It has been too long since I've given my blog any TLC. And, I'm sad to realize that I haven't even finished blogging about my trip this summer. But along with some recent changes in my life and the cold weather that keeps me around the house more, I am excited at the prospect of spending more time posting on my blog again! I've missed everyone!! (Hmmm...is that weird? To "miss" people in this blog-o-sphere??) At any rate, I'm back! And, I'm going to start right now by going on about my trip, though I fear there are many details that have been lost in the abyss of my ever-failing memory!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Our first week was spent primarily with the children but the second week was designed to have a broader reach in The Village. We had passed out fliers the week before with a schedule of events as well as a clear presentation of the gospel. Every day included going to door to door. Anne-Marie and I were only able to participate for one day of the door to door due to our commitment at Eagle's Camp (I'll tell you about the Eagle's in the next post!). I must admit to you, that door to door evangelism is not my forte. In fact, the very idea petrifies me! So, the idea of going to Belfast and participating in a door to door event was definitely out of my comfort zone. But, when I am weak, isn't that when the Lord can work the best? It is when I am weak that I find myself relying more and more on the strength of the Lord, instead of my own strength and I am learning that this is the very best place to be!
Having already passed out the fliers the week before, we had an easy opening when we knocked on doors. We simply asked if they had received the flier and asked if they had a chance to read it. If they had, we asked their thoughts on the gospel presentation. It was a great way to start talking with them. We also made sure to give a personal invitation to the events that were going on that week. Basically, the main goal of this 2 week outreach was to start the process of building relationships with the people of The Village.
One of the streets in The Village where we did "doors"!I was paired with Jason for door to door. We stopped at the end of our assigned street and took a moment to bow our heads and commit the people in these homes to the Lord, pleading that we would have opportunity to share the Good News and that souls might be saved. Since the Irish brogue was really thick among some of the older folks of Belfast, I asked Jason to get the conversation started and when I understood I promised to jump into the conversation and help out. One of the first doors we knocked on was answered by an older woman. Her eyes were reddened and it was obvious she had been crying. We told her we were from the Broadway Hall and her eyes welled up with tears. She told us that the anniversary of her sons' and husband's death was in the next few days and she was glad to say that one of her son's had professed salvation through a Broadway Hall outreach 40+ years earlier! She was so upset that we invited ourselves in to pray with her and spent a good hour sharing the Word of God with her and committing her to the Lord. It's funny how the Lord used Jason and I that day to reach this woman. I don't know if she's saved but we were able to share the love of Christ with her that day and I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of that! I even dare to say that I actually enjoyed the door to door portion of our trip...in spite of sweaty palms and knocking knees!! It was just another reminder of the important to be available and willing to be used however He chooses and to TRUST Him!
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Wednesday of the week we arrived in town from Eagle's Camp along the northern coast. We arrived just in time to participate in the madness that was also known as the Football Tournament (Or Soccer Tournament for us Americans!) The football tournament was geared towards the youth and we had about 75-80 kids participate. They were of all ages, from 6 or 7 years old to 17 or 18 years! It was great to see so many come out! Obviously, not ALL of them could be on the field at once, so while they waited for their turn to play, we had opportunity to talk with them and share the gospel with them. Afterwards, we passed out sweeties (candies/chocolate) and fizzy drinks (soda pop!) along with a medal, gospel of John and a tract. This was a tough group of kids and Anne-Marie and I had the "privilege" of passing these items out...in the process, the kids got a little rough and eventually just stole all the food from us. We were powerless and so tired from Eagles Camp that we just threw our arms in the air and let them take it!! It was either that or start throwing punches! :-)
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Thursday we had a Senior Citizens Luncheon at the gospel hall. We had tea, sandwiches and some lovely desserts. There was some music provided by some very gifted young ladies as well as a short gospel message. The luncheon was not only a way to share the gospel, but also a way to invite them to the monthly Senior Ladies meetings that are put on by the Broadway Hall. We had about 20 or so turn out! It was neat to be able to sit and talk with these ladies.
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Friday evening we had a family picnic at the local park. We served sandwiches, sweeties, and tea. There was also a short chalk talk given by one of the young men. The whole scene was pretty chaotic and I'm not sure that the chalk talk was the most effective process to utilize but then again, hind sight is 20/20 right!? The fact that this evening came through with only a few confrontations between the attendees was a relief. You see, the area of Belfast that we were in is a Protestant area. There were several Polish families that we had invited as well as a family from Georgia (not the U.S. Georgia!). The people there are not particularly welcoming of the foreigners in the area. They blame them for the increase in crime, they take their jobs, etc. There is definitely hostility. So, as we began to anticipate the attendees, we were concerned that we might have confrontation. But, thanks to the Lord and much prayer, the event was relatively peaceful! Praise the Lord!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Saturday Anne-Marie and I flew out of Belfast to spend a few days in London so we missed the Teen Picnic at the Broadway Hall. As Claire was driving us to the airport, we commented on the traffic. It wasn't until we reached our hotel at London Heathrow and turned on the BBC that we saw the reason for the traffic. It had been raining a lot...more than usual for N. Ireland. Belfast was experiencing some significant flooding. Anne-Marie and I prayed for the picnic and wondered how the Lord would use this turn of events. We later learned that although the picnic had a small turnout, some of the flooding was on a highway behind the gospel hall. The kids took food, tea and the gospel of Mark and passed them out to the stranded motorists. Not only did the Lord reach others with the gospel (though not the audience WE had targeted!) but the act of kindness shown to the motorists was a shining example. You see, the youth of The Village don't exactly have a great reputation so this small act reflected on The Village as a whole! The Lord loves the people of The Village and He will reach them, perhaps not in the ways that I might expect but His ways are greater than mine! I am so thankful that our God is "not willing that ANY should perish" and that He loves the people of The Village with the greatest love of all!
**P.S. I know I haven't had lots of pictures but the rest of my posts will have MANY pictures! So, stay tuned!!
You would then think that once I arrive to work there would be at least 12 hours of relative calm and normalcy compared with the morning commute! But, no! The madness continues throughout the day! So you might understand how wondrous it was to get safely home last night. I pulled into my snow covered driveway and stepped out of the car. Before I stepped into the toasty warmth of my house to enjoy dinner and a cup of tea, I had to take the trash to the curb for pick up in the morning. Normally when I do this task after dark, I'm petrified...scurrying to grab the trash can, drop it at the curb and run as fast as I can to safety. But last night, there was only peace and quiet. There is just something about snow...all of the sudden everything seems so bright in the night...and so calm and quiet. It was beautiful to just take a moment to enjoy that peace and quiet that seems to have overtaken the city...or at least my neighborhood!
So, in the midst of the busyness of this season, the craziness that ensues with the snowfall, and the madness of life, I hope you take a moment to stop and enjoy the beauty of this earth that the Savior of the world designed and created!
