Classes, Castles, and Converts (to be) 

 

Dear Family and Friends,

We really need to make fun of our journaling effort this week.  It was awful!  We bought really cool Irish journals in the bookstore at the Book of Kells a few weeks back so that we would be better motivated to be great at it, (like Kent and Patrice), but Cying them was not the full trick!  There is no substitute for a great habit.  Our excuse is that we wait for the end of the day, but the end of the day seems to never come until quite late.  We think our bodies may still be on Utah time, because when we should be going to bed there are always things we want to “finish off so that we don’t lose our momentum”, and then we suddenly realize it is already too late--again.  One night I spent a whole page glowing about what a great day it was, and the miracles we had seen, then realized it was too late to get into it, so I put it down--for 3 days--and later is never quite as meaningful.  The only consolation is, we can be pretty sure you don’t want to hear ALL the details of our week, so you will just get the highlights.  But good journaling or not, we really did have a great week of seeing progress and having choice experiences.

 

Tuesday morning the new couches for the YSA room finally arrived.  It was quite significant because not only had we spent a lot of time searching for what would work (in a $1000 budget), but even when we thought we had things in order, we seemed to have one crazy “lost order” after another.  We seemed to get really great help in IKEA--even setting up an order for us because we could not come in on Sunday when the couches would arrive (see our missionary tags?) --but as accommodating as the Irish people always seem to be, we were not making progress--until this week!  When they did arrive we spent a hurried time getting the old moved out, the 4 new couches all put together and a hands and knees carpet scrubbing job done in time for the evening meetings.  When it was all done, we really smiled because it looked great---but best of all was the thrill of the Stake Presidency.  They loved them, and were sure we were not telling them the whole truth about the price.  They tried to pry it out of us what they REALLY cost, ($929) and assured us that we didn’t need to help buy them! 

 

With that as a starter for a busy evening of meetings with the Stake Self Reliance Council and the Stake YSA Council back to back ---that both turned out with incredible support, we were euphoric by the end of the night.   Not to shed any negative light on leaders, but we feel we are walking a narrow line as we try to re-start programs that have fallen apart.  Keeping activity going here is incredibly hard.  As we have mentioned before, the distances so many people have to travel is tremendous.  A short drive to church is just 20 minutes and one man who is so faithful and comes in at least 4 days a week is over 2 hours one way.  So if a program gets started and fails for any reason, the enthusiasm is hard to rekindle. Plus, we don’t want to take over the stewardships of those who are called but don’t really have the time, or the testimony for what is needed.   SO we had prepared some rather ambitious plans to present at the meetings, and we wondered how they would be accepted.   When our highest hopes were given full support, we could hardly believe it.  It means we will be moving ahead quite steadily with trainings, and group classes hopefully in place by April.  We think it was the parting of the DEAD sea. 

 

Wednesday was a mix of preparing materials for upcoming events, some meetings with missionaries that didn’t end showing, etc. etc. But Thursday was really fun again.  Mom had a premonition that someone was coming that morning (?) and it happened. (This is not so surprising, because living here is like running a visitor’s center---There is always someone wanting something) But this was a little different feeling.    The door-bell rang and a man asked about the Family History Center hours.  It was past when it should have been opened and we didn’t know when the workers would come, but visited with him a few minutes.  Of course the weather was not pleasant so we invited him in and he accepted.  He sat and visited for quite some time, while we tried to get in touch with the FHC directors.  We learned this man, Philip O’Brien has been doing volunteer Family Search for the church for some years at home, but never come to the center here.  He loves researching, but the government centers are so expensive to use, so he finally decided to come here.  He lives far from town and knew nothing about the church.  Maybe our lack of FH skill was a blessing because as we waited to get pass codes for Ancestry (we have always had someone “hold our hand” when we have done much research) we got to be friends with him.  He is our age and so nice.  Finally, we had a sister catch a bus and come in to help--and the research success was exciting.  We began a little email correspondence and although his wife is not too excited (yet) we think we can build on this and hopefully get them interested in the church.  It just feels like it is supposed to happen. 

 

We also had another lesson on Saturday with our young friend investigator, Carlos, (he and his wife came for dinner and FHE this week).  It was such a great experience with them.  The Sisters are doing the official teaching and it seems like with all the language quirks, (Portuguese, Spanish, and
English) there should not be too much understanding, --but the Holy Ghost must be working overtime because Carlos is really sharing some deep testimony feelings.  We were so impressed when he asked what happened to Joseph Smith in the end.  When he heard it, he just seemed sad and said it is like when children are unkind in school to the smart kids who work hard.  --since he is smart, it seemed like he has experienced that himself.   And then he said it is like Jesus.  He was only doing good, healing and performing miracles, and He was crucified.  We knew he believed even more in Joseph Smith.  At the end of the lesson, he thanked us so much for our time and support.  Of course we have plenty of that!---and it was so fun!

 

On Friday morning we had more visitors come knocking.  This time a couple form Brazil who had just arrived the night before.  They are new converts to the church and looked up the building location.  We can’t stop worrying about them because it seems they came so unprepared.  They didn’t have coats, but claimed they like the cool weather--until it got dark and then Mom couldn’t stand to send her home shivering, without, so she gave her coat to the young wife to use until she can get one.  We hope she knows it is a loan.   Worse than the coat problem, they are hoping for the stake to help them find a job and a place to live (other than the hostel) and their English is really weak.    Sadly, jobs are not in abundance here--that is why Self Reliance is important here.  We invited them to come back that evening for our YSA movie night, so they could meet some other Brazilians who could better communicate with them, but they were disappointed that no one had an instant solution.  The next morning the girl walked again all the way from city center to our house with a letter of despair.  We talked to the Relief Society sisters in Auxiliary Training Meeting, but nothing much was possible.   They were so sad we would not even be there on Sunday to help them.  We know next to nothing of how to help. 

 

Sunday we left early in the morning to drive to Limerick for three good meetings.  We spoke in Sacrament Meeting about Self Reliance.  Dad really “hit it out of the park” when he told his mission story of saving the ”dead” sheep from the ditch--only to have the sheep fall right back in the next day and really die this time.  People in Ireland have a history of tough times--and even in the recent past of people now, they have seen serious economic trials.   The people really related to the story and said they needed to do better.  They also had a combined Relief Society/Priesthood meeting where we used our power point presentation, and a devotional in the evening for SR, that we helped with.  In all it made a really big Self Reliance day for them.  We were so pleased with the response of 10 people wanting to start the 12 week classes series.  This is such a big step after having had a “failure” there last year.  We are not the key motivators here, in fact we are learning from their persistence, but it is great to be involved and see the progress.  Perhaps the only success we can even partially claim is that we have been the happy clappers--and hopefully the smoothers of some rough spot relations.

 

Included in the day was a mid-afternoon drive for lunch to one of the leader’s home about an hour away on some small winding rural roads.  It was great to see it all, but added to a lot of road time, so we were glad we had decided to stay the night in the area.  We stayed at a pretty nice B&B and then took half a day seeing the nearby BunRatty Castle and restored historic village.  It was great and will be a place to take anyone who comes to visit.  The castle was built in the early 1400’s (before Columbus time) and some of the houses were from the same time---and then progressed through time to the 1800’s.  We will include many of the pix on this week’s blog. 

 

Well, this letter has strung on way long.  We wish we could share so many things that happen.  We really do feel the Lord’s hand in things that are happening here, and feel so grateful for being able to be here.  ---and not just because we know we are blessed that we are getting out of the huge snow year, (even so we rarely feel warm enough.  It seems like whenever we feel comfortable someone opens a window--but you are not surprised--right?!)  It’s a good thing the Spirit is keeping us “warm” with tender mercies of mission blessings.  We appreciate the letters and messages we receive.  They are wonderful to read and re-read because even though we are doing well, we miss you all.  We hope things are going well for everyone.  You are ALWAYS in our prayers.

Hugs to all,
 

Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Elder and Sister Pettit

 These are the great Elders and Sisters that serve in our area.  We do lessons with them and feed them. 

 We wonder what this implement is used for.  Why would you want to make the ground harder?

 We recognize most of the older tools here--but not all.  The horses that were in the stables here were very short though---like shetland size and very stocky and heavy fur. 

 All houses are built of stone, and this one even had a slate roof.  Good ideas for how windy it is here.

 This is a washtub, clothes wringer and drying rack.  So easy!

 The school house was fun to see.  We couldn't figure out why the infant count for school--and why was it in permanent letters?

 Birdies woolen shop sold beautiful knitted sweaters (called jumpers here).  Dad bought me a tan woolen jumper, made in Ireland and a little heavier than we see in the States.

 Some of the stairs of the BunRatty Castle.  Always narrow and steep--and from top to ground floor was 112 steps.

 Down to the dungeon!!  You can only go a short way down, then it gets creepy and is blocked off.

 Both are wearing coats!  Seriously all horses and donkeys have these coats to be outside.

 The oldest sewing machine I have ever seen.

 From Marie Von Trapp's school.

 Downtown BunRatty--from the 1800's

 The drawbridge controls. in the corner guard station.  Windows now have glass in them.

 This photo was taken for the hunting enthusiasts.  The antler racks must have been reindeer--at least 10 feet across! They are displayed in the great rooms, just above the kings chair.

 The kitchen: rabbit, and birds ready to cook.

 The castle kitchen,  Big bowls over the stone mantel are turtle shells   Bags of grain etc.

 looking out over the great room from the Kinds quarters

 Throne room maybe?

 The Library or guest quarters.

 Fancy chandelier

 The clock

 The Castle, overlooking the countryside--dates back to the time BEFORE Columbus

 Overlooking the River Shannon which soon is the sea.   Irish flag.

 We think being guard would not have been a fun job --always windy

 River Shannon mote

 Have fun storming the castle fellows.

 Courtyard complete with cannons and the handsome prince.

Walkway to the home site dating back to the 1400s

 Zone Leaders and the new Elder coming--Elder Flynn.  Can you guess which one he is?  He is from Sacramento area but has Irish ancestry.  (hint:  there really is a lot of red hair in Ireland)

 This rock wall is different, The pices are only 1-2 inches thick, one slab standing  on its side.

 A fancy manor house from the 1800's

 Sturdy little donkey was so friendly

 See his good coat?

The open fireplace burns turf--from the bog.  It is cut in small "logs" and looks like a chunk of mud.  In a few million years it would become coal.  It burns so slowly and so smoky, so it lasts a few days.  It is still harvested and used today. (friends we know still use it in the rural areas) We learned that "turf wars " originated from this harvesting.  You would not go cut someone else's turf.  It is cut out in 4 inch layers and the turf areas are significantly lower than the other farm fields.  The bed in the back has curtains which may be to keep them warm or may be to keep them from the smoke.