I didn’t think we would end up in a branch. I thought I did my research before coming to Ireland that we would end up in a the Terenure ward. We couldn’t find an apartment until we got to Ireland. The apartment we found is in South Dublin. When I typed our new address into www.mormon.org meeting house finder it popped up with Bray Branch! I was overcome by the spirit at that moment because I felt like that’s where the Lord wants us. I was so excited to go to church the next day.

Indeed, we love this branch! We’ve been to the Bray Branch for two weeks already. There about about 60 people who attend each week. The Church building is tiny! The primary class rooms are the size of a church closet in Utah and everyone is jammed three rooms for sacrament meeting. The hallways can only fit one person. Nevertheless, we felt so loved by everyone there. It’s a small branch so everyone knows if you’re new.

The Branch President immediately interviewed us in his tiny office (again the size of a small closet). The Relief Society President introduced us to families who live close by and told them to watch over us. To our surprise, the Elder’s Quorm President live on the street next to us and another member lives about a five minute walk away. We surely picked a good location for our apartment! The second week at church we also found out another member family moved in down the street and another member family will move into the city within the next few weeks. Can you believe it? There’s only 1500 members in Ireland and we picked a city that will have five Latter-day Saint Families!

During Relief Society and Priesthood you pretty much sit in a circle powwow with about 6 to 7 people. The presidency makes up three of the people in the group. Everyone else has callings in the primary or young womens so they attend those meetings. During the lesson, the people in the circle, takes turns making comments and you can tell everyone are super close friends.

Unfortunately, my long time wait for Micah to be 18 months so he can go to nursery is no longer. The branch doesn’t have enough 18 months to 3 year old kids to have a nursery here but that’s ok. Micah likes church anyways. 🙂

It’s a very tight knit group at the Bray Branch. I’m super excited to go to church again today!