August & September 2010 Mission Happenings

Scotland and Ireland Missions are combined - July 2010

We are no longer in the Scotland Edinburgh Mission but are now the Scotland/Ireland Mission.  With the consolidation of the two missions has come plenty of extra challenges and extra headaches for our mission president and his wife, the mission office and the missionaries in leadership.  Our mission now includes three countries (Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland) and two currencies (Pounds and Euros).  In addition, transfers between the two countries are much more complicated.  The president and his wife spend at least 10 days each month in Ireland and 20 days in Scotland (Edinburgh is still the mission headquarters and the Irish mission home is or has been sold) and the AP's are back and forth regularly as well.  There has been a great mixing of the missionaries between the two missions and we're all happy to get to know those who have come from Ireland to serve in Scotland while Scottish missionaries are eager to see Ireland.  We now have 176 missionaries including senior couples in our mission. 

Zone Conference with Elder Kapische in August

Elder Kapische, Area President of Europe, attended our zone conference in August and we were spiritually fed by him for an entire day in Dundee.  His area presidency has a detailed vision for Europe (including the UK) with the goal of doubling church attendance in 10 years.  Baptisms will not have to double as the goal includes a great emphasis on reactivation of those now less active.  A plan has been laid out that has reached every stake, district and ward in Europe so that goal of doubling attendance can actually happen in the next decade.  Elder Kapische taught us that we must visualize exactly what our need is in the quiet moments before we get up each morning, pray for that specific blessing and then go out and work for that expectation to happen.  It was an inspiring day to spend with him and with other missionaries (being with the young missionaries is one of the best parts about being a senior missionary!).

Centers for Young Adults

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Twelve Apostles received inspiration some time ago for revitalizing the Church in Europe and the United Kingdom.  His vision includes Centers where young single adults (YSA's) can gather for institute, family home evening and general socializing (like gathering at Institutes on college campuses in the US) so that church standards and friendships can be fostered.  These Centers are popping up all over Scotland since we have arrived (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee).  Once average attendance goals at Institue are met, the Church approves the area to become a Center and funds furniture, TV, computer, internet, games, etc. so that YSA's can mingle and meet and they have a monthly budget for their activities.  These Centers are located in a room dedicated to that purpose in the local chapels initially.  Once their Institute attendance averages 75/week, they qualify for their own Center location. 
All of the Scottish CfYA's are far from that goal now but growing.  The CfYA in Edinburgh is located in our stake center where we attend.  It's been so exciting to teach the YSA's in Sunday School and watch the numbers grow and the kids get excited about their new program and Center.  These youth are the Church's hope for Scotland and we are all anxious to see them married in the temple and raising righteous families as they serve in the units here.  Priesthood is way too scarce here.

Emma is a dear YSA friend.  She is a convert of 4 years, the only member in her family, has little church support at home, and is a daytime nanny to 3 darling little boys.  Through her often difficult growing up years, she found love and support from her "Gran" and she asked if I would help her make a patchwork lap quilt for her Gran for Christmas.  Emma has never had a needle between her fingers so we went for very easy and BIG!  Her top is all pieced together now, we have shopped for batting and backing and tomorrow night we will put it together and show her how to quilt it.  It's not like quilting at home where I have all my "tools" at hand (but quilt friends, note my pin cushion), but it has been a fun project for both of us. 

Reactivation Work

Elder Iverson and I spend as many nights each week as we can eek out visiting/teaching less actives in their homes here in Edinburgh.  We have done FHE lessons, Preach My Gospel lessons and "made up" lessons we thought a particular person or family needed.  It's been difficult, joyous work to meet with people who have every problem you could ever imagine and more.  We hope we are making a difference, sometimes we wonder as there are lots of broken commitments and disappointments, but we had 10 people we've worked with to church two weeks ago.  We aren't the only ones responsible for all of their new activity, but have had a small part in it.  On that same Sunday, however, we met with our alcoholic friend who had been dry for 3 1/2 months and learned that she had started drinking again.  So our highs don't always last long, but we have grown to love so many people and become more appreciative of our own blessings.

In harmony with the goal of doubling attendance during the next decade, our ward council meetings in the Edinburgh Ward have been completely revamped to follow the new instructions from the Area Presidency for Europe.  All the missionaries and organization heads attend, we meet for one hour weekly, and nothing but investigator needs, less active needs, and new convert needs are discussed in that most efficient hour.  It's been an effective thing to participate in and will definitely move the ward toward increasing their numbers.  Personal visits are being made by ward leaders after we prayerfully consider names and needs of those new to the church are being met .  It doesn't hurt that we have the most amazingly wise 27 year old bishop who conducts and sets the tone for these meetings either! 

Edinburgh Stake Conference - 19 September 2010

Here we are gathered with the 1st counselor in the Edinburgh Stake presidency, his family and two other senior missionary couples that were invited to dinner at this good families' home.  Our stake presidency is young (32 year old stake president), energetic, and full of enthusiasm and they too have a vision and a plan.  They want a temple in Scotland!!!  Elder Piya, Quorum of the Seventy, was our visiting authority for stake conference and from him we learned through the D &C, the formula to become a Zion people:  Spirituality + Pure Love of Christ = Unity = Zion = Celestial Law of Heaven.  Elder Piya promised us that if we would strive to become a Zion person, couple, companionship, family, and stake, we would double our attendance and have a temple!

Elder Iverson was called to serve on the High Council at this Stake Conference.  His specific assignment will be missionary work throughout the stake.  He is eager to work with this stake presidency and do what he can to help in the short time we have left here and we both hope it doesn't cut into our reactivation work too much.  The longer we're here, the busier we get!!  But that's why we came!