Our thoughtful mission office allowed us to continue to adjust to our new surroundings this past week. We really needed it. Even I am still struggling getting my internal time clock to make the switch. Things are getting better slowly and we are finding ways to stretch our horizons. Our Irish SIM card has still not arrived yet. We heard that somehow it now got mailed off to Belgium. Even with a poor accent, Belgium does not sound like Ireland to me. I consider that a huge wrong turn, but they say that the post here is horrible. They might just be proving it! We have learned that we can rely on the young elders and our landlord for their help when we needed. We just don't want to be bothersome to either.
I saying that, Elder Muirhead drove us to our branch in our rented car one evening this week, about a ten minute drive away. It is so strange to drive on the wrong side. We felt very fortunate that when Elder was too close to the left hand side of the narrow roads here, that he only hit the curb twice and not a parked car! My driving isn't much better. Talk about getting anxiety!!! So we have decided that walking isn't too bad after all. We got brave and wandered further away from our flat this past week than last week and visited several famous sites here.
On Tuesday, we went to the Limerick museum. For a free museum, it wasn't too bad. It had several historic relics and several examples of the famous Limerick lace. This past Friday, we went to St. Mary's Cathedral, built in 1168 and is the oldest building in Limerick that is still in use. It was so beautiful to see. I also found a treasure there. The cathedral houses a copy of the Book of Kells, considered Ireland's greatest cultural treasure. It dates back to 800 A.D. This medieval illuminated manuscript of the four gospels is beyond description. It's simply magnificent! That was the highlight of my week. Then yesterday, we walked over to the famous "Milk Market", which is the oldest farmer's market in all of Europe. So cool! That was a fun way to get out and exercise. Elder enjoyed a large piece of carrot cake totally homemade the Irish way. Yum, yum.
We were able to attend our first Limerick branch missionary correlation meeting on Wednesday. I must say that I am so impressed with the faithful members of this branch. Even Matthew, the young men's representative, not only attended, but followed through with all past assignments, added many great ideas and accepted new assignments happily. I can already see that we will be a part of something big here in Limerick.
One of the recent given assignments amongst the branch was to sponsor an open fireside to all community and members alike. Before I knew what was happening, I was asked to lecture on the historic sites in Palmyra, New York. My mouth said "yes" before my brain has a chance to think about it. I would have said yes anyways!! I'm excited to bear my testimony again of the truthfulness of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will also meet this coming week with our mission president in person to receive further direction and local assignments. I'm ready for "doing more good" this coming week. May God bless us to do so!
This is where our flat is to the main streets of Limerick
Dearest Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI just read your message to Bill and he enjoyed it as much as I did.
You two are doing a great job there and will be such wonderful missionaries for that area! ❤ We love your sense of humor about the difficulties you have encountered and hope you can always keep that fun attitude. 😀 You will be a real gift to them there.
Our daughter Laurie and her husband have been here for a visit from CA for a few days and we have really enjoyed seeing them. Family is where it's at, eh?
We miss you.
We send our love and prayers daily and ask the Lord to bless you with angels round about you to strengthen you and bring you peace.
Love, Rosemary and Bill ❤❤❤❤❤❤