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.

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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

 

 

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