Mormon Missionary Christmas Choir IRELAND

7 Months today... Where does time go? This time last year I was waiting for my mission call anxiously awaiting to find out where I would serve. This year I'm in Cork, Ireland, of all places, and next December... I'll be home for Christmas.... Its crazy, and I'm honestly not sure what to make of it. Its good, but at the same time, time is so so fleeting, and you only get this one chance, this one opportunity to be here doing this unique work and experience. I don't want to look back and think, "What did I do with all that time that I was given? I had the opportunity, and what did I do with it?" It definitely is food for thought. 

Well, its been a crazy, busy week! 

Monday evening we left on a bus for Dublin, got there at about 9:30, were picked up by the zone leaders, and stayed with the Clonsilla sisters. 

Tuesday we went to Finglas and had the beginning of all-day rehearsals. Sister Morrison led most of Tuesday, even though she was a little under the weather. Brother Ralph Jamieson from Dundee stake came that evening. He is a secondary school choir teacher, and completely brilliant. We literally rehearsed from 10 am-9 pm Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday was in Clonsilla, due to a funeral in Finglas. We all stayed at a hotel in Dublin that was very nice, and we were very lucky to have a room to each companionship. We were all dead by Wednesday and we were all beginning to feel under the weather, and Sister Morrison was quite sick, and essentially unable to sing. 

We performed in St. Patrick's Cathedral Wednesday afternoon, which was incredible. It was the first venue where Handel's Messiah was performed, and the acoustics were amazing! I am so lucky to say that I accompanied a quartet of Silent Night on the flute in the cathedral! There were some members and a senior couple who came out to the cathedral, as well as President and Sister Brown. They were there for the evening performance in Finglas as well. Between the two performances we got some time to do some contacting in Dublin, and I went with Sister Pennock, from Bath, because both of our companions were ill. Wednesday evening's performance was kind of a low point of the trip, honestly, not because it was bad, but it wasn't as good as it could have been, because we were all so tired. There just wasn't a lot of energy to it. But we learned from it and came back stronger!

Thursday we traveled to Limerick. We had a great time performing at the Crescent shopping mall with two sessions, having lunch in between. The second session began as a 'flash-mob' with missionaries appearing from shops and arising from benches singing the phrase 'Joy to the World' over and over producing a street-cry effect with echoes! We had no sooner started when out came the mobile phones from the public, filming all the action. It was great seeing people slow down or stop to listen :) We got to have a break and some time to practice solos and small groups after the mall, and it was good fun with the missionaries to bond (the whole week, between breaks and long bus trips!) Our performance in Limerick was ten times better than Dublin, and was very well received by those who attended! We were practically a different choir. The adorable Kelly family were so kind in allowing us to stay in their beautiful home that night, and giving us lifts to and from. 

The trip crescendo-ed in Belfast. The Spirit was so strong! The energy and connection between choir and audience was just incredible. I couldn't help but grin through the whole thing! I kind of cut off a note in my flute solo of Mary's Lullaby because I wanted to smile! Sister Morrison was sick all week, which was a real bummer, but by Friday she was doing so well she was able to perform her duet with Elder Starr with Elder Simpson on guitar. The whole concert was a miracle performance. There was great variety to the program, with E. Anderson singing a solo of "Joseph: I was not His Father" from the Forgotten Carols, and E. Smiler singing and playing (on mini-guitar) a traditional Maori Christmas hymn. An octet of elders performed O Come O Come Emmanuel accapella. The choir numbers were powerful and beautiful, especially "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" 

We all were completely exhausted by the end of it.

Purple top in the center

We stayed in a cute b&b in Lisburn Saturday night, and the Hales and the landlady were so kind and accommodating in ordering and picking up fried chicken and chips for hungry missionaries at a late hour! 

Sunday we went to church in Finglas and we rode home with the Hales after dinner with the YSA couple, the McKendricks there in Dublin. We arrived back in Cork around 7:30 pm.

I loved this week, and parting from Missionaries in Belfast and Dublin was such sweet sorrow. I'll miss them all. It has been an incredible experience, that I'll never forget. The Lord completely magnified our talents, and miracles were seen and experienced. I don't know how we sounded like we did, because so many of us (including myself) had crazy, raw, ragged throats/voices. There were some in the choir with no experience, and yet we all triumphed. We learned and grew together, and that's my favorite part of this kind of thing. I wouldn't have traded it for the world. 

Trying to get back to normal missionary work is going to be hard, but I'm looking forward to it. Time to breathe some life back into our area! I hope you pray for us, that we can see some progress here, with our current investigators, but especially with the members and finding new, prepared people! Hopefully our health allows that! We get our moves call this Sunday, and I don't want leave Cork! I feel that I'm not done here yet! 

I hope this week is doing you all well, and that you enjoy your Christmas season! Remember the reason for the season and to #SharetheGift!! http://www.mormon.org/christmas 

I love you all!!

Sister Mary Ann Kirkpatrick

I Kissed the Blarney Stone

My lovely family and friends!

Happy Christmas Season! Wonderful stuff is happening! Cork is one of the most beautiful, picturesque, magical places to be for Christmas! The city is gorgeously decked out with lights and trees all over! Christmas music floating along St. Patrick's street with so many shops with amazing displays! It is awesome! 

First of all, last Monday, the elders (Elders Thomas and Wahlquist, and Elders Goldie and Pease) and us went out to Blarney Castle! It was an amazing place! The gardens and grounds are beautiful, and it was so picturesque, how it all was an ESTATE. Not exactly what I expected. The castle itself was really cool, there were tunnels underground, and steep spiral staircases and so many passages and rooms! It was really cool, because there was a lot of freedom to explore the whole place! The blarney stone is a single stone on the edge of the very top of the building, hanging out above a 300 foot drop to the ground! You have to hold onto bars, lying on the ground, have a guy there hold onto you and bend over, upside down to kiss the thing! it was kind of terrifying at first, but now I can say that I've done it... even if I haven't seen the effects yet! haha, maybe they take a week to kick in :) It was a really fun activity. Later that night we went over to the Hales' for Thanksgiving Dinner! It was SO GOOD. Sister Hale pulled off the best, classic Thanksgiving feast. It was good to have a day home away from home to celebrate how grateful we are to our Lord. 

We had dinner with Dierdre and Hannah again, and taught the Law of Chastity. She understands, but doesn't at the same time. It will take a follow-up lesson to help her work through some of the blocks she's experiencing because of it. But I love Hannah, and I think that she just needs to feel God's love for her. Keep praying for that.

Speaking of Dierdre, she is just the most fabulous lady I've met. She is a straight shooter, independent, confident, loving, charitable and so so funny. This week, in a Missionary Coordination Meeting (she's a branch missionary) we had an elder from Trulee visiting on exchanges, and he's originally from Texas, and when Dierdre would ask him a question, he would reply, "Yes, Ma'am," with all the southern manners imprinted on his soul, which she LOVED. Elder Pease, also from Texas speaks up and says, "Dierdre, you would make a great Southern Belle!" and she replies, "I know, right?!" It was the funniest thing! 

She also had us over last night for a great lesson with Joáo (John), Bro. Quirke (Branch Mission leader) and Stephen (RC, branch missionary) it was a lovely evening, speaking about our personal, spiritual gifts and God's love. The Spirit was great, and Joáo loves being around members! If we can only get him to church!

GO HERE: christmas.mormon.org and #sharethegift! this He is the Gift initiative is huge, and it is such a simple, inspiring way to speak to people about faith in Jesus Christ. I love being a missionary at Christmas, and sharing this special message, and being able to ask questions about people's personal Christmas experiences that really open them up to gospel conversations. I promise that if you share the video and bear your testimony, those around you will feel the true spirit of CHRISTmas. 

I'll be in a missionary choir all this next week, traveling from Dublin to Limerick to Belfast, so it'll be hard being out of my area, but it is such a great opportunity to feel and share this wonderful Spirit with the saints and their friends and family here in Ireland!

I love you all! Have a wonderful week! 

REMEMBER: HE IS THE GIFT!

<3 Sister Kirkpatrick

to the world across, from Ireland to China, to Idaho, to everyone else...

This week has been busy busy! We had some great experiences, and I loved going on exchanges with Sister Cannon on Tuesday! We did some quality finding, even if it didn't result in any new people, it felt so good to be out, working really hard, inviting people to use their agency! I may not love finding, but I love how I feel afterward! She shared this awesome quote with me, that really helped me:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darknesses that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are ALL meant to shine as children do. We are born to make manifest the Glory of God that is within us. It is not just some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." (Nelson Mandela)

We had a great lesson experience with Hannah in Dierdre's home and we tried to help her see how she is inviting the Spirit into her life, and we asked her to pay attention to how she feels when she reads, prays, comes to Institute, etc., because she wasn't sure she had ever felt the Spirit (which she has, I was there!) Dierdre is one of the most solid Recent Converts I have ever met! She is awesomesauce diva. 

We had a great Zone Interview Training in Limerick, where we had a great training by the Assistants about applying the things we've learned into our finding, and I really learned how important it is to BE YOURSELF as a missionary! No robots here! 

We had a first and last lesson with the smartest 15-year-old out there. Colm was boss. One of the best lessons, only to have him diplomatically decline our offer to investigate further. Dang. He's great, and I know that we planted a HUGE seed in him! He's going to get baptized one day.

So, we went to find Alfonso, our Spanish man, only to find him moved out :( But we got to talk to one of his flat-mates, Phil, who we have a return appointment with. He wasn't sure why he was inviting us back, but I'm convinced it was the Spirit :) I have a good feeling about him! 

Cork and Ballincollig are becoming more and more magical with the Christmas season approaching! It makes things beautiful, even if the work is hard with everyone coming and going and everybody (us included) getting more and more busy! I'm hoping we can stay on top of everything! Sister Morrison and I have a goal of taking a photo next to every Christmas tree in Cork! Wish us luck!

I love you all, have a great Thanksgiving! 

Yours,

Sister Mary Ann Kirkpatrick

Christmas Choir

Mary received this email from the mission home on Nov. 10th.   She and her new companion are participating with a Christmas choir in Ireland.  She also took her flute and may have the opportunity to play it also.

Dear Elders and Sisters – 

You are invited to take part in the Christmas choir in Ireland.  Brother Ralph Jamieson who is a retired music teacher in the Montose Ward of the Dundee Stake will be the choir director. An initial rehearsal will be held on Thursday 13^th November at 10 am in Finglas Chapel, Dublin for most of that day.  We apologise for the short notice – it could not be finalised until after moves and other deliberations. If you have an instrument please bring it along (although it may not be needed).  Please co-ordinate travel and companionship cover through your zone leaders.  Be wise to minimise use of resources. 

The concerts will be held – Thursday 4^th December – St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin,  lunch time;  (visitors will pay the normal entry fee – choir entry is  already paid for)

Thursday 4^th December Finglas Road, Dublin at 7 pm

Friday 5^th December Limerick chapel 7 pm;

Sat 6^th December – Belfast Holywood Road.

Further rehearsals will be held from 3 pm Tuesday 2^nd December and all day Wednesday 3^rd December in Finglas Road, Dublin, and Thursday morning as necessary.   Posters will be going out to wards/branches today.

Love

Sister Brown

Pictures posted on Facebook

First Practice

Cork - Like!

Hello Hello! 

So this week has been full of highlights, and I wish I had enough time to tell you about all of them! We're doing our very best to spend as much time as possible with the members, gaining their trust and building relationships that we can help them grow in unity and love and invite their friends and family to meet with us! We are having awesome conversations about missionary work, and what it means to be an Everyday Missionary. If you haven't read Clayton M. Christensen's book, "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" you really really should. We as full-time missionaries rely on Preach My Gospel for our efforts, and everyone can and will benefit from studying PMG, but Everyday Missionary is an inspired effort to help members unadjusted to sharing the gospel daily to take on the stewardship the Brethren have invited them to embrace- FINDING! 

Elder Hale did a training for us missionaries on how we can use it with members, and I am so excited for it! I have realized how Satan really works hard on all of us, even missionaries. He knows our weaknesses and he will use them to his advantage. But I think when we know our enemy, we can know how we can fight and defend. Like Captain Moroni, who I had the privilege to read about today in study (Alma 43) Satan doesn't want Cork to grow, causing Limerick District to become a stake, causing Ireland to be qualified for a temple here, so... he's working hard, but The Lord has already won. We're here to see it through! 

Taran is excited, because he will hopefully have a Hindi Book of Mormon to read in conjunction with the English one, so his understanding will increase :) I think we've figured out what mistakes we've made and how we can change and improve to help him progress, however slowly it takes!

We had a really positive lesson experience with our investigator Hannah this week, sharing about spiritual gifts, our divine potential, and how baptism is a tool to reach that potential. When I'm with Hannah, I feel the Spirit so strong, I feel her testimony deep inside, and I just want to help her find it! 

We took a train to Dublin Wednesday night, were picked up by Elder Austin and Elder Henrie, zone leaders there, and they took us Thursday morning to the chapel where we spent all day rehearsing for the special missionary choir that will be performing across Ireland, that Sister Morrison and I are both privileged to be participating in. So excited for the first week of December, however stressful it will be! 

We had "Christmas" dinner with the Peters family, which was a great taste of home yesterday. I love their family, they're all so funny, and the kids/grandkids are adorable :) Irish Christmas is wonderful, even if it isn't white :) 

I love you all, I know that Heavenly Father loves and cares so much! Stay strong! Keep the Faith!

Love always,

Sister Mary Ann Kirkpatrick

The Walls are there for a Reason

"The brick walls are there for a reason... they give us a chance to show how much we want something" (Randy Pausch)

Hello Loved Ones! 

It has been a CRAZY week for moves! We left Sunday night for Dublin, arrived just in time for my moves call from President, saying I'd be getting Sister Morrison on Thursday. 

I was out of my area Monday until Friday afternoon... DX death to numbers. 

But, I really enjoyed Dublin, even if it felt like Limbo. I was with Sister Henkel and Sister Riesen going between their two areas, Terenure and Clonsilla, respectively. All of our companions "died" and went home, leaving me to await Sister Morrison, Sister Henkel to await Sister Cannon, and Sister Riesen to fly to Edinburgh early Thursday morning to get her new trainee! 

Monday we did shopping and cleaning in Terenure and had a lesson with an investigator named Clare there, who was a quite interesting old lady :) It is definitely different teaching in a trio! 

Tuesday, traffic was TERRIBLE in Dublin, so even though we had the STL's car we were running late all day. I got to meet some great members, Babs, in Clonsilla ward who is great at brunch ;) and Sister Winters, from America who is so willing to help out! We taught some SOLID investigators, and it made me so excited to find someone like Jen or Mayara here. I had some really great spiritual experiences in our lessons this day! 

We went to Clonsilla Tuesday night and woke up the next morning to a clamped car.... There was a mistake in the text we sent to the apartment complex, so they didn't recognize the license plate number as a visitor, so we got clamped. Expensive mistake.  We were able to have a good day though, had an awesome lesson with Clonsilla's investigator James who is so ready and excited to get baptized in the next couple of weeks! It really built my faith to see that, and I really really want to find someone! 

The bus from Belfast was late, so we got into Cork Friday morning, and despite our best efforts, only had one lesson, but we saw Hannah and we have a game plan moving forward to gain the members' trust, work with Recent converts and less-actives and to find new people!! 

I'm so happy, even in the face of fear! This is what Heavenly Father is talking about!

Stay Strong, I love you all!

Sister Kirkpatricki

Transfer 4--end

Hello everyone! 

So we had some great experiences this week! We got to be in a lot of members homes for dinner, which was so good to get some personal time with them! 

We met with Ashley May, who is less-active, but is making an effort to be active in YSA and start putting her toes back into church! We had a fun birthday dinner with her on Monday and she planned a YSA Halloween party for Wednesday that turned out really fun :) Her little brother even got baptized on Sunday, which she was there for! :) Her non-member friend Tanya has quickly become our friend too :) 

We had a really good district meeting this week, where we set new goals in faith, including 50 JT here in the Cork Branch in November! Please pray for this effort! We learned about stewardship w/ faith, hope, and charity, which was really motivating, and would be a great in-depth study! 

The Peters are a great families of BOYS. :) Its like being at home with my four brothers again ;) At home there is James, Dean, Jeffrey, and Jason, who range in ages 12 to 30. Its definitely a fun home :) And they have the FLUFFIEST dog, Jack! "IT'S SO FLUFFY I'M GOING TO DIE!" 

We had MIRACLES on Thursday! So one of our investigators, Tinyiko, has been in and out of contact with the Sisters for months, because of his busy business ventures, and he texted us Thursday morning asking where we were. We told him we were in the city, and we got on the phone with him and met up for a little bit, where we set a time later in the day to meet up. When the time came, we could only meet him at the church, but we didn't have a key or a joint teach, so we were going to sit outside and teach him spontaneously, with no lesson plan. When we get to the church and go to sit down, who should pull up but Sister Hale! She was there to pick up Elder Hale from some Branch Presidency business, but immediately volunteered to be a joint teach. We went inside and what unfolded was a conversation between Sister Hale and Tinyiko that was EXACTLY what was needed to get him to commit to meeting with us again, coming to church, and to be baptized on November 22!! Tinyiko is from South Africa, his brother is a member and he's been taught basically everything and attended church in SA and just happened to meet missionaries here in Ireland! He is SO prepared! He's been ready for baptism for a long time! If we would have called Sister Hale for an appointment that morning, she probably would have turned us down because she was busy, but God moves in mysterious ways! 

We had Hannah for dinner at the Kagari's again, which was awesome! The visiting teachers dropped in and shared the message, which was good, but it meant we didn't get to share a lesson ;P oh well, it was good for Hannah anyways. And we had s'mores! So good! 

Halloween day was pretty spontaneous, we did some service at a soup kitchen called Penny Dinners, which was so great. I could just feel the charity there, true concern for each other! I got a blister peeling turnips, and it was so worth it :)  We had dinner with the Hales at our flat, because we weren't supposed to go out, and it was like being at home, pizza, card games and pie :) 

Saturday we had a good missionary coordination meeting and got to meet the woman from Waterford, Kimberley who was being baptized! 

The Hales took Sister Oliphant and I for her nearly last supper at a carvery, which you pick your fresh meat and veg, hot from a line right in front of you. It was a pretty posh one. They are really great to us. 

We got to go to Kimberley's baptism afterwards, per her request, and it was so lovely :) members and missionaries from Cork and Waterford were there :) 

Then we had dinner with the Larssons, which was so great, and we had a great family lesson with them about listening for the Holy Ghost!

Sunday Tinyiko came to church, we had the baptism afterward, and then we went to Branch President Roy's home for dinner with the Elders and Tinyiko and had a great lesson about Tithing with him! Then Sister Roy took Sister Oliphant and I to the bus station where we got a bus to Dublin. When we arrived in Dublin 3 hours later, we got the call from the mission home informing me that my new companion will be Sister Morrison! She was trained by Sister Jones, my second companion, and if she's like her mum, its going to be GREAT! She's actually been in Scotland her whole mission so far, so she's excited to come to Ireland. :)

This morning Sister Oliphant left for the Mission Home and I will be out of my area most of this week, because of the late arrival of new missionaries this week, making moves day Thursday. I'll be in Dublin/Clonsilla with Sister Henkel and Sister Riesen, two Germans 8-) Should be fun! Hard, being out of my area, but fun! 

Love you all! Prayers are appreciated! Stay safe! 

Always,

Sister Mary Ann Kirkpatrick

Miracles Happen

Oct. 20th, 2014

Hey Family! 

I don't have a lot of time to write this, but I wanted to let you know things are going well! Miracles happen! 

Nick in Falkirk is getting baptized this Saturday, the 25th, so please keep him in your prayers! I'm so excited for him! I may not have made it to the font with him, but he holds such a special place in my heart that he is definitely someone I will keep close. He is definitely being converted to the gospel and turning his heart to the Lord! Apparently he asked Sister Passey to help him pick hymns for the baptism, one for each of us. That's really special, and I really appreciate it. 

Cork is treating us well :) We met a new investigator named Joy this week!  She was a referral, and we met with her a week ago today, she was planning on coming to one hour of church, but she had to work in the afternoon, making District Conference in Limerick not an option :/ She is really great, she has/wants a personal relationship with God that she feels the Catholic church did not give her at all. (Truth!) I really like her! 

Taran is progressing slowly but surely! We worked with him this week to understand the Book of Mormon a little bit better, and we hope he's reading daily! 

We got to have dinner with the Relief Society President, Sister Larsson and her family this week, which was really great, I love her family. They're from South Africa and her kids are adorable! I helped Sister Larsson a little bit with dinner and Sister Oliphant and I (pretended to) help the kids with their Irish language (Gaelic!) homework! Crazy stuff! 

Met with another new investigator, named Angela, who told us first off that we weren't going to convert her, but she's curious to learn! I always am amused by that attitude.

 I'm slowly but surely learning the area and the members! Things are getting interesting as we enter the final stretch for Sister Oliphant. Its not fun sending home companions! I just am not sure what to expect leading another area with less experience than the last time I did it! But I know God has a plan, and I hope I can magnify whatever I have been called here to do! 

We had awesome meetings this weekend! First Missionary Zone Conference on Friday, then Limerick District Conference (Limerick is a district, not a stake yet) Saturday night and Sunday. President Brown was there and spoke at every meeting, which was such a pleasure! He and our other leaders really emphasized looking to ourselves and our personal accountability and how we need to change. How we need to ask the Lord, "What lack I yet?" I think we're all tired from all the travel this weekend, going back and forth to Limerick!  I learned a lot, and the Spirit definitely taught me some things I need to change. What I lack yet. I really enjoyed the instruction about working and going beyond the minimum. I remember when I was in high school marching band, and when we would compete or perform, we were told and motivated to "leave it all out on the field." I feel that more now, especially as I realize how far I have come in my mission, and how much I truly want to use wisely and prize the time I still have, because it is so fleeting. I think when you have more mature companions like I have, that's something quite apparent! I'm just so proud to be a missionary!

I love you all so much! I pray for you all to be blessed and that you will feel God's love! I know it is true! 

Love always,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Nothing Goes According to OUR Plan

I wish I could just show you my planner and how nothing went according to plan... and yet, there were some brilliant moments!  Monday was Zone Development in Limerick, which was really fun!

Tuesday was our p-day, and we did some crazy cleaning, trying to shape up for a flat inspection this week. I stabbed myself with ice while I was defrosting the freezer (that was fun.) and we had time sucked away by the electrician and buses. But we got a lot of necessary things done. Electrics in our flat are ridiculous. Don't ask. 

Wednesday was the most insane day of my life. Literally Madness of every moment not going according to plan! It was so long! We were supposed to have flat inspections, but they rescheduled us without telling us, then we missed one investigator for another because we had to go into the city to teach Taran. (Taran is a new investigator, friend of recent convert Tipon. He's from India, and he's progressing slowly. He has a really sweet spirit though, and he can see this church is good!)  Our bus broke down, we had to run around trying to find a bus to take us to a hospital in the elder's section of the area that neither of us know to visit a member who was sick. We got lost, but it was a sweet experience, it was really good to visit with her and get to know her better. We had to run and find and catch another bus because the people from the mission home were at our flat for inspections and we just flopped down to rest for the first moment all day for our dinner hour.

The day wasn't over yet. We went on splits with sister to do their visiting teaching, which was also really great, I loved that, but we got lost again and then as we were late, trying to get back to the church for an investigator (that wasn't actually there) The phone died and I realized I forgot my bag at Dierdre's. . . . . . My planner was in my bag. . . . . And we had a blitz exchange to plan. . . . . 0.0

Dierdre came to the rescue and drove across the city from the north side to bring me my bag at 9 o'clock at night! I love her!! So. insanity.

Thursday was less crazy, but crazy. We exchanged with the Sister Trainer Leaders, Sister Henkel and Sister Valadez, and we got to have lunch with them and the Waterford sisters, which was fun, especially when we realized that we all were mission-related to the same trainer, Sister Knabb. We had the STLs car, and we headed out to Ballincollig, where Sister Oliphant and Sister Henkel met in a member's home with an investigator and Sister Valadez (who served in Cork) went with a recent convert, Fezeka to do service at the nursing home. We played some music for the people there, which was wonderful :) I love having that opportunity. We tried by a less-active, and it was really great to meet one of the only YW, Laura, and see that she is open to meeting with the Sisters again!  We headed back to the church and taught Eileen, who is still technically progressing, but its really hard to teach her sometimes. She's short-sighted, and we tried to help her see that this life is so short, in the Grand Eternal Plan of Salvation. We stayed at the church for dinner (chicken enchiladas, go Sister Hale!) and Institute, which was an awesome Doctrine and Covenants lesson that completely went over Eileen's head. 

Friday we completed our exchange, and I loved getting that time with Sister Valadez! She is an awesome leader and missionary! We met the man who knows Cork city from the inside, Manual, from Portugal, who works with street signs. He's been chatting with missionaries on the street for quite some time now, and it was great talking with him. He always has really great questions!  

Friday was a bit slower.

We finally met with Coco again on Saturday, and started teaching him English... Mom, how do we teach ESL?? I don't know! Advice?? Dora-level Spanish is good, but not adequate in this situation! Thank Heavenly Father for the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of tongues... seriously. 

Sunday was miracle day! We had 4 investigators at church! Taran, Coco, Hannah and Eileen! and Hannah speaks Spanish, so she was able to communicate with and help Coco! It was so great! The messages that were shared where filled the Spirit! We got to practice with the choir for District Conference next week, and we had dinner with the Kagari's and Hannah! It was so fun, and the Spirit was so strong in our lesson about faith! It was great, teaching from experience and testifying! I loved it! It was pretty much the best Sunday yet. Hannah is going to progress slowly, her experience will be prolonged exposure to the church that will hopefully lead her to Him. She loves the friends she's made in the church, and she can tell it is good, but its going to take some time for her to accept change. She wont be pushed. She's very bold :)

So, that's me. I have had a crazy week, and I am truly learning what it means to be up against a wall and let go and letting Heavenly Father take control. There is no comfort in the growth zone and no growth in the comfort zone. Faith, patience, love. I'm learning why I am here everyday. 

I love you all so much! I'm praying for you!

Love you to Kolob and Back,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Ups and Downs

I wish I had more time for you this week! Its been a bit crazy. There's been some UP UP UPs and some real lows. The week started off strong with connecting with an investigator, Matthew , that we haven't been able to contact in a while, and a couple of lessons with POWERFUL joint teaches!! Deirdre, a sisters' recent conver, the Branch President, Pres. Roy, and Rachael Kagari, a (geeky) newly-wed (she got Dr. Who salt and pepper shakers as a wedding gift!) Matthew  has really been struggling recently, and our lessons with him were emotional and just filled with the Spirit! He knows its good, he just hasn't quite realized yet that the healing he needs starts spiritually, not temporally. He needs prayers.

[Who else needs prayers? NICK in Falkirk, whose baptism date has been reset for the 25 October! PRAY HARD!]

There's been a lot of finding, but its been kind of frustrating week, trying to use time effectively and Sister Oliphant was a bit sick. I also have had my personal struggles with moving to a new area (missing Falkirk, feeling like a new missionary all over again) but so many miracles have happened this week. 1) lessons with Matthew  2) Finding some awesome people 3) an awesome service experience, getting to use my musical talents in a nursing home and really witnessing some touched hearts, 4) getting to skype with the sisters in Limerick, one of which is from Mexico, and with her, we got to teach Coco! It has been a miracle seeing how the Lord is truly mindful of our needs! 5) General Conference! Obviously! Its so so wonderful, I felt so much of it apply to me personally, and I felt how it applied to all of us truly changing, strenghthening our testimonies, being converted and using our agency wisely that we may become more like Christ and become a more Zion-like people! I loved Elder Uchtdorf's talks, and Elder Eyring was so great and touching as well! They were all so good! 5) Priesthood Blessings. Never be afraid to ask. When you are in distress, you can't receive clear instruction sometimes just through prayer. I have felt this for me both in Falkirk, and here in Cork. He can deliver clear messages according to faith, and the worthiness of his priesthood holders. I am so grateful to Elder Hale for his preparation to be a mouthpiece for God.

We had Zone Development yesterday, and it was really fun, it was good to get to know more missionaries :) I hope we can become more united because of it! Also, deep doctrine conversations with the Hales on car trips are really fascinating! Elder Hale is a psychologist, and his perspectives are mind-blowing! I learned so much in 3 hours!

I know  that when we tell the Lord we want to be something better (more loving, charitable, or patient) He doesn't just give it to us, He gives us the opportunity to practice. I know that He loves me, and I know  this work is GREAT. Every soul is great in the sight of God. I know  this is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I pray for you all daily! I hope you are all well and strong in the faith! Remember He loves you!

I love you, too!

Always,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Moves

The time has come. Last night we got a call from the Mission Home. Sister Jones will be staying in Falkirk to train a new missionary.

Which means... I am leaving. First of all, I'm sad to leave, I adore Falkirk, in all its quirks. The people are wonderful and so dear to my heart. I am going to miss them immensely. I love Bonny Scotland.

But a time comes when you hit a wall in the work, and you feel something's gotta give, something's gotta change... And The Lord knows best.

I've been assigned to Cork, in the South of Ireland! 

Its the warmest area of the mission, right next to the coast, about two hours from Dublin. I'm excited to go to Ireland, and have new experiences! I have learned so much here, and I'm ready to learn and serve something/somewhere/somebody new! 

I'm sad to leave our investigators, especially Nick. He was definitely the one Sister Passey and I were meant to find here, but I guess Sister Jones and her new trainee are the ones meant to baptize him. We got to see and teach him twice last week! Which was great. He's progressing, we just need some consistency from him. He probably would've come to church, but we had Stake Conference in Edinburgh, and he had to be in Glasgow for 2. :/ We taught keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and Follow the Prophet and he is still so funny. He's been reading D&C and he texted us one day to ask about Shakers (Sec. 49) and then in our next lesson he said approximately: "I could tell they weren't legitimate just from the name... They should open up a fast-food restaurant called 'Shake and Quake'!" so so funny. 

We taught Paul and Caroline, and they're doing well, but they're a little stuck, and its really up to them if they progress or not. 

A lot happened this week, we were really busy, but the highlight was Stake Conference in Edinburgh. We were there for Saturday evening, which was really inspiring about the Work of Salvation, and it was definitely for both the missionaries and the members. We stayed in Edinburgh with the Corstorphine Sisters (Sister Hobbs and Sister Crawley!)  We had some great speakers in both Sessions, President and Sister Brown, Stake President Freed and President Sneddon, and a member of the 70, Elder Herbertson (who's Irish and looks like Martin Freeman) and his wife. I learned so much, and the Spirit was really strong! Sunday felt like a day and a half! 

Ah, so Scotland voted NO to independence. Thursday was ALIVE with energy, and then Friday, you could just feel the depression in the gray sky. Haha, but we're missionaries, and I'm going to the Republic of Ireland! So doesn't matter to us ;)

Well, I'm not sure what else to say... I've been really focused on studying the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel and I KNOW these are inspired. I learn so much from them; about the Spirit (Chapter 4!), about the Lord and his tender mercies and how we can be transformed! (Mosiah 27-28!) I love being a missionary, and I love my Heavenly Father! 

Stay strong! Have Faith! I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Kirkpatrick!

To my family

HIYA!!!!!!! 

Oh, how I wish I could be there to speak with you in person and give each of you a GINORMOUS hug!! (This is the moment when you turn to the person closest to you and give them a hug for me.) 

SO. Scotland! I'm sure you all know how beautiful it is, so I wont even try to explain the green (or the rain.) What I what to share though is how beautiful these people are. Each and every day, I get up before 6:30 am, exercise, prepare, and study the scriptures. I go out from 10 am to 9 pm trying to speak to people about a very personal subject and try and teach what my faith has to share. I meet people every day who are loud and fast-talking, and could go on without a breath for an extended period of time. There are people who couldn't be bothered to even acknowledge us, and there are people you wonder if they were raised by ogres. But then you meet one person--and it only takes one person--every day that makes it all worthwhile. 

Scottish people are so special and unique, and I know I was meant to come here for a reason. I have learned SO MUCH in the 3+ months I have been a missionary. It has been a trial for me to learn how to stop and talk to people about something that means so much to me, all the while doubting if I am really capable. What I have learned the most here though, is how every single person has a struggle. In my position, my companion and I build relationships of trust, and as you speak with people, and get to know them, you see a glimpse of how their souls are burdened. But you also get a glimpse of how God sees them. I know God looks at us and sees how our trials will refine us, and how our burdens can be made light through Jesus Christ. Seeing others in this way helps me to leave my personal doubts behind and desire to reach out and lift others in love and faith. 

I wish I could take you with me, just for a day, and show you the experiences I am having. Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland is a great place. I didn't exactly think so when I first got here, but some very special people helped me see the light. 

I want you to know that I know GOD LIVES. I know Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the World. I know that God is our literal Heavenly Father and that He has created a Plan of Happiness that provides a way for our family to be together forever.

I know not all of you believe exactly the things I do, or practice daily these things I teach, but the most important thing to always remember is that God is there for you, and that He loves ALL of us. If I can only do one thing in this fleeting time as a full-time missionary, I hope that I can at least extend that love that God has given me for these people. 

I know all things are possible with God. My faith is firm, and I know that we will all live again with Him one day.

This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all dearly, and I hope you all have adventures together this day and this week! Tell me about them! My Mom can give you my email address ;)

Love,

Sister Mary Ann Kirkpatrick

Sept 26, 2014

Zone Development AKA A Deer in the Headlights

Hiya friends and family! 

Sos. This is all wibbly-wobbly-missiony-stuff... I'm not sure how to explain it all!

So! We had Zone Development Day, which was awesome and exhausting! We were tired for a couple days after! We played softball and ultimate frisbee and duck-duck-goose and minute to win it and skittle game and had a barbecue. It was a party. I absolutely love Edinburgh Zone! There are AWESOME missionaries here! 

I've been writing down all the really funny moments, and I get to reflect on them and just laugh! I wish I could describe them, but I don't know that they'll make any sense! I'll tell one: So, I absolutely love Sister Kew, our Relief Society President, and she is so funny. She noticed that I always put tomato ketchup on my potatoes (small, boiled potatoes, all the time! where are you, creative Idaho potatoes?)  and so Saturday we were over for dinner and she gives me a wrapped gift and what's inside--Heinz 57 Tomato Ketchup! Haha, it was great, and we didn't have any at the flat, so that was awesome. 

We had a better week as far as the work goes. We had a short lesson with Paul. He still can't come to church, but he's still learning and growing, and I think Heavenly Father knows exactly where he's at and where he's meant to be. We have a new investigator named Caroline! She's older, a widow with 3 granddaughters. All of her family is close, and that's a priority for her. She's currently a Jehovah's Witness, but has a really good opinion of the Mormon faith. She feels the priorities of the two are similar, so they're both positive. We taught the Restoration and she wants to read the Book of Mormon, which is great! She's an open listener :)

We have an appointment to see Nick tomorrow! YAY! Prayers are heard and answered!

Speaking of prayer, I gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting yesterday on that subject, and it was well received. The Spirit was there, and I was really happy that several people really liked it, including the Elder's investigator Bill! It was based on the quote from C.S. Lewis "I pray because the need flows out of me all the time--waking and sleeping... Prayer doesn't change God---It changes me." I used the Bible Dictionary about Prayer, and Bread or Stones: Understanding the God we Pray To by S. Michael Wilcox, so those are your suggested readings for this week! I also have been loving listening to John Bytheway (thanks Mom!) and my favorites so far are "5 Scriptures that will Help you Get Through Almost Anything" and "Rough Start, Great Finish"

If you could pray for Kirsty at this time, that would be great. She has been really sick, with a heart disorder the doctors are still not sure how to treat because they aren't sure if its a condition or caused by a virus. We saw her yesterday and she is just absolutely exhausted--she can't do anything. She was in good spirits though, and still had her sense of humor, and I think she really appreciated seeing us. I really love her, and we're praying that she'll get better soon. 

So, as far as the title of this email goes, I have had so many people in the last few days say, "You're a rose that's just blossomed since you first came! You were demure... You were like a deer in the headlights!" Well, yes, I was, haha! I love these people, and I think they're finally seeing who I really am. I think I've really had to throw my insecurities and limitations out the window and just be myself. I think you have to do that, especially when your trainer leaves, because that's when you don't have them to look to to set the example, you just have to forget-it and do it. 

Well, I love you all so much! Thank you all for your prayers and support! Stay True to the Faith!

Love,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Aug 26 Trials

Hiya!

So, this week has been stressful. Trials around every corner, but we're doing our best, and that's all the Lord expects. We are trying to find new people like crazy everyday! No one in particular has worked out quite yet, but there is yet faith and hope! We've really struggled to teach lessons, especially investigator lessons, but we worship a 4th Watch God.

If you haven't read "Bread or Stones: Understanding the God we Pray to" by S. Michael Wilcox, YOU REALLY SHOULD. This talk describes my life right now. I'm speaking about the power of prayer in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, so as I've studied for the topic, I've really seen what C.S. Lewis said, "I pray because the need flows out of me all the time... Praying doesn't change God--it changes me."  God knows us perfectly, he knows our needs and our burdens, and He'll never give us stones, He only gives bread. Its our responsibility to ask in faith, for "Prayer is the key to heaven, and the lock is on our side" (President Boyd K. Packer). I love my Heavenly Father for the precious gift of prayer. 

Nick is still distracted, so if you could pray for him, that would be great. Distraction is one of Satan's greatest tools! But Nick is so so so great, and I could never give up on him. 

We saw Paul, but because of a mistake on my part we didn't have time to teach him. Thankfully he had time to see us this week. He is having great spiritual experiences though, and he is progressing slowly but surely! We're praying he'll be able to attend church soon! 

We have a goal we made with the Elders and the Branch Council to have a baptism (either us or the Elders, just mainly in and for the branch) this transfer, so by September 28th! We're going to need all the prayers we can get! We're planning a fireside that the members can invite their friends and family to and I'll finally be able to pull out and shine up my flute ;) 

Whelp, here's praying that we find and teach new people this week and that we some miracles happen with these really great people here! 

I love you all so so much! Stay Strong! 

Love,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Lord's Tender Mercy this week: REALLY awesome missionaries that I am privileged to know and work with. Elders Austin and Livingston and all of Edinburgh Zone!! I love them all so much! They are choice and elect, and the best people they have ever been!

Moves Week

Hiya. I'm dead, but I'm alive. 

So.

This.

Week.

Well, its been emotional, for sure. Monday we did email and cleaning before heading out to Bo'ness to see Iris, and we went chapping for Sister Passey's last time, and found a good potential named Jo who we have a return appointment with this week. We went home to have our dinner late and the Elders came at 8:30 to say goodbye, which was sad and depressing and awkward and funny. But we went back into the flat and realized we'd have to say goodbye the next day and we cried. 

Tuesday morning the Zone Leaders picked us up and took us to the Mission Home, where we kind of sat and waited for other people to come and figure out what the plan was and Sister Passey had her exit interview. We said good bye, and I was embarrassed to cry in front of the other missionaries, but whatever, and I went to Bathgate with Sister Ashdown. 

We both were pretty emotionally compromised (her companion and friends were going home too) but we were okay together. She didn't know we were going to be in Bathgate so she had to throw together a plan real quick, but it was good, we got to make up study and have lunch before heading out to have a couple of lessons. I enjoyed Bathgate. It was an adventure. I love Sister Ashdown. 

Wednesday we headed back to Edinburgh where I met Sister Jones, my new companion at the train station! She's great, she's from Minnesota, and we have pretty similar backgrounds and interests. She's soft-spoken, but has a great singing voice! She was in both the Christmas and Easter Missionary Choir Concerts. We have fun, and we're figuring out what our dynamic together in missionary work is. 

Wednesday was our long p-day for moves, and we got back to Falkirk early, so we went to Linlithgow with the Elders and toured St. Michaels church, walked around the castle and sat by the loch. It was pretty cool! (photos soon, hopefully... sd card reader currently MIA)

Guess who's also MIA... basically all of our investigators--not cool! We saw Paul, and he's doing okay, we didn't teach him, but we will this week. Nick had an interview come up and had to cancel our appointment and wasn't able to come to church, so Sister Jones still hasn't met him yet and I'm anxious about it, but I have faith in Nick. I trust him and I trust Heavenly Father is taking care of him. We have not been able to get in contact with Scott this week. We taught our least number of lessons in a week since being here. It was rough. But things are going to pick back up, I know it!

We were able to introduce Sister Jones to a lot of members this week, which was good. Highlights from Falkirk Branch Sacrament Meeting:

1) President Patterson: "Sister Passey has gone home... to find an eternal companion!"

Reaction: *smiles, laughter*

President: "It's true!" 

2) Brother Watts reading the entire "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss in his talk before finally tying it into Family History work and how we'll like it when we finally try it. 

Brother Churchill teasing me about eating an oreo (that a member had given me!) in Gospel Principles in which the lesson was on God's Law of Health... lol

Ah, Falkirk. 

You know, I struggled to really love it here upon first arrival, but in the last couple of weeks I've really recognized how much I've grown to really love these people, how they're all very special, with unique quirks and needs. You don't find people like this just anywhere. I love Falkirk Branch, faults and all! And I love the Falkirk area, there are so many memories here that it feels like home. Yeah, its been a hard week, but I really learned to appreciate what I have here. I don't want to be anywhere else. 

I know God loves us. He is aware of us and will succor us, especially when we pray in earnest. I have had to pray so much this week, just to get through, but I know He's there, and that He's listening. He knows my sorrows and anxieties and He knows that it will be for my good. D&C 121. 

I love you all so much! I love being a missionary! 

Love,

Sister Kirkpatrick

End Transfer 2

Hiya! 

So we got our moves call yesterday and I'll be staying in Falkirk and my new companion will be Sister Jones, coming from being a Sister Trainer Leader in Irvine! I am sad to see Sister Passey go home, I love her so much, but I know God's will and timing is perfect! I have something new to learn from Sister Jones! 

So this was kind of a hard week. We thought we were going to be super busy, but after Nick decided to wait for baptism, all our plans just kind of were up in the air and/or then fell through.

Nick was pretty hard to pin down for an appointment this week, but we finally got to see him for lunch on Friday, and he came to sacrament meeting on Sunday! He finished the Book of Mormon! He thought it had a sad ending, and he didn't have any qualms with the book. He got no red flags and he believes it. He's now at the stage of "Okay, I've read it, now what?" We told him to keep coming to church, keep having the lessons, read the Doctrine and Covenants, watch "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration"... there is really so much to study and learn in this Gospel! That is the perk of having continuing revelation from God. 

Nick is really funny, and he has really interesting thoughts. He's really slowed down, because he has so much to think about already, so I'm hoping that he wont put off baptism. He's quite stubborn, and he feels like a horse that's been broken: he's been so stubborn about picking and joining one specific religion for so long, and he's so independent, but he recognizes how Heavenly Father has led him to these things at this time, and there's the column of "What Nick Wants" and "What Nick Needs", so now he's recognizing that needs to accept God's will for him. He's just really stubborn about it. 

We saw a lot of members this week, trying to help Sister Passey get photos, contact info, and say good bye. I saw her cry for the first time yesterday, saying good bye to Kirsty and Dee. 

We taught Paul, and he's progressing well, he described the Plan of Salvation as "dejavu" (sp?) and told us he feels tingly when he reads the Book of Mormon sometimes! He gets distracted sometimes, but he understands and likes what we share. He's just hard to get to church, as he has "visitors" on Sundays and he needs a lift from a harder area to get rides from. He is going to do well, we just need to help him. He trusts us more now, but he still isn't exactly ready to join anything as of yet. 

We did some service, so I'll send you a couple funny photos of the elders working in Marina's garden ;) We weren't able to teach Scott this week, so I don't have any updates on him. 

A lot of my study recently has been focused on faith and belief, and how we can't wait on the road to Damascus for a witness (President Uchtdorf), we have to take a step of faith. No, I don't know or understand everything, no, I wont do everything perfectly, but I believe God's there to fill in the stair when we step up! Believing is enough, and even if we just desire to believe, it is enough (Elder Holland). 

I know God loves us. That is enough. (Elder Anderson)

'Till we meet next week!

Love always,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Next Time on Falkirk District

Hiya!

So, I'm going to try and write shorter, more spiritual emails. It occurs to me that President Erickson suggested that my emails home be like the small plates of Nephi, how they were filled with the things of the Lord. 

I learned a lot from my studies recently on faith and today on journal writing! I've been struggling with writing recently, so it was good and interesting when I found it to study from the "Come, Follow Me" manual for the month of August. I recognize that I have an easier time when I just write and express myself. Its my stress relief, and I haven't been doing it recently. You'd think I'd learn that by now. But my study this morning helped me recognize that I need to focus on writing about how the Lord's Hand is evident in my life today. 

We had exchanges this week, and I was with Sister Henkel. It was better than the week before's, I felt a little bit better about leading and deciding where we should go and be. We met some great people and I'm definitely starting to come out of my shell. That was evident at church this week, I suppose ;) Lets just say I like the Youth. 

We had an awesome lesson with Nick with Gillian, about prayer and scripture study, and he told us about how he has a testimony (from personal experience) that prayer works, but since he's never been "religious" he finds it hard as a "religious act" but he recognizes it as a commandment now, so I think he's trying. He is just so funny, he sits up on the couch with his knees and feet tucked up and sometimes when we read a really obvious or relevant scripture he just looks at us like, "Really?" Haha! He's already read to Alma in the Book of Mormon! He's going to be ready for baptism when he decides when. We were excited when he texted us Thursday and asked us how soon he could do it, and he picked 10 August so both of the people who found him could be there, but he's not going to be quite ready, he's decided. He really appreciates the responsibility, commitment and enormous change that will cause in his life. He's picked a new career and is planning on emigrating, so he wants to have a firm foundation as he rebuilds his life.  I really love teaching him. And we feel better about it, because of the amount he still has to learn and gain a spiritual witness of.

Scott still talks for Scotland. We talked about prayer with him as well, since he told us he doesn't really know how to. At this point he's just procrastinating reading and coming to church, even though he kind of knows its going to be good for him. He just needs to take Nike's advice.

I asked the Elders give me a blessing this week, and it was a really great, spiritual experience that helped me remember my worth and purpose, and I really want to share the love and Atonement of the Savior with others. I know that Ether 12:27 is true, and I pray every night that the Lord will make my weaknesses strengths. 

This next week is shaping up to be really busy, but I'm trying to take Sister Henkel's advice and just enjoy it. Sister Passey has a goal to hit each of our key indicator (number) goals this (her last) week, so we're going to try and work and pray really hard! We'll be getting moves call Sunday and I'll find out who my new companion will be. I'll be honest, I'm nervous, but I know that I will learn from and learn to love her as I have Sister Passey. 

Sos, I'll get back to ya next week, probably full of food and water-stained (rain, tears, etc), but happy to be a missionary!

I love you all so much and appreciate all of your prayers!

Love,

Sister Kirkpatrick!

They Came

Date: July 28

Mom, Dad, Family, Friends,

I love you. I love Heavenly Father! This week has been great.

Monday We had dinner with Kirsty, Dee, and Gillian. It was really great, and really necessary. Gillian  has been going through a lot of stress and trials recently, and she needed to get out of the house and leave the kids with her mum. Kirsty was great, and made us an excellent roast with veg, and shared shared really great insights during our lesson on repentance. It was so good, and when we left, and Gillian gave us a lift home she told us how much she appreciated it, how much love she felt in their home and how she hadn't been out of the house without the kids in years. We really enjoyed it. 

Tuesday we had exchanges! Oh, what a day. We had District Meeting in the morning, and exchanged with the sister trainer leaders afterwards, and I stayed in Falkirk with Sister Hales, meaning I had to lead! We had lunch with Iris, which was insane, there were a ton of people there, and she fed us half a chicken with veg and potatoes and bread. But the lesson went well and she told us that she was coming to church and bringing Andy with her!

We were finding most of the day in Grangemouth and Camelon, not a lot of success, but I got to know Sister Hales better! She asked me a lot of questions about myself, the work, how I felt about the work and the branch and after this transfer. Oh, the job of a Sister Trainer Leader.

We saw Flora in the evening, and we helped her move a few things so she could put new carpet down in her bedroom, and she generously gave us sweets and treats and Sister Hales a teddy bear! She was concerned that Sister Passey had left, but we assured her that she hadn't and that we'd come to see her again soon! 

There was craziness and length to nightly planning Wednesday on my own.

Wednesday We exchanged back after a little bit of service and finding, and I was never so happy to see Sister Passey again! So stressful! She really does so so much. We ate lunch and headed out to Denny. One of our appointments fell through, but we got to teach Nick with Sister Jackson! We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it went so well! He's already read up to Mosiah in the Book of Mormon and in our lessons, he is just so great. We asked him what he thought repentance meant and his answer sounded like it was straight out of Preach My Gospel! Ah! And he told us he wants a book about on just Jesus Christ and his life other than the Bible, so we referred him to "Jesus the Christ" by Talmage and he ordered it right away, and it should be coming today! He is just so so prepared. Missionary Manna from Heaven. And Sister Jackson was just great with him, and she had a really great experience, so we asked her to bear her testimony and include the experience at fast and testimony Sunday in August. 

We taught a new investigator named Paul as well. He has a mental disability, but is high-functioning and he seems to understand what we're teaching. We went with Sister Kew, but instead of inviting us in, he wanted to stay outside, so we stood and taught him the Restoration! It went rather well, and he's a little more open to thinking about going to church, and was quite receptive to reading the Book of Mormon. He said that he felt "the tingleys" when we were teaching. Oh, Paul :) The Holy Ghost is really so great.  

Thursday We had weekly planning and we got to teach Scott with Sarah! She said, "He talks too much" after we came out. Aye, he does, Sarah, Aye, he does. But we were able to teach him about prophets, Christ's earthly ministry and a little about the Apostasy using plastic cups. He seemed to like that. He really is very attentive and analytic about details most people miss and sees significance in them. We had dinner with Kirsty and Dee and a good Missionary Coordination Meeting and Branch Council afterwards. 

Friday we did service for Amber again, and we should have had "before" and "after" shots! The difference was huge, and its finally a good space for the little girls to play in! There's still a lot of work to be done, but she was wowed and so grateful. It really made it worth it. She was a little emotional, because she had been to her husband's grave that morning, but she confided in us and trusted us to work in her memorial garden. I really hope and pray that we can teach her about the Plan of Salvation. We did some LA finding in Camelon for most of the rest of the day. 

Saturday was crazy. After all week being hot with little-to-no rain, the heavens gathered, the thunder rolled and the rains poured upon the land! We traveled out to Linlithgow, which was a lot shorter bus ride than we were expecting. Its a really posh town, and a little more geared towards tourists and historians, since Linlithgow Palace is where Queen Mary stayed. There are a lot of mansions there. So we were out on the street when the rain started again and it was like someone had thrown us into the shower and turned it on full blast! Everyone had scattered and hid and we just kept going, laughing hysterically. It was definitely flash-flood status. It didn't last for too long, and afterwards it was just spitting for the rest of the day. We weren't able to find who were looking for in Linlithgow, and we didn't find anyone new to teach, but it was sure fun! We had dinner with Sister Kew, the Elders, and the Eagleshams that night, and it was good, and funny, as always. I absolutely love Sister Kew! We went by Paul to see if he could come to church if we found him a lift, but he was expecting a friend over about noonish, so that was a nay.

Sunday was miraculous. PEOPLE CAME TO CHURCH! AH! Iris was there with Andy when we got there, giving him a tour of the building and introducing him to people! Flora came! Total surprise! And Nick came!!! A progressing investigator at church! Miracles! So so happy, and totally an awesome day. Nick, Iris and Andy had to leave after sacrament, but Nick was definitely  chewing on a lot of thoughts when he left, and we heard that Andy had really enjoyed it and would be back! So exciting! And Relief Society was really great, Sis. Meade taught from "Following Up" by Elder Ballard, and it was really inspirational, and we felt a lot of love and support from the sisters, and hopefully it inspired some of the other sisters to get involved! 

We taught Scott at the church that evening, and showed him the Restoration DVD after a church tour, and he talked for Scotland. Sometimes its hard, and frustrating, but he really is interested and beginning to progress. There are definitely some things that he have to change (his mind about) as he continues to learn, but he likes what he sees, and I hope he comes to understand and accept! Sometimes the hardest part is figuring out what is actually his opinion, because he always shares so much about what he's learned, or read, or seen, or heard from other sources. Teaching the Plan of Salvation will definitely take a while.

Whelp, that's me! I love you all so very much! Thank you for your prayers and love! I know God lives and that he loves us! 

Love,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Roller Coaster

Hello Hello! 

This is gonna be a quicky. My prayers go out to all those affected by the flash floods in Rexburg! I hope it'll all go okay with the aftermath...

Monday, pancakes, dinner with members (the Irvines) and chapping.

Tuesday, we taught Nick the Plan of Salvation! Huzzah for Isreal! He already had an idea that there should be three degrees instead of just heaven or hell and that we were somewhere before birth! He is so so prepared! He's thinking about baptism and he asked us what he would have to change in his diet and conduct, and when we told him a little about the Word of Wisdom he said he already doesn't drink or smoke, and he's already been cutting back on caffeine.... WHAT?! Sometimes, its too good to be true. TOUCH WOOD. We're excited also, because Nick is studying to be a sign language interpreter and the elders just happened to find a new investigator this week whose DEAF. Heavenly Father really knows what he's doing. 

We saw Thomas finally and talked to him about his commitment and all seemed fine. 

Wednesday we saw Iris and she has non-member friends over and one of them even said he wants to come to church with her to see what she's been talking about! Yay! Hopefully that will happen! it rained and rained and we had our appointment with Scott drop. We taught Thomas about a living prophet and obedience and all seemed fine.

Thursday was AWESOME, because we were in Edinburgh with all the missionaries in East Scotland to learn from Elder Dykes of the Seventy! It was really great meeting. President Brown talked about being diligent and Sister Dykes talked about Enoch (awesome reading for the humble missionary in Moses) and Elder Dykes covered A LOT, mostly about the false traditions of missionaries, improving our obedience and what we can do to help people pray, feel the Spirit, and become really converted. 

We meant to teach Jade when we got back, but she wasn't there. We saw Kirsty and Dee though, and talked about the 12 Tribes a bit. But Kirsty was really tired and out of it because she hasn't been sleeping well due to a newly found heart condition. If you could pray for her, that would be great <3 

Friday we did service for a non-member named Amber whose friends with our less-active friend Gillian, and she really really could benefit from the gospel, because of what she shared with me, being a widow with two small girls. I really want to teach her! We went and helped Gillian with some math for a test to join the police force that she's been struggling to get through with dyslexia. We saw Sarah and she's still great and 16 so she can come teaching with us now!

We had her come to teach Thomas at the church on Saturday... and he didn't come. With all the trials he's facing right now, he's going to drop the missionary discussions. I don't have time to explain more. We had pancakes with Sarah to make up for her coming to the church. That was fun! 

Sunday was a roller coaster and shan't be spoken of. It was okay, but one must always expect 

opposition. I feel like that sister on the District, yelling, "JUST COME TO CHURCH!!" Ach. Oh Oh well, agency.

I love y'all so much! Thank you for your prayers!

Love,

Sister Kirkpatrickwell, agency.

I love y'all so much! Thank you for your prayers!

Love,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Wonder of Wonder, Miracle of Miracle

My Love Ones,

 

That song from Fiddler on the Roof, the "Wonder of Wonders, Miracles of Miracles, God did a Daniel once again...!"? Yeah, I want to sing that almost everyday as a missionary!

We had great adventures last P-day as we went with Kirsty and Dee (with permission) to Dalkeith/Midlothian, where Sister Passey has a great-great-great-grandfather who helped build a church! It was really cool, and they still hold services in there! We weren't able to go inside, but we peeked in the windows and saw the plaque with his name on it! We walked around the graveyard as well, looking for family names, and Kirsty expertly called the records office and found out that he is buried there, but without a headstone! All the old grave markers are so cool over here! All shapes and sizes! Abraham Moffat, Sister Passey's grandfather was a miner, so we drove over to the miner's museum to see if there would be any information about him, but the result was another source to email for records and information. Then... we went to CostCo! Haha, surprise! It was totally like stepping out of Scotland and into America! It was even organized similarly to the Sam's Club store in Idaho Falls! We mostly just walked around and tried samples, the highlight of which was my first haggis! (I'll send photos soon) I liked it. I admit it. It was herb-y. They had prepared it Greek-style (haha!) on a pita with Tatsiki (sp?) sauce! So funny, my first haggis was in Costco. Also, we got Krusteaz Pancake Mix! Huzzah! That's on the agenda for today... :) Kirsty and Dee were so much fun, and they take really good care of us. They even bought us CostCo hot dogs. Good stuff.

We had FHE with Linda Meade, a ward missionary, who's been really good at helping us organize cottage evenings, investigator/less-active lessons in member's homes. She's a good lady, and a good mom.

Tuesday we had a Zone Meeting in Edinburgh, which including a 20-minute walk to the church from the train station in the rain. And we were slightly luckier than a couple of elders... oh, everyone was wet. But it was a really great, inspired meeting about diligent, faithful finding! Forever finding, talking to everyone, faithful in that the Lord is preparing people, and preparing us to meet them! Also a new finding method to make goals and plans for each day- QGC's, Quality Gospel Conversations, which includes teaching, asking questions, testifying, committing and setting a return appointment! It really is stepping up the ante for our conversations with people.

We did some finding in Callendar Park, which was a good experience, met some good people, and chapped a couple of doors before we went to teach A NEW INVESTIGATOR!

SCOTT is wonderful. He is single, about 37, and works as carer in an elderly home of dementia patients. He's a musician and film junkie and a really, really deep thinker. The man can talk for Scotland. That is our main challenge with him. We'll be with him for an hour and a half and we've taught (or said) barely anything. But he likes that we listen, and what we have said he really likes, and the thoughts he's shared that he's developed (no religious background really) really go along with the Plan of Salvation and how God really loves us and is mindful of us, but he always emphasizes how we have to be motivated to do things and take advantage of what God gives us, rather than sitting and waiting for Him to make all the decisions. He is inspired. Some things will be a little hard for him to accept, like one specific person is God's prophet on the earth, but he has said himself how he feels like everything has been leading him towards this!

We spent so much time listening to Scott that we had to run with our pizza dinner in hand to the bus station so we could go see Sarah! We invited Sarah to make a list of qualities in someone she would date and/or marry. She turned 16 yesterday and says she'd rather marry her dog than a guy. Good attitude! Lol, jk.

Wednesday was a bit rough, we had a good time with Iris for lunch, got to meet her friend Andy, and see how wonderful and proud Iris is to share her testimony! Then we went out to Denny and had our appointments drop, so we chapped for a couple of hours without success, and were beat by the time we got back to Falkirk to walk up to the church for a Relief Society activity. The activity went great though, it was well-attended, there were crafts and Kirsty taught vegetarian cooking, which was delicious!

Thursday was absolutely marvelous, Sister Kew, the RS Pres. picked us up and we went out to Denny to have A SECOND NEW INVESTIGATOR LESSON!

NICK is absolutely golden. He has a friend who is a member and has been so great to share her beliefs with him, and he has accepted it all, because all the other religions he's learned about just don't answer all the questions and all the Christian faiths disagree and he is just so so prepared. I want to HUG his friend for all she's done to be member missionary! It was fate that we meet him when we did. I'm so so excited for him!

We had dinner with Kirsty and Dee and talked about personal experiences with the priesthood and they took us up to the church for missionary coordination meeting and ward council. We only had one bus ride all day! Thank you, Lord, for really great, caring members!

Friday we went and taught Betty, a less-active member and went and did service in Marina's garden again. Kirsty and Dee picked us up to go help them with a project for a friend. They've put up a garden gate up for her, because she's been battling cancer, and she really deserves some service. She had a ton of beautiful, ripe raspberries that I would've picked for her if I had had something to put them in. Then they took us out to a fish and chip dinner and gave us a lift to pick up Sophie so we could go see Jon. Jon is doing so much better, his head is basically healed and all the stitches have been removed. He has some great stories for his Family History!

Saturday we did service for and had lunch with Sister Downie and Sophie came with us to teach Scott, which turned out similarly, not much taught, but we did teach God is our Loving Heavenly Father and the Gospel Blesses Families, and learned a lot about his family and we tried prophets and dispensations, but it didn't work out before we had to RUN out for an appointment which dropped, so we did some chapping and had a QGC! We had dinner with Sister Kew, the elders and the Eagleshums, which is great. Sister Kew does so much, even though she's challenged by her health, having had a kidney stone for over a year and having to wait until September to have it removed. She works so hard, I wish we could help her somehow, but she's stubborn. More finding... met someone Jewish! That doesn't happen everyday!

Yesterday we had church, and we should always expect opposition Sunday mornings. Ach. But on the plus side, the elder's investigator Courtney finally made it to church! Our meetings were really great, Book of Mormon in Sacrament, Prayer in Sunday School, and Baptism in RS. Great for Courtney, wish we could've gotten someone there. But hey, it'll happen. Sundays are honestly the hardest day of the week. We tried to see Thomas, but he wasn't in again, but we were able to teach Marina and Flora, both of which are struggling with mental/emotional health, especially Flora, so keep her in your prayers.

So, that's me this week! I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers and all the ways you have, do now, and will, bless my life. I know God lives! Miracles happen!

Love,

Sister Kirkpatrick!