Back to life as we know it...almost...

Ok, so as many of you few faithful readers out that may have noticed, we have not been doing as good recently with posting often. As you may imagine, things have been pretty crazy and busy around here lately, and there has been a lot going on, so I will try to give you a quick run-down of the highlights to get us all caught up:

As John explained earlier, for the past month, the UCF team has been here in Northern Ireland in a few different spots. The past two weeks had them here in Dunclug, where we live and we were with them all day, each day. Though occasionally overwhelming to have 15 people in the house at any spare moment, it was mostly refreshing and good to see friends and have that kind of fellowship for that length of time. All of us here were very encouraged by how great the team worked together and how they were able to really invest in the kids and people here, which we can now follow up on.

Those two weeks with the team consisted of splitting up into multiple wee bible club groups for the afternoon in and around the estates of Dunclug. Then, in the evenings, we would do a variety of things in the estate, including prayer walking, visiting homes, playing football, walking around and meeting kids, and anything else that the Spirit may have led to do. All of this was great for us, because we were able to not only loosely "head up" or help out when needed, but also to keep an eye out for who all were coming out, so that we can now follow up on these relationships.

This is much of what we have been doing since the team left on Sunday, though this week has also served as a slight recovery time for us. One of the girls on the UCF Team stayed a few days extra and so we went to Dublin with her for a few days, and have been back here since. We have been able to spend a good amount of time this week with the kids here in Dunclug already, and we also went to Ballykeel today and had a great time with many of the kids who were happy to see us. I personally was encouraged today because I was able to spend plenty of quality time with many of the older kids, as well as the younger ones, growing many different types and levels of friendships. I know the day was good for John, too, because at two points, I overheard his conversation with an approximately 13 year old girl. The first time I heard John say, "Well, the reason that there are bad things in the world is because God has subjected his creation to futility..." Haha, the second was something like "...so if God doesn't pre-exist all matter, from what source are we?" I laughed at how funny John is, and I hope you are too. Oh yeah, and John and I bought a bike off some kids today for 13 pounds, and though it doesnt have any brakes at all and half the rusted gears don't work, we feel that we made a good buy. In fact, while the others took a taxi back to Dunclug, I rode our "new" (in the loosest terms) bike back and a walk of normally 30-45 minutes took about 15, so I am already pleased.


On Saturday, John leaves for Scotland to go meet his family for our end-of-summer week off. On Sunday, Elizabeth, Erin, and I will all fly to Italy, where we will spend our much-needed week off. This time will be great for us relax and recover after a go-go-go summer pace and get ready for an entirely new schedule for the fall, with the start of school. We will meet with the Hope Team after this break and discuss more what that will look like as we begin to do assemblies at several schools a week and have much less free time with the kids in the estate than we did during the summer days.

Well, this is too long, as usual, but I am banking on the fact that you people reading this are reading because you love us and are dying to know what is going on in our lives and how you can pray for us...in which case, this would be a pleasing post. Please pray for us on holidays, that we will have safety and a refreshing time. Pray that when we return, we will be ready to get back into following up on these relationships and excited about the Lord's work here, though it often occurs little by little.

If we don't blog again before Sunday, we will talk you all in a week! Love you all and miss you tons! Feel free to leave comments expressing your love for us!

What's Happenin

What we've been doing:
This week is similar to last week in that we and the team are doing Bible stories and games in the afternoon, and then spending time in the community at night prayer walking, meeting people, playing football, doing dance classes, and anything else we can to build relationships. Thursday and Friday are the team's last two days in the community, so please be praying for them that they might best make use of the time they have left with any of the relationships that they have made so far. The team has been great, and i think i'm gonna be a little depressed when they leave...

What I've been doing:
I have had the pleasure of spending a fair amount of time with two boys who're responsible for this little incident, which made the bbc: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6944902.stm . Aging 7 and 9, these guys played hurling, which is like lacrosse but with a big stick, with a family of hedgehogs. Please pray for Joel (http://ucfinterns.blogspot.com/2007/07/joel-hedgehog.html), we hope that he was not involved. The sad part is that it really didn't surprise anyone when we found out who it was, since the two youngsters are pretty infamous around here. Pray that we can show love to these guys when no one else will, and that God will change them since no one else can.

What I've been learning:
I've been learning that it is hard to consistently read and pray, that good arguments don't convert people, that playing guitar for church is scary, and that tigers kill for fun. Fav. sermon this month: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByDate/2239_Open_Their_Eyes_Doing_What_Only_God_Can_Do_Part_1/ .

Lots of links and love,
John

in case you forgot what we look like....

there's a first time for everything

i guess it's about time i wrote a post...

these past few weeks have been crazy busy with the ucf team here.  they've been such an encouragement to us interns and we are so excited that we've been able to spend time with them.  today was their first day in dunclug, and i think that they got a good taste of what it is like here.  as three of the girls on the team and i were walking around the estate praying and talking to people that we passed, a group of guys (from dunclug) ran past us with one of our soccer nets that they had stolen from the game going on at the pitch. after being cussed at by a 9 year old, we finally were able to get the net back with some help from some of the guys dwight and john have been hanging out with.  i think that this incident showed the team a little about what the kids are like here.  never the less, i think the team is excited to work here for the next few weeks...and i know that i am excited for them to be here, to introduce them to some of the girls that i've spent time with, and also for them to build relationships with people that we could follow up with once they are gone.  pray for the team this week as they are meeting people.  the atmosphere of the estate is a little dreary this week seeing as wednesday is the day for the big bonfire in dunclug.            

tomorrow elizabeth, hayley (our next door neighbor) and i are starting a bible study with katie, one of our friends that we've been hanging out with a lot.  we are so excited!  also, francine, another girl that i have spent a lot of time with, just came back from her two week holiday today.  i am hoping to hang out with her this week and really grow closer to and invest in her.    

on a different note...please pray for the church here in the community.  they are going through some changes and we would all appreciate your prayers.