a later resolution...

Dear Friends,

Thank You for kindly and (gently) reminding me that when it comes to blogging- I have been falling a wee bit short :] ... But here it goes!

December: It was an awesome month, my mom, step-dad, step-sister, and both of my brothers came from the 23-29th. I can honestly say it was one of the best Christmas memories ever! It was so refreshing to have quality hang-out time without the obligations of having to 'Christmas Hop,' from one side of the family/other family members hopping to their respective significant other's houses, etc. Just family time with lots of card games and lots of laughs. It was the experience of a lifetime to have a legitimate Irish Christmas as well with all of the closed days (at public places) which was really refreshing. While they were here we"Father of Lights,"from the Jes w0Culture Awakening Conference (which is coincidentally Darren's new movie of the same title). Lately it has just been a great reminder and affirmation of every good and perfect gift that comes from our Father above.

Here I go again on my own...well sorta

The former Judson Eagle has landed! Oh Aye! Its true! I have at long last arrived in the wee town of Kesh, Northern Ireland! Along with my partners in crime- Alana Becker, Josh Lewis, and Marcus Coltman, we are successfully settled in our house which is located on :

3 Castle Manor Crevenish
Kesh, Co. Fermanagh
Northern Ireland
BT93 1RT
(If you'd like to write me ;)
After suffering flu-like illness before we left on Tuesday, we made it safely to Dublin where Colin and Johnny (Two of the Ardess Parish Church and The Fountain's Leaders). We were then taken up to Kesh through the beautiful rainy rolling hills of Northern Ireland to Kesh. There was a walk and small tour of the cute town of Kesh and then we were taken into the nearest larger town- Enniskillen where we experienced our first ASDA experience. ASDA is the UK equivalent of Wal*Mart but it was quite nice to have the familiarity of shopping from home but also the new products and experience of being in the UK.
So far we have been warmly embraced by the community here including the Rector (Church minister) Henry and His wife Helen and their 4 sons. As well as Hazel the Youth Director who is a local here and whose daughter and adorable grand-daughters are neighbors as well. Gillian is also our Link Director and is our age and has been serving with YWAM the past year in Australia/she is super-awesome! We also have been invited for Tea/Dinner at the homes of many church members including a lovely family called- The Ross Family with whom we visited last night. We shared great conversation and were greatly encouraged about the church and our involvement in the coming year here in Kesh.
Its so exciting to venture across the pond and to see the immediacy of being welcomed with open-arms by the church, it's community, and the lovely people here and there and in- between. Currently we don't have internet in our home so posts may be more sporadic but I will most definitely be updating while I'm here to let you know all of the awesome things God is doing here.

St. Patrick's Day Recap

Thursday was the day that I definitely look forward to more than most days... St. Patrick's Day!!! It was also a healthy reminder of how Irish cheer transcends many a situation. Although this year has been a rough one for many of the people closest to me, St. Patrick's Day was one where all of the woes and fears seemed to sit on the shelf for the simple discipline of being. I once heard someone say that we aren't human 'doings,' and I'm finding that to be more apparent in numerous capacities as our lives become riddled with 'doing.' Thursday wasn't anything lavish in terms of an 'Irish Extravaganza,' it was nothing more than dinner, a pint or three and enjoying the presence of one another's spirits. It sometimes upsets me that people take St. Patrick's Day as an excuse to become hammered drunk and go to extreme lengths to share Irish 'Spirits,' in more ways than one. For me St. Patrick's Day is a reminder of a man who went through extreme strife and tribulations and rose above the odds to speak truth. When I went to Northern Ireland for the first time a few years ago I didn't realize fully the extent of St. Patrick's mission while he was in slavery but how he heard God speak to him directly to go back to his home of Ireland to share the gospel. I must admit- this is something that I personally resonated with this call more this year than ever in terms of recognizing God's voice and how actively He pursues us into what we are called to do as sons and daughters of the Kingdom. It is starting to sink in that this time next year I'll be among the same people-group (those lovely Irish folks :) doing the same things that St. Patrick himself lived his life doing, sharing and showing the love of Christ in a way that people will remember and will undoubtedly hear the voice of truth. So, Happy St. Patrick's Day and 'may your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.' (the photo above is the wee town of Dundrum, Northern Ireland - taken from the Dundrum castle).