Feeling the Workings of the Spirit

Dear Family and Friends,

Another week has passed, but it seems like so much has happened---surely it has been more than a week.  We guess it is a testimony of the statement we make when we are teaching about Self Reliance:  "The Lord can make so much more out of our efforts than we can ever do for ourselves."  For those of you who may not have a complete understanding of SR,  that may sound a little contradictory of the idea of SELF Reliance--that we depend so much on the Lord.  But it is really true.  The wonderful doctrine of Self Reliance is not doing things ourselves, but it is reaching for hard temporal and spiritual goals through faith.  The Lord truly enable us, and everyone who depends on Him--to do and be more than they could do on their own. 
The week began for us in Cork, which is 2 1/2 hours south of Dublin.  We presented in the small branch there and decided to stay over to do flat checks for the Sisters and Elders, and to drive home in the light. The place we stayed was nice and we needed a good rest, but most importantly it was peaceful enough for the Spirit to guide us early that Monday morning.  The strong impression we had was that if we went to Carlos and Priscila with a plan for a surprise baptism for him on Saturday ---a surprise for the Sister who has been teaching them before she went home on Monday--it might be the motivation that would help him go ahead with his baptism.  Carlos is such a great young man.  He is a brilliant astro physicist, who has extreme shyness (anxiety disorder) and has turned down getting baptism for quite some time because he wanted to know everything better.  But in our last lesson with him, he hinted at the fear of so much attention.  Therefore the surprise idea was a good one because the plan was to keep it super small.  

 We went to their house on Monday night (we are pretty good friends with them) and shared the "crazy idea".  Two days later Priscila rang us and came over to tell us he would do it!  She was so happy!----in her also quiet way.   And so we had to get all the details in order, the interview, the permission to have it be small, and in the end---how to fill the font!   Everything worked out so well.  The mission President Counselor and the Bishop attended, (they were the two witnesses), the two Sisters, one other friend, and us.  Dad worked very hard to get the water warm, but the pilot light had gone out, and even when he got it lit, true to rumor, it was not good, so we carried several big pots of all our hot water, boiling water from our house and the church kitchen, and it was good enough.   The Sisters were ecstatic when they saw Dad and Carlos in white clothes. The Bishop planned the service, but only asked us to speak Sat. morning--but we were so pleased to do it. 

Carlos and Priscila were so happy as they can now look forward to being married in the temple in a year.   Priscila had asked us if  Carlos could be taught again (the first missionaries had stopped because he was not progressing) and he has been so sincere to read the B of M and pray.  We have felt Carlos had a testimony for a long time and been so impressed with his responses in the lessons.   The real sweet thing was knowing that the Lord wanted this to happen, and a way was prepared.  Maybe it took a some craziness to push it forward--so we qualified.

Another experience that we felt has been guided, has been our efforts with Nick from Romania.  After last weeks experiences with encouraging him toward solving his job problem, and seeing his faith and perseverance, we were looking forward to taking him to his interview on Wednesday.   Once again we were so impressed.  The company ended up being a huge construction and product corporation--not what we expected when we approached the van on the side of the road a week ago.   So getting a phone number for an interview was beyond a miracle.  It was a MIRACLE!    Nick still doesn't have his immigration work-papers, but he can't get them until he gets a company to say he works for them, so he had researched the company, and came very prepared and bold.  We were so proud of him.  He didn't get a job---yet, but he is still working for the first company he got fired from and it looks like the old boss may help him with papers,---and the big job is still a strong hope.   In the meantime, Nick is working so hard with the old job that the boss gave him a big bonus.  He could maybe stay on with the present job now--but it is not as secure, so he has hopes of stepping up. 

While all this is happening, we are loving being with him as he is getting gospel lessons.  He is so humble and accepts everything he is taught.  He practically bears testimony of things himself.  The big challenge is still cigarettes.  It makes us feel so sorry for how hard it is for him to live with the addiction while living among all smokers and wanting to quit.  He is progressing, but still not quite there.  Tonight we laughed as the Elders challenged him to pray before he smoked in the morning--and that they would call to remind him at his waking time.  He smiled and said, "if you don't call me to remind me, I will call you to call me."  In other words, I don't really need a reminder, I just need more strength. 

We have also been praying hard for Morris from Botswana, the man who found us in the mall.  We have had a few appointments with him, but at the last they usually cancel, or he just doesn't show up.  Without an invitation again, we heard he came to church (we are never attending our ward because we have to speak in other areas).  And one day he called the Elders, but didn't come through on that appointment either.   It hasn't made sense because HE was the one who found US and was interested in the gospel.  Then last night at 2:30 a.m. he texted us telling us he was feeling suicidal.   We immediately called him back, but then he couldn't talk because he was at work.  We gradually got enough information to find out where and when to pick him up after work.   We got a few more hours of light sleep and then left early to find him.  He was hurting so much from depression.  We spent much of the day trying to comfort him helping him get started on finding better work.  Immigrants have so many restrictions and his resolution was to work for a temp work agency who was really taking advantage of his situation.  We feel that although it has been so hard on him, his trials will ultimately help him to have the determination to succeed and to gain a testimony that of course will bless his life.  It is a blessing to be able to work with these (and others less severe) to help them find ways to change their lives. 

Friday was another day of miracles.  We had planned to go to Belfast, primarily to see the Bowens (Stake Self-Reliance Specialists), but also to do flat checks.  We arranged with the Bowens early in the week to take them to lunch, but late Thursday night Donovan Bowen called to cancel the lunch appointment because of work conflicts. We didn’t know whether we should go anyway to do the flat checks, even though we wouldn’t really be doing any Self-Reliance work, which is the reason we have the car in the first place.  We worried about it right up until the time we were to leave, but decided it wouldn’t be fair to the Elders to cancel the flat checks, and perhaps we could just call the Stake President when we got there to see if we could talk to him without an appointment.  So we went anyway, not really having a plan in place.  We somehow got through all 5 flat checks in 3 hours.  It is really exhausting work, since not even the Garmin can find some of the addresses, and driving in unknown territory is hard work.  We only really got lost 5 times in 5 flat checks.  We had some instructing to do about cleanliness, but the checks were fairly uneventful.  A flat check goes like this:  look in all the corners, explain that the black stuff is mold, tell them to spray everything with bleach, talk about how their mothers would like their beds to be made, take a list of things to repair, leave candy bars, and say goodbye.  It is interesting, though, that it is easy to pick up on a missionary’s attitude to a certain extent by the condition of his flat.

So, back to the story.  After the last flat check, we decided to call the Stake President, and just happened to catch him home, which was only about 10 minutes away.  We went to his home, and had the nicest, most productive visit we have ever had.  He was agreeable (he’s not always), trusting of us (he’s not always), and open about the challenges he is having in the stake (he’s not always).  We had a list of things we wanted to talk with him about, and he agreed to support us on every one!  We probably made more headway in Self Reliance for the Belfast Stake in that 30-minute meeting than we have in 2 months.  Miracle?  We think so.  Why was the lunch appointment with the specialists cancelled at the last minute?  Why did we decide to go to Belfast anyway?  Why did we just happen to catch the Stake President at home?  Why was he so much on the same wavelength as we were?

The story doesn’t stop there.  After arriving home, we were still uneasy about how things were going to progress in Belfast, so we decided to write a “suggestion” letter to get them going, even though it might ruffle some feathers (we’re still trying to build political capital in the Belfast stake.)  Halfway through the letter, a mistyped key erased half of it just before we had to leave for an appointment.  Later that evening, before we could get back to the letter, we got a call from the Stake Specialist, explaining that a major breakthrough had come in the entire stake Self Reliance effort.  Dates had been set, plans had been made, people had been invited.  We have been waiting for weeks for this to happen, and everything we were going to visit with the specialists over lunch about (and write in the letter) happened anyway.  Was the Lord’s hand in all these events, even though they seem small?  We think so.  Missionary work is full of just this kind of thing, on a daily basis. 

So as we conclude yet another long letter, it seems that every day this week has been packed from beginning to end.  We have had a lot of SR projects. We started two SR classes with YSA on Wednesday nights, We traveled up to Belfast Friday, down to Waterford Saturday after the baptism, and all the way across Ireland to Mullingar on Sunday.    We have done flat checks, lessons, meetings, planning, speaking, hosting and parties.  We love the variety and the steady stream of things to do--but we especially love it when we feel the Spirit working in our efforts.  We don't seem to have time to plan our talks or presentations, but they go ok.  We don't have time to get lost for all the places we need to get to in record time, so "somehow" we just find it, and we feel the Lord letting us help with good people who are having tough times.  In all the work goes on, because it is the Lord's work. 

We send our love to each of you.  We love hearing about all the little and big things that are happening in your lives---because we think of you so much and love you tons!  
Hugs a Plenty!
Grandma and Grandpa,
Dad and Mom,
Elder and Sister Pettit

 This picture is O'Connell Street.  It really feels like walking in Disneyland with a painted sky.  A sunset is very rare--because sun is very rare.

 Just for fun, knife an fort etiquette  Hope you can read what all these mean.  News to us!

 Loving our Valentines heart attack.

 A winding staircase at Blarney castle

 The definition of Blarney vs Baloney

 

 

 

 A flower fairy ring--they are magical.    We spotted it from the top of the castle.  Very storybook style!!

 Blarney Castle gives the gift of Gab!

 Kissing the Blarney Stone--its really not that scary--except the germs!--but we aren't sick yet!

 Dad's turn to kiss the stone.  It really worked for him.  You should have heard him gab!!!

 View from the top down inside.
 

 King and Queen of the castle.

 Fun Missionaries on the top bench.

 More castle guards.
 

 What a fun site of the sourroundings below.
 
 

 Missionaries dancing an Irish jig. 

 The Blarney Bench

 The Group outside.  Notice the SUNNY day.  We surely did.

 Happy times with cute missionaries.

 She's not heavy--she's my Sister.

 More missionaries joined later, just as we were leaving.

 Everyone check your phone.  This was not staged :)

 

 

 Another castle on a hill in the Belfast area.. It overlooks a beautiful lake.   No time to adventure.

 These two building are side by side: 

 

 Following a testimony sharing time, we had a  crazy going away dinner-for the Sister--the night before the surprise Baptism

 The Baptism surprise!  Priscila, Carlos, Elder Pettit, Sister Rodriguez, Sister Montoya

 

 The Exons are self called missionaries for 4 months from Idaho--going home this week too.

 

 
Tesco is a major grocery store, and Cabbages are popular food---but we have never seen row crops before.
 

Mafia to Mormons?

 Dear Family and Friends,
We wish our letters were easier to rewind the events of the week, because so many times in the unfolding of the experiences we have, we turn to each other and say , "wouldn't the family enjoy seeing what just happened!"   Well this week seems like that has happened every day--yet we doubt we can even begin to adequately share the events.

We think we are really blessed because we have such a great variety of things that we can do.  We feel we have had a pretty successful week of working on the clear-cut Self Reliance assignments, but with so many young people looking for jobs or better jobs, we decided to get our own feet on the pavement and go see what we could discover.  We went to a business  innovation complex with the idea that we would talk to start-up businesses and find out what skills they might be looking for and try to show them what we were starting to teach to help employees be reliable etc.  We were lucky to be able to talk to the front screening desk, with only  an invitation to bring a flier back for the mailboxes.  So we decided to go more to city center and just look up biotech companies, so Dad could relate to them and have a common ground starting point.  We found that there is no such thing as a business entry that is not dead-bolted.  By luck we were able to get into two of them--but only get in the door!  The surprised "receptionists" were not passing out appointments.  After braving the cold wind for longer than we wanted to, we decided to try email again. 

However on our way back we did notice a construction van parked on the street with an employee inside eating his lunch.  We knocked on his window and probably found out why we were there.  Nick, the investigator from Romania, had lost his job the day before (because his friend who had brought him from Romania to work had gambled some of the companies vans, and both of them were then fired--makes sense!)  and so we asked if the worker knew if his company might be willing to take an application from our friend.  He said that he thought they were actually looking for good help and gave us his boss's name and phone.  We had fasted the day before for Nick and he has been such an incredible investigator--with a story

Nick looks like he could be a gang leader.    He has missing teeth and about 10 serious scars, but somehow the Elders picked him out to talk to on the street, and somehow he decided he wanted to listen.  We have met with them for all his lessons so far and he is so happy to be finding  the gospel.  When he lost his job, he almost seemed more devastated that he would have to go back home and not be able to finish learning about the  gospel, than all the other problems.  But he has been so humble and followed every bit of advise we have given him, like go back to the boss and ask him if he could stay on for a little while longer while he finds another job.   And to make sure his boss is pleased with his work, he is working through his lunch hour, and doing everything he can to be needed.  When we gave him the phone number for the hopeful new job, he did not stop until he got in touch with the boss--then offered to work a few days for free if he could just get an interview.  It is coming up on Wed.  and we will take him to the interview and help him all we can.  He is working hard on breaking his tobacco habit which is another story of determination!

Last week we mentioned our friend Morris from Botswana.  Even though he loved stake conference and seems to want to learn about the gospel, he has been so hard to keep in touch with.  We did have lunch with him one day and he told us stories that just tickled us---like his father has hundreds of goats in Botswana, and at night if one doesn't come home, he would send Morris out to find it.   If he couldn't find it, the father told him where to look and was always right.  Sometimes,  he knew the goat would  come home without help.  We told him that is like the Savior knowing all His children and wanting to bring them home too.  We set up times to meet again, and he didn't show up again!  We were so sad, and again we couldn't reach him.   Then on Sunday, when we were gone to Cork, guess Who came to church?!!  The Elders phoned us to let us know and we texted him about being a good goat.  He texted back that he missed us sooo much.  Morris is a not such an easy fish--or goat to help.

Thursday night:  We got a call from a really fun lady in the ward telling us that she is really not a scare monger, but that we needed to consider that Friday was going to be s seriously dangerous day for the missionaries, because a major gang leader had been shot and his cremation was going to be the next day at the cemetery across from the church--and his brother would be here to retaliate.  According to her news sources--and we had none, all the areas that the missionaries lived or worked should be off limits for a least a day. She said the security was higher than when the Queen came to 'Dublin, so we passed the warning on to the Mission Leaders and they agreed that all should stay in,  We didn't want to react with fear, so we still did our morning jog around the cemetery and didn't see any snipers--but when we took the Sisters out of the area to visit this lady and work a ways out of the city, we got a better understanding of her call.  She invited us to stay for breakfast--which we had already eaten, but we decided to be a bit sociable and heard the funniest ever retelling of her conversion.    She has the greatest sense of drama and humor you can imagine!  Yet on our return we  we did see a hovering helicopter for awhile, ---but no gang war to report.

So after a day of not much accomplished but paperwork--which always needs attention anyway, we decided to initiate a  lesson for Nick (a very good lesson experience)  and a dinner/lesson for our young couple friends, Priscilla and Carlos.  Carlos is such a smart and humble man.  He really knows all the essential elements of the Gospel are true, but he wonders why some people lose their faith and he wants to be really secure before he commits to baptism.  You really can't disagree with his careful, quiet, investigation.  His sweet wife is so anxious to have him get baptized, but she is also patient and understanding. 

 

 We are dusting off our resume-writing skills to help a number of individuals on a one-on-one basis.  It is an interesting exercise to start working through a curriculum vitae when they speak very little English,  and whatever  information they may have gathered about their former education and work experience is also written in a foreign language.  We have learned how to communicate some basic concepts when the person we are working with has very basic English skills, and our Romanian or Portuguese skills are even worse.  We have been fairly pleased with the finished products, however.  They are simple and straightforward, with an objective statement, professional profile, and chronological listing of schooling and work experience.  It is our feeling that these simple resumes will give them a “leg up” on the competition in this very crowded field of job-seekers.

 The economy in Ireland (Republic of Ireland) has never totally recovered from the 2008 crash.  There are way more job-seekers than there are jobs, due in large part to the influx of immigrants.  I believe we told the story of the young couple that showed up on our doorstep one morning, fresh off the flight the night before from Brazil, with no job, no housing, and no coats.  Since they were new Church members, they looked up the church building, and came to us, essentially expecting us to take care of them.  We do have to say at this point, however, that we are proud of them.  He took a job passing out tour bus flyers on the street (his classic quote:  “It isn’t a very good job, but I decided to take in anyway because “What have I got to lose?”  What a tremendous attitude!) Well, they found a small apartment (shared bathroom), used some of their savings to get groceries, and came to us for help with his resume.  They are going to participate in a self-reliance course.  We’re not sure if this is exactly how the program was designed, but these are literally lost sheep, and they need every form of help they can get.

 We were also very pleased that the young lady who came to us a month ago from Slovakia -  needing to get away from her country because there are absolutely no decent jobs, and her family was persecuting her for joining the Church, essentially without hope and in a deep depression – made contact with us again.  She has changed dramatically:  she is energetic, bright, and making very effective plans for her future.  Mom had counseled her to eat right, get some exercise, and read the scriptures daily.  She did so, and she looks so much better.  When we visited with her this time, we came to understand how truly remarkable her story is.  Against all odds, she joined the Church, served a mission, and graduated from BYU-I near the top of her class.  All this with no support from family, and having to scrape together every penny to make it work.  She is now saving money from her nanny jobs to do Master’s or even doctoral work in counseling.  We are trying to get her involved in the self-reliance groups, and we think she even has the skills to be a facilitator.

 In the midst of resume-writing on Saturday, we attended the going-away party for a wonderful young man from Brazil who is going home after six months of English training here.  Actually, “attending” meant that Mom spent a long time in the kitchen before and after the party, and this was in addition to helping some of the group buy groceries for the party.  Such is life in the mission field!

 As has been the norm for the past several weeks, we were on the road on Sunday.  This time it was up in time to make the 3-hour drive to Cork (south) for a speaking assignment in the Cork Branch.  We spoke, attended Sunday School, and then gave a 45-minute presentation to a combined Relief Society/Priesthood group.  Though the numbers weren’t great, the branch members seemed really interested in the program, and we are going to try to be very involved in getting a small SR group going.  The interesting part of the day came after the block, however, when we spent some time visiting with the Branch President.  He is a wonderful guy, very young, very intelligent, but absolutely overwhelmed.  When we asked about a Self-Reliance specialist, his shoulders sagged, and he replied that he doesn’t even have enough willing members to cover the basic callings.  Besides being the Branch President, he is Young Men’s president, his wife is Young Women’s president, he is in charge of activities, does home teaching, and his counselors are both 19 and preparing to go on missions.  Add this all to the fact that he has to work extremely long hours at an under-paid job to provide for his wife and 3 children, and the picture emerges of a very consecrated, but very overwhelmed, young Branch President.  Our hearts just ached for him, and we said that we would shoulder the entire responsibility for getting the Self Reliance going, because we felt that it would help the branch, particularly with the extremely high percentage of less active members.  We won’t train the branch council because he can’t hold a council meeting:  no one will come, even his relief society president.

 After the meetings, he absolutely insisted that we come to his home for dinner, along with the 3 sets of young missionaries.  Talk about devotion!  His home was very humble and in disarray, but his wife fed us all some nice stew and cake.  Oh, how we would like to help more!  We asked him why there were so few active members.  There is actually a very nice church building in Cork, so there must have been many more coming to church in the past.  He replied that after the downturn of 2008, many, many saints left Ireland in search of work, and they just never came back.  In many way, it seems like Ireland is “depressed” right now – economically and emotionally.  They need to turn to the Lord!

 In the midst of all this depression, it is interesting to note that we found a very nice bed and breakfast in Cork to spend the night.  60 Euro for a top-notch quaint room, and a breakfast that rivals the best. (Have you ever had salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast?)

 We spent the morning doing flat checks for the young elders and sisters.  They needed some instruction on how to clean a tub and a refrigerator and a microwave, but mostly how to get rid of the ubiquitous mold that is a part of everyday Irish life.  A direct attack with spray bleach seems to help the most, but it always comes back.

 After the flat checks, we all took a quick trip up to Blarney Castle.  Yes, we kissed the Blarney Stone!  Besides now having a germy mouth,  I haven’t been able to stop talking since.  Seeing the castle was quite an experience in itself.  There is also a cave under the castle called the Dublin Mission cave.  If you go in through the very narrow and low passage, there is a chamber where the missionaries have been writing their names on the walls for almost 30 years.  So we joined the great graffiti crowd and now there is “E&S Pettit 2016” written on the wall of the cavern.  Our coats and shoes got pretty muddy, but it was great fun.
 After the Blarney visit, we rushed to drive the 90 minutes to Limerick, where we visited the Wilsons, the YSA couple assigned there.  We went to lunch, and we feel like it was a great pick-me-up for all of us just to visit.  We are trying very hard not to be jealous of their flat:  they actually have room to turn around in the kitchen, and it has 4 bedrooms!  Oh, well.  

 The two-hour drive back to Dublin got us here just in time for another lesson with Nick, our Romanian investigator.  Boy, is he golden!  He had no problem with the law of chastity, and even taught us a thing or two about turning one’s life around and thinking appropriate thoughts.  He asked about temples, so the elders showed him the Church video about temples, and we felt like it genuinely touched his heart.  After the lesson, we took him to the store to buy a few things to help him kick the smoking habit:  grapefruit juice, mint mouthwash, snacks, breakfast foods.  It is supposed to help.  He sincerely felt bad that we would pay for it, and an almost-argument ensued.  He really does not want to take advantage of us.  He is really ready for baptism, as soon as he can get rid of the tobacco.

 After that, we ran over to Priscilla and Carlos’ to challenge him to get baptized before the sister missionary who has been teaching him goes home next week.  Pretty brave, but Grandma woke up early this morning thinking that is what we should do.  We asked him if we could still be friends even if he felt pressured, and he warmly replied that he would still like to be friends.  He will think about it and get back to us.  They are a great couple.

 Guess what!  The Gospel is true, and this is the true church of Jesus Christ.  We were reflecting today  how many miracles we see each day in the mission field.  Everything from protection during close calls while driving, to being in the right place at the right time, to seeing the Holy Ghost completely change someone’s nature – there are so many miracles.  We are extremely grateful to witness them.

 We send our love and prayers and best wishes.  Our new gift of gab makes us want to go on and on with this letter, but we won’t.  
Tons of virtual hugs and kisses are sent every day your way.
Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Elder and Sister Pettit

 Looking for business opportunities in an old sector of the city.  It was quite quaint and cool.

 Farewell party for Levi from Brazil who has been such a support in YSA.  Sister Montoya leaves next week.

 Looking out the window of our B&B at the wharf in Cork, (southern Ireland)

 Dad on the very steep hill car park of the B&B

 What a nice B&B!  The breakfast highlight of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon was incredible.
and the room was so comfortably--even towel warmers.

 Cute Sister Skagen and Sister Beuler in the car park of the castle. 

 Elders and Dad on the garden bridge of Blarney Castle

 Sisters and Mom

 Beautiful Wild Crocus and a sunny day made us feel that spring could be coming for real.

 Duke and Duchess of Blarney Castle, built in 1200.

 Inside what is nicknamed SIM Cave. under the castle.       Scotland Ireland Mission Cave

 It was a low cave ceiling and sloppy muddy floor--and yes we did get dirty. 

 squat-walk to get inside

 Our "tag".  We had to find a dry place on the rock so it wouldn't get washed off.

 We are about 2/3 up on the inside of the castle (no roof) on our way back down from kissing the Blarney Stone. (We are not able yet to get the pictures from Dad's camera, but it is at the top and you have to lay on your back and lean out to kiss it!)  We had already kissed the Blarney Stone and Dad couldn't stop talking a mile a minute!

 Check out all the SIM tags--back for about 20 years.  We boosted the Elder up to get a good spot.

 Mom is writing with white-out that the Sisters brought.

 Look closely.  The garden ball décor is giant eyeballs!

 Having a fun few hours on P-Day was a good time and well deserved by good missionaries.

Dad in front of the cave area, but other entries are also in view.  The underground network was a well guarded security plan.   The walls are about 12 feet thick all the way up!  And out side the castle was a Poison Garden just in case they were overtaken; the victors would eat the plants and still die.