As we begin our letter this week, we have to say that we are getting more and more converted to our sketchy journaling. To us journaling has always been a serious time of reflection and writing the details, not only of our experience, but of our feelings. We tried doing that early in our mission, but we found we had so much that seemed important, that we were constantly falling asleep on ourselves!---and getting a scribble of ink falling off the page. So we just gave up journaling for awhile. So there is quite a gap in the dated journal books of when we just relied on our calendar to review the week. Then we realized that was not sufficient, so we tried a new method: we write a series of one-liners on the daily page. Surprisingly it is usually a pretty full page, and gives us reference of some details we need--just not so complete on the feelings. At least we can now use it to write home. It is surprising to us how the days just blend together and so do the weeks.
So as we reflect o this week, it seems that our most significant events seemed to pivot around efforts to get ready for the YSA Convention on the 22nd. During the week we had several meetings and several little details to start pulling together and now we are beginning to feel like it is just around the corner and hopefully will come together with success. The YSA--being young ADULTS are doing most of the work for sure, but we are finding ourselves fairly busy with some things that we have accepted as assignments.
One of our assignments is to coordinate the service project, which we are quite happy about. At the start, since we are going to be in the mountains, the project they hoped to do was to build hiking trails or do a restoration of the very old historic area where we will be, but volunteers seem to not be appreciated so much in Ireland. It seems that people are either quite protective of their jobs or not used to having the quality of volunteers that the Church members are good at giving. So, rather than risking a bad experience, they just turn down all offers for help. We tried so many angles, and got no response from anyone, so at last chose to do a project to help the refugees.
The part we have taken was to meet with an LDS lady and her son, who actually went to a refugee camp in Greece to help for a week. They are from the States, and she has been very proactive even before they came to Ireland, so she is now taking advantage of their proximity to the refugee problems and is leading a few different efforts to help. Feeling some inspiration behind the whole effort, we asked her to come and present a slide show at the YSA convention and encourage them to get involved by suggesting ways they can. Searching for a little hands-on experience, we did find the opportunity to prepare little kits with lice combs, directions for use, and a card of encouragement to be made and put into zip-lock bags. We heard the cost of the combs was around $2 each and hoped that the YSA would donate enough to do 100 combs and the shipping. As it turned out, with a little extra help from "tender mercies", we found them for just $.35 each and no shipping --except for shipping the kits to Greece. So we were able to comfortably order 300 combs! And just to underline that we were being watched out for, the shipping date was not going to have depend on us keeping our fingers crossed that they would come in the least time it possibly could. We haven't received them yet, but we think all the worries are safely in "heavenly hands" and routine deliveries.
In addition to the service project, we have been inviting the other Ireland couples to join us to chaperone-- ---and looking forward to a fun time in every way. The way we see it, we can enjoy the young people, and when we can't keep up, we can enjoy the couples--- and get them to help us with food. preparations, and a few other basics. FYI we are certainly not doing all the food, but enough to need some help: the Friday night BBQing and the two breakfasts. We are now starting to work out the details for quantities and where to find the best deals. Shopping here is an adventure for things we take for granted. For example, paper goods are so much more expensive than America. Even the cheapest paper plates (and napkins!) are not easy to find and about $.10 each--even for napkins if you don't know where to find them.
Not connected with the Convention, another fun YSA activity was a laser gun shoot-out at a park. Honestly, we were terrible at it! We couldn't tell if we were ever hitting anyone, but we at least contributed by being good targets! You know you are old and look it when they say you are "cute" to get down and hide in the bushes. It was fun to wear something beside our missionary clothes for a change and to get out and run around crazy. We had hoped some of the investigators would come, because they said they would, but they didn't. It is just so hard to make all the connections to meet up in the city, especially when they are often running low on phone time and money.
As for SR, we did have some good events. We had our mostly investigator job class on Wednesday night--but not sure if that is going to stay together, primarily because we are referring many of them to the new business opportunity we helped to get started and once they have jobs, we think they will not be motivated to come. Then we went to little Cork branch classes again for two groups on Friday evening--still crossing our fingers for it to keep going because of summer schedules. And we spoke in Church on Sunday and did a YW group presentation. Of course there are always calls, mailing, and planning to do, so although not as much is being planned since it is summer, we are staying fairly busy.
On Sunday we did have a funny day with not being very busy after the Church meetings. We had two investigators for lunch but when they went home we thought of a few other visits we wanted to try and make and tried to phone to see if it was ok to come over. We just did not have much luck with getting answers or calls back--except one friend said he would check out a little computer glitch we were having after our computer had been used by a YSA--and to come over. They were very kind, fun, and helpful--but the TV was on with the final All-Europe Football (Soccer) Tournament. As we drove home on almost completely empty roads, we realized that the factor that explained it all was that this game was in essence, the Superbowl--and no one wanted to do extra church projects that day. We are not only out of our culture, but admittedly really out of touch sometimes---so anytime you want to keep us informed with anything, please do.
On a very sad note, we learned this week of the passing of Bruce Jorgenson,our dear friend of many years from North Logan. Bruce has been battling, succeeding, and starting over again, with cancer treatments for a few years now. He has been so brave and optimistic through it all--even working in his law office up until the last few weeks. When we left on our mission they expressed that they hoped they would also be able to go on a mission in a few years. We have admired Bruce and Risa for their faith and hope even in the toughest of times. Fortunately his family was all able to come for about 5 days of precious memories before he passed away. We wish we could be there to share our love with their family and the ward family, and send our best to all who also knew and loved him.
Along with that sad note, we recognize the blessing of the gospel; honestly knowing that life continues and that there is so much yet ahead for those who trust and love the Lord. In this same week we learned of the heartbreak of one of the investigators whose father was injured in a car bomb and then passed away almost at the same time he learned that two of his uncles were killed in the huge terrorist attacks in Iraq. Our new friend is so devastated that he cannot really bring himself out of depression and to take steps forward again. We are so worried for him because it seems he is losing all the progress he has gained in the last 8 years to get established in Ireland and be able to help his family. The spiral of sorrow is so huge without a firm faith and he is too new to the Gospel principles to trust in the Spirit. We are having such a hard time staying in touch with him, and hate to see him suffer and loose his faith. We often wish we could do more to help those new to the gospel. Even those who are doing well need lots of support. We love the chances we do have to help, but always wish we could do more. Those who are being found are truly great people and we admire them for their courage.
As always, we love hearing about your lives through your emails, letters, and occasional calls that reach us in such opposite schedules. We hope things are going well in your lives. We hope you are all having warm and fun summers. Soak up some sunshine for us--because we really don't get much. This apparently is one of the non-summer summers, where jackets are a must and coats are optional---but its not too bad, and Ireland certainly stays green. We love each of you and hope you are feeling the blessings you desire.
Hugs and blessings!
Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Elder and Sister Pettit
The Great "Shoot-Out" with YSA and friends. It proves that no one is too old to play laser tag.
