From the very first time that I watched the movie, “P.S. I Love You”, I fell madly in love with the country of Ireland. I fell madly in love with Gerard Butler (I mean, who wouldn’t??) and his scruffy Irish accent, but I fell more in love with the beauty of the place. From that point forward, Ireland was definitely a dream vacation destination for me. However, over the past several months, it has become more and more evident that God has knitted this country into my heart for a greater purpose than a simple vacation. Since Training Camp, people have continuously spoken power into both myself and my team about the impact that God wants to make through us in Ireland, as well as the other 2 Eastern European countries that will follow in the coming months.To say that I’m really excited to see what my sweet Jesus has in store for the coming month would be a ridiculous understatement.
Tonight, our squad will be officially leaving American soil and taking the first steps of our new journey that God has laid before us. Half of our squad will be leaving Washington, D.C. around 5:00 this evening, and the other half (my half) will be leaving around 10:00 P.M. We will all arrive in Dublin, Ireland tomorrow morning, and from there we will split into our teams to travel to our mission cities.
In the movie, “P.S. I Love You”, Hillary Swank’s character walks into a pub to see Gerard Butler’s character on a stage, playing guitar and belting out the lyrics to a lovely Irish song called “Galway Girl”. The song is about a boy who encounters and falls in love with a young lady from Galway, Ireland. I am utterly obsessed with this song. (If you haven’t heard the song, you should probably look it up now.) So, in the time leading up to this trip, I have had a secret hope that we could maybe, just maybe, take a day trip to visit the city of Galway during one of our off days in Ireland. I wished this knowing that the chances of making this little jaunt across the country would be highly unlikely. Good thing I serve a God who LOVES doing the unlikely…
Wait for it…
It is with great joy and anticipation that I share with you that my team will be living and doing ministry this month in the town of Galway, Ireland!!!! WHAT?!?! We will be spending this MONTH in a town that I only dreamt of visiting! Our team of 7 ladies is the only team that was assigned to Galway, which makes it all the more remarkable that God chose this place for us. And that He chose us for this place.
I am overcome again by His desire to pursue and comfort His children. I have no idea what this month will hold, but I know that my God placed this small gift right into my lap. It wasn’t something He had to do. It wasn’t even something I asked Him to do. He just did it. Because He. Is. Love.
We will be partnering in ministry this month with Discovery Church in Galway. We will be doing VBS with the kids in the community, as well as street evangelism, and whatever else they need us to do! Our plan currently is to stay for the first week in the home of a woman and her two daughters. After that, we’ll be staying in our tents for the rest of the month at a campground in town that is apparently on a peninsula… (Cool?)
I am setting no expectations, but I am so excited to see how God is going to move this month! I’ll blog again soon from across the pond, but until then:
Please keep all 3 squads in your prayers as we travel to Ireland, India, and Honduras.
Please pray that this month is a powerful month for our team, both in ministry and among one another.
Please pray protection over our belongings, as Ireland will be pretty rainy and we’re not sure what that might mean for our technology and other possessions inside our tents.
Oh, and I was so sweetly reminded a few days ago that I don’t have a list of our countries posted on my blog… So, here they are (And they are subject to change):
Ireland
Ukraine
Moldova (brand new revelation!)
Kenya
Tanzania
Mozambique
India
Nepal
Cambodia
Challenge Asia
Malaysia
Thank you for every kind word and prayer that you have offered as I begin this journey! I miss you all already, but I know that God’s covering is so evident over these next 11 months. I can't wait to see what He has in store!
Peace, Blessin’s, and Lucky Charms! J
