Back in Dublin, Ireland

I am seriously trippin', in a good way. I have been in Dublin now for about 12 hours.... and lemme tell you, it's so weird!!! Let me start from the beginning -- (God's provision and goodness blowing my mind from the first 3 hours of this trip).

So, I board the plane from Portland to Chicago -- end up sitting next to a guy who is at Moody Bible Institute working as an urban youth worker in Garfield Park, one of the most notorious gang lands in Chicago.. immediately him and I start talking, comparing things he does, to what I have been doing and the entirety of the flight we talked, was so encouraging to hear and compare these stories of insane things God is doing... Made a new friend for sure and then it was hilarious, for a 4 hour flight, this guy, who is my age, had found in all of his coat pockets, zip lock baggies of food his mom had put in so he wouldn't starve.. He had slices of meat, sticks of cheese, cornbread, cracker jacks, apple slices, and on and on-- no joke, it was so funny and we were thankful for these random packed snacks, cuz our flight didn't serve any food.. Anyways, during this flight we get news that Dublin airport has been closed down due to snow and blizzard like conditions and ice for the last 7 days and the airports not only in Dublin, but the entirety of Europe, have been shut down to further notice due to the worst arctic weather in years... my heart began to sink -- and I told this new friend from Moody that God knew I had only so much time to spend in Dublin and had planne this trip months in advance, so trusted their was something much more important in Chicago he had me going to, or that He was going to make a way.

I arrive in Chicago and get to the international terminal and my heart was so full of joy as I heard every accent and language you could imagine and all of a sudden, me, as an American, was a minority -- yay. As I listened to these beautiful ppl talk about sports and politics and weather and so on, I overheard a conversation of two Dublin'ers talking about how they have been stuck in Chicago for 1 week because for 7 days in a row, their flights had been cancelled.. Hmm.. I thought, I am soo close, am I seriously going to get stuck in Chicago??? I decided not. In the Word it says that we are to declare things in faith that are not as though they were.. it tells me that all things (every tiny thing) works for the good of those that love Him and have been called according to His purpose.. it tells me that faith pleases God and that we have not because we ask not.. it tells me that nothing (not one detail), is impossible for God and to trust Him w/ all my heart, even when I don't understand, and to acknowledge Him in everything and HE WILL direct my paths... So with all these things in mind I began to declare that God was good, that He was trustworthy, that He works all things for good, that I trust Him beyond what I understand, and asked Him, then thanked Him for making a way to Dublin, when all else said there was not. I declared this over and over -- situational circumstances were impossible, however, I wait on God. So I waited to hear the status of our flight. For 5 hours I waited..

Well -- weirdest thing. Our flight was only delayed one hour. And it was the only flight that God to fly out into Dublin.. Weird how that works!!! I sat in the air, amazed. Here we are, flying, against all odds, thru the snow and blizzard -- to get me to Dublin. God is very good. Usually flying into Ireland, all you see is green -- this time, it was only white. White everywhere!! It was soo beautiful, I have never seen anything like it.

I arrive, my luggage arrives.. My old coworker from the mission pick me up and take me to the community I use to work in... I felt like crying I was so happy.. Memory after memory after memory flooded by brain.. And then I entered this world of Dublin and Drimnagh and Crumlin, where nothing had changed. My memories and pictures in my head and experiences I had and everything was the same. I know how to get around, I know where I am, I recognize ppl, I catch up w/ old friends, and alas, I remember. Remember my heart, remember what I am created for. I got perspective and can let out a deep breathe of joy.. Ah... I am in Ireland again.

THEN, I go to the mission where I lived.. and oh man..... oh man! I go to my old bedroom and kitchen and roomates room and bathroom and the same office and gym and, and, and.... everything is the same.. Then I did start crying.. So happy.. Because when I left 18 mnths ago, I felt like that was the end forever, that everything was changing, that I would never be back here, never see these ppl again -- then all of a sudden, here I am, standing in my old bedroom -- and nothing is different, not even the relationships w/ ppl, we just started where we left off and I realized that life is so good. That I can come back anytime and that this part of my life that has been such a huge part of my life, is not over, just gets continued, like when your son or daughter is away to college and you don't see them for a year, but the second you do, all is the same, and well and you just pick up from where you left off.. That's what it's like for me... I'm able to come back anytime and have "family" here and all my same friends -- and that is a very good thing..

So after completely having a jet lagged body and head full of memories and heart full of joy, I got to meet up with Samaria (my roomie), in town, w/ some friends and we walked to church -- walking the streets of Dublin again.. I can get myself anywhere still and here we sit in the office like we use to, overlooking the Four Courts covered in snow, she types an essay and I type blogs home before I pass out from not sleeping in 3 days and I think, wow... life is good. Not only do I have a life I love in Oregon that I get to come back to, but I still have my life in Ireland that I can come back to anytime.. Tremendous!!

I will be updating as I can --- not as much as this, because I am going to be doing as much as possible!!! But yes, thank you for your prayers and will see you all soon. (I have way more photos but the website just crashed -- will post more later, they're all on facebook)