Well it’s month 3 of the world race. We are in Ireland. We get to see one the most beautiful coastlines in the world on a weekly basis. I get to go for runs that end with me on the beach touching the ocean waves! But in the midst of this I sometimes feel that I am not worthy of being here and not serving in ways that I thought I would. I mean I am in Ireland, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. But sometimes it still is hard to get out of bed in the morning.
This entire month I really haven’t been serving directly with people in the community. Many of the projects I have been involved with have been projects around the church. They are helping ministries that the church already has set up and relieving some of the workers for the month. We have helped clean up storage sheds and organize donations for their clothing ministries. We have done landscaping and weeding in their garden ministry. Once a month they have a “car boot sale” (yard sale from your trunk) on the church grounds. Several thousand people come each time and is the biggest in Northern Ireland. I helped direct traffic and parking along with unloading people’s merchandise. I have also been helping with taking many photos of all the programs the church offers for promotional use. On Sunday’s I have made coffee and ushered people. I also ran the camera for the service. When running the camera I felt like I was at my home church serving like I once did.
It makes me wonder why I am doing the same types of things here as I was at home. But I was reminded that it doesn’t matter where you are, serving is serving. Serving in Ireland sometimes is hard or even harder than serving at home. Just because you are somewhere new and exciting, you still can have hard days. It just proves the point that the circumstances you are in can be good or bad but how you look at it can always be consistent if you try. The people at church have been so generous to us. They have raised and provided funds for us to have real nice meals about once a week. Everyday they give us "tea time" in which they have tea, coffee, and toast. One day they gave us platters of their favorite chocolates to try!
I have also had the opportunity to help with a new ministry for middle school and high school kids that is very similar to a ministry back home called Overflow. What is really funny about this is that the room it currently meets in is labeled "overflow." It is really a cool thing. It officially starts I believe October 3rd. But I have helped with the first and soon to be second "trial" runs. The youth are very mature here and are looking for more of a church service rather than a gathering just to have fun, which is really cool to see.
At the end of next week I will be running a half-marathon with some of my teammates and squad mates. We are trying to raise more funds for those that have deadlines to meet along with being fully funded. I have currently been blessed with meeting the $11,000 deadline on Oct. 1st. Two of my teammates still need support to meet this deadline. If they don’t make it they will be sent home.
Ireland has truly been amazing and we have been blessed to spend a month here. I ask you to keep us all in your prayers, for Athena and Leigh Ann to meet their deadlines, and for all of us as we leave Ireland and enter a totally new culture in India next week!
