Pettit's Highland Highlights: Where There's a Willingness, There's a Way!

Hello Dear Family and Friends.

We realize that it has only been a few days since Ethan and Fayme left, but it seems like a over a week. We are grateful for the memories of all the fun things we did together and how kind they were to us. We tried to not totally exhaust them, but since they are younger, we gave them as full an Irish experience as possible for five days. They went from the East coast to the West coast and from the southern shores to the northern shores. We saw the Cliffs of Moher and the Giants Causeway, the most famous Irish castles, and the oldest structure we know of anywhere on earth (Newgrange, built around 3200 B.C.)

Although we ate in a quiet part of a fun pub on Saturday night and just relaxed and visited, and again at a nice restaurant by the Irish Sea, most of the time we were on the run. We stayed at two B&B's, where we had the famous "full Irish breakfast".   Fayme was diligent to eat authentic Irish foods and said she completed her Irish food wish list, which is more than we have ever wanted to try.

They brought great weather--not really warm, but not windy or rainy, so we were able to spend all the time we wanted to exploring outdoor enchanted gardens, and they were crazy enough to swim in the Irish Sea, which is rarely done even in "summer". It was fun to show them around and share a bit of what we are experiencing, though we wish we could have shared the people and the spirit of our mission more. There was just not enough time for everything, which is typical of life, it seems. There was time, however, to see Bunratty and Blarney castles, two of the most famous in Ireland. We walked up and down a lot of spiral staircases and explored all the secret passages. Fayme and Ethan kissed the Blarney Stone, but we passed up our opportunity to do it a second time, thinking that once will give us enough germs for a lifetime. We discovered the beautiful grounds of Blarney Castle this time, and were simply enchanted with the beauty of this serene place. We decided that this was Ireland at its best. At Bunratty Castle, we even discovered a Fairy Forest! Some white-knuckle rides on Irish back roads rounded out the adventure.

After they left Dublin, they had a few more fun days in Switzerland and Italy, so we are happy their first time to Europe was a success.     We are sure they must have been on the run since they got home, getting the children from Fayme's parents in Pocatello and then driving back home to Vernal--but they still seem to not be too tired.

As for us, since we had been on "holiday", we felt we really needed to get back to work, and things have been pretty steadily busy since they left.   We have been a part of some fun teaching support lessons and met some new incredible young people. We have been involved in helping a few get some job searching skills and employer contacts started. It is a good experience because they are usually so appreciative and recognize Heavenly Father's help in their lives. It is really wonderful to see young people humble enough to realize the source of all blessings, and not take any credit for their own efforts and good attitude.

On Thursday and again on Saturday we facilitated a great group of women who are doing the Start and Grow Your Own Business" class. They are middle-aged women who have worked so hard in their lives, but now want to get out and do something that will bring them more opportunities for growth and income. They are so good to each other and appreciative of our efforts. One time we couldn't get in the church so we met in a "quiet" part of a KFC and talked over the rock music. Where there's a willingness, there's a way!

On Sunday we spoke in a great ward that has been doing SR well, but wanted us to come before they start their second round of classes. It is exciting to see their enthusiasm and commitment. Afterward, we were invited to dinner at the Stake President's home. They are simply great people. They are only in their mid-40's but are so strong and lead so well, yet at their home they were so fun and easy-going. For the second time in a month, we had dinner at someone's home with a member of the mission presidency, which has made us a little uncomfortable because they never see us working - only eating, but it was fun to relax with them and visit with this wonderful Irish stake president and his wife.

Another busy Monday today (4 flat checks, shopping for food for the YSA Halloween party, teaching with the missionaries, and so on) was capped with a fun English class. We decided to center the lesson around Halloween, and taught them some Halloween words. (What is your favorite Halloween word? Superstitious? Macabre? Apparition? Zombie? Ghastly?) After the vocabulary introduction, we had them write a Halloween story. Very interesting. They don't celebrate Halloween in Brazil, so they didn't really understand much about the holiday, but they were anxious to learn. They are all excited now to attend the YSA activity to see what a true Halloween party is like. They really liked the idea of Trick or Treat. We've been thinking about it, and since we live across the street from a very old and very large cemetery, we think we will lock the gate and stay bundled up in our house for Halloween night. We'll miss the Great Pumpkin, but you can never tell what else might be lurking in the dark on that frightful night. Whoooo! Speaking of pumpkins, we have been shopping for some for the YSA party, and we are finding them not too plentiful and very expensive. We miss being able to grow them in the garden! Since we can't really go trick-or-treating, Grandpa decided he would just take off his mask and go scare some people on the street.

There have been some very uplifting and wonderful experiences during our teaching times this week. There are just too many little miracles to think that they are coincidences. It is so apparent that the Lord is involved in this last "gathering time," and the pure in heart are being led to the missionaries. We see it happen again and again. One young lady wept as she told us how lost she was one morning - not knowing where she was headed in life, lonely, confused, and unhappy - until she found the missionaries that very day. She told us that she knew God loved her and directed her to the place where she could find the peace and happiness she was looking for. She is excitedly absorbing all the missionaries can teach her.

All of this strengthens our testimonies and makes us grateful that we have the opportunity to be on a mission. Your support and love across the miles mean more than you can imagine. You are in our prayers constantly, and we try to imagine what you are doing each day.

We send our love.

Grandma and Grandpa

Lynne and Lanette

Mom and Dad (Whoooo!)

Elder and Sister Pettit