12 Aug 2010
2 Rossan
The Highlands
Wilton, Sarsfield Road
Cork, Ireland
Dear Family,
It is late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
I’m going to get this letter off to you even though it’s after 1:00 am here.
Life is crazy around here. We still have not got the internet problem solved, yet. That will be fixed this coming Sunday. The other Senior Missionary couple will be leaving for Scotland then. They have 2 months left on their contract and we will just take over their contract. That will save us a little money. Right now it seems like we are going through money like crazy. We are finally in our furnished “flat” (not). So, we have had to go out and buy all the dishware “stuff”, bedding linen “stuff”, cleaning “stuff”, etc. We are OK, though. It is just that this kind of shopping is being done at 10:00 in the evening and having to be put away. Mom has away of making it comfortable. We have a little flower here and there in the house. Pots and pans are all organized. It’s feeling pretty comfortable.
Some electric company man had to come out and inspect the place today to give it an “energy efficiency” rating. Our flat is all- electric (info about that in another letter) so he told us that our “energy efficiency” rating will not be very high, but the flat is so small that it shouldn’t cost us too much to keep. That might give you an idea about the size of the flat. (we’ll send pictures).
We have had a busy time getting around to visit all the people that Elder and Sister Neild wanted to introduce us to. There are stories that we will try to share with you as we continue to meet with these people. Mom has 2 people that she is teaching to read English. The man, we call Paul Osemwekhae, is Nigerian and about 45 or 50 years old. Phonically, the last name is “O sem we ki”. He is a soft spoken person, baptized, Aaronic Priesthood holder. After Mom teaches him English then I teach the Gospel to him. We are working to have him be ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood. He has a couple of daughters and a son by a woman that is not his wife, but he says that is a past time before he joined the Church. The other is a young lady, Joy Aruebose, who is also Nigerian, married, 5 children, inactive members of the Church. They quit coming to church after the mission sisters were transferred. I have not met them, but Mom says she is a very pleasant.
I’ll give you a quick look into last weeks schedule.
Sunday started with an 10:00am meeting with President Griffiths, the mission president, followed by Sacrament Meeting (Mom played the organ, which is a new experience on the organ), Sunday School, then Priesthood/Relief Society. Next came “training” from a couple from Germany about the YSA program. That was from 2:00pm to 6:00pm. We had a break for an hour while Sister Nield and Mom fixed dinner, then more training from 7:00pm to 9:30pm hereat our flat. One long day with one meal.
Monday morning, Elder and Sister Nields and Mom and I took the Shumways, the trainers from Germany, to Blarney Castle then put them on a train back to Dublin. Mom got to kiss the Blarney Stone. (We’ll send a picture). We got back in time for YSA council meeting at 6:30pm, followed by YSA Family Home Evening. There are 2 young ladies that take the bus across town to get to all church functions, so Mom and I take them back to their home if it is late. We got lost coming back, wandered through the maze of one-ways and detours and got home at 11:00pm.
Tuesday, we picked up a set of Elders and drove to Dublin for an All-Area Conference with the President over the European Missions. All Missionaries in Ireland attended. It is about a 2 ½ hour drive to Dublin. We loaded up the missionaries and a few boxes that Elder and Sister Nield are forwarding to Scotland, and drove to Dublin, arriving about 11:00am. We met a lot of missionaries and started meeting at 12:00noon. The meeting lasted about 6 hours with no food and no water. Got back in the car, stopped for food, and drove back to Cork. With a slight course correction because of a wrong turn, we go home at11:00pm.
Wednesday, we went visiting members and less-actives with the Nields and the evening was filled with a planning meeting for YSA and then followed by institute – class for YSA. We took the two sisters home in Cork and got lost again, returning at 11 PM. We come home, have a banana or apple and fall into bed after prayer.
Seems no one lives close to the church except us. Visiting is always an adventure. Addresses don’t really exist and there isn’t such a thing as zip codes. They think that is violating their privacy. You know us, we love an adventure so we take advantage of the ride and really look around. It just takes so much time.
Thursday, we went visiting a family in South Cork with the Nields. We have lined up another visit with the family and also a visit to the rest home to the grandma that is 83 years old and a member. I talked to her on the phone (this is Mom speaking now) and she cried that we would come to visit her. Mind you, this is an hour or more away from where we live. We plan to go next week. We went to an island that is near where this family lives. It is a costal city and there is a ferry that takes you to this small island that has garden to view. We saw a seal sunning on a rock on the way. It was so fun and beautiful. We took pictures and will send some. We got home about 7;30pm and we fell into bed and slept until 9:30. We got up and ran to Tesco (their version of Target – not) and bought some food and screws and a screwdriver and went home. We couldn’t go to sleep until 1:30. Dumb!!! We read our emails and started responding. (We borrowed Neild’s toggle so we could get on)
Friday, we are going visiting today and tonight. We are invited outside of town for dinner. I am not excited to eat anywhere. It is so different and I am so picky about my meat. Thank goodness for potatoes and veggies. (Time warp – Dad is now speaking) Just got back from dinner at the Walsh’s home. It is 10:20pm. We had a great time. They are a young 26-ish couple with 3 boys, ages about 7, 4, and 1. She is a church member from Grantsville, Utah. He is Irish and is Catholic. Met in Boston and later, got married and moved back to Ireland. Previous Senior Missionary couple felt that he did not have much interest, but from what she told Mom, he may be having a change in his life. She would like to have the missionaries come and teach him. He came to church last week and I sat with him. It was very comfortable to talk to him. We must not have scared them too badly, because they invited us for Thanksgiving dinner. By the way, Mom enjoyed dinner tonight. Jayme had made lasagna, bread sticks and salad. It was good. Dessert was a rich chocolate cake, which was a little much for me, but it was all tasty. I’m going to try and attach some pictures. They are taken from a mountain (hill really) above their home. They took us there after dinner for the view.
Saturday we teach Paul O. English and a priesthood lesson in the morning and that night is a YSD activity that I have to make the meal for. Busy little life we have here. Hope we can make a difference. I have been asked to teach Relief Society this Sunday and play the organ again and they have asked us to speak in Sacrament Meeting. That’s going to be a testimony bearing for me. Bed still sucks. I am trying to find a foam topper for it. I still limp on my right foot. It heals so slowly and I remember that. My right foot has lost the skin on the heel due to a huge blister from wearing shoes (imagine that). I keep a plaster (bandage) on it and inside the shoe but I still have pain because I have to walk. Oh well, I think they think I am crippled. Won’t they be surprised when I can walk and even run.
It is now Friday night at 12:07. We will try to get this emailed to you tomorrow. After Sunday we won’t have to wait for internet connection. We will have our own. YEA!!!!
Love you all,
Dad
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Our First Days In Cork
5 August 2010
Cork, Ireland (Corcaigh, Erin – in Gailic)
Dear Family
I know that it has been a while since we have had communication and it might be a week or two before we can get the internet/email thing going again. It has been really frustrating to try to deal with the Irish government to get into the country, to let (rent) a flat (place to live, etc), to open a bank account, to sign up with the electric company, to make sure that we check in with the Garda (police) to have our papers stamped and see if we can really stay in the country for longer than a month, etc. We were told by the “letting office” (renting) that we had to register with the Irish government and get a PPS number (that is equivalent to our social security number) before our letting contract could be approved. We told them that we were missionaries, that we were self-sustaining, we would not need nor could we accept any government help. Didn’t matter, before we can let a house we have to have a PPS number. I am calling the Scotland Mission office tomorrow and putting the ball in their court.
We had to stay in a Bed & Breakfast for the first few days. That was fun and quite good, also it was about $100.00 a day. We did finally take occupancy of the flat and ran to a store and bought bedding and a quart of milk to get by on. We got to bed about 1:00am this morning. So we are dragging today, big-time! The PPS number thing is still not resolved so that is a continuing battle.
We do not have internet access since we moved from the B&B. We will try to write every few days to keep you informed but please be patient with us. We will write in Word and then take our laptop over to another Senior missionary couple’s flat and use their internet access to send en email with a letter as an attachment. We love you and think of each of you every day and even shed a tear or two. Yes, we are a little homesick right now.
We have had some great experiences with the young single adults already. There are about 6 to 10 that have been coming out and 2 or 3 of them are not members and 3 or 4 are coming back from inactivity. One of the young girls, Annemarie Jones, is a new member of about 2 months and is traveling to SLC to see the headquarters of the Church. She may call one if you. We gave some numbers if she gets in pinch. She might like a trip up Big or Little Cottonwood canyon. Just a thought.
Got to go to bed. Love all. Dad
PS. Please do me a favor. Get on your knees and thank your Heavenly Father for the United States of America. Don’t be proud or hoddy, just be thankful for what we have.
HELP I am a prisoner in a foreign land! I have been through all of the feelings and fears the last five days. It is to the point that I just laugh and cry a little. Sometimes I cry a lot and sometimes I can’t quit laughing. I will be okay. I have the best companion in the world. He laughs and cries a lot also. I love the missionaries. The bad news is that next week two of them are going home and they are not replacing them. The other couple are just wonderful and they will be leaving at the same time. That concerns me just a little. We have run nonstop since we got here and we have to slow down and take a breath. I keep wondering why all the opposition. Someone doesn’t want us here. We will be okay. Don’t worry about us. We will tell it just like it is to you and you pray for the people of Cork and the missionaries. I love you all and I look at my pictures every day. We pray for all of you and especially each of your challenges. We are doing something fun tomorrow. The Nields (missionary couple} invited us to go to Waterford for the day to meet up with another missionary couple. We are really excited to see Waterford and also to get out of here for a day . The mission Pres. Called and informed us that he will be in Cork this Sunday to meet with all of us. Dad and I have been asked to talk in sacrament meeting. He and his wife actually will b e here Saturday and asked to take us to ice cream. Hope they know where ice cream is because we don’t. We only know our way to Tesco { like a Wal Mart only really not} I love you all .I need to go find the candle we bought so we can see. I tried to change the light bulb in the hall and blew the fuse. Maybe I will just find my way to bed. I love, love. Having my own pillow here from home. Talk to you soon. Mom.
Cork, Ireland (Corcaigh, Erin – in Gailic)
Dear Family
I know that it has been a while since we have had communication and it might be a week or two before we can get the internet/email thing going again. It has been really frustrating to try to deal with the Irish government to get into the country, to let (rent) a flat (place to live, etc), to open a bank account, to sign up with the electric company, to make sure that we check in with the Garda (police) to have our papers stamped and see if we can really stay in the country for longer than a month, etc. We were told by the “letting office” (renting) that we had to register with the Irish government and get a PPS number (that is equivalent to our social security number) before our letting contract could be approved. We told them that we were missionaries, that we were self-sustaining, we would not need nor could we accept any government help. Didn’t matter, before we can let a house we have to have a PPS number. I am calling the Scotland Mission office tomorrow and putting the ball in their court.
We had to stay in a Bed & Breakfast for the first few days. That was fun and quite good, also it was about $100.00 a day. We did finally take occupancy of the flat and ran to a store and bought bedding and a quart of milk to get by on. We got to bed about 1:00am this morning. So we are dragging today, big-time! The PPS number thing is still not resolved so that is a continuing battle.
We do not have internet access since we moved from the B&B. We will try to write every few days to keep you informed but please be patient with us. We will write in Word and then take our laptop over to another Senior missionary couple’s flat and use their internet access to send en email with a letter as an attachment. We love you and think of each of you every day and even shed a tear or two. Yes, we are a little homesick right now.
We have had some great experiences with the young single adults already. There are about 6 to 10 that have been coming out and 2 or 3 of them are not members and 3 or 4 are coming back from inactivity. One of the young girls, Annemarie Jones, is a new member of about 2 months and is traveling to SLC to see the headquarters of the Church. She may call one if you. We gave some numbers if she gets in pinch. She might like a trip up Big or Little Cottonwood canyon. Just a thought.
Got to go to bed. Love all. Dad
PS. Please do me a favor. Get on your knees and thank your Heavenly Father for the United States of America. Don’t be proud or hoddy, just be thankful for what we have.
HELP I am a prisoner in a foreign land! I have been through all of the feelings and fears the last five days. It is to the point that I just laugh and cry a little. Sometimes I cry a lot and sometimes I can’t quit laughing. I will be okay. I have the best companion in the world. He laughs and cries a lot also. I love the missionaries. The bad news is that next week two of them are going home and they are not replacing them. The other couple are just wonderful and they will be leaving at the same time. That concerns me just a little. We have run nonstop since we got here and we have to slow down and take a breath. I keep wondering why all the opposition. Someone doesn’t want us here. We will be okay. Don’t worry about us. We will tell it just like it is to you and you pray for the people of Cork and the missionaries. I love you all and I look at my pictures every day. We pray for all of you and especially each of your challenges. We are doing something fun tomorrow. The Nields (missionary couple} invited us to go to Waterford for the day to meet up with another missionary couple. We are really excited to see Waterford and also to get out of here for a day . The mission Pres. Called and informed us that he will be in Cork this Sunday to meet with all of us. Dad and I have been asked to talk in sacrament meeting. He and his wife actually will b e here Saturday and asked to take us to ice cream. Hope they know where ice cream is because we don’t. We only know our way to Tesco { like a Wal Mart only really not} I love you all .I need to go find the candle we bought so we can see. I tried to change the light bulb in the hall and blew the fuse. Maybe I will just find my way to bed. I love, love. Having my own pillow here from home. Talk to you soon. Mom.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Cork, Ireland
5 August 2010
Cork, Ireland (Corcaigh, Erin – in Gailic)
Dear Family
I know that it has been a while since we have had communication and it might be a week or two before we can get the internet/email thing going again. It has been really frustrating to try to deal with the Irish government to get into the country, to let (rent) a flat (place to live, etc), to open a bank account, to sign up with the electric company, to make sure that we check in with the Garda (police) to have our papers stamped and see if we can really stay in the country for longer than a month, etc. We were told by the “letting office” (renting) that we had to register with the Irish government and get a PPS number (that is equivalent to our social security number) before our letting contract could be approved. We told them that we were missionaries, that we were self-sustaining, we would not need nor could we accept any government help. Didn’t matter, before we can let a house we have to have a PPS number. I am calling the Scotland Mission office tomorrow and putting the ball in their court.
We had to stay in a Bed & Breakfast for the first few days. That was fun and quite good, also it was about $100.00 a day. We did finally take occupancy of the flat and ran to a store and bought bedding and a quart of milk to get by on. We got to bed about 1:00am this morning. So we are dragging today, big-time! The PPS number thing is still not resolved so that is a continuing battle.
We do not have internet access since we moved from the B&B. We will try to write every few days to keep you informed but please be patient with us. We will write in Word and then take our laptop over to another Senior missionary couple’s flat and use their internet access to send en email with a letter as an attachment. We love you and think of each of you every day and even shed a tear or two. Yes, we are a little homesick right now.
We have had some great experiences with the young single adults already. There are about 6 to 10 that have been coming out and 2 or 3 of them are not members and 3 or 4 are coming back from inactivity. One of the young girls, Annemarie Jones, is a new member of about 2 months and is traveling to SLC to see the headquarters of the Church. She may call one if you. We gave some numbers if she gets in pinch. She might like a trip up Big or Little Cottonwood canyon. Just a thought.
Got to go to bed. Love all. Dad
PS. Please do me a favor. Get on your knees and thank your Heavenly Father for the United States of America. Don’t be proud or hoddy, just be thankful for what we have.
HELP I am a prisoner in a foreign land! I have been through all of the feelings and fears the last five days. It is to the point that I just laugh and cry a little. Sometimes I cry a lot and sometimes I can’t quit laughing. I will be okay. I have the best companion in the world. He laughs and cries a lot also. I love the missionaries. The bad news is that next week two of them are going home and they are not replacing them. The other couple are just wonderful and they will be leaving at the same time. That concerns me just a little. We have run nonstop since we got here and we have to slow down and take a breath. I keep wondering why all the opposition. Someone doesn’t want us here. We will be okay. Don’t worry about us. We will tell it just like it is to you and you pray for the people of Cork and the missionaries. I love you all and I look at my pictures every day. We pray for all of you and especially each of your challenges. We are doing something fun tomorrow. The Nields (missionary couple} invited us to go to Waterford for the day to meet up with another missionary couple. We are really excited to see Waterford and also to get out of here for a day . The mission Pres. Called and informed us that he will be in Cork this Sunday to meet with all of us. Dad and I have been asked to talk in sacrament meeting. He and his wife actually will be here Saturday and asked to take us to ice cream. Hope they know where ice cream is because we don’t. We only know our way to Tesco { like a Wal Mart only really not} I love you all .I need to go find the candle we bought so we can see. I tried to change the light bulb in the hall and blew the fuse. Maybe I will just find my way to bed. I love, love having my own pillow here from home. Talk to you soon. Mom.
Cork, Ireland (Corcaigh, Erin – in Gailic)
Dear Family
I know that it has been a while since we have had communication and it might be a week or two before we can get the internet/email thing going again. It has been really frustrating to try to deal with the Irish government to get into the country, to let (rent) a flat (place to live, etc), to open a bank account, to sign up with the electric company, to make sure that we check in with the Garda (police) to have our papers stamped and see if we can really stay in the country for longer than a month, etc. We were told by the “letting office” (renting) that we had to register with the Irish government and get a PPS number (that is equivalent to our social security number) before our letting contract could be approved. We told them that we were missionaries, that we were self-sustaining, we would not need nor could we accept any government help. Didn’t matter, before we can let a house we have to have a PPS number. I am calling the Scotland Mission office tomorrow and putting the ball in their court.
We had to stay in a Bed & Breakfast for the first few days. That was fun and quite good, also it was about $100.00 a day. We did finally take occupancy of the flat and ran to a store and bought bedding and a quart of milk to get by on. We got to bed about 1:00am this morning. So we are dragging today, big-time! The PPS number thing is still not resolved so that is a continuing battle.
We do not have internet access since we moved from the B&B. We will try to write every few days to keep you informed but please be patient with us. We will write in Word and then take our laptop over to another Senior missionary couple’s flat and use their internet access to send en email with a letter as an attachment. We love you and think of each of you every day and even shed a tear or two. Yes, we are a little homesick right now.
We have had some great experiences with the young single adults already. There are about 6 to 10 that have been coming out and 2 or 3 of them are not members and 3 or 4 are coming back from inactivity. One of the young girls, Annemarie Jones, is a new member of about 2 months and is traveling to SLC to see the headquarters of the Church. She may call one if you. We gave some numbers if she gets in pinch. She might like a trip up Big or Little Cottonwood canyon. Just a thought.
Got to go to bed. Love all. Dad
PS. Please do me a favor. Get on your knees and thank your Heavenly Father for the United States of America. Don’t be proud or hoddy, just be thankful for what we have.
HELP I am a prisoner in a foreign land! I have been through all of the feelings and fears the last five days. It is to the point that I just laugh and cry a little. Sometimes I cry a lot and sometimes I can’t quit laughing. I will be okay. I have the best companion in the world. He laughs and cries a lot also. I love the missionaries. The bad news is that next week two of them are going home and they are not replacing them. The other couple are just wonderful and they will be leaving at the same time. That concerns me just a little. We have run nonstop since we got here and we have to slow down and take a breath. I keep wondering why all the opposition. Someone doesn’t want us here. We will be okay. Don’t worry about us. We will tell it just like it is to you and you pray for the people of Cork and the missionaries. I love you all and I look at my pictures every day. We pray for all of you and especially each of your challenges. We are doing something fun tomorrow. The Nields (missionary couple} invited us to go to Waterford for the day to meet up with another missionary couple. We are really excited to see Waterford and also to get out of here for a day . The mission Pres. Called and informed us that he will be in Cork this Sunday to meet with all of us. Dad and I have been asked to talk in sacrament meeting. He and his wife actually will be here Saturday and asked to take us to ice cream. Hope they know where ice cream is because we don’t. We only know our way to Tesco { like a Wal Mart only really not} I love you all .I need to go find the candle we bought so we can see. I tried to change the light bulb in the hall and blew the fuse. Maybe I will just find my way to bed. I love, love having my own pillow here from home. Talk to you soon. Mom.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Cork, Ireland - Here We Are
Much time has passed. It is all a whirl. We are finally settled in a flat in south Cork, Ireland after quite an experience. Leaving home the way I wanted to leave was very stressful. I wanted the our bedroom painted and new carpet layed. It did happen but was the most physical and mental undertaking I have experienced in a long time. We went through things we haven't seen since we moved to our Cottonwood Heights home. My head was so mixed up. It was very difficult to leave the family, expecially the little children. They are my life blood. But, we did get out of SLC on time and really didn't have a problem until we arrived in Dublin, Ireland.
When we arrived, they sent us here and checked our Passports and Visas, then there to do the same and then somewhere else. We thought we were through until we walked into a big room with queues back and forth. We waited for at least an hour and then were sent to a window to check Passports and Visas. The man behind the window did not like our answers or Visas. He asked us who said we could stay for a year. Then he proceeded to rail on the Church for thinking we could just send missionaries whenever we wanted and for how long we wanted. He asked us how much money we had on us and where we were going to get money to live for a year in Ireland. He took our pictures again and finger printed us again and stamped our Visas for one month and told us to report to the Garda (police) in our area and they would decide if we needed to go home or could stay. I would have turned around and gone home if I had known how to do it. Mind you, his language was very Irish, not American and we had to work really hard to understand him. Mike was mad! The irishman was not kind a all. There was another irishman standing back of us listening and he was standing there with a big box of rat and rodent poisoning. I thought, "Oh no, what have we done". He sent us through and by then my ankle tendon was hurting me so much that I literally dragged my right leg on to the luggage claim. I really thought our luggage wouldn't be there and Pres. Griffiths and his wife wouldn't be there either but they were. Whew! He asked me about my limp and I told him I tore a tendon while jogging two weeks before we left and he said he had experienced that two times and had surgery for it. He was very sympathetic and said it would be a while healing and not to push it. Ha!!! I had already pushed it to the brink. They took us to the Finglas Chapel in Dublin where a lunch had been provided by the Relief Society President and we chatted for a short time. He left us for meetings and his wife hurried off with their kids that were visiting. We were given a car, taken to a B&B and told to be back at the Chapel the next morning for church. Mike had to drive, just like that! He sits on the wrong side and drives on the other side of the road. Crazy! Thank goodness the chapel was just up the busy street. We got up Sunday morning, went to church, loaded up our suitcases and started for Cork. We knew we would be late arriving in Cork as it is about 4 1/2 hours from Dublin. We were excited to get there and find a flat. B&B are about $100 American dollars and we needed every penny we had. We read a map and it seemed a straight shot so we headed. The first thing we ran into was a Toll on the road. We had some euros but we had to figure out what was what on the fly. We put money in until the arm lifted up and the light turned green , which we took to mean GO. We did go and actually loved the ride. I sat there and wrote a list of all the things I was learning about Ireland in two days. The scenery was absolutely heavenly. I started counting all the castle and ruins we saw. It is a fairy land. I don't think the Irish realize how beautiful it is here in their homeland. I hope some of them do and don't try to change it. There wasn't one place to stop to go potty anywhere. You have to pull off in some little village to find a potty. We did stop at a beautiful little village called Port Leishe (pronounced Port Leash). I was so excited and thrilled at what we saw. The people are so friendly (not like the immigration officer). We have to go back and take pictures of that little village.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Two Weeks To Go
This is a most interesting experience! We have been tried and tested thoroughly. Every morning and evening prayer contains a plea to not let "you know who" come into our home or affairs. It makes me wonder what we are to do that is so very important to him that he works overtime on us. Praying for protection really does make a difference in the day and night.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about where we will be, Scotland or Ireland. We received a funny letter from Pres. Griffiths secretary. The good thing is we can still laugh and we have experienced confusion and fear before many times. I responded to her this morning and told her I would stuff my bra with money and please meet us on the 2 of August. We'll see what happens. I still know the Church is true and I also know that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor.
We have accomplished most of what we have to do. We have our fingerprinting appointment today and that will finish all the things we have to do except figure out the money problem once we get to Scotland or Ireland. Our Visa application can be sent tomorrow.
I am limping on a bad tendon from jogging and Mike is slowly walking from a strained back which he has never had before in his whole life. We are a sight. I laugh when I see us move and then I cry from anxiety. We will be fine in time. We have two weeks.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about where we will be, Scotland or Ireland. We received a funny letter from Pres. Griffiths secretary. The good thing is we can still laugh and we have experienced confusion and fear before many times. I responded to her this morning and told her I would stuff my bra with money and please meet us on the 2 of August. We'll see what happens. I still know the Church is true and I also know that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor.
We have accomplished most of what we have to do. We have our fingerprinting appointment today and that will finish all the things we have to do except figure out the money problem once we get to Scotland or Ireland. Our Visa application can be sent tomorrow.
I am limping on a bad tendon from jogging and Mike is slowly walking from a strained back which he has never had before in his whole life. We are a sight. I laugh when I see us move and then I cry from anxiety. We will be fine in time. We have two weeks.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Scotland-Ireland- Here We Come
We were finally able to get together on Friday afternoon as a family and open our call to see where we will serve. The call was to Scotland Edinburgh. We are so thrilled and it brought tears to our eyes. We know that the call includes Ireland because as of July 1, 2010, Ireland will come under the Scotland, Edinburgh mission. The current mission president will go home at that time and will not be replaced. I am sure we will end up in Ireland but able to travel to Scotland for meetings, etc. This is very interesting because when Mike was called to serve in the Irish Mission in 1962, Ireland had just become an official mission of the Church. He served without a mission president while President Stephen R. Covey was coming with his family. The missionaries served from March to July in Ireland without a president. Because of the poor economy and slow converts, they are putting the two missions back together. We will serve under Gary Griffiths. He is from West Jordon, Utah. He was born in Provo, Utah and is about 53 years old. We are finding many connections with him as we go along and are very excited to serve under him. His son served under our good friends, Judd and Pauline Morgan as they served in Winnipeg, Canada. The Relief Society President in our Butler 12th Ward, Mary Margaret Morgan Hansen, that I serve with as first counselor also served in Canada and served with the Griffith's son. We hear only great things about them and they will serve the whole time we are there. We feel so honored and excited to serve the Lord and are trying to get ready both inside and out. We have pages of medical things to get done besides everything else. Here we go!!!!! Jayne
s
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Thursday, April 29, 2010
Mission Call
Dear Friends and Family, Today is April 28, 2010. I have just created this blogspot to record our experiences on our mission. We received our call yesterday, April 27. We received notice from our Bishop, Bishop Terry Thatcher that it was in the mail. We watched Monday and Tuesday and no letter. I called the couples missionary office and talked to a fine gentleman about the timing of the call and he assured me that it would be there on Wednesday as they made the call on Friday, returned the call for the inclusion of a packet and a signiture from the Prophet and then it gets mailed. I promptly got the stomach flu and went down for a day or two as the rest of the family either recovered or came down with it too. What a mess. The call came on Wednesday and we haven't opened it yet as we are waiting to all be together. So much for pictures and all of us being together. I especially want all my grandchildren to be there. I want to be an example for them to emulate. They are so precious to me that I can hardly fathom being away from them for any length of time. Soooo the packet now waits for us.
Jayne
Jayne
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