Dear Family and Others we Love,
We hope you will find a good easy chair to read our letter this week, because we may get lengthy with all we have in our hearts to share: Ready? Rather than going day to day we are just going to share major things.
This is the Bowens of Belfast Stake in their home in Bangor. They have fed us twice while we have been in the stake for Self Reliance training. They are the Stake SR specialists. Their daughter Jessica will be going to BYU this fall, which is quite unique. They are from South Africa, and have lived in Ireland for 13 years. Wonderful people.
We have to confess a really funny thing about the Authorities coming. There was quite a "buzz" in the stake about why we would be getting another General Authority so soon after Elder Ballard visited in September. The rumors were funny to hear--but we didn't believe any of them. We "knew" why they would be coming---to make Ireland a mission of its own again. It all fit so easily! We had heard President Thompson ( mission counselor) talk about the house they had bought, the responsibilities he had been taking care of, the plans for the conference time, etc. etc. ---not to mention that they were taking out several of the trees on the church property---obviously to make more room for parking or maybe even to add a mission office on to the stake offices, which used to be the Mission office. We didn't tell anyone our thoughts though. We just waited to be right -- which, it turns out, we weren't, not on any account. We simply are not very good rumor-mongers. It reinforces that we can never assume we know what others are thinking, or what their intentions are - good or bad.
Elder Halstrom was on assignment to do a Europe tour for a week, and we were simply his first stop. It is lucky we were included because his main purpose was to address the refugee issue, touring Rome, Turkey, Macedonia, and Serbia. All of Europe is being affected so much by the immigrant and refugee events, and the church is addressing what can be done. Of course supplies are being distributed, but the impact on the nations is a huge issue. Just a few years ago the PIGS were admitted into the EU and it is really causing some concern. We use the term PIGS because the local people do; it means Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and Spain. Their admission into the EU has had financial impact on its strength because for example Greece "fudged a little" on their financial sta, tus, and Ireland needed all new roads etc. Now Turkey wants in, but they are being impacted the most by the refugees. The US understands the impact of immigrants, but not to the extant of what is happening here. We share all this because we see it as very related to the Self Reliance program, which is especially related to the Last Days. If the governments become stretched, the people are not going to be able to rely on Gov't support so much, and more dynamically the ripple of crime etc. brings such violence and insecurity. Elder Halstrom spoke of the violence, and how it is never the answer, whereas of course living the gospel is. Sister Donaldson shared an incident of this week when her 8 year old grandson in England was threatened for being a Christian by a group of Muslim boys at school. They said: "We know you are a Christian, and we kill Christians." Eight years old! He was so upset when his mother came to pick him up that he wanted to go first to the Church and later home to study his scriptures to find peace. It was a great example, by a little child, of understanding the source of peace in a troubled world.
We gained so much from the Mission and Stake Conferences. We can never stop learning and growing in the gospel and it brings so much joy. We know it is awhile yet until our grandchildren can serve missions, but we hope you will all plan to serve. It is so true that young people this day mostly focus on themselves and excess--except for missionaries, who almost entirely focus on others, and learn to get by on basics. What a way to prepare to be parents and start adult life--thinking of others most. Missions are a solid foundation and pattern for righteous lives. They taught so much about the Atonement. repentance, and forgiving oneself, stressing for those who were not getting over past mistakes the concept that if they don't move on, it shows that they don't trust the Atonement. We also learned that repentance is not a check list--it is a constant effort to change and grow.
The Saturday night meetings talked much about the Sabbath Day. Pres. Donaldson was so real and so funny. Sister D. shared how she remembers the day she felt she really learned the depth of the Sabbath. that our observance -or not- is a sign of what the Atonement means to us. Then Pres. D. followed and said he remembered the same day, ( "and please don't judge me too harshly") how as a busy, "picked on" Bishop he felt he deserved to be able to come home and eat and watch a little footy on the telly. She hated it--but he looooved it. And then she taught him. He was so incredibly sincere when he described the change in his life and the change in their family---and the resulting joy they have had since that time. It was a great lesson, but they also taught that a list of "do's and don'ts" goes contrary to the Spirit of the Sabbath. It is a time apart from the world to be with our family. Well, enough sharing. We wish we could more easily relate the tender feelings and experiences of many parts of our mission.
Another fun event of the weekend was an experience that began on Friday. In preparation for a presentation on Sunday we decided we needed another computer cord and finally went into City Center to get it. We still had a hard time finding it, but after many tries we were in a small specialty shop in a mall. The shop was so small, and a few people were in line, so Mom decided to step into the mall walk to wait. After a few minutes a friendly young man came up to her and made reference to her nametag--that it was the same church that his sister belonged to. What an easy lead in to share the gospel! We talked for a little, and found out he was from Botswana and had been in Dublin about a year. We exchanged contact numbers and he even let us take his picture for the contact. We invited him, Morris, to church but wished we could be there to welcome him, ( We had to be in Belfast on Sunday) then realized that we could invite him to stake conference on Sat. night. He was not sure if he could come because he was working temp jobs and if they called him he could not ever turn down a job or they would not call again, so he wasn't sure. But as it worked out, we were able to meet him Saturday, brought him here for dinner, gave him a Book of Mormon and a short Restoration discussion so he could know a little of what would be talked about, and then went over to the meetings. We loved it and so did he! Before the meeting he met the bishop, all of the Stk Presidency, and the visiting Authorities (so many "leaders" to meet) and it seemed like they were talking directly to him. We surely hope he will be able to continue his learning. We arranged for the Elders to meet him after the Conf. so the hand-off will be smooth, especially with the hopes he could come on Sunday. As it turned out, he had to work Sunday, so we were doubly grateful that he could come Saturday. We are really praying for him.
Sunday, we did go to Belfast where we presented in a ward council, then did a combined meeting for R.S/Prsthd - of course, about Self Reliance. The Stake SR Specialists, the Bowens, are such a great family and will likely take over from here, doing similarly in the rest of the wards of that stake, so we feel really pleased about that progress. After church we went to their home again for dinner and to organize a bit for the plans ahead. It was a 2+ hour drive home, so the day was quite long, but good.
Also this week were a few teaching sessions with the missionaries--one was rather different for us, but normal for the Elders. We met in City Center at "The Spire" and waited for the investigator to arrive. After a little over 1/2 hour outside, Mom got cold enough to surrender to the café until everyone arrived. Dad bought hot chocolate for everyone, to be courteous to the business owners, then just like it was not unusual at all, we all sat at a corner booth, had prayer, and the Elders taught a lesson. It was amazingly spiritual and a great feel for what the young missionaries are doing regularly. Even in the café, the Spirit was strong enough to make the investigator a little misty-eyed when we talked about the resurrection.
We also had a good friendly time with the investigator whose wife is a member. We had them for dinner--and to fix the computer after we let the YSA tweak it for the movie night. Carlos is a software engineer, so he was able to get things back on track for us, and we were so grateful. They are such a great couple. Sometimes, even being as computer illiterate as we are has its advantages when an investigator does the fixing. Another great visit was our Family History friend. He came again and this time we did get time to visit more--over lunch. He is so great to email us again after and seems to want to stay in touch--even though we are pretty sure his wife is saying no--for now.
Thursday night we had YSA FHE group here. It was so crazy because we have been helping clean the church and set up chairs to get it ready for the Conference, so since we didn't want to get it dirty with the dinner, and thinking it would not be too many (first time trying this) we decided we could stack us into the apartment. Including us, there were 19 here for Navajo Tacos! Nobody had to eat in the bathroom so I guess we did fine. The noise level got pretty high when everyone was mingling, but the lesson was easy to hear and the spirit was great. It made us think of how it might have been in the early days of the church. We are now so blessed to have big and beautiful buildings--even quite nice ones in Ireland.
We probably should mention Mom's latest talent: creating wonderful meals from nothing with 5 minutes of warning. Take last Saturday, for example. After the missionary meeting with Elder Halstrom in the morning, we were talking with the mission president's counselor and his wife, who mentioned that they were going to find something to eat before the next meeting. We asked them if they would like us to feed them, and they said: "We'd love to have you feed us." So, knowing that there wasn't much in the fridge, we ran to the apartment, and while Dad ran to the store to get a loaf of bread, Mom put together an absolutely delicious basil tomato soup. Served with grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and a fresh green salad, it made for a beautiful meal for the Mission President, his counselor, and their wives. They raved about it, and Sister Donaldson pressed for the recipe. We even gave them the special ice cream bars that we were saving for ourselves. Ah yes - on the surface the duck is calm, but his feet are working furiously below the surface.
Actually, the 6 of us had a very pleasant visit, and we think they appreciated the chance to relax a bit in the midst of their hectic day. Sister Donaldson had just finished a week of feeding the 5000 herself, so she really more than deserved to get one relaxing meal. Since it was stake conference, the stake presidency were taking care of Elder Halstrom, and it gave the Mission Presidency a chance to take a breather. During the meal, we discussed our plan to teach Self Reliance to returning missionaries, and the mission president is very supportive. We will probably take some time with the elders and sisters who are at their last zone conference to help them make the transition home. Topics will include resume creation, interviewing skills, budgeting for college, etc. We also received a new assignment from the mission presidency. They want us to be the "flat coordinators" for Ireland. (There are 37 flats, covering an area roughly the size of Utah.) We have permission to enlist other mission couples and even non-missionaries to help us, but we will need to have the flats inspected, contact with landlords maintained, prescribe repairs as needed, etc. Our guess is that between our self reliance visits and the flat assignment, we will see every corner of Ireland.
Of course there are so many little joys we would also share, but we suppose this is enough to help you sleep well now. We are feeling more comfortable each week with our mission adjustments but we think of you so often--because we love you all so much. We hope you know how much we love you and love the Lord.
Special hugs across the ocean,
Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Elder and Sister Pettit
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