Dear Sweet Family and Friends,
Well today is the 4th of July and although we are appreciating our time in Ireland, we are celebrating that our home country is America! America has so many great blessings and privileges that we don't even recognize until we don't have them. Just for example, today we are EATING American. We had wheat waffles for breakfast---because a good friend gave us some of their storage wheat when we asked where we could buy it. Apparently it is not really possible to buy it here, but the church helped Saints in 2002 to get some food storage items and they haven't used it since ---and can't see how they EVER would use kernel wheat. We resisted taking any of their food storage, because who knows when they will need it, but they insisted. So after a wonderful morning run in gorgeous July weather that seemed to be saying 'happy 4th of July!' we realized our first appointment was not until noon, so we made those waffles. FYI the gorgeous July weather lasted until 9:00 a.m.
Next for the 4th of July, we dressed American. Grandpa wore his red, white and blue tie, and Grandma wore her flag colored top, blue skirt, white sweater and red shoes! We are not sure anyone noticed at all, but we felt proudly patriotic! The other day we saw an American flag on a boat and it looked so good to us. The Irish flag is green, white and orange and lately the colors are waving everywhere to celebrate Ireland's good fortune to be playing in the European football playoffs. There are green, white and orange banners and streamers decorating many houses and cars. It is not uncommon to see strings of pendants from upstairs windows all the way to the front gates, and little flags on cars as well.
We have been a little surprised at the interest in singing American patriotic songs. Last week, one of the non-Americans suggested we sing the Star Spangled Banner at district meeting. Although there were about 1/2 of the district who were not
Americans, they all seemed to know our National Anthem and it was sung with such enthusiasm. Then on Sunday the branch we visited sang The Battle Hymn of Republic. We asked if they sang it to recognize America's independence or for its spiritual message, and they said the spiritual message, as if it were a silly question. (Maybe it is.) But they also said how surprised they were that the Star Spangled Banner was in the Hymnbook, though they really love the song and enjoy singing it too. And did we ever tell you how much Ireland saints seem to like the hymn, "In our Lovely Deseret"?
Continuing in our celebration was to visit with a lady from America who has done a lot of work to learn about the refugee situation here in Europe and is willing to help us pull together at least an awareness service project for the upcoming YSA Convention, July 22-24. (We are hoping to also be able to get involved on our own project later.) Just hearing some firsthand experiences of working at a camp in Greece, makes us so grateful and aware of our blessings. We realize more and more how much we have as Americans and hope we can be good stewards of those blessings to help others. Our mission to Ireland only gives us a partial view of what is needed in many places of the world, but at least we have an increased awareness .
Next, to prepare for our English class, we made American chocolate chip cookies . We say American, because chocolate chips in Ireland are in such small packages and are so expensive that no one makes them into cookies. The only way is if someone gets them from the states. We had a really large Costco-sized bag of them because the same people who gave us the wheat also offered us a bag of chocolate chips. Our protest this time was even stronger than for the wheat, but so was their insistence. The husband was really funny when he told us about how they were so much less expensive to buy them in America--until you have to pay an extra $150 for the overweight luggage! Still they insisted that we take a package home. So we have been saving them for an important occasion--like the 4th of July! We have to say they did taste really "grand"! ("grand" is often an Irish word choice.)
Now of course the whole week was not about the 4th of July, but there was one more really American event before we move on: We had a visit from Jack and Marilyn Draxler, our good friends from North Logan, who had been touring the British Isles for 13 days, ending in Ireland. It was so fun to spend an evening with them. We went to dinner ---in a Pub, and drank water ---with authentic Irish dishes. We brought them to see our flat and the Church and shared some of our missionary experiences with them. Jack is ending his term as a Utah State Legislator in December and they are preparing to go on a mission soon too. They are tremendous saints and will be such a blessing wherever they are called to serve. We really appreciated that they would take some of their vacation time with us!
The week was also highlighted by some SR successes in each of the 3 stakes. We have had a difficult time getting SR started in the Belfast Stake and with the new Stake Specialist called we were so happy that hey held their first devotional with classes planned to follow. The new Specialists are a husband and wife team, a recently released bishop. The night of the devotional they came with her hand all swollen and bandaged and him in a surgery walking boot. We commented on the rough time they were having and they said that they had spent the day in the hospital taking care of his feet because he has diabetes. He cheerfully added that his good foot had gotten bad just that morning and now he didn't limp!--- because both feet hurt equally!
They are amazing cute saints.
We were also happy to have classes still going in Cork and had some good times with them. Another small branch from the Dublin stake, on the far western side of Ireland stayed with their plan for a devotional, and classes are scheduled to start as soon as we have an open block of Fridays by the end of the month. They are so excited to start and are glad to have a little more time to gather in more to participate. We feel so blessed with all these efforts coming together.
On Saturday we attended the baptism of two young ladies - one from Brazil and the other from Nigeria. It is wonderful to watch the simple believing spirit of some of these immigrants. They seem to recognize the Holy Ghost so quickly and then have the courage to act on the promptings. It has been an unexpected blessing of this mission to see so many wonderful people join the Church. One of girls who was baptized is in our English class, and she has no problem sharing her happiness with all the members of the class, who are mostly non-members, now investigators.
So as we close our weekly letter we go back to our start and our gratitude for America, and the need we have for Heaven's blessing to continue on this choice land. "God bless America, land that we love, stand beside her and guide her through the night with a Light from above". The whole world is aware of America. It has so many blessings, but the greatest is the freedom that has allowed the gospel to be restored and taken to all the earth. "And thus the Lord did pour out the blessings upon this land, which was choice above all other lands; and he commanded that whoso should possess the land should possess it unto the Lord". (Ether 9:20) We truly feel that we are richly blessed and that the Lord has given us so much, but He also can expect so much from us. We encourage you all to recognize the blessings of freedom, the importance of hard work, the joy of the gospel light in your lives and families. We hope all you grandchildren will respect your freedoms and prepare to share the gospel message when you are old enough--which is coming so fast as you are all growing up!
We love you all, and pray for great blessings in your lives!
Hugs and more hugs!
Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom, Lynne and Lanette, Elder and Sister Pettit---us!
Jack and Marilyn Draxler visit us in Ireland on there last day of a British Isles tour.
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