Christmas Tree lighting event. Christmas carols were sung, accompanied by a brass band (a very nice touch), and then school children representing each school in town, helped depress the power switch to light the tree.

And there it is...it was alot of fun to feel the enthusiasm of the town, and their joy in this Christmas season. 

After the tree-lighting ceremony we enjoyed a terrific meal at an adjacent Italian restaurant, Gigi's, definitely one of the best meals we've had in the last year.

After the crowd was gone... The sky was clear and crisp and we could spot constellations and a couple of planets too. Thanks to Kim and Leo for a great night.

With only a couple of opportunities to visit the Temple during our mission, we always try to make the most of our time there. We arose early, packed and checked out of the accommodation, then drove over to the Temple parking lot. We arrived just before 8am, then were there until about 1:15pm, performing 34 proxy ordinances. 

As we visited in the office for 'sealings', we met several staff (ordinance workers) who knew people we knew, like Bryce & Kathy Card from Edmonton, and Jim & Gloria Dyck from Sherwood Park - both couples having served as Temple Missionaries there; as well as people that Tina knew back in the day in her hometown of Liverpool. 

One of the greatest blessings we feel in our lives is to attend the House of the Lord, and to be reminded of our Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness for all of His children even those who never had the opportunity to hear of the gospel of Jesus Christ during their mortal lives.

For an hour or so of the return trip home to Paisley, we experienced some Alberta weather.

3 Lanes were down to 2 for awhile. We just took our time and had a wee break after we got out of the real snowy bits.

Driving by Lockerbie, Scotland gave me a lump in  my throat. I remember well the tragedy of the December 21, 1988 PanAm flight that went down over Lockerbie after a bomb exploded onboard. All 259 on board perished, as well as 11 on the ground. The 747 plane was on its transatlantic leg from Heathrow to JFK in New York City. On a nicer day we would have taken some time to pay respects at the memorial garden in Lockerbie.

The Christmas season is a great time to renew our commitment to be peacemakers, to spread the light of Christ with love and compassion to all around us. A special event was held tonight at the Paisley Stake Centre, 'Picture A Christmas'. It began in the chapel with seeing a couple of devotional messages by President Nelson and others on video, along with singing some carols, then it moved back into the cultural hall where some live actors (inside a large picture frame) and narrators told the story of Christ's birth.  The premise was a grandfather and mother to a young boy talking about the Savior's birth as recorded in scripture, and asking the boy, 'can you picture it Charlie'?  

Our dear friends, Sister and Elder Sylvester came from Greenock to participate. Tina gave opening prayer for the event and Sister Sylvester sang a beautiful solo. Rod and I are just the bookends.

They're old, but they can sing!!

Sister Gilmour sings like an angel and shared her talent on a few numbers.

The curtain rope broke on one scene change, but President Dewey said afterwards in his closing remarks, 'that's why you have a second counselor' - (who provided assistance to manually open & close the curtain for the balance of the performance). 

There were a few carols sung by soloists and duets, and one final 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' by all in attendance and videoed to be sent to each of the young full-time missionaries serving from the Stake - in Portugal, Argentina, Philipines, and Paris, France and another place we can't remember.

We really enjoyed the evening - visiting with folks from Ayr to Pollock, and Glasgow to Greenock. It was a wonderful reminder of the true meaning of this season.

May you all have a great start to celebrating the birth of our Savior, the light of the world, and may you find ways to let your light shine.

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