Sister Conference 2K17

This week was pretty awesome!

Monday I got to play sports. Oh my days, it was the best! Just running around like crazy and laughing at literally everything. Frisbee is definitely the favorite, but rugby is growing on me! Ok, I can't actually play, but kicking it is really fun!

Highlight of the week was definitely the Sisters Conference! We got all of the sisters in Scotland and Ireland together (about 60) and had an amazing day! There were great workshops about health, we played some games, did Zumba (embarrassingly...) and had some great spiritual thoughts at the end. It was so good to see everyone! There were some sisters I hadn't seen for ages, we got to catch up and have a blast!

What else is happening...not much! OOh I got to drive Bertha around this week! She is this huge van the mission home owns to help shuttle missionaries. I got to drive her to and from the airport. It was just like driving the suburban, except I had to shift the gears myself...on the left! Party!

We got to exchange with a couple teams this week. I got to be with Sister Eggett and Sister Brousseau. Man I love them! We had so much fun!!

Sister Paxman and I are continuing to have a party. Literally, it's just so much fun! We had out year mark this year, so that's crazy! To celebrate, we wore the outfits we wore when arrived at the MTC. 

 

Literally, I have been over here for a year now. Wow. I did not think I would make it this far. So much has happened, I've met such amazing people, had incredible experiences, and it has 100% changed my life. Missions are the best!

Love you, thanks for all the support!!

Sunrise over Edinburgh

3 Short Days on the Emerald Isle!

 It has been a wicked good week, I love being a missionary!!

So Edinburgh is just the best. The buildings, the culture, it is just a safe environment! I could totally live here sometime. Being close to President and the mission home is awesome as well! 

Sister Paxman and I flew to Belfast on Wednesday. Oh my days, I love that city so flappin much! It just feels like home. It was great to be able to meet up with Sister Garner, she is honestly my best friend out here! We had a training with her and Sister Cheketts, who is a new STL. It went really well!

Thursday, we went to Bangor to have some exchanges. Bangor is the cutest coastal town, and here's the highlight of my whole mission.....IT SNOWED!!! WOOOO it was so much fun, it didn't stick or anything, but it was coming down hard.

On Friday we went to Dublin, my other home! I got to see some people that I taught and some members, it was just like old times! We had another training with the STLs there, Sister Hall and Sister Jorgenson. Man, they are bosses! We flew home to the Burgh on Saturday suuuper early. It was a nice little tour, we got a lot of work and training done, and now I am back in the coolest city on this island. Life is pretty dang good!

Today we are going  hiking  and so I'll have pics to send next week! Sorry I don't have a lot from this week, we are so busy that  I forget to take pics!

Love you all, hope you have an awesome week!!!

No normal days in the Burgh

I'm so sorry this is going to be a really short email.  We are about to leave for Ireland. We're headed to Belfast for a couple of days, then to Dublin to do some training.  We went to Dundee this last week, it is beautiful there.

I live close to the mission home in the Edinburgh ward.  We have an area, but don't spend much time there because we travel so much.  There are 10 missionaries in our ward and we  run into each other all the time!  haha  But this is the university district- so there are lots of people. I'm comps with Sister Paxman again!  Paxy!!  One of our jobs is to sit in on planning meetings and provide whatever info we have that might be helpful.

I'll be spending most of the time in Scotland, but will travel to Ireland a couple times a transfer. I am racking up those frequent flyer miles!!

MLC was good craic, we had a ton of fun!

Dad asked what a normal day looks like.... there are no normal days! We are busy and every day is different and in a different place.  I love what I am doing!!

I miss Ireland a ton, but luckily, some of my best friends came to the Burgh with me!
Love ya, bye!

Scotland is calling....

Yesterday, I got a phone call from President.  I’m moving back to Edinburgh tomorrow to be Sister AP.  It’s a new responsibility in the SIM and I’m excited for the challenge.

  It’s strange to be leaving Dublin earlier than expected, but I served a bit in Edinburgh and it will be good to go back.  It was an amazing place!   I’ll tell you more when I know what’s going on.

This week we didn't get to do much. We had a couple of exchanges, they were awesome.  On New Years, we just hung out. Not much to go out and do. 

It's sad to say goodbye to Dublin and Sister Garner.  I've been here for 6 months and it's definitely become home.  I have learned so much and made so many wonderful friends.  I'm excited for this next step and to have a whole new set of adventures.

Russell M. Nelson said, "Heavenly Father wants to test us, to strengthen us, and to help us achieve our full potential."  I know this is so true.  On my mission, I have been tested in every way possible, which has strengthened me and is helping me to reach my potential.  We all need to remind ourselves that when the times are tough, they're shaping us into the person we can become. 

Thanks for your support and Happy 2017!!

-Sister Stapley

Nollaig Shona!

Ok where to start. On Christmas Eve we went and hiked Hell Fire Club again and just looked out across the city. It was so muddy up there, and sooooo windy! Storm Barbara is a pain. Anyway, the wind was so strong it pushed me over and I went sliding! It was hilarious, I got so muddy!

Christmas was amazing! We opened presents in the morning, then went to church. The service was wonderful because we sang Christmas hymns the whole time. After that, we ate a ton of food at several different houses. I am still stuffed from it all!

Christmas traditions from Ireland....Christmas crackers are pretty fun! I never did those in the states. They also have things like Christmas pudding and other fun stuff like that. Not too shabby.

It was so nice to skype home! It's nice to catch up and hear from you all Miss you!

Yesterday was an epic day! We went to the Cliffs of Moher!!! Oh my days, they were amazing!!!! We took so many amazing pictures. Not gonna lie, crawling along the edge was terrifying. It's over 700 feet high! Man. So. flappin. cool. It was so windy! It was legit a windstorm, but no worries, I didn't fall off. Woot.

We also went to Galway! It was kinda not worth it. haha It's really pretty! But not much going on. We took the opportunity to sing Galway Girl like 100 times. I love Irish music!

I don't know how else to describe everything we did, sooooo here are some pictures.

Love you all, and Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Sister Stapley  (A true Dickens caroler....thought you'd never see that, huh?!)

Oi tudo bem! (Hello, all well)

Oi tudo bem!! I feel like I'm able to say that because I literally hang out with Brazilians all day! haha

Christmas is so flappin' close!!!!!! Oh my days, I am SO excited!!! It's been a good week, but this next one is going to be even better!

This week Jonathan got baptised!! He has the biggest heart ever, it's been so amazing being able to work with him! He is a great example to me of how much someone can change. We will be hanging out with him and his friends around Christmas, they are promising to make some great Brazilian food :) :)

Last P-day we went on the coolest adventure yet! HOWTH! It's this little coastal town I've visited before, but this time, we went on the dopest hike ever! It was along these cliffs and up these rocks and MAN I love it here so much!! Don't worry Mom, I didn't go too close to the edge.....just close enough to get some epic pictures :)

This next week, we are having an All-Ireland Christmas Party! All the missionaries from Northern Ireland and from the south are coming up for the day and we'll be having a blast :)

Not much else to report on this week, we're just in Christmas Prep mode!!!! Also, we get to watch a movie on Christmas. Any recommendations? Shoot me an email! Love you all, and have a very merry Christmas!!