My first impressions of Ireland were… it’s cold and green. Ireland did not disappoint any of my expectations. The movies and pictures I had seen before were so representative of the actual country. Beautiful green pastures with sheep, cows, and horses.
Now they have changed to… it is very cold (at least to me). But really, my impressions didn’t change. Ireland just kept living up to all my expectations! There are green rolling hills, the cute row houses with colorful doors, the ocean, beautiful churches with gorgeous stained glass, pubs on every corner, and castles.
The weather here… is cold and windy! However, when the sun is out and the wind is not blowing the weather is beautiful.
My favorite moment this month… was praying in the street for a beautiful woman named Lorraine. I meet Lorraine my last Saturday in Coleraine while my team was working with the Healing on the Streets ministry. Lorraine and her husband already knew many of the volunteers there and later I would come to find they had been there many times for prayer. So, I went up to Lorraine and complemented her scarf, because it had butterflies on it and I love butterflies. From there we continued talking. After a few minutes, the other volunteer standing with me, Megs, asked if we could pray for her. Lorraine jumped at the opportunity. Lorraine sat down in the chair and we knelt down next to her. She then just let it all out. Lorraine wanted us to pray for her anxiety and worry about the upcoming doctors appointments for her husband. At first I struggled to follow her, but slowly I began to put the history and what was being said that day together. I found out that she had been bed ridden for most of the winter suffering from shingles and more recently her husband had blood pressure problems that had become very serious. She admitted somewhere in the conversation that she had been mad at God for what he had let happen to her husband. However, with a huge smile on her face, she said she could no longer be mad. Full of excitement she began to tell us of all the good things that were happening! She was so happy that her muscles hurt (which means they’re growing and getting stronger!) because she was able to take wallpaper down off a wall in her house. She told us all about how she had been spending time with God, that she was singing and praising him, and how she wanted to still grow closer to him. After about ten minutes we prayed and Lorraine just glowed with the love of the Lord. When we finished, she and her husband went on their way to finish the morning errands. I did not have the opportunity to pray for anyone else that day, but I was completely satisfied with that. When it was almost time to leave I saw Lorraine and her husband walking back and Lorraine came over to me, put something in my hand, and said, “A little butterfly for you.” When I looked down she had gone and bought me a small journal with a little butterfly on it and a bible verse.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
The perfect verse for Lorraine, a woman who is truly living every word.
I see God at work here… in the church body at Causeway Coast Vineyard Church. This church listens, hears, and follows whole-heartedly whatever God gives them. They have an outward focus that has their community on fire for God. The kingdom of God grows daily in Coleraine and the surrounding towns because this church is out on the streets, in the pubs, in stores, and at schools.
Some of the wonderful volunteers at Vineyard Compassion.
If a friend travels here they must… see Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland and the Cliffs of Moher in Western Ireland.
Giants Causeway
Cliffs of Moher
Final route change…my last three months with be spent in Moldova, Romania, and Albania. Also, I will be back on American soil on July 31st!!!
