Missionary Report

To our lovely family and our dear, dear friends in the US may you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and may you all enjoy your great turkey dinners. We will be in Dublin's fair city to enjoy our Irish turkey dinner with all the senior couples. We are also doing something interesting. We will be visiting that famous old university, Trinity College Dublin to see the Book of Kells, this is the original document translated in the 9th century by Irish monks, of the 4 Gospels. We had seen it before and it is fascinating --- we have also arranged to see an original copy of the Book of Mormon, housed in the old library and brought out with prior arrangement.

We understand that it is -30 degrees in Alberta and snowing, also snowing in Utah. Thought we might let you know that here in the sunny Emerald Isle -- it is beautiful this morning -- early, Elder McBride went for his power walk along the river in his Tshirt -- we know it is unfair to tell you this but any of you who may be our age and that is plenty nine, you could consider putting away your snow shovels ( the Irish do not know what snow shovels are ) and come serve and have some fun. It can be such a marvellous experience and you will not have to worry about the flurries, warming your car up in the morning, block heaters and scraping the ice off the windshields.

Pday this week we went through downtown Belfast -- it is looking very Christmassy. Sister McBride loved the Continental market place set up on the city hall grounds -- foods from all over Europe and also crafts for Christmas, etc. Many of the streets in the city have colorful lights and the city hall is spectacular dressed in lights with a huge Christmas tree and waterfall lights glittering under the dome. One thing is very noticable that made us very happy --- they do not seem to have to cater to the " political correct " and Merry Christmas displays are everywhere instead of the " happy holiday " ones that are becoming all too familiar in North America. In many of the smaller towns and villages christmas trees are erected in the town squares. There are a very large number of events being held, such as concerts, early 1900 carol singing at museums, folk parks,etc and ceremonies in each location for the turning on of the lights. We are very impressed with the effort put into remembering that Christ is the most important part of Christmas.

We are trying to be very creative in our missionary labors in holding cottage meetings, teaching family home evenings, birthday cards, hand delivered to members, teaching member/missionary stategy, teaching members how to find using their spere of influence, etc. A number of these ideas have been successful for us and this past Sunday we had 5 less actives to church. The cottage meetings are working well -- we show a short video and then teach from the scriptures, engaging them with questions and encouraging discussion. This latter part we do not prepare for and simply rely on the spirit. Mini miracles occur each time we hold these -- last night one of the sisters asked a question regarding baptism and John the Baptist -- it was no coincidence that was precisely the scripture that I had turned to minutes earlier and her answer came right from God's word. We hold these in homes and have the members invite less actives and non member friends. We prefer small gatherings where it can be very personal. Each time we testify we know the angels are rejoicing -- we love our Saviour so very much.

It is getting late and we have a very busy schedule tomorrow. We will share some more experiences in the next email.

We are so very thankful for each of you. You are all great latter day saints and we admire, respect and love each of you. God loves each of us so very much that he gave his only begotten son --- just for you and me . I love the pleading song with the words " Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling -- calling for you and for me " I learned it as a boy. We testify each day of him, that he lives and his church has indeed been reestablished upon the earth. He is at the head and we worship him. We love Heavenly Fathers tender mercies. We do have a living prophet, just as in times of old and he receives revelation directly from above for each of us. Yes, we are extremely grateful.

Sunday we speak at a fireside in Coleraine, where Elder McBride went to school and there will be several members attending from the little town where he joined the church and there were only two members then -- my sister and I. There are now about 80 active members in Coleraine, so we look forward to that visit after 45 years. Just some of the joys of going back to your native land to preach the Gospel. Sister McBride has enjoyed some rich experiences also with people she remembered from years gone by.

Until next time, stay healthy, be happy and remember life can be a " perfect brightness of hope.

Elder and Sister McBride

Scotland / Ireland Mission

Missionary Report

Our dear family and friends,

First things first and most important --- WE LOVE EACH OF YOU AND MISS YOU.

Another epistle from the Isle of Erin ( no it's not Patmos, much greener )

It has been a wonderful few weeks in the mission field. We baptized 4 new members in our little branch on Saturday evening and it was indeed great to play a little role in helping to prepare these good souls. We had the Stake YSA choir come and sing ( just a little side benefit of having worked with them for the first 5 months of our mission ) It was a spiritual feast and it had been such a long time since this little branch has seen a baptism. One of those baptized is from Portugal and spoke very little English. As I conducted the baptismal interview I had to have an interpreter with me and that was an interesting experience as this sister was less active, but I believed that would be a good experience for her also. As I explained to her, at the beginning, the great need for confidentiality, I felt the spirit whispering to her heart and it did indeed touch her very much as she explained her feelings to me afterward. Our God does indeed work in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform. We love him with all our hearts and we love his tender mercies, extended continually.

We have finally seen and felt the rain and in great abundance. For the past 2 days it has come down in buckets, just a constant torrent -- we had forgotten how it can rain here and why it is always so very green. However, this morning it is back to a blue sky and it is PDAY and a welcome rest from a busy period. The fall is now in full swing but there are many leaves still on the trees --- we are reminded of President Hinckleys comment a number of years ago -- " I feel like the last leaf on the tree and the wind is blowing " How we all love and miss him, and his tremendous wit.

A week ago the branch held a little social and they called it " Cowboy Night " -- of course being from Calgary, they had us perform. It never ceases to amaze us how missionaries are expected to be able to perform, regardless of the function. So we had a campfire and the 2 young Elders, Sister McBride and I sat on the hay bales and belted out " Home, home on the Range " -- Red River Valley and a number of other fun songs. They had a guy play the banjo and then a sister led the line dancing. At least they had a laugh at Elder McBrides line dancing antics.

Are we having fun yet !!!!!!!!

A short time ago the clocks changed --- with no TV, radio or other forms of communication we had missed the change and arrived at church 1 1/2 hours early -- we were so surprized that no one was at church as we opened the building, etc !!!!! Then a young couple arrived with their children. They are Romanian. There are a lot of eastern European here and Belfast has become quite cosmopolitan, as has Dublin.

We had a fun time getting to know them and hearing their conversion story. The told us about the time change but they come from a neighboring town and had to catch trains at a certain time. We admire their devotion.

Coming along the motorway a few days ago -- the back of a passing lorry ( truck ) --- " HORSE WAGON " ----- and in small print at the bottom " and the odd donkey " --- just a wee bit o Oirish wit.

In the previous email we explained that there are 4 languages spoken here -- English, Gaelic, Ullan and Norn Iron -- the first 2 you know, the latter ( Ullan ) is the Ulster/ Scots dialect which Elder McBride can speak and understand -- Lastly Norn Iron -- now let us teach you a little bit o this dialect : -

ACH --- usually at the start of a sentence as in --- ach go on wi ye -- or ach , ye no

BOUT YE ---- a greeting, how are you -- bout ye big laddie, let's go fer a swall --( lets get a drink together )

CATCH YERSEL ON --- meaning get a hold of yourself or wise up

CRAIC --- fun, have a good time --- as in " the craics mighty, the guiness is in ( usually beer has something to do with it !!! )

DEAD ON --- decent, good, alright -- as in " I like Elder McBride, he's dead on " ( just thought I would add my name for fun. )

There are lots more if you have an interest.

Elder Ockeys email -- I enjoyed the comments on the RASTIFARIAN --- we get simliar things happening here with a lot of strange viewpoints on life, religion and culture. We feel sometimes that certain individuals swallowed the Blarney Stone rather than just kissed it. We wonder when they are going to come up for breath. " Listening " is a word that we have become very familiar with and on occasion we have been told " that we are quiet " --- Imagine that " Elder McBride quiet !!!!! " -- possibly sweet, kind, compassionate Sister McBride.

We spoke at a Stake Single Adults fireside last evening -- Sister McBride spoke on " good cheer " and I addressed " the love of God for his children and miracles in our lives " No one threw any petrol bombs at us -- just kidding -- A sister was in the congregation who was the wife of Sister McBrides first Branch President, some 46 years ago and two brethern who were the sons of a couple who sang at our wedding reception in 1969. I was telling them this afterwards and the song was " If I were the only girl in the world and you were the only boy " What wonderful experiences we are enjoying here with the saints. Some of these stalwarts have since passed on but we get to lives these great experiences thtough their spouses or children and grandchildren on occasion.

In speaking to them we wanted to give them a message of hope and we had earnestly prayed that we might touch someones heart. God always answers prayers as an older man we did not know explaned to us afterwards that he had been experiencing turmoil in his life and had met with his Bishop that very day -- he felt that what he heard had help rise him to the plateau that his Bishop spoke of.

God loves you all very much, with him nothing is impossible. Miracles do happen today and they happen to each of us, almost on a daily basis. Please read MATTHEW 17 : 20 AND 21. We love the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he is the master, the SON of GOD , he lives, we know it and this is his church. We love our prophet and the constant flow of revelation that comes through him. It is all true and we are so very thankful to have received this message, so many years ago in this land, from faithful missionaries. We bless their names.

Keep the faith, we love each of you and may God bless you abundantly,

Elder and Sister McBride.

( Mom and Dad to our lovely children and Bill and Carol