Finally!
Here I am – still – in Ireland and you’re hearing about it. 🙂
It is lovely. The weather is a nice, cool and cloudy, change from the past seven months of summer. An overlook of the rolling green hills and cliffs is the prettiest view I’ve seen on the race.
The people here love really well. It feels like home even though it’s not similar to where I live in Texas. We’re in Coleraine, near the Northern coast of Ireland, working with Causeway Coast Vineyard Church. They pursue a combination of sound doctrine and following the Holy Spirit, and everything they do is filtered through an outward focus. I really appreciate having this opportunity to work with them. The community is receptive to the gospel after years of perseverant prayer. About 1200 people have come to Christ since February of this year (and this is a small town!). The Holy Spirit is healing people. The peace of God’s presence is all over this place and I love being here.
The church is well organized and appreciates extra hands, so we’ve been put to good use. There are various areas of work: sorting donations in a huge Mill House, sorting food, working in a secondhand shop, talking with people about God over tea, transcribing, evangelism, healing prayer, VBS, a housing project, helping maintain the church, working during the church service, a huge car boot sale, etc. .
The first week I mostly helped sort donations of furniture and trash at the Mill House (it reminded me of sorting out the donation warehouse at ICO Ashland). The second week our entire squad worked together at the church’s VBS, “Destiny Island,” where we did outreach to the surrounding community (taking little kids out to give away wee J packages and pray for people). Then this past week I helped at another VBS-like event for children of a Christian Police gathering, except it met mornings and evenings. I loved the opportunity to learn from the other leaders, and the kids’ growth was amazing.
I’ve also been trained for the evangelism and healing. I’m really excited to go out tomorrow with the evangelism group – I love that stuff so much! Last weekend I got to pray for people at the healing prayer that meets each week in the town square. I was in the first shift and didn’t even notice time had passed when the end of the last shift came; it was awesome!
I’ve also gotten to help with a women’s event, the car boot sale (where people sell things out of their car trunks), and a movie premiere of “Holy Ghost.” (It is a film that shows God doing some amazing things. It may come off a bit offensive if you have a very conservative background like me, but I cannot deny it has a lovely objective of displaying God’s glory.). Additionally, I enjoyed serving at children’s church; some of my VBS kids started coming to church : )!
Hutch is possibly the most generous man I’ve ever met. He saves up his vacation from work to spend time with World Race squads when they come. He’s purchased most of our squad’s food and he is continually taking us out in groups to see Ireland in his car. He encourages people with his time and messages. He blessed me a lot.
(I’m now writing from Romania!) Ben, a young man from New Zealand, loves like Christ. God transformed me through him. He serves and sacrifices and gives and rejoices and takes time to unabashedly declared God’s love and pray for everyone he passes. He leaves everyone changed by a new perspective of how God loved and honors them. He is a gifted song writer and continually worships God. He always examplifies Christ and everyone looks up to him. Hearts so passionate and all out for God are rare. They shouldn’t be though. I am so thankful I got to work with him and Dave P. last month, watch and emulating. I want to be like Christ, as they are.
It was very hard to leave Ireland because the people are incredible and I feared loosing their example and forgetting to follow God so well as them. But God has me where He wants me, and, as I pursue Him, He will direct me and provide all I need. I can tangibly see that I am changed by the love, generosity, selflessness, honor, example, healing, prayer, peace, boldness and joy that overwhelm Coleraine. I am passionate to learn more about the ministries that so influenced me last month. We’ll see how God directs me with those passions and PA school etc..
I love you all so much! Thank you for donating to my friend Jessica. She and all my squad-mates are fully funded! God totally provided a huge amount of money in a short time so that they could all stay. Thank you for helping us finish this race. Each of you bless me so much by reading my blog, messaging me, or praying for me. Thank you!
Romania is fascinating. Debrief went well and passed quickly in this quaint town of Brasov. I’m now awaiting our bus to ministry for the month. I’m excited to work with the people here, to be with the full squad, and to pursue God more than ever. I’ve been learning to love unconditionally and to chase after God more and more deeply. I’m eager to make the most of these last three months before returning home. Please keep praying for me and let me know how to pray for you!
With Great Love,
Meredith
