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.