Pettit's Highland Highlights: Tour of Ireland

Dear Family and Friends,
It is always fun to look back on a week and think of what has happened. Sometimes we have to really think hard to remember what we have done, but this week we were blessed to have the Clydes with us for much of the week and so the memories are pretty clear. With summer "holiday" time, our schedule was a little less full, so we chose rather than doing very much paper work or planning to go to the appointments we needed to and fill in the gaps with a little sight seeing. As it ended up we had a pretty big tour of Ireland.
We have seen so many photos of the Cliffs of Moher as being one of the great features of Ireland, but we have never been there. It is quite famous, even used as the setting for movies, such as Princess Bride. The cliffs run along the western shoreline of central Ireland for about 10 miles. The nearly straight up cliffs are as high as 750 feet in some places! It is truly spectacular and very popular to see. It had a lot of visitors which meant a lot of cars traveling there on fairly small, two way roads. Not surprisingly the wind was blowing a lot when we were there, but it wasn't raining so we felt lucky. We were able to get a few pretty good pictures, but besides the beauty and magnificence, one thing we wanted to photograph was the people who seemed so careless about the risk of the cliff areas that were outside the developed park barriers. Even though there were clear signs of warning, quite a few younger people went to the edge of the cliffs not so much, it seemed, for a better view, but to show they were so brave.

It really reminded us of the way sin can seem harmless, until something really bad happens. Ireland's tourist attractions are not nearly as carefully guarded against accidents as the U.S. The parts that were developed were great and nicely done, but then there was such easy access to a completely undeveloped trail within a short distance of the main tourist area, and with no laws to prevent access, the warning signs were almost an enticement to brave the dangers. People stood on the sheer cliffs with no barrier, no guarantee that the edge would not crumble, and wind gusting all the while. We think of our wonderful grandchildren and hope you will recognize the warnings that the gospel gives us for life. The "signposts" to avoid the temptations of the world are important. Even getting close to sin can put any of us in danger of slipping or getting blown away when the trials of life come at us. We cannot think we are the exception from the laws of nature or the laws of Eternity.

After visiting the Cliffs, we drove on over to Tralee and the home of the Branch President, the Knights. We have been able to get to know them quite well and we were warmly welcomed and had dinner with them. The kids are so cute with us and we feel the commitment of President Knight growing---- to help bring Self Reliance to his branch, as we spend more time with them. While we were there the kids showed us that their family, and especially Evan, the ten year old boy, had a featured story in the Children's Friend in June of this year. We hope each of your families will either find your June Friend, or go to it on line and find the article about Evan Knight of Ireland. It is a two page spread, with another article about him on the next page as well. It is fun that he is featured because they are so isolated from other children who are members of the church, but they are so faithful and so good.

Sometimes we might wonder if the stories in the Friend are real to life, not a regular way of life. For Evan, he really is a nice as it makes him sound, and as valiant to share his faith as the story tells. We are always impressed at how considerate he is of his sisters, and how much he loves to help others. They had a young lady live with them for a few months who had connections with the writers for the Friend. She was so impressed with Evan's desire to do what is right that she took pictures and wrote the story for the friend. We know their family makes special efforts to share their testimonies of the gospel and we are thrilled that even their Self Reliance finance class has invited two non-member couples to join them. This branch is so far away and so tiny, but they are doing their best to live the gospel and help others see their example. If anyone would like to be email friends with Evan, we could probably arrange that. This is the family that built their own designer home over the course of 5 years without getting a mortgage--so we think they are pretty great in many ways.

That night we stayed in a hotel (rather than with the Knights) and the next day we drove home via another special tourist route called the "Ring of Kerry" We wish we could say we were thrilled, but the most breathe-taking thrill was the narrow windy two way road! Pretty, but not worth it. As we drove, we wanted to point out the many building structures along the way. We saw and visited one very old castle that was quite broken down ---and now just occupying part of the cow pasture. It was fun to climb around on it, and wonder what it might have been like in its glory days. The Clydes were very fun and good-sport tour companions. We saw new things, had a great visit with them, and kept our work going too.

We also always enjoy seeing the many steeples that highlight the skyline as we travel the cities and byways. Every city has at least one church, and some have more. In one city of Londonderry, we were impressed by several steeples, all of different designs. We had gone there after our meetings last Sunday, because Stephen Clyde had ancestors from there , and it was fun to think what the city would have looked like when his family was there before migrating to America. Many of these churches were built long before the gospel was even restored. They are often the center of the city and sometimes the grounds are also the cemetery. We think of how the people were held together by their faith and it makes us appreciate the church buildings even more. Grandma has always loved the design of traditional European churches (remember the Christmas village with the trains?) It is fun to know that many churches can be quite close together in real life.

We know that quite a sacrifice was made to build these churches, especially when the people were poor, so we appreciate their devotion to Christianity even when they did not have the full gospel to bless their lives. We know we are so blessed now to have the gospel and hope that we can bless the people of Ireland with even greater faith and blessings in their lives. Our Mission President reminds the missionaries now that times past have been seed-planting times, and that now we are in the harvesting times for gathering in the good people of all the world. The Work is still more successful with immigrants (the gathering of Israel) than with the Irish, and we know they have some mistrust to overcome, but we especially love it when we see Irish people join the church. We are getting to know one young man who joined the church a few months ago that is anything but reluctant to share his testimony with family and friends. He is so excited that he will be baptizing his best friend (and girl friend) this Saturday. We wish we could be here, but we have a Youth Conference responsibility.

Another experience this week was our group in little Sligo branch. This branch is so small and yet the saints have so much unity that they seem pretty strong. They really know and care about each other. When we got there, the lady whose home we stayed in last time we were there, told us about the arrangements for staying that night. (We didn't know if we would be staying, so we brought the necessities just in case we did.) We had thought we would drive home, but we could see that there would be disappointment if we declined, so we smiled and were grateful. The people whose home we stayed at came early and waited for more than an hour for us to teach the classes, so they could lead us to their home out in the countryside where no addresses are used. We wondered what we were getting into, but the home was very nice. It took us well over an hour to get the complete tour--another self-designed and self-built home. This man is an interior designer, who did the London temple, so the design was lovely, but also fun.

When we were finally able to get to bed, the hosts asked us what time we would be leaving. We told them we would get up early and get off, because we had a big YSA activity to prepare for. They then warned us that we would need to have them restrain the dog for us to leave or we might lose a finger! We believed them because we had seen what a big deal it was to get the dog up or down the stairs for us to get the house tour. The dog was an enormous English German Shepherd, standing at least to our waists and heavily built. Then the lady said rather quietly, she hoped the dog would not push the door open into our room. You guessed it! the next morning as we were almost ready--and about on time for the hosts wake-up schedules, we heard the door push open and in walked the dog!! Grandma was quick to get her hands up by her head and still remain calm. Grandpa just stood there staring. In a minute or two of "nice dogs" the lady came in to save us--or somewhat save us. She just stood there talking while the dog fully sniffed us up and down. She said something like it was good for the dog to get used to us for the next time we come to stay. They really like the dog because many people in their area get things stolen from their farms, but they don't. Do you think we should be that brave to come and stay again?

And while we are writing about "Beware of Dogs" we saw a sign on a fence near to there that said, "Beware of Ram". It was a good thing it was labeled, because the ram was in the field and looked like a huge gentle cow.

Well, this letter is getting pretty long, but we wanted to tell you one more event of the week. We have mentioned Nick before and his desire to be able to get his life in order (mostly stop smoking) to join the Church. He called us and told us that he had good news and bad news. The good news was that he was kicked out of his apartment. ?! How could that be the good news? He said he had been upset with the way he was being treated and so even though it was going to be hard, he would now be getting his own place. We were quite surprised with his attitude and perspective that the Lord knew he needed to move and that things would work out--so it was good news. The bad news was that he would be stretched with money because he has several expenses now with the changes he is trying to make. We are concerned for him, but not too much because he has such determination and faith. This is truly remarkable in someone who has been in more street fights than we want to know about. We really have great hopes for things to start coming together for him in the near future. He has a ways to go, but he has already come a long way and he inspires us.

We close wanting each of you to know that we know the Gospel is such a blessing. We see many ways that lives are benefitted by the gospel, and the programs that it offers, to help people be happy, but most of all we know that we love you and hope for your happiness in all you do.

Hugs and Blessings!

Grandpa and Grandma

Dad and Mom

Lynne and Lanette

Elder and Sister Pettit