My Attempt at a Newsletter This Month

     I put this, this blogging thing, off till today, mistakenly thinking that I'd be able to better creatively communicate everything that's happened in the last few weeks. But today, the computer screen and my tired eyes are still blinking blankly at each other. Too many stories from the first three weeks of outreach swirl around my head, too many encounters, adventures and discoveries to ever relate.

     Don't I say this same thing in every one of my blogs?! I just want you all to know everything that's going on! But I think I'll resign myself to the fact that that will never happen. So here goes with a very loose summary of the last three weeks!

     Border Walk. Oh, Border Walk. Perhaps the longest, but most fulfilling eighteen days of my life. (I mean, how many people get to say they walked across an entire country on their own two feet?)

      This was the third year that YWAM Ireland has hosted the Border Walk. The idea came from the prayers of a few people who saw the Northern Irish/Irish border, a place of much tension and conflict during the Troubles, as a wound that God wanted to stitch and heal. And so a few weeks ago, about thirty of us, each from around the world, both Catholic and Protestant, walked, prayed, and carried a heavy, wooden cross 200 miles from Rostrevor to Derry/Londonderry.

     The walk was definitely more challenging than I thought. Popping blisters, stretching sore muscles, and shuffling pathetically across gym floors became a daily routine. But beyond the physical, there was often a spiritual exhaustion at the end of the day. Seeing and feeling the bitterness, bloodshed and darkness that stained the ground of many towns pulled at my heart and pushed me to my knees before God. Our team also faced a lot of spiritual attacks, be it discouragement, tough news from home, injuries, or what we called the Border Plague, a stomach sickness that knocked out about half our team. What a challenge!

    

  But oh, how the painful memories pale in comparison to the good! Those eighteen days were filled with some incredible, hilarious, and precious memories. I so enjoyed meeting people in each of the towns we stayed in and witnessing firsthand how God is stirring revival in the hearts of a handful. We worshipped and prayed in every town we stayed in, and I loved learning to see, hear, and feel God's heart for Ireland. The hours and miles of walking were actually very enjoyable too! It's amazing how well you can get to know someone when you walk with them for eighteen miles in one day! The conversations, stories and laughs I shared with my teammates and staff here at An Cuan made the miles and hours fly. Okay, maybe not fly. But they didn't drag quite as slowly when surrounded by friends.

     God taught me personally a lot about endurance, perseverance and trust during those eighteen days. I wrestled with questions such as, "How do I feel heartbreak and intercede for someone, yet keep worry and fear out of my heart?" I also experienced Christ's love in a way more tangible and deeply than I think I ever had before during one of our evenings of worship. Jesus showed me how I can continually drink from Him and be satisfied, even when I'm feeling more exhausted than I ever have.

     After Border Walk, we had two days of rest, then headed off to Glen Arm for Summer Madness, the largest Christian youth festival in Northern Ireland. Summer Madness was hosted on a beautiful castle grounds (as you do in Ireland). We camped in a twenty-person tent which was surprisingly warm and dry! Unfortunately, they wouldn't let us stay in the castle. Darn.

    About two to three thousand youth attended Summer Madness this year. Mornings and evenings, my team and I joined in the main worship and teaching session. Throughout the day, we manned YWAM's tent, served tea and coffee, attended different seminars, and just met and talked to the youth. I enjoyed seeing all the different Christian organizations in Ireland and the UK that are doing so many great things for the youth in this country. Summer Madness had its challenges (rain, port-a-potties, etc.) but it was a lot of fun, and, as always, God taught me a lot about myself and others!

     Ok, well, my brain has reached its capacity to think! 

     Friday, my DTS splits into our two outreach teams. I and nine others are going to Scotland and the rest are off to Wales. I'll spend three weeks in Paisley/Glasgow, one week in Oban, and our last week in Edinburgh. I'm very excited and hopefully will be able to spend updates while I'm there! Continue to pray for us! Love and miss you all! 

P.S. I hope you enjoyed the pictures that I finally figured out how to put in here! Way more interesting now, right??