December 24, 2010
Cork, Ireland
Dear Family and Friends,
To our dear family and friends, we wish the merriest Christmas and may the coming year be good to you, also.
This will indeed be a different Christmas for us. We have had a number of offers from the people here in Cork to join them for Christmas, but Jayne and I have decided to spend a quiet Christmas day by riding up the road to see the “Rock of Cashel”. It is one of those “must see” sights. It is a bit out of our normal range of travel, but we thought it would be a good time to go and see. It is a “cashel” or fortress built by the Celts in the early part of the 5th century (comparatively young by Ireland standards), built on a domed limestone outcrop of raised ground. It was the seat of the early Kings of Munster and it was here that legend has it that St. Patrick brought his humble shamrock and taught the kings of Munster about Christianity. Today, it is one of the important relics of the early Christian period in Ireland. We’re anxious to see it.
It appears that even here in the “banana belt” of Ireland we will have a white Christmas. It has been below freezing for the last few weeks and snow fell about that time also. Ireland is not prepared for this type of weather. There is no snow removal equipment anywhere. No one knows what a snow shovel even looks like. They tell us that it is quite unusual. They were still talking about the snowfall of last year when we got here in August. The temperature outside is –6C (22F). We just got off the phone with an Elder Hales that is in Scotland, near Glasgow. The temperature is –18C (-2F). I love Cork. Hurrah for the “banana belt”. We are keeping warm in our flat, we both wear socks in our slippers and wear a fleece jacket most of the time. We are in a building with four flats (apts.). We are in one of the bottom flats and we are the only flat right now that has water. The pipes are frozen and have been for two days now. We don’t know why we have water and they don’t but we are not being proud or pious about anything, just grateful. The church has frozen pipes as well. So, maybe there will not be any church on Sunday.
We are excited for the New Year. We have been working with the Elders and have found a sister that has three children, and no husband. He died from suicide about two years ago. She is still struggling with that in her life but has embraced the gospel so fully. It is just amazing how easy it is to teach when they are ready and waiting for the Gospel. Her children love the Elders and say they love the feeling they have when we are there. One of the little girls got very emotional while being taught as a family and said she could feel her Daddy’s hand on her shoulder and that it would be alright. This is just an amazing experience for me!! (Jayne) I just love the Holy Ghost as a constant companion and I have never felt Him like I feel him here. I am afraid it is a missionary experience and I don’t want to lose it. Maybe I will have to serve at home. Sister Sheehan has accepted a baptismal date in January. We have a lot to teach her before that date. Keep her in your prayers.
We also have a January baptismal date for Danny Walsh. We have been friends with them (family) since we got here. They live out in the country about 1 ½ hrs. from Cork. They have three little boys and the mom is from Grantsville and is a member. He has been very resistive to teaching and reading but we took the Elders with us last time and they challenged him for baptism and he accepted. The Elders about fell on the floor. It was really special. Jayme is expecting again and she has her hands full. I don’t know if they can get to church and they have to do that regularly before baptism. That is another one to help us pray for. If they only knew that it is the greatest gift we can give them. We are so blessed!
We thank you for your cards, emails, prayers, and especially your love and friendship. Family and wonderful friends are the most precious gifts besides our testimonies that we have. We love you all! We miss our little grandchildren so very much and get so tender when we think or talk about them. They are the future of this family and continuation of the Gospel in our family. Teach them well! I have had a few Nativity pictures sent to me but want all the children to draw a scene for me to keep. I would love them even after Christmas.
Mike and I have finished the Book of Mormon again and are reading Jesus the Christ right now. I had forgotten how much I love it and how important it is to read and reread it. What a wonderful book to read for Christmas. We will start the Book of Mormon again but read Jesus the Christ also. I just love having the time to read and focus on Christ all the time. It is just the most wonderful experience for me. It is fun to have such a great companion. He is a great man and I know the Lord loves him also. The Irish people just love him and are drawn to him. Perhaps it is because he loves them so much. It definitely shows.
May the Lord bless each one of you. Until we hear from each other again, Merry Christmas to you all.
Love, Jayne and Mike (Sister Neeley and Elder Neeley)
Nollaig Shona Duit ……….Happy Christmas
(nolig hona dit)
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