When we
arrived in Galway our contact, Jimmy decided to let us in on the secret that
last years teams that were here had their tents destroyed by Ireland’s
weather. This only fed the deep seated fear
that we were going to be washed away after our squad leaders told us that last
years World Race teams said Galway was their most miserable living
conditions. Now I like camping but I am
not a fan of floating in what is to be my home.
So I had painted all these pictures in my mind of Noah’s Ark
scenarios. Well I find that God is
humorous because our first night was an awful windy night. I don’t think I slept much as the tent was blowing
around so much that it was hitting in me in the face. I just started praying please Lord this is
only month three I need my tent. After a
while I was like Lord I think you just want me to trust you. Even if something happens to my tent you will
provide. So I stopped worrying and
finally got some sleep.
We had the same situation happen about 2 weeks
later. The wind coming off the Atlantic
is pretty fierce and our tents were really shaking. I woke up and was not able to sleep so I got
up and met my teammate Kris in the bathroom.
She was terrified because she thought she was going to get taken away by
a tornado. I stood with her and another
girl from my squad Carrie and we watched everyone’s tents blow from side to
side. I decided my best bet was to lay
in my tent to help hold it down.
Meanwhile, Kris’s tent almost blew away. For the hour I stayed in my
tent holding it down Kris thought I was in my tent arms stretched out holding
it up and was wondering if my arms were getting tired. I had to just laugh; what a way to start your
day
Well I
find the weather in Galway very much like a woman; it just won’t make up its
mind. (sorry to the women who are excellent decision makers, I am not one of
them) You wake up, peek your head outside your tent, think wow it’s beautiful
and feels like is warming up nice I will wear a t-shirt.
About an hour later you’ve left the
campground and your miles away and then the clouds start to form and the wind
picks up and you get caught in down pour. The picture to the right is an example, It was sunny about five minutes before. My favorite is when it is sunny and there is white little fluffy clouds
and it is raining. I am not talking
drizzle I am talking rain. I look up and
think how can this possibly be normal. So
I have learned to never be caught in Ireland without a raincoat. This funny enough lets every Irish person
know I am American. I thought
Minnesotans were tough but the Irish have us beat. (sorry die hard Minnesotans) The Irish walk
around through the gale force wind, pelting rain with tank tops and shorts and
think it is normal.
Lastly,
in other countries I have been in I can leave my camera behind but here in
Ireland it really isn’t an option.
You
never know when a rainbow will appear or the clouds will form over the bay with
such splendor. The sun may start to set
and peak through the clouds or trees. You
may even have a chance to take a picture of one of locals called a character of
Galway by our team. I am just blown away
by the beauty of Galway. One of my
favorite things are the clouds. The Word
says “at that time the sign of the Son of man will appear in the sky, and all
the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the
clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
Mat. 24:30. Each day as I take a deep breath in of the crisp Irish air
and see the clouds forming I wonder if this were to be the day that Jesus came
would I be ready. It is a good reminder
every day to keep my heart prepared for Jesus’ return. 
