Last month in Ireland, we worked with New Life City Church on various projects. The church sits right between the Royalist (Protestant) community and the Nationalist (Catholic) community, next to the Peace Wall that divides Belfast. A lot of the church’s work aims to break down the barriers and division that exist in the city. One of our projects was to paint the flags of various countries on the church’s fence to represent unity in Christ and peace among the nations. We also touched up the church’s mural that is painted on the Peace Wall.
One of my favorite projects was going to volunteer at Vintage Glow, an upcycling furniture store that uses its proceeds to empower women. They fix up and paint donated furniture to sell, paint furniture for customers, and they offer workshops to teach painting techniques. I love all sorts of arts and crafts, so having the opportunity to paint at Vintage Glow made my heart happy!
Our last week in Belfast, we got to help with their Summer Scheme (like Vacation Bible School). The theme was “Princes and Princesses,” so we taught them about the Armor of God and had them make pieces of armor during arts and crafts time. It was a great week that was fun for everyone involved.
Coming to Ireland after 2 months in Africa and 5 months in Asia was so amazing, overwhelming, restful, and such a blessing. The weather was amazing, it was so beautiful, and hearing everyone speaking English around me was music to my ears. However, it was so similar to home that it was really easy to get comfortable. I had to make conscious choices to challenge myself. The church blessed us so, so much, and left me feeling so rested and full. I had come there feeling empty, like I had nothing left to give, but their worship and sermons filled me up again. And I learned so much last month.
After a few days in Ireland, I found out my foot was broken (after missing a step walking down stairs with my luggage in Laos). It was really challenging. After having so many physical attacks my last month in Asia, that discovery was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I got so frustrated that I couldn’t do anything for myself, but I also learned so much from it. I learned to rely on my team, and to trust them to take care of me. I learned to choose joy in the midst of pain. And I learned a lot about healing.
Throughout the month, so many people prayed for healing in my foot. But it always felt the same. We had the opportunity to go one weekend to the Open Skies Worship Conference, featuring Will Reagan and United Pursuit and some of Bethel’s worship band. During the first night of worship, I felt so hindered by my crutches that I just wanted to throw them down. And I heard God say, “my child, trust me.” He was leading me to walk in faith. So I did just that. I worshipped without my crutches every time after that. But I still felt pain in my foot when I wasn’t worshipping.
Flash forward to our Month 8 debrief at the end of the month- my whole squad prayed for healing in my foot one night. And it still felt the same. I got so frustrated, and I asked God why He wasn’t healing me. He answered me and said, “because you don’t want it for the right reason.” I realized that I wanted Him to heal me to satisfy all the people praying for me and to get rid of the annoyance that a broken foot on the Race causes. I didn’t feel like I was actually good enough or worthy enough to receive healing from Him. One of my squadmates later reminded me of the thorn in Paul’s side- he asked God to remove it and God said no, “for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). If I hadn’t had a broken foot last month, I wouldn’t have learned and grown in the same way. I learned so much about suffering, worshipping, and joy, and I’m so thankful for those lessons. I’m walking by faith and trusting God to heal my foot in His own timing.
All that to say, Ireland was an incredible month that impacted my heart in huge ways. The people and the church congregation loved us so well and blessed us so much. Thank you to each of you for all the ways you served and loved us. I can’t wait to come back and visit!
