Tuesday in Rainy Ireland

Today was one of those days that Ireland is well known for...RAIN! Yay!!!!! I love sarcasm! The past two days (Sunday and Monday) were abnormal weather for Ireland because it did not rain at all...not a drop.

We had our second day at Kid's Club, and it went much smoother than yesterday. Yesterday we only had 11, and today we had 24! When Ann and I did our skit, we did it for memory, unlike yesterday. Matt and I were in charge of the day today. The theme today was "Trading Sheep for Subjects", the story of King David. And yours truly played King David for story time. Everyone said I did well, the kids seemed involved in the story. Due to the rain we had to do the games in the small classroom. We introduced the kids to another American game...Hot Potato!!!! Snack went well, we served biscuits (cookies) and juice that tasted a lot like Tang. After Kid's Club, Ann, Linda, Matt, and I hurried back to Denny and Linda's to get ready for lupper (lunch/supper) because today was Jim and Ruth's 27th wedding anniversary. They had their own table, with a table cloth, candle, and flowers. All that was missing was someone playing the accordion! Ha!!!

After lupper we all practiced the music for the ladies retreat this weekend. At 6:30 we left for a town called Ballymun. Ballymun is a very sad town. No lie, it makes the worst streets in Detroit look like Sunset Blvd. To imagine how bad it is, imagine the grocery store being in a train car, with no refrigeration. That means warm milk, meat, warm everything. We did a prayer walk in Ballymun, that's how we saw all of the things. I personally prayed that the Bible Study that we were going to would be moved by the Holy Spirit to help change this broken town and country. at one point I could not help but to cry, that is all I could do, besides pray for the people. When we got to the Bible study, we prayed some more, and met new people. Two people that really stuck out to me were Thomas (Toe-mas) and Patrick (Pour-ic). Just by talking to them, they seemed they really had a heart for knowing Christ. Keep them in your prayers. Now I'm going to let Dennis type the rest of what happened tonight, because I honestly don't feel like I should.

So here he is. I will try to give you a picture of what Michael spoke on tonight. I have seen God working in this young man's life. Michael shared how God transformed his life through another person. He shared how Jeff Harrington had really made an eternal impact on him that changed him and how he wanted his life to mean something. As many of us know, Jeff left us too soon, none of us wanted him to go, but God had a purpose. Michael shared that he decided no matter what the cost, he was going to serve the Lord because of the example that Jeff had on him. It reminds me of the fact that we have no guarantee on how much time we have on this earth. So we need to make sure we leave a legacy that we would be known as serving Christ. He shared how the passage in 1 Peter 4:12-19 and 1 John 1:9 also impacted his life and not to worry about what non-believers might think about him and his walk with Jesus Christ. He also shared that he was going into youth ministry. He felt a calling on his heart that God wanted this for his life. Michael also spoke about the beauty of Ireland and the awesome power that God has done here by forming the hills as well as the views of his creation. Mike also made the point of how foolish people can be by saying there is no God, when there is complete evidence of His creation right under their noses. The people really listened and respected what he was talking about. They prayed for him at the closing of our time, for his up and coming studies in college. I feel that God will use him to make an eternal impact for the Kingdom. Keep praying for him and Matt as they both know God is calling them into full time ministry. PTL!

At our team bible study Monday night, Ruth-Ann shared how Pastor Hossler's prayer was being answered from back when he was here at CW. He prayed that God would raise up 25 young individuals for full time ministry in the missionary church. Now in the present the number has exceeded 25 young individuals. God has indeed answered that prayer.

This is Michael again and I would like to thank all of you again for you prayers for this trip, we all are getting along great! There is one person here with me that I am glad I have gotten to know. And he wrote about me in this blog. I never really realized how great of a man Dennis really was until I have gotten to know him here. He definately loves God and has a passion for people, not to mention his great sense of humor...good times! Reta (Dennis' wife), if you are reading this...you married a great guy! He sure is competition for comic relief on this team!!! You've raised a great husband!!!! You deserve a pat on the back!!!! Thank You all!! And we will see you in a week!!!!
Love,Michael, Dennis, and the rest of the Ireland team!