November 30, 2015- "Thanksgiving"

Well, our water heater is working great C: haha it's ok You can laugh it was pretty funny. Well... until the end there. Then it was frustrating! haha This week we decided we needed new mattresses as well. I mean you sleep on some pretty bad mattresses on the mission but We decided it was a little too bad when during the night and trying to get in a comfortable spot by laying on my side, two springs dug into my ribs haha. My bed is also about the squeakiest, creakiest bed of ever. There is no quite sleeping on that thing haha. Anyway! Other then that our flat is good :)

I don't remember much about this week weather wise other then yes we did get some strong winds because apparently we are getting the tail end of about 3 hurricanes that are come through over here. So nothing too drastic, just lots of wind and mist. You cant call it rain because there are no actual drops most of the time. The air is just... wet. 

We were sad about Leanne dropping us but hopefully we will be able to get back on our feet and find someone to teach. It's a bit hard going over here for some reason all of our people have fallen through or cant meet. Also this e-mail might be a bit short since I lost about 20 min on these ridiculous library computers. You only have about 58min or less for each sign in that you do and mine was freaking out so I had to log off and it restarted, long story short you can only book a computer for 1 hour twice so yeah I lost about 20 min :C

Loved the package!! Thank you! We actually ended up cooking that stuff for Thursday night. Some members (off handedly) invited us out to eat with the Elders but they told us the day of that it would be around 8:15 that they would eat! It was going to be packed with all the sales going on near by and we wouldn't have been able to get to our flat on time. so we had to cancel, but we went to a members home on Friday he served his mission in America and his wife lived there for a while so they adopted the tradition and she makes pumpkin pie out of actual pumpkin! It was so good! I'll have to tell you about it next time C: They are so nice, it was a good quiet homey meal that I really enjoyed.

Plans for Christmas so far are going to the Redmonds who have 2 sons out on the mission right now, though I'm not sure if we will Skype there since they will be skyping their own kids... then the Relief Society presidents house, Sister Shine for the evening. It surprisingly has not snowed yet even though it's absolutely freezing! :) Unfortunately they are not doing the big singing mission tour like they did last year but we are doing it together as a zone so we will all sing in Dublin city center at some point this month, so that will be cool.

Elder Watson! haha he's from the AZ! We were right next to a place called Star Pizza (delicious pizza and chips with a drink for €5!!) But it was really busy inside so we sat outside. It was pretty cold but there were a bunch of us because it was just after Elder Ballard.

I have to get going! The gospel is true!!

Love Sister McBride

November 22, 2015- "The most spiciest thing I have ever had in my life!"

This week was.... quite the week. First off Monday morning our water was cold! We thought maybe we had used it all with the washer going and then washing the dishes but when we got home in the evening it was still freezing! So through a series of events and calling 4 different people-because everyone else said it wasn't their responsibility for that part of the flat- we finally got someone in on Thursday to fix it but only after our landlord person was able to get back into the country! Needless to say I had not showered still... I had washed my hair... twice. Once in the freezing water and that's only because I was already wet from being rained on and the other time I heated up the kettle and washed it in a big tubberware thing. After the plumber man left Thursday night it was still cold the next morning! Blah! so we called again and they said sent him in again on Friday night. So here I am panicking because I want to be CLEAN for meeting Elder Ballard and I haven't had a proper shower in like a week! My goodness so it was finally working (but not too well. It needs an hour or more to heat up) So I took the quickest shower of my life because only the hot water knob was turned and after about 5 minuets it was cold again! But The Lord provides and I was clean and groomed for Saturday.

Also we decorated the tree thats in our flat!! SO FUN!

Sunday we did a district fast and it was good. We went to this very nice african lady's house and she fed us. Only the food was THE MOST SPICIEST THING I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. It was yummy but spicy!  It this sauce with mushrooms, fish (with the teeny bones in it), and some vegetables. Even The Rice. Was Spicy! Oh my goodness. My mouth was in utter pain! It didn't help that I was trying to find these teeny fish bones and get them out before I swallowed them so the burning food stayed in my mouth until I got all the bones out.... anyway,  I was ok but My comp had some pretty bad heart burn after that... poor girl. Africans like spicy food. and I mean spicy. I can handle any salsa after that! Even Jesus's (spanish name 'Hey-sue's) at El Mesquite! They were really nice and I was grateful they feed us.

It was so amazing to have Elder Ballard he is so nice! He is a very sweet man but you can also hear the power in his words. He told us to "be great, be great teachers, be believing, don't doubt the power of God in you!" and my favorite: "Why do you need to be so great? Because you can't get out of missionary work by dying! If you can't get out of it by passing through the veil then why not get good at it??" haha he's awesome and I loved being able to see another apostle of the Lord! How awesome!

Unfortunately our friend Leanne no longer wants to continue  the lessons. She father who was her only supporter has now said that it would really upset him. Her dad is the person she lives with so she really doesn't want to do anything that will upset him :( we haven't even heard form her since then. But we hope and pray that she will continue to treasure the things that she has learned in her heart and when she is ready and a bit more independent she will see the missionaries again. So our week was crazy and full of zeros! Which is never fun, but we have a great district and things are going to go well! 

gotta run! hope your week is great

Love, Sister McBride

November 16, 2015 - "We have a batism"

This week was a bit cold! I put on my second layer of my coat this week! all the leaves have fallen and the long winter is settling in but people are already inviting us over for Christmas so that's nice. 

We *might go ice skating today! the ZL's have to ask if it's ok so we will see! C: 

 it is so good to see someone progressing in the Gospel! Our friend Leanne is doing great! Though young, she has a high maturity about her and has been truly studying the scriptures. When she has had a concern or question that might shake her faith or her desire to keep learning she has (of her own accord) looked onto the LDS site and looked at the scriptures referenced there and has come to the conclusion herself of its truthfulness without even needing to ask us! It is truly amazing how much a person can grow in their own faith when they do things of their own accord. :) We are so excited for her! Her date is for the 28th along with another girl Kriaztina from Hungary! :) 

We fasted as a district for our new investigator friends we hope to find that will be baptized in December. As I said the prayer to close that fast I prayed for this person that we might find them and baptize them this transfer and I wondered, why have I not prayed and fasted for this for every transfer?? Where has my brain been? I have fasted for finding new investigators in general but I have not, unfortunately, fasted at the beginning of the transfer/month specifically for someone to be baptized. I think all this time I feared that if I prayed&fasted to find and baptize someone that I wouldn't accomplish it and would therefore feel like a failure by not doing what I had set out to do. This is a fear I have struggled with all my life that I would not be enough or do enough to find that person. But I think I have finally connected the pieces! Miracles do happen! We can baptize every month, why not? If we pray for it and we work and as long as that is in line with the Lord there is nothing that has or will be holding me back other then my own worries of inadequacy... So, I determined then to improve and have more faith in myself, the Savior and His work. Our mission president has set a high goal for every companionship to have a baptism in December. The work is truly hastening. I feel it in my heart and soul and I see it in the world.

I hope you know how much I love you all! It's weird to say that I have been out 11 months! I never thought I would get here but here I am and I am loving every minute of my mission. I am feeling that anxiety that comes with the end of something amazing approaching and I am worried that I will get to the end and will feel that I never did enough, never worked hard enough... but my mission president said something to me that helped me with that. He said out best will be different every day and your best is always enough. I testify that that is true. I know in my heart I have made mistakes and have let people pass me by and I feel godly sorry for that. But I also know that I am not here to be perfect. I am here to begin my path to perfection by helping others and I think now I have truly seen what an amazing blessing that is. I just wish it didn't take my brain so long to process it ;)

Here is dublin city at night everyone! have a great week!

 

 

 

 

 

November 9, 2015 - "I'm staying here with Sister Dias!"

(picture of her district)

I am staying here with Sister Dias! Woot! She's awesome, but she is actually going home this transfer so it will be a bit different knowing that I'm getting a new companion haha.

Also sorry I didnt tell you happy birthday last week through e-mail but you should get a letter in the mail from me soon! I hope it made it safe!

This week was good although our friend Diane dropped us :( she text us saying she didn't want to learn anymore and we were pretty sad. but that night the Lord blessed us with 2 people who actually stopped and talked with us! we were able to exchange numbers and are going to call them later.

I learned a great deal of the importance of carrying a water bottle! Not only did 2 missionaries got pooped on by a bird during our combined finding day in Dublin city (one being sister Dias) and they used my water bottle. the other was when we got off the bus and the trash bin next to the stop was smoking! Smoke was coming out of the hole and when we peered inside it was on fire!! (someone must have put their cigarette in there when it was still hot) The flam was small but was getting bigger. Fortunately with the last water left in my water bottle poured over it, we put it out and saved the day haha... It was pretty crazy!

But things are good and life is awesome in the work of the Lord! Our friend Leanne is excited for baptism especially after seeing the baptism of Afia that happened in our ward by the Elders. So hopefully things go well she is a wonderful person but is still pretty young only being 18 so hopefully we will be able to help her through to the waters! C: 

Thank you , thank you , thank you for all the pictures. I really wish I could be there at the wedding but I'm glad they actaully got a head cut out of me! Sa-weet!

Just so you know I don't want a lot for Christmas. What I could really do with, is that fall colored scarf the goldish one that I love that I didn't bring with me.... i mean if you don't use it... i would love that. Also some of those refried beans and salsa! and My backpack. the floral one.  (we can have them here! and my shoulder is killing me with this side bag!)  Lets be honest, there is no feeling of the quiet Comforter when you have just spent hours focusing on worldly, materialistic things. The whole point of gifts is to symbolize that Christ was the greatest gift we could ever have. Heavenly Father didn't give us a billion things to give us eternal joy. He gave us Christ and the Holy Spirit to testify of His love and Eternal truths. I'm sad I missed this last Christmas and will continue to miss another. It will be hard to be honest especially Since Conner will probably have his mission call and maybe be out by next year. But you know I have learned a lot about the law of sacrifice. I was thinking this to myself the other day about why did I have to miss Conner's graduation, 2 Christmases and 2 mothers days (I feel like and Elder) I said a silent prayer Lord, why do I have to give up the only things I wanted to be there for? (Christmas and Conner's graduation) I have sacrificed everything else, do I really have to sacrifice that too?? The gentle 'yes' filled my heart. and I slowly began to realize more about our Savior. He suffered and sacrificed all. He did more then I could ever imagine and here I am standing in His place saying "I'll sacrifice all, except for the things that I want"?? Not only did I understand more about the Savior but I also realized that the blessings that will come from this sacrifice and service is far better then I could imagine. Everything is made fair through the atonement of Christ and I will be able to live with you all in eternity, so 2 Christmases is not even a small dot in the time that we will have after this life.

 Sister Dias.

Sister McBride and sister Dias dressed the same and changed name tags as their Halloween costume. 

 I"m not sure who this is.

 sister Broughton works in the office and is from Arizona. We love her!

Nov. 2 , 2015: " Long time... no email"

Hey everyone! Sorry it has taken me forever to e-amil you all so here's what happened in case you didn't know... (also I don't remember what any of my last e-mails said...)

I'm in Dublin! Woot! well just outside of Dublin in a small place called clonsilla in blanchards town so it takes us about an hour to get to city centre.I'm headed to the beach today! yay! Which also means limited time. there is a cute senior couple, Brother and Sister Exon who aren't actually missionaries but do the work like they are. They're from Oregon or Washington or something and Brother Exon had too many health problems for them to be officially called as missionaries, so they decided to call themselves! So they're living in Dublin and they go out with the missionaries all the time and they are always asking when we can do something with them. They've been wanting to take us out to dinner for ages. They are like the sweetest people ever! 

 To be honest not much happened this week. We weren't able to see a lot of our investigators due to us having to be in our flat by 6 on Halloween night and our people were either sick, didn't get back to us, or not in town.... so it was kind of lame but hopefully this week will be better. They are all doing great! This place is truly blessed and prepared!

I am so grateful for a mission and all that it has taught me. I would truly be a different person with our it. Ultimately I love that I am able to invite others to come to Christ and that Christs trusts me with this sacred work of being his representative! Thank you all for supporting me and encouraging me. I know that as we search of our savior we will find lasting happiness and truest joy. 

Love you all. SO, so much

Sister McBride 


(She send some pictures. Some were taken the day of transfers in Dundee, Scotland and a few when she got into Ireland. 

Dundee just before I left for  Ireland

Dundee waiting for our ferry on transferes

My new companion sister Dias. (she said she her sister Dias took her out for lunch for her birthday) 

IRELAND! The trees are turning fall colors. It's so beautiful

Consilla Dublin! Best district EVA!!  haha... I love my district. 

October 19, 2015- IRELAND

Sorry I don't have much time to write just now, but no worries I'll e-mail again later (hopefully) so when you come to Ireland you have to get this things called a 'garda card'. Garda is the Irish word for police.. I have no idea what this card is for so.. don't ask. all i know is that I need it but no one told us about it!! So the STL's (sister wilkinson and solum) called us at 5:45 and said hey! no one told you, but you need a guarda card and were 30minutes from your flat to come pick you up! So right now I just got through the RIDICULOUSLY long line that wrapped almost all the way around the building. They gave me a ticket that said 101 and told me to come back in 2hours! So I'm at an internet cafe in Dublin City! Fun stuff. This week was fantastic! exchanges with sister solum where we discovered that she might have hypo glycemia like me because she has all of the same symptoms haha. It was nice to talk to someone who knew how I felt.. people don't believe you when you say yeah... i just fall asleep but I can't help it.... she understands though so I don't feel as lame anymore! haha. basically we had so many miracles this week with meeting new investigators Leanne and Diane who have both committed to baptism! :D (Fabio dropped of the face of the earth and we haven't been in contact with him for 2weeks...) but we really saw the Lords blessings this week and I know it's because I have been striving to be more obedient and that this area is ready to have things happen and I was put here to help those things happen! I am excited and both anxious to try and do my best :)

Anyways-I have to go!

Love

Sister McBride

October 12, 2015- "Zone interview training"

this week was good with Zone Interview Training as well as Stake Conference. So far I know about 5members haha since we haven't had a regular Sunday in 2 weeks. I received a lot of help as well as revelation this week. I have felt the Spirit testify to me that this is the time of hastening! The Lord is performing his great work and we need to be right there with Him. It was a bit crazy getting to the church on our Zone Interview Training though. We had to take a bus from CLonsilla into Dublin city centre and then another form there to the church. Only problem was there was a TON of traffic. We were on one bus for about and hour and 20min! SO we got off early and ran through town to catch the other one and made it just in time for the start of the meeting (they like you to be there 30 min early in the room studying your scriptures but we missed that bit) When we rushed into the building president was there to greet us... oh no... Was what I thought. But he simply said "so glad you made it Sisters, now stop worrying and take a breath." haha. I wondered how he knew we were coming since he was in the sacrament meeting room with everyone and then I realized when we went in and sat down that there are windows and probably everyone saw us running along side the building... awk!

 We are teaching a Brazilian named fabio! He's awesome and is totally prepared for the gospel and has a baptismal date for the 7th of november!  but he's also really busy and we haven't been able to get a hold of him. And we're teaching a guy named John. Not sure where he is from? maybe nigeria? but hopefully we will be able to set him with a baptismal date! Thats about it. Our teaching pool is faily small we have a LOT of recent converst that we are working with! One of them named James. He's been a member for about 2months and he is so great he knows so much about the gospel already and he has really turned his life around from the drugs and smoking and is sharing the gospel with everyone at his work! He is so cool!


The gospel is True!! tell someone! C:

love sister McBride

Oct. 5, 2015- "IREALND IS GREAT!"

IRELAND IS GREAT! (she was moved to a place called Clonsilla a suburb of Dublin)

 Ok I will do my best to remember everything cuz this library is weird and you have to log on for an hour and then log off and get up and go re-log in and you could possibly not get the same computer! Blah but other then that Ireland has been AMAZING!

(Mom here: on moves day I woke up about 2 am feeling anxious and the need that I need to pray for her. I also had her on my mind most of the next two days. which is a bit unusual for me I often never really have a anxious feeling other than missing her. Her dad also expressed to me some feelings of the same. Then her grandparents texted me saying the same and a few others so it was interesting I had told her this and this is was her reply that is why she starts out like this) 

 So what happened was, we went to the Corstorohen (place near Edinburgh) to stay with the Sisters there on Tuesday night (their flat is seriously NICE!) anyway, bright and early on Wednesday mornin' at 6 o'clock the Edinburgh ZL's picked us and some other missionaries up in a big van and took us over to the bus station, which then took us to the ferry. (The only bad thing about those suitcases is that since it's 2big ones it takes up a lot of space and the Elders are always like.. man how are we going to fit anything else in here.... so yeah probs should have come out with a big one and then a medium one but that's ok! Because the plus side is that once i get rid of all the things I don't ever use I will only have 2 cases while everyone else has 3... sometimes more even smaller ones. haha so there's that. Anyway the ferry was soooooo cool I felt so posh! they had this neat sitting room and then a place where you could buy food and a little wee store. It was nice. A ferry is a lot bigger then I thought. It was really fun, despite the slight fog in the distance it was an otherwise lovely day.

I would imagine that the time you were praying for us was when things went a bitty wrong... So after we got off the ferry in Belfast what we were ment to do was take a bus that would take us to another bus station where we would get the X1 bus to Dublin. However all of us being pretty confused (as well as lazy and not checking our plans like we should have... Guilty!) we though we were getting a bus straight to Dublin. So we missed the bus to the bus station! And didn't know for about 40min or more until we asked the receptionist. Long story short Elders in Dublin brought their car and shoved all (most of) mine Sister Wilkinsons and our other traveling companion Sister Butters luggage and us in the car! lets just say it was way cramped! but we all had seat belts! They took us to the bus station where we had an hour to wait for the next X1 and they were going to try and get all of the other6Elders and their stuff back there.... in an hour. it didn't work so us sisters were some hoe left with an Elder Taylors luggage (no idea who or where he was). Basically the X1 came and no one was there to get Elder Taylors luggage and we had no idea if we were to take it with us. So we left it with the bus attendant people and then heaved our luggage onto the back of this bus which for some reason had the bottom of the compartment level with my chin. So it was exciting! Luckily Sister Wilkinson has hauled hay! and then we Made it to Dublin at 9 instead of 5 and we stayed with some sisters in the city and traveled to our area the next morning.

So Sister Dias is awesome! She is so nice! and fun! She took me out to Eddie Rockets for my B-day (aka Johnny Rockets? I think it's basically the same thing as that in america) I love her but I got a burger with some 'special' sauce on it and their 'special' sauce is gross. blah. It was a greenish color.... but it was ok anyway the meat was good :) She was way excited to be my comp. She loved her last companion but I guess she suffers from a lot of things that made it hard to work so I think we're both excited to have a normal missionary schedule. haha. Her English is pretty good! though sometimes she says "how do say..?" or "I love him so bad!" She uses bad in place of much haha she's so cute! It's hard though because we are teaching a couple of Portuguese speaking people and I have no clue what they say to each other. Also the other sisters in our area are both from Mexico and Spanish and Portuguese are very similar so they speak to each other and I'm just kind of left out... but that's ok. :) they're nice anyway. 

So yeah I had a TON of people wish me happy birthday! People from the ward as well as Sister Wilkinson and her comp called me at 6:30 am to sing happy birthday, The ZL's sang, and my district leader and his comps (who is my old ZL Elder Wells! Crazy!) and Sis Ferguson sang to me as well!  And then yesterday Babs fed all the sisters at GC and she brought a cake and candles and they sang to me as well! So I had a really great birthday. and yes there is a post strike.. sorry just remembered that.

Anyway it's been good I'm excited to be here. It's interesting, Ireland feels like where I'm supposed to be! Would it be cheesy to say it feels like home?? because it does! The leaves are falling and you would love it here mom C:

I loved Pres. Uchtdorfs and Elder Hollands talks WOW! I only get to see the Saturday sessions and the Sunday morning one. We have to watch Sunday afternoon on our own time because of the way it's broadcasted it's to late for us missionaries to watch.

LOVE YOU ALL!

September 28, 2015: "I'm going to IRELAND!! WOOT WOOT!"

The Trio is no more... :(

It was fun having her in a trio and getting all the pictures. They seemed to have had a lot of fun! She is off to Ireland. Her new companion is from Brazil so she might be learning some spanish... Should be fun!

here is my official e-mail about the week. I'm moving to IRELAND! WOOT! To what every one calls "the promised land" of Dublin in a place called Clinscilla (not actually sure how you spell it because it's Irish that's how it sounds... (Mom: here I looked it up it's named Consilla. It's a suburb of Dublin in the district of Fingal) Anyway I'm super excited I might get to learn portugese as my companion is from Brazil! her name is Sister Jiez (also not how you spell it but that's what it sounds like)  On Monday we started a fast with our district (which is just us, our DL and his companion) we've been struggling to get our friends to church, but we went the full 24hours!  On Saturday we met a man named Jim who had previously dropped us, but when we ran into him on the street he said he would like to come to church! despite the fact that he didn't want to get taught or baptized. He came and it was really cool, he loves church and the people there. We dropped our friend Dmitry... it was time. But we got pics before we left. Then we got a lift home from a member and that was an exciting time! ... he pulled out in front of a car haha no worries the other guy was watching. Oh! I also almost got ran over by a car door... Yup. So first of all these mission cars are Weird! They have butterfly doors meaning they open opposite ways aka not the normal way a passenger door would open. Ok so we got a lift from the Elders. It was about 8:45 so we were all tired and I had to move their bags and coats to sit down... well little did this Elder know that I wasn't in the car.. and he started driving away!! With the way this door was my only option was to run along the side of the car with the door pushing me along. we didn't get too far before he stopped but it was far enough! ;) We also met this drunk guy last night that was about our age, on the bus. He was funny. I put on lotion and he was like "was'sat?" I replied that it was lotion and he says in a sing-songy voice "oooh hand sanitizer!" He also introduced the bus to Sister Skagen. It was great we gave him a restoration pamphlet.

To be honest other then that I can't remember much other then the fact that it has been a blast with these two companions! I have laughed the most I ever had since being on my mission. I have loved the trio despite the negative comments other sisters have had I was determined to make it good and it was I will miss them and this area and I hope to keep in touch with them C:

I love this gospel and this opportunity to serve! 

LOVES!

Sister McBride

 These are pictures with a member named Zoe. Looks like they have way to much fun! haha..

September 21, 2015- 'My first experience street boarding'

Hiya! from Scotland!

It's rainy yet again today (it's always a Monday...) And the Autumn chill is creeping in, the leaves are beginning to change and I feel winter coming soon! So far I've held up with a light rain jacket and only one pair of tights! I think I'm doing pretty good.

We went to St. Andrews for the last time on P-day and saw the place where Golf was supposedly invented! I bought a really expensive golf ball. It was like £3... but hey its still pretty cool!!

We dyed Sister Turners hair! First time I ever dyed someone's hair haha. A mission is full of other experiences as well as the spiritual. 

We went and did something called street boarding on Friday, which is where you get a dry erase board with a question like "what makes you happy" or "what do you love about your family" and you go up to people and ask them to write their answer. Then you get a good convo about the gospel going and before you know it, return appointment! haha We did it with our district which was a bad idea.... because our district is only 5 people! and 5 people in city centre doesn't attract a lot of attention... also we didn't have a white board. All ws had was a family history sign that we propped up. So after about 1hr 30min of very minimum success we went and found some cheap small white boards (which was all we could find) and tried that. A little bit better but basically we were talking to people in city center for... 4hours with absolutely no return appointments. *sigh* my first experience of street boarding was no bueno, but we're determined to try it again, this time with more people!

Our friend Zoe is doing great! she is loving church and Ah... I wish I could give you everything but just know that she is a strong person who is the only baptized member in her family and friends and basically none of them are supportive. But she knows it's true and she's awesome C:

Saturday we sorted clothes for the refugees fleeing from Syria. I guess there are a lot and they're all fleeing towards Croatia (where shawn is!) and the round about areas. People are donating a lot of clothes and we are sorting through them to help out the refugees. It was really fun.

Yeah other then that not much happened. It has been a growing a learning experience and I am determined to as our president says "become more sanctified" as a person and as a missionary that I will be able to do the things the spirit directs. Our president has talked to us about the true order of prayer and how we need to have the spirit guide our words and we need to pray for the spirit. I had a very spiritual experience this past week. As we knelt down in our flat to pray before we head out I felt a strong prompting to pray for the health of my companions. (Sister Turner had just run out of migraine medicine and we discovered that she has to go back to the Dos because her prescription is discontinued...! Also Sister Skagen symptoms are increasing...) I prayed that they would be able to over come their health problems and I nearly started craying from the spirit. It was a powerful moment and I know that the Holy Ghost can guide our prayers. Prayer works love you all!

Sister McBride

 

 

Sept. 14, 2015 -- "Mayday, Mayday Abort ABORT"

 

Pic taken when we were moving flats and the elders had our keys to our new flat and we had to wait to get them so we went on a sweet treat run. And it was raining. 

Such a good week this week! well, it always is on the mission ;)

This week was really great. We saw our less active friend Ann almost every day haha. Sister Turner is staying at her house when she doesn't feel well, that way sister Skagen and I can still go out and stuff. Ann is one of The most caring people I know and She's so sweet. I always feel better when I go over. She's one of those giver people. Always giving.

Last week I feel like I just lived through a month! So we had to close down our flat right? we found out Tuesday morning at about 11 that we were to be out and have the whole place spotlessly clean by 5 pm! well needless to say we did not finish. especially considering that we had just barely moved out luggage to the new flat and stayed there only the night before so we still had EVERYTHING to move out and you can't leave a single thing there otherwise they charge the mission home for it! So we had to find out what was the flats and what was the missions and take the mission stuff with us. We threw away so many things... anyway we had changed into service clothes (aka regular clothes like a t-shirt and jeans) and we gave the Elders (who have a car) our flat keys so that they could take stuff to our flat while we cleaned. Well they were really busy and didn't end up getting stuff that was in their car to our flat until late that night. Also because they had our keys we weren't able to get into our new flat (that had all of our clothes/food) until late that night! So we ended up walking to a meeting with the bishop in our grungy service clothes. Not to mention that it started raining pretty heavily (and in Scotland there is no warm rain). But we were kind of hungry and wanting sweets from cleaning all day so we decided to buy some ice cream bars at a shop on our way there. We got some pretty strange looks but it was really fun we laughed all the way through it. Except for the part that we felt like we couldn't GQ someone (or stop them and talk to them about the gospel) because of our attire so that part was lame. But we eventually through another set of missionaries and a kind member giving them a lift we got our keys back! Wednesday we finished the clean up and finally found the place to turn in the keys to. But that will change soon because they're moving us again for some crazy reason at the end of this transfer (in 3weeks!). I'm really sad, we're living in luxury in this flat!! ;) I have a memory foam mattress and pillow! lets just say I haven't slept in a bed even close to this comfy since my mission started and I've been having some great sleeps. Also a bunch of good food, as well as American food that the senior couple, the jones, left. The closets are annoying though, they don't have any drawers, but that is literally my only complaint. It's amazing how much more comfortably you live with things like, 2 bathrooms, not-cheap toilet paper/paper towels and just basically the little things that are just a wee bitty more expensive that we don't buy for ourselves that is nice to have.... I love the Jones'. They left us nutella... what more could you need??

Haha... soooo we had a run in with a drunk Micheal Jackson a few days ago! in the words of my companion who has the meat of the story:

"Saturday we walked to an appointment, we felt prompted to talk to this man but we had already passed him..eventually we ran after him and struck up a conversation. Said man turned out to be pretty drunk (keep in mind it's only 6:30pm) and wasn't really interested in our message. He tells us his name is Michael Jackson..

what? No way you silly drunk man. You are just saying that because we are American.

and guess what?

He pulls out his credit card and shows us his name...

HIS NAME IS MICHAEL JACKSON.

A few things happen and we decide it's time to go and as we shake his hand..he won't let go of mine. And he gets really close to me and I'm assuming to see my name badge (that's what most drunk and sober people do) and he starts pursing his lips and getting closer!

Mayday Mayday! Abort! ABORT! 

Thankfully my companions saved me from this drunken kiss.

We turn around and guess who we see walking our way? A potential we met a few weeks ago and his friend. Said friend used to meet with missionaries but went on holiday and lost contact but he wants to learn again!

Sometimes you have to almost get kissed by Michael Jackson in order to find the promised people."

There you have it. We do meet a few drunken men and that's the first experience I have ever had with a kissey one. 9 months out so I think I'm doing pretty good :)

Our friend Dmirty who has been learning for AGES finally came to church! Although I thin it was a breaker for him instead of a maker... which is unfortunate but I'm glad he finally came. It has been so great to see our recent convert friend Zoe come to church! She is really starting to strengthen her testimony and do the things the Lord wants her to do. It has been so amazing seeing her change and become happier and I'm so excited for her. She is such a sweet girl that has been through so much. It's amazing what this gospel can do for people.

I have loved studying Alma 26 about Ammon it is amazing how truly thankful he is and humble. I have seen how following the Spirits promptings can give us out desired Christ-like attributes. The Spirit will always prompt us to do good things! It's awesome.

Friends I know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God. There is no way that a book that has strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ, built up my confidence, and helped me feel so happy could be fake. I want to invite all of you to read, study and ponder it. I promise that true happiness will come if you do this and you will know and feel the Love that Christ and out Heavenly Father have for us.

Love you all

Sister McBride

Here are some pics for you! hope you like them momma.

 

August 31, 2015- "I love these sisters so much!"- it's also sister McBrides hump day Sept. 3rd. Mission half accomplished!

Sister Turner, sister Skagen and sister McBride


I love these sisters! I don't know what I was worried about being in a trio, I had heard trios were more challenging but, I love it! So far it's been a great experience and my companions have already been in one so they ken the trick of the trade of getting ready on time and working together efficiently. The first lesson we taught together was the law of chastity so that's a bonding moment! haha... I've learned a lot already from Sis Skagen and Sis Turner already.

(mom here: it is sister McBrides halfway mark on Sept 3rd and I sent her two packages. mainly because I was watching the weight and I didn't want it to go over so I sent two packages.) I got your packages mom! I loved it I did open one....hehe... but I will save the one for my hump-day. 

I know it's been weird realizing that this is my last time having these months on my mission. This is known as the 'black hole year' because not all sisters get and entire year from January to December. I feel like an Elder anyway with 4 Skype calls and missing two Christmases!! But it's ok :) It doesn't bother me as much as it used to.

So last week was super crazy we had a ridiculous moves day. So when we get transferred Monday we e-mail and that's it. Tuesday is normal and Wednesday is p-day until 6pm. So basically we had a party! Sister Reed left early in the morning for her train to Alloa and Sister Norin came to be my companion so it was us Sister Skagen and Jackson from Kirkclady, Sister Hinck and Milsoe from the neighboring district with Sister Buhler from Aberdeen. Sister Norin, jackson and Buhler had to wait for their companions who were coming in on the 8:50 train that night so we spent the whole day together! We went to a chippy place called Rockpool and then got permission to go to St. Andrews! It was really fun. I've seen all of it before but it was good. And I had to direct everyone becasue I was the only one who knew where we were going! haha but it was great. Our companions train was late though and it came in at half 9 instead so we had 5 sisters in our flat for the night because it was too late for them to get the next train home! so it was an adventure! 

Also our investigator Dmitry has a chance to come to church! We asked him to pray about an opportunity to come to church and it turns out the shop he works at is closing and going somewhere else and he is no longer employed! He was happy cuz he was too busy for 3 jobs anyway! So hopefully in a month he will come to church!

This week has been up really great. We are having a lot  fun together and I just figured out a new way to remember all the points of the 3 main lessons this morning! Sister Turner is very soft spoken and sweet and hasn't been ill very much she had migraines the past 3 months but she got vitamin supplements that have been really helping, though she gets them every once in a while. Sister Skagen is a hoot though. She keeps things interesting! haha she's also a very good missionary but has been a bit ill as well, so we had a fun adventure to Edinburgh last Wednesday. We took the elders car! Long story short their GPS sounds like a Jamacian man that Moos at you when you go over the speed limit haha. It was great fun.

We went to Edinburgh for a devotional that you can bring your less actives/recent converts to and it's at the mission home once every month. This one was a musical one and our recent convert of 18 who has been less active for a while came a long and she really loved it! She said she felt the Spirit and is so excited about the gospel again. I love it when peoples hearts are open and they allow the Spirit to speak to them and guide them.

got to run love you all!!

sister McBride 

Here are some pictures she sent of their moves day with the sisters.

Saying good bye to Sister Reed.

Sister Skagen  and I'm not sure of the other sisters.I believe that sister Norin might be on the end.

Not sure but I know sister Jackson is on the end black hair.

 Sister McBride and sister Skagen

sister McBride, ? and sister Hink?

 These are sweet women that take such good care of the sisters. Sister Diane and sister Hazel those are the first names I think I put on here that sometimes they call Hazelgranny but sister McBride says they call her Hazel and not granny. But I know they help out a lot when the sisters need it. Such great members.