Lissara Presbyterian Church
Great is Your faithfulness, O God my Father
Sunday School | Bible Class | Boys’ Brigade | Girls’ Brigade | 2010 American Team | Youth Fellowship | Youth Club |
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First Flight |
Luke 10:23b - "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see." My heart is pounding as I carry my bag onto my plane. I'm praying as I board, asking God if He's sure I can do this. Aboard the plane, as I'm sitting in my seat we begin to pick up speed on the runway for takeoff. At least twenty eyes are on me, to see my reaction. My eyes, however, are on anything BUT the window. I can feel my smile tighten as the plane increases more in speed. Suddenly, someone on my left tells me, " You did it! You're in the air!" I turn my head slowly, to face the window. The beauty that I see is indescribable. Everything looks so different, and feels so different. The ground, places, and people get smaller and smaller and smaller. The pressure in my ears builds as well, and I begin to chew my gum harder. The plane begins to lean and I realize something!- Nothing is holding this plane in the air, bur air itself. There are no rails, tracks, or ropes, but only God's hands cupped beneath the wings of the plane, guiding it to its destination. Flying is very much like surrendering to God. The closer you draw to Him, the smaller people, problems, and worries become. It isn't easy either! There is pressure, and it does build in your ears. It's the pressure from other people whispering discouraging words. But if you choose to go higher towards God, no ropes of life can tie you to this world. With God, you can fly. |
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Dropped in Dublin |
Our plane has landed, and here we are in Ireland! As we walk from Customs we find the entrance to the airport. Our transportation has not arrived yet, and one by one we begin to seat ourselves on the floor to wait. We wait and wait and wait and wait. Thankfully, our driver arrives to take us to the Murlough House (or so we thought). Riding in the bus, we travel into Dublin. It's the first time, since leaving the U.S. that we've had time to rest, relax, and simply sleep. Alfie, our driver, is sitting in the right seat of the vehicle and driving on the left side of the road- quite opposite to what we're accustomed to. (Did I mention that we tried to load onto the wrong side of the bus? Ha-Ha) Looking out the window, I love what I see. Everything is so beautiful! The city of Dublin is......wait....why is the bus slowing down?.....wait, wha.....we're stopping? The bus grows silent, and you can feel the confusion in the air, as Alfie turns to face the group. "Okay, I'll let you out now. Be back here at half eleven. Don't forget you're in front of college." Everyone is thinking the same exact thing, but only Stephanie voices out confusion in a quiet whisper, "what?" "Well, do you have any suggestions as to where we should go?" Alfie directs us into which direction we should walk. Stepping off of the bus, we begin our journey through Dublin, with no guide, at 7:30am! At some point in your life, have you ever felt that God has placed you in a similar situation? God is our bus driver. He will take us as far as He wills to a certain point in our lives and will then ask us to step off into faith. He provides situations that He has prepared us for, and will give us direction for them. Situations, such as, this mission trip. I can't stay on the bus forever. If I did, I'd only see Ireland through a glass window. Many Christians are looking at the world through a glass window. Until you step off of the bus and into the plan He has for your life, you will never experience His blessings. But don't worry! God's bus comes with seatbelts, and He will never drive you into a place that is dangerous or into something you can't handle. We were able to handle ourselves well in Dublin. We experienced people and places that God provided especially for us. Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." |
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"Walk While Ye Have The Light" |
John 12:35 After exploring Dublin, we all load onto the bus for our journey to the Murlough house. An automatic silence fills the bus as we find our seats. We are exhausted, which is evident, as everyone slips into a peaceful unconsciousness of sleep. About an hour later, we pull into the drive of the Murlough house. One by one we open our eyes to see the house we'll be living in for the next eleven days. Everyone unloads their bags and enters into their new home through a large red door. Once inside and unpacked, we're introduced to John and Jo, Richie and Jen, and Cynthia. Richie talks to us for a little while about the ministry we'll be doing with the children and Cynthia talks to us about how we'll be cleaning the house each day as our chores. Now that our "orientation" is complete, we all just want to sleep! However, the Murlough house has other plans.... "All right guys," Richie begins. "I know you're all tired and want to sleep, but I've had experience flying and the best way to get over jet lag is to stay awake until it gets dark and then go to bed. So, I'm sorry, but we're gonna force you to stay awake." We all nod groggily. Richie then decides to take us through a trail of beautiful scenery and gardens. The beginning of our walk is relatively easy and enjoyable. Pictures are being taken as we progress down the trail. As we turn back, we quickly realize that we're breathing harder, perspiring, and becoming a bit exhausted while passing all of this beautiful scenery. We make it back to the bus- more tired than ever, but more thankful as well that we were able to witness pieces of this beautiful country. The physical walk can easily parallel with our spiritual walk. Sometimes the spiritual walk with Christ is pictured as this simple trail of even ground with no twists or turns. However, our walk with Christ includes hills, turns, and even beautiful scenery. Your walk may begin simple and easy, and progress into something difficult. Maybe God wants you to breath a little harder as you walk with Him. What if He asked you to break out into a run? Walking with Christ isn't easy, but then, He never promised it would be. He only promised that He would be with you. And don't forget! When we were walking along that trail, we weren't just enjoying the scenery together, but we were struggling up the hills together as well. You have fellow Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ, who are by your side. There is also the most gorgeous scenery surrounding you- don't forget to enjoy it. Don't get so caught up in walking, that you forget to enjoy the beauty God has placed before you. |
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The Greater Blessing |
We've been here a grand total of three days. Yesterday, John shared his testimony and we had the oppurtunity to visit Newcastle. Later that night, we met with the leaders of the church that we'll be working with for Backyard Bible Clubs. Today, however, we are going to the schools to invite the children to Bible Clubs and to sing songs with them. We enter a large room while waiting for the children to enter. One by one in a single file line, they walked into the room with wide eyes. We're all a bit nervous, but we sing two songs with the kids- "This little light of mine" and "I'm in the Lords army". The children knew both songs, and sang with us very well. After singing, Pastor Eric Davis asks if they have any questions for us. No hands raise. " All righty then, " Eric said, " We've got a question for ya'll....do you have any songs you could teach us?" Yes they do. The teacher leads the children in song- and I must say, that the Irish are musically gifted- they sang beautifully! I thought, as Americans, we might be teaching them something new, but instead, we learned something new. Have you ever tried to be a blessing to someone, but rather, they became a blessing to you? I came on this missions trip to minister to the children and adults there; never did I expect to be ministered to! I've realized that a missions trip does just affect the people of that country, but it affects you as well. |
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AMAZED By God |
After visiting schools and inviting children to Bible Clubs, we return to the Murlough House where Richie has another adventure planned for us. He drives us out to visit Castlewellan and to view a large beautiful garden as well. After walking through the garden and taking several pictures of the castle, we come upon a.....maze? Richie explains that every team that comes to Murlough House is brought to this maze, and it's purpose is to build the unity of the team. There is a bell at the center of the maze that you must ring when you reach it, and it signals you have reached the end. He explains the rules of no cheating, and then divides us into guys versus girls. What happened to building team unity? Never the less, we're excited and ready to go. Half run into the maze and half walk. I'm one of the several walking. Myself, Meagan, Emily, and Rachel find ourselves together as one of several groups. We turn left, we turn right, we turn left, we turn right. We run, we walk, we run, we walk. Yes, what you're thinking is absolutely right, we don't know where we're going. Finally, we find a bridge within the maze that gives you a better view from above. We study it for quite some time, but it doesn't help. We still don't know where we're going. Just then, we hear the bell ring. I can't tell if Sara or David Bell rang it first, so we have no clue who won, but we still need to find our way out. One by one, each of the members of our team finds the bell. Are we seriously the last ones in here? One of several, who have already completed the maze, happen to be Meagan's husband, Tyler. From above the maze, he begins to give us directions as to how to get out. "Do you trust him?," Rachel asks. It's a good thing we did, because he successfully helped us through the maze, and we were able to ring the bell! Don't be surprised if your walk with Christ sometimes feels like a maze. Each turn is a decision made, and it can feel as though you're constantly making too many turns and going in circles. The bell is God's purpose for your life. When you finally reach it and fullfill it, you're able to look back or over the maze and see all the decisions made that led you to this moment. Tyler helped us reach the end of the maze, but he can also represent leaders in your life that try to help you make the right decisions. It can even be God's voice that's guiding you, but just as Rachel asked, so must you ask- "Do you trust him?" |
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Sightseeing Saturday |
This morning the bus picked us up at 8am. Our day began at Duluce Castle located at the coast. It was beautiful! No one cared that they looked like the typical American tourist, ooohing and ahhing over the castle with camera in hand- it was worth it. After crossing over the bridge, we made our way to the main part of the castle overlooking the ocean. There were so many rooms, each with its own history recorded on a plaque on the wall. I moved from room to room, place to place as each person gradually went their own direction. I kept wondering what it would have been like to live here, and if I would ever come back. I hoped so. I quickly remembered that we only had about forty five minutes to spend. With that in mind, I made my way to the gift shop. If I'm not able to come back, I want to have something from here to remember it. I thought. As I entered the shop, I recalled my two questions, What would it have been like to live here? This first question could be answered with my favourite thing in the world- books. I picked out two, Places in Ireland and A Compact History of Ireland. As I made my way through the shop, something caught my eye. It was a small replica of Duluce Castle. Should I get it? ..... No, it's too much to pay. As I turned my back, I asked my second question. Would I ever come back? ....... I approached the check out, laid my books on the counter to pay, and asked, "Do you have any more of the small replicas of the castle?" The gentleman replied (in an Irish accent) "Yes, I do. I've got plenty of them." He disappeared and returned with a small white box, containing the replica. I paid the gentleman, received my books in a small plastic bag, and was handed the small white box. As soon as I held the box, I knew I had made the right decision. I may not ever return here, but I can look at this small castle and know where I've been. I'm sure that everyone has some regrets. Something they wish they'd done, but didn't. When you come to a moment in your life, you can ask, "Will I ever come back?" Will you ever come back to this moment in time? You won't. Life has no "do overs", no "try agains", and certainly no "rewind button". Whatever decision you make in life can't be undone. However, there are moments in life that contain no regrets. Moments when the right decision was made. As soon as you made it, you could feel it, and you can look back now at that decision and know where you've been. That's the great thing about life- you can't fast forward, you can't rewind, but you can ask yourself, "Will I ever come back to this present moment?" Treat the present with respect. Make the decisions God wants you to make because if you do, He might give you a memory that you can hold onto forever. |
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Host Homes |
Today is Sunday, and as we walk towards the kitchen for breakfast we are excited for two reasons- it's the Lord's Day, and NO CHORES!!! It's our day off. As we go to sit down at the tables, we find a third reason to be excited. There are pancakes on the table! We never have pancakes. Sunday must be a very special day at the Murlough House. And why shouldn't it? A small conviction enters my heart as I begin to eat my breakfast. Do I treat Sunday as a special day? After breakfast, we load onto the bus and head to Lissara Presbyterian Church (the church we're partnering with) for Sunday service. Our team is called to the front of the sanctuary to introduce ourselves and tell why we're here. We also take the time to lead in a song of worship, "We Cry Holy". The pastor then gives his sermon. He begins by speaking on the analogy that we are the salt of the earth and what salt can do. Something that I've never thought about before was something he said, "Salt makes you thirsty." Why had I never thought of that before? It's common sense. If we're the salt of the earth, we should be making people thirsty for the knowledge of Jesus Christ. It's amazing how you learn about something for so long and then, suddenly, the Lord gives you something new that you, yourself, could never have put together. The morning service comes to a close and our team is split up into groups of three to go to our host homes for lunch. Kelsi, Andrew, and I are put into a group to go with Ian and his wife. We're half excited and half nervous to be able to go into the homes of the Irish community. When we arrive at Ian's home, we are joined by his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, who live next door. After a lovely meal and great conversation, we leave to join the other groups in sightseeing some of the cathedrals. When we arrive at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, it is evident that everyone really bonded and connected with their host families. We all got pictures taken with them in front of the cathedral. It's amazing how the term "host home" was used, because in such a short span of time, it really did feel like home. If you think about it long enough, the time that we live now on earth is a "host home". We will only be here for a short span of time in comparison to eternity. This earth is our temporary home, our host home. The people that God places in our lives all begin as strangers to us, but become family and friends. There is only one person who has always known us, and He is where home is. |
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Bible Clubs Begin |
It's the first day of Bible Clubs. As a group we walk into the fellowship hall, where Bible Clubs will be held. We divide into our planned groups- music, crafts, recreation, and Bible study. I walk into the craft room with Stephanie G., Tyler, and Stephanie H. where we begin to set up. We have no idea how many kids to expect. If we have multitudes, we're hoping God will perform a miracle and have our room expand. Tyler and I set up four small tables with little chairs and three large tables with larger chairs, hoping it will be enough. Meanwhile, the two Stephanies are setting up the supplies for our craft. After our preparation is done, we open the door to step outside. Immediately, we stop at the doorway. What we see and hear is half exciting and half terrifying- there are so many children! Lord, please let us have enough room. Around seventy children showed up for Bible Clubs today, and we split them up into four groups, therefore, we had plenty of room. The craft went well, but it seemed like time went faster than we desired. All the children were able to finish their craft, and we, hopefully, were able to connect with them. I think we all wished that we had more time to get to know the children. The day just flew by! Our time with the children in the craft room reminded me of the Bible story with Mary, Martha, and Jesus. It was so easy to get caught up in the craft and only focus on the children being able to finish it, when we knew that the craft was only materialistic and temporary. What would stay with these children forever would be our conversations with them - our love for them. My time with these children and their crafts not only impacted the lives of the children, but it impacted my life as well. I believe it taught me how to balance both sides of ministry - work and love. |
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Football |
After Bible Clubs, our team spends time with the youth of the community. Most of the girls stay within the fellowship hall and play cards with the young girls, while the boys go to the field to play football (soccer) with the young guys. This afternoon, I decided to go with some of the girls to the ball field. I had heard that you could tell who the Americans were just by watching the game. Before our trip, they said we might we working in some soccer schools, and they were right - our guys were getting schooled in soccer. It was so much fun though. After the short game, we all made our way back to the fellowship hall for snacks, something to drink, and a testimony from someone on our team. My mind kept going back to the football game. When I think about it, it's weird that we call football, soccer. I mean, football makes the most sense in naming the sport. And why do we drive on the right side of the road and they, the left. Why do they sit on the right side of the car, and we, the left. Someone made a comment earlier in the week, that everything they did was different. Someone else also corrected them. "Actually, we're the ones who do things different." It's true. America is the country that does things backwards from most of everyone else. Sometimes we may think God does things different or backwards, but in reality we're the ones that are doing things different. |
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"How Many?" |
Today we had a decision to make. Our team had the opportunity to visit Cedar primary school, however, only a few people from our team were needed. The rest had the opportunity to finish their souvenir shopping before Bible Clubs began this afternoon. I was one of several who volunteered to visit the primary school, and I'm so happy that I did. Seven of us, including Eric and Teresea Davis, walked into the Primary three classroom. We sang songs with the children and let them ask us tons of questions. What sort of questions did they ask you? What questions do you ask Americans? They asked, how much larger America was compared to Ireland; they asked, if we had teddy bears; and they even asked, what kind of toys we had. In addition to these questions, they asked others that all began with the same phrase- "How many?" Throughout my time in school, we would have missionaries come from other countries, and we could ask them questions. Most were "Do you have?", or "Is this in that country?" However, what these Irish children had to ask us was not, "Do you have this?" but rather "How many of this do you have in America?" I can't describe the feeling I had when these children phrased their questions. I knew I was proud to be an American, but I didn't know how I felt about living in a country that had everything. Do I appreciate it? Do I waste it? These children opened a door in my heart with a single phrase of a question. toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Christ died for you, because He loved you! He paid the penalty of death for your sin. · Romans 10:9-10- "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Jesus Christ paid the price for our sin- He died and rose again, and He's giving this free gift of salvation in exchange for nothing. Will you accept His gift? Will you admit that you are a sinner, and that you want Him in your life? |
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What are you more afraid of? What you can see or what you can't see? |
Today is John's birthday! John is the gentleman responsible for the ministry of the Murlough House. Everyday for an hour he teaches us from God's word, however, today he walked into a teaching room decorated with streamers, balloons, and a card. He was very happy, and had never had anything like that done for him before. After a song of "Happy Birthday", he gave us his lesson. Something he said came at the perfect time for me on this trip. "What are you more afraid of? What you can or what you can't see?" Today is Thursday, tomorrow is our last day. I can see this past week, but I can't see tomorrow. So what scares me more? What the Lord has already showed me? Or what He has yet to show me? What are you more afraid of? I believe each person is different. Some people fear their past more than their future. Others fear the future more than their past. What we forget, is that God is a part of our past, present, and future. He controls all three. So why are you afraid? |
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Friday's Farewells |
We knew it was coming. We just didn't know it would come this soon. Saying goodbye to the kids was tough- saying goodbye the youth was tougher- saying goodbye to the church was like leaving home. The night began with football, skits, testimonies, and.....singing of the national anthem? However, it ended with pictures, tears and hugs. I believe that even God saves the best for the last. If you asked me what my favourite night was, I would say Friday. We had a great time performing the skits, talking about our favourite moments, and singing our national anthem to the Irish and having them sing theirs to us! These are the moments when we need to remember that this earth is just a temporary residence. When we see each other again, we'll finally be home. In our universal church family, we have brothers and sisters in Christ scattered all over this earth that we may never meet. But sometimes, God allows you to meet these brothers and sisters, allows you to form relationships, allows you to encourage one another, and allows you to say goodbye. Fortunately, that's not the end. There is a final family reunion- will you be there? |
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Plan of Salvation |
Jesus Christ paid the price for our sin- He died and rose again, and He's giving this free gift of salvation in exchange for nothing. Will you accept His gift? Will you admit that you are a sinner, and that you want Him in your life? |
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