Our dear Family and Friends,
Sorry we had to run away -- here is part 2 of what we started earlier. We were reporting on some of our experiences. As follows are a few more in random order. Some comical, some sad and some spiritual : -
We were speaking with some good friends who had recently been forced to close their thriving little greengrocery business. There are many small communities that historically thrive within large European cities. Where we reside, for example, not far from the city centre, there are numerous businesses that form a small town within a town and there may be 20 of these within a 2 mile radius. We had noticed that in each of these inner city communities they are many stores simply shuttered up for good. Our friends tell us that the paramilitary when the troubles ended simply turned to collecting protection monies illegally from each store owner. Our friends were forced to pay over 8000 thousand dollars per year, just to open their doors for business or face the consequences of being burned or bombed out. They and many others simply close shop and walk away.
We have also noticed a large difference in society over 40 years. While it is wonderful that the majority of the fighting has stopped -- that warfare has changed the people to some degree. Prior to 1970 the Irish were great church goers - it appeared that most went to a church of some sort ---- now a very large part of the population do not believe in God, let alone attend a church. Alcohol , tobacco and other drug use is widespread and we are finding as missionaries that many of the less actives are having great difficulty, especially with alcohol. It is so accessible with pubs everywhere -- one little village of 500 people, for example, boasts no fewer than 21 pubs. We, sadly, are working with some that say they love the church but cannot leave the bottle. It is such a terrible and terrifying disease. The governments answer appears to be, keep taxing the purchase cost. We are also seeing many young single mothers with very young infants and no husbands. As marriage has not been promoted by the government but large sums of money in terms of benefits are given to these young women, including free housing, day care, free food, baby needs, etc. This is another scourge in society and unfortunately too many of the less active young women in the church are in this category. Candidly, these are some of the challenges we have been working through, however there are also many stalwarts in the church here that are indeed the salt of the earth. One such sister is one of our branch missionaries. Maxine is over 80 years young and would think nothing of walking several miles to attend church. She is always the first to volunteer to help someone needy and knows everyone intimately, in the branch. She is a tremendous source of information to us and a fantastic example of all that is good.
We visited with a less active sister -- Lily and her sister Maddy ( the latter so rightly named as she is indeed a nutter, in Irish that means a little off the rocker ) Maddy will openly tell you that during the troubles she would go out and throw rocks at the police. They thought she was insane and picked her up, taking her to the local asylum. There she would have a " holiday " for a few days and would be sent home with a great and free benefit package that would last for another 6 months or until the next riot she could get involved in. Yes, a true story right from Maddy's lips. We could do nothing but laugh !!! -- only in Ireland. We have many of these tales to tell.
We went to find some lost sheep a few days ago - what a journey. The older couple had built a lovely home at the top of the mountain. What magnificent scenery as we drove on an extremely narrow road fit only for one very small car as it wound up the mountain side. The wife had serious challenges with health, both physical and emotional. In the course of our visit she had confided in us that she was suicidal and had attempted to take her life and would not fail next time. Her husband, a quiet man, but loved the church and his wife was trying to find some positive hope for his companion. We met for some time and were calling inwardly for divine help -- it came, as it almost always does. In the course of our communication she had mentioned one granddaughter that had been helpful to her. Although she had lost all hope for living, we went to work with this one thread and the scriptures that were unfolded before our eyes. We thank God each day for this great gift that has been given to all members of Christ's church, that of the Holy Ghost. We believe that she has grasped the concept that the entire sum of existence may be the magic of being needed by just one person. But in her case she has at least two -- her husband and her granddaughter. They want us to visit again and we intend to build on this and on the love of the Savior of the world and the miracle of the atonement.
May we finish with a funny story -- in visiting today with a family in Ballymena -- Doreen took us out for dinner. She has the greatest sense of humor with her Irish / Scots brogue -- Sister McBride had difficulty understanding it but I loved every minute of it. When she did not understand I would interpret. Doreen was using words that I have not heard for almost 50 years. She told this story of visiting America to see the missionary who taught her the Gospel. She was a dyed in the world loyalist and she insisted that her friends meet her at SLC airport, waving the Union Jacks. What she did not know is they had bought a bunch of TRICOLORS ( that is the flag of the Republic ) and the loyalists do NOT like that flag. Well they sewed them together and made a bedspead to cover her bed with them. So she ripped them off and the air was blue -- but they couldn't understand her in any case -- so as she says, " no harm done ' Then one time she fell out with her branch Pres. and asked him if he had ever seem the devil !!!! He said " absolutely not and was annoyed " Then she said " well I,m looking at him " Now how is that for some of the people we are working with --- it is never a dull moment, we can assure you.
We love the Saviour of the world. This is the church of Jesus Christ. God lives and we love his tender mercies. We love each of you and trust that you are all well and healthy. Keep the faith and continue to draw upon the powers of Heaven.
Elder and Sister McBride.
Scotland / Ireland Mission
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