Not Far From Home - Scottish Highlands

 

It may look like we did a lot of traveling but, it was really only a day and a half. We expect to be transferred to the Republic of Ireland within the next month or two. We need to go by May 15th to avoid taking the UK Driver's test. The young Elders have quite a time passing and we really don't want the added stress or cost. Hopefully, the Lord will agree. We are having the time of our life serving The Lord. Our goal was to double the Sacrament Meeting attendance while we were here. When we arrived it was just over 30 in attendance and last week we had a whopping 53! What an experience watching people return to activity and see them just glow when they enter the Chapel and most of all, the brightest beaming faces when they enter The Temple!! We have been truly blessed here in Scotland and just love serving the people here. The Castle below a few pictures is the Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness. I couldn't figure out how to get it posted to the proper place, sorry.

As you can see we really haven't been very far from home!!! This is what we tell people: Our home is in Sterling, Idaho; about 10-12 from Aberdeen, Idaho; we raised our older boys in Elgin, Oregon, so with a last name like McConnel.....wonder why they sent us to Scotland?

 

 

 

Above, you see the Inverness Castle, it sets on the River Ness. Below, is Loch Ness. We looked and looked for Nessie but, for some reason she didn't want to come out and play. But, later you will see the Elder McConnel finally found her.

 

Our way back from Inverness, we stopped at this Castle below. When we listened to the presentation, we were almost afraid to let our name badges be shown. In the presentation we learned that the McDonald clan (of which the McConnel's were the cheif captains) were the ones that attacked and invaded the castle. Hey Ho, or in English, oh well. 

This is the highest peak in all of the United Kingdom. All of 1,310 feet!! This is Ben Nevis.

In the highlands, road signs are very difficult to try and decipher. First written in Galic, followed by English....if you can call it that. Other than Glasgow and Oban, can you guess how to say the names of these cities?

Elder McConnel could hardly contain himself and wanted to go fishing. The scenery in the highlands is beautiful even at the end of winter.

We couldn't find a place to pull of and see when this was but, what we do know is, it's an ancient dome. Maybe for cooking, maybe as a tomb?

 

 

 

Whatever you do, don't forget that Sunday MARCH 10th is Mother's Day. Yes, that's right....MARCH. Does that mean I get to celebrate twice?

 

This is a typical architecure in the residential area of downtown Glasgow. We of course, don't live in downtown so, we don't have the luxury of the WIDE street or beautiful buildings.

 

 

We went with our District for a P-Day activity......bowling! I don't even remember how many years it had been since we had been bowling, and our scores proved it, along with the sore everything the next day.

 

This is the Kalokoh family. They are from Sierra Leone Africa. Brother Kalokoh was a high ranking officer and due to an overthrow of the government was forced to evacuate his family and quite some time later was able to flee for his own life. They are currently preparing to go to the Temple. We are so happy for them.

 

This is from our Paisley District meeting. Elder Jones (front left) has since gone home due to ill health. We sure miss him.

 

This is HAGGIS!!!! Doesn't it look appetizing? Yes, we actually ate some and the verdict.....not terrible but, wouldn't order it if there was another option. The mashed turnips quite surprised us, they tasted like squash.

Sorry, I don't know how to delete the duplicate.

Last of all........you will never see this again in your lifetime.....Elder McConnel in full dress Kilt!!!! We ad a smashing good time at the Burns Supper.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

It appears that we have been way too busy to get our blog updated. So, here goes from November 17 to December 26.

This picture is of Sister Maureen Allison and Brother & Sister Seaman. They are in one of the cottage meetings that we have weekly on Tuesday nights. We have non members and less actives that also attend when they can. It gives us the opportunity to share our message of the Savior with them in a non threating enviornment.

November 24th we took 4 formerlly less actives to the \Preston England Temple. What an awesome experience to share with them.

Here is the picture of the ones that went through the session with us, the other two went to an earlier session, pictured are: Irene Lowe, Maureen Allison, Ann Laverty, and you probably don't know the last two. haha

The countryside in England doesn't look much different than Scotland.

Georgous sunset.                                  

If you have or have seen my Old World Santa, this is what I want to make when I get home.

We went to Pitlochry to see the Stage production of White Christmas. It was the first to be allowed to be performed outside the United States. It was wonderful. Going in we thought the chimneys all lined up were an interesting skyline of the little town.

This is President and Sister Brown just before the performance. They are from Scotland and take everything in stride with the weather. (They don't know any different)

The Ward is taking great care of us during the holidays. They have signed up to take care of us each and everyday from Christmas Eve to the day after New Years. They are wonderful and will be life long friends.

Hope not to take so long to update next. We love you and hope you had a wonderful Christmas and the most prosperous New Year. All our love,






 

Well, as most of you know, I am not allowed to put up a Christmas tree until after Thanksgiving. We wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving here in Scotland with the Elders & Sisters of our Zone. Because Thanksgiving was after moves week, we decided to hold our T Day Dinner on Monday Nov. 12th. Now, since Thanksgiving day is OVER, I put up the tree. We found it in a charity shop for a whopping £3. and the decorations and lights another £3. Couldn't hardly go wrong with that. We hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday and you can enjoy a picture of our tree until you are allowed to put up your own.

 

 

 

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Wow! A lot has happened since our last post. We have been very busy hence, no updates until now. In our last post there is a picture of the Majola family. Charity Majola was attending the Temple Preparation class and was anxious to attend the Temple. The end of September she died in a tragic accident. She was from South Africa and the service that was held was worth being here all by itself. It was amazing! There were about 150 Zulu tribe members in attendance. The opening hymn was one that they knew and the harmony was AMAZING. It sounded like you had been transported right to South Africa. The tributes also following their customs, were something we will never have the opportunity to witness again.

 

Our Temple trip is November 23-24th. We have gained permission from the Area Representatives to travel with our little group to the Preston England Temple. We are so excited. So far, we have one couple and two single sisters that are going to the Temple for the first time. Hopefuly, we can repeat this success again before we leave here.

 

I almost forgot.....On Oct 2nd we woke up and I couldn't find the laptop. Of course, I awakened Elder McConnel and stated "what did YOU do with the laptop" Nothing was his reply. He got up, came into the living room and said "my watch and wallet are gone". After further examination we found that the front and back door were unlocked (which HAD been locked the night before) the car keys and car and my purse were also missing. We found the purse in the back yard....dumped all over. So long story short, all of our identification, credit/debit cards, wallets (2), watch, phone, Temple Recommends, cash, laptop and car.....all gone. We had been told to keep the key in the door after you lock it so you can get out in case of emergency. BAD IDEA. The police said that there are two ways they get in, 1) somene with a small hand reaches in through the mail slot and pulls the keys out, then opens the door. or 2) they have a device that they put into the keyhole from the outside, attach it to the key and open the door with your key still in the keyhole.

 

We have been able to replace everything now and life is back to normal except, we sleep a little lighter, and keep a chair propped up against the door and mail slot. The most scary part of it, they entered and walked right past us sleeping, then on into the living room. Elder McConnel had been awakened by something, went to the restroom and normally would go on into the kitchen for a drink and look at the clock to see what time it was. This particular time, as he started to enter the kitchen, the Spirit prompted him to just go back to bed. We feel that they were perhaps still in the house and he scared them away. We feel this because the watch and wallet were placed on top of the iPad and they didn't take it. Also, there were things in the purse that they didn't take of value, and a keyboard.

 

We know that satan is pretty upset with us and has been causing a lot of trouble with us and the members of the Temple prep class. But, he will NOT prevail. The sooner he realizes that, the better off we will all be.

 

We are so very greatful for the blessing of following the Spirit and the continual guidance we receive each day. The Spirit is truly our constant companion and that has been wonderful. It is our desire that everyone can experience the feelings that we have come to know on a daily basis. There is no way to describe how it impacts and blesses your life. Even in adversity, there is a calmness and feeling that the Lord is watching over us.

 

 

On our way back from flat checks we saw a sign for a castle. We didn't have time to go inside, so we didn't get close enough to take a good picture without paying. This is a sneek peek through the trees. Isn't it interesting how it is painted up?

Look at that....the McConnel's are taking over the world. The next day there was a van that said "McConnel Roofing"

 

This is perhaps the most interesting thing we have seen. It is the Falkirk Wheel. It takes boats from the canal below, they drive into the slot at the bottom of the wheel and then in the next picture it shows how it cycles around to get it to the top, which takes it to the canal that goes to Edinburgh.

Our Lowe friends will appreciate this. This is the Loch of the Lowes.

Hope you can read this. In 1969 the Daughters of Utah Pioneers posted this plaque of the Scottish Mission. Missionaries arrived Dec. 1839, and by the time they began the migration 1852, there were over 3,000 members. It is interesting to see from a different prospective how the migration affected the saints that stayed here. At times we feel a little guilty that so many left this beautiful country and their families.

 

Between the sessions of General Conference, one of the sisters from Irvine served the missionaries a beautiful meal. Many of these Elders and Sisters were transfered a week later.

Never have seen the New England states in the fall but, maybe this is a taste of it. Isn't it beautiful!The colors changed everyday and now today......well, lets just say the trees may get a little chilly.

 

This was taken from the Stirling Castle looking toward the William Wallace monument.

From the Stirling Castle looking in the opposite direction.

The Elders were transfered out and we now have SISTERS!!! They are WONDERFUL. This is Sister Harris, from Blackfoot, Idaho

And...Sister Parks from Utah.

 

 

 

Our first Zone conference with our New Mission President; President & Sister Brown. They have been very accepted by the local leadership, since they are from Scotland.

 

 

One Sunday when we came out from church we found there had been a torrential downpour. This poor car nearly got drowned in the water.

 

This poor chair shows how deep the water was out our back door.


 A beautiful day in Stirling, Scotland. We tood this from the Stirling Castle to show the ancient circles that are surrounding the castle.

 

 These two pictures show the before and after dynamics of the Castle. As shown left, the stone walls are grey,




Below you will notice it has been treated with a yellow plaster as it was done originally. This made it appear as gold from a distance when viewing on a sunny day. (Don't know if they had more sunny days then) haha

 

 

At district meeting, following instruction and the Elders and Sisters just killing time playing a game of spoons. They got pretty violent!!

 

 When you try to visit a Castle on a rainy day, this is how it is done. We had about an hour to kill waiting for our next appointment for flat inspections and thought we would take a look. I guess you can tell we didn't see much. Maybe in 6 wks time it will be better.

Saying goodbye to Elder Davidson from Rexburg (at 6am no less) Yes, Elder O'Bagy from Utah is staying.