It's more than optimism.

The message of the Love of Christ is a bestseller. It's number one on all of the charts.

Our world is longing for a Savior, a Never-Ending Love. The problem is that all of our love songs are directed at loves that fail and die rather than the Great Love we're all longing for.

Lately the weather has been so bipolar...

Well it's a typical day in Northern Ireland.

Every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is stretch my neck to look out the window for the weather forecast. This morning, it was raining. Typical.

About an hour later, it was snowing. Wow, snow! 

About an hour later, the sun was out & the sky was beautifully blue.

And now after a couple hours of sky blue sky, it is snowing again.

But wait! Oh, the snow is slowing down.... 

[Edit..30 minutes later.]

The sun is shining, & the clouds are scarce.

Unfailing Love

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;

sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;

it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

Praise the Lord with the harp;

make music on the ten-stringed lyre.

Sing to him a new song;

play skillfully, shout for joy.

For the word of the Lord is right and true;

He is faithful in all he does.

The Lord loves righteousness and justice;

the earth is full of his unfailing love.

[Psalm 32:11-33:5]

On Wednesday night I had the privilege to attend a percussion & vocals worship night. Everyone sat in a circle and those who had drums began a simple beat. There were extra drums, maracas, & all kinds of percussion instruments in the middle for anyone to pick up and use if they wanted. The simple beat would always grow & grow until it turned into an orchestral wave of rhythm. Most of the time I just closed my eyes and meditated on the rhythm, but the best part was when we would sing to it. Our voices were the instruments that claimed and maintained the key. I thought it might be awkward to sing along to only percussion, but it was surprisingly easy, & freeing. I found the music to be freshly raw and thus more authentic than worshiping along to an entire band. It was an experience I hope to have again in the future.

Worship is honoring and praising God. I find the most genuine type of worship is that which we do with our lives. But when we're able to connect with God through music, by singing to him from our innermost being, creating melody for him by plucking or bowing some strings or banging on a drum... I just know that's what music was meant for. I feel an awesome sense of God when I'm praising him with music, different and more real than anything other type of love. I guess it's because I know I'm worshipping a Love that will never fail.

A conversation I had

So Cheryl Bailie (my "line-manager"-boss-friend) is awesome. On Friday I was sitting in the office wracking my brain for some innovative ideas for Kidsfest (to be only the sweetest kid's program ever) when she told me to go out & get some fresh air (She reads me like a book). The walk that I took was just what I needed. I didn't think of any innovative ideas, but God answered other questions that have been lingering in my mind. I've been asking Him WHY? : "Why am I here God? I'm not doing anyting that any of the other DYFC workers/volunteers can't do to impact this town, from what I can see at least. Kidsfest? Cheryl can think of way better ideas anyway, & I'm not really an evangelist either. Anything that I can do, others in Dromre can do as well, & I can do anywhere. Why Dromore, Lord? Why can't I be in some physically impoverished place where I'm able to see the results of my efforts & feel appreciated by the peole I am helping? I want to get back to basics (Jeremiah 6:16! I so want it!)- surely living in a hut & eating rice for dinner would be just that?! So, again, why Dromore?"

I said all of that to God whilst dandering through the woods of Dromore park with "Freewheel" by Duke Special looping around my mind, & God replied,

"Faith is being certain of what you cannot see- this is why I've had your nose stuck in Hebrews 11 & pondering faith lately! You are here in Dromore by faith... though you can't always see all the results of your efforts to inspire, guide, & love like you would if you were in a third-world country or any place with physical needs, & though you may not always be helping people who appreciate your efforts, know & trust that I need you here. Have faith that your presence in this town is necessary for this time. 'Back to basics' doesn't only mean back to material things... the most basic of all 'things' is to Love. Love for all you're worth."

Freed from doubt & sure of my Savior's hand in my life, I meandered back to the office.

NI vs USA

What if rain drops were different colors & so when it rained buildings would become multi-colored? And they wouldn't all run together & turn brown because the colors miraculously wouldn't mix. God could do that, & it would be stellar. Ireland would be the most colorful place in the world!

They don't refrigerate their eggs in the supermarket?! ...& 5 other things done differently in Northern Ireland (& probably the entirety of the UK) than the US:

1. Cute &/or fancy mailboxes are non-existent. Rather, post-boxes (a slit in the door) are installed on every front door, & the post man walks up to each door to deliver the mail. To send mail, one must go to the post office, or use a community post-box down the street (I suppose this probably happens in some places in the States as well?)

2. "Crisp" (potato chip) flavors: Fancy trying some Roast Ox (actually not too bad) or Prawn Cocktail crisps? How about Worcestershire Sauce, or Pickled Onion?

3. For dinner (or, "tea"), usually your food is piled onto your plate for you in the kitchen, & then brought out to you at the table. I prefer the American way of putting all the food on the table & everyone helping themselves. (I'm not a fan of gravy, & I unfortunately tend to forget to mention that before my plate is brought out to me.) 

4. In a wedding, the bride's family pays for bridesmaids' dresses & groomsmen's tuxes. Lucky for the bridesmaids & groomsmen... not so much for the happy couple.

5. This isn't really something "done" differently, but check out these police cars & ambulances! You can't miss them on the road.

So there's some culture for you =] & for some reason this is typing underlined & I can't get it off....In the DYFC office, now consisting of our fantastic 2008-2009 team (Cheryl, David, Anna, Bob, & myself...check out our photos... link to the right...), we've been brainstorming for the year ahead. For those of you who don't know, the Base has gone mobile. We no longer have the centre that housed BaseKids and Drop-In; what we do have, however, is a mobile caravan, out of which we're praying that God is going to do great things. I've been put in charge of a project that will hopefully electrify out children's ministry.. 

Love.

Northern Ireland Again!!

BACK.

After somewhat of a personal emotional rollercoast of a summer, though still awesome as I caught up with & had incredibly adventures with my loved ones, I am in Northern Ireland yet again! As I write this, I am sitting in Lorraine's fabulously comfortable & humble estate at Beresford Hill in County Down. The closet space available to me is overwhelming as I have the entire wardroabe (which takes up an entire wall) to myself this year. I'm at a loss as to what to do with all the space- I feel like all my stuff is scattered around the four corners of the world! (Ashleigh, I miss you!!!)

Cheryl picked me up at the airport & then took me out for "coffee" (I got water, a clementine, & a slice of square tomato-basil-mozzerella pizza). I spent the remainder of the afternoon unpacking & power-napping. Upon dinnertime, the Bailies' picked me up again (oh, this was after I woke up to a sweet hug from my sweet mummy Lorraine!) & we chowed down on Chinese food in their living room. I met the newest addition to the Bailie family as well- Molly, their rabbit. She's SO CUTE! --except that she poops everywhere. But pooping seemingly uncontrollably is Molly's only flaw =]

I walked back to Lorraine's in the silent twilight & pondered my feelings. The walk felt normal- completely familiar. I seemed to need to remind myself that I've been away for six weeks. I do miss my family (& the sun) at the minute, which makes the move feel more real.

However, I feel like I'm in control & that this year will be familiar & that I know exactly what I'm doing. This scares me. It also makes me feel less confident & wary because I know I know nothing about this year, & I have never had less control. Everything is too familiar & comfortable for my own good!! I am anxious for everything to get started so that the familiarity becomes blurred.

Love.

don't let the panic bring you down

Just yesterday I realized how incredibly lucky I am to have the kind of family I do.

Well, I've always known that I'm lucky, but it's something i push to the back of my head without ever really reveling in it.

My family is so unique- after my parents had my 3 biological sisters & me, they added 3 more little ones from China to the tree. There's a huge gap between Sarah (8) & my youngest biological sister Kirstyn (16), & some families wouldn't be able to handle that. But I think we do very well.

Yesterday Sarah & I were in a store & we slowly walked by the diamond jewelry section, admiring the sparkling earrings, necklaces, & rings. When we were looking at the rings specifically, Sarah strung together a few simple words that filled me with the wonderment of her innocence,

"I wonder if they change color."

Unfortunately I had to inform her that these kinds of rings don't change color, which she seemed to take ok. But, wow. As we were gazing at diamonds, her only thought was if they changed color, like the plastic mood ring she wears around her finger. This amazes me!!

Without the 3 little rascals in my life, how would I be reminded of little things like this? I am so blessed to daily be prompted about how simple life can be if only we allow it. I am aware that most people in my stage of life, transitioning from teen into young adult, are void this blessing. And so it's no wonder that they get sucked into the monotony of the "real world" & forget the freedom we all once held as a child.

The grumpy old man in the grocery store line used to spend his summer days fishing with his buddies.

The rude & seemingly lifeless customer relations person on the other end of your phone line used to love reading Dr. Seuss.

The angry cashier decked out in her chipped black nail polish used to wear nothing but yellow.

These guys know how to live, & they can't even drive!