Just a few.

I cant post most pics of kids for child protection reasons.. but here are some.... till I can get more on here. Internet cafe times almost up! (and sorry I suck at formatting and layout and stuff..)

A month already?!

how is it that on tuesday, ill have been here a month?! that is unreal to me!!

but i am not sure why my page looks so dodgy, things are missin on it and i cant really be bothered figuring out the formatting stuff rite now.. we are all having to go to wee internet cafes rite now, cuz the net is down where we live and work, hence the lack of communication and short emails and blogs.. but.. God is amazing me.. the things i have seen Him doing and ppl that i have met, is just soo.. amazing, is really all i can say!

but lets see.. just got back from another week of camp.. couldnt have been a better week if you ask me.. arrived at camp this last monday, and the weather, for one, all week, was amazing. every day.. it was at least 80, and the lowest like 60.. for ireland, that is unheard of.... and so we were able to have water balloon launching competition, slip and slides, water fights, go to the beach, have bonfires on the beach, and an amazin time with the teens. that was amazing it itself, kept ppl from freezing at nite, and getting sick.. no one did.. and not a drop of rain or cold, i even got sun!! insane..

the group of students we had were amazing.. we had a total of 10 was all, and 12 leaders.. the kids ages 14-19... and they would all be ones coming from really rough home lifes.. a couple had been kicked out of school for vandalism and hitting teachers, these kids were really the ones of caused trouble, and bullied kids and got in fights, most of them smoke pot and drank daily.. and yet God brought each one of them to the camp with huge plans for them... we had no problems.. God gave me amazing relationships with each of these kids.. and there were 3 boys that really stick out to me, and i have committed to praying for them this whole year.

basically, God was moving and working in their lives, in each of the sessions and the hang out times, we saw God workin in their little hard hearts, and by the end of the week, we already started to see change.. one lad would come up to me every day, from about wednesday, and tell me that he threw away his cigarrettes, and when the other kids at camp offered him one, he would snap it in half and come tell me, bcuz he knew how proud of him i was for doing that.. every day the rest of the week he did that. he told me that normally he would smoke at least 20 a day, but didnt at camp.. was a genius kid.. and all the week he was such a little gentlemen, and helping us out and watchin his mouth... (cuz here, no matter who is talking, every other word is really really bad, without exageration).. and he would be one that was a pot head, and didnt bring any to camp.. these are huge steps for kids that dont know the Lord.. now.. another guy.. is one who got kicked out of school and cant go back, becuz of all his physical violence toward his teachers and destroying thousands of dollars worth of school stuff.. and throughout the week he was asking questions about the bible, and even told us he never knew u could have fun without any alcohol.. just to give you an idea of how much these kids drink and smoke.. it would proably be like at least 12 cans of beer, at minimum a day, and a carton of smokes, at least.. and they are just maybe 15 yrs old... but he caused no problems, treated us with respect, had a good time.. and to know where he was coming from and see him this week, was of God.. again.. little things, yet, for unbelieving kids that have never shown any sort of respect of love.. it was huge!!! then wee other one.. the other dudes cousin, he would be the other partner in crime, and all week was the one that was just unbelievable.. instead of bullying the kids at camp who maybe werent as cool, or didnt know how to fight, or that didnt drink.. he actually befriended and took them under his wing.. and didnt smoke or drink at all.. now, you have to keep in mind, that these kids know nothing and do nothing but hate, drink and fight... we saw nothing but love, no drink and no fight.. and God in each one of them.. working and moving... when it was time to say goodbye, they were so desperate for our hugs and approval and prayers and were almost in tears.. was unbelievable.. just to see God moving already at the start of the year in their lives.. the 10 of these kids would be some of the ones ill be working with this year, so your prayers for them would be amazing..

another nite, we were in the tent with the 4 girls and it was already like 3am and were exhuasted... but then the girls started asking the other leader and myself questions about sex.. then about drinking.. then about drugs.. and it snowballed into this amazing conversations to them asking what it meant to be a Christian.. and ended up sharing the gospel and listening to their questions and hearing their hurt.. talking about everyhting under the sun.. and it was like 6am before we went to bed, only to get up at 9am.. and God sustained us every single day.. every single nite.. was 3-5 hours of sleep.. not really healthy food.. and so much activity in a day.. but yet, each morning as we looked to Him, our strength was renewed, not in ourselves.. but God.. not one of us got sick. i dont remember being a bit of tired.. and was amazing...

just a brilliant week of seeing glimpses of God working in each heart! only to excite me even more for this next year, as if i werent enough all ready..

its a stretching year already, where every once of energy and mental, emotional, and physical strength is zapped, but every single day seeing God faithful in renewing energy, making His strength perfect, and not growing weary, but soaring on wings like eagles in His strength.. its hard. but God is here.. and the harvest is plentiful.! pray for hearts. pray for continued strentgh.. pray for each student. pray we make the most of every oppurtunity, not knowing who well see or when well see them again. pray for Jesus to have His way, and its truley not by might or by power, but by the spirit of God.. He is good..


i must go now.. and will write as soon as i can... thakns all.. love you!

Tourist for a day

this canadian girl and i decided to take a couple hours and be tourists today.. we bought the open-aired, double decker bus tour of dublin tickets and off we went.. the deal was amazin, we could hop on and off any tourist bus all day long.. we saw, castles, distilleries, parks, the old mid-evil dublin, learned all the history, took amazin pictures (which ill have to learn how to upload on this computer).. drove thru all these amazing places full of history, cathedrals that have been around since the 5th century, one of them, st. patricks cathedral, has been there since 504 a.d.! drove thru the guiness wearhouse.. (the guiness dude had 21 children!).. and then we stopped in this old jail/prison that was used during the famine and saw the cells of michael collins, and all the i.r.a. revolutionaries.. it was fascinating, to be standing in cells where so much as happened.. learned all the irish history that i never knew.. and was just absolutely amazing.. the movie, michael collins, and in the name of the father were both filmed in this prison, but it gave me such a reality check as to why the ppl here are the way they are.. and we stayed there a good 3 hours, so much to see, it was amazing. ill hopefully learn how to upload pics on this thing soon enough.. but it was an amazing day.. so just humbling and amazing. that was my day.. i think today, it actually felt like i am in ireland. how cool!?! oh.. and i got a cell phone.. OH!! and my visa.. couldnt forget that.. God is good

S's

Sirens. Seaguls. Sausages. Stabbings. Swearing. Scars. Welcome to the sounds, sights and smells of Dublin.

Soakin wet

i have realised that being wet doesnt necessarily mean being cold.. walking thru town, which everyone does, i see thousands of ppl, from business suits to track suits.. all with one thing in common.. we are all soaking wet up to our thighs from the rain. its craziness!! a little rain never hurt anyone.. i am just learning to deal with being wet, 20 hours a day.. good times for sure.. oh yes.. i love it.

Phew!

what a last couple of weeks!! i have been here two weeeks is all, and it has flown by, but so much has happened, at the same time, that it seems like forever since ive been here.. wierd!!

am in an internet cafe, so dont have much time, our server is down, and dont kno when it will be back up.

basically, God is here. He is so amazing. i am in this bustling, beautiful, busy city filled with ppl, and the scenary and the accents and the culture is just amazing, and yet.. its becoming the foremost country in europe who are struggling with herion, and cocaine. its booming here! on the way here even i saw guys sellin drugs, just rite on the main street.. there are stabbing daily, shooting are becoming more of a problem, ive already seen more fights than i know what to do with. the suicide rate and murders are rampant here! kids were workin with as young as 7 are smokin, fightin and cursin and the parents could care less.. the figthin irish indeed.

and yet.. God is here. amidst these people, pursuing them and showing them love. the stories of the reality of God in these ppls lives is enough to bring me to my knees daily in awe of our God. God is truley our very real, and present help in times of trouble. our companion. and very real and involved in each life.

so.. theres the short version. you can pray for the hearts of the ppl we talk to. pray that i stay healthy again over this next camp. pray that i dont get lice.. the kids are crawlin with them.. pray that i connect with ppl my age here, and that i am drawn closwer and closer to God. pray His will be done. i am so out of my comfort zone, yet so rite where i love at the same time.. i am seeing things and doing things i never knew i could. pray God would continue to hold me. i know this is where He has me, for His purposes, i couldnt do anything if i tried. i am very, momentarily, dependant on God.. and its good.. thank you for your prayers.. as soon as our internet starts workin ill write more.. in the mean time.. i really need and appreciate the prayers.!! thank you guys..

God is so good. love you all

Think Snatch

If you have not seen the movie, go ahead and watch it.. The people and the accents are straight out the movie.. its crazy cool! I had to listen so carefully today, cuz the people will talk as fast as I do, just with that kinda accent!

Its so awesome, I really respect the way things are done here, and love it, and think it should be the mentality everywhere, but the organisation realises, that every single volunteer and person from the neighbourhoods that are walkin' thru the door, have different opinions and beliefs and lifestyles. Yet, they are accepted and love, simply and soley for the fact, that Jesus loves them.

They dont focus on changes peoples lifestyles, the drinkin, the drugs, the swearin, the smokin, or the things they do or dont do.. there are so many problems, why nit pick them.. Rather, they love people. Accept them. And tell them about Jesus. That is all. Love.

I read this clip from a magazine today saying this:
"Do we not often foreget that Jesus is the unique message we hve to bring to a desperate, knife fearing, lonely, hurting culture. Jesus is the hope and transforming power that people need. Its not about the latest technology, being 'cultrually relevant' all the time, the latest clips from movies, or even having an amazing worship band. Jesus is who we are called to share and that means in words as well as actions. We must open our mouths and speak about Jesus, " And how are to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?" Rom. 10:14. Jesus will divide people. Not everyone will want to listen, but were told to expect this and perservere just as Jesus did. There is a danger that Christians are getting a good name for being 'nice', and doing good things, but are we known for following Jesus, adn doing things in His name? Of course all these things we do in His name have purpose, but ultimately, its Jesus who will change lives. Challenge yourself this week to speak the name of Jesus. Let the world know He is the reason we live."

I couldnt have said that better if I tried. That was from a pastor in E. London. Basically. Its not about changing people. Its not about pointing out faults or focusing on the bad. Its about loving and sharing Jesus. That is all. Blessings to you all. Will write again soon. Loves

Little bit more orientated.

Phew.. Got some sleep, and food in my system.. They took me out to Chinese, and it was soo good to eat!! The ppl here are so lovely, and today I sat down with Leisel, my "mentor", and got the down low finally.. Yesterday, when I arrived, I arrived in the middle of summer project, kids were runnin in and out, there were things happenin all day, ppl were away at camp, and I met like 30 people all at once, and didnt have a clue wat was going on. Today we sat down though, and I got all my questions answered.. well most of them... Basically, we don't do anything till after 12pm!! I have the whole morning every day to sleep, shop, watch tv.. watever.. its soo good.. "Ireland time".. Nice! But basically, I got the history, social, religous, economic, etc, history of Ireland, and I guess up until about 20 years ago, it was all poverty stricken, and kids beggin on the street and all that. Then they became part of the European Union, began to get money in, as a country, and now things are getting better.. but people still have a very poor/poverty mindset, and parts of town are still quite poor.

I'm living in the mission, and we are in the "market" part of town.. Socially poor.. The people I'll be working with are all into heroin and cocaine, and are having trouble with gang related fights and stuff like that. On Tuesdays, I'll be with the homeless shelter.. which is on the South side of Dublin, (just across the river that seperated town, by Trinity College).. and that will be rad.. The rest of the week, I'll be doing clubs, visiting families, discipling, doing camps, and basically working with 7-19 year olds each nite in various ways. As part of the Irish community, these ppl have lived in their homes for hundreds of years, they dont move, so when someone like me enters the nieghbourhood, I get introduced as such, and welcomed in, and once I'm "in", I'm like family. Thats why the wee kids are welcome to run about the streets and our mission, cuz the families know what DCM is about and who each on of us our, and were just like an extension of their family... So.. lots to do.. really needy people to work with. Leisel was saying that this is the first year where she has actually seen what it means in scripture, by, "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few".. I guess, they literally have people banging on their doors, asking who Jesus is, asking to be discipled, asking to be visited.. daily.. there is no lack of oppurtunity, just ppl to do it, she was saying..

They are all still heavily steeped in Catholicism, not practising, but every child is baptised into the chruch, every kid has a holy communion, and every kid grows up Catholic, not knowing anything about the faith, yet, going thru all the rituals, and being taught about Mary.

There are HUGE things God is doing, but its slow going and hard work, but yet, there is such an amazing need and want for Jesus here..

One thing you can definetly pray for, is figuring out how to get medical insurance... I was talking to Leisel today, and she asked me if I had it, I said no.. and said I had talked to Billy, etc, etc.. and he is away at camp, but she said its not like the north... any time you go to the doctor, even with it, its a flat co-pay of 50£.. and then prescription costs.. So, she said I need to check with my travel agent about getting travel insurance.. and do that asap, so I can apply for my visa, cuz I need that as part of applying... So, ya, God is good, and will help me get it sorted, but prayers would be good.

Anyways.. I have until Friday morning to "get situated".. Basically, do whatever I want!! Exciting!!!! So, I am going to write Caroline, then go explory my new little town. I love it..

I am very happy. Very excited and its so cool to have internet in my room!

Pray I stay healthy... For obvious reasons. Pray I get the medical stuff figured out and that I can get my visa, cuz thats pretty important. (=

Thanks all.