Top of the Mornin' to Ya's

Dublin woot woot!

I've been studying this week about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It touched me to think about how Christ is always with us, no matter what. When we make poor choices, we are not able to feel the Holy Ghost. But no matter what happens, we always have Christ with us. D&C 88:6 shares that because He descended below all things, He is able to lift us up. Because He was completely and totally alone in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross, we don't have to be. He knows what each of us is going through, and He is going through it all with us. I know that's true. 100% I know it.

Dublin bound

Tuesday I took a bus, a ferry, and another bus to get here. The ferry was a wee bit windy. Like...super windy. It was so fun though! I love travel days, I get to see so much of these beautiful islands.

Dublin city center

Here in Dublin now. We live pretty close to the city center, so we go finding there a lot. Everyone here is Catholic, so it's a different scene than Edinburgh for sure. We aren't working with anyone specific right now, so this next week we'll be finding a ton! I love talking to people on the street though, it's so interesting! I have met so many interesting people. 

We're starting exchanges next week, so I'll let you know how all those go! Sorry I really don't have too much to write this week, it's been busy traveling and moving sisters around. There's some new sisters who seem really cool, I'm super excited to get to know them! 

Edinbrough STLs

Edinbrough

Mission STLs.

Love you all so much, hope all is well, enjoy America, enjoy the summer, enjoy Red Robin (I miss it so much...), and live it up.

Love you!

-Sister Stapley

Back to the Emerald Isle!!

Arthur's Seat with Sisters Paxman and Petersen

I'm moving to Dublin tomorrow!!!!!! WOOOO!!!!! I'll be an STL over there with Sister Petersen, also from Seattle :) My time is Edinburgh has been amazing, I am so happy I got to be here for the past 5 weeks. I'm looking forward to my time in Dublin, I'm excited to go back to Ireland! In less than 6 months, I'll have lived in all 3 countries in my mission :) WOW!

This week we drove up to Elgin to visit some sisters. Elgin is through the highlands, close to Inverness. IT. IS. BEAUTIFUL!!!!! It took about 4 hours, 1 of which was spent on a one lane road through the highlands. Oh my heck, it was amazing. I drove both ways while my companions slept for a bit, it was honestly one of the coolest road trips ever!  To answer Dad- The car is automatic, I usually drive. 

Best part of Elgin....I GOT TO RIDE A BIKE!!! We rode all through the city and countryside, it was soooooooooooo amazing!!! 

Elgin

 

So Sister DeMille goes home today.  I am going to miss her so much! I hate sending my friends home, but I'm happy to be able to hear from her when she gets home! 

We also got to hike Arthur's Seat last week with the mission leadership. It was so much fun, these people are the best group of friends! We discussed how to best help the mission move forward and be better. 

Arthur's Seat 

Never Far Away

 I WENT GOLFING FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST WEEK!!!! I was terrible1. It was so much fun though, I definitely have some improvements to make haha but still, I went golfing in Scotland! So cool :)

 

Hope these pictures describe my week better than I could with words. Love you all and hope you have a great week!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

My Country tis of thee

Sweet land of liberty, 

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From ev'ry mountainside

Let freedom ring!

Livin' the good life! And... US history lessons pay off!

 June 27, 2016

 Sorry I haven't written much these past few weeks, we really haven't had time because of Zone Conferences and some emergency moves, so I have quite a bit to write about this week!

OH funny story... We were sharing with this guy about how there was a religious excitement in the 1800's, and it paved the way for Joseph Smith. This man then laughed at us and told us "religious freedom in the 1800's? That's absurd!" (He used different words, but I'll keep it clean). We then proceeded to explain how America was literally built on the foundation of religious freedom. Turns out my history classes are paying off. What?! Conversations like that just continue to make me appreciate my good ole' USA, especially with the fourth of July coming up!

 Monday we drove about an hour away to Alloa! We hiked Dumyat Hill, it was so sick! There were sheep EVERYWHERE! So naturally I chased them down the mountainside for a bit. Until I met the ones with horns. Then I stopped. Look how safe I'm being. You're welcome.

Dumyat hike

So Tuesday we drove to Paisley for Zone Conference. Right afterwards, we had to move some of the sisters to a new area. We drove from Paisley to Glasgow to Edinburgh and back to Glasgow 3 times in one day....it was a mess haha but so much fun!! Edinburgh to Paisley is about 90 minutes, and then Glasgow is another 45. And this next week, I'm going up to Elgin, which is the most northern sister area in the mission! It's soooo beautiful, I'll be sure to send pictures :)

All packed in!

Friday we had another Zone Conference in Glasgow, so we got to drive back again.  It was so nice seeing Sister Hebbert and Sister Cheve! Sister Cheve and I were both trained by Sister Wanger, so in mission terms, we are "sisters".   And Sister Hebbert then is technically my niece, because she is Sister Cheve's "daughter". It's crazy how it all works out, we're all related somehow!

Sisters Hebbert and Cheve!!

In Glasgow, we went to dinner with President Donaldson, his wife, and the AP's. Elder Hansen and Elder Lindsay are the coolest!! We are a straight squad here.  We had these BOMB burgers and shakes, so life was pretty great!

To Zone conference

On Sunday, there was a musical production of Joseph Smith's life by the stake. Imagine people singing and acting out the pioneers...in incredibly thick Scottish accents!!  My friend, Elder McCappin, who is from Australia, played Joseph. It was the best thing ever to hear Joseph Smith as an Australian. Literally life-changing.

Moves call is next week. I'm probably staying in Edinburgh, but who knows.  With all the new missionaries coming in, it's my job to instruct at their incoming orientation and help with travel plans once they are going to their new areas. Next week will be suuuuuuper busy!! I'm excited though, it keeps me on my toes. The exchanges with the sisters is a really nice way to break things up!

Squad emailing

So in other news, apparently I'm not in the EU anymore. I'm going to be honest, I have no idea what that actually means. All I know is everyone is freaking out about it. Luckily, I am from America, where even the air smells like freedom!

Okay, I think that's all for now, but thanks for everything! I love my mission so much, I am genuinely so happy to be here! It's not easy, but I would rather be here than anywhere else on earth! WOOT WOOT MISSIONS!

Happy Father's Day!!!

June 20th, 2016
Sorry, don't have much time.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!!

Next week we go to Glasgow and Paisley for Zone Conferences. It'll be awesome! 

Sister Paxman will be with Sister DeMille and me for the rest of the transfer. After that, Sister DeMille goes home and I have no idea about what will happen to me. We'll wait and see! 

I love it out here so much! These missionaries are definitely becoming my family. I love them all so much!

We don't have any investigators right now....meh. We're trying so flippin hard, but we're going through a bit of a drought right now. We'll see what happens next week!

We're hiking the hill in Alloa today, so I'll send pics next week. 

love you all so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!