Ireland is a country that you wouldn’t expect a group of missionaries to visit, especially after going to third world and developing countries like Swaziland, India, Burma, and Cambodia. Well I can say it was definitely culture shock for us to be back to something so…normal. While some might have been thinking, “What are we doing here?” I was thinking, ” What is God going to do here?!”
All of the squad, except for one team, went to Colerain, Northern Ireland to work with a church called Causeway Costal Vineyard Church. This church was amazing, even from the start. We went to orientation and they told us about their history and vision, and I was amazed at all the things God was doing there. First, their church has a huge heart for the community, they believe in a church without walls, where everyone has a place and purpose, that reaches their local area and the world. I loved their missional approach to everything. They believe in living out your faith, and using your specific talents to do so. This was seen in all their ministries they had to offer. Some that we worked with was helping organize their huge warehouse full of items donated, everything from couches to coat hangers, and even an old fire truck! Many of these items get picked up by families with needs, as part of their Compassion ministry, and some things go to their huge car boot sale that they have every month (its like a flea market, yard sale and farmers market in one). We also helped do yard work at their Compassion flats, a set of apartments they bought as a kind of halfway house for people. A personal favorite of mine was helping at Hope and Gloria’s, a very nice secondhand and vintage shop, as well as small coffee shop with some desserts, and hair/nail salon too! It was a great atmosphere and so much fun to help out with. The women’s ministry runs the shop and the profit all goes back into the Compassion ministries! Its really quite wonderful.
We did other things this month too, like help with their summer kids week, like what we know as VBS, clean the church, and when they found out I was a graphic designer, I got to help out in the office doing some design work!! So much fun. We also did some street evangelism too, which was amazing!
This month had a lot to offer, the town was great, we got to go to the beach frequently. Ireland is gorgeous! I found Northern Ireland very much like the South back home, very hospitable, they like their tea and a good scone, which are like biscuits to us. The church was great, and that made ministry great but the best part was the people. I made some amazing friends here and feel so blessed by the relationships that were formed. Its not the scenery or the food that makes you fall in love with a place, though they are a bonus, its definitely the people. To my northern Ireland friends, and one kiwi 😉 I miss you all!! Can’t wait to return!!
