The Scotland/Ireland mission is broken up into two different Visas. One for The Republic of Ireland and one for Northern Ireland and Scotland. The Visa for Northern Ireland and Scotland is a British Visa, and is easier to obtain, so most American missionaries serve in this part of the mission. The Ireland Visa is a very long process and can take up to about 9 months, so missionaries serving from the U.S. have a reassignment in the States while waiting for their Visa.
The climate in Ireland is very temperate. It isn't too hot or cold, (40-50's in the winter, 60-70s in the summer), but with the humidity, the winter can feel much colder. It does not really snow. If it does, it shuts down the whole country. It rains every day in Ireland. Every day. It may not be a lot of rain, like 5 minutes, but at some point in a 24 hour period it will rain. They have what the Irish call "soft" days, where there is moisture in the air, but it is not really raining.
A rain jacket is essential. It doesn't need to be lined, just something to keep you dry when it rains, then you can put it away for when it stops.
You can purchase Irish sweaters there. They are a little pricey, but they are worth it and fantastic. They don't absorb the rain and are perfect for layering and for "soft" days. They keep you warm in the winter.
Sisters wear a lot of pants for day-to-day, and dresses to Church and meetings.
Elders wear suit pants and will wear a sweater over over their shirts.
Unless you are a zone leader, or STL, you will be walking and using public transportation. So really good, sturdy, comfortable, WATERPROOF shoes are important. They don't really wear boots at all. But it does get quite chilly with the humidity in the winter, so thermals and layering is quite important. Gloves and a warm hat is recommended.
Most over-the-counter meds require a prescription there, so bring some ibuprofen, cold medicine, melatonin, aspirin, etc. in its original container.
The have little tiny stores, even in the bigger cities they are small stores, but you can find most any product or any toiletries you might need. Prices are pretty comparable to what you would find in the U.S.
The Sisters carry small crossbody bags- nothing big. Elders carry backpacks or messenger bags. But waterproof is best.
There are a lot of immigrants and refugees in Ireland, so it is a diverse population. But the Irish are VERY Catholic. However, about 80% of mission referrals come from digital sources, like Facebook, of people requesting more information.
Scotland and Northern Ireland are very similar to Ireland, except it is MUCH COLDER. Like frigid cold. And they get snow. So, a good pair of boots are important. Blundstone is a good brand, or you can buy them in Scotland.
There is a Costco in Edinburgh.
Zone Conferences are held in Dublin.
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