June 28, 2015- "Things were good this week"

She send this picture and said 'The Elders got some hand-me-down bikes and needed to use our flat for safe keeping. Well we weren't in at the time so this is what we found when we came home. That is... my bed! XD...

 Mom here: I thought that was a hoot! Is it bad of me as a mom and after laughing the first thing that came to my mind was... she didn't make her bed! I always say make your bed EVERYDAY!.... it helps begin your day great!

Hello all!

We're headed off to St. Andrews today! :D hopefully we'll get a good amount of time there. They have the oldest university and abbey over there so were excited. I sent some pics of it once before but we were only there for like 20min hopefully this will be more like an hour and then we can go see the St. Andrews castle. C: (unless you have to pay, then we'll just go get ice cream at one of the oldest gelato places ever! :D 

 

So this week is our Presidents last e-mail to us as president!! This Saturday we will be meeting our new president in Edinburgh!

 

Things were good this week. Wednesday was a bit difficult as ALL of our 5 lessons fell through. SO it was an entire day of traveling places finding people not in then going chapping or fishing, (mom here: chapping is tracking and fishing is street contacting) but it was ok after that.We were blessed with 2 new investigator friends this week! We actually ended up having a lesson with a Seventh day Adventist who tried to convince us that we were worshipping wrongly and breaking the commandments because the Sabbath was on Saturday.... *sigh* lets just say that patience really is a virtue when you're trying to bear your testimony of the restored gospel and they're completely not paying attention. haha so yeah he was nice enough, he was just trying to convert us.

 

 We're teaching a girl Emma, and her mom keeps saying 'oh well I can't really see her joining the church because she's living with her partner, she's not married and he doesn't like religion but she can always join later in life and it's good for her to know what we're talking about.' She has forgotten the point of baptism. yes it is to become a member, but ultimately it is the saving ordinance that we need in order to gain salvation!

Sorry if I dodn't get to reply to everyone I don't have much time today but I love you all and have a great week!

 

Quick thought this week.. So many times in PMG (Preach My Gospel) it says to exercise spiritual power. I'm positive that the morning work out for missionaries was also established to see the effects of a physical work out and apply that spiritually. If we are willing to work hard to maintain our bodies how much harder are we going to be able to work to maintain and exercise our spiritual bodies? It's awesome anyway... That's my random thought for the week... Love you all!!!  GTG bye!  GTG (means Got To Go.. sounds like she was in a hurry to get all of her writing in to head off for some fun!)

Sister McBride

 

 

Sorry, I'm not sure of the building she is standing in front of. She often times doesn't get enough time to tell me every time about the pictures. The computers take a bit longer to upload etc and it eats into her time so I know when I don't get a description she is short on time. But a neat building and cute girl none the less.  :)

June 22, 2015: ' HEY HEY'

Sister McBride with President Brown and his wife. This will be the last picture she gets with them. The new mission president is coming the 1rst week of July.

Hey hey!

So most people have heat and sunshine and we have clouds and rain. Came down pretty good yesterday but luckily we weren't out too much. it is warmer. I don't feel frozen fingers any more but I mean, I'll be honest, it's like the weather of mid November in Arizona here! Scotland gets like 3 real days of summer and then it's back to its normal self ;) But you've got to love life even with all it's crazy circumstances!

 We had an interesting relief society activity about funerals! What to plan, wear, coffins, what funeral plans to by, where and what different ways you can get buried. Did you know that there is a place in America where you can send them some of your ashes (well you family would send them your ashes) and they make you into a diamond?! Kinda creepy to have your family wearing you around on jewelery but also awesome to be able to literally become a diamond after you die.... but mostly just kinda morbid. There was this sweet funny older lady that is like out of an old black and white film. She's got that sweet high pitched voice and she's just super naive, in a good way. They were talking about spreading peoples ashes and that you have to get permission otherwise it's illegal and she says "Really? Oh, my husbands been spread over the swany ponds!" She's hilarious. It was definitely the most interesting relief society activity I've been to. I hope yours goes well mumsy! take pics and send me some! C: 

This week was good we met with our investigators Nick, Robert and Clinton. Nick has taken the lessons before and he was never baptized so we're not sure where to go with him, but he's nice enough. Though we actually took a girl with us as a joint teach and apparently she does not like him at all so that was a bit awkward! But Robert is cool though he flat out said no to coming to church says he's too busy. That just frustrates me because he's not too busy to meet with us every Wednesday morning! But he's nice and we'll get him eventually. Clinton is... interesting. He mainly just has a bunch of questions that he thinks are really deep and that we don't have answers to whereas we do we juts cant spout them out to him because otherwise he'll just get more and more confused. We keep telling him this and that we need to have a foundation first and that all of his questions are answerable. We had a good joint teach with us who is a returned missionary from Brazil, her names Rowan, she was really helpful.

We haven't heard from our Latvian friend Dmitry, which is unusual so we hope everything is going oK... Hopefully we hear back.

Remember that the book of Mormon is the most true book on this earth and it will be the most helpful thing in strengthening your testimony of Jesus Christ. Never forget what studying the book of Mormon has done. There will be people that try and tell you that" the book of Mormon doesn't testify of Jesus Christ" or that "it can't possibly be right because why would we need anything more than the Bible". Listen to what your Heavenly Father tells you pray about the book of Mormon and your testimony will be strengthened.

I love you all and Hope you have a fantastic week! Yay for summer break!

Lots of love

Sister McBride

 Me and Sister Brown. I just LOVE her!

This was taken near where I live.

June 16, 2015- Great Week This Week!

Hey everyone! great week this week!

this Monday was Zone development where we get together with our whole Zone and play games and do sports and just have a bunch of fun! C: It's an all day thing and they have it because Scotland missionaries tend to get... well, depressed not only because of the weather but also the people are hardy and it is a very prominent country for Catholics and protestants and then the there's people in the middle that just see the bad that comes from religion and tell you to go away and stop causing problems. So Zone D is meant to enliven and brighten our spirits. and it works! C: Im super sore from running around everywhere though XD

This week was amazing we went on exchanges and I got to be with Sister Montgomery. We had a great experience when we were headed back to our flat for the end of the night from Hilltown (about 5min bus ride away). We caught a bus even though we could have walked (but I've been stuck in Hilltown before with 15 min to get in the flat for the night and it's a 20min walk! so we took a 22 bus) So we were almost home and I just randomly decided to push the the stop button and get of at an earlier bus stop and walk so that we could stop people along the way home. Well it just so happens that a guy got off at the same one and it was someone that Sister Montgomery had taught once when she was here for a transfer back in November or October! His names Nick and he was a former investigator but he had said that he had been reading the Book of Mormon on his own! we set up and appointment for the next morning (which never happens) and he said he wanted to start taking the lessons again! How amazing is that? That the Lord guided us to be in the right place at the right time with the right people! All we need to to is continue trying to do the right things! C:

We have 3 new investigator friends this week and it's great to feel like our efforts have paid off. Sister Reed and I have been working for a long time to be diligent in stopping and talking to anyone and everyone. We have now beun to see the trust that the Lord is placing in us as we do our best to talk to all of His children even if they don't want to listen. As Elder Holland said "Don't you ever! Judge anyone on whether or not they need the gospel. Christ talked to all. Your most effective tool that you have are words" How true?! especially in the account of Josph Smith 1st vision. The adversary can't kill him, he doesn't have that power. So the next damaging thing he could do was to bind his tongue. How crazy is that? So remember all- your words are important!

Got to go but 3 Nephi 14:9-11. Remember that God loves you and wants the best for you all you have to do it talk to him through sincere prayer. Our heavenly father loves us and will always give us the best gifts that He can. C:

PS totally didn't pull that scripture out from memory guys, I'm not that good XD haha..

Love you all!

Sister McBride

June 8, 2015- Elder Holland was pretty dang intense!!

Sister McBride and Sister Reed with sister Reed's new hair cut.

Talk about some spiritual intensity this week!

Elder Holland came to Scotland to have a broadcasted conference with the surrounding areas and it was great! The missionaries in Scotland go to have their own conference on the Saturday before his broadcast.

He is pretty dang intense! All of the missionaries in Scotland met at the church by the mission home at 3 o'clock sharp! We were all waiting in the hall ready to go into the chapel and we were whispering to each other about how people have heard that talks from Elder Holland are like 70% rebuke and 30% not! They were almost like horror stories of how we might be told how we need to be doing better and be more obedient. which ultimately through his teachings the spirit was able to let us know. Elder Holland has some bright piercing blue eyes though... totally made eye contact for like 2seconds and thought my eyes were going to light on fire....

He had this clip on mic so he was able to walk around and there was one point towards the beginning that he asked us a question and then he bends down and grabs this Elder sitting on the edge of the pew by the back of the head gets close and stares him in the face shaking him (almost shouting) saying "Elder! Do you know!?" He releases him and says something like: "just checking" Poor elder was scared out of his mind! It was amazing to have an apostle expound scripture to us. We talked about Nicodemus and why he misunderstood Christ and how Christ was able to go to his level of understanding and help him have a spiritual experience.

He would do this thing where he would be talking and explaining and then he would say very sternly "don't you EVER! forget your mission" or "let one moment pass to share the gospel" etc. He said don't you EVER a lot. It was way cool I wish I could tell you everything in one e-mail! I'll have to give more info next time! But it was definitely amazing seeing him and I got to shake his hand! all the missionaries did. I didn't get many pics of the actual event cuz we were mostly in the chapel... so yeah no pics with elder Holland but I took one with my mind! C: He has a strong testimony and something that I loved of what he said on Sunday is that when he was a missionary he could 'testify' of the gospel, but now as an apostle he can 'witness' of its truth fullness. Isn't that awesome?!? it was great I got lots of chills and I am now more motivated to become the best missionary I can possibly be!

 We had a great lesson with our investigator Dimirty and hopefully we will have him with a baptismal date soon! And our investigator Kris is doing awesome. he doesn't always keep his commitments but he is also getting himself off of drugs and it's amazing to see the change in him! His eyes are becoming so much more clear every time we see him it's great!

The Lord is directing his church and this is His gospel. We can find the fullness of joy through living it and continuing to grow. He loves us and always will! He desires the best for us and all He asks is to strive to do go and talk with Him through prayer. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and your greatest source of help. Please don't forget to read it.

With love to you all,

Sister McBride

 

 

Here are a few of her pictures from her Mission Eastern Conference to see Elder Holland.

 

 

On the Dock. Not sure quite where.

With a couple of missionaries in her District. I don't know their names.

On the train ride.

 Another picture on the dock.

On the train ride. A few elders from her district.

 

 Sister Reed, Sister McBride, and Elder Scheuermann.

June1, 2015- Getting locked IN your flat!

Dear Everyone!

Apparently there is a train strike going on in Scotland right now...? I had no idea but it's going to make things extra difficult since we are traveling a TON this transfer! We have East Scotland Conference Friday, Elder Holland Saturday, and an all Scotland conference on the 4th of next month for the new mission president coming in! (exciting and sad, I love Pres and Sis Brown!) All of these are in Edinburgh and it takes about 45min to get there by train so if we have to take a bus O-O like and hour and a half maybe? Buses are horrible! they're OK for inner city but for long distance travel.... no bueno. So this will be an interesting transfer haha. Also we had some interesting things happen this week. On Wednesday Sister Reed and I got locked in our flat. yes, in. We have one of those skeleton keys and lock and when we went to go open it to get out of the flat it wouldn't turn all the way! So we called the Zone leaders and they came by. They ended up just telling us to call the mission home so we did and they got in contact to send someone over and get in and fix the door. it turns out that ours was just really old so it broke when we tried to turn it. it was fixed but not until after I had climbed over out brick wall (it's pretty short) outside our wee back porch and tried to open it from the outside. I of course changed into trousers. But even better we had a lesson with our friend Martin in about 30min and we were still locked in so we got in some trousers, climbed the wall, brought our skirts with us, changed in a public bathroom in city center and met our friend. Luckily when we came back the guy had the door open and all was fixed! So we have a new lock and I get to bring home a skeleton key! :D That was probably one of the most interesting events of this week haha XD

Sounds like it's nice and warm over there.... it is still freezing here! I thought it would be warm by now T_T I mean I've only got 1 layer of tights instead of 3 but I'm still using my coat and sometimes a scarf or beanie...  Luckily it's not rainy today so that's nice

We had a really great lesson with our friend from Latvia Dinitry. We talked about the Atonement and how Jesus has felt all of our pains and sins and therefore can perfectly help us through our trials. He thinks for a min and says to us: "I also thing that in order for him to understand us perfectly he must also have felt all of our joy and happiness"..... needless to say my mind was blown! I dodn't even thing of that he's very studios... anyway best go!

love you all!

Sister McBride