Spring in Ireland

The last couple of weeks have truly just felt like the Father smiling on me. Like warm sunshine after a long, wet and cold winter. 

The past of couple of weeks have honestly just been fun! Between an excursion to Dublin and getting to just be a tourist. Then getting to spend a day with my team leader and his lovely wife, going to Glendalough.

My team leader, Tom, and his wife Vicki at Glendalough

Or getting to have spontaneous guitar lessons one evening because I mentioned that someday I'd like to learn how to play. Or going on a spontaneous cycling excursion just to have an equally spontaneous hail storm. Or simply the adventure of making spaghetti bolognes for the first time. But never getting the chance to eat it because I got spontaneous dinner invitations all week! (Rough life, I know). Or going to a wee coffee shop that one of the lady's from church works at - just to encourage her-. But spending the next 2 hours there, just getting caught up on all the local craic in the village. (And getting introduced to everyone that came though the door!) Or getting sent home with knitting - because now that I have my own place, surely that means I have time to just knit. Or even just 2 hours of Somalian girls wanting piggy-back rides and to play with my hair. 

 Sunshine and snow all in one day, inspires nails and hair to get done! 

Or team meetings - just being able to gather together to pray! 

Team day with Courtney and Vicki! Yes, that is a cemetery we are standing in! 

Or getting connected with a Bible study in Belfast with my peers and discovering I'm just the class clown, who knew? 

Some of the girls from Word in the City Bible study met me for breakfast at 9 on a Saturday!! St. Georges Market. It's a must do! 

               Or getting to have my first Ulster Fry. 

Or simply getting to go to a playground, because one should never be too old for one! 

                            Martha and Joshe. He claimed he didn't want to go. Too old/cool... look at that grin!

Or an hour of Maffia with the youth. Or just chasing a perfect sunset up Slemish. Then trying to get back down before it was too dark! (See the picture at the top). 

Full On

This past week has for sure been one for the books! But then again, what can you except when it's St. Patrick's day week. In Ireland. Need I say more? Don't answer that for I am about to tell you about my incredibly brilliant culture week! 

The problem with having a good story to tell, is knowing where to start it. (Or just taking a mediocre story and turning it into a great story.) 

Tradition has it that the mountain right outside Ballymena, Slemish, is the mountain that St. Patrick tended sheep as a boy when he was first in Ireland as a slave. So traditionally masses of people every year for St. Patrick's day pilgrimage to the top of Slemish, St. Patrick's Mountain. 

Slemish, the bump on the horizon

Since I live in Ballymena, I naturally had to partake in this tradition. This tradition that non of the locals actually do. Ironic really. But there you go. 

Masses of people making the pilgrimage to the top. (I got there early, so this is tame to what it would have been a couple of hours later!)

At the top!

This was erected in honor of the day.

There was even a wee note from Patrick! ("Here's wishing you sweet memories and a happiness that endures from now till next St. Patrick's Day, the best to you and yours! -Patrick") Cute.

I even got a certificate for climbing it! 

The very next day (Friday) saw the Youth Fellowship voluntarily getting itself locked in a room with only a periodic table to escape with. They said it would be fun. Good for bonding. Hope you're not claustrophobic! 

The first puzzle was actually finding the place! We were 3 cars leaving from Ballymena, we didn't even get as far as the City before being separated from each other! After a grand tour of a car park somewhere south of Belfast, with a bunch of suspicious empty buildings we were literally going in circles! But the good news is all 3 cars found each other (which meant it had to be the right car park!), from a distance across the suspicious car park! It suddenly becomes a competition to see who can find this place first! 

At long last and sobbing from laughing so hard we find the place! 
Once inside, it was like something from a movie! Our group was split into 2 groups. After being told to search the room for clues and not to overthink it, we were locked in the room. While the other team waited for us outside.  After about 45 minutes we finally cracked the code! (The other team cracked it in 20 minutes, by a 12 year old!) 

The Youth Fellowship at Escap3d. A good time was had by all! 

After a late night in the city, I drove to Larne Saturday morning to run a half marathon. My first race in the UK (outside the U.S. period). You could say I was nervous! I'm not used to running with other people, so the competitive side of me killed it in the first couple miles, and died the rest of the way! Well... not quite to bad, (but I did do something to my hip flexor). 

The Larne Half is along the coast line, as Larne is a coastal town. (It's where you'd get the ferry to Scotland). It was an out and back race, which I'm not a fan of! But the long bit was along the coast, how bad could it be?! It was beautiful! The smell of the sea air filling my nostrils, etc..... On the way back, about mile 7 or 8 the road started going downhill. As I was passing a fellow racer I commented that if it was like this the whole way back it was a home run! He replied with "not a chance!" Thus was the beginning of a friendship! I stayed with him till mile 11, just chatting. (Which means I was running too slow if I was able to keep conversation up!) There were several times when I felt I could have gone ahead, but decided to just cool the jets and keep it steady. At mile 11 he told me to "go you ahead, I'll see you at the finish line, sure?" So I did. Sadly, I quite liked his company. 

Waiting for me at the finish line were the Mcdeely's! As I almost didn't tell them I was racing, it meant the world to me that they were there! (Not their thing!) 




Later in the afternoon there was a Orange Order parade in Ballymena. (The protestant version of a St. Patricks Day parade.) -The Orange Order is a politically conservative British unionist organization. The Order sees itself as defending Protestant civil and religious liberties-.Marty thought it'd be good for me to see, for cultural benefits. 

Marty was right. It was good from a cultural point of view to experience. But it was a bit disturbing, reminded me of an American Revolutionary War reenactment. Just a bunch of Brits marching through town. So naturally as an American, I'm not a fan! If I understand correctly, this is an ironic response since the Orange Order is political independence, which means as an American I should have loved it, because we're all about our indecency! Truly though, it was heart breaking to see a little of how generations of hating Catholics has snuck it's way into everyday life here in Northern Ireland. 

New Adventures

The beginning of March saw my 6 month mark here in Northern Ireland. It also saw me moving out of the manse and living on my own! 

I packed Nigel (my wee purple car) to the gills and we moved across town.  

Moving day! Just another new adventure.

I was excited and ready to move out, but that first week of being by myself was rough! I felt like that puppy that no one wanted. As I told a friend that week, I knew it was a phase that would pass... just had to get through it. And through it I got! But let me just say, God is pretty cool and how He got me through that week. Just showing me His faithfulness in the little things, when I just tell Him about them. 

It was arranged that I was to have Sunday dinner at the manse with the McNeely's (the hot meal of the day is a big deal in Northern Ireland!), but Julie called me Friday to ask if I could make other plans as they had a family thing come up.... I told her no bother, I'd make other plans. I hung up thankful she'd been able to be honest with me, that it wasn't good for me to come over. But also as soon as I hung up... "now what am I to do? I don't have 'other' plans!" But this wasn't the first time I'd found myself in this place, and God had always either found a home for me to go to or I was totally fine being by myself. So, I just prayed and told God the situation and left it with Him....

The next day, Saturday, I was in Belfast meeting Amy. A friend from the States had told us we had to meet once I got to Northern Ireland. After friending Amy on Facebook (18 months ago!) I totally forgot I was supposed to meet up with her till about a month ago. So finally at my 6 month mark I got to meet this girl. 

We must have spent close to 5 hours just chatting at a cafe! Such a sweet surprise! As we were parting ways I happened to mention in passing (meaning absolutely nothing by it!) my situation with lunch the next day and feeling like an unwanted puppy. Amy, (bless her!) said "aw! But everyone wants an unwanted puppy!" and she proceeded to invite me to lunch with her family. (See, just telling God about it... it's that simple.) 

My first week in the new place also involved some pretty crazy, typical March weather of rain, snow, ice, and hail, all at the same time. I had planned to run... but upon looking out the window, this sight awaited me.... I just did yoga. 

This is Nigel, my wee purple car. Covered, as you can see in snow.

Just a week later this was the sight that greeted me on my run. As I said, pretty typical March weather. (Spring is coming!)

Good News Club

Starting ministries back up after Christmas, we decided to change things with the church’s kid club, The Good News Club. We now separate by gender. For the first half hour the boys play football (soccer) and the girls do a girly thing. Then they all come together for the last half hour for a Bible story and quiz (they love the quiz!). I am in charge of the girls and coming up with a “girly” activity every week. This was challenging! But thank you Jesus for answering prayer (and for Pinterest!)

Flower assembling  

The Good New Club girls made wee flowers out of popsicles.
Along with Lois, who comes along to help from the YF.

Flowers for popsicles, trying on the radiator.
These girls are so creative!

The alternating weeks from crafts we do baking.
This is the making of Rice Krispie Buns (melted chocolate mixed with Rice Krispies)

What would an evening of baking be without licking the spoon?

For Valentine's Day we did a themed craft! The girls made wreaths from paper plates.

The finished product! I'm always amazed by how creative these girls are! What's the expression, give them an inch and they take a mile?

Mother's Day is celebrated the first Sunday in March here. I felt like I was scraping the bottom of the barrel that week before! All I had for the girls were bits and bobs left over from previous crafts and colored paper. I had the girls just make cards for their mums. It was really brilliant! Keeping it simple really does work!

This was the making of Top Hats (melted chocolate poured into the bottom of a cupcake liner, a marshmallow placed on top with a Smarty (M&M)- with a drop of chocolate to hold it on - placed on the very top!)

This past week we made proper Rice Krispie Treats. They'd never made them before, so after being able to learn their "buns" it was fun being able to teach them some American one's. That said though, I had not realized how sticky melted marshmallows are! No pictures. It was an all hands on deck night!

Ironically that night I was giving the talk for the GNC. The talk was on Jonah. The week previous  we'd left Jonah thrown over the ship in the middle of a storm... what was going to happen to Jonah? What was going to happen to Nineveh? So this week when we picked the story back up, I asked the question: "Have you ever been in a sticky situation?" All the girls raised their hands!! "Just there!!" Oh those Rice Krispie treats.... that melted marshmallow.... Dear Jesus... Your sense of humor... What can I say? I could never have tied a craft/baking into a talk so well!  

A Night in the Big City

There I was. 12 AM on a Thursday morning. Freezing temperatures. Wind mixed with rain. Standing on top of a bridge. God only knows where Dublin suburb. That, my friend, would be the problem. I literally had no idea where I was. 

20 minutes previously I'd gotten the last train from Dublin headed to Donabate. And here I was, no longer on the train.... Frantically phoning my team mate in Donabate, Courtney, (whom I was supposed to be spending the night with). Trying to not panic. 

At long last she answered the phone. "I think I got on the wrong train from Dublin.... (ever the dumb blonde), I need the number for a cab!" (Thank God, she'd gotten us to take a cab back at Christmas, or else I probably would have tried walking...) Poor thing, Courtney texted me 2 numbers. 

"Hello? Yes! I need a cab to Donabate."

"Ok. Where are you?" 

...."Port..mar...nock..."

"Where?"

"Port-mar-nock". 

"I'm sorry, where?" 

D*! 
"PORTMARNOCK!"

"Oh! Ok... yeah that'll be 40 minutes." 

"...Grand. Thanks"

40 Minutes? I don't think so! 

So I phoned the second number Courtney gave me. 

"Where are you?" 

....

(Do they seriously not have a tracking device they can use to find where I am?)

"Port...mar..nock"

"We'll have a cab out for you in 10 minutes." 

Win! 

So, thus you find me at midnight standing on a bridge. Waiting for a cab. Not in the least bit suspicious. 

The thought hits me as the cab pulls up, and I climb into a warm, safe car, yet feeling very sketch at the same time; in the past week I have spent significant time in 3 cities, 3 countries. 2 time zones. " Who is this girl? Is this real? Is this really my life?" 

The story gets better. Remember how I'd thought (hoped) I'd gotten on the wrong train? Turns out, I was on the right train. Just got a little eager-beaver and hopped off too soon. Truly the dumb blonde. 

Courtney told me the next morning as I was explaining what-a happened that she was already in bed asleep, when I called. Further more, sleeps with her phone on silent. (Now, panic starts to hit. What would have happened if she hadn't answered? I had no plan C!) Thank you Jesus though, she had her Fitbit on, and because it's connected to her phone, it picked up my call.

So now, on to Belfast and pretending this never happened! 

Mission to Westerners

I recently read this book called “A Wind in the House of Islam”, by David Garrison. A rather tricky book to get into initially. But by the 4th chapter it finally picked up. Each chapter was about the 9 different rooms of Islam in the Middle East, and how God is moving. Really, it was exciting to read. Exciting to learn how God is moving and to read some pretty radical stories of people coming to faith.

The book goes along a little with the work I’m part of in Belfast. Ministering to Somalian Muslims. Actually the book was recommended by a couple of people that run that ministry. All in all, it’s exciting and “natural” to be part of this ministry. Easy reading books like “Wind in the House of Islam”… Wanting to be a part of what God’s doing in the middle east. It’s right to want to go and be a part of God’s work there, if that’s what He’s calling you to do. God commands us to GO into all the world and make disciples of all nations. And if that is the calling He has placed on you to do than you’d best go! 

But as I was sitting on the train this past week headed back from Dublin, reading “Wind in the House of Islam”, excited about what God was doing and wanting to be apart of it. I looked up from my book and out the window. The scene before me was classic Ireland. Green pastures, with stone fences, hills, sheep, dark ominous clouds, sunshine. Unlike in Alabama, there is no humidity, so the view was not disrupted by a haze. It was so crisp and beautiful. Literally took my breath away. 

It seems so obvious when you say you’re going to the mission field for people to think Africa, India, South America. It’s easy for me to want to be a part of the Belfast City Mission. I only have to go as far as the Serge webpage to the home screen and see a picture of white people playing with black children. It’s obvious from this picture who’s the missionary and who’s being ministered too. The summer I spent in Scotland with Mission to the World, they told all the interns after we got back at the end of the summer that they were going to pick from our experiences one teams story to be put in their quarterly news letter. Naturally the team that went to Ethiopia was picked. 

And yet, what about the people of Northern Ireland, Protestants. Most of them have grown up in the church. They know all the right answers, chances are they’ll even be at church Sunday. But do they have a personal relationship with Jesus? The same is true in Alabama (in the south). We grow up going to church, doing all the “right” things, but when push comes to shove….. 

I guess my question in all this is where is the mission field? Is it Africa? Or China? Or South America? Or India? Or somewhere in the middle east? Or… is it just wherever you are right now? In the church you’re part of (or not), or the neighborhood that you live in….? Or is it (as is the case for me and my fellow missionaries in Ireland). Simply coming alongside a minister in a church in Europe or the UK, being part of winning people to Christ in just the hum-drum boringness of everyday? 

On the mission organization’s webpages wouldn’t it be better, or just as important, to have pictures of people that you can’t tell who’s the missionary and who’s the “project”? You know, like an undercover “missionary”. Like what we’re supposed to be doing everyday of our lives as followers of Christ. Or is it simply that we want success stories? Being a missionary in Europe or just being an active member of a church in America, means that’s a commitment for the long whole, that’s slow and possibly very discouraging.

Christmas in Northern Ireland

Christmas. Man! Has it really just come and gone? I literally feel like I was just FaceTimeing my sister, chatting about Thanksgiving and discussing Christmas being about more than just traditions. 

Soon after this conversation, I embarked on my first ever journey of making and sending Christmas cards. After making at least 60 cards, I've decided that in 2 years I might take up a side business of selling hand made cards on Esty. Between now and then though, I've already started planning how I'm going to do next years......

The first of many cards

Soon after this project was started, and long before it was finished I got to head South for a team Christmas party south of Dublin in Gory. Where I got to meet most of the rest of my Serge team. It was a bit odd showing up on someone's doorstep that I'd never met before. Had no idea what they looked like, and honestly could't remember their name. Thankfully I was able to go down with Courtney, a fellow apprentice who's a year ahead of me in the program. 

Courtney and I, on our bus journey to Gory

After a fun weekend in Dublin, it was full swing into Christmas here at Ballykeel for the rest of the month. Between extra visits to older people, school play practices, then the actual plays! December saw the break for the season of Good News Club and Bible study. 

The Ballykeel Primary 4 and 5 Christmas play, at Ballykeel Presbyterian Church (standing room only!)

The youth fellowship got the honors of decorating the church hall, followed by Christmas games and food.

 

The Youth Fellowship at Ballykeel Presbyterian Church

Like the over achiever I am, (or just the American I am), I decided to make Puppy Chow for the last YF of the year. You know, peanut butter and chocolate melted together, mixed with Chex cereal, topped with powered sugar. Super easy to make, amazing tasting!! Had not realized how American it was till it did not fly with the youth, due to a strong dislike to peanut butter. Which was unfortunate because it uses a whole box of the Chex  meaning.... what ever was I going to do with the leftovers?? 

Puppy Chow

Providentially, Marty (the minister) was wanting to go around to all the local shops in Ballykeel, (there's about 9 shops just within a quarter mile of the church) with a wee Christmas note and a box of sweets, just to say "thank you". Having too much Puppy Chow turned into a surprise blessing. I was able to just put a little of the chow in a bag and tie a bow around it and... to-dah! A little Christmas "thank-you". 

The McNeely's have a tradition of going to see the Ballymena Chamber Orchestra Christmas Concert, (it's the only Christmas tradition that's not connected to the church, so they can actually just go, enjoy and leave again). I got to be a part of this tradition this year!

At the Ballymena Chamber Orchestra with Joshua and Martha McNeely

There was also carol singing and then 2 carol services the Sunday before Christmas. The carol singing was probably my favorite! About 20 people from the church came together the week before Christmas, and we went to the shut-ins and the old people home, singing Christmas carols to them. After which we all came back to the church for a wee cup of tea and mince pies. 

Then there was Christmas in Belfast with the Somalians. Which included a traditional Somalian meal (chicken and rice) after the last English class for 2015. And then helping in the disruption of toys for the Somalian/refugee kids (a bit like Toys for Tots in the States). 

The back of my little car literally loaded and ready to bring the hope of Christmas to some refugee families.

As much as I was blessed through all this, it did make me wonder.... what does Christmas mean to a Muslim? Is it just a Western tradition? The tradition of presents, giving gifts is a beautiful picture (reminder) of what God did in giving us Jesus. But if you're not a Christian; then does the tradition of presents just become a worldly, materialistic tradition? As much as I loved being able to bless the Somalian families this Christmas, (forgive me if this sounds wrong)but if we're not actually telling them about Jesus, and the reason we were giving them gifts, then what was the point? 

That said though, at the end of one of the English classes, Luke, one of the teachers, gave a little lesson about Christmas, trying to explain the difference between secular and religious Christmas.... Just trying to explain for them Christmas. In the middle of Luke's story of the nativity, one of the lady's got up and did her prayers. I don't think she was following along with the story of Christmas enough to be offended, it was just time to do her prayers. 

After a crazy day with Somalians, there was the Christmas Market in Belfast that had to be "officially" experienced. (I'd gotten a wiz-through tour before Thanksgiving, so that totally didn't count!)If you're ever in Belfast during the Christmas season, the market is a must do! They totally played up the whole Germany thing, so it's a bit corny. But dude! It's a Christmas Market, it's supposed to be German! And the food... plan on eating while you're there. Or at least getting a coffee. 

The Christmas Market in Belfast, in front of the City Hall 

My friend Laura that made sure I had a proper experience of the market

A couple days before Christmas I got to escape Ballymena for 24 hours and go to Portrush with the McNeely's. Julie took me to see my first movie in Ireland while up there. (Which also happened to be a Christmas movie, win!) 

Martha taught me how to play Narnia while we had a tea party

On the way back to Ballymena the next day, I got distracted by this view,

Dunluce Castle 

so instead of driving distracted, I actually pulled over and had a rare tourist moment. Next stop, Giants Causeway! 

Christmas started Christmas eve. This was the first Christmas Eve in ages that didn't find me going to a Christmas eve service. (But it was the first Christmas that did find me in church on Christmas day!) About 4 o'clock the festivities began with the opening of one of the grandmothers Santa sacks, which in included new Christmas jammies. In honor of new jamies (I was included in this tradition!) showers were next in order. Once everyone was clean and now appropriately attired, we had a pizza dinner and watched a Christmas movie (Santa Clause).

New Christmas jammies and socks, cuddled up with Martha watching the Santa Clause movie

I had heard it rumored that Christmas festivities were starting at 7 Christmas morning, so I set my alarm accordingly. At 7, I didn't hear anything, (which is not normal on a normal day, never mention Christmas!) So I rolled over, and went back to sleep. 2 minutes later Martha comes bursting into my room, telling me it's Christmas, I have to get up! And so commences my first Christmas in Northern Ireland. Shortly before 10 Marty's family came and we went across to church. After which we had mulled wine (no alcohol) and biscuits, then did presents. At about 1 we had dinner, (absolutely beautiful!). This was naturally followed by clean up, after which we all gathered in the living room to watch the Queen's speech. This was followed by a walk (of which I opted out of due to heavy mizzling)and opted instead for a nap on the couch watching Brave. Eventually we all gathered together again for pudding and coffee/tea (again, beautiful!). To wrap up the evening Julie and I watched to Christmas special of Downton Abbey. 

I was really touched by how loving everyone from the church was, as well as the McNeely's extended family was (and the McNeely family themselves!). I received so many gifts and cards! I even received my first care package from a church back home. I've felt so touched and loved by the people here (and at home)!! Thank you everyone that made my first Christmas in Ballymena so wonderful!

Merry Christmas from my Northern Ireland family!
Marty, Joshua (12), Julie, (me) and Martha (8)