End of November

Sorry that it has been so long since I last posted.  I have been traveling to up near Dublin a couple of times, which makes for a busy time here.  To catch you all up on things, on the weekend of November 5-7, we were up in Blanchardstown attending a missions conference.  I was able to meet Pastor O'Sullivan and his family.  He is an Irish pastor with a congregation of around 50.  The reason that we were there was because Pastor Thatcher was preaching for the missions conference.  During the conference we were able to skype some of their missionaries and see what is going on in their ministry.  Pastor Thatcher preached on missions is about me, missions is about man, missions is about ministry, and missions is about material.  The sermons were very challenging to my own heart and it stirred up some good conversations.  I was able to stay with someone who went to Northland for a year and a half.  His name is David O'Brien.  We stayed up each night till 1 or 2 talking about ministry and challenging each other in the Word.  Jeff South was our connection, being that they worked together at camp.  God definitely put this missions conference in my life for a reason: for the challenging preaching and the heart stirring fellowship that I had with David.  The Irish churches challenge me in a way, because the people do so much and are willing to help in any way they can.  American churches are so fortunate to have many people who can do the work, but yet we must do more in our churches.  The next week consisted of a ladies retreat up in Avoca, which was put on by the Peros.  And because of the retreat, Kevin and I had the excuse to stay with Mr. Pero for Thursday through Saturday.  It is amazing to see Mr. Pero's heart for ministry and to see him work on the streets.  Thursday and Friday we spent mostly out on the streets trying to find someone to minister too.  Thursday night people kept showing up that Mr. Pero knew and by the night's end, Mr. Pero had given out around 10 tracts and talked to people about God's Word.  We were able to see him talk with a Jewish man, which was very interesting to hear.  Pray that the Jewish man goes to Mr. Pero's church. He seemed very interested.  On Friday, we were able to meet with an older Irish couple by God given opportunity and talk with them at their house.  They are the Cosgraves and they are an unsaved couple.  Their son is a missionary to the Phillipines and they were very open to talk about the gospel.  The time was right because Mrs. Cosgrave had just lost her brother and she definitely was thinking about what happens after death.  We were able to help Mr. Cosgrave with his computer and have tea and biscuits (cookies).  On Friday night, we were able to attend Reformers Unanimous and see around 20 guys who have been off of drugs for a while.  It was awesome to witness the victory in their lives and to see what they have gotten back because of their victory.  The whole day was very stirring to my heart.  On Saturday we headed back to Waterford and on Sunday I was able to preach during the youth service.  The service was great.  The youth were very attentive and we had 3 that I had never seen before.  They enjoyed the games that I taught them, for it got very loud with excitement.  Pray for the youth in the church, for they fight a battle everyday that is very tough.  They must depend on God for the victory.  Last Thursday we were able to see the Dunmore Cave and I was given the opportunity to ask the guide questions about evolution and open up his mind to what really happened.  It was amazing to see the openness he had to accept the answer of the flood rather than millions of years.  Pray that he will be stirred and convicted through the tract and questions that were given.  On Friday night the youth came over for a Christmas program practice.  We had a great time of practice, food, and games.  I introduced another game, which they absolutely enjoyed.  Saturday we went out door to door giving out tracts.  Pray that someone will come to know Christ through that.  Yesterday Pastor Thatcher preached on the Supreme Sacrifice.  We had a relaxing afternoon, and the youth came back for another practice.  They practiced, we had a snack, and they wanted to play the game from Friday night again.  It was a great time together.  I am really going to miss the youth here.  Please pray that this week will change my life for the good.  It is my last week here at the Thatcher's house.  Please Pray that I will grow in Christ and not take any steps backward.  I might be able to see the Peros and McCourts one more time this week.  On Sunday I preach for my last morning service.  Please pray that my words will not be spoken, but that God's Word will be spoken.  On Monday I will be traveling by train to stay with David O'Brien again, because I have to be in Dublin early on Tuesday morning.  Please Pray that the time with David will encourage both of us, like iron sharpening iron.  Next Tuesday I will be flying out of Dublin around 11:05 a.m., probably reaching Northland very late Tuesday night.  Pray for me on my last week that it may be profitable for the ministry.  Thank you all for keeping up with my posts.

Into November

One more month in Ireland.  In a sense I am going to miss it, but at the same time I am ready to get back to America.  Things have been going good.  What I was struggling with, God is helping with.  The struggle will always be there, but I must fully depend on what God can do for me.  James 1:8 relates to how a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways.  I must keep full faith in God rather than myself, that He will give me wisdom through the trials that I face.  The past week has been exciting.  Last Monday I was able to meet the Peros up near Wicklow.  They were actually from Northland and it was very exciting to have a connection with some people.  They definitely had some stories about Doc O and how he helped them.  It was great to fellowship with them, but that is not the only thing we were able to do.  We did some hiking into the mountains, which was absolutely gorgeous to see.  Only my God could create something magnificent like that.  We are definitely hitting the rainy season.  All throughout the week it has been raining constantly.  I don't mind the rain, in fact, I love it.  But if one is swayed in their mood by the rain easily, they would not last very long here.  Today we are celebrating Mr. Thatcher's birthday.  I will not tell you his age, for I am still living in his home and I do not want to be kicked out. :)  Next week I will be going to a missions conference up near Dublin.  There is a Irish pastor up there, and I am interested to see how he does their missions conference.  Keep praying that my life will grow more like Christ.  Daily I am reminded of His awesomeness through my devotions.  Our God is an awesome God.  Pray that trials come my way that will break me and mold me in the way that God wills.  I still need a lot of work in my life.  One request that I do have regards to a man in our church.  The family is having struggles and he hasn't come in a while.  He needs to see Christ in His life again.  Pray that He understands that God is Lord, and if he recognizes that truth then the family issues should work through.  Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement.  I definitely need all that I can get.  In Christ Alone my Hope is Found.

Half Way

To think that this semester is half way through is very shocking.  Everything has gone by so fast.  With everything going on here between traveling, preaching, school, and door knocking, the weeks go by in a heartbeat.  I preached last Sunday, and I believe that it went okay.  The sermon started out rough, but God helped me finish it well.  I thank you for the prayers in that.  In fact, I thank you for your prayers constantly.  Without a shadow of any doubt, I know that my spiritual walk with God has grown to levels that I did not even imagine would happen.   But with the growth spiritually, Satan did not want that to continue.  Struggles started happening that I did not expect to happen.  Things came up that were shocking to myself, but would influence my time here.  I had to stop and refocus what I am doing here.  I was humbled to the point that I was on my knees, crying out to God for help, because I did not know what the future could hold.  But amidst the struggles, God came in to help me with what I am to do.  He revealed hope and comfort in my time here.  My prayers were answered in a way that I did not think was possible.  Please keep praying for me as I continue here in Ireland.  I have many hills to climb in my daily walk, that are known to be without victory if I am not depending on God.  An attitude of servant hood must come first in my focus.  I was able to attend a conference up near Dublin where the speaker challenged my heart in two different areas: anger and priorities.  Please pray with me that I will keep God as my priority instead of letting Satan convince me that my own will is greater.  I think that at this moment in my GSA program, the reality of being without family, my fiancé, and friends is really setting in.  The hardship is a reality that missionaries have to face everyday, and I get to experience that hardship first hand.  Things are coming up here in Ireland.  More preaching, school, and door knocking are on the horizon.  And only God can make those things happen, but I must do all to the glory of Him.  "In Christ Alone my Hope is Found."  Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement.  Stay strong in the Lord for nothing else matters.

5th week

It is hard to believe it is the 5th week into my GSA program.  Things are going well.  Last week my family came to Ireland to visit me and we visited many different places.  Blarney Castle, Kilkenny Castle, Cahair Castle, Rock of Cashel, Cork, Tramore, Hook's Head, Woodstown, Dunbrody Famine Ship, an English Market, and the Waterford Crystal museum.  We had a great time just touring the south of Ireland, but I also had a great time just seeing them again.  We had lots of laughs with my father driving on the roundabouts and on the opposite side of the road.  Other than that, school is going well.  Everything is coming up to date.  I am a little behind, but God will work that out.  This weekend I will preach at church.  Pray for me as I prepare.  I want it to be God speaking and not my own words.  Just keep praying for me as I continue through this program.  I desire to be changed greatly, for my life needs to grow for Christ.  Thank you all for keeping up with me

Hey Everyone

It has been a great couple of weeks.  I have gotten to see many things.  I have now been swimming twice in the Celtic Sea and still the water is gross. My heart has been deeply changed, for I am just a worthless person.  God has gotten a hold of my heart, and I know it is for the good.  A couple of good sermons these past few Sundays.  This morning it was on how God needs to be in my plans.  I need to be God-dependent rather than self-sufficient.  It was a great message and very heart stirring.  God has revealed many faults in my life that needs to be taken care of.  Again I have tried to help people and teach them, but God teaches me instead.  God works in mysterious ways.  I will never begin to understand.  I am very much behind on school, because of the Echo system has been having problems, but I know God will help me through that.  Please keep in prayer for that.   My family is coming over to Ireland this next week, and I can't wait to see them.  It will be a great time and hopefully I can teach them some things that I have been learning.  They will be so amazed by Ireland's beauty that I will just be background noise. haha  Well it is my first youth service tonight.  I pray that it goes well.  I will be preaching on what is your passion.  We have a few games to try out tonight.  They should be fun.  Just keep in prayer everything is going on here.  The church voted to support their third missionary, which is a good step.  I can't wait to see what else unfolds.  I thank you all for keeping up with me.  I know my posts are boring, but at least the pictures are cool. haha  Keep praying, for I desperately need it.

Week 1

It has been a little while since I last posted.  So much has been going on here in the ministry.  I have gotten to do many things including going to Tramore for the second time, seeing Dollar Bay, and also seeing Hook's Head.  All of these places were so beautiful.  On Friday, the church's first missions conference started.  We had a great turn out and the people were very willing to give.  Anchor Baptist Church usually only has one service a week and we had 4 services: Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday morning, and Sunday night.  One can tell that hearts were stirred for missions, and I can't wait to see what happens in the church.  On Saturday we went out for a couple of hours sticking invitations for church in people's mailboxes. (It is legal here to do that)  And later on in the day I was able to spend some time with the Hollidays and O'Keefes, which were the visitors for the missions conference.  On Sunday after church, we had a fellowship dinner that included Hungarian, Indian, Lithuanian, and Irish food.  And after church on Sunday night we had a dessert fellowship, which was extremely delicious with rhubarb crumble, cherry cake, chocolate chip brownies (Kevin and I made them), and many more desserts.  On Monday we took a break and went to Tramore to walk along some cliffs and have ice cream.  (there is great suffering being done on my part here, haha)  This country is a very, very beautiful place, but the people are very lost here.  Every day in the news headlines there are teens being caught with drugs worth thousands of dollars.  The teens believe in themselves only, and only care about themselves.  Please pray that the ministry here can affect many teens in the upcoming years.  Please pray for this upcoming week, because the missions conference went well and I imagine satan will be at work. 

It is now Tuesday Morning, and I have had a great time so far.  On Sunday I arrived and went through customs very easily.  I thank God for that, because usually they are harder on people who are staying for longer periods of time.  I rode the bus from Dublin to Waterford, and the scenery was so beautiful.  I saw so many cows and horses along the way.  We went through a couple of towns where the houses were so colorful and the streets very narrow.  still having trouble with people driving on the other side.  It scares me a lot. ha ha  I arrived in Waterford and met the Thatchers, they really are a great family.  I enjoy them very much.  Mr. and Mrs Thatcher have 5 children and I will see if I get their names right: Kevin 17, Karrisa 14, Kaley 11, Kari 9, Kaleb 5.  If I find that I am wrong about the ages I will post the difference.  We went to the Harvest festival on Sunday where I ate a huge German brat.  I saw so many people and even saw the ruins of an old church. (very awesome)  Jet lag hasn't been too terrible.  I just find myself falling asleep if I sit for too long.  On Monday I was able to experience porridge for breakfast.  Later on in the day we went to Wexford, and I was able to see a lot of scenery.  I was able to go on a ferry near the sea, which was so beautiful.  In Wexford, we took Kevin for classical guitar lessons.  After we traveled back,  we had a great evening of talking and preparing for the week's agenda.  This morning I was able to have crumpets with peanut butter on them (very good).  And now I am getting ready to do school work.  I am loving this experience so much.  I can't wait for the opportunities God has in store for me.  It is definitely going to be an amazing semester.  (sorry for grammatical errors)