Miracles in Montrose

Brethren and Sisters,

Welcome to Montrose. Week 2, Transfer 7.

This week brought a lot of brilliant miracles! 

Tuesday we went to our first DM in Dundee, and its so funny, Elder Tang, who was in my District in the MTC is my District Leader now, haha :) He asked Sister Wilkin and I to give some instruction on what it means to have power and authority. I got to pull out this quote: "Your authority comes from the Lord, your power is dependent on your personal obedience to the gospel." Excellent subject to study, my friends. I also made friends with the elders by rewarding them with homemade cookies when they brought progress records for us :) Dundee is a really cool city, by the way!

We had kind of had a rubbish day Wednesday. It was a lot of finding/riding buses to try by people without much success. We were both exhausted, and kind of discouraged. Then when we got back into Montrose we met a friendly American member face, Jeff, who is new to the ward, and whom we asked to come teach Leslie with us, and he was able to confirm with us, which was awesome! Then we went to the most edifying and uplifting Ward Council I've ever been to! They are so on top of what they want see happen to help this area grow and strengthen. They have approved and directed us to teach the members from "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" so we're getting geared up to make that happen! I almost cried, it was so good :) MIRACLE

We had lunch with the WML on Thursday and his wife, the Jamiesons, and I love them so much! I'm so happy to work with them! They are ideal right now! and good food is a great benefit too ;) 

We had 2 joint teaches this week--WOO! That was a MIRACLE, because they only got 1 the entire last transfer. We taught Leslie from the BoM DVD with Jeff, who was a great choice for that lesson, as a RM with a strong testimony of the BoM. He was able to ask hard questions that sisters sometimes shy away from. It was great. Not sure if Leslie's in a place to really progress, but we're figuring it out!

Then Sis. Auld came with us to visit Tracy, and we read from the BoM with her, and it was the same thing, awesome member testimony and things that needed to be said!!

Next MIRACLE: the WML and the elders from one of the wards in Dundee contacted us/the Hayballs to tell us that they've been teaching someone for the last 4 weeks, and as much as they hate to, they have to hand him over to us because he actually lives in our area! He has a baptism date for this Sunday..... WHAT?! His name is Eamon, and he has been attending YSA/Institute and the ward in Dundee, and from the people we've spoken to, he's really solid. In some ways I'm sceptical, because I seem to jinx it every time I pull out the baptismal calender, but we'll see. I guess I need to strengthen my faith in this thing. In any case, he's going to have to take some time to properly fellowship and fit into this ward before being baptised here. He's 19, which makes me nervous, because we only really have 2 YSA that probably wont be sticking around this ward forever, and no priests (or YM for that matter). Ach. It'll be okay, hopefully. 

Well, I hope you know that I love you all! Also, suggested reading this week comes from the Gospel Doctrine lesson on Miracles and Faith!

Stay strong! You can do hard things! 

Love always,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Hump Day and Staying Warm by Laughing 2_9_2015

I wish I could draw how the roller coaster of my mission looks in my head! But I'll tell ya, it has lots of ups and downs and then a really high uphill, and now I'm looking down from the peak, and I can tell there's lots of twists and turns ahead! Photo of my 9-month mark attached! I look pretty thick from all the "warm" layers, haha. 

Montrose is a wee town, beautifully sat on the water. It used to be really agricultural, but its become a bit more residential in recent years.

So, we worked a lot on our area book this week, it needed a make-over.... We do service at a Charity Shop (there's lots of them, kind of like DI) in Montrose, and there's a really nice manager who asks us a lot of questions there :) She's great.

We saw a lot of members this week, and I love them! I love feeling like I'm already building a family here! That's been the favorite part of my mission, is building a network of members, non-members, less-actives and investigators that will hold a bit of my heart forever. 

I really feel like that this ward and I are a perfect match, at least for this point in time, and I'm so excited to help them be missionaries and see miracles happen here! My mum reminded me of something great: “God didn’t send you here to fail.” 

I met some great, funny people and some awesome cooks! There's too much to say! Sis. Craib, the Watsons, the Glanvilles, Sister Rollo, the Jamiesons, the Farquhars! <3

But we got a wee bit... stuck when a bus left us behind, so we had to call the Hayballs to come rescue us, haha! 

We had Zone Interview Training in Dundee on Friday, and we learned much about the basic of missionary work: The Doctrine of Christ, Involving Members, How to Begin Teaching, and of course, Loving the People. I know that the last of these is the very most important, because when we love and serve others as Christ would, everything falls into place. It was great. 

A great Subway worker let me use the employee bathroom when I was desperate this week. That was great. This country seriously lacks public amenities. 

The Relief Society had a super fun pancake activity on Friday! They all sat around and discussed different recipes and methods, just for pancakes! It was brilliant, and we got sweeet reward from it! Tracy (our investigator) even came! She's great. Sis. Morrison apparently has already introduced me, haha. 

Speaking of sweet rewards, my mom and sister-in-law Merrilei and brother Kyle are legit for their birthday packages full of junk food. I'll just have to lose weight when I have to come home, haha. 

I met the infamous "Grandma" this week! She's great, really prickly, cheeky, old-fashioned grandma. Dang. Bark is worse than the bite though! 

I had to speak in church about tithing yesterday, which went well, but I kind of lost it when Sis. Rollo looked at the clock and looked at me and said, "Not long enough!" We were in a giggle fit right behind the conductor during the intermediate hymn, hahahaha!! Sister Rollo got up and said, "I appologize, I have no idea what that was!!" I just looked at her and started giggling! It was great. And then the Farquhars brought it up later when we were at their heart, and we already had been having a hilarious conversation, and I was SLAYED trying to explain myself! Ah.... I'm staying warm by laughing! 

Well, bye for now!  I love you!!!!

Yours,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Hello Montrose Scotland 2_2_2015

Hello! Hope its been a good week for you all! Its been a crazy one for me! Thanks to everyone who sent birthday wishes! Its crazy, I'm 20 now and this week I'll be out for 9 months! When did all this happen???

Sister Kirkpatrick and Sister Wilkin

Birthday Lunch

So, I have to make this a quickie and try to get as much in as possible! 

Monday was hectic, trying to get prepped for moving and saying good bye to some of my favorite people, the Kagaris! Tuesday I packed, and the Hales took the 6 missionaries out for a farewell lunch. It was so sad to say goodbye to these really great friends. I have loved them so much. I was only one to move (still crazy!) so it made good bye a little harder. I'll see them all on the other side, though :) Sister Morrison and I went to Dublin that night and slept over with Clonsilla and Sister Cannon. It was requisite to have a pizza run. 

Wednesday was LONG, getting back to Scotland. I had to say good bye to my beautiful Sister Morrison :'( The ferry ride was rough (including on my stomach and my lunch :P) but in the end I found my new companion, Sister Wilkin, and got to Montrose safely and happily! The wind off the bay was there to greet us! 

We are involved with the Family History Center here, which is really fun, and it will be a good opportunity to meet members and non-members! The senior couple here are the Hayballs, and they're great missionaries :) 

We got the opportunity to take cookies to the bishop and his wife, which turned out be an answer to a prayer. Really great experience. 

We are teaching two long term investigators right now, Leslie and Tracy, and they both have been investigating for about 18 months. They are progressing slowly but surely! There's a lot of potential with part-member families and member missionary work here, so we'll really need prayers! The ward and many many friends fasted and prayed for the Maxton family here, and I have faith that miracles can happen for them! The husband is a non-member, but the rest of his family are active. I know that you all helped in your prayers, that brought referrals in Cork, and I know you can all be involved in this work just through your prayers! 

The ward members are strong and loving and I'm so excited to get to know them better! I love them already, after being companions with Sister Jones and Sister Morrison :) 

Okay, I have to go now, but I love you all! God loves you more!

Always,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Hello Again Jan 26, 2015

Snow in Cork

So, I'll just get the big news out of the way, we received our moves calls last night, and shocker was our four-main flat here in Cork is staying the same for a 3rd transfer! Crazy! Normally sisters stay in areas and with companions longer, but I'm the only one changing!

Yep, I'm leaving Cork. I'm sad, definitely. I finally see all the things I'm going to really really miss. Its funny that happens when you are finally asked to leave somewhere. All the trials fade away and the good stuff is what you remember. I'll definitely miss the members and missionaries I've served with here so much. 

But, on the upside, I get to go back to Scotland! Yay! I've been assigned to Montrose, which is right against the sea up north, between Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Its going to be freezing going from "balmy" Cork to blustery Montrose. I'm excited and nervous for different reasons, but definitely more excited. This has been the calmest I've been for a moves call yet!

So, highlights from the week. We had an awesome lesson with Hannah about mothers. It was really touching, and helped highlight how a mother's love is the closest comparison we have to God's love for us. I think it really helped her connect a bit better with that concept.

Oh, so THANK YOU so much, everyone, for your faith-filled prayers. We have been getting referrals left and right, and I know its because of your humble prayers that we could find new people to teach here. I sincerely hope that we'll see progress with them. 

On Friday, we came to the church, not expecting to walk in and see the place decked out for a Princess Party! Turns out to be our RS President's daughter's birthday, and she really needed some helping hands. It was a really great opportunity to serve her and connect with her family. The little 4-6 year old princesses were adorable. They came all dressed up, and we got to do their nails and put makeup on them! They played fun little games and decorated paper tiaras. They played all over the church, and the elders ended up being victimized (stampeded, literally) by the little darlings. Elder Pease was covered with glitter. We helped clean up afterwards as well, and the birthday girl kept up quite the effort trying to break into the room to torment elders. hahahahahahahahaha. precious. Then we ended up going to a member's home for a sisters' social, which was a surprise, but fun :) 

Best Sunday is always the last Sunday in my areas. We had an awesome RS lesson on "Ponder the Path of Thy Feet" about why we come to church, why we do things or react the way we do, and how we need to think of what Jesus would do, so we can become more like Him. I played piano for sacrament and enjoyed the talks about how the BoM answers questions of the soul, why we should keep our baptismal covenants, and about the strait and narrow path to God.

We got to be at the Peters' for dinner, had a huge shepherd's pie and ice cream, played a fun activity as part of a lesson, and got our moves call while we were there. Now I just have to pack, say good bye and travel! Who knows what will come next! 

I know that our leaders receive revelation. I haven't had so much belief in the faithful priesthood leader before in my life. I know that we can have confirming revelation through prayer and peace. I know that my path is narrow, and it may be filled with highland hills, but I look forward to the future. I'm excited to love Montrose. 

You all take care, I love you! I'll speak with you again when I'm old ;)

Love Always,

Sister Kirkpatrick

Knowing that we might be transferred, Sister Hale made a cake for Elder Pease and my birthday for the district conference.