January 18, 2016: "I Love finding"

Sister McBride in Dublin, Ireland

Hello everyone!

Wow there were a lot of letters in my inbox it was so good to hear from so many of you! C: Also Sorry if I don't reply to some of them, I will do my best! I hope you are all doing well. Enjoy where you are right now and make the most of it! 

This week has been good. It's been a lot of finding and chapping but we had a recent convert Leanne come out with us so that was fun. Well to be honest I actually really love finding the only downside is that it's cold and people don't want to talk to you, but you want to talk to people! I just absolutely love being able to go out and stop as many people as possible and invite them to come closer to christ. I am in no way perfect or very good at it and yes a lot pf people say know and close the door BUT it is worth saving that one soul who is open and is ready because the gospel is the light, the good news of our lives. 

Miracles happen. The Lord loves us and as long as we believe and have faith He will guide us. He wants to help us, comfort us and care for us but we have to choose to let him. Christ knows exactly what you are going through right now and he will give you all the divine help that is in his power. He has created worlds with out number and created us, He can help you if you turn to Him. And when you do your life will be changed for the better.

I know He lives and loves us

I love you all have a wonderful week!

Sister McBride

January 11, 2016: " Leanne was baptized!! WOOT!"

 Sister McBride and Sister Petch (all I know is the 3rd from left is Elder Holman and the Elder next to him behind the sisters is Elder Stanley)


Hiya!!

This week was great! not only did we go to city Centre today at 5:45 and its a 45min bus ride, because we thought we had to figure out Sister Petch's travel document stuff again. just as we turned to get into the line we got a call saying that we did not need to go again and that someone was supposed to call us about it.... well we didn't really want to go back to Clonsilla just in time for the end of studies so we studied in a McDonalds near by haha until the shops started to open and then we did some shopping and some looking around the city! 

Leanne was baptised!! I would say with out a hitch but that wouldn't be true! she is 18 and wasn't able to get a lift over to the church so she was 30min late. then the Elders did not fill up the water nearly enough for Leanne to be properly baptized so not only did James (also a recent convert who has never baptized anyone) struggle with baptizing in general but Leanne was scared and she had to be dunked twice.... so yeah. BUT! Leanne was happy even though none of her family came she is a determined girl and she absolutely loves the gospel! So we are happy for her :) Her light shines (mom here: Leanne was baptized Friday January 8, 2016)

I love this gospel! It changes live because it is the true church of God

have a great week everyone!!

Sister McBride

A few pictures of Sister Dias before she left in December to go home (mom here: she was sister McBrides last companion and went home in December just before Christmas)




  




   



 

January 4, 2016: 'Sister Petch is leaving' (Her passport got fixed and she ended up not needing to leave)

Sister McBride and sister Petch

It's been an interesting week. Sister Petch is originally from Cambodia and has lived in Finland since a young age and has a different kind of passport. All missionaries have to get the Garda Card when they come in but we weren't sure with her different one if she needed it (and its like 300euro) so we had to go check today. we had to leave at 5:30 to be there by 6 and then they told us that she actually cant legally stay in Ireland.... so looks like I will be having an ET... (emergency transfer) I don't even know what is going to happen  it seems just as we were sorting out our differences and getting along she has to leave and getting a new companion is always difficult. :( I am truly sad to see her go but I hope she will be ok.  (mom here: update she did not have to leave she is staying)

New years was good we watched the Cinderella movie. Not a lot of people do anything super exciting but all of the shops were closed down and there was like no one out on the streets on new years. It was fun we had a great lesson in the morning with a lady named Emina from turkey. She is so open and in tune to the Spirit it was awesome. we really have been doing some great work and it has been fun. just hard at times but the Lord blesses. :)

I just had a bunch of cards and I felt like they were people who had greatly influenced me so yeah tell them I am glad they enjoyed them and I'm glad you all liked them :) I just told brother huntsman that he was a great seminary teacher and that I learned a lot. I always felt the spirit in his class and that those experiences really helped me decide to go on a mission. 

Wow one of the 12 and some of the 70!!  (our area is having a training for Bishops, her father is a bishop and they are getting a apostle of the Lord and a memeber of the 70 and 2 from the presiding bishopric.. it will be a great experience) thats so cool! I :D Safford is so great. I never realized how lucky we were to have visits like that. I hope all goes well and that you enjoy your working time however hard it may be at times. 

Thank you for your love and encouragement. I am so very lucky to have an absolutely wonderful family and parents who love and guide me. I put my whole trust in you and it is so comforting to know that it is well placed.

LOVE YOU ALL SO SO MUCH!

Sister McBride.

They are at the Redmonds for Christmas dinner.

December 28, 2015: 'Loved skyping with you all'

Hello!! So I am typing on a little tablet and I don't have a lot of time with all the holidays our emailing is short. And its a bank holiday so we are at sister shines again to email. She is super nice!!

 So Christmas was gooood we had a huge dinner at a members house at around one and then we chilled out there until we went to sister shines house o Skype. It was pretty uneventful. The family the Redmond's gave us a bit box of gifts I got a cute wallet and scarf and then some other chocolates and little gifts from members. I forgot to mention that I absolutely loved the harry potter shirt and the little bag the boys got for me :) they are perfect! 

Anyways it was wonderful talking with you and I will be able to write more next week when I actually have a normal keyboard. Ha ha know that I am doing really well and tell the other family that it was great to see them!!! And tell the boys I say hi:) 

Love love love you!!! 

Sister McBride

December 21, 2015: 'Merry Christmas'

Hey! Things are going great but I have VERY little time here. Our President has told all missionaries to get shopping cleaning and e-mailing done in one hour! of course that is absolutely impossible (maybe if we had ipads...) but yeah basically he said to do everything as fast as possible! so anyway to answer your questions YES I got the packages (the year mark and the mexican food filled one... yeah I opened it. I couldn't wait! ) C: hehe anyways they're great but yeah dont send any packages through DHL or whatever it is. There were 2 regular sized candy canes in there that someone ate!! They punch their hand through the side of the box pulled out the candy canes un wrapped it, ate half of them and then put it back in! Luckily it didn't get on anything important but it was all melty and gross on the bottom.  Anyways, life is good and Sister Petch is awesome. A mission has really taught me how to love people and accept them for who they are and how they are a missionary. Hardly anything bothers me or gets on my nerves.

 

So yeah! life is good. I'm doing good we met some pretty cool people this week that still want to meet up with us despite the holidays so we are excited. 

SKYPING will still be at about 4. if things drastically change and you don't hear from me I'm sure Sister Christine Shine is on the SIM facebook and she will send you a message. C: 

I've got to go but I will talk to you soon!

Love you 

Sister McBride

December 14, 2015: 'Numbers are up this week!"

Dear Parents,

My goodness. So I am staying,Woot. This week was good :) our numbers are coming up because we were able to be more obedient and find more. It's amazing how the Lord blesses you when you actually do what you're supposed to. My new companion is Sister Petch, who I have heard great things about. It's just recently that I have gained a wonderful love for finding. now that I'm a year OUT! Ugh.... it's annoying. I only have 6 months left. I wish I had the love more before now!! I mean I did go finding and I did enjoy it, but now I really love it and I just wish I could have had that at the beginning of my mission. Other people seem to have gotten it. so why didn't I? it's just frustrating. I want to be an amazing missionary so that i can help others and be an example to them. When I think of other missionaries I think "wow they are so good. I want to be more like them". I want that, I want to be that help for others if that makes sense. I want to be apart of that great work! I want to leave something that inspires others to be better, not because I'm so great but just because I would love to help! I know how much it helps me and I want to give that to other people. Yeah I've served well but I haven't really accomplished what I set out to do. I want more time to serve, more time to do and now I'm nearing the end. Finding and talking to strangers was so hard for me but now I love it! I love serving!!

 

I'm so happy the ward party went great! The ward parties here are a bit different. They have little workshop tables and finger food. There's no presentation or dinners like we have. But, hey that's ok. I love them. We went to the ward party and we had to try and make elf hats out of paper for the kids and it wasn't going well because we found out about it the day of so we tried making antlers for reindeer and they looked absolutely ridiculous!! but the kids liked them so that's all that matters. haha

Sister Dias heads off today :( so I will be with Sister Wilkinson and Skousen in their area for a few days and I'm really excited! 

They live in a 4man flat. can you imagine how crazy that would be?? hence the elevator photo. haha 

December 7, 2015- "This week was hard numbers wise"

haha... I wonder what this picture was about. 'missionary work is serious!


I don't know the elders. Sister McBride and sister Dias

Dear Mommy,
Oh my goodness you are the most amazing, wonderful, dedicated, hard-working, loving person with the best intentions that I know! Don't worry about the package. I'm sorry the company gave you such problems. Don't cry Mommy :'( It makes me sad. I hope you know that I'm not upset that it came late. I know it would have made your heart happy for it to be to me by my year mark, but please don't stress about it. I pray that your heart song will feel better. (mom here: I was using the service DHL and had many problems with them trying to deliver the package to her. -it was my first time using the service and I didn't know certain criteria, I will never use them again- It was a package to celebrate her one year mark and a Christmas scripture advent calendar it took a month for her to get it but she got it just before Christmas, and I wasn't THAT stressed and sad haha... she is so cute. Isn't she the sweetest, so worried about her momma. I was more irritated than anything)

WOW what a flippin' awesome ward party! mom Dang.  (mom here: we had a polar express pancake breakfast and had made a little train out of cardboard boxes and had a fellow church member bring his small barrel train for the kids to take a little ride.  We decorated it pretty awesomely I might add...it was a lot of work but lots of fun) I don't think I realized until I came out here how 'all-or nothing' americans are.  My goodness what wonderful things you do. Just remember president Uchtdorfs advice about a good sacrifice "Staying up for a little bit with a child who is scared is a good sacrifice. However, staying up all night and risking your health to make the perfect accessory for your daughters Sunday outfit may not be a good sacrifice." I think you are amazing for doing all this just don't risk your health and stress yourself out. Ok? I love you too much for you to feel depressed and overly stressed about a Christmas party! ;) (mom here: she's just the cutest! I did do a lot and she was wise in telling me this. I do tend to go overboard a bit! she knows me well... haha..)

Daddy, Wow my goodness sounds so busy. We work pretty closely with the Bishops (mom here: her dad is the bishop and is extra busy during that time with tithing settlement and other things) and I think I admire more now what you do every Sunday and all the time. I hope you don't feel that I expect things from you. I hope you know that you are a wonderful example by simply who you are and how much you try to do better. I think something that I have learned is that yes people do expect a lot of us, but they don't expect us to be perfect right away or all the time. The thing people admire most is that we a re trying to be better. So I'm sure you feel people expect things and you can't deliver. I feel the same! Especially with the goal our mission president has set for every companionship to baptize in December and it kind of feels like we are the only ones with out a person with a date!! Anyway I love you a lot and hope you get some good rest.

Where do I start? This week was hard numbers wise. I love my companion so much and she is an amazing missionary. But it has been difficult this week. As she prepares to go home she is stressed and anxious about all the things she has to do and has been trying to do things in preparation on a normal day when they can easily be done on p-day.  It has been hard because we have not been as obedient as we can be and I know that this is why our numbers are falling. So all in all this week was hard for that very reason. I feel the end approaching and I feel the fear of something amazing coming to an end but I cant seem to get my mind a body to work with my heart. Its so windy and cold over here that it is hard to go out for hours and hours, but it has to be done and my body is dragging along with how tired I am. (Before you worry, yes I am getting good sleep and eating healthy things) The Lord will bless me for my obedience but we haven't been very obedient!!

Anyway don't worry about it, it will pass I think this week will be better and we will do more work and finding and more every thing and I won't feel so bad! haha anyways I really am doing fine just a little stressed, but thats ok! C:

SIster Dias goes home the 14th and I don't find out my new companion until moves call on Sunday. I'm sad to see her go. I've loved sister Dias. 

Love you all so much!

sister McBride

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.