Missionary Report Oct. 30th

Dear Family and friends,

It has been another beautiful day in the mission field in dear old Ireland. We have noticed with amusement regarding Elder Ockey's emails and the flooding in the Bahamas. I am pleased to say to all the couples " Come to the beautiful Emerald Isle " --- where it NEVER rains !!!!

I think since we have been here you could count on one hand the real rainy days -- however that is most unusual but we like to think the luck o' the Oirish is working for us !!!! We have reached the 6 month mark in the mission and with lots of experiences - some very interesting and some really quiet incredible, as we will explain later. We received our first transfer to the town of Antrim, still in the North - or as the loyalists like to say -- the prod side of the island !! Antrim is a very small branch and we have the charge of trying to build it up. The kids at the YSA centre held a farewell party for us and it was sad as we had developed a strong rapport with them and they with us. They gave us some gifts which made it all the more difficult, but hopefully we accomplished what we set out to do and that was to bless their lives. We also had the opportunity to reactivate several and that became a real blessing to us.

Elder McBride got his first ticket ------ ah, caught you --- it was not for speeding, although I must admit to driving , maybe a wee bit speedy on some of the fun narrow twisty roads. It was a parking ticket and I talked my way out of it anyhow by the reverse procedure that I use at home. Here, Elder McBride is a Canadian and that works very well, just like being an Irishman in Calgary, plus I am just a poor missionary !!

We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving in Dublins fair city. We had 9 senior missionary couples there with 2 couples being Canadian ( Elder and Sister Hancock from Raymond and ourselves ) Also Elder Card is from Cardston. We had turkey with all the trimmings, pumpkin pie, etc -- the younger of us played basketball , etc --- it was a great day and we shared lots of Alberta stories with all our great American couples. They will have an opportunity to do likewise as we will get together again on US thanksgiving.

We spoke in Coleraine last week -- Elder McBrides old stomping grounds -- where he went to grammar school, seen movies such as the Beatles - HELP and " Its a mad mad mad world " --- and it still is. I told a story from the dedicatory service of the lovely little chapel when I was visiting there a number of years ago and some of the members remembered that. One sister came up to Sister McBride and told her she went to Primary school with me in Ballymoney. I asked her if I was the menace who pulled her hair !! That was indeed a trip down memory lane and we felt very much at home with the members there.

Yes, with the extended travelling and into little towns where nothing runs in blocks, nor Belfast for that matter, we finally spurlged on a SAT/NAV ( thats GPS ) and it is bailing us out of a lot of extra driving and with petrol at about 3 - 4 times what it is in Calgary -- that can be considerable. Now its fun to land at the very door with the input of merely a postal code. Only problem is that the girl has an English accent --- fortunately it can be changed to a lovely Dublin one !!!!

We have decided to stay in our flat ( apt. ) in Belfast -- our landlord likes us and will extend it do us on a monthly basis instead of long term. There may be some other changes that will require that type of flexibility and the commute is not too long. In addition we have been able to get another senior couple into the same complex as they will be in a nearby building and area. There are only 2 senior couples in the North, so that will be very good as we can help each other better this way.

We attended a Halloween party in Elder McBrides sisters ward. She makes a crazy witch in supertitious Ireland. It becomes a lot of fun when we can get a small break away from the work and we are very thankful for that. They are allowed fireworks here in Northern Ireland again after 40 years of a complete ban because of the civil strife. We still see traces of that period everywhere we go and there are still pockets of resistance with riots breaking out from time to time. We usually know where to go and where to stay out of, especially at nighttime.

We are experiencing some rich spiritual experiences with wonderful members in this little branch and also some " very different " ones. Let us tell you a few that you might find incredible -- but true.

The records of the branch are in pathetic shape ( that is our first item of business to get those cleared up ) Two priesthood brethren went home teaching to a home where no one had hometaught ( obviously ) for a very long time. They knocked at the door and asked for the sister by name. Now you need to understand that in Ireland they have these things called " wakes " -- that is when someone passes away the body is often kept in the parlour - front room - in the coffin and many people come to pay respects, a bit of a party and have a wee nip o' old Bushmills whisky.

Now ---- the sister had passed away and no one in the church knew it, so the 2 brethern were ushered into the parlour, offered a wee drink --- to their great surprise seen the sister --- however they could not share their message with her !!!!!! Only in Ireland !!

Sorry --- have another commitment to take care of ---- will finish this shortly,

Love you all and we love the Gospel,

Elder and Sister McBride.