Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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Ministry in Galway…has been pretty amazing. I think this week has been more of a blessing for me than anybody I’ve come in contact with. We have been working with a church called Discovery Church, which is quite an amazing group of people. In particular my team had the opportunity to work with a man named Paul Cullen, the head pastor and co-founder (as I understand it) of Discovery Church. My team was in charge of cleaning out, painting, and organizing Paul’s garage/the church storage shed as they are one in the same. It was no small task mind you, but a chance to see the Cullen’s in action was an experience I won’t soon forget. Paul was maybe the most gracious man I have ever come across, and the few conversations I was able to have with him at his house and the drive to and fro each day has made an incredible impact on me. He was such a loving father to his three kids and his wife, Caroline, was every much his equal. Everyday, without fail they cooked us lunch, a feast of a lunch mind you and I have never felt more a part of a family in only three days. What an amazing group of people. 

After that we worked in a lower income area for a few days. Discovery Church had partnered with the city council, who has final say on everything in Galway, and were able to do a huge trash round up. We went door to door for a couple days, simply taking people’s trash from them. This was such an encouraging couple days because it seemed we were simply helping these people find their feet. As we started around the streets, people were at first stand offish, but by the end they were tracking us down for us to help them. People started cleaning streets and driveways that didn’t looked like they had been touched for years. We were helping these people help themselves. It was a very cool experience to be a part of. We were also a big hit with the neighborhood kids, as you can see from the pictures.

Finally we worked with a lady named Fran. Fran, in typical Irish tradition tried to feed us as much as possible. Constantly offering us tea and cookies and cooking both lunch and dinner for us. She is an incredible woman of God who is raising four girls on her own. We worked for a solid 5 or 6 hours but it still felt we left little impact. She was a joy and a blessing though to talk to and be around for a day. 

I’m beginning to see though, how little we can offer these people physically. And this is only Ireland, I imagine it will get much worse, as far as living conditions go. The point is the only true and lasting thing I can bring these people is perhaps a picture of God’s love. If we go anywhere without all fingers pointed at Christ we have already missed the point. We have little influence over the conditions of most and will again and again fall short of providing what we believe is necessary, but the gift of the cross is Jesus Christ himself. Its not any “thing” its just Christ. That’s what I can bring.

We also got to go see the Cliffs of Moher, and….MAJESTIC. An equal to the Grand Canyon on the awe scale, it was an incredible sight to behold. Have heard only a wee bit of true Irish music, but its on the top of the list for the next few days before we’re out of here. Hope all is well in the States.