10_19_15 This Week...

We went to see Juan and Sonia after district meeting Tues. Tried to teach them about prayer and teach them to pray in English! Then on Saturday we talked about Scripture Study and their non-member son-in-law translated for us the importance of it to Juan, who has been struggling with personal study. One day we'll soften up Renato. He's so funny though, he introduced himself to Sis. Buttars as "Brother Rubino" hahaha. They've moved out to Castetroy, which is far from the church with limited transport on Sunday, but a member was kind enough to take them yesterday. 

Anthony is doing well, he came well-dressed to church, and after many attempts to entice him to pick a date, we ended up inviting him to the 7th of November, which he said he would work towards!

We had dinner with the Enokibaras, and got there a half hour late because we thought they told us 6:30! Elders were waiting 20 minutes for us, ahaha. Talked all about how dangerous Brazil is. Taught them about how they should talk about the church the way Lehi enticed his family towards the fruit of the Tree. They made up their own fruits (drawn on sticky-notes) and sold them to each other! Fun fun. 

Eiehlis is so sweet. We watched the Hope in God's Light video with her, and she expressed how she wants that light in her and in her life. Talked about the Holy Ghost and the Book of Mormon (explained it all to her) and I testified that we were chosen to come to her at this time. It was so spiritual. We set up a time for tomorrow to watch "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration" with her. 

We taught a new investigator named Patty who is an old Irish man, and he was so sweet. He understood a lot of what he read in the Restoration pamphlet, especially the apostasy. He's willing to study to find where he's meant to be to follow God. 

Friday found out we had to give the car to the new senior couple, theirs had a tax issue, so we're walking everywhere. We are so sore!! We got softened up, haha! 

Bernie was our savior to give us lifts to teaching appointments on Saturday. She was so so sweet, I love her so much! 

Had several ups downs this week, but it looks like a bright week ahead of us! Next Monday we will be in Edinburgh for an All-Sisters Conference (all the sisters in Scotland and Ireland), so we will be only allotted an hour for email later in the day. Its going to be a really really great day. Flying from Dublin Sunday night, fly back Tuesday Morning.  I'll get to see Sisters Wilkin, Skagen, Norin, and Stewart! :D

I love you all so much. I know Christ gives us strength when we can't do it alone. I have seen so many tender mercies and loving-kindnesses here in Limerick, especially this last week. Even on the rubbish days, there was something to smile about. 

'Till the Work is Done!

Love,

Sister Mary Ann Kirkpatrick

10_11_2015 Questions

I don't have a lot of time to say about my week, but I'll answer some questions from my Mum.

When did you feel the spirit strongest this week?

I felt the Spirit really strong in Zone Interview Training this week when I bore my departing testimony. Its always been my childhood dream to serve on this beautiful Emerald Isle(s) and nothing has made me happier. I know that some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven, but to those who embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. I'm excited to be a missionary for the rest of my life. Nothing has affected me more than my mission and all the experiences that I've had the last year and a half. 

I also loved my interview with President Donaldson, as always.

And I really felt the Spirit as we taught this week, to Eiehlis, and the trials she's going through, teaching her about personal prayer (Sister Buttars shared an amazing experience and method that I tried in turn to help one feel closer to God when you pray--to really imagine yourself curled up next to Him on the couch, pouring out your heart the way you would to your earthly father. Its marvelous) and the Atonement from Alma 7:11-13

And as we taught Anthony, and his strong, spiritual prayers that he truly expresses his desires, worries, and hopes--all towards being baptised. I love it. 

This girl named Sarah let us in and had us teach her about the Book of Mormon for 15-20 minutes! That was great :) Hopefully she becomes a new investigator this week or soon. 

 Tell us something that made you laugh this week.

Er, well last night our GPS took us on a creepy country-road/forest journey really late at night when it was really dark at night and we thought this was going to turn into a horror story! Haha! Sister Buttars makes me laugh everyday! We're so goofy together sometimes!

WE had three sleepovers this week: Sister Sawyer and Sister Wagner for exchanges on Tuesday, Sisters Hobbs, Pennock, Prescott, and Stevenson for ZIT Wed-Thurs., and Thurs. with Sis. Solum and Sis. Wilkinson (they were in a meeting with pres. Donaldson, Pres. Roy, Pres. Faloon, BML, and the ZLs about the work here in Limerick District). We had like, no food and our flat was trashed. So tired. But it was good, I love our sisters! 

Pierre is so good! We finally got to watch the prophet of the restoration with him, and I think it was really good for him. He got a calling as a branch missionary yesterday! Juan and Sonia had to move with the kids out to Castletroy--and the first bus isn't until 11:30! :( We're still figuring out how to make it work.

If I talked to your companion today, what would she tell me about you?

Well, just this morning she described me as, "bipolar" in the best possible way, where one minute I'm crazy and goofy, and the next I'm really really serious! Haha, also, I'm the best mom to her, I cook for her and rub her back all the time. Bahaha.

Okay, I'm out of time, I wish I could tell you more, but alas, today is not that day. 

I love you all! Take care of yourselves! I'll be seeing you soon. 

Love,

Sister Kirkpatrick

10_5_15 Another crazy move

So, this has been a crazy week! Monday morning we got a call from the Dublin Sister Training Leaders at 6:45 am... "Hey, you may be leaving Limerick today..." ?! Zone Leaders: "nooooo......" 2.5 hours later... "yeah, you're leaving tonight." 

So, Sister Stewart had to travel with Sister Wagner to Edinburgh a day early, so I was in Dublin from late Monday night to early Thursday morning. Whoo. #numberssuckedthisweek

Monday Sis. Stewart and I desperately tried to do everything we needed to, pack, email, say goodbye, etc. It was a crazy day, and we didn't get to say goodbye to everyone we would have liked to, but c'est la vie. The members were really sad to see Sis. Stewart go, but they were so kind! 

I think we fed ourselves (AKA ramen once and subway once) twice from Monday to Thursday. And Babs, from Dublin, our good friend who works at Cadbury, who LOVES my new companion Sis. Buttars as her own, sent us home with loads of chocolate, cookies, pancakes, nutella, bagels.... I don't even know what else! Its pretty insane. I guess a sister needs her chocolate. 

We had a really good working day in Dublin on Tuesday, Sister Solum and I. It was really funny. We taught this russian guy who kept saying sis. solum looked like a gerbil from redwall.... and we met with hadiza, who is the sweetest african lady who was referred from other elders in the zone and is going to be baptised soon! 

Wednesday we hung out at the Finglas chapel waiting for new companions to arrive, and, of course, the ferry/bus travel was complicated and the sisters got in late and the elders even later.

Sis. Solum and I were waiting with Babs and sis. Diaz at the bus station for the sisters, and the moment we saw them come in, I shot out of my seat, nearly abandoning my bag (for some unknown urgency kicked me up and out to the platform) and the moment I saw sister buttars we magically embraced and we're basically the best of friends and I love her and she's amazing. mah wee baby buttars. x 

(and no, we had never met previously #friendsinthepremortalworld) 

Due to the late hour we had to stay in Dublin another unplanned night, and then we drove down to Limerick Thursday morning. 

Thursday was just getting on our feet again, and some *ahem* scattered planning. 

We taught Anthony on Friday, and again between sessions on Sunday, and he's not ready to be baptised on the tenth, but we basically warned him that he'd regret it if he walked away now. #promisedcursing He's going to keep learning and keep studying, but he's not off the hook yet!

Conference was amazing. We watched the women's meeting and the first 3 sessions of conference broadcast-ed to the Limerick chapel with other members. Got to watch Saturday morning and Sunday morning live at 5 pm here. Loved Sunday morning's tributes to the mums and the sisters. I loved basically all the talks. There was so much about keeping the Sabbath Day Holy, Being a courageous example of the believers, and *ahem* all those trunky subjects soon-to-be-RMs have to take notes on. Education...dating...marriage...parenthood... the whole bit. 

I know I got answers to my questions from conference. It was amazing to feel the Spirit remind me that I need to be a little more exact, and a little more disciplined and diligent (Larry R. Lawrence/Quentin L. Cook).

I love this work of salvation. I love the gospel and my family. I wouldn't be here if it weren't true.

I love you all! Take care! My thoughts and prayers are with you. x

Yours Faithfully,

Sister Mary Ann Kirkpatrick