We’ve had a glorious two
weeks in Coleraine, and it’s been wonderful to ease into the World
Race gently. We’ve had a few unexpected creature comforts that have
made transitioning easier, but the general feeling I’m getting from
people is that we’re ready to leave the first-world nest.
weeks in Coleraine, and it’s been wonderful to ease into the World
Race gently. We’ve had a few unexpected creature comforts that have
made transitioning easier, but the general feeling I’m getting from
people is that we’re ready to leave the first-world nest.
Our last ministry day was
yesterday, and we spent the afternoon helping out with the Vineyard’s
food pantry project. Other than the kids’ camp we helped with the
first week, this was probably my favorite day. For the most part,
the work we’ve been doing has been rather fleeting in my eyes. Yes,
it’s nice to clean other people’s toilets, and yes, everyone likes
free light bulbs, but something just wasn’t quite all there for me.
The thing I liked about the kids’ camp and the food pantry was that I
felt like I was really doing something. I don’t want to dismiss the
lolly giveaways or the residential window washings, but those two
ministries made me feel like I was a part of something bigger,
something that was making a concrete difference in someone’s life. I
mean, Jesus is great and all, but talking to Patrick Flaherty about
his relationship with God isn’t going to suddenly fill his empty
stomach and eliminate his need for food on a daily basis.
yesterday, and we spent the afternoon helping out with the Vineyard’s
food pantry project. Other than the kids’ camp we helped with the
first week, this was probably my favorite day. For the most part,
the work we’ve been doing has been rather fleeting in my eyes. Yes,
it’s nice to clean other people’s toilets, and yes, everyone likes
free light bulbs, but something just wasn’t quite all there for me.
The thing I liked about the kids’ camp and the food pantry was that I
felt like I was really doing something. I don’t want to dismiss the
lolly giveaways or the residential window washings, but those two
ministries made me feel like I was a part of something bigger,
something that was making a concrete difference in someone’s life. I
mean, Jesus is great and all, but talking to Patrick Flaherty about
his relationship with God isn’t going to suddenly fill his empty
stomach and eliminate his need for food on a daily basis.
That being said, I actually
kind of enjoyed being stretched this month. I was a street
evangelist for an afternoon, and I didn’t hate myself afterwards. I
approached complete strangers and asked if I could wash their
windows. I witnessed people experiencing physical and emotional
healing in ways that were not in my realm of possibility. I was
telling my squad leader Caitlin that after these two weeks, I feel
like my cliched box everyone puts God in has exploded, and God has
flown out to the far reaches of my comprehension, leaving me to
decide whether to chase after Him to the ends of the earth or attempt
to pick up the shattered remnants of the box and try to reassemble
it. In a way, I’m still staring at the chaotic scene with my jaw on
the floor, but before I get to Moldova, I’ll have to make a decision.
kind of enjoyed being stretched this month. I was a street
evangelist for an afternoon, and I didn’t hate myself afterwards. I
approached complete strangers and asked if I could wash their
windows. I witnessed people experiencing physical and emotional
healing in ways that were not in my realm of possibility. I was
telling my squad leader Caitlin that after these two weeks, I feel
like my cliched box everyone puts God in has exploded, and God has
flown out to the far reaches of my comprehension, leaving me to
decide whether to chase after Him to the ends of the earth or attempt
to pick up the shattered remnants of the box and try to reassemble
it. In a way, I’m still staring at the chaotic scene with my jaw on
the floor, but before I get to Moldova, I’ll have to make a decision.
Our travel day starts
tomorrow at 7:30 am when the bus picks us up at a grocery store a few
blocks from our stayhouse. We drive four hours to Dublin, reunite
with the rest of K-Squad, and hop a four-hour flight to Bucharest,
Romania. The plan for now is to stay in Bucharest for two nights in
a hostel, and then take an overnight train to either Chisinau or
Cornish in Moldova. All plans are tentative, as usual. I’m super
excited to spend three weeks working with youth and peers, attempting
to keep them out of the human trafficking industry that waits to suck
them in as soon as they’re out of the orphanage system.
tomorrow at 7:30 am when the bus picks us up at a grocery store a few
blocks from our stayhouse. We drive four hours to Dublin, reunite
with the rest of K-Squad, and hop a four-hour flight to Bucharest,
Romania. The plan for now is to stay in Bucharest for two nights in
a hostel, and then take an overnight train to either Chisinau or
Cornish in Moldova. All plans are tentative, as usual. I’m super
excited to spend three weeks working with youth and peers, attempting
to keep them out of the human trafficking industry that waits to suck
them in as soon as they’re out of the orphanage system.
And now, for some supplication: I’m still in need of $6,655 to be completely funded, $2,355 of which must be in my account by November 1, which is two short months away. Please keep my support raising in your thoughts and prayers, and if you’re feeling the compulsion to contribute a potentially tax-deductable donation, you can do so on my support site, or if you know someone who might be able to help, you can refer them to my site where they can read about the work my team has been doing here in Coleraine, and the work we will be doing in Moldova.
See you in Eastern Europe.
