Missionary Report Mid December 2010

----------------------------------------- NULLIG HUNA GWITH -----------------------------------------

------------------------------------------ MERRY CHRISTMAS ------------------------------------------

NULLIG HUNA GWITH ---- Merry Christmas in IRISH --- the ancient Gaelic tongue. We wrote it as it sounds and if you are trying, you need to pronounce the last word with an " ugh " --- NULLIG = Christmas / HUNA = best wishes and GWITH = the verb, with you.

Our dear family and friends, we do indeed wish you all a lovely Christmas and of course we will be looking forward to hearing from our family on Christmas day. If the weather forecasts can be relied upon, the prediction is that we will be having a white Christmas in the beautiful green Emerald Isle. We have never been to Ireland at Christmas time since we left Erin's lovely shores and that has been over 40 years. Before that time we do not ever recall having a white Christmas, so this will be very unique for us. However today we had some business in Belfast's city centre and it was so mild that we had a bit of barnbrack at a sidewalk cafe near city hall -- we sat outside and enjoyed the festive spirit and a few free giveaways at the bakery.

We go carol singing, with our district tomorrow and have persuaded one of the less active sisters we are working with to bring her keyboard --- you see the branch needs an organist and slowly but surely we hope to get her active enough, so that the Branch President can extend a call. We look forward to going house to house bringing the true spirit of Christmas and also having some musical backing. We also have a little family from Romania we have been working with -- the 2 little children are so lovely -- they have so very little of material posessions and live in such humble circumstances -- the area they live in is rough and a few weeks ago a gang jumped him coming home from work and wanted him to purchase alcohol, he refused and they beat him. His young wife is so talented with her hands and we have had her make special Romanian hats for our grandchildren. -- we hope to brighten their day and have worked on a few ideas to accomplish this. We do love this part of the work.

We have attended so many events during this wonderful season and it has been fun associating with many dear friends -- a highlight was the Christmas devotional by the First Presidency and the Tabernacle choir. We have always loved that and found that it is the ideal way to begin the Christmas season. This Saturday we have an all Ireland missionary dinner and meetings in Dublins fair city and we will be with Sister McBrides family Christmas Eve -- a special midnight service ( Church of Ireland ) and then a Christmas day " feast " at Elder McBrides sisters home, in the cottage by the sea. It will, as always, be a traditional Irish feast with turkey fresh from their farm. It has been fun to be invited to a number of wards events, Sister McBride is so popular and I just tag along. Remember I was just a wee country boy and she sung in the Stranmillis quartet who accompanied and were trained by the Mormonaries, way back in the 60,s.

Just a few observations --- approx 40% of Irish Christmas cards have Robins on them. The Robin here is a tiny bird with a bright red breast -- it is said that is a symbol of Christs crucifixion and the blood he spilt. We were out walking a few days ago by the river and there were scores of them along the river side in the holly bushes. There are quite tame and will come right into your hands when you crumble up a little bread. A real Christmas sight and we got some good pics. The Robin in North America is much larger.

We spoke in Omagh last Sunday and fortunately no one threw petrol bombs at us !!! They are a great little branch with a great Branch President ( President Brophy ) who has a fast Irish wit. We had dinner at their home with all the family and the stories started. Of course, everyone started and they assumed, as most people do, that we are American -- so Elder McBride commenced making up a few of his own and was able to tag them along for quite some time, with a straight face of course until one of the sons said " Hey, where are you from ? " ----- to that son I finished it off with, " I never forget a face, but in you're case I'll make an exception " ---- the game was up and the craic was good ( craic = good natured Irish banter )

Went to visit one of our less actives in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Sister Law was going through brain surgery and it was my privilige to use my Priesthood to give her a blessing. It is a huge hospital and is situated between bitter protestant and Catholic communities. The doctors were telling us that it is the leading medical institution in the world for gunshot wounds !!!! -- not surprizing. Sister Law's surgery was so successful that she has already been released and we recognize the great power of God through his Holy Preisthood. I was asked by the President to interview a young man for baptism -- he had a very " colorful " background with paramilitary organizations, the travellors ( gypsies ) petty crime, serious crime, etc . It was a rather extensive interview and we have come to rely so very heavily on the great influence and power of the Holy Ghost. He is now ready and has a great desire to change and embrace God's commandments. It is wonderful to realize that we are indeed offspring of deity and the greatness of God's love for his children -- also the miracle of the atonement and how it can work in each of our lives. As we met the words kept repeating in my mind " though thy sins be as scarlet, they can be as white as snow " Yes, 7 times 70 is figurative and we know of a surety that our Saviour continues to love us and invites us constantly to " come follow me " We love him and know he lives.

Now for a wee bit o' humor --- there always has to be a wee bit to keep us all sane !!

We were meeting with a Bishopic here and you need to understand " football " here is a religion. I seen that the Bishop and one of his counsellors were wearing Liverpool ties and being a Man. U. fan ( their great rival ) since I toddled -- I could not resist a few juicy little comments -- pretending of course that as I am a " foreigner " that I just would not know -- so I said brethern, " I see that you support that wee prod amatuer club Linfield Football Club -- ( now those are fighting words and the Irish know about fighting ) So back they came with a few cute remarks and I must admit I was able as a " foreigner " to lead them along for some time, until ---- I mentioned my affection for Man. U ----- then the fun really started. Well, we did manage to leave on good terms as I invited them to follow a good team - so next will require a wee bit more creativity !!!!! Relief Society in our little branch were having a Christmas party a few nights ago and I had another meeting to attend in the building. I went in at the end ( really, to see if there was any refreshments left !! ) and we had one of our less actives attending. Sister McBride and I have been doing some service for her in preparing and wallpapering her living room. All the sisters were standing around when she said, " Elder McBride is coming over tomorrow to strip for me !!!! " Well, everyone stopped talking very quickly and laughing heartily ---- the poor sister turned a dozen shades of red as she realized what she had said, when she should have said " strip the old wallpaper " Well everyone, including Sister Gittons have that great Irish sense of humor and a good laugh was had by all --- but there were no refreshments left !!!!!!

We are loving this mission ---- it is really not ours, it is the Lords and we are on his errand. The work is varied and both full of challenges and joy. We testify of his love for all his children and his tender mercies extended to all. We love him with all our hearts. Jesus Christ is at the head of this church. We love the Christmas story and will indeed miss the warm feeling we had experienced with our family each Christmas eve and we met in family home evening and read from Luke --- that beautiful account of the Saviours birth that warms all our hearts. He did come to earth and showed the way, culminating in giving his precious life -- THAT WE MIGHT LIVE. We try hard to follow him and recognize that as hard as we might try we have to rely on his grace and love for us to become the advocate with our father. What a miracle this is to each of us. Each day we breathe it is a miracle. Thank you for your goodness and example.

May each of you have a wonderful Christmas. May you feel your Heavenly Fathers love and the presence of the Saviour close by. May you be moved by the Holy Ghost to greater heights and may your days be filled with joy. We love each of you very much and pray for you always,

Elder and Sister McBride

( Bill and Carol - Mom and Dad. )

Scotland / Ireland Mission

# 6 - 216 Saintfield Drive

Belfast BT8 7HQ

Northern Ireland

UK.

Missionary Report

Our dear Family and Friends,


We trust you are all well and happy. We are sure that you are enjoying all the events leading up to the wonderful season of Christmas. It is a real honor and privelege to be wearing our name tags that bear the name of Jesus Christ, especially at this time of year. To belong to Christs true church and bear testimony that he lives and revelation still flows from the Heavens in our time, through a Prophet of God is not only a sacred responsability but a real joy. Today the Irish fields are not their usual green --- rather, WHITE and ready to harvest -- yes literally, dear old Ireland that rarely sees snow has had a dusting of the white stuff -- it is kind of like a teaspoonful of icing sugar over a big green cake. It came in from bonnie Scotland where both both the mainland UK and Scotland have been severly hit with heavy snow that has crippled their meagre snow moving resources. It is still reasonably warm but the natives are complaining about the cold.


Our weeks are flying past and we very busy with a number of different assignments including a new one our President wishes us to assume --- that of renegotiating all the missionary apartment leases in Northern Ireland. I believe he has heard that I like to deal and have some experience in real estate. I think that could be enjoyable and could save the mission considerable sums of money. Now that the Irish bailout deal has been completed maybe we will have some success !!!


We are enjoying our work with a number of less actives and realizing some success -- we had 5 to church recently that have not been there for many years and it is a small branch we work in, so 5 really gets some notice. We were driving back into the city a few days ago and decided to take a route we had not taken since being here -- that of passing our home on the Shore Road, where Elder McBride lived when he first moved to Belfast at 19 years of age. We spent a few minutes recollecting some great memories when we met. May we just mention one -- before getting married we made decorative flower pots to pay for our reception, etc. We collected sea shells from the sea shore, washed, dried and cleaned them -- then used a light cement base to apply them to the pots - then varnised and sprinkled with a silver glitter -- we sold enough of those pots, to stores, direct, etc, to pay for all the wedding expenses and more. That was in 1968 and they were happy days working together and now we get to labor 24 hours per day, together -- just as well we love each other -- it is indeed amazing how Sister McBride has put up with this guy and his crazy ideas all these years !!! These are some of the side benefits of serving in the land of our birth.


Yesterday we visited with some great members we knew well from long ago --- they lived in an older area near central Belfast and only had an outside toilet - not the kind of facility you would want to take Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader and spend some time in the middle of winter !!! We had forgotten, our first home was exactly the same in York Park, Belfast, where my first reno work included making that WC fit as an extension to the home.


A short while ago we had celebrated American Thanksgiving in Dublin with all the other Senior Missions serving on the Emerald Isle. The meal was great and we enjoyed visiting Trinity College Dublin and seeing the Book of Kells. In the old library ( one of the greatest in the world ) we had prearranged to see an original copy of The Book of Mormon, housed there. It was very interesting being allowed to very carefully leaf over it. It was presented to the college in 1972 by a Robert Dougan ( obviously an Irishman or Irish decent ) I, frankly, was disappointed in the anti- church attachments put in the front of the book. I also noticed in small print on the introductory page, the date 1829 -- interesting date ? When leaving central Dublin we all took a bus back to the Dublin Stake centre. It was quite interesting to me that all 8 couples went to the top of the double decker and found someone to share the Gospel with -- I dont think the other passengers knew what hit them !!! -- our contact at the back of the bus had been to the fishmongers and apologised for the smell of his 2 fish, cod and haddock -- I asked in jest if he had 5 loaves also !!! That became a good lead into Christ's miracles and we enjoyed a very pleasant conversation. Most think we are American here, until they hear a few stains of this, that and everything coming through in my accent -- I tell them I am simply a mongrel --- but it is quite advantageous and opens a lot of discussions.


Last email we taught you a little Norn Iron -- here is some more just for fun : -
E is for eejit --- An idiot -- as in you're an eejit.
F is for faffin --- Messing around -- as in stop faffin around and do some work.
Gis for Gub -- your mouth -- as in I've got a sore gub or shut yer gub.
H is for Hoak -- Rummaging -- as in " that wee laddie hoaks through the bins ( garbage ) "


That's all for now - more next time. We have so many humorous things to share with you. Missionary work is serious work but in dear old Ireland you have many laughs as you go about your work --- it is excellent for the endorfines. There are also accounts of exceeding faith here among the saints and our journals reflect these wonderful experiences shared with us. We love these dear stalwarts and it surely builds our testimonies. Here is a thought for your consideration --- just think about it, everyone on this earth at one time or another in their existence, knew the plan -- when we discuss this with them we are bringing it to their remembrance -- may each of this be observant to opportunities given to us each day to share.


We are loving our experiences. Our Heavenly Father is so very kind to us, his tender mercies are extended to each of us in wonderous ways. He loves us and we are indeed his children. We love our Saviour and his supreme sacrifice. We teach mainly from " Another Testament of Jesus Christ " and we feel good everything time we leaf through these wonderful pages -- IT IS TRUE and we know it. The doctrines are plain and we feel so very blessed to have received these true principles and precepts in the very land that we serve 45 years later. We get to bear our testimonies often and at least several times a day. Our hearts are touched as we bear them and we feel they are penetrating others hearts.


We love each of you and we miss you, especially at this time of year. May God bless each of you in adundance and please be assured that we pray for you daily. We thank you for your prayers in our behalf.


Elder and Sister McBride


( Bill and Carol --- Mom and Dad. )