Amazing Changes Are Happening!!!

     Well, with a title like that, I sure that you are all dying to know what is happening here. If you will remember, a week or so ago, we were told by our district presidency that this area has never been as close as they have ever been to starting our progress of changing branches into wards, developing the first stake in the southern part of the Republic of Ireland, and, then, having this area be placed on the official list for a temple consideration. So in saying that, I'll start this blog with much good news! 

     Two weeks ago, our area received a new senior couple from Idaho named the Adcock's. This couple was literally the first senior couple we talked to just minutes after walking into the Provo MTC on June 6th. As we sat together out in a hallway waiting to start our day, we started talking to each other. After personal introductions, we were both greatly surprised to find out that we had been called to serve in the exact same area! Though our mission name causes everyone back in the states to be so jealous, not many senior couples are called to this part of Ireland. Remember, Elder and I were the first seniors to arrive here after many years of not having any seniors placed below the Dublin area. Back to the Adcock's...

     This new senior couple can hardly be called a senior couple! They are both about 15 years younger than the rest of us. Not only can you tell this by their looks, but also by their energy level (that is except for me, hehe). Their youngest child is currently serving a mission, so they thought that it would be great if they too went forth to serve. They have been called to work specifically with the young single adults (YSAs) in Ireland's second largest city, Cork, right where they are needed the most. Cork has the largest YSA group in this lower part of Ireland and they need a couple exactly like the Adcock's to do miracles!

     This week is also a transfer week for the mission and before every transfer, all senior couples, including ourselves, are asked to perform inspections on all the missionaries flats. This time we were only given two flats to inspect, which we did by a WhatsApp FaceTime. We were assigned the sister missionaries in Galway and our elders in Limerick. In both inspections, I was told that each companionship had their flats updated with either needed repairs or items that needed replacing. The Galway sisters, once again, did an amazing job of deep cleaning their flat and, I'm proud to say, the Limerick elders were not far behind them in excellence. And though Elder and I have done several flat inspections in the past, this flat inspection was also very different for us. Let me explain.

     Last Tuesday, the mission office contacted me and asked me to pick up keys for a new flat the church recently secured in the Limerick area. We not only were able to pick up the keys, but were also asked to do a walk through inspection of this new flat. This flat had just finished and passed its brand new construction. The flat itself was beautiful and very modern, but did need some extra tender loving care. The next day, we brought the two Limerick elders back with us to scrub, vacuum and polish. After we were done, it looked even better! I kept saying in my heart while directing the clean-up work and also cleaning parts myself, how grateful I was to have had years of training on how to clean houses/apartments effectively and efficiently! With the new flat leased in Limerick will soon also bring another set of missionaries to our area. We are so excited!!! This second new additional change to the southern part of Ireland will also help further the Lord's work!

Here is a photo of the new flat's kitchen. Pretty nice, huh?? The whole flat looks as nice as this photo does

     As we attended all of our scheduled weekly meetings, we were able to guess several times if any of the missionaries we work with every week would be transferred. Boy, were we way off base. On this transfer, many of our missionaries will now go to other areas in either Scotland or Ireland. Just so you know, any missionaries here from European homes can travel to any portion of the mission on transfers. Only the missionaries, including any senior couples, that are specifically from the states, need to stay within the mission area assigned to them. In other words, all young missionaries from the states who have been assigned in Ireland, can only serve in Ireland and never in Northern Ireland or Scotland. The reason is that you can only have one visa here and the Republic of Ireland has its own visa and Northern Ireland and Scotland has a different visa. After transfer calls were issued on Friday, our district will receive several new missionaries who have or will just arrive in Ireland. We do know that the Cork area will get two new elders, along with the already assigned young sisters and the new senior couple. When the new flat available in Limerick is filled with new missionaries, that will give us 3 more missionary companionships to help advance the work. That, too, is a huge change for us to help this area in moving the work more quickly. Isn't that so VERY. EXCITING!!!!

     Our young elders were also blessed this past week to increase their teaching pool of friends. Here is an amazing story that happened to them this week. Elder Hardy and Elder Larrubia were walking through a small open park very close to our flat. As they were walking through the park, they noticed a young woman sitting alone on a bench. They approached her and introduced themselves as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After explaining to her the service they have be called to do, the young woman broke down and started crying. She told them that she had just literally finished praying that God would send her help. They have already meet with her once and she was invited to come to church! Our elders are more than excited and so hopeful that she will accept their next invitation...that of being baptized! We don't hear many stories like that here in Limerick. Praise the Lord!!

     For the rest of this blog, I thought that I would show you how Irish road signs and show you a few different makers of cars that are found here. I have come to realize that Ireland has a better handle on some things and that the states can have a better handle on other things. Some of the Irish road signs make sense and other road signs here can be so confusing. It is hard enough to drive on the wrong side of the road. As our rule of thumb goes, we watch and follow what the car ahead of us does, hoping that that car is doing things right. Worst case scenario, we both get tickets! Here are a few photos.

This is to alert the driver that a roundabout is coming up. Ireland loves roundabouts! Seriously! 

This sign is warning the driver that a road bump is coming up

This sign tells the driver which way the road beyond this sign goes. These signs can be tricky because there are many roads in Limerick that are one way streets and this sign might be the only warning you get

Take your pick! You will have a 50/50 chance of getting where you wanted to go

This is the equivalent of a do not enter sign seen in the states

This sign states that there is parking (Ha! if you can find an empty space-good luck!) available, but only  to your right

No parking!!!

Are you confused? Yeah, so are we! This is a construction sign and because we don't want to know what the orange sign is trying to tell us, we elect to just turn left and follow the white sign. Smart, right??

Caution watch for children. To tell you the truth, even though we have driven on Irish roads for 4 months now, we still don't really know what we are doing. 

This is what a parking ticket here look like

This is how Ireland distinguishes a new learner at the wheel. Once the learner passes their requirements, the "L" sticker will come off and only the "N" for new driver will stay on until the new driver completes their time and training

      Most of the cars here are a mix of brand names we know from the states and European brand names. We have seen many VWs, Hondas, Hyundai, Audi and small Fords to name a few. We even saw a Ford Mustang on the road this week (this is NOT common here). Many of the European makes are from Czechia, Netherlands, Korea, Germany and France. The cars here basically come in two forms namely small or large CRVs or small or large sedans. We do see lots of very nice Mercedes, Peugeots. and Jaguars here. Even some of the garbage trucks are Mercedes. Imagine that! Talk about driving in style! All vehicles here pretty much have the same size tire no matter who makes the car. Tires, here, are quite expensive. Here are a few photos of different European car brands.

This is a popular Czech car brand

This is a French made car

This is a delivery truck (dpd is like Fed-Ex) made by Mercedes

This is the European KIA with new logo from Korea

This is a Dutch made truck

This is how many visitors to Ireland rent a car. It looks like a very popular option

I am convinced that this is the best way to get around in large Irish cities. This is a "Just Eat" takeout employee and they are everywhere in Limerick

Even the Irish Post Service uses bikes to move the mail quicker

          As I close this week's blog, I would like to leave you all with a scripture that our branch's Book of Mormon class used this week. As I have been reflecting on it over and over since, I have come to realize more than ever before, how simply it gives each of us the only sure direction to gain eternal life. It is found in the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 31:20. It IS absolutely the TRUTH! "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." 

     May this be our daily goal. May we, each of us, continue daily to be steadfast in our love of God and our fellowman, deeply feasting as we read the words of Christ, and always enduring any trial that will give us the opportunities to turn and come closer towards our Savior, is my prayer until we meet again. Much love from Ireland!