Mission Blog #77 The Final Chapter

 Goodbyes are Hard

We had a wonderful evening visiting and saying goodbye to George and Christine Broadfoot. George had worn a beautiful paisley neck-tie awhile ago and noticed that I admired it. He gifted it to me in our last visit.

We have alot of laughs when we're together. The drive out to Irvine or back to Paisley is a little challenging - narrow roads, and I had just said that we should have a last photo together, 'one for the ditch' is how I put it, and this set George off, and we all had a good laugh.

Our last District Council. We love them and will miss them, as we will all of the missionaries who we know and will be leaving behind.

Last Sight-Seeing Outing

Our last day-trip to see the sights. We got together with the Sylvesters and had a good day on the Island of Arran.

It's a 55 minute ferry ride. Weather seemed fine, but part way over I received a text from the ferry company saying that due to weather, our return ferry booking had been cancelled, and re-booked for 2 days hence. That was a shock and made my mind race thinking about all we needed to be doing prior to our mission departure. On arrival in Brodick we went to the ferry operator's offices and found that we could try and get on as 'standby', and we could do that at Brodick port on the east side of the island, or at Lochranza port at the north of the island. 

We stopped at Brodick Castle and Gardens. The view from there was incredible. It was built in 1510 and was home to the Dukes of Hamilton but a fortress has been on the sit since the 5th century

 

Our choice to try the ferry from Lochranza earlier in the afternoon paid off. We drove directly onto the ferry at 2:30pm. Leaving Arran and heading over to the peninsula of Argyle and Bute was a very nice voyage. Elder Sylvester went up on the deck, enjoying the sunshine - and leaning on the deck rail - then I felt the rail give a bit and realized that it was a gate, and the lock was dangling from the locking clasp. Heart in our throats, we backed away, then reported it to a ship mate. We had a good visit with him and he had someone take care of the gate issue.

Tarbert is an idyllic little fishing village on the Firth of Clyde. We enjoyed walking around and looking in the gift shops.

Evelyn McGeeghan is a wonderful friend. She always looks for ways to serve others - she'll show up at the Church on Tuesday when we're in District Council. She'll take a garbage sack and walk around outside picking up garbage, then she'll come inside and help in the kitchen. She also helps when the young missionaries need a Ward member to attend a missionary lesson with a new friend. Whatever it is, she is willing to help. We will really miss her and all the kind folks of Paisley and other places we've served.

The sun set on our Mission March 7, 2024

A new restaurant, Il Pescatore, opened across from our flat. When my sister, Tamara, and husband, Grant, came to visit we took them there. It was a wonderful experience. Illidon, our host, we learned was from northern Belgium so I tried a little Dutch on him. Of course that led to me talking about my first mission to the Netherlands, and being in Breda near the Belgium border - his wife is from Breda. We prattled on in Dutch with each other. He loved it. We have returned a few more times. Illi always made it special when we came - 'I know you don't drink alcohol so I have brought you this San Pellegrino'... or no charge on the salad. He was sincerely sad to know that we would be returning home to Canada. I gave him a wee card with some of our feelings of gratitude for his kindness to us. Tot ziens, Illi.

We were released as missionaries and representatives of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, on the evening of March 7, 2024 by our Calgary Fish Creek Stake President, Brad Stevens. The magic of technology allowed that. He was as kind as possible, but honestly, it was hard. We'll see what is next for us, soon. We know that we don't cease being disciples of Jesus Christ just because we're no longer wearing the badge. But it is still a big change we'll need to get used to.

Family is the most important! Tina's brother Eric drove over to say hello and visit us for a few hours, while we are staying with his daughter Fliss and Doug. He was showing off a photo of his youngest, Georgia, and her baby girl - his first granddaughter.

We just love these two amazing young people, Fliss and Doug Britton. They are kind, hard-working, and generous, and they love adventure. We'll miss them - but Alberta and BC's mountain resorts will draw them back for snowboarding, and a visit, soon we hope.

Now what? We've rented a car and are making our way through England. Currently staying with Tina's niece, Fliss and husband Doug on the Wirral peninsula, Merseyside. We travel to Nottingham to stay with another niece, then we see our daughter, Michelle. By Friday this coming week we'll be in London staying with Tina's cousin, Neil, seeing a few sights in one of our favorite cities in the world, and we'll fly home to Calgary on Monday, March 18th.

Back to Liverpool Where It All Started For Tina

What better way to end our official missionary blogging, than with talking about our visit to the place where Tina sought out and was led to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a very young person. In her own words, 'When I walked into that church building on Derby Street in Liverpool, I felt like someone had put a warm blanket around me, and I knew I was 'home'. I knew this was what I had been looking for. I met with the young sister missionaries, and I was taught the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and was baptised, and I've never regretted it. It was the best decision I every made.'

So, imagine what it was like for Tina as we went back to that same chapel today, almost 50 years since she was baptized into the church; where she was welcomed, taught, and loved by Ward members - some of whom were there today. Like Phyllis Gibson, 97 yrs old this year, who was Tina's Young Women's President and helped Tina to stay faithful and true during her teenage years, or Liley Scofield, 87, who then was Relief Society President who would make special efforts with Tina (and others) to invite her into Relief Society and make her feel welcome; or Gary Madison, someone else who joined the church at the same time - he drove all the way from Chorley today to say hello to Tina. What a great friend. And Brian Caulfield who lived in Kirkby as did Tina when they were both new to the Church; another good friend's (Sue and Steve McKenna) son, Danny McKenna is the Bishop and he came and said a special hello; David Hoare whose father George was Tina's Bishop back in the day; Maria (Mary) Quinn also from Kirkby who had a crush on Tina's brother, Eric. 

As I watched Tina interact with them, embrace them, and reminisce with them, it was clear to me that they were her guiding stars in her youth and young adulthood. They meant the world to Tina, and they truly loved Tina as well. So we'll end the Missionary Blog, with this post, as a tribute to those wonderful Liverpool saints. I said my own 'thank you' to Phyllis, for being such a great influence on Tina - recognizing that I was a prime beneficiary of all of her love and efforts (as are our children and grandchildren). Thank you Phyllis and all the Liverpool saints.

The back side of Liverpool Chapel.

Gary Madison who drove from Chorley to see Tina this one last time.

Liley Scofield, Tina's Relief Society President, in 1978, who would go looking for Tina in the halls or outside if she wasn't in Relief Society class - she never gave up on Tina.

Phyllis Gibson, Tina's Young Women's President (for when Tina joined the church at age 14 until age 18 when she moved into Relief Society). In the few brief moments of meeting her, I could see and feel that she is one of those very special women who was an amazing mentor for Tina and many other young women. The world really needs wonderful teachers and life mentors like Phyllis.

Gary, Liley's daughter, Liley, another daughter of Liley (it was Mother's Day here in UK today), and David Hoare - his father George was Tina's Bishop back in the '70's.

As I have 'Hoare's/Orrs' in my family tree, we will be staying in touch to determine if we have a relationship.

Behind this curtain is the baptismal font where Tina was baptised in September, 1974.

The 'hangout' spot for all the youth or young adults.

I looked around the chapel during the church services today - about 180 people attending; elderly, middle-aged, young families, many different ethnic backgrounds. I just had this impression that this is one of those 'special' places. A place where the peace and joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ was/is taught and lived, where lives are changed in His name, and generations have been and are impacted forever.

Tina and I would like to thank all of you for being part of our mission experience. We hope that you have felt our joy in serving others and representing our Savior. Our faith has grown. We have witnessed miracles and changes that only come from the tender mercies of a loving Heavenly Father and His Son. 

God bless you all for your support and interest. We look forward to being home - March 18th.

With love,

Elder Eric & Sister Tina McMurray

Member & Leader Support Missionaries

Scotland-Ireland Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

www.churchofjesuschrist.org