New Record for Number of Meetings Attended!!

      Hello again dear family and friends. Well, I never thought it could be done, but we have a new record of meetings attended in one week! Wow!!! It all started last Sunday and lasted until this past Saturday. Though we were in many meetings this week, each of those meetings gave us either another opportunity to serve or to give advise/training to individuals or to large groups. We also got several chances to minister to several on our branch or to just do good. It certainly was a memorable week for us.

     So last Sunday, after our two hour church block, we were asked to join in an executive leadership meeting with our district presidency. President Roy both presided and conducted the meeting. We were all called together to hear the good news that our Limerick branch had met all the requirements to split the branch and form two branches out of one. Our meeting focused on the list of active members and possible new branch boundaries. We also discussed a timeline needed to set as our goal as we continue to move forward. 

     It is such a blessing to serve the Lord on a mission at this time, but Elder and I feel that this new development and its future long-lasting effects will be life changing for these members. Once new branches are formed, a new stake will also be formed and President Roy was told that our area presidency will then submit paperwork for this area to be put on the list for a new temple approval. Who would have known that when Elder Muirhead found out 60 years ago that he would come here to the land of his forefathers that this would be the work he has been called to do! Later that night, we attended an all mission zoom meeting, directly followed by an all mission senior couple zoom meeting with our good mission president, President McCrudden. In total, we spent almost six hours that day in church related meetings.

     On Monday, we gathered for another meeting with our young single adults for family home evening. Though this is a more informal meeting, it still is a meeting. Our YSAs decided to make this evening a game night. Four of our district elders were also able to attend. We played jenga again, as we have done before, because it is such a fun game. Here are some pictures.

Here is our regular YSA group. From left to right clockwise starting with Elder Muirhead, Elder Hardy, Elder Ana, Elder Larubia, Elder Gullen, Emma, Barbara, Isabela and Marla. They truly are a wonderful group of people who love the Lord.

This is our third try at the game. Our crazy YSAs keep removing sticks and making the tower taller and taller. Notice that Emma had to stand up to make her move. I hated it when it was my turn. This game can give me anxiety!

Ok. This was hilarious. Elder Ana tried a gutsy move and the tower begun to ever so slowly tilt over. He literally caught the tower in his hands and then exclaimed that it hadn't truly fallen. The game is not over! He looks like a new father holding those sticks like it was a infant baby. We were all crying

     Every Tuesday morning, we gather as a district mission for our weekly training meeting. Our Waterford district has a companionship of young elders and a companionship of young sisters. Elder Muirhead and I support the work in this extended area. This is my favorite meeting every week. To hear those missionaries train, teach, solve concerns and place all of their faith and trust in the Lord is such a privilege. I will never be able to put into words the loving service oriented diligence each of these disciples of Christ have. I have often just sat back in my chair and exclaimed in my heart, "wow!!!!" At the same time, the Tralee district meets in an adjacent room doing the same thing. Here is a picture after last week's training.

We love to all gather together after our training meeting with each of these missionaries. It is such a joy to call them our angels

     Tuesday night, we also had our two elders join us for dinner. Elder Larubia from Spain and Elder Hardy from Las Vegas are our district's zone leaders. They are not only superb missionaries, but take on many additional assignments by both the mission president or the branch presidencies in this part of Ireland. We LOVE these young men! I made them Mexican Delight, a favorite when my family was young, with a fancy dessert. 

Elder Larubia next to me and Elder Hardy next to his companion

     We had to kick them out of our home (which we never do!) because we had to set up for our monthly senior couple family home evening zoom. This hour is spent with all the senior couples in our mission wherever they live and serve. Sister King gave a wonderful lesson on gratitude. Many personal stories were told, allowing the spirit to work personally on each of us. After the closing prayer was said, we quickly left that meeting only to join our weekly branch presidency correlation meeting. We always give a report of what our missionary service has been during the past week and then correlate with the branch on any continuing or helping with upcoming events to serve the branch's needs. So now in three days, we have been in approximately just over 12 hours of meetings! 

     But wait! There's more!!!

     Every Wednesday, Elder and I go to the church to join the elders in the local English Connect class. This is a free class that the elders teach each week to help anyone from a foreign country learn to speak English. We were ask to come one Wednesday night months ago, as the only branch priesthood representative who had been coming got a new job and would not be able to assist any longer. Elder Muirhead was asked to come and sit in every Wednesday for the class and the rest is history. This past week we had the largest class to date. Nine visitors were present for that night's lesson. It was so awesome to be a part of that self-reliance class to help others in need become more self-reliant.

     Mid Thursday afternoon, we got a phone call from a branch member, Brother Byrne. He told us that his wife, who has several health issues, had been admitted to the hospital here in Limerick the night before. Brother Byrne stated that he hadn't had the chance to give his wife a blessing before she was admitted and was going to the hospital later that day to do so. Elder Muirhead offered to assist him. The Byrne family was the first Limerick branch family to invite us over for dinner last August. On that summer evening, the four of us hit it right off. When Bother Byrne walked in the hospital later that afternoon, the Muirhead's were already there, ready and willing to serve. It is always such a privilege to see the Priesthood of God in action.

    This past Friday ended up being another busy day for us. A few weeks ago, as Elder was backing our church vehicle out of a driveway, an under panel got scratched. Elder got permission to fix it if possible. That sweet man, laid on the hard tar driveway for hours and sanded, then painted the area that was affected. Look at the pictures below to see the amazing job that he did. Even the mission office wanted to know what his secret was! He had such a great sense of achievement afterwards. That evening, I spent time making a desert from scratch for a upcoming branch party.

Many driveways here are not level and can cause car damage. Elder was backing up probably 2 miles per hour and scratched the car this much!

Here is the after picture. Now you see it, now you don't!!! He is so good when it comes to car anything!

     Friday mornings are typically my day to do final preparations of the branch's Book of Mormon class that I have been asked to teach. The branch also planned to have their Halloween party right after the my class. It does take me many hours to develop a good lesson plan that I always am eager to discuss with those in attendance. Unfortunately, no one came for the class that night, so I turned my energy into helping decorate the gym for the party. By the way, my first batch of cookies baked in Ireland with Irish ingredients and in an Irish oven turned out well. By the end of the night, the cookies were all gone! Here are some pictures of the party.

The young women decorating the gym

The table for the pumpkin carving event

We had about half the branch come to celebrate. We played several fun games, carved pumpkins, and ate some wonderful treats

This is Emma doing face painting for both the children and the adults. I was very impressed with her talents

My freshly baked cookies. This ended up being quite the challenge for me, but I won!

     One thing that we did not do which we normally do every Friday, was to visit the single sister from our branch. Just days ago, her teenage son turned a year older which stopped some government assistance for her. This was bad timing. She has just started school and won't be able to get the career job of her dreams until her education is completed. She has been working on seeking answers and resolves to this concern without any help. She spent the whole day before and that Friday searching again. She asked us to pray for her, which we did. After having another challenging day, her prayers were finally answered! Without explaining in more detail, believe me....this was a miracle! Yay for a loving God and His tender mercies!

     On Saturday, Elder and I went back to the hospital to see Sister Byrne. She, too, had a miracle given to her. An infection that she had been fighting for months somehow totally resolved after her husband and Elder Muirhead had given her the blessing days before. The doctor could not even explain what happened. We know though!

     So after a good week of many meetings, service and prayerful considerations, another week here has ended in great success. We truly are so very blessed every day. We love studying the scriptures, ministering, praying, teaching and training. One thing that I will always be grateful for during this mission is the daily knowledge that the Lord has placed us exactly where we are needed to be at this time. He truly knows who we are, our talents and our willing heart as we strive to be an instrument in His hands. This mission teaches us everyday that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, lives and loves us. That is how we get through all our daily Irish challenges, and in reality, how we all get through any personal challenges. Jesus is THE answer. The gospel is true and continues to move forward here in Ireland. May God bless each of you this coming week. Much love!

Sister Muirhead