Dundalk, Part 4

The chapel is at Downham, a small town we visited in England during the MTC weeks. 

I'm grateful to everyone who sent me their stories and such about their first weeks, it was nice to see that pretty much everyone goes through what I am going through. I want everyone to know that their support is very much appreciated and that their prayers must be working, because this week was much easier on me. Thinking about Lehi's vision the other day, I had an interesting thought: am I on the straight and narrow path, clinging to the iron rod and going through the mists of darkness? Maybe not. I think I--we--are at the tree of life, partaking of the fruit. The world is shouting harsh and slanderous things at us from a great and spacious building. I might feel slightly ashamed, but I must stay with the tree, partake of the fruit, and call out to others to come and also partake. That's my thought. What do you think?

Also, opinion poll: which was better, the Sam Raimi Spiderman movies or Homecoming? I want everyone's opinion!...everyone who counts. 

Today I think we're gonna go see a castle. I can't remember what it's called, but apparently some of the movie Braveheart was filmed there. So that'll be cool. I'll send some pictures. 

I'll give you some names that I'd permit for a family horse:

- Blacky (but only if you said it like Maddy Ross)

- Li'l Bandit

- Bart

- Doc

- Tuco (Puente)

- Cody (but only if I die on my mission by the hand of a crazy born again fanatic)

- or Elder Christiansen (because he looks like a horse)

Which girls ask about me? No, don't answer that. 

No, do. Just keep it short. Not that that will be difficult. HAH!

Love y'all!

Dundalk, Part 3

"This, my friend, is a pint!"

Vern's Questions:

1. What is Elder Scholz's first name? 

2. How many in his family?

3. Do you guys cook often at home?

4. Do you take turns cooking or some other arrangement? 

5. How much do you get each month because 500€ is like $800 Canadian? Ask your companion if you need to. Your answer before seemed a bit high is all.

6. Would it be useful if I sent you a GPS unit to help you guys find your way around?

7. Do you have Stake Missionaries assigned in your Branch? 

Elder Lybbert's Answers:

1. Kai

2. 8 kids...its a bit complicated, since he has a set of step siblings. 

3. Oh yeah, we make pasta all the time. And toast. 

4. Honestly, Elder Scholz usually takes over. I don't do a lot of the work. 

5. I started off with that amount; we get about 120 euro each month. 

6. No, we're getting a sat nav system pretty soon. 

7. Nope. Just us. But we're really trying to get the members involved.

The rest of the news:

I've always wanted to go to BC. Still, I'm in Ireland, so I win. 

So, we went on exchanges this week with another pair of Elders. I was with Elder Rodriguez from Spain, and Elder Scholz was with Elder Pelham from England. Me and Elder Rodriguez didn't get any appointments, but Elder Scholz and Elder Pelham got an investigator who now has a date for baptism. Yup. 

I feel pretty useless most of the time. I try not to let it get to me--I'm new and all--but it does sometimes. One of the sisters from my MTC group (actually lives in Sterling) just went home, because she just couldn't handle it. Honestly, I catch myself more than once wishing I could do the same. Don't worry though, I won't. I know where these feelings are coming from, and I've already promised that I will fight Satan every day NOM BEY UTH* if I have too. And I might just have too. 

Anyways, here's a video of my enormous flat. I'll try and get pictures of Hannibal the Spider (ask Jenna) and Sonic the Hedgehog (ask Tamara). 

Love you all, bye for now.

*It's based on a line from a movie.  It means "with bare hands"

He sent two videos. I don't know how I'm going to post them yet, but I will figure it out and post them later. They're fun to watch 'cause there are some things in there that are so typical of Cody. :-D

Preston England Temple

A meal at Roma's

Dundalk, Part 2

Vern's Questions:

1. Do you have your BRP (your residency permit) yet?

2. If so when did you get it?

3. How much money do you get each month to go on?

4. Is it on a prepaid visa or something else?

5. How many missionaries in Dundalk?

6. How many missionaries in the Dublin Zone?

7. Where do you shop for groceries in Dundalk?

8. How far out of Dundalk does your area extend?

9. How many people are on your records in your Branch?

10. Is your Branch President's name President Nesbitt? 

11. Do you have a full three hour block of church or is it less?

12. How long was the Ferry ride across the Irish sea?

13. How long was the bus ride from Preston to Edinburgh? 

14. Did the bus from Belfast to Dublin drop you and Elder Scholz off in Dundalk?

15. Google Maps shows your apartment is about 3 km from the ocean, is that true?

16. Google Maps shows your apartment is right on the corner of the street being #8, so I'm assuming Alice's is #10, is that correct?

17. Do you guys have to mow your lawn?

18. How many kms do you have to use in a month?

19. What kind of car do you guys drive? 

20. Is the car fitted with a black box monitor?

21. Is your church building a rented space for meetings? 

Is it available to the members all week or just on Sundays? 

22. Do you have any Aaronic Priesthood? 

23. Are you still blessing and/or passing the Sacrament? 

24. Do you teach or give a talk each Sunday? 

25. I noticed your Visa worked...what did you buy? 

26. What time do you get up?

27. What time do you leave your flat?

28. What time are you supposed to be home? 

29. What time is bedtime? 

30. Do you exercise in the morning?

31. Where do you email from?

32. Are you getting enough to eat?

33. Was climbing up to Arthur's Seat a tough climb?

Cody's Answers:

1. Yes

2. At the mission home

3. I'm not sure. I started off around 500 euro

4. Yes, prepaid visa

5. Just me and Elder Scholz

6. Many

7. Tesco, Lidl, or Aldee

8. A few towns, 15-20 minute radius, outside of Dundalk

9. Quite a few, but only one actually lives in Dundalk (our neighbour Alice)

10. Yes

11. 3 hours

12. Must have been 2 or 3 hours. It was hard to tell, the time just flew by

13. It wasn't 6 hours, I was wrong. Only 3ish

14. No, just in Dublin, then we drove to Dundalk. It was quite a process, I'll tell you the full story sometime

15. Well, I can't see the sea, but if I saw the sea I wouldna be surprised

16. Mhmm

17. No. 

18. We aren't limited, but we still try to be conservative

19. Hyundai, of some manner. That's kinda all I know. I'll find out more later

20. No. Which stinks, because it's really hard to find our way around since neither of us have been here before. 

21. Yes and yes, available all week. But the lease is going to expire in a year, so we're under pressure to up the activity level.

22. Yes, a few. Adults. 

23. Sometimes. 

24. Not always, but we prepare to just in case. 

25. A light jacket and a...simpsons t-shirt that Elder Scholz made me buy

26. 6:30

27. 10:00

28. 9:00/9:30, but we've been kept a bit later once or twice

29. 10:30

30. We are supposed to be. We're getting back on track with that this week. 

31. ...from gmail...OH, we go to an internet café

32. Too much actually. There's a cheap but very good bakery in Lidl, and we go there a lot. Also a restaurant called Roma.

33. Not if I wasn't so fat. It was just a hill. Absolutely breathtaking view of Edinburgh. 

That all sounds so exiting, with trek and all. Honestly, I wish that those activities were being organised over here so we could get some friggen involvement! Actually though, a few of the members try to be very involved. Keep it hushed, but we're trying to play missionary matchmaker with a member and an investigator. 

I'm eating well, so I'll pretend not to be super jealous of the birthday food. 

Jeez you guys, missionarying is hard. It's hard because people don't want to talk to you, and other churches think they're better than you. And the Catholic church is clearly under the constant influence of the enemy, but they all think it's God! *heavy sigh*. Just tough is all. Tough to keep my spirits up. It's really good to hear about growth in Lethbridge though. And I'm pressing forward believing it will happen here as well. I miss Laura. 

James is absolutely darling. He looks like he's done a bunch of growing already. 

anyways, thank you all for being awesome. I'm actually not worried about any of you, I know you're all very strong. Listen to your dad, and your Heavenly Father. 

Love, Elder Lybbert

Dundalk, Part 1

8 Brookwood Lawns

Red Barns Road, Dundalk County Louth, Republic of Ireland

I'll try to answer some of your questions, a lot has been going on.

We have a car, and no bikes. Which is fine, and we usually walk places anyways. But the car is really nice to have. The flat we have is awesome! It's basically a house; you could raise a small family here. There's a washing/drying machine, 2 showers, couches, it's awesome. And our neighbor/landlord (Alice) is super nice and helpful. She's one of the most active of the approx. 18 active members in the branch. Everyone I meet is super nice. The accent is easy to understand, although they have this weird quirk where instead of saying ''good afternoon'' or ''hello'' they say ''no thank you, not interested.'' We've only been cussed off once or twice. 

Someday I'll have to tell you about the arduous journey to Dundalk. The weather has been really nice; hardly any rain and lots of sunshine. Elder Scholz quickly became my friend; he's just great, and fun, and also a very good missionary. I'm learning a lot from him (he's from LA California). 

We ate dinner with a Romanian family yesterday. There's nine kids! It was good; some kind of chicken stew. 

I can assure you that my testimony is already growing quite a lot. I'm seeing firsthand the power of prayer and the role of the holy spirit in our work. 

I'm sorry Eleni had such a tough time, but it's nice to hear she's doing better. Also, no spoilers for Spider-Man! I'm sorry I can't send more, I'm trying to leave lots of time for me companion. Know that I love you all and I don't ever forget you. Make sure nobody calls Justin ''Boy'' anymore, he's morphing into a man! I wish I could hear Olivia's voice for a little bit. She's so sweet. 

If there's anything else in particular you'd like to know, tell me next week in bold letters so that I can tell you. 

Love, Elder Lybbert

From President Donaldson

In the Field!

We didn't get a letter from Elder Lybbert today because he was in transit to Edinburgh. He arrived safely and we received a letter from President Donaldson:

Dear Brother & Sister Lybbert,

On 11 Jul. 17, we welcomed Elder Lybbert to the Scotland/Ireland Mission.  He arrived safely from the Missionary Training Center and we are excited to have him in our mission.  I interviewed him and felt his spirit and desire to serve our Heavenly Father.  One of our very best missionaries, Elder Scholz, has been assigned to be his trainer.  Together they will serve in the Dublin Zone, Dundalk Branch.

Week 2 - MTC

I missed each one of you this week. You know what? I also missed the smelly black hellhound you keep in the awful chamber outside the garage. You aren't gonna give him away, are you?

So, week two had as many challenges as week one, but I am learning a lot about the gospel, and about being a missionary, and even a little about myself. I'm writing it all in my journal so that I don't forget. 

Am I sad you're going to see Spider-Man without me? Yeah, a little. I saw a billboard in Manchester and I was like: ''Aw man!''. By the way, we went proselyting in Manchester. Only for about an hour and a half, but it was good. I said hi to a lot of people, not a lot stopped to talk to me, and the people that did only took the pass along card and not a book of Mormon. Also, I saw a beggar and gave him all of that 16 pounds Bishop Pierson gave me. A few moments after, I was told that I wasn't supposed to do that, and then i saw another dozen beggars as we went along. I felt very foolish, and kind of ashamed for giving up that money that could've been used better I guess. Can't get it back now though. All in all I was glad to have gone to Manchester. It's a bigger city than I'm used to. 

I missed you all on Canada day. I wish I could have watched the fireworks and then Big Trouble in Little China or something. Me, Elder Bennet, and Sister Fawcett all sang the national anthem at breakfast that morning. What's going on with Eleni? I don't think I ever heard about that. 

One of the sisters in my district--Sister Geier--reminds me sooooo much of Tamara that it's crazy. 

Last week and today (and I think once more next week) we went to sessions in the temple in Chorely. It's right next to the MTC here, about 3 minutes of walking. Smaller than Cardston, but very very beautiful, as is to be expected of a house of the Lord. Other than that on p-days, I do this and laundry and more studying. By the way, Elder Christiansen is from St. George, Utah. 

The weather here is mainly cloudy and wet, but we've had a few sunny days. (Elder Christiansen took me out jogging and it nearly killed me). I will depart from the MTC next week on Wednesday (early morning). I don't know much more. 

That's all for now. I'm still very happy and moving ever onward. Ba-bye!

P.S. By the way, I want no changes! I don't want any of you leaving the church, or getting divorced, or moving to far away places, or dying! The only change I will accept is additions: you may be married and/or have children. Other than that, EVERYONE JUST BE GOOD!! 

Oh, and tell Aunt Suzanne that I got her letter, I was able to read all of it, and I am very happy that she was able to write me.