Yay For A Quieter Week!

      Yay for this last week! Although we fulfilled our many scheduled assignments as a Member Leader Support Couple this past week, we were also offered an easier calendar of less activities. It was very nice. It gave us both time to reflect and relax. We also had 6 beautiful mornings of sunshine this week, which turned into rain by early afternoon each day. As I was able to take more time for myself.  I found items that gave me increased joy. Here is one of them.

What a life!!! Out for a slow ride through the city with your best friend

     Last Sunday, we were privilege to watch on zoom our younger grandkids in Washington state perform in their annual primary sacrament meeting. When you only get to see your family only a few times in a whole one year period, it means the most to you! We have the best grandchildren, all so bright and successful in their own individual way. 

     Early Monday, I was able to view a phenomenon that I haven't seen often in my life. It was great to slow down, notice and recognize what was happening. That morning was a bright sunny day. On one side of the river, the sun was shining and on the other side of the river, the moon was still able to be seen (even though it was a reflection). I thought that was very interesting! It certainly made my walk more fun.

Look left...

then look right. What a fun comparable!

     Later Monday, our YSA group played UNO for an activity. It is so interesting to see these awesome young adults in church all spiritual and another thing watching them being so competitive with each other. I guess I can say that I have seen them at their very best and also at their very worse. I'm excited about our FHE tomorrow night, but you will all have to wait until next week's post for that!

     On Tuesday morning at our weekly district mission meeting, we were finally able to ALL meet together. Our newest senior couple, the Adcock's, had not been able for one reason or another to come to this meeting. It was the first time in over 5 months that Elder and I finally got to see them again and, boy,  they looked so good! They had many great adventures to tell about their opportunities to serve in the Orem Utah mission while waiting to come to Ireland and about all of the good that they were involved in. Their enthusiasm and spirit gave each of us a huge shot in the arm. We also gathered later that evening as a branch leadership group on zoom to coordinate our branch mission plan and several future events.

     Wednesday took us both back to St Mary's cathedral for their last lunch time concert for the year 2022. I heard that it would be given by some local music students in a string quartet program. Of course we wanted to go hear them. Once the concert started, we were greatly surprised to see our own YSA, Emma, participating with her classmates and teacher. These were the student's at the University of Limerick who have been working on this master degrees in music. Ten students performed in 3 different small quartets and then all were gathered together with their teacher to perform their last number. Bravo was heard several times at the completion of their performance. While I was there, I took a few more photos that focused my mind and heart back on the history of Ireland and the beauty of the edifice.

Emma is in the maroon dress

All 10 students and their instructor taking a bow at the end of their performance

One of the stained glass windows in St Mary's cathedral depicting Mary and her child

I missed this plaque that I found at the back of the cathedral. I don't know what it saids, but I love the image and the oldness of it

     Later Wednesday night, Elder and I joined the young elders to teach our Brazilian friends how to speak better English. Elder Larrubia, our missionary from Spain, really enjoys the class. He is learning things he never knew about English before with the rest of the class. It is fun for Elder Muirhead and I to help come up with examples of the different parts of the lessons to help get the meaning across. We love this important service.

     Thursday was a different day for us. On most Thursdays we have very few time commitments. Typically on a Thursday, I will have time to finalize my teaching plan for the weekly Book of Mormon class. Pretty late the night before, we were called and asked to be at the church for 2-3 hours, as a funeral would take place starting at noon. The brother of one of the branch's longest active members passed away and family was allowed to celebrate this man's life under that LDS roof. We missionaries were very excited because many strangers would, not only be in a LDS chapel, but would also hear teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the pulpit. The gentleman who passed away had about 70 family and friends come to pay their respects. Many eternal principles were taught that day.

     I was very interested in this service, as viewed by this nurse, how funerals and other aspects of death were addressed in Ireland. The deceased, Aiden, a catholic, was placed in an open casket in front of the congregation the whole meeting. His casket had a removable lid that screwed onto the casket when closed. The service was quite similar to ones in Utah, with very minor changes, yet very uplifting.

     After the service concluded, the mortician carried the wooden lid over to the casket, laid it on top and started to screw the lid down in place. Yes! Of course I got involved! I asked if I could tighten down one of the screws, in which both the mortician and family looked pleased that I would want to experience that. After, Elder and I followed the hearse to the cemetery and supported the family in a grave dedication in the pouring rain. This event gave me much food for thought and greater understanding of knowledge.

I was surprised to see a hearse much like the one Elder and I watched on TV with Queen Elizabeth's funeral. And, as like with Queen Elizabeth, any time the coffin was carried by family, the coffin was raised high, placed on one shoulder of each family member, then the men carrying the coffin would place their one arm on the opposite family's shoulder to help bear the weight 

The very organized cemetery where Aiden was laid to rest

     Later that afternoon, Elder and I drove out to Sister Smirnoff's flat and helped her finalize her huge assignment. In kindness, Sister Smirnoff fed us a yummy pasta meal. I loved being with her. We can so easily laugh about almost anything. I will always be grateful for her friendship.

     Friday, we went back to the chapel to help teach David, a friend of the missionaries, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Although the elders had prepared a lesson for David, Elder Larrubia asked David first if he had any questions. Well, he sure did, enough so that it took the whole hour as we expounded on the gospel and looked up scriptures as evidence. David was challenged to read the Joseph Smith history as found in the Book of Mormon introduction and read the first 21 pages of 1st Nephi. He was also challenged to mark in those 21 pages all the references to God or Jesus Christ that are written. I can't wait to hear him tell us what he found!!!

     Friday night is our branch's Book of Mormon class. This week only 3 students came to studied 1 Nephi chapters 11-12. I love chapter 11! I love to again read and study the intertwining way that the Lord shows Nephi his father's most significant dream and to further explain the meaning of the dream, the Lord shows events either from the Savior's life, the civilization of the Nephites/Lamanities, the history of the promise land or the last days. I'm telling you, the more I read those chapters, the more I understand and the know I see God's hand in the lives of His children.

How I love the Book of Mormon!!

     On Saturday, the young elders came over to our flat during a short rain storm to keep a missionary appointment with another friend. It is not everyday that these amazing elders actual come to our flat and zoom their friends concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love hearing them every time they teach! That evening, one of our branch's families, the Faloons, invited all 4 of the Limerick missionaries to their house  for dinner. I couldn't believe it, but she make us huge shanks of lamb, both mashed white and sweet potatoes, a cabbage salad and the best apple sponge cake ever. No one left the table disappointed!

THE shank of lamb

The Faloon's Christmas tree. This was touching to me as we have elected not to have a Christmas tree in our flat this year. This beautifully decorated and well lit tree was just what this sister missionary needed to see!

     Just before we went to bed that night, we spent time with one of our own families to hear about their week. With Thanksgiving so close and we being so far away, we are so very, very grateful for each of our children and their families. They truly bring us great joy and an abundance of love. 

     Sometime early Saturday, Limerick city was all lit up for the upcoming Christmas season. The decor and the lighting made the city glow with a loving warmness I don't think I have ever seen before. Many people were out and about. I guess I can officially say that it is the beginning of Christmas here! Here are some pictures of how this part of Ireland decorates:

One of the jewelry stores on Limerick's Main Street

Limerick's most expensive clothing stores

Walking down one of many aisles ready for customers

Christmas lighting all the way down William's street. These lights will now stay on all day and all night until the city takes them down

One of many Christmas trees in their outdoor common public shopping streets

     As I need to close now so Elder and I can spend time together talking and doing our companion Book of Mormon reading before our "all mission" missionary meeting tonight with President McCrudden, I want to bear my testimony. I know that God lives. I see His work in all around I see and especially in the many different faces of His children that reside in this part of the vineyard. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He willingly paid for my sins and yearns for my safe return back to His kingdom. I love the gospel. I love the Book of Mormon. I have learned more in these past few months preparing for my class than I have since our last mission in New York. I so love Russell M. Nelson. He certainly is the prophet for this time. I also know without doubt that Joseph Smith was the instrument in God's hand used to restore of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

     We love you all. We pray for you and plead on your behalf in times of need. May He continue to bless each of you and your families. May Elder and I continue to be true and faithful so that we can return home with honor. Take care.