Mission to Ireland

Slan!

2011-07-25T22:23:00.003-05:00

* "slan" means goodbye in Irish :)

Sadly, the end has come. We held a church wide BBQ (aka cookout) to say goodbye to our home away from home on Saturday. We weren’t sure just how many people would come, but we had well over 100! It was such a great turn out and it made us feel well loved. Even some kids from soccer camp came! People ranging from age 7 months to 93 came. Much of the youth were able to attend and even though they don’t attend KPC regularly, they brought some family members along! What a blessing! It was a great night full of singing (we made up a goodbye Kilkenny song), hamburgers and sausages and home made S’mores. Yum!

Then our little Wooden House had its own “house” party. We cut up watermelon (which is so expensive here!) and lit sparklers! Go America.

Sunday was a tearful goodbye. A whole bunch of the youth came to church, even though they don’t attend. They came to say goodbye! It was also a really wonderful sermon by Tom pointing to the Gospel, which is beyond encouraging since a lot of these kids are on the cusp of accepting Christ. It was a hard goodbye. We’ve been so blessed by the relationships made here. We were able to get close to a lot of the people in the church, not just the youth, which was nice. Lots of hugs went around and then Sue pushed us out the door since we had a bus to catch. We went to one last Sunday meal at Tom’s house and then packed and cleaned the last odds and ends and headed for the bus.

But, at the bus stop, some of the youth and Tom and his family met us! It was the most unexpected and encouraging sight to see these people we love come out one last time and send us off. It was precious to have some of the youth come out and once again, made us feel well loved. Sadly, our bus came and we headed off to Dublin for the night.

This has been such a wonderful experience. It’s a blessing to be able to worship with fellow believers in a totally different culture. It reminds you that though separated by land and sea, we have many brothers and sisters in Christ! Although we’re sad to leave, we’re excited to see our family back home, but I know we’ve made family here, too! The BBQ was great closure and a bittersweet time together. I’m so thankful to have served here this summer and make relationships with these wonderful people and get involved in all sorts of ministry, from youth to local evangelism. God is good.

love.

the kids.
gavin and his first s'more ever!

youth and Americans.

sparklers!

Irish Holiday

2011-07-21T04:02:00.007-05:00

All the youth were gone this week at a Christian youth retreat, Heather was heading home for a few days, and David has been on holiday since the beginning of July, so we were able to explore Ireland for 3 days. Although we were exhausted from a long summer of go-go-go, it was a great holiday. We drove out to the west coast, spent 2 nights in Galway, spent a day on the Aran Island of Inishmore, saw the Cliffs of Moher, spent the night in Tralee, drove through beautiful Conor Pass, spent the day on the Dingle Peninsula and drove back to Kilkenny.

We were able to see lots of Ireland and some of the more "typical" scenes of Ireland that you may imagine; example: stopping the car due to a crossing of sheep. This is a beautiful country and out west, a lot of people speak Irish, so that was fun! The coast is gorgeous and so severe. We were blessed with lovely weather on the last 2 days. Just look at the tiny people compared to the huge Cliffs of Moher! Seeing all these majestic sights is a stunning reminder of the Wonderful Creator behind it all!

And dad, you'll be so proud. I ate salmon most nights because it was so fresh, I decided to finally give it a shot. Delicious!

finally "met" Bono in Galway.

cathedral in Galway.

Dun Aengus on Inishmore

Inishmore!

traditional music in Galway.

downtown Galway

Dunguaire Castle

the Cliffs of Moher.

beautiful Cliffs of Moher.

The last 4 are from Conor Pass. It was soooo narrow and soooo steep. It was quite dangerous (hence our picture by the sign. Yes, self-timer = Micah slipping while trying to run in on time) but it was absolutely gorgeous. Lots of sheep. :)

Dingle Peninsula!

Hope this post satisfies your photo quota.

Bible Club Champions League

2011-07-16T12:45:00.002-05:00

This was by far one of the best weeks of the summer!

Starting Monday we had soccer camp from 9-5 everyday at the church. In the mornings we had the Junior League, for 6-10 year olds. In the afternoons we had the Senior League, for 11-14 year olds. A lot of preparation went in to planning the fields, the teams, the point system, the teaching, the meals, etc. It was an exhausting week and I came home everyday ready for bed, but it was incredible. Most of the kids that came don’t go to church, so it was a wonderful opportunity to sow some seeds in their hearts for the gospel.

I taught the 9-10 year olds in the morning. Each day I did a lesson on Jacob from Genesis. I was super nervous about teaching but the kids were pretty attentive (for the most part), asked good questions (and some not so good) and really seemed to focus on the gospel message. It helps the story of Jacob is fascinating, from Esau to his ladder dream to Laban to wrestling with God. The kids were great, but it broke my heart to hear some of their answers or snide remarks; and the majority confessed they don’t own a Bible. But I’m blessed with being able to share the gospel with them at such tender ages! And after the championship on Friday night, we had a BBQ for the players and their families. It was a great time to hear the encouraging words from the parents about their kids week!

And I got to coach 2 teams! My Junior team was ‘Barcelona’, and we were incredible. These kids have such mad skills! I won’t be surprised if I witnessed the next soccer great this week! Seriously, they are so coordinated and able to maneuver the ball so well. It’s such a common sport here that they seem to be able to play right after learning how to walk. We made it to the semi-finals, but lost in a close match of 3-4 to ‘AC Milan’. Sad day. My Senior team was ‘Liverpool’ and we weren’t very good at all, and unfortunately, my kids had horrible attitudes. So by Wednesday we got dissolved and the kids split into the other remaining teams. C’est la vie. But that didn’t stop me from cheering on the side! (PS: I also realized it’s not the best sport to watch if your “kids” aren’t very good, so thanks mom and dad for still supporting me in my soccer days.)

It was also a great time to spend with the youth at KPC because a lot of them volunteered as helpers for the week. That provided great opportunities to seek them out and deepen our relationships. Plus it’s always encouraging to see them point others to Christ! It’s nice because some of the youth are away on holidays, so this week allowed for us to catch up on their vacations to Italy and Spain and the Canary Islands and wherever else these crazy kids go!

I’m sad to say that we’re approaching our final week in Ireland. It makes me extremely depressed to think about leaving this place, so I covet prayer to be able to have good closure. We’re off on holiday until Thursday (Galway, Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher and Dingle Peninsula) and then are planning a goodbye/thank you to the church, BBQ on Saturday. Please pray for safety on our holiday and smooth preparation for the BBQ!

the teams.
my Barcelona team! :)
they came decked out in their jerseys.
Heather and some of the youth.
we went to a 'fancy dress' aka costume party. :)

Castlecomer Camp

2011-07-09T06:16:00.002-05:00

craft time!

What a busy and overflowing week! Monday through Friday we were helping lead what was essentially a Backyard VBS. It was held at the home of a church family in Castlecomer, 18 kilometers up the road. Every day we had games, songs were sung, a Bible story was told, the memory verse was recited, more songs were sung, a craft was made and then team games were played. I was in charge of leading games, and we played everything from “Red light, Green light” to “stuck in the mud” (freeze tag) to rugby and football (soccer). It was so much fun! Each day we had around 30+ kids aged from 4-11 come, so it was a good turnout.

The theme for the week revolved around Daniel and what God did in his life, from eating vegetables to interpreting the writing on the wall to the lion’s den. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel with these kids and watch them be excited about their faith! They were dared to be Daniel’s and to be bold in their faith in Jesus, and they seized that dare. And the memory verse for the week was: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged; for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. The only unfortunate (or fortunate depending on how you look at it) is that I now have all the songs we sung repeatedly stuck in my head. Even with the rain and cold weather, we all still had fun!

me and some of the lads.

Our team was busy and involved in every aspect of the camp, which was brilliant. A lot of the youth came and helped, too, so that was a nice time to spend with them! We were done with camp by 2ish every day, so our afternoons consisted of youth Bible study, leaflet drops (handing out leaflets for the soccer camp next week) and door to door evangelism. Starting this Monday, from 9-5 daily we’ll be helping with the soccer camp at the church. I’m teaching the 8-10 year olds every morning, so I covet prayer that the gospel will be evident in all the teachings! Karis is assisting me and then after the teachings, we’ll stay outside for soccer, champion’s league to be exact. Please pray for clear skies!

We’re also down to 2 weeks left here in Ireland. I can’t believe that, but I’ll save the nostalgia for another post. Please keep the team in your prayers as we’re nearing having to say our goodbyes.

(I didn't take that many pics because I was too busy chasing kids. Apologies.)

4th of July

2011-07-06T11:28:00.003-05:00

Thursday Bible study!
4th of July
the team with Heather, who went all out!
the girls :)
our last staff meeting with everyone! (except Dave who is taking the pic!)

We had our last full staff meeting this past week since David and his family are headed to America for 4 weeks. Thankfully we get to see them when we fly back home for debrief in Atlanta!

And Monday we threw a 4th of July icecream party at the church for the young adults and youth! I don't think the Irish are used to all that sugar, and especially all that icecream. The entrance fee was to do an American accent, and it was pretty hilarious to see them try. Most people went with "Run, Forrest, Run!" Is that what they think of most Americans? Oh well. We scooped and scooped and chopped up all sorts of candy for the toppings. Boys had at least 3 bowls each. Sugar overload! But it was so much fun, and it was a chance to say goodbye to David and his family! It was a great turnout, with kids that come to Bible study, their friends who we've never met, the staff, young adults, and more. Such a great night.

Happy July!

2011-07-02T06:33:00.003-05:00

the team by the castle!

Some days when we go door to door, people are receptive and keep the door open longer than 5 seconds or at least a bit after they hear the words “God” and “Heaven.” Last week, not so much. This week went a wee bit better, but not by much. One woman I encountered is a nurse and believes her good works will save her. Woman, I’m training to be a nurse and trust me, that ain’t going to get you to Heaven. But, I can only pray some seeds were planted in her heart and others!

Hannah and I went to a lovely lunch at Tom’s house on Sunday. He’s a missionary in Kilkenny and works with KPC. His family is awesome and their son is in the youth group. That night at church a Mennonite ensemble from Dunmore East came and sang at the church. It was quite lovely and a few members were originally from America!

Monday was the young adults day trip. We went to the beach near Wexford and had a great afternoon of soccer, ultimate frisbee, tag rugby, seal sighting, baseball, kite flying, and if you were brave enough, a dip in the icy cold water. Yes, you heard correctly: seal sighting! These little black heads kept popping up in the water and no one believed me when I said I had seen a seal. But, more of them appeared and finally everyone took note. Renata, all I could think about was Buster and “loose seal”.

the beautiful beach and some of our group!

the Irish skin doesn't tan well...

Andy, the new MTW missionary to Ireland, and his wife stopped by on Tuesday. They’re located in Greystones and came down for the day. It was a good time to discuss with them what their ministry will look like in Ireland. They’re very optimistic about the work God will do through them and I can’t wait to hear about their mission!

Wednsesday was full of individual meetings with David, mid-week meeting and a girls slumber party at the church! We didn’t start till 10 that night and we had a great time! In the midst of movie watching, dance partying, toe painting, sweets eating and game playing, we had wonderful, godly conversation and an awesome time of fellowship and prayer. These young girls are amazing and I’m so privileged to be able to encourage them in their faith!

nail salon :)

some of the girls being goobers... and Karis (team member)

Furthermore, to see the progress kids have made in their faith from the first week of Bible study till know has been wonderful. Most of the kids come from Catholic backgrounds and have a distorted view of faith in Jesus. Consistently, the same group of 14-15 year old boys has been coming each week. It has been encouraging to work with the age group of guys and I pray they grow into godly young men. Needless to say, Thursday was another sweet time of worship with them.

Starting Monday, we do a weeklong backyard VBS in Castlecomer. They predict around 30 kids will show up, and a group of about 10 of us are in charge of all the activities and lessons. Then the following week is the weeklong soccer camp at the church, which runs from 9-5 daily and around 100 kids come. Both of these are wonderful opportunities to reach out to the community and teach the kids about Christ because they won’t hear the same message at home. Please pray these weeks will be filled with pointing others to Christ and glorifying Him in all we do! Monday we're throwing an ice cream "American" party to celebrate the Fourth of July amongst our Irish friends. I’m also on Sunday school duty this week, so pray I won’t be chasing the same kid through the parking lot during the service!

Radio

2011-07-02T06:31:00.001-05:00

So last week we were on the radio... twice! Friday we recorded a devotion that was to air Sunday morning. Saturday morning we went into the studio and did a live, half hour interview. It was so much fun and was a great opportunity to encourage the listeners about Christ and His work in Kilkenny. Hannah read the Scripture for the devo, Karis wrote and read the reflection and I wrote and read the prayer. I'm copying it just in case you feel like reading! :)

Luke 17v11-19(ESV)

“On the way to Jerusalem he [Jesus] was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. The one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? And he said to him, “Rise and go your way faith has made you well.”

As we begin to look at this passage, we have Jesus Christ walking between Samaria and Galilee. So we know where Jesus is in the story. Galilee is the northern region of Israel where Jesus grew up. Samaria is the region wedged between Galilee in the north and Jerusalem in the south. Now the Jews hated the Samaritans. They refused to have anything to do with them and viewed Samaritans as ungodly dogs. Jews would walk all the way around Samaria if traveling from Galilee and Jerusalem instead of walking straight through. But here we see Jesus walking along the border.

Jesus is met by ten lepers as he is entering a village. This is an extremely bold move for the lepers. Lepers have a skin disease called leprosy that causes their skin to have boils, turn white and be flaky. It can also be contagious. According to the law found in Leviticus (13v45-46), lepers are unclean which means they cannot go into the temple to worship God. They cannot enter into a village, They must live alone.

So these ten lepers have approached both another person, Jesus, and entered a village. They cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” And what Jesus tells them is interesting- “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” According to the law it is a priest that declares a leper clean and disease-free before the leper can enter a village and worship in the temple. Let us read the next sentence- ‘And as they [the lepers] went [to the temple] they were cleansed.’

This is opposite of what the Law says is suppose to happen. The priests did not declare the lepers clean. They were cleaned before the got to the priests. It was Jesus who made the lepers clean. It was Jesus who made the lepers able to come before God at the temple. Not the priests.

If we continue on in the story we read that one leper- a Samaritan- sees he is clean and runs back to Jesus giving thanks and praising God. It was this one leper who truly understood that Jesus made him clean- not the priests. This man is so thankful for what Jesus did- he can now return to his village and family. He can now worship with others.

But there is more. Jesus said to ho, when he returned, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? And he said to him, “Rise and go your way faith has made you well.” So what saved the Samaritan? It was not his actions- the going to the temple. It was not that he followed the law because he did not. He broke the law when he entered the village. It was not his praising God that saved him. A person is not saved by praying to God over and over.

So what saved the Samaritan? Jesus tells us in the last verse- “Rise and go your way, your faith has made you well.” It was the Samaritan’s faith, his trust and confidence and belief in God that saved him. When Jesus told the ten lepers to go to the priests, there was a decision for the Samaritan to make- Do I believe that this man, the Son of God, will heal me? Will he save me? It is at this moment that where the Samaritan said yes to those questions and listened to Jesus. He went to the priests because hews confident and trusting in Jesus. Because of this faith the Samaritan’s body was healed physically and his heart was healed spiritually.

We are asked to do the same thing today-to have faith in Jesus. It is faith- a trust from belief and confidence in Jesus that heals our hearts and saves us. There not actions we can complete that will heal us. We can by joyful that we do not need to rely on our own selves to be saved. This is why Peter says later in a letter- “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1v8) Just the Samaritan when we have faith in Jesus and acknowledge it is Jesus that heals; just the Samaritan returns praising God, Jesus will say to us “Rise and go your way, your faith has made you well.”

Let us pray-

Heavenly Father,

We come before you today like lepers; sick and unworthy of love. We thank you for us and sending yourself to die for us. We know we are sinful and ugly and yet you find us beautiful and have paid our debts on the cross. For it is not be our works that we are saved, but by grace, through faith. We come to you because we can’t save ourselves. Only you can heal us and provide salvation.

Thank you for the life of Jesus and his death on the cross for each of us. You know us by name Lord. The same God that healed the lepers is working on our hearts today. Thank you Lord for you mercy, which is new each and every morning.

Help us Lord to be encourage in heart and united in love through your word. For we know that no amount of deeds will provide us entrance into heaven. Teach is to live by faith. Teach us to come to you for healing and to trust you! Teach us to desire your gift of grace- not be fooled into thinking we can do it on our own.

Thank you Lord for loving us and providing grace even though we are unworthy of such a gift! Humble us and draw us closer to you. In your name, Amen.

I can't stop with the pictures...

2011-06-23T12:21:00.002-05:00

Braveheart Drive!
Reefert Church
Poulanass Waterfall
the team by the Upper Lake.
Lower Lake.

Glendalough and some

2011-06-23T12:08:00.004-05:00

The church has been so sweet in the midst of my sorrow. David prayed for me in church on Sunday and the youth kids all gave hugs along with their condolences. I’m comforted by everyone’s love! Thank you for your prayers.

After church, we had the young adults lunch at our house. 12 people crammed into our little wooden house and we had a feast of delicious food (potatoes included). We then played games, guitar, chatted, sang songs, had a devotion, worshipped, and played more games. They ended up staying till 8! It was awesome and such a great time getting to know the people who are similar in age to us and point to Jesus.

Monday we went on an adventure to Glendalough in Wicklow. Not only is this area where some of Braveheart was filmed, but it’s home to a 6^th century monastic site! Glendalough’s patron saint is St. Kevin. My travel book says, “St. Kevin was an awkward young monk of the early sixth century, so embarrassed at his unwanted fame as a miracle worker that he have up monastic life to live in a hollow tree in utter seclusion of Glendalough, the Valley of the Two Lakes.” How could you not pass up the home of an “awkward” monk? It was such a beautiful area and extremely picturesque, especially the 2 lakes. It was a little over an hour and a half drive, with the last hour on Irish backroads. I navigated the whole time with my Ireland map and not once did we take a wrong turn! Pretty proud of myself. J

We had another busy week of Mums and Tots, mid-week meeting, KKB and Bible study. Heather was gone again, so I was able to help lead the youth Bible study another time. Each week I become more and more encouraged by this youth group. They bring fresh conversation and are shining lights for Jesus. We were also interviewed for a local radio program. That was pretty fun sitting in the studio sharing the Gospel with the people of Kilkenny via radio!

I’m SO looking forward to this weekend because 2 of the youth girls have a dance recital. Their dance is hip-hop and they’ve been giving me little previews of their routine up till now. It looks so fun! And, evidently, some dancers from “Lord of the Dance” are performing, too. Whoop! (Lydia, I feel like you getting excited for a youth hip-hop dance!)

Round Tower
Cathedral. one of the largest known Early Christian churches in Ireland!
St. Kevin's Kitchen
I know my hair is a mess, but isn't the scenery beautiful?
Wicklow Mountains! Also where "Braveheart" was filmed!

Give me Jesus.

2011-06-18T13:26:00.002-05:00

My grandmother passed away this morning back in North Carolina. My parents were in Spain but are flying back early to be there for the funeral. Unfortunately I won't be able to be there with them, but please keep my family in your prayers. I was so worried this would happen while I was away, but thankfully the Lord provided for an opportunity to visit with her days before I left. I hate being away from everyone during this time and it's bringing down my mood on the field, so I covet your prayers as well.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15

More camping (etc) pics!

2011-06-16T08:57:00.002-05:00

Riding some amusement rides.
the girls. :)
the whole gang at the horse farm!
Karis is a pro.
frisbee on the beach!

Surfs up!

2011-06-16T08:49:00.004-05:00

Sunrise over Tramore. Karis and I woke up at 4AM for this. Oy.
3/4 of the American group.
The group climbing the cliffs! Doesn't this look like the end of Sound of Music when they're climbing the mountain?
KPC Youth!
Our campsite... and massive tents!

After another few days of Bible study, prayer meetings, KKB and preparing for our camping trip, we had an eventful Sunday. A lot of the youth went to Belfast for a conference so Sue and Karis helped lead worship with their guitar and flute and I helped out in Sunday school. The ages of the kids ranged from 5-9, and most of them were really well behaved, with one major exception. Long story short, I ended up chasing one boy through the parking lot to get him back upstairs to the Sunday school room. Needless to say, it was an adventure. Afterwards, Karis and I went over to a family’s house in Castlecomer (about 18 kilometers from our house) for lunch. After a scrumptious meal of pot roast, mashed potatoes, broccoli, carrots and cauliflower, with an fresh strawberries and icecream for dessert (I’m not kidding about this whole gaining-weight thing), we enjoyed great conversation and tea.

The camping trip was a huge success! Praise the Lord! Only a handful of youth were able to come on our adventure down to Tramore due to all sorts of schedule conflicts (and some of the schools are still in exams!), but it was a wonderful time with those who came. It was awesome to encourage these lads (trying to blend in with my Irish terms) in their faith. All have such hearts for the Lord and are eager to grow. Each of my fellow team members did a devotion, and I focused on 1 Timothy 4:12 to speak to them about how to set an example for believers in speech, life, love, faith and purity.

In between devotions, we spent one day on the beach, playing ultimate frisbee and soccer, etc, and in the afternoon, we SURFED. I’ll spare you the picture of us in our wetsuits (not the most flattering things), but it was one of the best things I’ve ever done! I spent most of the time just lying on my board beside one of the youth girls, Hannah, because we were too weak to do anything else but fight the waves. It was pretty difficult and the waves were quite overwhelming. Yes, the air and the water were freezing, but our wetsuits pretty much blocked things out. I tried not to think about the numerous other people who had worn that wetsuit before me… The next morning we went horse riding. Most of the group had never ridden a horse before, and I’ve only rode western, but we all rode English style through the Irish countryside. It was incredible and beautiful. Right off the bat we trotted (which is basically a run on a horse. Pretty scary!), so that was exhilarating. All events allowed for some serious bonding with the youth!

It was such a sweet trip and it was so great to grow closer to the youth. I love their passion for Christ and their love of one another. This is one of the kindest bunch of teenagers I’ve ever met. They are so sweet to one another and so open about their faith. Heather, the youth worker, is incredibly talented in working with youth and pours so much into them. She’s amazing to work with and learn from and always points to Jesus! We’re all a wee bit tired after our trip, but looking forward to another great week.

Cheers for now! Thank you for your prayers!

2 weeks!

2011-06-09T12:27:00.004-05:00

Phew. What a week. It’s only been 2 weeks since we got to the field, but it feels like 2 months.

The evangelism did end up being door to door. After a few unanswered doors (I still pushed the literature through the mail slip. Take that!) we had the pleasure of sharing the Gospel with a few folks. It was really encouraging to bear witness to Christ and spread the Good News with these people, for most seemed receptive! Later we had youth club. It’s always so great to interact with the youth and encourage them in their faith. They’re all so excited to interact with one another and hear the Word. Plus I just love hanging with them.

Every Saturday we have a church prayer meeting at 8:30. From there we went to Keep Kilkenny Beautiful. Some kids were able to attend this time and it provided an awesome opportunity for sweet fellowship. After that we had our first Bible study of the summer, where we’re studying what it means to be a Christian. It’s a very basic picture of the Gospel, but because the youth group has a mixture of church kids and non, it allows for growth from everyone involved. I was able to lead a discussion and am encouraged by the spiritual maturity that some of these kids have.

Unfortunately my teammate Karis came down with a fluish sickness earlier in the week and forced her to stay in bed all day Saturday. She’s also my roommate, and if you know my fear of germs (yes, I’m in nursing school. I hear the irony), you know I cringed every time she sneezed…

By Sunday the bug had left Karis and kindly hit me. Even though I was to read Scripture at church, Sue forced me to stay in bed. All. Day. It was absolutely miserable knowing I was missing out on everything. I felt like Beth from “Little Women”, all sick in bed, in our wooden house, while everyone else is seizing the day.

The rest of the week included Moms and Tots, planning for the youth campout next week, KKB, mid-week meeting and Bible study. Our team is in charge of everything for the campout, from the schedule to food to devotions. At the mid-week, each team member had the opportunity to share about themselves. I talked about how faithful and sovereign God has been in providing for me in my interest in youth ministry and missions, and especially over this last year as I transferred schools. I know I’ve said it before, but the congregation has been so welcoming and I feel so comfortable talking in front of them! And tonight we have youth Bible study again!

- Please pray for the multiple youth events we have scheduled, especially KKB, Bible study and the camp out next week! Every week following the camp out, we have a different youth club camp scheduled for the church. The first 2 weeks are similar to a normal VBS, but the last week is a soccer outreach Bible camp! I’m really excited about this one and hope I don’t get schooled too bad by this athletic bunch.

- Pray for good health as Karis and I are still battling our sickness. I have also tore up my knee and can barely walk on it some days. I’m hoping it’ll have a quick recovery, but it’s steadily gotten worse over the past few weeks, so please pray for swift healing!

- Pray for our team as we prepare to camp with the high schooler’s next week. I’m really looking forward to this time to get to know the kids better and pour out into them. Pray the youth have receptive hearts and ears to the teachings and encouraging fellowship with one another. Please also keep the other MTW teams in your prayers. One of the guys in Peru was bitten by a rabid dog and had to be sent home for treatment.

Black Abbey
St. Canices Church
Picnic on the church lawn with Heather (youth staff)
Tag rugby!
Church by the rugby field...

Exploring Kilkenny

2011-06-09T12:15:00.003-05:00

St. Canices Cathedral and Round Tower
St. Mary's Cathedral
St. Mary's Cathedral
the lovely castle park!
St. Mary's Hall

We had Monday off due to it being an Ireland Bank Holiday, and originally we had planned a daytrip to Waterford, but Sue thought it best if we rest. So, we explored Kilkenny. Because I was feeling a wee bit better, she let me leave my bed and explore. We all went our separate ways and met back up hours later. I walked around the town, snapping pictures of the many cathedrals and sights, interrupted 2 masses (oops), and finally found my way to the castle park. I’ve never been downtown long enough to discover the park but I now had the opportunity! Oh my. I’m in love. It’s a massive park, with running trails, a duck pond, playground, numerous trees and benches, and more. It’s a wide open space, so I plopped myself on a hill and did some reading in the sun. It being Ireland, the sun would appear for 5 minutes, disappear, get cold, rain, be cloudy, be hot, and then sun again. Bizarre.

One more thing...

2011-06-02T14:39:00.002-05:00

Woah, 3 posts in one day?! Crazy, right? This is what happens when you get one day a week to post.

Tomorrow is busy with a staff meeting in the morning and then we're doing street evangelism tomorrow afternoon. There's a comedy festival in town which draws a lot of people, so pray people will be receptive to what God has to say! After that we're stopping by a local youth club that is having it's first meeting tomorrow. It's not related to KPC but we thought we'd stop in and see what it's all about. And then it's youth fellowship! Whoo!

I'm also reading Scripture at church Sunday. Pray I keep my "y'all"'s to a minimum. :)

More Dublin

2011-06-02T14:23:00.004-05:00

Dublin castle.
Trinity college.

James Joyce.

Today the weather was in the 70's!!!! That is unheard of here! It was brilliant. I threw a blanket outside and read all afternoon in the sun. The Irish are a bit puzzled by this good weather and not used to sweating. It was blue skies and sunshine all day. Sadly the heat wave is to end tomorrow, but I'm glad we enjoyed it while we could. The first couple of nights here I slept with 3 blankets and now I'm down to 1. Improvement, right?

Dublin and more

2011-06-02T14:05:00.003-05:00

Dublin.

Too bad I caught the smoker in my picture.
GPO.
We drink tea. constantly.

Hello hello! We had Monday off and decided to take a day trip to Dublin since David had meetings there anyway. David is one of the nicest and most selfless people I’ve ever met, and was so gracious in pointing out what we needed to see in the city. We saw the GPO, Dublin Castle, the Chester Beatty Library (which was fantastic! Had pieces of the Gospels from 200 AD), Grafton Street, Trinity College and the Book of Kells. Overall, great day! Sadly, no Bono sightings, but there's always another chance!

Tuesday we hit the ground running by attending Kilkenny Presbyterian’s “Moms and Tots”, which is a biweekly program where mothers (and some dads) come and bring their toddlers for playtime. The great thing about this is that the mom’s stay around and fellowship with one another while the children play with the numerous toys. It’s an awesome outreach through KPC since most of the moms that come don’t attend the church (or any church for that matter). We had the opportunity to encourage some of the moms to attend KPC Sunday. Pray these relationships grow! I was able to chat with an au pair from France. I hope the Lord brings her around more!

That afternoon we had orientation and were able to meet with the staff. I’m amazed to see how God is using this 4 person staff to do so much. There’s David, then Tom (evangelist), Heather (youth staff) and David (pastoral intern). Their outreach is really wonderful and each person does so much. Our summer is going to be busy with various youth clubs, camping trips, soccer camps, VBS, evangelism and more!

David came over Wednesday morning for a team meeting. I’ve said it before, but he is such an encouragement and testament to the Gospel, with everything he says and does. Later that afternoon we geared up in our yellow vests and gloves and took part in “Keep Kilkenny Beautiful”, a local litter cleanup. Since most of the youth are still in exams, it was only our team and Heather and another helper, but it was great to get our hands dirty and serve. Mom, I’ve become quite handy with the gopher-picker-upper contraption! After 2 hours of picking up cigarette butts and crisps (chips) bags and random other rubbish, we headed in.

Wednesday night at KPC is the Mid-Week meeting, which is a small group of the core members at KPC. David, the intern, preached about the Trinity and opened up time for discussion among the 20 or so attendees. It was such an encouraging night, for these people are so passionate about their faith. It was awesome!

Today was spent going over the calendar with Heather. I'm going to lead in games tomorrow night at youth fellowship. We're discussing "music and media", and since I love music, I'm looking forward to a good talk. The team is preparing to lead the 2 night camping trip we have set up that's quickly approaching in 2 weeks. I'm so excited! Pray all the preparation goes smoothly and that kids will be open to coming!

I also went and watched a wee bit of a tag-rugby match tonight. So fun! Looks like Sue and I are going to try and play next week. Eek.

Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for the KPC staff. God is really working in this church and their outreach. With about 100 families, KPC is the only Presbyterian church in Kilkenny. Pray for the youth as they are finishing exams and starting summer. Pray for the team as we have been here a week, but it feels like a month. We're eager and excited the work is starting! 2 of the team members are a bit sick right now, so I pray their sickness won't travel to the rest of us and that they'll feel better soon.

In Him!

more pics.

2011-05-29T13:57:00.003-05:00

the pastor's family. i love them.
Kilkenny Presbyterian.
the castle.
downtown and the river Nore.
downtown.

HERE!

2011-05-29T13:32:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone! I apologize in the delay of updating. We have super limited internet access so I might slack a little on blogging. Apologies. After a loooong day of planes and buses (after an even looonger, tiring prefield training), we made it to Kilkenny. Our house is an interesting wooden house, which is not the common Irish house, but it's great for us. Right out of our stoop is a cow pasture so we have a lovely smell lingering around. The town is so rich in history and full of great sights. There's a castle less than a mile from our house, which is bizarre to look at, but doesn't phase the national's. Lots of little shops and pubs lie along the river and the castle, and we had a super sunny day yesterday (a rare sight here), so we had a great chance to explore.

Our first night was spent with the ladies of the church at an annual dinner. We were able to meet some of the youth and Heather, the youth staff member here. Last night we went to youth club and were able to meet the rest of the youth. We played some games (a very humbling experience if you're not the most athletic) and had a great time of worship and fellowship. It was a nice icebreaker and I hit it off with a lot of the girls. They're so full of energy and really have a heart for the Lord, which is so amazing to see. Today we went to church and David, the pastor, had us introduce ourselves in front of the congregation. Evidently I talked too fast because I think everyone after had to ask me for my name again but knew everyone else on the team. Oh well. After church we went to the pastor's house for a delicious Sunday lunch of potatoes (duh, Ireland), sausage, rice, and chicken. Not to mention the banoffee pie (oh my goodness, this dessert is incredible and pavlova. Looks like I'm going to have to increase my mileage on my morning runs to counteract the loads of dessert I've been demolishing.

It's traditional to take walks with your guests, so after lunch, we went on about a 4 mile stroll along the river. It made for really great conversation with the entire family, especially their daughter, who I absolutely adore. David is so down to earth and really interested in all of us and really cares about everything we say, as does the rest of his family, so it was a really enjoyable time with them, and I didn't even realize it was well past half six (6:30 for you Americans) when we left.

Tomorrow we have the day off to travel to Dublin, but we're officially starting work Tuesday. Please continue to pray for the congregation here and the work God will be doing through MTW and the ministry already here. Thank you for your prayers of safety in getting here! Please also pray for the rest of our interns, who are in countries in all corners of the world (literally). Pray for our team as we dive into working with the youth. Praise the Lord for already great moments with the youth here and pray for many more!

I'll update y'all as soon as I can find time again. In the meantime, enjoy the following pictures. Yes, I am a picture queen and have already taken so many.

the castle downtown.

downtown.
the view.
our house

Hours away!

2011-05-22T00:14:00.003-05:00

Well, I guess using the term "hours" depends on how many hours you're willing to count! Technically I leave tomorrow for Pre-Field Training, and then we fly out Thursday! Packing was... a struggle. I'm not the best packer in the world. Me and the term "pack lightly" don't know how to compromise. C'est la vie.

Thank you again to everyone who contributed financially. What an awesome blessing! Now with liftoff officially here, I ask you'll continue to pray for our team and for the work in Ireland. I had the opportunity the other night to talk with my sister's friend who was in Kilkenny 2 summers ago (thanks again, Kelly!). She was extremely helpful on what to pack, what to expect, etc. From what I gathered, it seems we'll be really busy with the church, in all sorts of ministries, from toddler care for the community to door-to-door evangelism to youth ministry. I love being busy, so I am quite excited, but I covet prayers of strength and energy, for I know it's easy to get worn out and homesick.

I really can't wait to work with the youth ministry. After talking with Kelly, it appears the youth there really have a heart for Christ, which is so encouraging. Please continue to pray for the youth, that they'll be open to receiving God's Word and applying it to their lives. Pray for the church and the outreach we'll be able to minister to there. Working with the community is a huge part of the church's mission, which is an awesome opportunity to expand His Kingdom. I'm anxious to join that mission!

Please continue to pray for our team. We haven't met yet, but the 3 interns (including myself) will meet at PFT and then meet our mentor over in Ireland. I'm excited to work with these awesome ladies, in all walks of life. I know we'll definitely grow towards Christ and with each other this summer. Oh, and prayer for safety would be marvelous. I always get a little antsy before flying.

I will continue to update as often as possible, but I don't know how much access to the internet we will have! I can't wait to share!!!

Thank you again for all the support, spiritually, financially and emotionally.

Until Ireland! In Him,

"Set up road signs, put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take." Jeremiah 31:21

10 days!

2011-05-13T13:39:00.002-05:00

Dear supporters,

We're almost at the single digits here, people. Are you ready??

I am so excited about this summer, but nervous, too. I don't know what to expect, but can only be at peace knowing it's all part of a wonderful plan He created. I can't wait to share Jesus with the people of Kilkenny, and to meet and grow with my team. I haven't met my team yet, but have the opportunity for some major team bonding within the next couple of weeks at Pre-Field Training in North Carolina. Then from there, we'll fly out of Atlanta, layover in NYC, and off to Dublin, where we'll travel to Kilkenny, which is about an hour south.

I would greatly appreciate prayer, as the departure date is quickly approaching. I still have support that needs to be raised. I always need prayer for peace. Prayer for the work to be done. Pray for guidance as we approach the church and youth ministry there. Pray for our thoughts, words, and deeds to point towards Christ. Prayer for the team. Prayer for 4 females, as we embark on a summer adventure together. :) I am so blessed by this opportunity. After a tough semester of nursing school, I'm ready for a break from school. This semester wasn't possible without God's grace. Neither is this summer!

Thank you for your prayers and support. I am blessed to have you on my team!

In Him,

"Pray also for me, that when I speak, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." Ephesians 6:19-20

2011-04-20T22:52:00.003-05:00

Dear supporters, in approximately 1 month, I will be leaving for a summer adventure! Where have the past few months gone?! It seems like just yesterday it was Christmas, and now it's Easter! Woah. I guess a busy semester of school helps the time fly. And, of course, having an incredible summer await me at the end of finals! Isn't it ironic how fast the past few months have been, but now these last 4 weeks separating me and summer will seem like forever?

Here's a few updates: Ireland is definitely on, and I couldn't be more excited! My coach emailed us a few days ago and told us about our awesome mentor we'll have in Ireland. She works with MTW, too, and is just as ecstatic as we are to serve in Kilkenny this summer. Right now, there are 3 of us female interns, plus our female mentor. I can't wait to meet everyone involved! If you want to know a little about the church we'll be serving with, please check out their website at www.kilkennypc.com. Great things are going to happen there this summer!

Financially, my support hasn't budged in the past few weeks, which is discouraging. But, I must remain patient and at peace with His work here! For those of you compelled to contribute, you can do so via the MTW website at www.mtw.org, with the donate link on the right side (my account number is 11358). Thank you again to all who've already provided! You are such a blessing.

Please continue to pray for this upcoming trip, those involved, the people of Kilkenny, financial support and these last few weeks of school!

In Him,
MC

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Almost there!

2011-04-07T21:14:00.002-05:00

With a little bit over a month left to go, God has shaken things up. I'm a teensy bit over 2/3 of the way of reaching my goal. Yes, I've been sitting here telling y'all how okay I am with being patient, but, it is definitely a challenge that I am constantly being reminded of with this journey. Anxiety has started taking unwelcome visits in my support raising. And yes, I know God is faithful. I know the support will come in, and I so often fall to believe I can reach it on my own. Silly, me. That's not possible! Jesus said in Luke 18:27, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Furthermore, I received a call last week from my coach saying that due to a lack of interns, Ireland might not be possible anymore. Wait, what? She explained that if, and right now it is a small if, but if Ireland isn't possible, the other options to send me are Scotland or Slovakia. I haven't heard back from my coach, so I'm still unsure what the latest news is, but I'll share with you as soon as I know! Keep this in your prayers. I am comforted knowing that if Ireland doesn't work out, that is for a reason well beyond my comprehension, but that's okay, because God's got it under control. And though I know little about the outreach in Slovakia, I'm open to serving where He leads me!

Thank you again for all your support. This is a special journey for which I am super excited about, no matter how many small speed bumps in God's big plan. I thank you for your prayers!

Hope you are having a lovely week thus far!
In Him,
MC

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Extinct?

2011-03-30T13:49:00.002-05:00

Here's a recent article on how organized religion in some countries will become largely extinct within the new few years. And what is one of these countries? Ireland. According to the article, "unaffiliated" is the largest and fastest growing group.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/23/religion-to-go-extinct-in-9-countries-experts-predict/?iref=obnetwork

Happy (belated) St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-20T20:59:00.002-05:00

I hope you all wore your green last week on St. Patrick's Day! I can only imagine how crazy Ireland gets on this particular holiday.

Thank you to everyone who has supported thus far. I am so encouraged by all of your support. Right now, I am almost 1/2 way to reaching my goal, which is incredibly hopeful! I am trusting God and His sovereignty in this situation. With about 2 months left until I leave, I know He will provide. Please continue to keep this in your prayers.

In other news, spring break has ended and I am back at school for the next 8 weeks until summer, therefore, Ireland! I am so anxious and ready for this semester to be over, and am thankful to find peace in Christ, my strength and stronghold. I pray each of you are reminded of His faithfulness when daily tasks get you down.

Thank you again for all the support. Praying you are well, dear supporters!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

Update

2011-03-06T18:01:00.004-06:00

Thank you to all who've contributed so far! You really are such a blessing and encouragement. The Lord has been faithful in His provisions and I am grateful for each and every one of you!

Just a quick update, I'm about 1/6 of reaching my goal. To some this can be discouraging, but I'm excited! I still have (almost) 3 full months to raise support, and am confident the goal will be reached!

Continue to pray. My coach informed me there are 3 female interns (including myself) set for Kilkenny, and we're in prayer for, ideally, 2 males.

Hope you are all well. Thank you again for all that you're doing.

In Him,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not know." Hebrews 11:1

2011-02-24T18:32:00.000-06:00

Dear supporters,

Thank you in advance for all your prayers for this exciting summer God has planned for me! I am so beyond thrilled for this opportunity to expand His Kingdom in Ireland. I have 3 short months before my departure (to that lovely city you see pictured above!) and am currently in the midst of support raising. For those of who you've contributed financially, I thank you for being so generous. Expect a handwritten letter soon!

This blog will be a great way for me to update you all on this 'Mission to Ireland'. I'll keep you in the know of all the happenings on this adventure, from support to prayer requests to everyday life.

For now, if you could please continue to pray for monetary support. Only a small amount of gifts have trickled in, but I have complete faith that God will provide. Pray for me as I prepare for this summer and the mission to serve Christ and share Him with others.

Praying for you as well, eager followers!

In Him,