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. )