The Ireland Dublin Mission Couples at our Couples Conference, So if any of you would like to serve here a spot is open for you just send us your name

The Couples serving in Ireland in December 2008, The Lee's, The Steinagles, The Tolman's, The Nichols, Sister Deweese, The Wilford's, The Mulhollands, The Burtons, The Eaglesham's, The Campbell's. The Magelsen's, not in any order.

At Christmas 2008 we reflect on what has been and what can be and our faith grows stronger and our love for the Lord increases with each passing day.

From Elder and Sister Tolman at the Christmas 2008 we send our love to all our family and friends and wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. In this great work of the Lord you learn to wear many hats ie. Missionary, Branch President, negociator, contractor, inspectator, teacher, leader, counselor, shed builder, flat inspecter, communications center and the list goes on but all bring happiness to our lives and the service we are able give. To all the Elders we have served with this year we express our love and thanks for their devotion to our Father in Heaven and their dedication to the work.

The Galway Distict December 2008 Elder Anderson, Elder Bushnell (District Leader), Elder Barber and Elder Watts. Those who are learning to council, Eat Nigerian and Russian foods and even speak the languages.

The Work of Angelo Anghel the Romaian / Italain whose talents just continue to amaze us, especially in his Love and dedication to the Lord.

The Galway District of November 2008, Elder Barber, Elder Baughman (District Leader), Elder Anderson and Elder Watts those who have come to speak Italain.

Galway District of October 2008 Elder Elston, Elder Midgley, Elder Watts and Elder Rowley (District Leader) whose Faith and Love of the Lord changed the lives of eight of Father in Heavens children forever. Those who came into the Gospel beacuse of the Elders were Liliana Goncalves, Olanrewaju Alyande, Damain Flatley, Nathan Oloughlin, Alex Gibbons Vladimir Marcheivelli, Angelo Angel, Patrizia Cantalupo. Never a day of rain nor a day that this district did not pray for the people of this great city right along with the members of the Branch exercising their faith in the Lord for the increase and His help.

Galway District of September 2008 Elder Jensen, Elder Lawson, Elder Midgley, Elder Norwood, Elder Alexander who never stopped looking and who planted many gospel seeds and strengthened and established the church in Gort the city of Brazilian Saints.

The begining of the Construction of the new Branch church hall in Galway where for the first time they will have a place to call home and we can meet without being confronted with others pushing us out on there schedules.

The Beginning of the new Priesthood and Gospel Doctrine Room 26 by 13 foot room

The new Relief Society Room 26 by 14 feet and Gospel Priciples room.

The new Chapel area which will hold about 120 members and investigators and as you can see the ceiling is going in; however still has much more work to be done as the yellow wall will have two doors cut for exitsand the color of the walls will change. This will also be our cultural hall. The other rooms of which we will have 9 teaching stations will be used for Seminary and Institute as Sister Tolman and I teach those classes.

Contruction of the halls and offices in the facility. To the right is a door way into the chapel area and down the hall to the Branch Presidents office.

The Back hallway leading to the Kitchen, Priesthood, Relief Society, Primary, sunday school and clerks offices and rooms.

The hall entry way and the windows to the back of the Chapel area to let in natural sunlight.

The Back end of the Chapel area as construction began and under the black mat on the floor is a hard wood floor for the chapel but also the cultural hall.

Our ocean Baptismal Font at high tide about five meters deep of water you can see why we come at half tide.

The Road to Silver strand and as you can see we are in the fall and many of the leaves and green follage are gone from the trees but it is still a very peacfull way to the strand usually like a tunnel going through the trees hanging over the road.

Thatched roof business buildings in town and you can see a building without the thatching but getting ready to reapply the thaching. This art of thaching is dying out in Ireland near the cities.

One of the Main Galway harbour Quays where very large Swans swim all the time. In the background you can see some of the old Spanish architecture of the early settlers of Galway.

Our friend and member of the church a street sales person made this for us as he left for the year as a rememberance of him. We wish him well in his travels.

Special day for the O'Loughlin Sons of Sister Gibbons

Nathan O'Loughlin and Brother William Lathen from Boise Idaho who was a missionary to Ireland in 1970 and is here is Galway on a sabbatical teaching tax law who baptised these two great boys. Alex O'Loughlin at Bills left was so prepared and loves the church and has waited for this whole last year for his baptism. Nathan had been in the water twice before but had such a fear of water that he could not go under so had to have many swimming lessons before this event could take place. He is a great young man and will be a great leader as will his brother in coming years. Bill became a real father and grand father figure to these boys.

Nathan and Alex with their mother Sister Michelle Gibbons a long time member and great strength to the Galway Branch. She now serves as the District Primary President and travels with her children to the different branches in the Limerick District. The travel to the farthest Branch is almost 5 hours.

Alex O'Loughlin an Irish boy with a strong testimony and enthusiam for the Gospel

Away to the Cliffs of Moher

Looking down from the top of the Cliffs of Moher toward the north side looking toward Galway.

Looking down from the top of the Cliffs of Moher toward the north side looking toward Galway. Very Unique rock structures cut by the water against these old rock cliffs.

Large Crows at the Cliffs of Moher as they are in other parts of Ireland. Standing full up these birds are almost one foot tall from beak to toes and they are into anything. At this point one had hung himself inside a garbage can far enough to get a bag of food out and they were all gathering to have a meal.

This is a tower castle at a lookout point on the top of the cliffs of Moher and which was being refurbished for visitors to this point.

Looking south down the coast line at the cliffs of moher. Thousands of variety of birds live in these cliffs and they are over two hundred feet high. These cliffs were used in the movie Princes Bride.

Looking south down the coast line at the cliffs of moher.

Looking south down the coast line at the cliffs of moher.

Looking south down the coast line at the cliffs of moher.

A small valley on the way to the Cliffs of Moher and in the background a Tower castle which looks over this farm country.

A small valley on the way to the Cliffs of Moher looking out to the Atlantic ocean and the Aran Islands. Also a rare barb wire fence in this part of Ireland civilization creeping in.

This side of the Island has a lot of rock as seen here and almost all fences are made of rock and once built almost never get torn down and seem to stand forever.

The rock fences separate the land owned by different families and clans or tribes as they are called. As you can see they go right down into the water. These fences were built as the tide was out and remain showing whose part of the beach belonged to who.

Off in the distance you can see the Aran Islands which 7000 kilometers of rock fence and have lots of sheep and fishing as part of the making of their lives.

This is Black head point across the bay from Galway and named that way because of the Black rock which is in this area.

Black head point road for going to the cliffs of Moher on the northern end of the coast.

Into the Atlantic to bring home Fathers Children

This is not in order but most important was this moment as we came out of the Atlantic Ocean and you could see the smiles on the faces of Angelo and Patrizia and they said when we came out of the water we felt so warm and clean and a new beginning in life.

Arms around one another as we went into the water there was no other place where they wanted to make covenants with the Lord than in the Ocean a small bit of cold was not to great a price for this new beginning.
Elder Elston, Angelo, Emanuele, Patrizia, Elder Rowley and Ruben. Emanuele is Italian and came all the way from Dublin to participate with this great couple and as you can see the wind was blowing but it felt warm to us and the sun had come through and the rain had stopped so all was great.

All of us just before we went into the ocean, the wind just about blew our hair away. Left to right Elder Elston who was a witness, Angelo, Elder Tolman, Patrizia her daughter Denise, Ruben their Son and Elder Rowley the other witness.
A very happy couple with their children and this night after the baptism Ruben came up and said he wanted to be baptised but in a warm pool.
Elder Elston, Angelo, Emanuele, Patrizia, Elder Rowley and Ruben.
Into the Ocean we went and they hand in hand to make a change in life that Patrizia had be looking for for over 15 years and the Lord put them in our path as they searched for a better life for their family.

The Silver Streak Galway to Limerick & Back

Elder and Sister Tolman with William McCarthy who was baptised in 1982. His membership records had been lost and so was he; however the Lord directed him to us and we were able to reteach him the Gospel and on this day he is engaged in the Gospel and building his testimeony more each and so glad to be back in the church
Elder and Sister Tolman with the Italian family Angelo Anghel, Denise and mother Patrizia Cantalupo from Italy. They will be Baptised in the Alantic Ocean on October 19, 2008. When we asked them where they wanted to be baptised there response not Limerick in the Ocean. So now we figure out the tides and out to the beach for the baptism. They love the Gospel and Patti as she like to be called has waited for 15 years for the restored Gospel, and Angelo as he hears the message just say, "how profound and wonderful". They are both excited for this coming weekend. Angelo is Romanian but speaks Italian and english so helps his wife and children to understand. We use preach my Gospel in Italian which with the scriptures brings in the power of the spirit of the Lord.
The newest member to the family, Maya and we are so glad to see her and we have a new baby in the branch so Sister Tolman loves holding the little one as if she were holding her own grandchild.

A Picture from the past, to the left is the mission president Elder Broadbent and next is Elder Cuthburt all may know him as Hazel Dunsmores father that made it even more special as I knew him before also and helpped to establish the work in the south of Ireland.
This is the Limerick Ireland Branch and District building where we go for most of our baptisms and which 93 Kilometers from Galway.
Elder Watts on the left with Vladimir from Georgia out of the old Russia and was baptised 10/12/2008. What a wonderful experience teaching this good brother and seeing him come into the church. He said" I feel so clean, sins are washed away and gone I can now move forward. Elder Midgely to the right who performed the Baptism. Another example of the many languages we are dealing with these days in the mission field.
Elder and Sister Tolman with Vladimir what a sweet giving man he is. When he recieved the Book of mormon he read it twice in three days and said he knew it was true. It is intersting to know the church had crossed his path before but he had made no connection until now.