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.