Feburary 22, 2016: 'Hey what's the story'

Hey whats the story?!

Yeah no one says top o' the mornin' to ya in Ireland but they do ask you whats the story!

So this week was nonetheless interesting. we met with a lady who... is really nice. Only... a bit off her rocker. was hard to get through the restoration and whenever we asked a question she would go off on this tangent and anyway we invited her to ready the Book of Mormon and to pray but we didn't make a return appointment... we had our recent convert Leanne there who was quite shaken up with the whole experience. She's only been teaching with us a few times... then we found out that Leanne went to hospital for possible appendicitis! She was in the "A&E" (I put those there because you can wait up to 2 days until you see a doctor. Obviously if you are bleeding to death they will bring you in but,.... anyways it's weird) She is out now and they have taken blood tests so we will see what happens. Hopefully it is something a bit better than appendicitis! 

Also we had Patrick for baptism and basically taught him about the Word of Wisdom, Law of Chastity, and Tithing all in one go. No lie it was one lesson. not the most ideal of situations but it is difficult when your investigators cancel a lot and therefore miss a lot of lessons but then say they still want to be baptized on the same day. How can we say no! haha so The ZL's wanted his baptismal interview as soon as possible which was Wednesday but he couldn't meet Tuesday so an hour before we taught him. He passed! haha but we think because he is a really nervous guy. we think he got cold feet because he didn't show up to the baptism! We called and called and called. we even went by his house which isn't too far from the church and knocked. Unfortunately he was in but didn't want to answer the door. We could see his key in the key hole on the other side. So it was really unfortunate but to be honest I'm not too surprised. He was so nervous I felt he wasn't ready. I think with time he will come back and start learning again.

We were truly blessed this week though. Since we no longer had a baptism we did some finding! Woot! We were a bit down trodden and we had about an hour and a half. Usually we wright down back-ups but... we didn't this time so we felt a little aimless but we said a prayer for direction and THEN! We found Gillian! She is from somewhere in Africa haha I can't pronounce it so I forgot. We met her Sat night and invited her to church on Sunday. She said she met missionaries before who invited her and felt that since this was about her 3rd encounter God must be trying to tell her something! haha so she came! Even though it was super rainy and we got soaked! (when I say rainy I mean misty because it's like there is water in the air that the wind is blowing around and it just gets you drenched. It's nothing like Arizona rain. Also it goes on for ages!) She took notes durin GP and took the book home. We met with her this morning and she accepted baptism 2 weeks from now! :D she is so nice and so excited to read the BoM and we are truly blessed. :) We also had someone drop off 2 tubs of Ben and Jerry ice cream with some Cadbury (aka the best chocolate) cookies that night. Only we didn't find it until Sunday morning because we never heard them knock! So the ice cream was completely melted unfortunately... but it's the thought that counts! Clonsilla is the best. We don't know if it was a member or the Elders or what but it was super nice.

I love the work and I love all of you have a great week!

Sister McBride

Feburary 1, 2016- 'Transfer calls'

Mom here: For those who may read this who may be involved with sister McBride on her mission. I contemplated for a while whether I should post this letter she wrote. (this is why I'm a few weeks behind) I'm mainly posting this because one, Sister McBride and her companion sister Petch are good friends. Two, I am getting her blog printed in book form so she has a copy of all of her letters and missionary memories in one place. Three, her extended family as an opportunity to stay connected with her and know how to pray for her. Sometimes she doesn't have the time to send out a mass email to everyone and sends one to us and has us put it on her blog. So a lot of this is for her and her family. It's not ment to stir up any issues or contention of any kind.  Sister McBride and sister Petch are doing great and respect each others friendship but had a spotty patch for a bit. It happens in every good relationship. So please don't mention anything to her it's something she doesn't need to worry about, worrying about other people's feelings about the situation. It will stress her out and she needs to focus on missionary work and not feeling like she has caused a problem. Being a missionary is not only about missionary work but also about learning how to get along with others and develop Christ's attributes. I have learned we grow most when we need God's help the most. These are good growing moments and normal. With that said I wish you all good blessings and have a fantastic day! 

Sister Petch and I are staying! Woot I am excited for the work that will get done... and comforted about how hard it will be. Sorry for the late e-mail Sister Petch has been very ill today so we are a bit behind. There's a lot that went on this week and  I feel I need a little input, or an encouraging word on.

During the transfer I have felt very questioned in my desires, in my actions, and in my testimony. I do not desire to blame Sister Petch for anything I really am trying hard to separate my hurt feelings for the truth We had many disputes this week. In them I felt my confidence reach rock bottom. The things that Sister Petch has said to me has made me question my desires and my work over the past year or so. I really felt like a terrible missionary, and that's not right. I know that I try my best but I keep having to remind myself that I did come out for the right reasons, I did do good work and have baptized people... Our opinions about what we should do are so utterly different that she doesn't understand why I want to do certain things and the problem is, when that happens she then makes a judgment upon my Character as a person and my desire as a missionary. She says it like I'm lying to her, like I know in my heart I'm doing something wrong or that I'm not putting investigators first etc... when in reality its simply a different way of handling a situation.

I love sister Petch but this companionship is teaching a lot about myself. There's a lot that went on this week. This week has been hard. I knew as well that we would be staying together. On Sunday I received a lot of peace and comfort from Heavenly Father about this next transfer and I know I have a lot to learn from Sister Petch and she from me. We are learning that there are many different ways to handle situations. One way is not better than another its simply a different way of handling a situation. 

We chapped a door, the man was busy and asked us to return the next day, in a rush we asked when we could come back. He said 10am the next day and we agreed, but forgot that our ward coordination just changed to that same time and we didn't remember until after we had gone to chap the next house. She mentioned it and I said 'oh maybe we can come by at 11:30 tomorrow instead' In hopes that since we had just left his door step less then 20seconds ago perhaps we could chap again quickly or leave a note. We had already had a few mix ups with W.C. and had to reschedule due to us. I knew it was either try to change the app or go to Ward Coordination and miss it so we didn't ruin our relationship with W.M.L (ward mission leader) by not going. Before I was able to explain she cut me off and then went on to re-account another situation very similar in which she was very upset by my opinion. Now I don't mind if she didn't want to do that. She could have said it in a way where she didn't start making judgements and assuming things and questioning my desires as a missionary. I am going to talk to her about it but I guess I just want you to know that I'm not sure why Sister Petch finds it so difficult to work with me, but I really am trying and I hope that what I say doesn't come across as judgmental to her or prideful I'm just so torn. and very confused about what I should do I feel I'm trying to handle those disagreements as best I can and stay calm and talk it out but it doesn't seem to be working.
anyway.... other then that this week has been pretty good the lord really has helped me feel that I can do it and that I am up for the challenge haha. 

I know that it is through Christ that I can do all things. I have all the help in the world and prayer is amazing. It's just one of those things as a missionary it helps you grow as a person too. I love what I'm doing. I love sister Petch and I know God loves me and I'm doing the very best I can. 

April 11, 2016- " A most exciting weekend of Hospital, a baptism, then limerick, then SCOTLAND?"

Sister McBride and Sister Mueller.


Hey everyone! Sorry if a few of you wrote some e-mails that I didn't reply to personally this week has been crazy!

Don't worry there is nothing wrong with me I am perfectly healthy.

So last Saturday Sister Muller started to have some swelling in her foot. it wasn't too bad so we didn't worry much about it. The only strange thing was, that it was swollen and cold. Usually things are swollen and hot, but her foot was freezing! Sister Muller is a very good pharmacist and knows a lot of Doctor stuff haha. So on Sunday night just before we dozed off to sleep she told me that the symptoms are similar to a condition where you have a build up of salt in your veins and then it gets stuck and when it becomes unstuck it pumps through you body, into your heart and then you die! But she said, it's probably not that and she said she always over reacts about these things because she knows so much about it. But I don't know about that stuff so I prayed and told Heavenly Father that if it really was something bad to somehow let me know... well around 12am a house alarm in the area of flats where we live went off (and it does often!) so I woke up and looked over then woke up Sister Muller! She was fine, she wasn't dead, and continued to be fine all through the night but my night was restless! And for a missionary sleep is seriously one of the most precious things of your life... I mean I thought I appreciated sleep before... now it has a whole new meaning.

On Wednesday we had an appointment with the private Doc. So we went there because if you go to the hospital you have to wait for ages! I mean ages!! because it's free so it's better to go to what they call the GP (I have no clue what it stands for) and get it done quick, you have to pay but its better than waiting.... 

Well they were not so good and couldn't figure out what it was that she had. They thought maybe a bone infection?? She told them she had vein problems but they said it probably wasn't that so she got and x-ray that (an extra90euro! and she can walk so it wasn't her bones) and then at the end they told us to go to the Hospital because she would have to get her blood tested and they cant do that there. So off to the hospital we went! With might I add, the Mission Presidents counselors wife, Sister Thompson who I'm sure has loads of things to do. Then we waited.... for 3 hours so it was 8 by then and Sis Thompson went to the desk and asked about the wait. They told us we were #7 in the queue ( or the line) and that the person who was #1 just got seen and they had been waiting for 6hours! So we left! and came back the next morning at 7:30 and waited for another 3 hours. This time Sis Thompson just dropped us off. We talked to a girl that morning who had been waiting there since 9 that night, thats 11 hours! So I guess because its free everyone goes there 

Anyway, so when we finally got seen she was diagnosed with Shin splints all in about 5min her right foot is really bad but her left is ok... for now haha. Yup so we were told that she wasn't supposed to walk from 7 to 10 days! Grand! So he gave her some pain killers that have helped the pain at night and she has to take it 3times a day. Luckily we actually ended up being pretty busy the past few days, which leads me into the next exciting story!

Saturday at 4:30 was a baptism for 2, 8 year old boys. One a child of record and the other, his mom was just recently baptized. We were a bit sad because our investigator friend Gillian whom we passed over to the Lucan Elders who are in our district because she was staying nearer to them for the time being, had her baptism 30min drive away at 4! :( Even though it's out of our area we had permission it just didn't work out so we ended up being at the church all day because we hada meeting from 10 to 11 then a primary activity we were asked to help out at and set up for at 1 and then the baptism at 4 and we didn't have a lift to and from the church so we just chilled out there and ate some lunch. Also since we were there all day the Elders brought us food and a rolly thing to massage sister Mullers leg. They have a car so it was so nice of them! 

 Leanne ended up coming and she brought her friend Amy. After the baptism was done we were eating treats and I sat down by Amy and she said "You know I think would be really interested in being baptized and I think it would be good for my mom as well"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did my best to remain calm. We had a great lesson with her about the plan of salvation and how she can know she will see her family again. She loved it and said it made sense and we have her baptism set for April 30th!! ( well I won't be there but I don't care!!) It was so cool. Not to mention that the Elders got an appointment with a guy who just happened to move in across the street recently and decided to pop over to the church just as the baptism was happening! So that was also cool beans.

Now to the end of the week where I totally forgot to tell you it was moves call! We got it unexpectedly at 4pm (usually it's 9 or later) and they told me I was headed to white wash in Limerick!! (white wash means that we go in where there aren't missionaries already there so it's a completely new area for us and we will know no one and have no idea where to go! 😀 )Woot! I was totally surprised and sad to leave Clonsilla but also excited. We went to a new member and investigator fireside at Finglas where Leanne and Amy came as well and they had a fantastic time. the spirit was strong and Amy really liked it and said she felt a very different but good feeling! :) Then around 10pm we got a call from the Assistants to the president again saying that they told me wrong and that I was actually white washing into Ayr in the Paisley stake in Scotland! OH! and Sister Muller is training! 

So we have a crazy schedule and I think we have to leave tonight... I'm not sure. anyways! I am going to be with Sister King who already served there and also goes home at the same time as me. I'm excited. Also sad... really sad to Leave Ireland. I will miss that feeling of home here. I love Scotland but Ireland... it just has my heart 😊 

So yeah It has really been a good week even though it was crazy and I think I am really starting to understand how the Lord works. We do our part and are obedient to prove that we are worth to Him and to ourselves. we really haven't been finding anyone and were a bit sad about our lack of success but not only did Gillian get baptised though in another ward, but now Leannes friend Amy is learning about the happiness that the gospel brings and that is exciting. He brings the people to us. We rarely find them through our own efforts.

I love you all and I hope you have a great week. I hope you get a lot of rain before I'm back because I'm praying for a lot of SUN! 

Wish me luck as I travel and take the Ferry... hopefully the waters wont be too choppy...

Take care!!

April 4, 2016- "Conference weekend"

Dublin city center

This week was eventful. We got a text from the senior couple saying that all the missionaries that are going home this transfer and the next aka me were all invited to a self-reliance training. It was the trunkiest meeting I have ever been to! So it was basically how to be self-reliant and get a job and that it's ok to be rich so that you have no debts and all those things. It was extremely helpful but also weird haha... 

Then on Tuesday we had dinner with a lovely family from the ward called the Mooney's. I have never been over to their house but they are super nice and love Disney and super heroes so it was a piece of home. :)  Wednesday we were supposed to have a lesson with our used to be investigator Johannes, but he wasn't in :( we think he is avoiding us. We had a wonderful lesson with him so we aren't sure what happened.

Then before we knew it, it was conference weekend and there we were! It is always amazing listening to the Prophets speak I love it! Then we had a 'lesson' with a Jehovas Witness couple... it was more of a bible bash and the husband was asking us to read all these scriptures from the bible and... they want us to come back!! I don't know why haha. they are nice but they definitely want to only teach us their doctrine and not really.... listen or try it out. so it was interesting!

Poor Sister Muller has had a swollen foot for the past few days but it seems to be better. I got like no sleep last night due to someone alarm going off!! Seriously I am so tired now haha.

Anyway I unfortunately have to go. Sorry it was such a short e-mail.

Take care

Sister McBride

Feburary 15, 2016: 'Things are great'

Sister Petch, Sister McBride, Elder Holman and Elder Stobbs in City Center in Dublin.

Sister Petch absolutely loved the package. She really was so touched she said she wanted to write mom and tell her thank you. (mom here: She is talking about the valentine package we sent to the both of them. Each one got their separate valentine package) I don't think she has gotten hardly any packages on her mission. and she loved the socks. and about Sister Wilkinson to be honest like, we're the best of friends and I am really excited to hang out with her when I get home. She promised to come to my homecoming with Sister Skagen :) and maybe sister Turner since they all live in Utah. They are so great.

Things are going much much better and I think president understands the situation really well. Sister Petch and I both have changed SO much I know it was because all of your and our prayers and fasting that helped tremendously! We are becoming the best of friends.

We are actually in the city center for p-day right now with him and his new comp Elder Stobbs at an internet cafe, it's cool stuff. we got permission because we know sister petch has to leave and they probs wont send her back to Ireland because of Visa problems. On our way over here we saw a guy dressed as darth vader playing the piano on the high street in the center. I will send a pic. thank you for all you do and everything that you give to me I love you both so much. and yes Daddy I got your letter. thank you :)

I have been eating loads of the snacks that you sent and Sister Petch has been enjoying them as well. We brought some wheat thins to District Meeting last week and Elder Holman is the only other person from the America continent and he was like 'Wheat thins! those are so good! I forgot those existed!" haha all the other missionaries couldn't understand what we were so excited about. 2 of them being from England and one from Germany and then of course sister Petch from Finland. I had honestly forgotten how much I love wheat thins and pretty much everything you sent me haha. thank you!

 We did a lot of finding this week. All day on Friday and then most of the day on Saturday. due to our investigators dropping us and not returning our calls. But our friend Patrick is headed for baptism this Saturday! We weren't sure if he still wanted to do it as he is a bit of a nervous guy but when we called him this morning he said yes! So there we go! We are excited for him. He keeps all of our commitments :) There were a lot of blessings this week. For one we were able to stay sane on Friday when we did finding ALL DAY I kid you not literally everyone we talked to said 'no' or 'too busy', I'm in a rush, sorry girls I'm not religious... etc it was excuse after excuse! But I didn't feel overwhelmed or down trodden but full of hope that I knew the Lord would take care of us and bless us. Then on Saturday afternoon we met a lady named Norma (in our area but a 30min bus ride towards the city center) and she was totally open to our message. We said hey  can we share a book called the Book of Mormon. She said ok I'll take one! Never in my life have I had that happen. Not only that but she was willing to buy it! haha of course we didn't take the money and then we found out that she lives in Clonsilla like 5 in from the church! So she came! :D we have an appointment with her on Tuesday :)

 Love you all!! 

sister McBride

Feburaury 29, 2016: 'That time I attended Mass'

Hello everyone!

So I get a new sister missionary named Sister Muller she is a greenie. She has just finished her training so that is fun! I get to stay here in the blessed land of Clonsilla!

This week was interesting. We found out that Gillian doesn't actually live in our area... which is highly unfortunate but we are thinking about keeping her anyway due to the fact that she met the Elders a lot of times and never went to church or met with them. I think she is a bit shy and feels more comfortable around Sisters so we will see. We met a really nice lady named Suzie and had a good lesson with her and a return appointment however she must have gotten on the internet because she text us yesterday and told us that our teachings go against the Bible. then not to contact her anymore... so there you go. Sounds like Satan is working hard on people this week from the e-mails I got from other missionary friends sounds like they had something similar. Anyways she referred us to her neighbor anyway and we met with the nice lady this morning. Her daughter on Saturday told us she was headed off to a special mass at 8pm. (it was 7:30) and so she couldn't meet with us just then but to come by on Monday morning at 11. Then she invited us to the mass. I admit as most people in the countries here are catholic I have always been curious and Sister Petch was especially excited to be invited. So we asked a member to come along with us and she happily did us the favor. It was different from what I have lived with but it was good to experience, something different.

So Gillian is great and it's been a good week. I am sad to see Sister Petch go, she has become a great friend and person that I can confide in and ask for help. Sister Petch asked if I was ok, she said she felt I was unhappy and I confided in her that I was worried about follow-up training because I'm not like a lot of Sisters to be honest. Many Sisters are very urgent in what they do. I am urgent but not physically if that makes sense. Many Sisters rush to appointments, walk fast, talk fast, and just generally do a lot of things in a quick manner. I however don't do that most of the time (obviously if it's necessary I will) but I find that when I do that I stress myself out! Because I'm not going fast enough, I'm not working hard enough. So through out my time I have had to realize that I have to do things calmly to keep myself calm. so I don't stress. I said this to her and she was very kind and told me that I was good! and that it's ok. She knows I show my urgency in a different way and that I work hard even though it may not be like others.

Though we had struggles it has been good and she is very humble. She always says about how much she has learned from me and has seen a lot of things that she didn't do before that she can change and I have has well. I will miss her but excited for this new experience.

It's been a good week. I know this gospel brings the greatest happiness and I love you all! Sorry if I didn't get to e-mail each of you individually but I love you and stay strong!

Sister McBride

March 28,2016 - "An Easter Message"

 Sister McBride and Sister Mueller at a home for Easter Dinner

Hello everyone!

The Best think about Easter is knowing that Christ has risen again. I have always heard that phrase but have never really known what it meant for me. and one day it hit me that Christ didn't only die for me, but He lived for me! Because of Him I can and will live again with my family and I have loved sharing that with the people here. I love stopping people on the street which might sound weird especially when I ask them about their belief in God. The best thing about Easter is that it gives you and extra good reason to testify that Christ really did come and He is the resurrected Lord. If you are wondering why on earth did Alyssa go all the way to Scotland and Ireland and 'change her name' to Sister ;) Welp it wasn't for the scenery and it wasn't for the tourism. My parents didn't ask me to go, I wasn't forced pushed or persuaded. I have been doing this for something more then myself. This has been a hard experience and if the reason I did it wasn't greater than me if I didn't know it was true I would have gone home a long time ago. I came to testify, to share, to proclaim that there is a God! He is our Father and He has given us this gospel and has called a prophet. we can read the Book of Mormon and come closer to Him. We can receive strength, confidence, a greater sense of love, peace and hope. More than we could ever comprehend. That is why I trudge through the rain and cold all day, that is why I stop strangers on the street and ask them about God, that is why I have spent nearly a year and a half away from you my friends and my family. Because it's true and it has blessed my life so much that I want other people to have to as well. I hope you all have had a good Easter. I invite you all to ask God is he is really there and if he loves you. I promise if you ask with real intent, wanting to know the truth, you will receive your answer :)

there was an extra set of Elders here in Clonsilla due to the bombing in Brussels and with this Easter Sunday also being the celebration for Ireland rising against the British 100 years ago they wanted to be cautious and pull out all the missionaries who live in City Centre. There were parades and marches going on and everything. SO I heard anyway. Nothing happened in Blanchardstown. :) so we are safe. We are actually e-mailing at the Bishops house today because it's a bank holiday and the library is closed. Our church only has one computer so we got permission to e-mail here. :) They are a nice family.

Yeah I can't think of anything else that that's happenin' it was a good week

Love you all!!

Sister McBride

St patty's!

March 21, 2016 "Our Fasting Miracle and St. Patricks Day"

So this week was interesting. You know how we always thought I had bad acid...? well as I've been taking the acid pills I've noticed that they have been hurting my stomach after I take them. I thought that was weird since I really wasn't taking them that often. Well my 'acid' really acted up this week and we had to stay two days in the flat due to the amount of pain I was in just simply standing. Well, to cut a long story short  I have not had acid problems (maybe a bit but not that intense) It's been indigestion! It was very very painful just like at home when I could hardly move. so I guess I get so stressed out and anxious that I get constipated with indigestion... haha.... when I type it like that it makes me giggle.... the boys have most definitely rubbed off on me. I find Elders (not all of them) absolutely hilarious and I'm like laughing tears and most of my companions just think their jokes are not that funny. They don't joke about poop or anything like that though. they are more polite ;) Anyways! Yeah so indigestion.  SO it made more sense as to why the acid reducer was painful for my stomach and why it didn't really work last time it got super bad and also why it was only the DigestZen essential oils that helped, because it helped me digest!

But I got a wonderful blessing from the Elders on Saturday which had a lot of things I needed to hear and remember. It's amazing the difference you feel with the priesthood in your home. I couldn't do much walking so they came to the flat (which was weird) but they just did it by the doorway. It was a blessing of healing an it was truly remarkable.

Some great events from this week though is that we taught a man named Ali yesterday! Ali is super cool. First of all he is the first Muslim I have actually taught and second we met him last Sunday because he stopped us. We had just ran into the branch president of Brae who was lost on his way to the Bishops house that evening so after we helped them for a good 10min and started our walk to the flat Ali pulled over in his car and said... hey you live here don't you? haha it was weird at first but he explained that he lived there ( in verdemont which is a big flat complex over 100 flats) and he went on to explain that he has always seen 2 girls walking around and that there was always something different about them. We replied that it must be the skirts because we are missionaries. He simply said that no, that wasn't it. there is something different and good about us and he has always wondered what it was. It was like there was a light in our eyes So he asked us to come by and visit with him and his family the next week! May I just mention that we were fasting that day for the opportunity to teach a family. That is definitely the first time I have had some one say that to me! so that was a great miracle. Unfortunately it's a bit tricky to teach Muslims due to some Muslim countries killing those who have converted to Christianity. Ali says he isn't quite ready to convert but he will listen and read the Book of Mormon so we will see.

St. Patricks Day is SO cool here. They decorate and have a parade and activities in the shopping center all day, but due to the recent terrorism attacks they wanted us to stay away from it :C so we saw the parade at a distance. We bought some green and white hair flowers to celebrate and we got to go to the Bishops house for a proper Irish dinner which was ham, cabbage and potatoes. St. Patrick's day is from Ireland they celebrate the life and death of St. Patrick who supposedly brought Christianity to Ireland because they were all druids and he also-the legend says- cast out all the snakes from Ireland. There literally are no snakes but we don't know if that's true. So actually Scotland, being Scotland doesn't really celebrate St. Patricks day. it was fun here anyway to see the decorations and to... hear the festivities. 

Love 

Sister McBride

 Sister Mueller and Sister McBride

The Bishops home.

​

March 14, 2016 - "No Baptism for Gillian"

Sister Muller and I get along great! we are very similar in a lot of ways. She is a kind hard working missionary. Unfortunately Gillian has never again met with us in order to really be set for baptism. I think she just doesn't tell the people that she babysits for that she has other appointments that she already made so they ask her and she just keeps cancelling.... bah! so it was kind of a hard week in the sense that none of our appointments held and we did a lot of finding. We are having a lot more appointments with members so that is always good because then we can build our relationship with them and there's always good that come from that. ( it took a little while for Sister Petch to realize so we hadn't been visiting members much.)

the past few day have been absolutely lovely!! I mean WOW! seriously it is so sunny right now I never realized how much I missed consistent sun. because it was actually pretty sunny in Dundee. oh it's so good. I could walk out with no coat. and my top isn't' even a sweater! (if you stand in the shade it's pretty cold but not too bad) So it's probably like 65. Whenever I tell people that it's about 90 in Arizona (translated into Celsius it's like 35-40) they're always like no way!! that's so hot... haha Yeah it is and it's wonderful! I think I'm a bit trunky for Arizona weather ;) 

I have pics! I at first thought that some of the mold around the door way was just dirt, because it looks like dirt. I didn't really consciously think about it until I started seeing the loads of mold in the bathroom and around the door way to our balcony in the bed room (not all the door ways were that bad). Oh did I mention we have a balcony? it looks out into the little grassy area. were on the top floor it's pretty nice. Also it snowed last week! I  was going to send a video and pic but ran out of time (I'm so bad!) I started using Essential oils on my skin and they are really helping it not be so oily all the time... but hey-oh! ) Sister Muller says that all the time Hey-ho. I think it's a Swiss thing. Also she says "Hello, we do not live behind the Moon" haha she's funny.

Anyway I best go!

BYEE!

Sister McBride

March 7, 2016- "It's a great week"

Sister Muller is great! I don't have any pics of her sorry but she is so nice and kind and gentle and easy going. I am feeling some anxiety with coming home haha similar to just before I left for the mission I got a bit of the heart burn pain, but not too much. I still have the medicine you sent me so thanks :) We chapped into a less active man yesterday who is a returned missionary of 10+yrs and still has his testimony of the gospel. We had no idea that he lived there. We just had some extra time before we were getting a lift to the new member fireside that we had over at the stake center that evening. It was way cool. 

We were going to continue teaching Gillian but she cancelled nearly every appointment we made with her and then didn't come to church :C hopefully everything is ok. Her baptism is still for this Saturday! Also the lady that we went to that invited us to the catholic mass?? yeah, I have never met such a devoted catholic my goodness! Nothing against her she is a nice lady but we were preached to, there was no preaching from our side thats for sure! It was interesting conversation.

It has been a bit cold with little spots of sunshine and some random hail storms! that was weird. One minute sunshiney the next I've got ice hitting my face and going down the back of my coat! haha but it didn't last for too long.

Not much happened this week just a lot of finding. It was good! there is this guy Alexei that's a bit different he has some sort of special needs but he always says hi to us when he sees us. but he doesn't want to walk with us or follow now that sister Petch is gone haha. So many men fell in love with her on the street haha it was so funny.

Anyway I have loved studying the Book of Mormon and am now in the war chapters of Alma where the doctrine is a bit hard to find... but! Moroni is cool. :)

Stay Strong!! 

Love,

Sister McBride

Feburary 8, 2016 : 'We meet one of the 70 this week'

first of all this key board is annoying and there is something wrong with the shift button so i hop you don't mind that i type in all lowercase letters haha. (mom:here I didn't change the capitalization in her letter partly because I didn't have the time. So there it's exactly like I got it)

 

also yes i got the package and sister petch was so thankful she says 'your family is so nice' your mom is so great' haha. i say yeah i know :) she really really loved the package. i don't think she has ever gotten one. 

(mom here: We as a family and extended family send sister McBride and her companion sister Petch a valentines package showing our love and appreciation for their missionary service. We all wrote encouraging letters to both of them with some fun goodies too. It was nice to hear they enjoyed their package)

this week went surprisingly well due to sister petch being ill. i know what i must do. i realized last week, though i felt discouraged things are getting better and we have worked through some good things. :)

we got to meet one of the seventy this week! elder hallstrom he is super nice and reminds me a lot of elder holland. i know that my time is short i can't write a lot about it. the lord is directing me. president told me in my interview with him that he knows i am one of the very few sisters that he could put me with anyone and we would get along. he knows i work hard so when he heard that my companion and i we were having problems it did make him question, but he said that's part of the reason he put me with her. she is an amazing missionary and person but like all of us we all need to work on something. no one's perfect. i know she is here for me to learn from and i'm here for her to learn from.

 

there have been many blessings this week and i love you all. i'm glad to hear you are all doing well.

ive been reading in alma 19 about ammon and i just love the faith that king mosiah had to protect his sons. ammon was saved from being killed by a lamanite because mosiah prayed for him and he was protected by his faith. the lord always keeps his promises. i have to go. i love you all!!

Janurary 25, 2016- "Amanda's baptism is scheduled !!"

 Sister McBride in Dublin at city center


Hi!

This week was good we did a lot of finding! We need to visit more members. It's important to visit members to help the work. I know that your prayers are definitely helping me and helping sister Petch. Thank you so much for the package that you are sending. She is one of those people that is so tough but is really a major softie on the inside. She cries at watching the old Finding Faith in Christ video every time we watch it for language study. Love her!

We had an absolute fantastic lesson yesterday. I would have to say one of the best on my mission. We met with a lady named Amanda she has 4 boys and her 2nd oldest joined in the lesson. She had been taught by missionaries before and when we started going through the restoration we came to the part about Christs ministry and I felt prompted to ask her, her belief about Christ. Then about how she came to that belief. She gave a simple testimony and a generic experience but it was so sincere that the spirit filled all of our hearts and we invited her to baptism. She said yes and she is scheduled for the 13 of February along with another investigator from a part member family. all their kids are baptized but the mom isn't but she wants to be!! We are so excited and things are going great! :) 

We had a Zone meeting that was great but after the zone meeting we had a World Wide missionary broadcast which was one of the first ones in 10 years! It was really great!

I better close this but I hope you all have a great week and I love you all so much!

Helaman 5:10-12

Sister McBride

Sister McBride in Dublin

 

 Sister Petch

 

 Beautiful sunrise in Dublin