Lacken House...our new ministry center. And yes...we do have sun here in Ireland!
Our shopping center here in Roscommon. 
Sunrise over my neighborhood.
Pria, Me, Orla, and Leena. Pria and Orla are two of my neighbors. Pria is a physiologist and Orla is a Geologist. Leena is my roommate. Here we were having a lady's tea!
The leaves changing...it is nothing compared to a Georgia Fall...but it is still pretty!!Hello precious friends and family. Today it is a beautiful day here in Ireland. The sun has been shinning all day and not one drop of rain. As the leaves start to change colors here, I am instantly transported in my mind to the awesomeness of a Georgia Fall. Things are a little bit cooler here than it would be back home…and a whole lot more wet! I have come to love and appreciate my rain boots…or wellies as they are called here.
Things have been so busy…but a good and productive busy. Along with daily life and attempting to learn my way around here…I have been plugging away at the office…making meetings after meetings…getting things in order for our upcoming big events (Grand opening, Logos Hope Ship’s arrival, Golf clinic and Tournament…just to name a few). But I must admit that I am becoming more at ease with the driving on the left side of the road…and understanding all the different Irish accents. Yes…just like our North and South parts of the USA…there are two very distinctly different accents here in Ireland as well. I have learned that a “jumper” is not a person who sky dives for a living…but a jacket; “buns” are not buns of steel but the polar opposite…cupcakes, and of course my favorite...pants are not what you where on your outside…but on the inside….as in our underwear.
Our new ministry headquarters (Lacken House) is also undergoing some major changes. We are currently using a temporary office set up in our conference room…all 10 of us…try to have a personal conversation in that situation! :O) Our actual offices are being finished up and we anticipate being in them by early October. Quick cool story…we were praying for 2 carpenters and a plumber to come and finish the work. One of our team members brought this request to his local church…and God moved on the heart of one man in particular named Tim. All last week Tim came and finished our dry wall and lead devotions for us one morning. In tears he talked about how God kept telling him that his obedience to help finish the project was much more than his sacrifice in doing so. So…not only was he here last week…he and his friend…another carpenter…will be heading our way again next week. And we just got word today that we have a plumber who i
s coming next week. God is so faithful and knows what we need when we need it.
We were able to host our first official event at Lacken House…OM Monthly Prayer night. We invited local evangelical churches to come and share how we might pray for them. We had a packed room with standing room only.
It was amazing to see all these pastors together in one room. Everyone praising God and praying for their local towns. They were praying specifically over the high suicide rate here. Just about everyone you talk to…knows some one either in their immediate family or circle of friends who has attempted or committed suicide. It just makes you sick to here a room full of people talk for over 30 minutes non stop of the list of people who have taken their lives over that last couple of months. You truly see the darkness that lumes here. But there is so much hope in these small groups of believers. They are truly an inspiration to me to keep running the good race.
My time here so far has been one of great faith experiences and spiritual highs…but it has not come without opposition. Over the past 2 weeks our team members, including my self have come under many attacks. We have had everything from car engines blowing out, flat tires, ruptured septic tanks, electricity and gas shut offs with no explanations, phones disconnected, food poisoning, and a team member’s baby falling down the stairs (she is okay…just a nasty looking bump). Today…a group of us got together to pray specifically for our God to continue watching over us and praising Him that He is so much stronger than the one in this world!
We have been going through the book of Nehemiah in our staff morning devotions. I have been learning so much through this man’s life. One thing in particular that grabbed my attention is how even though God told Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem…he faced opposition. But he was so faithful to say to all those who opposed the rebuilding…”The God of heaven will give us success.” I truly believe that we are here doing the Father’s business…and we have the privilege of working for God…“rebuilding this once great nation…sold out for Him”. Some days it seems so overwhelming to do anything because of crazy circumstances we have all been going through…and I feel so helpless…but NOT hopeless. All I can do is turn to Jesus and literally worship and adore Him. Here is an oldie but goodie that has been in my head all day…
Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that you’re my God. You’re altogether lovely, all together worthy, all together wonderful to me. I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that Cross.
- Please continue to lift me and the team up in prayer. Here are some specific prayer requests:
•Pray for protection over the entire team and their family
•Pray for Carpenters and plumbers to come and finish our office by October.
•Pray for plans for future build outs…in the once stable blocks…we would like to make a dorm setting that would accommodate 50 people at one time.
•Pray for my internet at home to get up and running. I ordered it the beginning of August…and still don’t have it properly set up. (it has really affected my ability to communicate like I would like to be able to, with people back home).
•Pray for me to find a car soon. I have been using my roommates, which has worked because she can’t drive stick shift. But were are about to have to go to a lot of opposite directions at the same time and will need individual cars.
•Pray that I would be able to get a GPS system as well…pretty much a necessasity here…especially for a foreigner.
•Pray that my roomie could learn to drive quickly and safely.
•Pray for my neighbors...pray that I would continue to have a meaningful relationship with them and have more opportunities to share the love of Jesus with them. That they would be open.
•Pray for a little girl (about 7) in my neighborhood that has taken to me quickly. She seems to be searching for a female role model in her life...or any attention. She seems to be neglected severely...usually the poor thing is filthy dirty when I see her...looks as if she is not told to take a bath on a regular basis. She needs Jesus.
•Pray for wisdom and direction for me as I have been given the charge to do a pricing estimate for our office furniture/supplies. HELP!!! I have never put an office together…and certainly not one in Ireland. I haven’t a clue where to start. :O)
* Prayer night (staff photo)...but go online to view a video of snapshots (www.omireland.blogspot.com)
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