August was such a great month and I can’t believe it is over already! Ireland was a good way to start our World Race journey because it allowed us to acclimate to the race, without drastic culture shock. Personally, it held extreme highs/lows emotionally and spiritually as I settled into being away from home. I went from being excited, to wanting it to be July 2010 already, to doubting God existed, and to feeling His love more deeply than I ever had before.
Some lessons learned from Ireland:
-
Water proofing tents is very important, especially with the amount of rain in Ireland! Thank you, Mom.
-
Picking up trash can lead people to a relationship with Christ, he is not limited by our narrow view of ministry. Just ask Gilbert, the man who came to church with us after meeting a few teammates in a park.
-
Being open handed and laying down expectations is a daily task.
-
Digestive cookies are way better than they sound…basically, the best snack ever.
-
Nervous laughter often leads to real laughter in time.
-
When you think you cannot fit another person in the van/car, there is room for at least two more.
-
Irish people are incredibly hospitable, even if they do swear like sailors.
Now, we are on to Romania! We will be in a suburb of Targu Mures working with a Gypsy Community. I think our ministry will be a mix of church planting/evangelism, children’s programs (like VBS and sports), and Bible Studies. I am really looking forward to all aspects of our ministry time and diving into the community. I am also really excited about saying goodbye to my tent and hello to a real bed for a few weeks!
Thank you for your prayers as I start month two of my World Race! Blessings!
