Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Anniversary and Other Blessings

Dear Family and Friends:

         The summer has passed now, school is back in session, and it seems like things are picking up.  We have several new Self Reliance classes starting, the numbers in English class are increasing, and it seems like we are getting more to YSA activities.  We remain busy with travel to so many places for Self Reliance start-ups, teaching with the missionaries, feeding the missionaries and investigators,checking on and arranging for repairs in missionary flats, preparing presentations, and trying to stay in contact with our investigators.  It is good to be busy, and through it all runs a recurring theme:  this is the Lord's work, not ours, and He is in charge.  Too many things happen that we are not in control of to deny that the Lord's hand is in it.
         Tuesday, we had a much-anticipated training for the Bishop in Dublin Stake.  We have been worried about it because this stake is still a little slow on getting Self Reliance going.  We prayed and prepared and wanted so badly for the Spirit to take our message to their hearts.  We decided for our training to focus less on processes and more on the actual message of the program, so we tried to take them through an actual "Foundations" lesson, which is the 20-minute Gospel principle that we teach at the beginning of every class.  From experience, we knew that once they experienced the spirit present in the lessons, they would become converted to the value of the program.  We came to the bishops training hoping for good attendance, but were a little disappointed - except that those in attendance were precisely the wards that needed to hear the message.  Difficulties with starting on time gave less time than we had hoped for, which could have been even more disappointing, but the Spirit took over the teaching, and we sensed a real change of heart in those who have been reluctant.  The Lord was in charge.  We really think that things will move forward now.
         There is a funny story that happened in connection with this bishops' training.  Grandma had made two banana cream pies to feed to the bishops, and we announced to those in attendance that we would feed it to them after the meeting.  However, after our presentation was through and we were excused, the high councilors and bishopric counselors showed up, and all of a sudden we didn't have enough pie.  We decided to quietly sneak away and hope that nobody remembered our earlier promise of pie.   Well, most people didn't remember - except for first one bishop and later a counselor in the stake presidency, who timidly came to us after they were through with second and third round of meetings, to ask if the pie promise was still valid.  For them it was, and we ended up having two long visiting sessions over pie that  night after everyone else had gone home.  They have learned never to turn down Sister Pettit's cooking!
       We are finding that this flat is very convenient because of its central location, but it is also very popular.  Some days it is hard to get our paperwork done because of the visitors (which we don't mind).  At one point on Wednesday, we had four different people drop by unexpectedly to visit, get job advice, talk about Self Reliance, or get help with their resume.  The problem was that, at one point, all four of them were here at the same time!
       We also have met a new investigator from Brazil.  She is such a wonderful , well educated young woman and already lives so many of the principles of the Gospel.  We first met Patricia at the Job Search class because she just wanted to know what it would be like if she attended when it started again.  That night the Foundation lesson was on integrity.  When we asked everyone to give us an example of integrity, she said that once she pretended to be asleep on the bus when an older person needed her seat, and she felt so badly afterward that she has never done it again.  Now, that's integrity!  The next time we met with her was a ;missionary lesson which was  on the Word of Wisdom.   When coffee was mentioned, she was a little taken aback.  In her sweet and quiet way, she said: "That will be so hard for me, because it is a part of my culture, but I will try."  What wonderful faith!  On Sunday, she quietly, but with great joy shared that she had indeed gone the whole week without coffee.  Again, the Lord is in charge of bringing these prepared people to meet with the missionaries.  It is so fun to meet these people and they are so easy to love.
        We have mentioned our friend Wellington (from Zimbawbe) before, who was introduced a while ago to the Church in England.  When he came to Ireland, he looked Sisters' flat to meet a washing machine repairman.  The poor sisters have been unable to do their wash for some time (they are so faithful in the middle of difficulties).  The repair worked, and the sisters were very grateful.
       That evening, we drove to Belfast (2 hours) for a My Path devotional in the Lisburn ward, which is the first step in starting Self Reliance classes.  The newly-called Stake Self-Reliance Specialist took charge of the meeting (which is precisely what is supposed to happen) so our participation was minimal.  He was very thorough, and the meeting went on a little too long, but it was wonderful.  Again, the Spirit did the teaching.   We are so grateful that things are moving ahead so well in this stake that has been slow in starting, and we know that the Lord is definitely directing this effort.  After class, we drove back to Dublin and got back late, so we were a little tired the next day.
       The next day started with a call from the Sister missionaries saying that the washing machine worked, but when they started the dryer, it blew a fuse.  We went to help, got the fuse fixed, checked on some light bulbs, and then they asked us to check their heaters because it is getting to be coller weather again.   When Grandpa tried to adjust the electric wall heater, it promptly fell off the wall!  Oh boy!---an top that with a window that wouldn't close.    This all ended with a phone call to the landlord about his responsibility to fix things, which may happen when he gets back from holiday on Monday.  The sisters are very patient with all of this.   --and as a bonus for their patience, we decided they needed new bed linens since they were moved into a flat that had been for Elders.  So we bought them new bed linens, sheets, duvets etc.  (mission expense--not ours).  Grandma thinks there were three who slept better after that--the sisters and herself!)
       Friday night we had another experience that was remarkable.  We had planned to go to one class group in one city and as the time came close to going we realized that it was not a good day to go there.  We didn't want to waste the evening, so we called the  class in another city to see how things were there.  To our surprise, they had not wanted to bother us because we had said we could not go there this week, but they really needed us to come since both groups' facilitators were not able to come.  If things had not changed they would have had such problems.  When we got there, most were so surprised and so pleased.  It was like their faith had made it happen.  We were  able to have inspiring lessons instead of frustration--and not because of us, but because we were able to be instruments.   It reminds us of the story in the September Ensign on tithing.  Faith is so real and SR takes faith too.  We felt a great blessing in being led to go there.
      Saturday was our 45th wedding anniversary!!! --- so we actually took time to drive to Bray, a nice little community on the coast, where we had a wonderful seafood lunch at our favorite restaurant there.  It was really fun and relaxing.  The food is very gourmet and could be an enticement for any visitors.   We really can relax or take time off as we feel we need/want it, but honestly we are quite happy  when we are doing all we can to help others.  We miss interaction with family and friends, but we are always making new friends here, so we get along pretty well.   This experience is really a quest in our life to show our gratitude for the blessings we have had through these 45 years.
      After lunch, we attended a baptism, which, coincidentally, happened at exactly the same time as Addie's.  We are so proud of Addie, and wish we could have been there, but were able to Skype everyone later when they were out repelling.  As for the repelling adventure, we were grateful to learn that in spite of high adventure and a microburst they were able to get everyone back to safety.
      We will share one last significant day, Sunday.  One thing we wish we could have on this mission is a home ward.  Officially we do have one here where we live, but we are so rarely here that we don't feel as connected and consistent as we would like.  Nevertheless we did attend the beginning of the block here and met with some of our friends both members and investigators.   Then we went to another meeting and did a Self Reliance Devotional.
       One of the reasons we stayed was that we had offered to pick up (they call it "collect")  Stephen from the bus in City Center.  He is a new convert YSA lad (that means young man) all the way from Sligo, who works with show horses for a living.   He shared some videos that were quite thrilling, of himself  jumping the horses.   Stephen caught the early bus to Dublin to come for his Patriarchal blessing and to be one of the speakers at the YSA fireside that night.  This was really a big step for him, but he approached it with such faith and joy that we felt a great privilege to take him where he needed to go for his blessing, and host him throughout the day.  It was great to answer a few questions he had about lineage and to feel his love of all that the day brought to him.  The fireside featured 6 great young people who had all recently joined the Church and it was so fun to hear their stories of faith and life  joy as well.  We wish we could video all of the sweet things that happen and better share them with you.  It would be even better than the cookie crust fruit pizza we had that night.
        One last thing for the Grandkids.  We have been wondering if we should look harder for Leprechaun houses.   We have seen some really short people who live here, but we think not tiny enough to be real leprechauns.   On Sunday we think we saw a real leprechaun house We were not able to stop on such short notice and we didn't have time to go back, but we marked the spot and think we can find it again and send you a picture.  We marked it with the end of a rainbow!---so it should not be too tricky to find.  What do you think?  Will we be able to get there again?  If we could find the house and a leprechaun should we ask for a wish or money?  If we get a wish, we will wish to have you all be so happy and so good.  And if we get money, we will buy you a jet to all come and see the house!   We love you all so much!
For another week, we say hugs to all,
Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Lynne and Lanette, Elder and Sister Pettit


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