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