Sister Ireland...sorry Dad that I'm not numbering my emails...‏

Monday, December 6, 2010

Dear Family,

This week has definitley been a transition. Family, this is my fourth transfer with my fourth sister....???? With most sisters in the mission, from what I understand, they've usually been with their companions for at least 2 to 3 transfers. After I learned that Sis. Tomlinson was getting transfered and I was going to be with Sis. Denis the question that kept on coming over and over in my mind was, why? Why can't I stay with a sister for more than one transfer? Am I crazy? :) It feels like with each transfer, thus far, the rug of 'change' is pulled out from under me and I have to keep on readjusting. For those of you that know me well, I do not care for change. It's uncomfortable, it's unfamiliar, at times it feels like I'm stepping into the 'unknown.' For example, most of you know that I love Macaroni Grill and that I always, without fail, order the spaghetti and meatball dish. It drives Mom and Dad crazy and remember one of my friends saying, "Why don't you try something different? Have a little....'change.' 'NAY!' I say, "because I love the spaghetti and meatball dish and nothing else can come close to it!" Once I'm comfortable with something I always stick with it and hardly ever branch out...because it's what's familiar. Well, I feel like Heavenly Father has something different in mind as I'm here serving my mission. This past week when I was doing my morning exercises I was asking the question to myself, "Why all of this change? Can't I have something consistent and familiar for a little bit?" Then the thought came to my mind, 'yes, you've been going through a lot of change and new things but 'I the Lord change not.' The Spirit taught me an important lesson that morning. He helped me realize that in the past I've been relying too much on people and circumstances that are familiar to help make me happy. But, people and circumstances come and go....things will ALWAYS change, but the Lord never does. I believe that I've been experiencing all of these changes so far on my mission because the Lord wants me to learn to rely on Him who is always there. Regardless of what sister I'm companions with or what new area I'm transfered to the Spirit always feels the same, and Gospel is always true no matter what circumstances or people I'm with. So, the Lord is definitely stretching me and I'm grateful for it.

Last night Sis. Denis and I went to the Christmas Devotional at the stake center. I felt a wee bit sentimental as I looked at the very familiar footage of Temple Square. As we were singing the hymns I was thinking how all of you were singing at the same time and I felt closer to you even though I felt far away. I thought about all of you during the devotional and felt so grateful that I have a family at home who is supporting me and is strong in the Gospel. The messages that were shared were inspired and came from servants of the Lord. I hope this Christmas we can all take the time to think more about our Savior and the Atonement that He performed for us individually. Perhaps our hearts won't become big by three sizes like the Grinches (ha ha I love President Uchtdorf) but they can become transformed as we place them in the hands of our Saviour this season, and for the rest of our time here on this Earth.

Love you Family!

Sister 'I'm starting to relish change' Ireland :)

Lethbridge = AWESOME!!!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Hello Family!

In my last email I wasn't very specific about WHERE in Lethbridge I would be residing. I'm serving on the south side of Lethbridge and we're covering a family ward (Henderson) and a YSA ward (Parkside). I really like Lethbridge, the feel of it reminds me of home. In Tuscany the homes were very uniform.....kind of a 'stiff' feeling. BUT in Lethbridge all of the houses are different and have their own kind of personality. It feels similiar to Lindon and I love it! Now don't get me wrong about Tuscany, I really like it there, but Lethbridge feels just right :)

This past Friday night Sis. Tomlinson and I experienced a miracle! We went to a member's home to have dinner and teach a friend of their's named, Rita*. Before meeting her she's already come to church twice with her kids and has had a very positive experience with the church. While we were teaching her about the Restoration she asked us REALLY good questions and had a true desire to know if the things that we taught her were true. She expressed that she felt that something was missing in her life and wanted her kids (ages 2 and 4) to grow up in a home where they felt safe and secure even when the world outside wasn't. We committed her to read the Book of Mormon and to pray about it, and extended her the invitation to be baptized on November 6th...SHE SAID YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wahoooooooooo!!!! She was surprised that she could be baptized that soon but was willing to take that step in her life. It was a special experience and the Spirit was really strong. This is the first time I've experienced someone saying 'yes' to baptism and I'm so grateful that the Lord let me have this experience here in Lethbridge. We're teaching her tonight about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She used to be a smoker, but decided to quit a little while ago but still drinks coffee. We'll be extending her the committment to live the Word of Wisdom tonight and think it will go well. If she's willing to give up smoking then coffee shouldn't be a big issue BUT we will be prepared nonetheless to help her with any concerns.

Well, that's one way to start a transfer in a new area! :) As everyone well knows, Sis. Tomlinson is my new companion. She's from West Jordan Utah and is a pretty swell companion. It's been weird to have each of my companions for only one transfer. Usually you stay with them for two or possibly three. But, as for me, I've had three companions so far on my mission and have learned a lot from each one. Each have helped me grow in different ways on my mission and I will always be grateful for them and the friendships I've developed with them. Anyways, Sis. Tomlinson and I are doing well so far and I feel that it will be a great transfer.

Things on my mission here in Canada have gone well so far. I feel that my testimony and confidence in teaching the Gospel is growing more as I go along. I'm very grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He's helped me out so much with the specific challenges I've faced personally, and it's been a wonderful experience to be able to help and reassure someone who is going through things that have been similar to mine. The trials and challenges that we have really are there for a specific reason, and one of those reasons is to help someone who might be in a hole you have been in preiviously. The Atonement is real and I'll always be grateful for what Christ has done for me.

Love you family!

Sister Ireland

What ho? An email from Canada!

Dear Family,

I'd like to share a cool story that's happened this week. In some missions tracting is definitely the way to go in trying to find new investigators, but for some missions it's very unproductive....that's how the Canada Calgary Mission is. Our main focus is try to get investigators through the members of the church and help build their faith in missionary work. In our mission (so far) there's no rule where you have to do a billion hours of tracting each week, it's not a huge priority. But, Sis. Tomlinson and I have a goal to have a new investigator this month by our own finding efforts so we've been doing our best to talk to everyone that we see on the streets and follow any promptings we have to knock on certain doors. It's hard trying to find people this way because most of the time they just say they're not interested. Well, Sis. Tomlinson and I were knocking at a door and we saw this girl on the other side of the street walking her dog who wouldn't stop barking. "If you don't stop barking we're going to turn around and go right back home!" she yelled. It was kind of entertaining seeing this girl react to her dog but eventually we lost sight of her. So, we decided to go down another street and see if any members from our ward would be home but came out unsuccessful. As we were walking back to our car the girl walking her dog was heading towards us...and was still yelling at her dog who wouldn't stop barking. We both decided to approach her and as we came closer we saw that she was around our age and her face and ears were covered with mulitiple piercings. MULTIPLE. MUCHO. A LOT. I instantly thought to myself, "There's no way this girl is going to be interested." I was judging her appearance and not looking on the heart. But, we still stopped to talk to her and it came out that she knew a few things about the church and was interested in learning more! She willingly gave us her address, phone number, and we plan to teach her about the Restoration tomorrow afternoon. I learned a huge lesson. Regardless of what a person appears to be or look like we shouldn't hold back in allowing them to have the opportunity to learn about the gospel. Again, the Lord looks in on the heart and when we receive a prompting to talk to someone we should trust in His ability to comprehend all things. When we learn to humble ourselves and obey His counsel, not ours, doors that we thought didn't exist or could never be opened are opened. "For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith." (2 Nephi 27:23) When ever the Lord directs us to say or do something...JUST DO IT!!! As we do so our faith and trust in Him increase and we become instruments. I prefer to be a banjo :)

Things are still in place for Rita's baptism for November 6th! The thing is is that she still struggles with why we don't drink tea or coffee....and she needs to give it up a week before her baptism and we're having a hard time contacting her. If she's still drinking we'll have to post pone the baptism until a later date until she's fully ready. I'd rather have her be completely ready and committed then still blury about things, if that makes sense.

Love you fam!

Love Sister Ireland