First Christmas In The Field

Happy late Christmas everybody and early New Year!!!

This has been a good week.

Monday we had a lesson with a guy named Gabriel who we kind of reviewed the Restoration with him and it went well and we're hoping to see him again and invite him to baptism. Then Tuesday we met some Brazilian girls named Helen and Tammy. Tammy had run into missionaries in Brazil so they said we could meet up and talk with them.

We also got two new investigators that day and had a lesson with them in a McDonald's. They were Muhammad and Soka and are Muslims from Pakistan. They were really nice guys and willing to listen (although I don't think they'll get baptized, because they kind of can't if they go back to Pakistan.):( But we'll see!

Christmas Eve we were at the Weber's and had a great time and a great meal, and then Christmas day we delivered bread around to some people that one of the elders in our flat made (Czech Christmas bread, which I won't try to spell). Then we went to the Christy's who is a RC (recent convert) and we had dinner and Skyped home from there.

For those of you that don't know Christmas dinner over here is basically a Thanksgiving meal back in America so lots of food!

Then for the rest of the week we just did some finding and had our lesson with the Brazilian girls which went well and we also met a man named Thomas Tabby who said we could come back tomorrow and teach him.

So we have a couple of investigators. One of our investigators, Bowen is scheduled for 10 January.

Next week we might go see the Cliffs of Moher with the Weber's since we'll have normal PDays again, so that will be good.

Enough of me, you's all take care and not party too hard wherever you are!

Love you all and God Bless in the New Year!


Elder Tarbet (Wolverine)

Czech Christmas Bread

Photo and information downloaded from the Internet

Vánočka is a braided bread, baked in Czech Republic and Slovakia (in Slovak called vianočka) traditionally at Christmas time. It is rich in eggs and butter, making it similar to brioche. Lemon rind and rum add color and flavor; the dough can also contain raisins and almonds, and is braided like challah.

St. Stephen's Day

December 26

In Irish, it’s called Lá Fhéile Stiofán or Lá an Dreoilín, meaning the Day of the Wren or Wren's Day. When used in this context, "wren" is often pronounced "ran". This name alludes to several legends, including those found in Ireland, linking episodes in the life of Jesus to the wren. People dress up in old clothes, wear straw hats and travel from door to door with fake wrens (previously real wrens were killed) and they dance, sing and play music. This tradition is less common than it was a couple of generations ago. Depending on which region of the country, they are called wren boys and mummers. A Mummer's Festival is held at this time every year in the village of New Inn, County Galway and Dingle in County Kerry.

New Area, New Companion, Transfer to Beautiful Galway

Heya greetings from Galway! 

Tuesday night we left Portadown because Elder Lewis was staying with the ZL's (Zone Leader's) to fly out early the next day and I stayed with the Elders in Bangor. Then we took a bus from Belfast to Dublin and then from there to Galway so 6 hours of bus riding.

So now I’m in Galway and I’m liking it so far. It’s been good craic though there have been some challenges for me at first (get to it in a sec). 

So my new companion is Elder Shubin who is from Colorado and he is a nice guy. We get along pretty well and he has quite a bit of energy. He has been out for 15 months.

No longer in a flat now were in a house though haven’t gotten around to taking pics yet so sorry. 

The challenge I’ve been facing has been going from a car area to biking everywhere which isn't a bad thing, it’s good. Just the fact that I gained a whole stone in Portadown so I’m having to bike up hills with an extra 15-16 pounds! The biking has been good except there are a lot of hills and one of our investigators we biked out to is a 45 min ride and half of it is uphill so my legs are dead going halfway up the hills, but its getter better and I really like having the exercise.

Anyway we’ve been doing lots of finding and probably a funny highlight for this week was I was trying to talk to girls we walk by when GQing (because I never do, and this was hard because Galway is a University city, with several universities the main one being NUIG, so lots of college girls :)) Anyway so I stopped this girl and we had an awesome conversation and we're getting along quite well. Her name was Jullien and she said we could come back around to teach her and she gave us her number. Well we got back to the house and tried to call her and turns out we put in the wrong number! I was so bummed because she seemed like she was really interested. I’ll just have to hunt her down then. 

Anyway the branch is pretty small like 25 people or so and Elder Weber is the Branch President and I have to say I love the Weber’s they are awesome. 

Love you all and take care of yourselves, especially over the break. Merry Christmas!

Love,

Elder Tarbet (Wolverine)

NUIG is the National University of Ireland in Galway

Elder Tarbet at FHE before leaving Portadown

 

With Elder Lewis

 

 He went out singing!

 

Dundalk, Birthday and Belfast Christmas Festival

Heya everyone, 

How you all doing?

This week has been really good and fun week.

Monday we went back to the Foreign Market place in the center of Belfast and got to have some good food again.

The first time I had French churros and a German Smoky Krauker which is basically a brat.

This next time got more churros and Jamaican jerk chicken.

The food is great and I also got a leather bound journal to be my T Book out here (basically a book that you have missionaries sign in like a yearbook).

Tuesday we had normal district meeting and such and taught Sister “L” again our LA we’re working with and then went to Games Night where we played a card game Phase 10.

There Louise our recent convert (RC) came in with a big cake for me and showed me the video that a lot of you were in and made, singing happy birthday, so that was sweet to see you all! 

Video recorded at Game Night:

Wednesday and Thursday we did some chapping (tracting) and also on Thursday we taught Feliciano again but had the same problem as the last time when we taught him.

Friday it was my Birthday and we went to a Zone Meeting in Belfast for a missionary idea the church came up with.

They just released a video called He is the Gift and you should all check it out and spread the word about the video it’s really good!

Anyway went to the Keery’s for dinner where they got me a Wolverine cake which was sweet and got me some marvel socks and pajamas.

Saturday we were with Br. Donnely and sang carols at a Nativity activity at the Stake Center.

Sunday was good because we finally got Sis “L” out to church!

So that’s been my week.

Love you all and take care of yourselves! I got your backs in spirit.

Love

Elder Tarbet, Wolverine

PS: I forgot to mention last week that when we were doing a AUF we ended up in Dundalk which is in the Republic so now I’ve been to all three countries in my mission! 

I got some pictures of the Coast that I’ll have to send to you.

Once again thank you for the video it was awesome!!! 

Some Additional Questions:

What does AUF stand for?

AUF stands for Address Unknown File. 

Do you tract at night?

We sometimes tract at night but it’s not very effective because no one wants to open their door when it’s dark.

How is the traffic over there?

Traffic is bad in the morning on the way to Belfast when we go to DM's or ZM's.

 In Belfast for Zone Meeting

 Foreign Market in Belfast

Christmas Festival

 

Coast on the way to Dundalk

The Birthday Boy gets a haircut!

 Thanks everyone!

 Now for the cake!

 HAPPY 20TH