Elder Muirhead and I have had a very relaxing first week of this new year while serving the Lord in Limerick. And even though it has been a slower week, we have both recommitted that we will not slow down. There is still MUCH work to do here! I'd like to start this blog with a photo I took recently that instantly put a smile on my face!
I love this! How fun!!
This week, we were able to lay low on Jan 2nd because all of the stores were closed because of New Year's Day. That was very nice. On Tuesday, we had our mid-morning district training meeting at the church. We also had to drive the young sisters to and from the church so they could get to and from their train on time. We also needed to call businesses to shop for a specific all season tire for our church owned car here in Limerick, which after a few phone calls we were able to get them ordered. I didn't say anything earlier, but a day or two before Christmas, four young sister missionaries all driving in one car were in a bad car accident. No one was injured badly, but our mission president quickly got permission to purchase better tires for every car in the mission and get the new tires switched ASAP. I love how the church watches out for us and that their highest priority here is the safety of every missionary. That is so comforting.
We also had our first branch presidency council meeting with our new branch presidency later that night. While they are trying to get organized and learn their new roles, we were all asked to continue to do what we had already been doing. So I am to still teach the branch's weekly Book of Mormon class, publicize our on-going missionary efforts in both the monthly movie night and the fifth Sunday munch and mingle after church. I also am to provide a weekly FHE for the YSAs and create the monthly calendar for feeding our young missionaries. We will still, of course, attend the weekly English connect class to help friends learn English and join with the young elders in any teaching assignment they invite us to.
On Friday evening, our Book of Mormon class started up again for this new year. We studied 1 Nephi chapter 22. I'm telling you every time I teach, that I am so amazed with the theological and spiritual depth that every chapter has and this last chapter in 1 Nephi was no exception! This phenomena testifies to me of the greater truths that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost give so freely to the prophets on earth who hold the keys of the kingdom. I love Nephi's teachings. I have often thought about the great hope that Nephi and other Book of Mormon prophets must of had concerning the marvelous work that would come forth in the latter days. I have also felt, to a small degree, the great sadness that those prophets, including Lehi, Nephi, Mormon and Moroni, must have felt as they saw their descendants fail to keep the commandments of God over and over again. I also love at the end of this chapter, as will happen again in Nephi's last chapter in his second book, to read his ever strengthened testimony of God the Father and of Jesus Christ. I want to have that same testimony one day. I'm working on it!
After the Book of Mormon class, we joined on a zoom to attend the branch's missionary correlation meeting. Because of the holidays, we hadn't met as a committee for 3 weeks. It was so wonderful to come together again and regroup our forces to bring others unto Christ. Immediately after that, we had a second zoom meeting with our whole mission for our newly organized "Come Follow Me" bi-weekly lesson. I take every advantage to be diligent in my own personal Come Follow Me studies, but to do it know with hundreds of called missionaries was amazing. I wish you could of heard some of the tender insights some of these young missionaries had about the birth of the Savior. Wow!!
On Saturday, we joined the young elders and read with David, our friend, all of 2 Nephi chapter 31. I love that chapter! When I was first taught to be a seminary teacher back in the late 90's, this lesson was used as an example to show us new teachers how to use the words directly from the scriptures to show how one can have a change of heart. I will never forget that day when our teacher finished his lesson by inviting all there that if we would just follow, follow, follow, follow, by following, and again, in following our Savior and His example, that we would qualify to enter into the gate and be saved. That moment so many years ago continues to ring true in my heart. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ!!!
I thought it might be fun this blog to talk a little about the fashions found in Ireland. I'm certainly not an expert, but I can say that Ireland's people love to dress up nicely and my photos will prove that to you. Yes, there are many students here that can not yet afford what I see the later generation wear, but Ireland's fashion certainly raises the bar for them. Let's start with men's fashion.
See what I mean? Not too bad, huh?
Very sharp looking
The men really like to wear vests over here
Nice color match. I like the plaid
To me, it's all about the accent!!
Even the wee little fellows get suited up nicely here
Ok! Now for the women. There are so many nice dress shops here for the woman who wants to look good. I haven't gone in to price any of these, but I am thinking they may be a little pricey. I can say again that both the Irish men and the Irish women dress up very well (and they are not going to a prom....we are talking everyday dress!)
Here is an outfit with a jacket and a purse
So many choices! Where do I start?
This isn't my style, but it made it out to the front window display
Different styles for different drummers
Handbags from all over Europe just waiting to be had!
Raincoats here are found in every store! I wonder why?
Not the warmest winter coat, but the scarf looks cozy
There are just as many shoes stores as there is clothing shops
Check these ones out!!! Bling!!!
So many Irish people wear products that we would find in the states. They love to dress American. You often see LA sweatshirts to Jordan Nike sneakers on the streets, in the mall....everywhere!
There are also many wedding dress shops all over
They also change out their store front picture window displays like every other week. It's like crazy! I have often thought about all the store front items that I have missed seeing while being a missionary. That's probably a good thing though to help me stay on budget here. Ha, ha!
To end this week's blog for this week, I'd like to focus on a subject close to my heart, the most important doctrine of the whole gospel of Jesus Christ, namely the atonement. This amazing atonement could have only been performed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the crowning doctrine used by every missionary in the world, both past and present to bring others unto Him. He truly is "the way, the truth and the life "and no man can cometh unto the Father except through and because of Jesus and His loving kindness and mercy. The word atonement is hardly used in the KJV Bible. The book in the Old Testament that uses the word "atonement" the most is in the Book of Leviticus. In fact, the apostle Paul uses the word only once in the New Testament.
We should be ever grateful to have this word so abundant in our modern day scriptures to further our understanding of and appreciation for our Lord and Savior. The reason why the Book of Mormon is so powerful is because it freely uses the word atonement. By doing so, it draws men closer to God by abiding in its precepts than by any other book. The book's main precept can be called the doctrine of all doctrines...even the atonement, which can save each and every one of us from our sins so that we can qualify for eternal life after we have forged the trials of life. As we study Jesus this year, may we never forget how He lovingly atoned for us, not only in the garden that night of nights, but again on the cruel cross to avail the atonement to all. I testify that there is no greater expression of love than the heroic atonement performed by the Son of God!
Hope you all have a great week!
Sister Muirhead
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