WINTER 2024

Life has been absolutely mental in the BEST way possible! I’ve been trying to pack in every spare second I have with friends and fun before I leave. Amy came for the young adult retreat but came a week early and we had so much fun! There is something so special when Amy, Sarah, and I are together. I feel like all we do is spazz out, laugh, worship, and quote SpongeBob. What more could you want from a trio? Before Amy was here, I got a visit from a very special family. Do you remember Dieuwke, Sander, and their kids? Of course you do, how could you forget? WELL, they visited for three whole weeks and my heart is still overflowing from it. It’s so refreshing to be with people who I feel so comfortable with. Who knew a family of four would be my best friends.  While they were here, we had a heat wave, and I went to the beach almost every day. How could you not when it’s a warm summer day in late SEPTEMBER?

Sarah and I went to see Dermot Kennedy a couple of weeks ago. Yes, this was the 15th time I’ve seen him. BUT it never gets old. We were weeping in from the crowd! This man is a lyrical genius, I swear. Someone also offered me a ticket to go see Hamilton in Dublin! So, we went the other week and it got me thinking, if you aren’t American, do you understand Hamilton? Not assuming you aren’t brushed up on your American history but…. Okay I’m assuming. Regardless, the show was incredible, and I’ve been singing “ALEXANDER HAMILTON” almost every day since.

OH, I almost forgot! We had a murder mystery at ReCentre! 70’s themed of course. I’d only done a murder mystery once but, let me tell you, if you do it, make sure everyone dresses up and really commits to the bit. IT’S SO FUN. I wasn’t the murderer but is it weird to say I really wanted to be?

I think if you’ve read this far, I shall deem you worthy of the best part of life right now. I have a boyfriend. His name is Alex and he is the sweetest, kindest, most gentle, loving human i’ve ever met. He also really freaking loves Jesus!!! I may or may not have added a few pictures of him below.

When I think about my short time away, I’ve found that some of the same thoughts come up in my head over and over again. I’m going to come back and nobody will need me. They will all have figured out how to do it all without me. OR everyone is going to forget me.

Now I understand that three-ish months is really not a long time in the grand scheme of things. However, to me, it feels like an eternity. Ireland feels safe. It has become home and I want to stay safe and at home. Through all the processing, praying, and crying as I was preparing to leave I realised that I have a need to be needed. I talk a big talk about raising up indigenous leaders. Equipping and then releasing. And maybe, just maybe, I need to release. The reality is, everyone will be fine without me. They will survive, not only that, they will THRIVE. And PRAISE GOD because actually, that’s an answer to a long prayed prayer. It’s def me. I’m the problem.  How prideful to think I’m that important. And I don’t say that in a woe-is-me way. I say that with sincerity. If my thought it dependency on me rather than Christ, then I have it wrong. For the longest time, I’ve been calling it my exile. Last week Alan and Hannah started calling it my pilgrimage. A shift in perspective I desperately needed.

So Lord, humble me. Show me that my worth and identity are not in what I can provide for others. Show me Lord where I need a shift in perspective. Remind me I serve YOU. In these months where I say loneliness, boredom, and sadness rule. God, would deep connection, dependency, and Joy overthrow the enemy’s lies.

Amen.

The past few months have been absolutely mental. The busy I was, but the JOY it brought. I’m a DOer so anytime I feel slightly overwhelmed, I THRIVE.

Alpha, Harvest Services, Bell Tower (11-14 yr youth group), Meetings with the Roman Catholic Bishop, Christian Union, Marian Society, ReCentre, and of course, my beloved Young Adults.

I won’t get into the nitty-gritty of it all but here are a few highlights. We had our second annual YA retreat!!! It went even better than last year. Cody, who started this young adults group over three years ago, came and spoke on the Saturday. Amy and Sarah led worship and wow was it amazing. It was such a sweet time for everyone to connect and just spend precious time together and with the Lord. 19 young adults came and for small Irish numbers that’s insane! So thank you for everyone who prayed! While i’m away Lizzie (our intern) and Sarah will be leading YA. I’m just so insanely proud of Lizzie and I know she will do the best job caring for and leading that group.

Alpha in the schools have had a slow start this year. Transition Year students have the most mental schedule so its been hard to get everything moving. But we have now and are ready to start year three in the Mercy College and year two in the Ursuline. I’ll still be running the scedules for Alpha while i’m away! I’m happy to still have a little bit of normalcy while i’m gone.

Because I’m not gone forever, I’ll still update you all on what’s happening in Sligo even while I’m gone. Even though some very practical ministry is put on hold (from my side) for three months, doesn’t mean God isn’t radically moving and people there aren’t still working hard in ministry.

Well, things didn’t go exactly how I planned. I know this is a lot of info so if you cant track, that is all right. Just pray!

My solicitor rang me a few weeks ago, telling me the best option for me was to fly back to the States and send my passport with my application from here. Yes, I need to send my passport to Ireland. So I have. As I’m writing this, I am at my dad’s house in the States. I drove from Ireland to England a few days ago and then flew from Manchester to the States.

The first thing to come back is my passport. That doesn’t mean my visa is approved. They just want to check that I’ve left and I am who I say I am. I should get that back within 4-6 weeks. Once I’ve gotten that back, I will head back to the UK to wait out the rest of my time while my application processes. I’m still in Church Army training and have many friends in the UK where I can volunteer and still be helping with their ministry while I await my visa. Like I said before, I don’t want this to be idle time. I want to be intentional with these three-ish months.

As I know things, I will let you know things!