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.