Joke's on Me

How is that every time I say I'm going to do better at writing regularly I epically fail?! 

I think last I wrote it was about spring... well let me just say, that was a long time ago! Summer's almost at an end.... 

I ran a marathon since last I wrote, like no big deal. I also moved country's and am now living in the Republic of Ireland! I've now been to both Spain and England. I've survived my first summer with Serge. But not only that I learned what it really means to serve out of weakness and to live in community. Actually how much I crave living in community. Oh yeah, and I also learned that I'm an extrovert... like who knew? (I always thought you had to be one of those loud people...) I also learned that college age young people aren't scary. (Actually, they're easier to get on with the high school students!) I'm learning how to forgive and to do constructive conflict.

Most recently I've been learning what it means to not only submit to God and His plans for my life, but to really trust Him. That He has my best interest in my mind. (What?!) 

Right at the end of April, I was trying to reapply for my UK visa. But was hitting a lot of closed doors.... There was no way I could get a new visa, without going back to the states. Ok, so a little inconvenient, worth it though! I talked to my team leader a couple of days later and he told me he wanted me in the South for my second year. (End of story). I mean, excuse me? 

Long story shorter, I moved South at the end of May. Then the next day went to Spain for Serge's mission conference. Honestly I went totally broken.... Not sure at all where I fit into the Ireland team, feeling very misunderstood by them. Like they didn't give a rip about Northern Ireland and what God was doing there. (To be fair though, I didn't give a rip about Ireland). 

God being the good God that He is just loved me that week. I literally felt like a butterfly! 

The Ireland Metro Team
L-R top row: Steven Nelson, Louise Hacking, Courtney Deakle
bottom row: Laura Pettit, Abby Demarest, Yours Truly, Vicki and Tom Gilliam  

After a week in Spain, meeting loads of people and hearing so many God stories, I came back to Ireland and straight into the summer program that the team does here called, "Encounter". 

Encounter
19 Irish and America interns, plus Serge and Irish staff and their families 

Basically the summer was pleasantly surprising. I learned that I am dearly loved in my brokenness and through that I am able to love anyone. 

Wait! What does that even mean?! 

Again, trying to shorten the story. (Don't worry I'll expand more on that later). 

After Encounter ended I found myself in one of those moments that aren't always a bad place to be in. That moment when you have to pray expectantly, because you got nothing! 

I had no where to live. 

Courtney offered that I could live with her till I could sort something out. But she's headed back to the states in September and needs time and space to pack.... So I needed to get something else sorted quick! 

Before Encounter started, I'd looked at a house that was perfect! I'd be renting with 2 other people. There was a garden and a kitchen! And if I ever needed a lift to the airport, I'd be sorted! And the rent was really good! But it was about 45 minutes, by bus into town (Dublin). So not at all ideal if that's where my ministry placement's going to be. But hey, beggars can't be choosers. Right? 

I told her I'd let her know by the end of summer. By the end of Encounter, as comfortable as it would be to stay in this house, I realized it wasn't right. Like it was too comfortable... that I wasn't trusting God by saying "yes" to this house. So, I said "no".

One of the Irish interns over the summer told me about another living situation, that again sounded perfect! So I finally checked it out (after I said no to the house!). The other living situation wasn't going to be available till February. It's August. I kinda just wanted to cry. 

Fatih or just stupidity? 

Courtney then reminded me about another option (see? That's the great thing about living with people!) of staying at a YWCA. In years past that's where apprentices would have stayed and Abby, one of the apprentices now, lived there when she first got here. I confessed I'd actually been to their website and didn't find out anything about staying there. Courtney then asked if they had a phone number, maybe I could just ring them? What? 

So the next day in between catching trains to go to the North for a couple of days, I rang the "Y". 

When I told the lady on the other end that I was with Serge and needed a place to live, she got so excited! They (the "Y") had just had a cancelation the day before (right when I thought I might actually be homeless!) and they had an opening for a long term person to stay there! I couldn't move in till the 28th (Exactly the day Courtney told me I needed to have somewhere else to live!) but I can stay till Christmas! 

So, sorted for housing. Inner City. Multi cultural. Young people. About 180 degrees the other direction from anything I thought I'd ever say yes to just 4 months ago! 

Where is this all going? One last story, and I'll get to the point. 

I've now talked with/met 2 possible Irish ministry leaders. Both inner city. Both with very big hearts for inner city mission. One asked what my weaknesses were, so that he could challenge me to grow there. The other asked what my strengths were.... Sounds like they may be a good balance, right? The thing with inner city is that you get a lot multicultural people. Which is cool that there are ministries and people with a heart to reach an ever changing Dublin. But I thought I chose Ireland over England so I could work with Nationals, not internationals (which is what Serge in England's ministry is). As I feel myself arching my back like a 2-year-old, rebelling and asking "why do I have to be inner city?! I just want to work with refugees! Why does my living placement, work and place of worship all have to be international?!".... yet I have a nagging feeling in the back of my mind... 

Remember, you didn't want to work with refugees, but you gave it a try and see what happened? Trust God, kiddo. He really does have YOUR best in mind. 

Then I have another thought. What if this whole time I've been fundraising and living in Ireland I'd only partially given my heart and will to God. Ya know, put a condition on it. Cool, I'll go to Ireland, but don't ask me to do... xyz. But what if it was God's plan all along? To bring me to this place where I am totally and completely out of my comfort zone, so that the only place I can serve is out of my weakness, so that God can be glorified? Because He's got bigger plans for me then I can understand now. God does not need me to do His work. But He wants me, and has invited me to join Him in what He'd doing in Dublin. 

So now I have the option to say "yes" and be a part whatever that all means, or to say "no". 

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.