My chains are gone...I've been set free!

Again I have so much to tell you! So grab a wee cup of tea and sit back and go on an adventure with me :)

First I need to catch you up from this weekend. Saturday was grand (Irish people say grand ALL THE TIME). Friday God really broke me and loved me and so Saturday was just a refreshing, glorifying, and spectacular day. I went to an antique shop with my friends and I spent too much money but got an amazing pocket watch necklace, a ring, and this OLD book that is one long beautiful poem about the love of God based off of Scripture. Then we went and walked to a little village in the heart of the city and shopped around and ate at a little cafe. Next we walked the walls of the city and took pictures and had a great time talking. We continued our walk along the river until we got home. It was magnificent. The simple pleasures of life bring me such joy. mmmmmmmmm love it.

Sunday I participated in the Bloody Sunday March. Before you get worried about me I am fine. Nothing bad happened. If you do not know Bloody Sunday was 39 years ago on January 30th. People marched peacefully in Derry for the end of Internment and then the British Army opened fire and killed 14 people and injured many others. For years the victims were seen as guilty and as provoking the incident. Ever since on Bloody Sunday they have held a march to clear the names of the victims. Last June 15th there was a report made by Seville that said these victims were innocent. That is HUGE. So last Sunday was the last Bloody Sunday March 39 years to the day after the incident. We walked for 4 hours and finished the march that was started so long ago. Then people such as Gerry Adams (head of Sinn Fein), a victim's family member, and others spoke to us. They spoke to us about freedom, of fighting through struggle, and innocence but also justice. It was so moving. The whole thing ended with the tens of thousands of people singing together "We Shall Overcome". It was a moment that still brings chills to my spine. Unity will happen. Peace will come to this earth. We shall overcome. The Kingdom of God is here.

Then the school week has been a whirlwind. I already told you about Rachel and what a blessing she has been but I cannot emphasize enough what an answer to prayer she has been. Christian Union, which is what she brought me to last night, is filled with amazing people on fire for God. We had a Bible Study and then went over to Sophie's house and watched an Opera that a few of them are singing songs from for class. It was so much fun and I felt like I instantly bonded with them. Then tonight we went to Ballymoney to a church called Sanctuary. The Holy Spirit was soooo thick and present there. God is really moving in my life. Chains and bondages that I have been holding were broken and I was set free. The Holy Spirit was moving so immensely and I was even prophesied over. It was beautiful. I am so excited to see where God takes me from here. His presence in my life is becoming so powerful and I really believe that God is calling me to something extraordinary. After church my friends and I (Rachel, Sophie, Steven, Carolyn, Rick, and Patrick) decided it would be a great idea to drive to a mountain. It was midnight. And it was amazing. We started driving and all of a sudden it started to snow. A legitimate snowstorm. We still got out of the car and the wind was blowing in our faces. I was wearing flip flops and freezing. Someone turned on some Irish music and we all started to dance on top of this mountain in the snow and wind. Even thought it was snowing we could see the stars perfectly. It is a moment I will never forget. We praised God until we were frozen. Standing up looking at the sky and feeling the power of the wind on my back I was overcome with the vastness and magnitude of God. That power lives inside of me. The Holy Spirit dwells in me. HOW AMAZING. So as you can tell God is doing some crazy stuff in my life and revealing truth to me left and right. I cannot believe that God has brought me here and what He is doing. I am so thankful for my new friends that He has brought into my life. They are random and adventurous just like me. I found people who will go up a mountain with me in a snow storm at midnight!!! Perfect. All I can say is thank you Jesus.

Lose a sock but find God in the laundry room

I have something amazing to share with you. I have been struggling so much with not having a community of Christians here and it has been taking a toll on me. Last week Monday I met a girl Rachel at a party who asked me what I studied in America and I told her Biblical Studies, Youth Ministry, and Reconciliation and she FREAKED OUT. She told me how her last flat mate was a strong Christian from the United States but she left last semester. Rachel told me how she had been praying for someone to come alongside her and help her like Rebekah (her flat mate) had. Little did she know that God brought her into my life to help me as well. Rachel told me of a group of students that go to a worship night on Wednesdays and of a group that meets on Tuesdays too. We were so excited that we met each other and realized that we were each other’s answer to prayers. But we didn’t get each other’s numbers which was really stupid. Wednesday came along and I had no idea how to reach her and I was so upset. I continued to think how I could reach her for the rest of the week. Nothing happened and I had no sight of her. I now look back and realize I was not broken enough and that God had to work in me before I entered into community. I am so independent and passionate that I often rely on myself instead of giving over everything to God. Last week was really hard (due to many different things) and I got to the point where I wanted to go home. Crazy right? Well I went for a walk and told God I had enough. And an amazing peace came over me and I realized that I need to stop waiting for life and actually start living. God is already here. He is already moving. And I was broken. I gave over everything to God that I was struggling with and had such a renewed sense of joy it was spectacular. Wow. So then I am sitting in my room today again frustrated that I feel like I have no friends and that I am so distant from any community of believers and was getting worn down. I went to get my laundry and it was not done so I sat on the washing machine and just prayed. I prayed to God for encouragement and in walked RACHEL!!!! We did a girly scream and hugged. We had both been looking for each other and praying for each other and then we found each other in the laundry room. We finally exchanged numbers and we sat and talked and encouraged each other and discussed how amazing our God is. I am so excited. I realized again how Faithful God is. I, as well as many others of my loved ones, have been praying for over a year now that I would find people here that would encourage me towards Christ. Rachel is an answer to prayer. All I can say is Hallelujah what a Savior! So amazing.

Random Reflections

Things I miss:

• street signs 
• shops open on Sundays
• my cell phone
• some of my friends :) 
• peanut butter
• my hair straightener
• having a roommate

Things I LOVE:

• my new taste buds: onions and peppers are amazing!
• the Foyle River and boardwalk
• hills of green
• hospitality
• burgers taste better here
• antique stores
• tea
• walking
• UV paint parties
• meeting new people
• accents - even if they are hard to understand sometimes
• cold brisk air
• sun through the clouds
• seagulls
• live Irish music
• scarves
• 4 day weekends
• little cafes

I could go on. 

Life is not always a fairy tale...

Three of the American young women I met (Shana, Madeline, and Rachel) and I decided to go on an overnight adventure to a town called Sligo. It was recommended by our Resident Director so we thought it would be amazing. We woke up early on Saturday only to be met with a trip full of disasters. Following are bullet points of the trip.

• we got to the bus station 1 hour early
• we went to breakfast to kill time in Derry and it was super hazy and made our eyes hurt and we got runny eggs
• Shana couldn't pay with her card to get on the bus
• on the bus we thought we missed our stop so we asked  a 7 year old boy where we were and found out we were only 1 stop away
• Madeline's leg fell asleep and she thought she got a blood clot
• the bus was running late...only by 45 minutes
• we got off the bus and got lost trying to find our hostel
• the hostel was in a horrible location - a deserted industrial area that was super creepy
• we went out for the night (to get away from our hostel) and got lost again
• there were no people around
• we found a cathedral and went in and old ladies were starring at us
• we went to the courtyard and a gang was there so we ran away
• I almost got hit by a car 5 different times
• the toilet in the hostel wouldn't flush
• Rachel got abdominal pain attacks
• the TV at the hostel only had 1 channel
• THERE IS NOWHERE TO GO IN SLIGO TOWN (it is all in the countryside where we couldn't get to)
• the pub that we went to in order to hear live music was super dungeony and sketchy so we left before th band came
• Tesco (kinda like a grocery store) was set up horrible and didn't have cups and just generally sucked
• we couldn't find cups anywhere
• the taxi was super expensive - 8 euros to go about 1 mile and he ran a red light and went through a stop light
• all we had to eat was fatty nasty food
• we called our Resident Director and he told us that we could have paid the same price for a very nice bed and breakfast and was not comforting and didn't tell us what attractions were around
• We bought cookies and they were really dry
• Madeline forgot pajamas
• phone wouldn't add money to it
• there were creepy noises in the hostel
• Madleing and RAchel couldn't sleep at all 
• the rooms in the hostel were freezing - we payed a lot of money for that hostel
• I tried to get out of my bed in the morning and got stuck on the top bunk
• there are NO buses to anywhere on Sunday so we couldn't even go to the countryside to see anything
• it was misty and eery out all morning
• Shana got a bloody nose
• the bus station was closed when we got there
• since barely any buses run at all on Sunday we couldn't get a bus back to Derry until noon so we waited for 3 hours in the freezing bus station (they didn't close the doors and heaters don't work here)

But...we finally got back. And we appreciate Derry so much more now! Now that I look back on it was quite humorous. I kept a little book with me and wrote down all the things that went wrong. I am definitely an optimist and we made as much fun as we could out of the situation. We learned a lot...like research and plan out your trip before you go and make sure you look up the town and not the county you are in. All in all it was a bonding experience and united us together! The glass is always half full in Ireland :)

In a blink...

I am afraid to blink because if I do I feel as though I will miss out on so much! My life in Northern Ireland is so busy and absolutely wonderful. I really need to update this blog more so the posts are not as long. Since I barely wrote while I was in Belfast I am going to simply highlight a few things. We spent so much time listening to people speak to us about Reconciliation, the conflict, and what they are doing to promote peace. I was absolutely blown away!!! Then at night our group bonded very quickly in a little hostel called Arnie's backpacker. I learned so much in this week and my life was completely changed. One day in particular changed my life and I will put my journal entry on here (I will try and shorten it some)

January 12, 2011

Today changed my life. I never again will view ministry or my life the same! Right now I am sitting in the garden of Arnie’s looking at the sky lit up by the building lights and I am in awe of the glory of God. 

Then we went to a Methodist church and a man spoke to us again. What he said will stick with me for the rest of my life. He quoted the Archbishop of Canterbury and said, The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members. WOW. This was said in the 1800’s and so it breaks my heart because this truth is not lived out. He also said that we don’t meet the needs of people in order to convert them or make them into “us” but rather you meet their needs because they have them. This immediately brought to mind that Jesus said when we visit people in prison we visit Him and when we feed the hungry we feed Him. He did not tell us that we feed the hungry and bring Jesus to them but rather we feed them because we they need it and recognize that Jesus is already there.  We also went to a Catholic church today and heard a man speak of what it was like, he told us that before the wall he was able to get to his wife’s house by 12 different roads and then the wall went up and he had 4 gate options and they were very difficult to get through and when he married his wife, because she was on the “other side”, many of his family and friends did not come. That wall separates and divides. It is a way to take care of the behavior issues but the real feelings and issues of the conflict are not addressed. It is a cover on top of boiling pot and is only a remedy to the surface issues. This man we met told us that he hopes one day that wall can be torn down, but right now it is not ready to be. The people do not know each other so if it was torn down nothing would change and hostility would rage. Children can be playing the same game separated by a couple feet of brick but they might as well be miles away. The way people are trying to achieve reconciliation is by taking care of the needs of the community. By uniting churches, both protestant and catholic, and reaching out. It is by recognizing the dignity and humanity in “the other” and listening to their story and actually meeting them! The Catholic Church we visited has multiple initiatives to bring about reconciliation and to take care of the needs of the church. This is what the church needs to look like.

The church is a place to go out and seek justice in the world. It is to benefit those that are not part of it. To reach the world. But not to bring them Jesus but rather to take care of their needs. The Holy Spirit is active in this world and if we don’t recognize that he is present and that he is working we deny God. Ministry is to be about serving “the other” to recognize the outcast and to love the world. It is easy for me to sit here in Northern Ireland and to see this and to see the need for reconciliation and to see the need for unity within their community. But their churches here, in the neighborhood we visited, are more united than the churches I have experienced in America. Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Protestant, etc gathered together to create an initiative called Heat or Eat because many people have to make the choice whether they are going to heat their house or feed their family. They came together to provide the needs of the people. Can we say that about our church in America? The churches in America are divided just as much as here. We have so many denominations and yet we seek the same Jesus Christ.  Churches split and fellowship is broken and God weeps. Where is the united body? Where is the unity seeking out the Kingdom of God? It is so easy to see in other cultures what needs to change but we fail to recognize the influences of our own culture and the evil in our own country. We come to church on Sundays get “fed” and then go home. We may go to small groups or bible studies but is the church meant to feed you or is the church meant to feed the needy? Has church become about the individual? I believe that the church is to be a community center a place where Christians come to bring about the Kingdom of God through united fellowship. I think churches need to come together to recognize the needs and depravity of their communities and work together to obliterate them. The church is to raise up people who seek justice and who actively love self-sacrificially. “The walls which separate do not reach to heaven!” this is the front of a card I received from the Catholic Church. On the back is a prayer that is said everyday they go out and interact with “the other”. It moved me to tears when we read it together. It is applicable to every division we create in our life. 

Lord Jesus,
Who on the eve of your death, 
prayed that all your disciples might be one,
as you in the Father and the Father in you,
make us feel intense sorrow over the infidelity of our disunity.

Give us the honesty to recognize, 
and the courage to reject,
whatever indifference towards one another,
or mutual distrust, or even enmity,
lie hidden within us.

Enable us to meet one another in you.
And let your prayer for the unity of Christians,
be ever in our hearts and on our lips,
unity such as you desire and by the means that you will.

Make us find the way that leads to unity in you,
who are perfect charity,
through being obedient to the Spirit of love and truth.
Amen.

This prayer and that day changed me. I so desire to see the unity in the Body of Christ. I went to a Catholic Mass on Sunday and they spoke of this very thing!!! So good!!!

Now onto Derry. I left the Bethel group on Monday morning early and saying goodbye was extremely difficult. I became so close with people and shared so much that it was like I left some of my heart with them. I sit here now and think about it and I still miss them so much! It is different now than it was. I finally got moved into my dorm on Monday and met the other 6 American Young Women that will be studying abroad with me. I have not met any of my flatmates and I am excited to meet them at some point. As a group we have traveled to see the bogside which is where Bloody Sunday happened and today we went to Giant's Causeway. It was absolutely spectacular! So beautiful. I put a TON of pictures on facebook so check them out!

I have been bonding really well with the other Young Women from America and I am having lots of fun! It is just different though. I haven't found a Christian Community yet here and I miss my Bethel friends. I miss talking and being affirmed in my faith instead of being shot down. Something I know I will learn this semester is how to be in the world but not of it. I am really excited to see how God uses this semester and I am excited to see how I am changed from this experience.I want to remember and fully experience every little thing. I want to remember today when I took my first trip by train and I want to remember how I got motion sickness from riding backwards on a bus. I want to remember how it feels to breathe in the brisk air and even the smell of my room. 

I am going to update this blog more often and with little random things so that they are not super long posts all the time. thank you for reading this! I am on skype whenever I am online so if you every want to chat just let me know (sarah.mikul) a good time is usually at 6ish MN/WI time.

Reflections...

For this blog I am just going to write what I wrote in my journals so it is a lot more of reflection than what I actually did! Hope you still enjoy it! Check out facebook because pictures will be coming soon!!!!!

January 5th, 2011

                This morning started off with a walking tour of the city by Fergus. Fergus is a man of a church just up the road. He is absolutely hilarious and shorter with sweet gray hair! We saw so many monuments, cathedrals, Dublin Castle, and so much more. What struck me is that I see everything as beautiful here; the streets, gates and even the doors yet I fail to see this beauty at home. Why is this? Have I become so familiarized with it that I lose the ability to see things as they really are around me? When I go back I want to look at the world around me through these same lenses of beauty. Ireland is another place God created and He also created Merrill. On our walking tour Fergus told us the history of the places. So much destruction, violence and hostility have happened. This trip is going to be so challenging as I try to engage and interact with this history and begin to understand. I don’t want to learn about Ireland but I want to learn from Ireland. After the walking tour we went to this sweet little café and I had the best minestrone soup I have ever had and then we headed to Dublin Castle! It is amazing to walk through halls that have had so much history happen in them. To stand where Michael Collins stood as the flag rose was chilling! So beautiful. Also the sun illuminates things here. The buildings will suddenly start shining and the statues that are all around will begin to glow in the Ireland sun. After the castle we went to a local Pub called Kearney’s. We talked to the bartender for a long time! He was hilarious. The humor here is wonderful because it is quick and witty and said in the same tone so you really have to listen for it. As I left I got my first real Irish kiss from and old Irish man on my cheek. Then we went and had some dinner and had prayer time with our group and then went back out to the Temple Bar.  The Temple Bar is a touristy area that has a ton of pubs and restaurants. We listened to a band play Irish Jig music. I could not believe I was there. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. I can see why people spend so much time in Pubs. It is meant for the fellowship. Ben, Sarah, Trevor and I stayed later and listened to music all night!  They even played my favorite song Galloway Girl (can be heard in PS I love You)

January 6^th 2011

                This morning I woke up exhausted! Right away in the morning we drove to Fergus’ house which is called Narnia. On the way we saw the ocean and it was so beautiful! The way the blue meets with the green is something only God could have come up with. Fergus’ house was a great cottage and Sarah his wife made an excellent lunch of potatoes and chicken filled with stuffing wrapped in bacon. Fergus talked to us about the history of Ireland. It amazes me how the Pope gave Ireland to the King of England. So it is the Catholics who actually started the whole ordeal that they blame the Protestants for. There is so much content and issues involved that I will never begin to understand it.  It is so easy to pass judgment! Conflict is not about who is right or wrong and what is going on but it is the process of reconciliation. And reconciliation is not going to happen by blaming one side or trying to figure everything out. I need to learn how to listen and I am super excited to hear others’ stories to expand my worldview and ability to hear other people.

                After his house we went to a castle and it finally felt like I was in Ireland. It was set back in the woods with a long path with the sun setting and it was gorgeous. Europe is so old. Fergus told us a 12^th century village was found next to his house (and under it) and they excavated it and took pictures and then buried it again. Why? Things seem to be taken for granted here. The extraordinary seems common, just like for me at home. After the castle we made dinner and then Pud, Erik, Greg, and I went to Lord Edward’s Pub. When we walked in people stared at us. It was a local place outside the Temple Bar area. At the first the people were cold but when they realized we weren’t American’s looking to get wasted they stared talking to us. I talked with Billy (an old Irish man) for a couple hours. We talked politics, about the conflict, the economy, rock and roll, his life, and much more. He was amazing. He told me crazy things about the varying aspects of the conflict. About different parties that they have in Ireland (14 I think he said) and how it was a true democracy based off of what the candidates actually do for the community. One party is still like the IRA and uses violence to get things done. It was very interesting to listen to him and hear his opinions and viewpoints. Billy wanted to share all the knowledge that he had with me and help me out in any way that he could. The Irish people speak their mind but also do not want to force their opinion on you. They keep themselves distanced but also share what they know.

                We also had a debriefing session today and talked about “the other”. Who is the “other” in my life? Which people do I not desire to listen to and put up a barrier against? If I was truly honest it would probably be everyone. I desire to make my life a space for people to share their story and in doing so love them.  Listening is so closed to being loved that they are barely distinguishable.  Another observation I had is that I felt like an object at Temple Bar but respected at Lord Edward’s. I want to experience Ireland. I wasn’t to interact, learn, and change. I do not want to be a tourist and just grab and take. This can be brought to my whole life, I do not want to be a tourist and observe life and just take what I can but I want to interact with it, get into the dirt of it and smell the fire that burns. This is so hard to do; to reject oneself daily.

January 7^th 2011

                Today was another great day! I can’t believe I have been in Dublin for 2 days! Today Father John Joe spoke to us about Celtic Christianity and I found out my birthday is the celebration of young life and marriage and fertility (full of nuptial energy). The Celts worked with nature so much and I respect that. I see God in nature and so did they. I connected very well with what John Joe was speaking about and I was very intrigued. They have an idea about Sacred Place and that the high mountain or the valley below is a sacred place and I believe this. There is so much beauty in this world (in nature and in the city) and it all is calling out praises to God.  One thing I wonder about is the inculturation. Inculturation is incorporating the culture within Christianity. This is great for witnessing and recognizing the people but I wonder, “what is authority?’ It scares me to incorporate culture into the sacred because I am fearful of tainting belief in God. Where is the line drawn? When does inculturation become heresy? I do think we need to speak to culture and have that shape who we are and how we interact with people and it definitely affects how we interact with God. But I just don’t know how they all work together.

After his lecture we went walking around town looking for a thrift store. Unfortunately the receptionist didn’t know what a “trift”, as he said it, store was but he pretended he did and sent us on a wild goose chase around the city. Next we did presentations and then went to a Rugby game. It was freezing but so much fun! It was the first time it rained and I am still chilled to the core from it. The game was intense; brutal but fantastic! When they are kicking it everyone goes silent and only the sound of the rain drops could be heard. Leinster won! And then we shivered all the way home. Sarah and I quickly changed and head out to O’shea’s. So great! Sarah and I had such a great conversation about confession and struggles and our relationships with God. One question we were wrestling with is if we have tasted something as sweet as God why do we ever turn away from him? It was a truly life changing conversation as we wrestled with deep stuff. We also talked with a man who works with youth in Belfast and he reminded us to listen to the youth and told us that if we ask God to help us he may respond “I already have, when are you going to try?

January 8^th 2011

                God is soooo amazing! I have been so sucked out of everything lately and feeling somewhat down. Tonight I got refreshed and healed through talking with my roommates Sarah, Emily, Caroline, and Hannah. But before that, today was also splendid. We took a day tour south. We went to Avoca where we got to tour a wool shop and see how things were made.  I have realized I have a hard time splurging on myself. I never buy souvenirs or anything, which should change! We then went to Glendalough (pronounced Glen-Da-Lock) and means valley of the 2 lakes. We saw an old Monastic City with a large graveyard. The graves were so old and there was moss growing up them. There are a lot of Celtic crosses and it is really great to see culture coming through everything. We walked from the upper lake to the lower lake and there were huge trees with ivy growing up them. Lots of moss everywhere and little waterfalls scattered around. It is beautiful and I really feel like my life is a fairy tale right now! The wind was SO intense! There were white caps on the lake and we had to work hard to stay upright! After our walk we went to dinner and my friend Caroline and I shared warm death by chocolate and oh my goodness it was delicious! The next part of our day tour was the Guinness Valley. I don’t know if I am just really emotional or what but I had to hold back tears. It was absolutely stunning. It is winter here and so it wasn’t very green but the valley was astounding. The best part thou was the wind! I literally could not walk when the big gusts came because it was so strong. Never before have I felt the immenseness of the power of the wind before! I stood there amazed by the glory of God that was radiating from that valley.

We then came back, ate dinner, and then had a meeting. We talked about the complexity of the conflict in Northern Ireland that we will face in Belfast. Then we talked about how to treat and interact with beggars. It is such a hard issue and I still don’t know. I would like to experience it to know how I should love and treat them. Perhaps after college I will travel around! After that we were going to go to a River dance but couldn’t because you have to buy dinner on the weekends to see it and it was done being served. This made me really sad!!! But God knows best! Instead I ended up having tea with Hannah, Mindy, Pamela, Greta, Bryce, and Tony. We shared something the others didn’t know and had a great time at Thai Spice. Then Hannah and I had a great discussion about our struggles and how we are doing on the trip. It was such a deep conversation! After awhile our other roommates joined in and we had a night of affirmation where we went around and shared what we appreciated and loved about each other. God moved so much because all of us had been down and struggling and through fellowship and encouragement that was wiped away.  Praise God!!! We prayed for each other and then went to bed.

January 9^th 2011

                One week is already done! Today we woke up and went to Fergus’ church! The worship lasted for a loooong time; the music alone was over an hour long and absolutely wonderful. After last night I felt as though I worshiped God with unadultured praise. The church was very much modeled after the Acts Church. Afterwards we got on a bus (which I lost my bus ticket for! But then I found it luckily)) and headed towards Belfast. It was a long ride and when I should have been reading I actually slept. The reading is rough because it is dealing with the conflict and there is just sooo much involved and I get very confused. Again, I want to learn from Ireland and not about Ireland! We arrived in Belfast and I immediately felt at home again. We got comfortable at Arnie’s Backpacker (I am sharing a room with my professor Pamela!) and then went to the place we will have our meetings. We learned some phrases that I will take back to the states with me like a “thram” is someone who is awkward (I know lots of thrams!!! Haha). We then went out to a great little Italian Restaurant! The pizza was delicious and I tried goat cheese and loved it! And oh my goodness Tiramisu is the best thing that has ever entered my mouth!!! We came back and just hung out at the hostel.

                I had an amazing conversation with one of the hostel workers Ben. He has been traveling around the world with no money working at hostels and receiving food and lodging for free. We discussed faith and how struggles make us ask the tough questions and seek out God. He had some amazing stories. We also discussed how God loves us the same yesterday today and tomorrow and how we do not need to be perfect to receive his love. Ben is an amazing man that I am excited to get to know more throughout this week! This trip has been filled with conversations that have challenged me and caused me to grow. I love meeting new people and sharing our stories. Testimony is powerful.

January 10^th 2011

                Today we had breakfast at Arnie’s and I got to eat cereal like Cheerio’s soooo yummy. Then we went and learned about Celtic Spirituality.  We learned so much about the values and I am very intrigued. I want to look into it more and apply it to my faith because I think that nature, hospitality, and fellowship are things that are essential to the Christian Faith and the Celtic culture really dives into them. Then we had snacks (always tea…yum yum yum)!  Then we learned a brief overview of the control of the different areas of Ireland and the political issues involved. We had lunch at then went on a 3 hour walking tour of the city. Much different feel from Dublin! There is barbed wire on the top of gates and walls dividing the Nationalists from the Unionists. They call the walls “peace lines” but they are so divisive rather than bringing peace. The only change that has happened since the peace agreements were for the walls to get higher. Also there are murals all around the city full of Nationalist or Unionist artwork. Some even say things like “Catholics must be killed”. I can’t imagine living in a town where that division and hatred is seen every day. These murals are done by both sides and so they are everywhere and helps shows where one group lives and where the other group isn’t welcome. (see pictures on Facebook) We walked and walked and walked. The city is spectacular and beautiful with wonderful sidewalks and it is amazing.  We processed what we saw and I still have a heavy heart. I wonder how reconciliation and forgiveness can happen if reminders of the offenses are present everywhere. Can you truly forgive without forgetting the offense? How do these images affect those that are constantly reminded by them? How are the children affected? So many questions. So much to experience. We then came back and we are just chilling out tonight. Each day I realize more and more that God has called us to a ministry of Reconciliation. I got a ton of books from the place we have our meetings about forgiveness and reconciliation! (I donated some money to them because I wasn’t supposed to pay) I am so excited to continue this journey and learn more and be challenged and grow! 

Let the peace of God guard your heart and mind...

Wow. January has been busy so far! For those of you who do not know I moved to Northern Ireland for 5 months on January 2nd. And in the short 4 days of this month so much has happened. To begin on January 1st I had a day of packing and a day of stress. Shoving all of my stuff in one big suitcase and then 2 carry on size bags is quite an ordeal, especially since I over pack like crazy. In the evening of the 1st I began to get so stressed out and anxious about my trip and it was overwhelming. I got overwhelmed to the point that I was unable to handle simple questions my family asked me. That anxiety is something I never felt before and I did not like it and I hope I never have it again! Immediately I began to pray and asked God for peace because I knew He called me to leave and study abroad and so I knew He was the one to help me through this ordeal. I also called my friend Hannah and had her pray for me to! I began to pace up and down my house praying like mad to God as I awaited my friend to pick me up to go to a party at a friend's house. After nearly wearing my own little pathway in the carpet I was suddenly slapped in the face with the realization that I should read my Bible. I went to Philippians 4:6 I read it over and over and then decided to broaden what I was reading. I read the following verses repeatedly for 30 minutes (luckily my friend was late to pick me up haha) it says, " Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Talk about an amazing kick in the butt! I had been praying to God but forgetting to rejoice in Him! I had been making my petition to Him but lacking in a gentle spirit! It is amazing how the truth of God is able to penetrate hearts and change attitudes for from that point I looked at Ireland as a blessing. How many people in their lives are able to do what I am doing right now? Yes, it is hard and challenging but it is an experience that will change and strengthen me in ways that I can’t even begin to imagine. After I began to rejoice in the Lord instead of despairing in myself I was able to go to my friend’s house and have an amazing time with people that I hadn’t seen in ages. And afterwards my great friend Erich prayed over me and sent me on my way to Ireland with the guidance of the Lord. When I got home I packed and attempted to sleep but only 2 hours of rest came to my eyes because of my excitement!

Yes. That is all one day and I hadn’t even left for Ireland. Can you imagine what else have to tell you?

January 2^nd came around earlier than I wanted it to and my family and I packed up the car and headed out to the CWA airport. I got sick on the way there and spent the rest of the day fighting with my stomach and head to feel better. My family and I said goodbye and I headed to security, wrote a paper, and got on the plane all before 10am. The first flight was only 35 min and was not of interest. From Chicago to Newark I was in the very last seat next to a man named Scott who is an Opera singer in New York and we had an amazing discussion about his life, Reconciliation, Beauty, and Faith. I am so glad to have met him and have our paths crossed (numerous times, we said goodbye like 5 times but kept seeing each other in the airport). From Newark to Belfast I sat next to an older couple who I regrettably did not chat with much because I was attempting to fall asleep. This was a failure however. Luckily I was able to listen to classical music and also eat amazing meals, I love airplane food! Sidenote: if you ever get the chance to listen to classical music while flying DO IT! It is a great experience. When I arrived in Belfast I looked out the window and I saw a gorgeous sunrise over green hills. I got through customs and headed out of the airport onto the first public bus (besides the Merrill-Go-Round which does not really count).

By this time it is actually January 3^rd and as I rode the bus and looked out at the countryside around me I had to hold back tears. God is an amazing and faithful God. He may call us to hard decisions and challenging times but He never leaves our side within them. Through all the difficulties that I have had never once have I felt alone in them; God’s presence has been so prevalent within this entire experience and throughout my life. When I got to Belfast I took a taxi, upon my mother’s request, and headed to Arnie’s Backpacker which is a Hostel that agreed to hold my huge bag there until I returned from Dublin in a week or so. I was greeted with a warm welcome into this Hostel owned by a man named Arnie. It is a little cozy place that felt like home. Immediately he brought me tea and toast and gave me all I wanted. He allowed me to stay for numerous ours and entertained me with jokes and singing as I sat next to a little fire in the common area and rested. I also met a man named Karin from France at Arnie’s and we discussed Irish Accents and watched Top Gear and had a great time. Eventually I left my bag and my heart (not really, but very close to it. I love that town) in Belfast and headed to Dublin. Karin walked me to the bust station so I didn’t get lost and showed me numerous places that I should go and places that I shouldn’t. Then I rode a bus for 3 hours to Dublin and I was exhausted so I fell asleep. I would wake up periodically to see where I was and to make sure I didn’t miss my stop. At one point I woke up and my eyes beheld the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It was a little town that I do not remember the name of. The sun was setting in the distance upon green hills and then the little town surrounded me in the valley with building of old brick and then a canal that reflected the sunset was directly before me. I was dumbfounded and after we left I fell back to a deep slumber and woke up in Dublin. From the bus station I immediately went to Jacob’s Inn where I was staying and went to my room, wrote to my mom and dad and then fell asleep at 7pm.

I did not wake up until 8:30am on January 4^th. I met the woman that I slept next to in the morning and she was from Brazil. Her English was very broken but somehow we managed to communicate. I went down the elevator to get breakfast and met the rest of the Bethel group in the lobby. A loud and cheerful welcome greeted me and I was reminded just how loud Americans really were :) haha. I got breakfast and talked with this old man from Cork who is a professor and he complimented me a lot and told me that I had a face that made people want to come up to me and a personality that kept them there. We had a good talk about various things and then I was on my way with Gary and Tony (2 of my friends from Bethel) to discover the city. We started off just waling and I was yelled and swore at by a man for taking up to much room on the sidewalk. Then we looked lost so an Irish man came up to us and helped us out. He was hilarious and walked with us for awhile. The people here are amazingly friendly (besides that mean walker man) and I have felt so welcomed. We walked and walked and walked. We saw this huge Spire which is in the middle of the city and is essentially a giant pole up into the sky. I am very thankful for this because it helps me know where I am going! We stopped at a coffee shop to warm up because it was windy and chilly outside. I got tea and I fell in love. I love the tea here it is way better than in the States. Again I was amazed by how loud Americans are because everyone else in the shop was talking quietly and my voice could be heard clear across the island! From the coffee shop we hopped onto a bus not knowing where it was going and just rode. We ended up way out in the country and we got to see more rolling green hills and the residential areas. We then got on the bus going the other way all together it was about a 2-3 hour trip! But I got to talk to a couple lovely ladies and see the beautiful scenery so it was all worth it! By this time the three of us were starving so we stopped at a pizza place and had amazing yummy pizza! After that we walked back to the hostel and just hung out and eventually a few of us got the idea to go check out the Guinness Storefront which is a 7 storey museum of the brewing company. It was soooo amazing! We walked through and learned everything and then at the top there was a beautiful 360 degree outlook of the whole city of Dublin. Breathtaking. The lights of the city were surrounding us and I sat there in awe of this immense city. Obviously a lot of things are stunning me here. We came back and ate our inexpensive dinner bought at a local grocery store of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Then most of our group went to bed and since I am over jet lag I stayed up and wrote this long post.

Looking back I have done so much but it has flown by. I already have learned so many things about myself and about my culture and the cultures of this world. Dublin is a hopping city with tons of different cultures around and is so face paced. I have met people from all over the world and through starting conversations with them I have realized my independence and also have gained so much confidence. God is doing amazing things already and it has only been 3 days of my 5 month journey. I do not want to take any moment for granted because every moment is an opportunity for change and an opportunity for me to grow in the person that God has made me to be. I am so excited to continue on in this crazy adventure. As you read this blog and as you think about me please be in prayer. Pray for my group that they will become rested and get over jet lag quickly so that being tired will not stop them from experiencing anything. Pray that we will make the most of everything; from the people to the places! Also pray that we will not miss our friends and family at home too much because it is easy to think about all of you at home and wish that you were here (there isn’t much of me wishing I was there haha). Finally and most importantly pray that we will grow and develop into Christ followers that radiate the love of Christ to everyone that we meet. Pray that through our experiences we come to an intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ as we interact with His creation on the other side of the world and pray that He works and moves in us to reach the world. Sorry this is so long. But you must get used to it because I will have so much to tell.