We had another YSA baptism this week which was great. Floriane, a young woman from France who is working here in Limerick, was baptized on Saturday evening. She has been taking the lessons for a while now and attending church and she has also been attending our YSA Family Home Evenings on Sunday. It was a really nice baptismal service with quite a few members in attendance. The sister missionaries and one of Florian's friends in the branch sang a nice musical number which Maurene helped them put together. They also sang it in Sacrament meeting the next day so Maurene is already in full gear with her new calling as music chairperson in the branch. We had a good group as usual out to our weekly home evening on Sunday. As I mentioned Floriane was there as she enjoys our get togethers. Something interesting and I feel positive is beginning to happen. It used to be that as soon as the lesson and treat were over most of the young people would leave but the last couple of weeks they want to stay and visit and play games. We think it is great that they feel comfortable here and enjoy being together in this setting. We got a call from the mission home on Friday that they would like us to find two new apartments for the Elders here in Limerick so we can move them out of the 4 man apartment that they are in now that is not the best. I had no idea how real estate rentals worked here in Ireland but I am learning. First of all, the market here is really tight, there are not very many places available for rent, especially apartments. You need to contact the real estate agent or management company that has the apartment to rent in order to view it. So I got to work and started looking online and making phone calls. After viewing a couple that weren't great, we found one very nice apartment close to the chapel that will work and we will see today if we have got it and then will keep looking for another one. It takes a lot of leg work and time but we hope we can find clean, comfortable places for the Elders to live. Another "Vive la difference" moment. It seems that everywhere here in Ireland there are walls, fences and hedges. They seem to surround all homes and apartments, divide fields into little parcels and are all along most highways. The even put up little wall like structures around their graves. They come in many types and varieties but are everywhere. Some are ancient rock walls and others are very modern but they keep putting them up. There are not a lot of wide open spaces! I went to the dentist on Monday and I am going to have a root canal done in April along with a crown. It is like at home and will be costly and is not covered by insurance but if I don't have it done I risk losing the tooth and that is not an option.
We taught our first Institute class this week and it went really well. We are teaching a class on church history, Foundations of the Restoration. It is very interesting course content and we will learn much along with our students. We were both pretty nervous but we had complements from the students that they enjoyed the class and most importantly that they felt the spirit there while we were teaching. I think we are going to enjoy this assignment and hope more YSAs will attend the class.
1 Comment
Shirley Asplund
2/24/2016 03:27:16 am
You two are making such a difference. I'm glad Maureen has a music calling, and not so glad you have a root canal coming up! I just went through that. I love the houses by the roadside, the natural fences and hearing you teach institute, find apts, etc. You are very busy. Take care, and by for now.
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AuthorThis is the blog of Elder Tom and Sister Maurene Wilson of our mission to the Scotland/Ireland Mission. Archives
October 2016
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