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!