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.