Sorry For the Delay...

I have become increasingly poor at blogging. Nevertheless, Instead of telling all about Saint Patrick's Day (which is so long ago at this point!) I thought I would make a list of things I have learned in Ireland so far:

Exit Sign

1) Though the exit signs show a very active person running out the door, it is ill-advised to  do so. Especially if the door turns out to be locked, as many around here do.

2) The green men signalling to "walk" are actually leprechauns, stuck in there all day, to help the Irish population cross the street. I was wondering why I hadn't seen any, and a friend kindly explained this little-known change in Irish society.

3) If an Irish professor gives you a list of topics, they want you to stick exactly to the prompt. Free-thinking is somewhat constricted. As an English major, I had to get over this, as I want to give my own interpretation/ thoughts on something.

4) There are maaaaany different Irish accents. Your accent carries with it religious and political implications, and hence some people (one of my professors included) fake a different accent.

Hurling=beating each other with clubs, ball is incidental

5) All Irish sports involve severe violence with very little protection (ex. hurling, rugby, etc.) and the point of competing in sports is to physically damage those from the next county as much as possible in a legal context. If you play sports in Ireland, you will definitely break something or possibly have a lifetime injury.

6) There is still much political tension, especially in Northern Ireland, which has unfortunately been associated with church denominations. There is still much healing that needs to happen.

7) Most Irish persons are well-trained in some musical instrument/ have multiple musical abilities.

8) Dublin is not all that different from Boston, only it is smaller, both in acreage and height (they aren't skyscraper builders here).

9) Ireland is not all rolling hills and countryside, but there is a good deal of sheep and farms, even in the city.

10) "What's the craic?" is the equivalent of "how are you?"; "Craic" is Gaelic for "fun."

11) Tea and biscuits (cookies) are never out of place, and there can never be too many at any given point in the day (though buttermilk scones are the preferred morning replacement for biscuits).

There are many more...I will continue the list at some point...maybe.

God has still been blessing me and keeping me well. I must admit I have gotten caught up in the business at times, and He has to redirect me to focus on Him.

I would appreciate prayer for:

1) Exams- which will run from May 13th- May 24th for me.
2) A teachable heart and for me to listen to God's voice in this last month here.
3) All relationships I have started here would be well tied-off and that I could be a continual blessing to all those around me.
4) When I return to the States, that God would provide a car, and eventually a place to live in the Fall.

Time Flies When You're... Suddenly At the End of March!

My weekly excursions around the town of Maynooth have continued, especially as the weather has been so very grand! It has been between 45-55 F here for the past couple of weeks, and amazingly sunny considering the weeks of rain that had preceded it. But it is so very dull to talk about the weather!

In between the various social occasions, I have attempted to stay on top of all my readings and schoolwork. A great number of the students here seem to leave the reading until the end of the semester, but I don't think I could breath with a burden like that over my head. I have thus been reading many intriguing (and some very dull or, dare I say, slightly moronic) philosophical texts. Boethius' "Consolation of Philosophy" is particularly interesting, though I disagree heartily with some of his theology.

I had expected, as Spring arrived, that there would be many burnings here, as there is a good deal of dead material about (though not as much as in New England). Though I have not seen any bonfires, I have smelt fires when it was much too warm for it to be a woodstove.

I have continued with Gospel Choir, and Teenspace (which is still getting rolling, though I went to the movie night we had two weeks back and it went well, only we were hoping for more kids). I attended a Bible Study that brought together three of the surrounding churches, one of them Catholic, the Presbyterian one that I attend, and one is the Church of Ireland. It was fantastic to break up into groups that had multiple traditions in them to discuss the implications of the widow who God uses to provide for Elijah! It is really wonderful how God is bringing healing in the Christian body where there has been hatred for so long.

The Lovely "Village at Lyons" backview

A lovely couple from the church I am going to took me out for lunch one Sunday, and we went to The Village at Lyons. At the bottom of the page they have a great video, which is a good taste of the real thing. It was very beautiful, and had quite a medieval feel to it. We ate in the lovely canal cafe, where I had a bowl of deliciously creamy carrot-cumin soup with some of Ireland's finest wheaten soda bread. It is set on a wide farmland, at the top of which resides a mysterious estate, and includes a small shop, a large outdoor fireplace, and the cafe, all next to the main building where one can have weddings. The design of the building itself recalls that of a castle, but is not quite as grand as one. I cannot describe the statues, fountain, and gardens adequately. It would have been a time forgotten if not for the flush toilets, the fashion event that was apparently going on, and the tourists!

I will dedicate the next blog entirely to Saint Patrick's Day, I promise. There is too much to say, however, and I am in the middle of editing a paper for my Celtic Heroes class comparing the Youthful experiences of the great Cu Chulainn and Finn MacCumaill.

Please pray for:
1) Continued dedication in my studies
2) For all my friends here and church body: That I would be a blessing to them and that God would work in all our hearts here.
3) Dare I say, financial providence
4) Direction for what God will call me to next
6) To speak the truth boldly (with grace!) and to be faithful to God in all areas of my life
7) God to always remind me how much I need Him and the Cross
8) For  Believers to celebrate with on Easter!
9) For the Christian Union and the events coming up on The Resurrection and other topics (that God would bring in curious seekers, he would be glorified)
10) For Teenspace (that God would draw in teens from the area, esp. troubled ones, that it would be a place they could feel loved, accepted, and that the leaders would know how to communicate the love of Christ to them)
11) For continued healing in the church of Ireland, and for great revival here ( I recently met a pastor who was talking about this...God is up to something!)

I Found Nature!!! (And Where Lifehouse Likes to Eat Before the Show)

Whew! What a busy two weeks it has been since my last blog. My classes have begun to pick up, as have the various outings I have been going on.

I was completely thrilled to discover a beautiful bit of nature tucked away behind the main roads. I wandered until I found a small road leading to some lovely Irish farms. I stood at the gates to the farms and gazed out on the fields, but I figured since it was someone's property that I shouldn't gaze too long, or they might call the police (do they do that in Ireland like they do in the US?).

SO I passed back over the lovely stone-cut bridge I had come across to the farms, slightly disappointed at my findings, when a man popped up out of nowhere and began jogging away down the road. No,he was neither a leprechaun nor a fairy, and as it turns out he did not have any magical powers, but there was a secret stone staircase on the other side of the bridge that I had not observed, as it was very small, narrow, and the gap to get out onto it was just wide enough for a person to fit through.

Naturally I went down the staircase, which led me to a path that went under the bridge and came out the other side. There was a flowing stream (they call it a canal here, but I know better!) and a small dock one can sit on and write poetry. Well, I don't know if this is what it is usually used for, but that is how I used it!

The weather had been very fine that day, and indeed has been fair many days since then, what with the warm sunshine if not the occasional hat-toppling gusts of wind that sweep through. These winds are very violent and often bring tears to my eyes, usually when I am going to class. By the time I get there they are streaming down my face so I wipe them away and hope no one asks me what's wrong.

Myself and My Friend Gianela at the Beach Before the Hike

One particularly pleasant day was last Saturday, when myself and a group of about 13-14 others made a day-trip to Howth, which is the very tip of the East coast a bit north of Dublin. I experienced the comfortable luxury of riding on the trains in Ireland, though we were misdirected at least once. When we got there the sun was shining brightly and the rocky cliffs were ours for the tackling!

We hiked along the coast on a very squishy, deliciously muddy trail for almost two hours. The sea was fairly calm, the sky was clear, and the view was breath-taking. I only have pictures from before we started climbing right now, but the ones from the top (which my friends took, of course) are great. All I could think with each new landscape I saw (as we were winding around the cliffs and the view kept changing) was, "Wow, God, you did a good job on that one!" The moss-covered rocky ledges were simply exquisite!

On Last Sunday evening, after being gently peer-pressured into attending a Lifehouse concert, myself and two friends set off for Dublin. We arrived in the city a few hours early and went to an "Eddie Rockets," which is the Irish equivalent of "Johnny Rockets." They must be brother-cousins or something.

As we were walking in, I was saying to my friend that I felt like a poser going to a Lifehouse concert when I didn't even know what they looked like. She said she hadn't seen them before either, but had listened to them alot. We were seated in a booth and enjoying the classic hits by Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, and the like, when my friend and I noticed a group of well-groomed young gents who walked in and sat at a table on the other side of the booth we were sitting at. We were chatting away for a while and waiting for the waiter to come when we both suddenly looked at one another.

We started discussing the possibility that the band we were about to see had just walked in and was sitting yards away. She wanted to go and ask them, but I said that if it was them, and I was sure it couldn't be, then they would probably just want to enjoy a meal without being harassed. When we got to the concert two hours later and Lifehouse came out, guess who it was? Yes, it was the put-together dudes from Eddie Rockets. Evidently, the burgers served there must aid in one's ability to rock out, because they were very good, though very different than heavier rock bands.

All in all it has been a great two weeks, and I have begun to have much more reading, though it is for the most part enjoyable. Oh, I almost forgot: I discovered Carton House in the area while walking with a friend. It was the residence of the esteemed "Duke of Leinster," who was evidently loyal to King James (who was Scotch, and was ruling the Brits, so who wouldn't like him!) as  he had a great painting of him in one of the halls. I cannot even begin to describe the high ceilings with cherub statues adorning the edges, covered with gold designs and floors with old, creaky boards. He had a fine study with drawers built in to the walls. They also had a very complex bell system, with perhaps 60 or more different bells for various parts of the house, all in one room. The servants must have been kept quite busy!

Adventure seems to lie on the threshold of my door, and I cross it quite frequently, I assure you. I am learning so much along the way, too, and thoroughly enjoying getting to know and love my new friends. I am very thankful to God for this opportunity, and for all those He places in my life, both here in Maynooth and back home!

If you would pray for me:
1) That God would constantly draw my heart and focus back to Him
2) That He would continue to work in the hearts of all those around me
3) Continued vigilance in my studies
4) Against pride, vanity, and taking things for granted
5) For great love and grace towards all those around me
6) For Teenspace- a program for youths in the area as a safe and loving environment, and hopefully for opportunities to share with them about Jesus
7) For an upcoming debate the Christian Union is putting on
8) For leaders in the Christian Union and in Maynooth Community Church--that God would give them strength, energy, endurance, wisdom, and humility

Week 3--I Take My Fellowship With a Side of Coffee and Biscuits

God is good. This week has been one surprise after another. I was very blessed at the beginning of the week with some new friends from church. We went out for crepes, only I was confused as to what I was being invited to partake in as they pronounce the word, “craps.”

This Monday I was truly blessed at the Women’s Bible Study, where we studied Jesus’ death and His seven last words. God is really present here, especially in the lives of those in the church. It was a wonderful time of fellowship, coffee!!!(at all church events, but hey, that’s not the only reason I go =), and prayer. 

I am embarking on a mission to help out with the “Teenspace” program that is being started in the area—a Younglife-type group where teens can come, have fun, and be presented with the gospel in a non-intimidating way. God literally placed this opportunity in my lap.

At the local student pub my friends and I have been dancing up a storm. I am surprised by the number of young men who want to instruct us how to dance. As one young man was trying to show us how to dance by doing a series of awkward pelvic gyrations, I assured him that we weren’t dancing for show and were just “having fun.” He gave up the cause, thankfully, though we had other interesting characters appear throughout the evening. One Irish Gent even showed us how to do some fancy Irish footwork to a very Irish song.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of enjoying some truly Irish music in the pub down the street. They were singing and fluting and fiddling up something grand! It was very catchy and jolly.

Last night I was able to attend the local election debate. I have been told that the Irish get very heated about politics, and the show proved to hold true to that stereotype. I am sure there are some who do not care nor are very passionate about politics in Ireland, but the crowd that was present last night certainly was! There was cussing and slapping tables and passionate speeches aplenty. It was very interesting to watch a political debate which I had no previous knowledge about. It was also intriguing to listen to the students, and which issues they were concerned about. All in all, a good show!

I have been enjoying myself immensely, and am certainly getting a variety of experiences to learn from. Tomorrow, if it does not rain, I shall go out in search of the countryside. I am quite determined, and will not stop until I find a good field, valley, or river of some natural beauty to gaze upon and praise God for.

If you would, please pray:

1)      For humility, for my heart to be centered on giving God the glory

2)      For all those I am getting aquainted with who do not know Christ

3)      For the Christian Union here on-campus. For God’s direction, mutual encouragement and growth in the body.

4)      For Teenspace: for God to take control of the leaders and students, and make each event an opportunity to present the gospel to the kids.

5)      For Maynooth Community Church: God’s financial providence and direction. That we would admonish and teach each other in Godly ways.

6)      Finances and wise stewardship

7)      For God to guard my heart, my mind, my lips

8)      The continual transformation of all the Christians in the Maynooth/Kildare area

Week 2- The Pubs, the Shops, the Church, the First Week of Classes

          An Irish Pub, at least in these parts, is not quite what I was expecting. This is a very good thing, as I was picturing a smelly, dirty, smoke-filled, jam-packed, loud and riotous place where the folks have had too much to drink and not enough to wear.

This is a local pub, the roost

          Instead I have been met with a tastefully decorated, comfortably lit and social atmosphere. One can go out there with friends to enjoy conversation and occasionally live music. There hasn’t been any pressure to drink, but in truth I have not gone to the pub with any Irish, only foreigners such as myself. I am told the Irish drink a little differently.
Shopping has also been an exciting experience, as they have fantastic moving sidewalks to transport you and your cart or whatnot into or out of the store. I have discovered when they mark things down, and recently purchased a small loaf of bread for .25 euro and some wheat biscuit-like things (I’ve forgotten the name) for .03 euro each!

These are the carts used at the local shopping center. I spent 5 minutes trying to wrestle one apart (they are linked together) before I spotted a basket.

           It is a good thing I am shopping on a budget, too, because they have absolutely gorgeous-looking shoes here! I don’t even try them on, however, but try to walk past them as if they haven’t caught my attention. They probably don’t come in my size anyways!
I have truly felt blessed this week to be developing some fine friendships and I thank God always for all the people He is sending my way. I am amazed that I have only known these people for such a short while!

          On Sunday I had the privilege of attending the local Presbyterian church, Maynooth Community Church. It was positively smashing! I had been waiting all week to really sing my heart out to God (I hadn’t chosen to bless my roommates in such a way yet) and to meet with other believers for some good fellowship.

          Afterwards they had a soup lunch, which was very good (they had some squash soup!) and I had ample amounts of coffee. The people there were very kind and inviting, and I went out with a couple of the other young scoundrels like myself afterwards.

          Classes this week have been, in a sense overwhelming and in another sense very exciting! A couple of them had extensive reading lists (3-4 pages long) but fortunately the professors have made it clear that we do not have to read all of these, and that many of them are simply, “recommended.” I am taking a course that deals with Irish mythology, called Celtic Heroes, which looks like it will be very fun and interesting. Another Celtic class is called Law, Society, and Learned Classes in Early Christian Ireland. This one is a little more involved.

          I am taking two music courses, titled “Popular Music” and “Electronic Music Composition,” which were enjoyable even on the first day simply because we are listening to and learning about music! As a side note, I have attended a gospel choir meeting that was very lively (Just think “Sister Act” and you’ve got it) and may potentially continue to attend.

          I am also learning some philosophy. I am taking Hermeneutics, which is the study of different approaches to reading a text/ life in general I suppose as well as Medieval Philosophy, which has some more modern (past 2000 years) thinkers, and many Christian ones at that.

If you would be praying for me about these things it would be greatly appreciated:
1) Guidance of the Holy Spirit in relationships
2) More love and grace for others
3) That I would always be mindful of the cross, and how much Jesus loves me
4) Joy! That I would be a blessing to those around me by the joy of Christ.
5) That my new friends would know Jesus as their savior too.
6) Financial providence and wisdom.
7) Praises for all the many blessings and that His grace is constantly multiplied and never runs out!

Week 1--Culture Shock!

There are simply no words. I must admit Ireland is not quite how I pictured so far, and I feel a bit like Uncle Traveling Matt from Fraggle Rock.

On the plane ride I met a nice engineer from the UK who helped me to get on the right plane to make a transfer. Both plane rides went smoothly (if not a little turbulently) and I felt God was watching over me and protecting me the entire way.

It was very strange to literally ride into the sunset, as I made a 6-hour time jump into the future (hence the turbulence). It was also breathtakingly beautiful.

After a full 20 minutes of sleep on the second plane, I was ready to wrestle my two 50lb suitcases, backpack and purse on and off of Irish buses. The bus drivers were very helpful, polite, and patient. Everywhere I went I felt God showing me favor through those I encountered.

Dublin is nothing like Boston, but has a nice flavor of it's own. Before I got on the bus, I decided to have a coffee break at a small, local, eatery. I was completely dumbfounded when I was asked whether I wanted the regular, "white coffee" or not. I decided I did, and it turned out to be coffee with milk.

All the coffee I have found here is instant, as they do not have coffee makers, and it is rather expensive. I have become an Irish Tea Drinker as a result. When in Ireland...

God has given me many new friends, most of them German, Austrian, and Polish. They are very polite and try to speak English when I am present, though I have offered to learn German...I am sure I pronounce it terribly.

The Irish students do not arrive until next week. Until then, it is mostly international students here. There are many Americans here, and I must admit I am a bit embarrassed by the lot. There are a few nice Americans here, but many of them, shall we say, act the stereotype.

My apartment was very cold and dirty at first, but by cleaning ferociously and purchasing a comforter, those things have been quickly solved. I feel very blessed on the whole that I have a place to live, food to eat, and a shower that is hot at least a couple of hours in the day (it is freezing cold at night!).

God has been putting on my heart the last few chapters of the book of Matthew, and on the plane ride I was reading about the various groups being persecuted for their faith across the world. He is widening my perspective and showing me that He is God over the whole world.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

Jesus is with me here, and I am certainly among the nations now. I am excited to attend a nearby church this Sunday and meet the Christian Union members on-campus. 

Please pray:

1) That God would use myself and Christians in the area for His purposes in Maynooth

2) That we could catch a glimpse of what He wants to do and respond in faith

3) That we would be encouraged

4) That God would open hearts and doors that both myself and other believers would have good conversations with others about Jesus

5) That I wouldn't be such a snob to other Americans, but learn to love them (even if they act spoiled!)

6) For my new friends, that they would be saved.

7) Protection

This is the first bus I took from the airport. There were 2 other passengers!

this is a sign I saw on the way between buses

8) Finances (providence and wisdom how to steward $ wisely in another country)

A Brief Introduction

Herein lies the many Irish adventures I shall have. It will be a narrative in part, a learning experience in part, and a request for prayer support in part by all those I love back home. I am excited to have great exploits and meet many new and interesting people. I am curious to how God will teach, change, and shape me in this time. Please feel free to comment or leave small testimonies/ prayer concerns on this page.