RAG Week, Shrove Tuesday and Zone Development Day!

Heya everyone,

Sorry this is a day late as we had Zone Development day yesterday which was loads of craic as usual!

We ended up spending most of our time inside because when we were first playing football we spent the time playing it in the wind and hail for a half hour and I thought it was awesome but we went in so people wouldn't get sick :(

Anyway this week has been a pretty crazy week.

First off last week was crazy from NUIG (National University of Ireland, Galway) having a thing called Rag Week which is best to described as Galway's version of people going to Cancoon for spring break (basically just partying and drinking till their dead).

We always leave early to get the bus for DM (District Meeting) in Limerick and the center of town looked like a post apocalyptic wasteland. They even had queue lines for the queue line to get into the pubs!

Anyway during this week we were chapping (should also mention it was on Ash Wednesday) and we came across a college flat and they were all drunk and eating pancakes (they were really crepes but they called them pancakes and that was because Tuesday was Pancake Tuesday while in America it's known as Mardi Gras).

The guy who made them was named..... Terry! He was a nice kid and me and Elder Shubin got talking with him about the Gospel and about Mormons in general. Well were going to see him tomorrow with possibly his friends so obviously something stuck with them while they were drunk (hopefully!)

We also had a lesson with our investigator Thomas which went alright except we have to explain Authority cause he thinks everyone has it to preach and prophesy.

Other than that lesson all our other lessons and appointments fell through again.

And the weather has gotten bad again with lots of rain and wind again so the "tempest is ragin'!"

To top it off while I was showering the shower head exploded on me while I was in there. So because the head blew off and the water turned instantly cold I was done with my shower for the night. We all agree and say that Galway is cursed somehow but we keep pushing forward!

Tonight we hope to have 3 lessons, 2 gospel ones and we might be seeing Ben, the alcoholic. Let all yous know how it goes.

Take care, slán !

Elder Tarbet (Wolverine)

PS. I forgot to mention the chicken nugget in my email from last week. So Elder Shubin and Novotny made a joke to describe the Trinity. Heavenly Father is the chicken, Jesus Christ is the Bread, and the Holy Ghost is the Egg and all three in the trinity triangle make up the chicken nugget.

Some Notes:

HISTORY OF RAG

The verb “to rag” was commonly used in the late 1800's in the UK, its meaning was to pester or badger someone. It is thought that the term rag came into common usage among students around this time as university students noticing inequalities in society began to take time out of their studies “to rag” members of the public to donate items to clothe the most vulnerable members of society.
Over the years RAG evolved to stand for “Raise & Give” and became the focal point of student fundraising for charities in many Universities.  

RAG WEEK has also become know for “a week of mischief and mayhem, hazy memories and hangover cures, wicked craic (fun) and worn-out wallets. The social highlight of the student calendar!!” Daithí de Buitléir—www.thejournal.ie

(Images downloaded from the Internet, February 17, 2015)

          

Hundreds of students queue up outside a Galway pub early in the morning as part of an unofficial Rag Week event known as 'Donegal Tuesday'. It's believed the tradition emerged in recent years and involves those from the hills heading for The Hole In The Wall pub on Eyre Street in the city.

SHROVE TUESDAY OR PANCAKE TUESDAY

Shrove Tuesday (also known in some countries as Pancake Day, Pancake Tuesday, or Mardi Gras) is a day in February or March, preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes.

The expression "Shrove Tuesday" comes from the word shrive, meaning "absolve." Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Roman Catholics.

Pancakes are associated with the day preceding Lent because they were a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. Traditionally fasting meant eating plainer foods and refraining from food that would give pleasure: in many cultures, this means no meat, dairy products, or eggs.

The term Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.

(Image taken from the Internet)

Irish Pancakes 

traditionally served with lemon and sugar 

are eaten on Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day