Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY LOVELY FRIENDS!

I'm sorry for not emailing last week. We did something fun for p-day for once (jk-just in a while), but here are the main things that went on. Two Monday nights ago (the tenth) we traveled to Belfast, then woke up at half three the next morning to head to Dublin. We were going to be taking a bus at 5:30, but apparently the tickets we had were printed off wrong, so none of the three buses going to Dublin at that time would accept them. This big group of missionaries running from bus to bus back and forth must've been a strange sight. Anyway, before we could figure out what to do, they all left, so we all were stuck outside for an hour, not knowing what to do. We eventually resorted to telling stories about our pre-mission lives. Finally, another bus came, and we piled on, deciding to just buy our tickets and get reimbursed later. And off we went to our All-Ireland conference!

We were a wee bit late, but it was so awesome! President and the APs gave us some instruction, and a few of the missionaries performed some instrumental musical numbers. Sister Peterson and Sister Phillips played O Come O Come Emmanuel on the piano and violin, and it was so BEAUTIFUL. Sis Pete had been practicing for a couple of weeks, and I would play the violin part on the organ, and let me say, the organ doesn't do it justice. Mmm I love me some strings. After all this we had lunch, then we passed around white elephant gifts (they were just flat finds, so mostly really silly stuff. I got a book on Atheism :/), had a fake snowball fight, then watched Incredibles 2! So fun. We went back to Belfast, and then the next morning headed to Derry!

And then for our p-day activity! The reason I didn't get this email out! We went to Giant's Causeway. Lots of travel was involved, but Sis Pete and I and a few other missionaries in the zone went and froze to death. I also sat in a mud puddle, and with my dumb light jeans, that was not a very pleasant combination. Thankfully, Elder Myers lended me his extra jacket to tie around my waist, though he told me not to be a wussy pants about it (my wording, not his. I don't know why, but I'm kinda proud of that phrase. I use it a lot. It tends to make my insults less insulting and more funny). I was though, so I put that jacket to good use! It was lots of fun :)

And that's last last week's. Here's last week! It wasn't too incredibly exciting. We had a nice lunch with Mike, Keith, Bishop Giddey, and the Elders. Potentially Sis Pete's last one with them. (Potentially mine too! who knows what'll happen!) Mike gave Sis Pete and I a card and £20! Silly guy! Then he gave me a little hug and said that I'm allowed to have a cuddle with my granddad. He's so awesome.

Then on Friday we were in Belfast for exchanges with our STLs. I spent the day with our other Sister Peterson (she was in Montrose the transfer before me, and then was Sis Mac's comp in Glasgow). For exercise that morning, we played volleyball with some of the elders in the area (Mom, my arms didn't bruise! Hurrah!). I'm such a weirdo. Every time I messed up or hit the ball pretty hard, I would just make a little squeak noise, and sometimes some sort of karate noise. Everyone started making fun of and mocking me. Rude. We got the worst elder back by hitting him with our car and then wiping him off the windshield with the windshield wipers. It was so funny, I almost peed myself! After we got to their flat, we got ready for the day then went to work! The whole day we pretty much talked about Sister Mac and Montrose, and it just made me miss both so much more. We also GQed lots and met some pretty fun people. After a GQ, a random guy came up to us and started talking to the girl we had just said bye to. His name is Thomas, and he's a member! He was actually so awesome, and such a cool missionary. He had a friend with him who isn't a member, and together we got him to commit to coming to church on Sunday and to text the missionaries in his area. Pretty cool pretty cool. We also taught Connor a recent convert lesson. Sister Wu found him when she was in Belfast, and HE IS SO AWESOME. He's hoping to go on a mission next year, and seems to be an awesome missionary already. He's the best. Makes me miss Ryan! Anyway, that exchange was so good. Sister Peterson helped me so much. She's so awesome. :)

We met with Patrick a couple of times. He's in Dublin right now for a little while, and went to church there, so I have hope that he'll continue to grow and progress. Other than him, it's been pretty slow here. We're praying for miracles!!

Yesterday, our Christmas service was combined with the primary presentation, so the kids did a whole nativity thing and we all sang some hymns. We had two friends come to church! We aren't teach either yet, because one lives too far away, and we can never get a time with him, and the other, Vincent hasn't really been interested in the past. Pretty sure I had an hour conversation with him after church (he talks loads) and got him to talk about some of his views. He invited all four of us missionaries to have lunch with him sometime and to teach him "missionary stuff."

Annnd for the holidays, we have Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and Boxing Day (a UK day-after-Christmas holiday) completely off from proselyting, so we'll be spending lots of time with members and watching some Disney movies! An exciting time!

This is my spiritual thought for the week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suowe2czxcA
The nativity given through the mouths of children. It's beautiful ;) Seriously though, I ablsolutely love Christmas, and I'm so excited to be spending it as a missionary. It's a beautiful time of year, and I've been more aware of my Saviour this year than ever before. The mission does wonders, and I'm so grateful for it, and I'm so grateful for Him. I love Him so much.

Love you all! And have a happy Christmas!

Sister Syphus Xxx

Comp haircut #3! I must seem like a very trustworthy person... Clebea, our WML's wife, cuts hair, so she cleaned it up this morning, and then she cut my hair! Looks pretty good I'd say:)

Some pretty cool hexagons 

We go to this cute place, Willy Nilly's and eat their chicken box once a week. We mostly go to say hi to Derek, who works there, and gives us free hot chocolate/lemon and honey sometimes, but their food's pretty good too :)

Party at Giants Causeway!

 STL Sister Peterson, Connor and me!