Off The Grid!

      To start my blog this week, I'd like to explain that our wi-fi stopped working very early Tuesday morning. I have only experienced this concern one other time in my life and I remember that it wasn't very fun. I hate to say that I need modern technology, especially being as old as I am and remembering what life used to be like decades ago without it, but it's true, I need it! Through this tragic experience, I have also become more aware of the more important things in my life that I now yearn for, especially my family. my home and my comfort. I also can testify of the great blessing it is to NOT have to use modern technology to talk to God and pray for divine help. I'll be forever grateful that Father's plan is available at all times for all people, whether they are on the grid or not!

     The weather this week has dipped pretty low here. The local people are complaining and stating that they haven't seen low temperatures like this, this early in a very long time. They wonder if this is the start of a long, cold winter. Today it is very sunny, but it is also close to freezing. I guess time will tell! So we just bundle up anytime we go outside.

I had to take my hat off so you could tell that it was me! Can you tell that I am also smiling?

     On Sunday, our branch welcomed a new branch president, President Kelly. He will do this branch a great job! He called as counselors an America and a Brazilian. With the melting pot of the population of this branch, I love that he called priesthood holders that will be able to connect with all members in their language. We also had one of our local missionaries need to leave by train on Sunday to go to Scotland to serve. We were asked to take he and his companion to the train station that afternoon and then go back later that evening to pick up Elder Hardy and his new companion, Elder Petrovay.

Elder Petrovay on the left and Elder Hardy on the right

    

     As I walked into the chapel last Sunday, my relief society president, Sister Jackson, came running up to me. I saw the stress on her face and asked her what I could do to help. She asked me if I had read the lesson for the day, which I relied yes. Then she asked me if I would be willing to teach the lesson in one hour. I told her yes, trusting that God would help me again. I re-read the lesson quickly through twice and one hour later found myself standing at the front of the room teaching a small class of sisters.

     On Monday, we did our usual P-day items, like shopping and cleaning. By early evening we were preparing for the next YSA FHE game night. We played a game that we had never played before called "Seek". It is a trivia game that uses questions from all the scriptures. We elected to focus only on the Book of Mormon questions. Elder Muirhead was elected to be the reader of the questions and the rest of us separated into two opposing groups: the missionaries VS the young women who were present. By the end of the game, we were all surprised to have the young women beat out the elders. We girls all thought that was a great accomplishment!

     On Tuesday, we spent most of the day trying to get the internet to come back. We started and restarted it many times, moved the router all over our flat, called the elders for help and finally ended up calling the mission office and their internet specialist. When it appeared that our internet would stay down, we went over to a close-by grocery store and jumped on their internet to let family know of our predicament. 

     Wednesday found us doing more personal study time most of the day. Without the internet and another Book of Mormon class coming up this week, I am trying to use the few resources that are available to me. I know that the Book of Mormon promotes the Spirit and I have no doubt that all who come that night will be enlightened and inspired. Wednesday night, we went to the weekly English class with the missionaries. One of our YSAs told us that she had overheard that Elder Hardy's birthday was this week. We decided to throw him a small surprise party after class, but only we were the ones that were surprised!!! Elder Hardy's birthday will be in two more weeks! We all laughed and then ate the birthday cake bought just for him.

It didn't take long for this cake to disappear!!!

     Earlier this week we found out from the mission office that the flat where our young missionaries have been using for years is having the lease end, so these missionaries will have to move by the end of this month. They elected to take the flat furthest away from the city, which is only a 15 minute drive, because they have a car that they use. All the other missionaries in this area have to take trains, buses or walk. These missionaries are also very excited to move. They went over with us weeks ago to help do the final cleanup of the flat. They are also excited because they will be the first to occupy their brand new flat. For us, it looks like we will be helping them move and clean until the work is done.

     I was able to get into the chapel Thursday afternoon to use the church's Wi-Fi. It was so nice to be able to manage my online accounts and reach out to family. I spent about one hour doing that and then our missionaries joined us. They had scheduled a teaching opportunity with a friend named Bred (pronounced bread) from Honduras. He is here learning English, but is still very limited with his English speaking abilities. The elders invited us to stay and support them. We love these opportunities. He was taught the plan of salvation. It was cool because the missionaries taught the best they could in limited Spanish. The spirit was definitely felt.

The plan of salvation in Spanish on the white board

     Early Friday morning, we went back to the church to help set up the chapel for a branch member's funeral. Our new branch president met us at the church and stated, in seeing us waiting in the parking lot ready and able to support, that we were "a God sent" to him. We were able to vacuum the whole chapel area before we helped him set up the needed chairs. 

Our Limerick chapel. We have the largest chapel in our district. Some branches rent building space to meet their needs

     After completing that assignment, we found a quiet room and zoomed into our weekly district training meeting with our district that has grown since this past week. Our district got a new zone leader, a new district leader, one new young male missionary, two new female missionaries and a new area to teach in called Slego (up north). Pretty exciting!!! After our zoom meeting with our district, we attended the funeral for Brother Vaughn. Our branch president asked us afterwards to stay and stack all the chairs back as he left to the dedicate Richard's gravesite.

Here is Elder Muirhead stacking chapel chairs as asked.

     As Elder and I and the world of Ireland gets closer to Christmas, I thought that I would spend a little time telling you what I am seeing here. There are so many people out shopping here, just like home. I have seen both old and young carrying many bags and wrapped gift every where I go. What I don't see are any Christmas store items with reference to Jesus Christ. I see lots of angels, Santas, Christmas trees and all the rest, but no Jesus. I am so glad that I am here to light the world! Here are a few Christmas photos.

I have made all of our YSAs a Christmas present. They will get them next week at our FHE Christmas party

I also constructed this construction paper Christmas tree! It's not perfect, but it will do for this year

Every empty walking space outside in the city centre has been transformed into tiny Christmas booths. This is a candy store that has been getting lots of business. The Europeans sure like their candies!

     On Saturday, our branch had a lovely Christmas party. There was singing, a Christmas nativity that the youth put on for us and lots of treats. They even set up a beautiful Christmas tree. That made my heart so happy. Everyone who attended felt the spirit of Christmas. Jesus is the reason for the season! After the party, Elder and I went out to eat at an Irish restaurant called Sambros. It's a take-off of Smash Burgers at home. These burgers have been the best that we have tried here since coming. After that, we attended our Christmas gift to each other and went to the University of Limerick to see "Peter Pan", the play. I am a big fan of Peter Pan ever since my childhood. At this date in time, I'll probably also be a fan!

The Limerick branch youth and their version of the birth of Christ. After they read their short part of the part, they each, individually told the audience why Jesus's birth was important to them. Wow!!What a great way to take their learning of this amazing event to the next level.

After the nativity play, many of the branch joined in Christmas games. Boy, the youth of this branch are so competitive!!

Elder and I at Sambros waiting for our food

This restaurant is the only one of it's kind in this part of Ireland. The place was packed. This is their version of a "real" American burger and they almost fooled us. After our first bite, we realized that they snuck in an Irish piece of ham right smack dab in the middle of the sandwich. Oh boy!

This was the front stage screen that the audience saw before the play started. Being one of the oldest living experts on Peter Pan still on the earth today, this plan was not what I had imaged it to be. Even though I didn't like it as much as I had hoped to, the mass of children in the audience certainly did. It was so good to hear the children interacting with the stage characters and laughing so hard.

     I thought for this nest week"s newest exposure to Ireland and its customs, that I would blog a little about the foods and labeling that are used here. To tell you the truth, Elder and I still struggle with the limited food choices and cleaners that we have available for us here. We both feel that most of the foods here just don't taste right to us. Yes, their organic vegetables (the only choice here) and their cheeses and ice creams are good, but most of the other foods are just so different. Their fruits are also very good, but once again, they are organic and spoil very quickly.Where is Costco and Walmart when you need it, right???????

     We have accepted that Europe is definitely not America and we have found some foods that we don't mind eating. The problem is that we are basically eating the same foods every week. We also don't like the water here. It taste like sea water and smells to me. We have recently purchased a filtered pitcher that has made a big difference. Enough complaining! Let's get to the meat of this blog portion! (That's a pun...food....meat. Ok, not one of my best joking moments!) (I get that!)

Here is laundry soup. There are several different names for this product. It was this bottle shape that allowed me to find laundry soup in the store for our use. It makes sense, only different

This is liquid detergent for doing dishes. If the bottle wasn't in the same shape as in the states, I would need longer to be sure. The product label makes sense, but still not what I am used to.

Here is what they call Special Flakes. They are not telling the truth!

Now this is special! Yum, yum!!!

I hate these.  People here love them. Yuck, mushy peas. Even the thought makes me shudder!

I could not find this product for months because I didn't know what I was looking for.  It's in a box form and I know it now!

This is a real treat for Elder Muirhead. Fresh, organic Irish cream! Two swallows has it completely gone!

They package their jello in pre-made packaging that is a bar of jello and you just have to cut it up in cubes. I'm not a fan!

Their custard here comes in a hard to open box. Elder has tried it. He said that it tasted different to him, but he finished it off in less than 3 minutes!

Let me tell you how much the Irish love their potatoes, especially fries that they call chips. This is an early morning delivery of "Frytastic chipping potatoes". This pallet was filled with these bags that came as high as just under my chin. Check this next photo out...

This huge, very, very long truck is the transportation across southern Ireland of these chipping supplies. It is literally the longest truck on Irish roads!

You can't even get a simple box of pizza here without a large serving of fries included. Crazy!! More ketchup please!!!!!!

     As I come to the close of this blog, I want to focus on the birth of my friend, my Savior and my Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Oh how love the Christmas season. I love the story of His birth, the knowledge of His condescension and His perfect love. I love to find the many ways during this season to cheer up the sad, serve with my whole heart or simply just smile at another. I LOVE the feelings my heart feels as I do these small acts of kindness. May we all take the time to be more like Him and bring the Light of Christ to all we meet.

 

     Here is a wonderful rendering of Joy to the World by the Tabernacle Choir performed in 2006. Copy this link and paste it into the YouTube search bar. Hit the search button and open the 2006 performance. Boy, if this doesn't bring the Christmas spirit into your heart, I don't know what can! ENJOY!

https://youtu.be/DLT9dSt8cwg