Ireland

I feel like we have been away for far longer than just
twelve days! From touchdown in Dublin to this very instant I have not had a
moment in which I wasn’t growing, or learning something! Frankly, I’m exhausted 🙂 

We have been in Northern Ireland since the 17^th
and will be until the 1^st of September. Nothern Ireland is VERY
different from the rest of Ireland, I have learned. Although we as Americans know the
whole country as “Ireland” the people here are proud of the distinction between
Northern Ireland and the rest. Up here they are on the Sterling Pound as Dublin
was on the Euro, and the accent is much more difficult to understand. Even I,
who am typically pretty good at accents, have had plenty of moments of blank
stare. Also, Northern Ireland has an intense history of unrest which has been a surprisingly open subject with most people I’ve talked to…such fascinating and beautiful people. Really, they are LOVELY. Absolutely lovely. 

The community of Coleraine is a small community where news travels quickly. We seem to see the same faces nearly everyday. It wasn’t but two
days after we had arrived that I was talking to a man who’s friend had
mentioned to him the night before at the pub that “The Yanks had arrived”. We
had a good laugh over it. I LOVE being called a Yank. I have missed it! It confirms that  I am in fact overseas and not just in a beautiful dream.

As far as ministry goes, we’ve been working with Causeway Coast Vineyard Church.  We have done everything from children’s day camp to scrubbing toilets of local businesses.  We had the chance to hand out food to and converse with the locals after church on Sunday and were able to pray healing over people and see God work in big ways.  As for the rest of our time here, we will continue to do anything and everything that will help to bless both the church and the community.  It’s been a great chance to work alongside of my teammates as we serve and nurture people together.  I’ve already seen so many lives touched by our ministries,  and it’s the most rewarding experience I have ever had.

Forgive me for not blogging more frequently.  I find myself going through SO much change and growth in such a short time, that iI am it’s virtually impossible to organize my thoughts, let alone form a coherent sentence about my heart! Please know that each of you are in my thoughts and in my prayers…I’ll get better at this, I promise.  🙂  

Love from Ireland.