Tonight as we begin our letter, we are thinking of the varieties of things that have happened this week and the statement made by Grandpa, " to say that we are having different experiences would be an understatement". It really does seem like everyday has new experiences that bless us. So where to start? We suppose that we should just try to run through things as they happened chronologically, because that may be easiest.
So Tuesday we picked up our manager from England for a whirlwind visit to film our Dublin Stake Self Reliance meeting. Most of the Church SR videos were done in the Philippines or Africa and we need to show that the program is not just for third world countries. We had tried to film it last time he was in Dublin, but someone must have ripped their four leaf clover, because it was the least well attended meeting ever! So we tried again. This time we had much better attendance ----partly because we decided to invite the ward specialists and do a training afterward, especially for those who have recently been called, and partly because we really do have a great committee. At any rate, the meeting went very well with lots of good planning and positive comments about the way the classes are touching and changing lives. And the result was a much needed blessing, in that a few of the people in attendance really needed to hear those testimonials from someone besides us. We felt that the outcome was quite miraculous especially for one man who stayed late and did a virtual 180 about his calling.
Another activity of the week has been to work more closely with those who are seeking work, but are not in our Job Search Class. It is so hard for immigrants to get the connections and the language to be able to get jobs--but they are such wonderful and sincere people. Some are new members and some investigators, but we learn to love them for their sincerity and goodness regardless of their hardships.
Along with those efforts we spent quite a bit of time with a class member from Romania who had her baby. She is so far from her family and friends except for her husband from Pakistan, and the good people in her ward. It meant so much to her and her husband for us to visit her in the hospital and then the next day at her home. We have to admit that getting to either of them was pretty difficult. We thought that we must be victims of a crazy GPS reading, but her husband was also surprised we could come that far just to see the baby. We took them some food, but the husband was still so gracious and wanted to give us something to eat. It is a real perspective check to see how little some people have and yet are so happy and generous. We hope we can do things to help support them because she wants so badly for her husband to accept the gospel. Thankfully their ward has been extremely kind and he won't be able to ignore that.
Thursday was a special day indeed. There were several missionaries who were completing their missions so perhaps that gave a little more push for holding a multi-baptism. It was such an exciting time. We were thrilled to see 3 baptized that have been attending some of our classes, and the 4th who has been participating a few times in YSA activities. They are all such great young men and we feel attached to each of them. This time instead of giving rocks--because some are going back home soon and won't want extra weight in their luggage, we gave them skeleton keys. Remember being baptized, grandkids? They are not as big, but they did like them.
That same night we had a surprise knock on the door and met the Mahoneys from Provo, Great Gma and Gpa's friends from Jamestown. Grandma Godfrey had told us they were coming a few weeks back, but apparently their schedule was quite different than Grandma thought. At ay rate they joined us for the baptism and then left while we taught our class, ---but we met them again the next morning for a great breakfast at their hotel and then we drove them to the car rental place. They were very nice and fun people and we mutually enjoyed the time together. We admired them as they were being so diligent to do Family History research.
Friday during the day we did a lot of preparing for the weekend responsibilities, but Friday night we had a YSA game night. The young people really enjoy playing the games we brought from home, and we love to play with them as well. It helps us not miss home so much, but the hard thing is they don't want to go home on time because the sun is staying up until 10 p.m. these days. We don't really have a closing time set, so it is a bit awkward to tell them we have to get up early and need to go to bed, but it is the truth. The next two days were packed schedules and a lot of driving. Of course we did end after "just one more"---and we survived the big days too.
Our weekend plan was to drive up to the north coast and do flat checks for missionaries, come back down to Belfast for a meeting with a new ward specialist and the bishop. Then Sunday morning we met early with the ward council, spoke in Sacrament Meeting, presented in RS/Prsthd, had dinner with the specialist's family, drove back to Dublin Stake for our Sunday evening class, then last of all do a make-up lesson with a great Sister. We knew it would be pretty ambitious, so we decided we would have to get a hotel room in Belfast rather than driving the 2 hours each way round trip that night and next morning. We had stayed last week in a reasonably priced nice place and just assumed we would be able to get a room again, but by Wednesday, everything was booked up. We gave it a lot of extra effort to get the room and finally put our names on a cancellation list. As we were driving into Belfast area we did get the call we needed--a room had just opened up! We felt so blessed because we know we would have had a hard time doing it without the stay over. We were tired when we got home Sunday night as it was!
Our meetings in the ward we presented were just thrilling! We have had this appointment for over three months and somehow in the waiting time, the Bishop has really gotten the vision of what would be important. Not only did they have a new specialist called, but she was super! She was just released as Primary President and is such a dynamic younger lady. A second man was also called as her assistant and the Bishop himself presented such insightful comments in every meeting. The lady Karen, spoke in Sacrament Meeting with us and the topics assigned by the Bishop were simply inspired to lead the ward and make the effort take a Zion cause. We have been quite worried about the Belfast Stake and this support and now to have a model "how to" ward is a great blessing.
And back to Monday. Today we were busy with odds and ends again, then a meeting with a man who needs work but is determined to get around his over-qualified .status, even if he has to wash dishes Tonight we had English class with just three men, but only one of them was at all conversational. Watch out when we get home we will be masters of pantomime! The trick is to keep them all interested--or maybe not when we are doing such a crazy show. Our favorite part again is studying gospel topics with them. It is so faith promoting to feel explanations of gospel principles come to our minds, and concepts unfold.
The weather? Can we entice you with sunny and almost cool? We almost thought we would never be able to go without coats, but we can fairly often now. The flowers are blooming like we cannot believe! For one, the hydrangeas are enormous, bright colors and plentiful. We got the idea to transplant some maple seedlings that would not be able to stay in the flower gardens of the Church, and they look like they are going to live. In spite of the wood pigeons getting fat, the grass is beginning to grow in our back yard, and we found an inexpensive source for flower starts, so our gardens are starting to look like Ireland should. We wouldn't be able to stand seeing such a bare scruffy yard for 2 years, and it gives us a little change of pace to dig and water a wee bit.
We are grateful for the things being done at home to salvage the house and water problems and try to not think about it.--but we do think about each of YOU so much. We thrill to hear the news of things happening in your families and hope you stay safe, and healthy. Please take care of each other, stay faithful and happy, and know that You are constantly in our prayers and we love you so much!
Our best to each of You,
Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Lynne and Lanette
Evelin goes home to Brazil. We will miss her. She was always doing the nicest things for everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment