I've realized just how much I miss this special part of my "past" (pre-marriage) life. (mission's trips.) ;-) It has been a faith building and walk encouraging trip thus far. Specifically in our relationships at Kitty's Road (where we're spending all of our time). God has allowed for natural friendships to develop. And out of those, He's allowed a searching desperate and heart broken (suicide-stricken) community ask questions about why we believe, act, do, say, and love the way we do... and we've been able to plainly share about our Living God with them and model a walk with Him in a real and "normal" way. If you think of it, their are four people in the the Kitty's Road neighborhood that we've been able to reach out to more and have connected with, please pray for them, as these are the ones already asking us how to read the Bible why are we so different, where does our joy come from, etc... a wife and her husband (who broke his pinkie today teaching us and Irish game) and and another wife and husband (who two days ago broke his foot quite bad and is in the hospital in a room where the TV doesn't work- our guys visited him and chatted and left a Bible there... he has little else to do, and had previously been highly involved in conversations with our men showing interest). If Gd brings them to himself there would likely be a slew of trusting followers. They are a tight-knit neighborhood.
Throughout the morning kids hang-out program and teens evening game-playing and sharing time I've had the opportunity to share the Gospel with three kids and encourage several moms during a very fun "moms/ladies" tea and coffee. It's been a blast.
This morning I was woke by the sheep baaaa-ing away. and the mist/fog rolling over the mountains. I hope to post some pictures sometime. A few of us also went to Newry today to run a few errands and along the way saw the ever-beautiful green country side of Ireland and amongst our errands got to go to a very old castle/historical site. -Quite fun.
Thanks everyone for praying! It's off to the teens time tonight right now.
hugs, manda
Friday, July 25, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Kilkeel Update
Good Afternoon!
Well I made it all safe and sound to Dublin, and even got some sleep on the plane ride (which ended up only being 5 hours and 25 minutes...plus a free upgrade to business class!) I didn't gather up my bags; for they left Boston after I did, evidently. Oh well. I took the bus through the country side to Newry, great ride. I got off (about 8:30 am Monday morning here). I needed to get a hold of my team (I feel lost with out a cell I tell ya!) and as only God would have it, I got off with two other people about my age, we got to chatting and somehow mentioned that they were just getting back from Hatie, doing medical missions and I mentioned I was here to do a vacation Bible school in Kilkeel. And we were from Bethlehem Bapt...I didn't even get the word out and she was say NO WAY, John Piper's church?!?! I'm reading his book... and I said yeah, and we're helping our friend Samuel Chestnutt... I no more said that and she through her head back laughing and we discovered we have a friend in common, she handed me her phone and we got in contact. It was such a great start to the trip. Total God thing.
Next I stepped into a fairy tail. (I'm really suffering for the cause here...) ;-) We pulled into my host family's house and it's litterally on the mountain side overlooking the Irish Sea and a Castle off in the distance, with horses in the yard and cows on the other hill. Sandra the lady of the house is completely a darling and so friendly. It's taking me a while to pick up on the STRONG NI accent. Her husband is the town dentist/surgeon. And they have three boys left at home. She showed me my room (which over looks all this scenery) and I rested for an hour.
On Monday we had a work day out at Kitty's Road (the neighborhood we're working in). And got to start talking to some of the adults and children while we were out painting the community center and picking up the yard. We started building friendships with these precious people.
Monday-Wednesday: We've been doing a Bible club with the younger kids in the morning and during that to the time also have coffe with moms and other ladies in the area. The after noon and evening are spent haging out playing games with the older and younger kids. The evening is more for the older kids/teens. We're working hand in hand with the local church, so that when we leavee they will continue these friendships and outreaches. (we're kind of the kick-off helpers). It's been so special to be in on the beginning of a new out reach project, and to be able to see key leaders in the community welcome us so warmly and to beging building relationships of trust, so we can share Jesus with them, and how he can be real in their life. "Christian" doesn't have to be boring, stuffy, or look one way. The children are already asking great questions. Be in prayer for them.
Our BBC team and the Mourne team have united in an awesome way and it's really "crack" to serve with them for a wee bit 'o time.
Well I have to head out at half-two. (2:30pm) We had biscuts and chips (cookies and french fries) and other yummy stuff for lunch. potatoe stew last night (all great home cooking)...
I hope to be able to update again. Thank you for praying. Please pray today for adults who have interest in what we are saying. -God has allowed the whole town to hear of what's going on down at Kitty's road and that there are American's. Pray that they won't see us but a living God and only one way to be in fellowship with him.
Hugs, manda
Well I made it all safe and sound to Dublin, and even got some sleep on the plane ride (which ended up only being 5 hours and 25 minutes...plus a free upgrade to business class!) I didn't gather up my bags; for they left Boston after I did, evidently. Oh well. I took the bus through the country side to Newry, great ride. I got off (about 8:30 am Monday morning here). I needed to get a hold of my team (I feel lost with out a cell I tell ya!) and as only God would have it, I got off with two other people about my age, we got to chatting and somehow mentioned that they were just getting back from Hatie, doing medical missions and I mentioned I was here to do a vacation Bible school in Kilkeel. And we were from Bethlehem Bapt...I didn't even get the word out and she was say NO WAY, John Piper's church?!?! I'm reading his book... and I said yeah, and we're helping our friend Samuel Chestnutt... I no more said that and she through her head back laughing and we discovered we have a friend in common, she handed me her phone and we got in contact. It was such a great start to the trip. Total God thing.
Next I stepped into a fairy tail. (I'm really suffering for the cause here...) ;-) We pulled into my host family's house and it's litterally on the mountain side overlooking the Irish Sea and a Castle off in the distance, with horses in the yard and cows on the other hill. Sandra the lady of the house is completely a darling and so friendly. It's taking me a while to pick up on the STRONG NI accent. Her husband is the town dentist/surgeon. And they have three boys left at home. She showed me my room (which over looks all this scenery) and I rested for an hour.
On Monday we had a work day out at Kitty's Road (the neighborhood we're working in). And got to start talking to some of the adults and children while we were out painting the community center and picking up the yard. We started building friendships with these precious people.
Monday-Wednesday: We've been doing a Bible club with the younger kids in the morning and during that to the time also have coffe with moms and other ladies in the area. The after noon and evening are spent haging out playing games with the older and younger kids. The evening is more for the older kids/teens. We're working hand in hand with the local church, so that when we leavee they will continue these friendships and outreaches. (we're kind of the kick-off helpers). It's been so special to be in on the beginning of a new out reach project, and to be able to see key leaders in the community welcome us so warmly and to beging building relationships of trust, so we can share Jesus with them, and how he can be real in their life. "Christian" doesn't have to be boring, stuffy, or look one way. The children are already asking great questions. Be in prayer for them.
Our BBC team and the Mourne team have united in an awesome way and it's really "crack" to serve with them for a wee bit 'o time.
Well I have to head out at half-two. (2:30pm) We had biscuts and chips (cookies and french fries) and other yummy stuff for lunch. potatoe stew last night (all great home cooking)...
I hope to be able to update again. Thank you for praying. Please pray today for adults who have interest in what we are saying. -God has allowed the whole town to hear of what's going on down at Kitty's road and that there are American's. Pray that they won't see us but a living God and only one way to be in fellowship with him.
Hugs, manda
Friday, July 18, 2008
Zoom, zoom, zoom...
Today is the day the fun begins, Charlie and I are off to our cousin Derek and Jamee's wedding in Waterloo IA. It promises to be a splendid time full of good times with family and friends. Then to the airport on Sunday where I (Amanda) head to Ireland to join my ministry team. :-) Please be praying for us as we share God's love with many teens and kids in Kilkeel. -and it'll be a long time away from my babe, pray we don't get too lonely. ;-)
Have a wonderful July!
Have a wonderful July!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Dancing...
Ok Guys, I couldn't resist. This video is just cool. It makes me super happy, I get to thinking about all the people of the world and how one glorious day we'll all be worshipping Jesus together.... (although judging from the title of this guys video, I don't think he was thinking the same thing...) LOL!
Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Northern Ireland
On July 20th I will depart from Minneapolis to join a team of 15 adults and teenagers from my church, Bethlehem Baptist. We will be spending two weeks working with children, youth and families in Northern Ireland. Kilkeel is a small picturesque fishing village situated on the County Down coast of Northern Ireland, and nestled at the foot of the stunning and sweeping Mourne Mountains. We have plans to partner with local churches there, and in the neighboring town of Annalong, in Bible teaching and evangelism through youth and children's ministry and outreaches to parents.
For the past five months my heart has been drawn to this particular mission trip. And I thought that meant that I would be "holding the ropes" through prayer and support for the team as they went. Proverbs 16:9 became very real when the Lord began to clearly direct my steps towards being a "goer" on just this past Saturday through a simple phone call. One team member will not be able to go and the team asked if I would join them. I am so excited to serve the Lord again internationally after my six-year hiatus! Charlie and I saw this as God clearly opening the doors for me to go.
I have enjoyed and grown through working with our own youth at camp, retreats and Wednesday nights this past year. And I am excited to partner with many of these same passionate students to minister together in Ireland. It is my personal prayer, that on this journey and ministry with them, that I will be able to encourage and help them see and know Jesus in an even more personal way and through a grander, more worldwide scope. It is our desire to proclaim His truth and grace to many people (of all ages) in these villages. And when we come back to the States I want to aid the students in keeping a bigger perspective of God, His work in their lives and in the world and people around them.
Hugs, Manda
Prayer Points: *Team Unity *That we would be the aroma of Christ to those we meet (2 Cor. 2:14-17) *That we would encourage our brothers and sisters in N. Ireland *I want to have conversations with people that would give them the desire to know more about God and His Goodness in their life *That the people our team comes in contact with will experience the love of Christ through us and that their lives would be changed eternally by the gospel message *For me to find practical ways to love and have many conversations with the Bethlehem Students towards loving and experiencing Jesus even more.
Specific Activity Involvement:
- Door to Door work
- Men's / women's ministry
- Street reach in evening
- Involvement Morning and Evening church services
- Will work w/team of 25 from Kilkeel
- Teaching bible to children. (evangelistic focus)
- Teaching bible to youth. (discipleship focus)
- Games / sports activities
- Teaching bible to youth (Based in 'the net' local youth club)
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