Dear Family and Friends:
This mission continues to be a blessing in our lives, and we are grateful for it. In so many ways, a mission is a "refining" experience because a missionary is constantly having to push ahead, check his or her spiritual strength, think of ways to improve, and put the welfare of others constantly at the forefront. It is a wonderful, stretching, growing time in one's life, and we are thankful for the opportunity. Again, our greatest desire is to somehow make a difference, and we are really trying to do that.
We travelled in so many different directions the week before last, so it was good to take a day or two to catch up on overdue tasks at the first of the week, but it wasn't long before we were back in the travelling mode. We went to Tralee on Thursday (3 1/2 hours each way) to participate in a My Path devotional with this little branch. It was good to see things finally get moving here, after some reluctance on the part of branch leadership. There weren't many in attendance, but we were glad to see it moving, and, once again, we were so appreciative of the support shown by the counselor in the District presidency, and the local missionary couple. We have a strong feeling that their good efforts will pay off. We stayed about 90 minutes, and then hit the road for home, getting here well after midnight. We felt it was very important for us to show our support by being there.
We were scheduled to drive to Sligo (2 1/2 hours each way) on Friday, but decided that it wouldn't be smart to go, and after phone calls to ensure that they could conduct the classes on their own (which is the goal anyway), we opted to stay home for the Western "hoedown" that was being held in our church that night. It was great fun. Grandpa and our friend Nick barbecued the hamburgers, and Grandma was the hit of the night in the line dancing. We honestly didn't know that there were that many cowboy hats and boots in Ireland!
But the real fun started when our good friends Steve and Emily Clyde from Logan flew in on Saturday afternoon. We have been looking forward to their visit for a long time, and it is so good to have them here. After picking them up at the airport, we hurried back for a baptism, had dinner, and then we were off to the theater to watch "Riverdance". It was absolutely marvelous! We have seen a version of this show of traditional Irish music and dance in the states, but it was even more fun to see it in Ireland. They only perform in Ireland during the summer months, so we feel lucky to see them. The theater was very nice, in the tradition of the classic European performance halls, with gorgeous boxed seating on the sides and very ornate décor throughout.
This mission continues to be a blessing in our lives, and we are grateful for it. In so many ways, a mission is a "refining" experience because a missionary is constantly having to push ahead, check his or her spiritual strength, think of ways to improve, and put the welfare of others constantly at the forefront. It is a wonderful, stretching, growing time in one's life, and we are thankful for the opportunity. Again, our greatest desire is to somehow make a difference, and we are really trying to do that.
We travelled in so many different directions the week before last, so it was good to take a day or two to catch up on overdue tasks at the first of the week, but it wasn't long before we were back in the travelling mode. We went to Tralee on Thursday (3 1/2 hours each way) to participate in a My Path devotional with this little branch. It was good to see things finally get moving here, after some reluctance on the part of branch leadership. There weren't many in attendance, but we were glad to see it moving, and, once again, we were so appreciative of the support shown by the counselor in the District presidency, and the local missionary couple. We have a strong feeling that their good efforts will pay off. We stayed about 90 minutes, and then hit the road for home, getting here well after midnight. We felt it was very important for us to show our support by being there.
We were scheduled to drive to Sligo (2 1/2 hours each way) on Friday, but decided that it wouldn't be smart to go, and after phone calls to ensure that they could conduct the classes on their own (which is the goal anyway), we opted to stay home for the Western "hoedown" that was being held in our church that night. It was great fun. Grandpa and our friend Nick barbecued the hamburgers, and Grandma was the hit of the night in the line dancing. We honestly didn't know that there were that many cowboy hats and boots in Ireland!
But the real fun started when our good friends Steve and Emily Clyde from Logan flew in on Saturday afternoon. We have been looking forward to their visit for a long time, and it is so good to have them here. After picking them up at the airport, we hurried back for a baptism, had dinner, and then we were off to the theater to watch "Riverdance". It was absolutely marvelous! We have seen a version of this show of traditional Irish music and dance in the states, but it was even more fun to see it in Ireland. They only perform in Ireland during the summer months, so we feel lucky to see them. The theater was very nice, in the tradition of the classic European performance halls, with gorgeous boxed seating on the sides and very ornate décor throughout.
The dancing was so spectacular and made us think a lot about why it was so impressive. Along with the group dancing, the show had some variety with vocalists, instrumentalists, and solo dancers. The violinist (fiddler) was incredible and some of the couple dancers were specially featured, but even though the variety was nice, nothing could measure up to the group dancers. It finally came to us why the group dancing stood above anything else: unity. Unity is the factor that makes other things impressive, as well. Unity in a choir, to be as one clear voice, so that words are understood. Unity in an orchestra, with many instruments playing their own part, but working to create a blend of tones that thrills the soul. And not just associated with music or the arts, unity brings success when community or humanitarian projects make the efforts of a group more powerful than the sum of the people. Unity in the wards or branches makes all the difference in our work for Self Reliance. When the people combine their commitments and care for each other, so many blessings come to individuals and to wards/branches. And of course unity is a blessing for families. Unity does not mean that everyone has to be the same, but it means that everyone has to have the same end goal. Our experience is that unity is not easily attained, but the ultimate prize.
Speaking of prizes, we have a special news item for the Grandchildren: Today while we were up to the Giant's Causeway with the Clydes, we discovered where the fairies keep their money. You know, like the gold at the end of the rainbow? We found it! We were climbing just a little on some rock formations that were like stone pillars all connected and we discovered that it was loaded with money. Yes, the cracks in the rocks were stuffed with all kinds of coins. Some of the coins have been there so long that they are corroded, and some have been there so long that they have "melted" . Melted is the best way we can describe what they look like. The coin is slipped into the crack and over time it looks like it has become liquid and dripped down the stone. To be sure it has not been the heat, because it doesn't get hot there, but none the less, it does droop over the edge. We were a little tempted to wiggle the coins out of the cracks and get a collection to share with all you Grandkids, but we thought it might not be fair if we took many of the coins. What would the leprechauns, elves, and fairies do for money?
Well, we are thinking of all of you so much. When all the fun is finished for this summer, we hope you will have a little time to share your best part with us. We love you and hope you will be blessed this week as you get ready to start back to school. Stay happy, stay righteous, have unity. We pray for you each day, and share our testimony that He is in charge of this Work.
Love to all,
Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Lynne and Lanette, Elder and Sister Pettit
On the beautiful bridge at Londonderry.
On the rive bridge at Londonderry. Now often called Derry because folks don't want to be connected to London, since they gained their independence.
We had to take a picture with he beautiful flower baskets that are all along the walkway by the river.
Scotland.
Titanic plackard in the shipyard showing it was built in this location.
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