Hello our dear family and what's about ye !!
It seems like an eternity since we communicated with you and when we explain just a portion of the last month you may understand why. First and most important we trust and pray that you are all well -- we are also and very very happy immersed in the most important in the world. We moved into our new flat only on Saturday and we feel just like newly weds ( when in fact it is our 41st wedding anniversary on the 9th June - next week ) -- trying to stock up the kitchen, bedclothes, groceries, etc. The digs are very nice - brand new - 2 bedroom, 2 bath, luxury appliances, etc -- I think we may be the envy of the mission and we try hard not to be, but this kind of just fell in our lap -- or maybe it was just one of those mini miracles where God wishes to remain anonymous. Zetta took fantastic care of us for 2 weeks but it was challenging with study time, etc -- but that is now over and we are now getting everything well under way. It is also nice to get our computer up and working, it was much more challenging that we imagined and stting up a bank account has indeed been an ordeal -- the red tape is hardly believeable but we think that may be complete by tomorrow. Yes, the bank manager has to interview you before they will consider opening an account for you !!!!
Now let us start with the wonderful journey we have been on. The MTC was an incredible experience from beginning to end. we will not detail a lot but to suffice it to say -- the only experience to surpass the time spent at the Preston MTC was the birth of our children and our own temple sealing. It was the ultimate spiritual experience or our lives to be deeply immersed in the life and work of the Saviour of the world, each day. We can now fully understand the intense feeling Kelly expressed as she was one of the first groups of missionaries to be taught from PMG. Please use this invaluable resource in your family home evenings -- this coupled with the scriptures will bring a great unifying spirit into your homes.We had only 2 other couples with us and that the the first senior couples they had seen in 9 months. We don't think they quite knew what to do with us. But we did have a fabulous instructor and we were involved and taught each other many times.Before we went into the MTC we had a very surprize visit from Zetta which was great -- little did she know what would transpire in a few days !!! Kelly sent an absolutely beautiful array of flowers to Mom for Mothers day which made her cry and shey adorned our MTC room for the duration of our stay -- thank you so much Kelly -- what a kind thought.
So that you might understand how busy we have been -- here is our first day in the mission field. Left the MTC on the 14th May at 4.30AM went to Manchester Airport. It was pure bedlam there as many flights were cancelled because of volcanic ash -- it had created major havoc, especially between the mainland and Ireland. It was indeed a miracle that ours was one of the very few flights allowed out. Arrived Dublin about 9.30 am -- greeted by Pres. Greer and his wife -- what a lovely gentle meek man and a wife who was equally nice and absolutely hilarious. We went to the office where we met the entire staff and then sat down to receive our assignment -- IT WAS A SHOCK !!! We were going to Belfast to co- ordinate the YSA for the Belfast Stake. There are approx. 500 of them all over Northern Ireland. We have no area or restrictions on our travel and we have the responsibilty for the YSA centre in the inner core of Belfast close to Queens University and several other colleges -- It is the only church owned centre of it's kind in all of Europe. We have a set of guidelines for the Europe area and our major objective is search and rescue of the many inactives and in encouaging and teaching the active in how to bring in investigators. We will share more experiences with you in another email. So you can see we have a massive assignment and in addition we have a heavy reponsability this coming Sunday in a special block meeting this Sunday with the YSA that is only held twice a year.
We had lunch with the Pres. and his wife at the mission home and then drove toward Belfast. While still driving in Dublin the president said we have one little snag --- they had nowhere for us to live !!!!!!!! Oh, the joys of the mission field -- that is what prompted a quick emergency call to Zetta and of course the welcome roof over our heads. We drove to the YSA Centre where we met a number of missionaries, got a car, the keys to the centre and there it is he said -- it's all your and ------ God Bless you both. !!!!! Finally and eventually we got to bed about 2.00am the next day. ----- so that was our first day and everyday since has been very busy with meetings, teaching experiences, mentoring, activities, etc. even now we are breaching mission rules by doing this email at midnight --- but Heavenly Father will understand that we love you.
Please have the grandchildren write us -- we miss them very much and we also look forward to hearing from each of you, our lovely children and daughters and son in law. We pray fervently for you each day.' Our new address is 219 Saintfield Road, #6 ,, Belfast BT8 7HQ, Northern Ireland. However you can still mail to the Mission Address as you never know when we would be moved again, but we do not think this will be for at least 6 months.
That is all for now, take care and may God bless each of you abundantly,
All our love,
Elder and Sister McBride,
Mom and Dad.
No comments:
Post a Comment