So I'm sitting here working in the bookstore and it's pretty quiet. A few people came in today, but not many. It's usually very quiet in here. Sometimes it's no fun because everyone is over in the cafe working and together and you are stuck here in the bookstore away from everyone and all the kids. I'm trying to have a good attitude about it and actually, it has been really nice just taking some time out for myself. Today I was able to just have my quiet time in here. And I'm listening to Hillsong as well while I'm having my quiet time so I guess it can't get much better than that!! I keep listening to this one song though and it's really just hitting me and I am just so thankful for what Jesus has done in my life. The chorus goes something like this: "And you saw me, when you took the crown of thorns. And your blood washed over me. And you love me, through the nails that you bore. Your blood washes over me!" Wow! Awesome! I love it! I am so thankful for the grace and mercy God has given me. I've screwed up a lot in my life but the blood that Jesus sacrificed on the cross covered all my sin and all of my faults and mess ups! And the cool thing is that he did see me when he was on the cross. He saw all of us! And he died because he loved us unconditionally and wanted us to experience life to the fullest. No person on earth can ever love me as much as God loves me!! Wow, I know all of this but it's just good to always be reminded of what Jesus has done for us!!
"Thank you Lord for loving me even through my mess ups! And even though I continue to stumble and fall, you pick me back up and keep me going. You have redeemed my life and lead me in the way of fullness of life! I thank you that you give me purpose and meaning to life! I love you Lord!"
Well, things are going really well here. I am making great friends, lasting friendships actually. I am going to be so sad when I have to leave. I am learning so much from everyone here, just growing together. It's incredible what the Lord is teaching me and showing me through everyone here. And as for the kids, it is so awesome just to see them come in and hang out with all of us. You have to wonder what God is doing in their lives, how He is working. Some of them seriously come in all the time just to hang out and chat. Do the words that we say to them ever really get through? Do they see Jesus in our lives? Do they see something different? Are we even being a good example of Jesus to them? Some of them have been asking questions lately about Jesus, but I think they are just more interested in other things. I wish we could save them from hurt and pain. "Taste and see that the Lord is good." Just give Him a shot, you know? I mean, does it hurt anyone to at least give Him a shot? He brings purpose and meaning to life. He loves unconditionally. The road might not always be easy but He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He will be our strength and carry us through. How do you tell that to people? How do you show them Jesus? I know that the most important thing for me to do is to spend time with Jesus. Intimacy with Him. To know God better and draw near to Him. I guess after that God will just do the rest. I need to just be close to Him and hopefully by having that closeness to God, others will see and want to experience that as well. I have such a hard time though, spending time with Jesus. And you think it'd be easy because of all the things He's done for me, but let's face it, I get distracted so easy. It makes me sick sometimes too. I could be spending quality time with God and I am wasting my life away on facebook tagging pictures and checking out what other people wrote on my friend's walls. I can easily spend 4 or 5 hours on the internet and after I am done, feel like I haven't accomplished anything. After I get done with work, I am always so tired and sometimes the last place I want to go to is the Bible. I think that I can relax and just get on the internet for a little while. Then I end up spending an eternity on there and by the time I'm done, I am too tired to read and spend good time with Jesus. It's aweful but unfortunately, it's a pattern I've gotten myself in to. I don't manage my time well, even when it comes to homework. I am such a procrastinator and I need to work on that really bad. I need more discipline in my life. I don't know how I'm going to do it but I think it is something I have been convicted of lately. How am I spending my time and how am I doing good for the Kingdom of God? Well, I think I need to spend less time on the computer, that's just it. I think I'm going to have to limit myself to a certain amount of time on there. Seriously, it's like an addiction. And I need to get to bed earlier and make sure to set aside time either in the morning or at night to spend time with the Lord. I guess if anyone thinks about it, please pray for me. I know it's going to be hard (already is) and Satan is going to try to distract me every way possible. Pray for strength to keep my eyes on the Lord and to use my time wisely.
Well, I think that's about it for now. It's almost 1pm now and hopefully within the next hour or so I will get to eat lunch! (I am hungry!) Ooh, a customer just came in!! Well, I better go in case she needs any help! Thanks for your prayers and I pray a blessing over each person that reads this and that God will give you a refreshing of His love today!! Until next time, cheers!!
-Meeshie Moo =) (one of my many nicknames here, haha!)
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Encouraged
I know I just wrote a blog only a few short days ago but I really felt like writing another one!! And hopefully this one will be significantly shorter than all the other ones I've written!! Haha!!
Well, I just am excited about this week. It's just been a good week. I mean yeah, crap has happened, but over all, I have felt really encouraged this week. Do you ever feel like when you first start working somewhere new that you just don't seem to be getting everything or are still really far behind? Or you question if you've really picked up anything at all since you've first arrived there? Well, that's sorta how I've felt for a while. I am definitely one of those people who likes to be perfect at something the first time I do it. Well, I think God is trying to teach me that I won't always get it right the first time and that's okay. You've got to learn and make mistakes. It doesn't mean I'm incapable, I just have to learn, practice, and be patient. I just have noticed that I get real self-conscious, always worrying what other people are going to think or if they'll laugh at me or think differently of me if I don't do it right or screw up something. Well, I'm trying to work through that. I don't want to be like that. I want to have confidence in what I do, no matter what it is and confidence that even if I do mess up, it's okay and I don't have to worry what everyone else thinks. I'm just trying to remember that my confidence comes from Christ and that I find my worth completely in Him.
Well anyway, kind of to go along with all of that, I was put on dishes on Thursday. Dishes are probably the worst and most depressing job ever and Tommy put me on dishes all by myself. Now, you must understand, most of the time at work Sarah, CJ, and myself are always put with someone else. We always help other people their jobs and never really do a station on our own. Well anyway, I got put on dishes with no help. It was okay though because I really got the full experience of what it would be like to actually be an intern and work here like the interns and staff do every day. Well, the dishes actually went well and I had a little bit of help toward the end of the day from Maren but for the most part, I did the dishes all by myself and cleaned my area and everything. And when I was finished, I felt so accomplished and so good about myself. I worked hard that day. I worked my butt off. And I finished the task!!! It was such an incredible feeling!!! I know it doesn't sound like much to you but to me, it was kind of the encouragment I needed. It felt like I was actually capable of doing something by myself, like I had made progress here!!!
And then today happened. Saturday is usually a lighter day and Mike's daughters Christina and Luccia came and helped. They are so eager to learn and help and get in on the action (they are 13 and 14 years old). So anyway, Luccia followed me around for the morning and I worked behind the counter a little bit. She started asking me questions: "How do you use the till? What numbers do you press? How do you do this? How do you do that?" It was brilliant because I actually knew what to tell her, how to show her what to do!! It's one of those things that you don't realize how much you know or how far you've come until someone new comes. Then you see how far you really have come!! I was able to explain a bunch of things to Luccia and even make her lunch for her (which, she said tasted very good!!) But anyway, it just made me so happy and so encouraged. I don't feel like I have to answer as much questions anymore. It's starting to make sense now!! Praise God!! I think it's the encouragment I needed!!!
On a completely different note, last night we had a small group celebration thingy. The whole church ended up being there because it was actually a welcome home party for a couple that had just gotten married. But it was so fun to be with the church and the college age people. We are all starting to connect really well! It's so neat forming friendships with people from Malaysia, Ireland, Brazil, Spain, and wherever else we're all from!! Such a diverse group but one thing we all have in common and that is a love for Jesus Christ!! I think that's one of the things that I appreciate most about being here and working at An Tobar Nua. All the people here really do love Jesus and we're all trying to grow together and encourage one another along in our walks with the Lord. I am so thankful for them and the fact that we all get to journey along together!!
I do have a prayer request if you all could be praying. I am really praying about some big things right now that I can't share about just yet. It would be a big change in my life but if it's what the Lord wants then I want to follow His will. But please just pray that the Lord would open wide the doors and really make it known to me what He wants me to do. Pray that the Lord would also give my parents wisdom in the situation and that He would speak to them about the situation. Pray that God would just make His way known to me for this next phase in my life. I am sure within the next month or so I will be able to share more in detail what is going on but for the time being, please just pray for clarity from God. I'd really appreciate it so much!!
Well, it's super late here and I have church in the morning! Then I'm off to do some grocery shopping and chatting and drinking chai lattes with a friend! God bless!!!
-Meeshie =)
Well, I just am excited about this week. It's just been a good week. I mean yeah, crap has happened, but over all, I have felt really encouraged this week. Do you ever feel like when you first start working somewhere new that you just don't seem to be getting everything or are still really far behind? Or you question if you've really picked up anything at all since you've first arrived there? Well, that's sorta how I've felt for a while. I am definitely one of those people who likes to be perfect at something the first time I do it. Well, I think God is trying to teach me that I won't always get it right the first time and that's okay. You've got to learn and make mistakes. It doesn't mean I'm incapable, I just have to learn, practice, and be patient. I just have noticed that I get real self-conscious, always worrying what other people are going to think or if they'll laugh at me or think differently of me if I don't do it right or screw up something. Well, I'm trying to work through that. I don't want to be like that. I want to have confidence in what I do, no matter what it is and confidence that even if I do mess up, it's okay and I don't have to worry what everyone else thinks. I'm just trying to remember that my confidence comes from Christ and that I find my worth completely in Him.
Well anyway, kind of to go along with all of that, I was put on dishes on Thursday. Dishes are probably the worst and most depressing job ever and Tommy put me on dishes all by myself. Now, you must understand, most of the time at work Sarah, CJ, and myself are always put with someone else. We always help other people their jobs and never really do a station on our own. Well anyway, I got put on dishes with no help. It was okay though because I really got the full experience of what it would be like to actually be an intern and work here like the interns and staff do every day. Well, the dishes actually went well and I had a little bit of help toward the end of the day from Maren but for the most part, I did the dishes all by myself and cleaned my area and everything. And when I was finished, I felt so accomplished and so good about myself. I worked hard that day. I worked my butt off. And I finished the task!!! It was such an incredible feeling!!! I know it doesn't sound like much to you but to me, it was kind of the encouragment I needed. It felt like I was actually capable of doing something by myself, like I had made progress here!!!
And then today happened. Saturday is usually a lighter day and Mike's daughters Christina and Luccia came and helped. They are so eager to learn and help and get in on the action (they are 13 and 14 years old). So anyway, Luccia followed me around for the morning and I worked behind the counter a little bit. She started asking me questions: "How do you use the till? What numbers do you press? How do you do this? How do you do that?" It was brilliant because I actually knew what to tell her, how to show her what to do!! It's one of those things that you don't realize how much you know or how far you've come until someone new comes. Then you see how far you really have come!! I was able to explain a bunch of things to Luccia and even make her lunch for her (which, she said tasted very good!!) But anyway, it just made me so happy and so encouraged. I don't feel like I have to answer as much questions anymore. It's starting to make sense now!! Praise God!! I think it's the encouragment I needed!!!
On a completely different note, last night we had a small group celebration thingy. The whole church ended up being there because it was actually a welcome home party for a couple that had just gotten married. But it was so fun to be with the church and the college age people. We are all starting to connect really well! It's so neat forming friendships with people from Malaysia, Ireland, Brazil, Spain, and wherever else we're all from!! Such a diverse group but one thing we all have in common and that is a love for Jesus Christ!! I think that's one of the things that I appreciate most about being here and working at An Tobar Nua. All the people here really do love Jesus and we're all trying to grow together and encourage one another along in our walks with the Lord. I am so thankful for them and the fact that we all get to journey along together!!
I do have a prayer request if you all could be praying. I am really praying about some big things right now that I can't share about just yet. It would be a big change in my life but if it's what the Lord wants then I want to follow His will. But please just pray that the Lord would open wide the doors and really make it known to me what He wants me to do. Pray that the Lord would also give my parents wisdom in the situation and that He would speak to them about the situation. Pray that God would just make His way known to me for this next phase in my life. I am sure within the next month or so I will be able to share more in detail what is going on but for the time being, please just pray for clarity from God. I'd really appreciate it so much!!
Well, it's super late here and I have church in the morning! Then I'm off to do some grocery shopping and chatting and drinking chai lattes with a friend! God bless!!!
-Meeshie =)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Cork, Turning 21, Clifden, and Divine Appointments =)
Oh my word I am so behind in my blogs! And I am sure you all are interested as to what's going on! Ah, so much has happened in the past couple of weeks and I will try to give you the condensed version (but beware, it will probably still be really long!!)
Okay so let's see, last time I wrote, I was basically having a super hard time and really just feeling attacked. But God really helped me make it through. He knew what I needed and that was a day off! So praise God, last Saturday (the 29th) I had a day off from work and decided to go to Cork with my friend Paul from work. It was such a refreshing day! We basically left all our worries and all the crap from Galway and from work in Galway and just enjoyed the day worry free! Paul is a great friend too. We basically just talked straight for the whole day and walked around the city of Cork. It was about a four hour bus ride there and back (so 8 hours total on the bus!) and then just hanging out in the city for the day. We had a lot of funny moments and it was good just having deep conversation with him about God and life and whatever else! So yeah, thank the Lord for a day to just relax and get away!!
Oh yeah, I forgot to say, the night before we had a small group with people from church. It was a lot of fun. Such a mix of people too...we have people from America, Ireland, Malaysia, Spain, and I think probably some other places! It's so great getting us together! We even played a couple of game of Mafia together, which was awesome. It was fun just getting to know people.
Well, Tuesday finally hit and I turned 21!!! Woohoo!! I'm 21 now! I can't believe it! It was a good day, not really eventful or anything. I worked and then had class and yeah just nothing real big. Tonight, though, Tommy and Megan decided that they wanted to throw me a little party and bake me a cake. So we're gonna celebrate my birthday next Wednesday!! Woohoo! Fun stuff! It's so weird though, thinking about my birtday...I really am growing up. Time has flown by and before I know it, another 21 years will go by. Who knows where I'll be or what I'll be doing, if I'll be married and have kids or what. Craziness!!! =)
Okay so then the next day, a cool thing happened. I was in the bookstore during Aine's lunch break and this man came in. I asked him if he needed any help and basically he just started opening up and talked about how he was interested in Christianity and was just seeking. What an awesome opportunity God had laid before me!! He started asking questions and I tried to help him out the best I could, trying to share from my own life and belief in Jesus Christ. Then Mike popped in to my head. Mike works with the ministry and is really gifted in talking to people, especially like this. So I asked the man if I could phone Mike and the man was like, "Well, I normally would say no to something like this but today I'm going to say yes." I was so excited! So Mike came downstairs and talked to this man in the coffee shop for a while. Then, I was in the book store later and he came in and thanked me. I told him I'd be praying for him and see him at church (he actually went to the church where I go but we hadn't met yet). It was so neat just to be a part of it! I think he's just really seeking and wants to know that God really is for real. So yeah, God is good!!!
Okay so then that night I got to see my roommate Kira!! She is in Ireland for the semester as well helping with the Irish freshman who are in Greystones. It was so refreshing just to be with one of my closest friends and talk about what God was doing in our lives! It was fun meeting the freshman too and thinking back to when I was in their position! Good times! Then the next day the big group came to the cafe! That was probably one of the craziest days of my entire life! It was so busy! It was non-stop for the entire morning and probably up until 2pm that day (which is not so normal for us). It was neat though getting to see the big group. We got a chance to share with them about our experience here. I think some of them were actually interested in it. It was cool though cause that day that they came, I really began feeling like I am getting connected with the kids and can interact with them. I don't feel as much like the new person anymore (which is so exciting!) =) Oh yeah, then that night we went to Da Roberta's which was incredible!! It's the best Italian restaurant ever! I stuffed my face! Haha! It was worth it though! I'll have to eat there one more time before I leave here.
Okay so anyway, we unexpectedly got to go on staff retreat this past weekend!! It was so much fun! We drove to Clifden, which was about an hour or so away. We got this big house with a bunch of rooms in it. It was tons of fun. I stayed up till 4:30 the first night talking with Leanna and Paul, actually about deep stuff! Haha! And Paul and I decided to make Skittle Juice to have a sugar high. It consisted of skittles, coke, and red bull. Good times!! I roomed with Megan which was tons of fun!! She is an amazing woman! It was such a good weekend cause I really feel like I got to know people better, especially my Irish friends like Megan, Tommy, and Paul. They are incredible people and it's so hard to think about leaving them in December (and even leaving Galway and the ministry). I really do love it a lot here. I have definitely been blessed this semester by different people in my life. Oh yeah, something else during the weekend. Well, on Saturday Leanna and I decided to hike Sky Road. We found this castle and just took some time out by ourselves. Well, this girl saw me from a distance and we started talking. I found out she had come from Australia to Ireland and was looking for work and might be in the Galway area. Well anyway, we just started talking and I told her all about the ministry and the cafe at An Tobar Nua and just tried to share with her some of my heart and it was just an awesome opportunity. She seemed so intersted and I have her the info as to where we were located and told her to come on by whenever she came back to Galway. She said she'd definitely stop in the shop and I even told her about small group. It was just another awesome opportunity God gave me and I have been praying for her as well and hope that a seed was just planted in her life and that others will come along the way and just help her grow even more!!
So yeah, life is pretty good. I am definitely tired though. Work is exhausting. By the time I get done, I pretty much don't want to do anything. I did take a walk on the Prom last night which was good. The weather is still nice enough that I can walk outside and not get too cold. The weather here is so crazy. Just the other morning, it was all rainy and nasty. Then, the next thing you know, by the end of the day, it was all sunny and beautiful and you wouldn't have even thought that it was so bad earlier in the day. Like they say, the weather in Ireland is predictably unpredictable!!
If you all could, please keep me in your prayers. I have a lot of things going on at the moment that I am praying about. I am just trying to seek direction for my life and where God wants me. I will share more in detail later but just pray that God would give me a clear answer for what He wants me to do with my life. Please continue to pray for roommate situations. I've been having difficulties since the start of the trip but I know God is faithful and will help me through. Just pray for continued strength and a Christ-like attitude.
Well, I think that might be it for now. Thanks for your prayers and anyone ever has any specific questions about anything here, please ask!! Or if you want to know how something is done or whatever, please ask! I'd love to hear how everyone back home (or wherever you're at) is doing!!! God bless you all!!
-Michelle
Just an encouraging verse we read during our staff prayer time today..."But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a poeple, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." - 1 Peter 2:9-10
"Father, I praise you for saving my life and showing me mercy. I thank you that I am your child and I belong to you. Father, I pray for all the people that I love and are dear and special to me to experience the fullness of you and your love for them. I pray that all would taste and see that you are good! Thank you for rescuing me out of darkness and bringing me into your light! You are amazing God!! I will declare your praises forever Lord! You are my rock and my shield and my place of refuge! I love you Jesus!!"
Okay so let's see, last time I wrote, I was basically having a super hard time and really just feeling attacked. But God really helped me make it through. He knew what I needed and that was a day off! So praise God, last Saturday (the 29th) I had a day off from work and decided to go to Cork with my friend Paul from work. It was such a refreshing day! We basically left all our worries and all the crap from Galway and from work in Galway and just enjoyed the day worry free! Paul is a great friend too. We basically just talked straight for the whole day and walked around the city of Cork. It was about a four hour bus ride there and back (so 8 hours total on the bus!) and then just hanging out in the city for the day. We had a lot of funny moments and it was good just having deep conversation with him about God and life and whatever else! So yeah, thank the Lord for a day to just relax and get away!!
Oh yeah, I forgot to say, the night before we had a small group with people from church. It was a lot of fun. Such a mix of people too...we have people from America, Ireland, Malaysia, Spain, and I think probably some other places! It's so great getting us together! We even played a couple of game of Mafia together, which was awesome. It was fun just getting to know people.
Well, Tuesday finally hit and I turned 21!!! Woohoo!! I'm 21 now! I can't believe it! It was a good day, not really eventful or anything. I worked and then had class and yeah just nothing real big. Tonight, though, Tommy and Megan decided that they wanted to throw me a little party and bake me a cake. So we're gonna celebrate my birthday next Wednesday!! Woohoo! Fun stuff! It's so weird though, thinking about my birtday...I really am growing up. Time has flown by and before I know it, another 21 years will go by. Who knows where I'll be or what I'll be doing, if I'll be married and have kids or what. Craziness!!! =)
Okay so then the next day, a cool thing happened. I was in the bookstore during Aine's lunch break and this man came in. I asked him if he needed any help and basically he just started opening up and talked about how he was interested in Christianity and was just seeking. What an awesome opportunity God had laid before me!! He started asking questions and I tried to help him out the best I could, trying to share from my own life and belief in Jesus Christ. Then Mike popped in to my head. Mike works with the ministry and is really gifted in talking to people, especially like this. So I asked the man if I could phone Mike and the man was like, "Well, I normally would say no to something like this but today I'm going to say yes." I was so excited! So Mike came downstairs and talked to this man in the coffee shop for a while. Then, I was in the book store later and he came in and thanked me. I told him I'd be praying for him and see him at church (he actually went to the church where I go but we hadn't met yet). It was so neat just to be a part of it! I think he's just really seeking and wants to know that God really is for real. So yeah, God is good!!!
Okay so then that night I got to see my roommate Kira!! She is in Ireland for the semester as well helping with the Irish freshman who are in Greystones. It was so refreshing just to be with one of my closest friends and talk about what God was doing in our lives! It was fun meeting the freshman too and thinking back to when I was in their position! Good times! Then the next day the big group came to the cafe! That was probably one of the craziest days of my entire life! It was so busy! It was non-stop for the entire morning and probably up until 2pm that day (which is not so normal for us). It was neat though getting to see the big group. We got a chance to share with them about our experience here. I think some of them were actually interested in it. It was cool though cause that day that they came, I really began feeling like I am getting connected with the kids and can interact with them. I don't feel as much like the new person anymore (which is so exciting!) =) Oh yeah, then that night we went to Da Roberta's which was incredible!! It's the best Italian restaurant ever! I stuffed my face! Haha! It was worth it though! I'll have to eat there one more time before I leave here.
Okay so anyway, we unexpectedly got to go on staff retreat this past weekend!! It was so much fun! We drove to Clifden, which was about an hour or so away. We got this big house with a bunch of rooms in it. It was tons of fun. I stayed up till 4:30 the first night talking with Leanna and Paul, actually about deep stuff! Haha! And Paul and I decided to make Skittle Juice to have a sugar high. It consisted of skittles, coke, and red bull. Good times!! I roomed with Megan which was tons of fun!! She is an amazing woman! It was such a good weekend cause I really feel like I got to know people better, especially my Irish friends like Megan, Tommy, and Paul. They are incredible people and it's so hard to think about leaving them in December (and even leaving Galway and the ministry). I really do love it a lot here. I have definitely been blessed this semester by different people in my life. Oh yeah, something else during the weekend. Well, on Saturday Leanna and I decided to hike Sky Road. We found this castle and just took some time out by ourselves. Well, this girl saw me from a distance and we started talking. I found out she had come from Australia to Ireland and was looking for work and might be in the Galway area. Well anyway, we just started talking and I told her all about the ministry and the cafe at An Tobar Nua and just tried to share with her some of my heart and it was just an awesome opportunity. She seemed so intersted and I have her the info as to where we were located and told her to come on by whenever she came back to Galway. She said she'd definitely stop in the shop and I even told her about small group. It was just another awesome opportunity God gave me and I have been praying for her as well and hope that a seed was just planted in her life and that others will come along the way and just help her grow even more!!
So yeah, life is pretty good. I am definitely tired though. Work is exhausting. By the time I get done, I pretty much don't want to do anything. I did take a walk on the Prom last night which was good. The weather is still nice enough that I can walk outside and not get too cold. The weather here is so crazy. Just the other morning, it was all rainy and nasty. Then, the next thing you know, by the end of the day, it was all sunny and beautiful and you wouldn't have even thought that it was so bad earlier in the day. Like they say, the weather in Ireland is predictably unpredictable!!
If you all could, please keep me in your prayers. I have a lot of things going on at the moment that I am praying about. I am just trying to seek direction for my life and where God wants me. I will share more in detail later but just pray that God would give me a clear answer for what He wants me to do with my life. Please continue to pray for roommate situations. I've been having difficulties since the start of the trip but I know God is faithful and will help me through. Just pray for continued strength and a Christ-like attitude.
Well, I think that might be it for now. Thanks for your prayers and anyone ever has any specific questions about anything here, please ask!! Or if you want to know how something is done or whatever, please ask! I'd love to hear how everyone back home (or wherever you're at) is doing!!! God bless you all!!
-Michelle
Just an encouraging verse we read during our staff prayer time today..."But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a poeple, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." - 1 Peter 2:9-10
"Father, I praise you for saving my life and showing me mercy. I thank you that I am your child and I belong to you. Father, I pray for all the people that I love and are dear and special to me to experience the fullness of you and your love for them. I pray that all would taste and see that you are good! Thank you for rescuing me out of darkness and bringing me into your light! You are amazing God!! I will declare your praises forever Lord! You are my rock and my shield and my place of refuge! I love you Jesus!!"
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Lord, Be My Strength...
Some quotes a dear friend of mine sent to me that have been super encouraging to me:
"All things are sent and governed by God, and however troublesome they are, they will, if accepted gladly, lead us surely and quickly toward holiness."
-Jean-Pierre de Caussade
"It is not the splendor or the greatness of our deeds that matters. The smallest, most trivial task we accomplish is supremely important if it is done in obedience to God's will and for love of Him." -St. Therese
Wow, so many things going through my head right now. So much has happened since I last wrote. It's been a difficult week. I am really beginning to understand how hard and draining ministry and being a missionary really is. I am seeing how important it is to be in communion with Jesus everyday. I am seeing how much I need him in my life everyday. I go and work everyday and sometimes wonder if it's doing any good. I work in the kitchen, I clean bathrooms, I serve food to people and wonder if what I am doing is really ministry. It is even though it doesn't always feel like it. It can be draining though. And when I am drained and have poured so much out into other people, I realize that I need Jesus so much. And also, during my ministry, I realize how much I need him and need him to guide me and give me the words to say to people. It's just so tough and for any of you that are reading this and have been missionaries, I really am understanding you. Missions trips are great to go on and I highly encourage people to go on one, but you really don't get the full effect of missions and ministry until you live it out day to day for a longer period of time (more than 2 weeks). It is hard. It is discouraging. But like my dear friend Leanna said, I have hope. There is a bigger picture that I can't see but God can see. And I have hope in knowing that He is in control an'd He knows what He's doing and is using these experiences right now to not only shape me but who knows, maybe even plant seeds in other peoples lives that I might not ever see. I just have to keep my focus on Jesus and know that He sees the big picture and is in control.
Not only am I feeling that but the Lord really spoke to me about compassion today. We were having staff prayer time and we read a verse from the Bible and pray together. Well, this was our verse:
"Jesus stopped and called them. 'What do you want me to do for you?' he asked. 'Lord,' they answered, 'we want our sight.' Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him." -Matthew 20:32-34
The part that really stuck out to me was that Jesus had compassion. I thought to myself during prayer time that "Hey! I really am a compassionate person! I am compassionate about my friends and family and people I love. I am compassionate about people who are less fortunate, like the children of Africa." But then it's like God hit me in the head and was like "Are you really compassionate? What about the people you don't like? What about your enemies? Would you do anything for them? Would you serve them and love them like I've called you to do?" Then I kinda got humbled real fast and realized that I really wasn't as compassionate as I thought. It's so easy for me to have compassion for those I love, for my friends. But when it comes to people I don't like, I could care less. It's like why should I love them, show them compassion? I can't get along with them, don't really care for them, so why so compassion and love for them? But calls us to something different than that. He calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you. I was asking myself why I can't have compassion for those I don't like and I realized that it's because of pride in my life. Whoa gosh, I just need to be humbled. It's just interesting how God has been showing revealing things to me in my life.
And not only that but I just feel like Satan has been attacking on all sides. I'm exhausted from work and lack of sleep, there have been roommate issues, and just all sorts of things. Tonight I had a breakdown. I just cried. I just feel like giving up, but I know I must press on. I have to continue to remember that hope I have in Jesus. And I have to remember that He is always there and never lets go. Leanna sent me the lyrics to this song which are really encouraging.
Matt Redman - You Never Let GoFrom the album Passion 06: Everything Glorious
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know You are near
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know
You here on the earth
Chorus:
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
"Lord Jesus, I praise you because you truly do not let us go. You are always there. You hold me by my right hand. And even though I am going through storms right now, I still praise you. I praise you because you are God, you are in control, and you are so faithful. I praise you because you are refining me through this and shaping me into what you want me to be. I praise you simply because you are GREAT. Lord, I love you. Give me your strength. I can not do it on my own and I won't do it without you. 'My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.' -Psalm 73:28 Lord, though my heart fails and my own strength fails, you are my strength. I lean on you. Thank you for being there, always and forever. I trust in you Lord. I love you Jesus. Be the center of my life. Help me to keep my eyes on you."
-Michelle
"All things are sent and governed by God, and however troublesome they are, they will, if accepted gladly, lead us surely and quickly toward holiness."
-Jean-Pierre de Caussade
"It is not the splendor or the greatness of our deeds that matters. The smallest, most trivial task we accomplish is supremely important if it is done in obedience to God's will and for love of Him." -St. Therese
Wow, so many things going through my head right now. So much has happened since I last wrote. It's been a difficult week. I am really beginning to understand how hard and draining ministry and being a missionary really is. I am seeing how important it is to be in communion with Jesus everyday. I am seeing how much I need him in my life everyday. I go and work everyday and sometimes wonder if it's doing any good. I work in the kitchen, I clean bathrooms, I serve food to people and wonder if what I am doing is really ministry. It is even though it doesn't always feel like it. It can be draining though. And when I am drained and have poured so much out into other people, I realize that I need Jesus so much. And also, during my ministry, I realize how much I need him and need him to guide me and give me the words to say to people. It's just so tough and for any of you that are reading this and have been missionaries, I really am understanding you. Missions trips are great to go on and I highly encourage people to go on one, but you really don't get the full effect of missions and ministry until you live it out day to day for a longer period of time (more than 2 weeks). It is hard. It is discouraging. But like my dear friend Leanna said, I have hope. There is a bigger picture that I can't see but God can see. And I have hope in knowing that He is in control an'd He knows what He's doing and is using these experiences right now to not only shape me but who knows, maybe even plant seeds in other peoples lives that I might not ever see. I just have to keep my focus on Jesus and know that He sees the big picture and is in control.
Not only am I feeling that but the Lord really spoke to me about compassion today. We were having staff prayer time and we read a verse from the Bible and pray together. Well, this was our verse:
"Jesus stopped and called them. 'What do you want me to do for you?' he asked. 'Lord,' they answered, 'we want our sight.' Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him." -Matthew 20:32-34
The part that really stuck out to me was that Jesus had compassion. I thought to myself during prayer time that "Hey! I really am a compassionate person! I am compassionate about my friends and family and people I love. I am compassionate about people who are less fortunate, like the children of Africa." But then it's like God hit me in the head and was like "Are you really compassionate? What about the people you don't like? What about your enemies? Would you do anything for them? Would you serve them and love them like I've called you to do?" Then I kinda got humbled real fast and realized that I really wasn't as compassionate as I thought. It's so easy for me to have compassion for those I love, for my friends. But when it comes to people I don't like, I could care less. It's like why should I love them, show them compassion? I can't get along with them, don't really care for them, so why so compassion and love for them? But calls us to something different than that. He calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you. I was asking myself why I can't have compassion for those I don't like and I realized that it's because of pride in my life. Whoa gosh, I just need to be humbled. It's just interesting how God has been showing revealing things to me in my life.
And not only that but I just feel like Satan has been attacking on all sides. I'm exhausted from work and lack of sleep, there have been roommate issues, and just all sorts of things. Tonight I had a breakdown. I just cried. I just feel like giving up, but I know I must press on. I have to continue to remember that hope I have in Jesus. And I have to remember that He is always there and never lets go. Leanna sent me the lyrics to this song which are really encouraging.
Matt Redman - You Never Let GoFrom the album Passion 06: Everything Glorious
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know You are near
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know
You here on the earth
Chorus:
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
"Lord Jesus, I praise you because you truly do not let us go. You are always there. You hold me by my right hand. And even though I am going through storms right now, I still praise you. I praise you because you are God, you are in control, and you are so faithful. I praise you because you are refining me through this and shaping me into what you want me to be. I praise you simply because you are GREAT. Lord, I love you. Give me your strength. I can not do it on my own and I won't do it without you. 'My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.' -Psalm 73:28 Lord, though my heart fails and my own strength fails, you are my strength. I lean on you. Thank you for being there, always and forever. I trust in you Lord. I love you Jesus. Be the center of my life. Help me to keep my eyes on you."
-Michelle
Monday, September 17, 2007
A Day Off...=)
Mondays are my days off. It's great! I get to sleep in as late as I want and do whatever my little heart desires. However, I am finding that it is really the only day to ever get anything, like doing laundry and getting groceries. So I have come to realize that Mondays for me really aren't a day off at all. And maybe this is just me becoming more of an adult and taking on more responsibilities. It's like I'm looking for time to do things and it's not there like it used to be. Finding time to rest is a lot harder these days. Oh well, please don't think I'm complaining, I guess I am just realizing that I'm growing up! Ha! =)
Well, lets see here, what has gone on since I last talked to you. Not too much. Saturday was super slow for most of the afternoon. Not many people came in. Then around 3:30 or 4:00, a bunch of the kids that come in during the week came in to hang out. Oh my word, there were messes everywhere. It was super frustrating but through it I think I learned and gained a little more respect for the people in other places that do just the same thing that I have been doing for only two weeks. So thanks to all the waiters and waitresses, to all the people who have to wait on other people with food and many different things. It can be a hectic job but thanks for your hard work!
Anyway, we were packed around 4:00 and 4:30 on Saturday. It was a madhouse but we mad it! I worked on the floor and took orders from people and delivered food. Things are getting easier for me as the days go on, but I am still learning. We work really hard here too. Got to make sure everything is super clean for the next day. No joke, all this past week, I have seriously been on dishes so much! It's okay to do, not my favorite, but it's just been funny that I've gotten stuck with dishes multiple times this past week.
So Saturday, enough of the work part, maybe on to some more interesting stuff, I was talking to some kids. They came in and had been hanging in the shop most of the day and one of the kids comes up to me and asks me why I go to church. Now, I must explain that when I am put on the spot like that, I have a super hard time responding, but I tried my best and asked the Lord for help. I told him I go to church because it is a good time to fellowship and be with other people who have the same beliefs that I do. I told him that it is encouraging to me and my life to go there. And I told him that it gave me the opportunity to learn more about God. Of course, he didn't seem to think those were any valid reasons to go to church, especially when sex and alcohol seems to be more of a fun thing to do (not that those things are bad in the right conext like in marriage and then moderation of alcohol, but when out of context they can be a problem). Then something came up about going to a Catholic church and I said that I had never gone before but I am planning on it and want to. Then the boy basically told me that I lost all credibility because I don't go to a Catholic church and that he would never step foot into a "proddy" (Protestant) church. Wow, I was taken back a bit by this conversation. I didn't mean for him to think that I wanted him to go to a Protestant church. You have to understand that religion plays a huge part in Irish culture, especially between Catholics and Protestants. There are many hard feelings against the Protestant church and many people nowadays will have nothing to do with them. The thing that I love about working at An Tobar Nua is that we are not trying to force anyone to become Catholic or Protestant. We simply just desire for people to know Jesus Christ as Lord and for Him to become a part of their lives. I wish I could have conveyed that to this boy that I spoke to (and who knows maybe I did or maybe I didn't). I want him and all the others to know Christ like I am beginning to know Him. "Taste and see that the Lord is good." -Psalms 34:8a He is so good and I want so badly to bridge the gap and for him to see the Lord's goodness. It is not about him going to one church or another. It is about a life full of so much more, full of meaning and purpose. Full of unconditional love! I know deep down he and all the other kids want that, but they just don't know it yet. It can be discouraging and hard but I know God is in control and any little bit that is shared is a seed. I just need to pray for God's to become even more real to him in his life.
So after my long day on Saturday, it was finally the weekend! Yesterday I went to church at Discovery where the pastor talked about marriage. I sat next to my friend Leanna who also went to Taylor and we both had a Christian Marriage class this past semester. We kept looking at each other and smiling, thinking that we were there all over again. Haha! Then, after church, a bunch of us went for Indian food. It was really good but we were there for like 3 hours! Oh my word it was crazy! We had a fun time and it was good getting to know new people. CJ and I were the only Americans that went and it was fun just hanging out with the Irish! They are so funny!
After lunch I came back and just laid around all day. I put my Colts jersey on around 6pm because the game was starting. Yes people, it is Colts season and I am not in the states to watch it. It is so sad and discouraging. However, I do have nfl.com which allows me to watch lines on the screen and gives me a description of the plays just after they 've happened. It can be discouraging though to sit in front of your computer for 4 hours just watching these lines but at least I know what's going on! I do miss watching Manning and Harrison and the rest of the gang! Oh well, they won last night and are 2-0!! Woohoo!! Leanna and I celebrated with a little photo shoot in our jerseys. It was good craic. Every week, after every game, we are planning on taking pictures in our jerseys. So stayed tuned for what's to come next! GO COLTS!
Well, I think that's about it for now. I have probably bored you all long enough again...=) Please continue to pray for strength and energy. Please pray for roommate situations and for unity. Please pray for the ministry that more youth would come in and for sales to increase in the shop. Please pray for God's presence to be felt when people walk into this place and that they would feel it as a safe place. And praise God for His goodness and faithfulness in the good and bad times. He is incredible and is our strength through everything. He never leaves us! So praise Him because He is good!! I love you all and will catch ya later!
Cheers!
-Michelle
Well, lets see here, what has gone on since I last talked to you. Not too much. Saturday was super slow for most of the afternoon. Not many people came in. Then around 3:30 or 4:00, a bunch of the kids that come in during the week came in to hang out. Oh my word, there were messes everywhere. It was super frustrating but through it I think I learned and gained a little more respect for the people in other places that do just the same thing that I have been doing for only two weeks. So thanks to all the waiters and waitresses, to all the people who have to wait on other people with food and many different things. It can be a hectic job but thanks for your hard work!
Anyway, we were packed around 4:00 and 4:30 on Saturday. It was a madhouse but we mad it! I worked on the floor and took orders from people and delivered food. Things are getting easier for me as the days go on, but I am still learning. We work really hard here too. Got to make sure everything is super clean for the next day. No joke, all this past week, I have seriously been on dishes so much! It's okay to do, not my favorite, but it's just been funny that I've gotten stuck with dishes multiple times this past week.
So Saturday, enough of the work part, maybe on to some more interesting stuff, I was talking to some kids. They came in and had been hanging in the shop most of the day and one of the kids comes up to me and asks me why I go to church. Now, I must explain that when I am put on the spot like that, I have a super hard time responding, but I tried my best and asked the Lord for help. I told him I go to church because it is a good time to fellowship and be with other people who have the same beliefs that I do. I told him that it is encouraging to me and my life to go there. And I told him that it gave me the opportunity to learn more about God. Of course, he didn't seem to think those were any valid reasons to go to church, especially when sex and alcohol seems to be more of a fun thing to do (not that those things are bad in the right conext like in marriage and then moderation of alcohol, but when out of context they can be a problem). Then something came up about going to a Catholic church and I said that I had never gone before but I am planning on it and want to. Then the boy basically told me that I lost all credibility because I don't go to a Catholic church and that he would never step foot into a "proddy" (Protestant) church. Wow, I was taken back a bit by this conversation. I didn't mean for him to think that I wanted him to go to a Protestant church. You have to understand that religion plays a huge part in Irish culture, especially between Catholics and Protestants. There are many hard feelings against the Protestant church and many people nowadays will have nothing to do with them. The thing that I love about working at An Tobar Nua is that we are not trying to force anyone to become Catholic or Protestant. We simply just desire for people to know Jesus Christ as Lord and for Him to become a part of their lives. I wish I could have conveyed that to this boy that I spoke to (and who knows maybe I did or maybe I didn't). I want him and all the others to know Christ like I am beginning to know Him. "Taste and see that the Lord is good." -Psalms 34:8a He is so good and I want so badly to bridge the gap and for him to see the Lord's goodness. It is not about him going to one church or another. It is about a life full of so much more, full of meaning and purpose. Full of unconditional love! I know deep down he and all the other kids want that, but they just don't know it yet. It can be discouraging and hard but I know God is in control and any little bit that is shared is a seed. I just need to pray for God's to become even more real to him in his life.
So after my long day on Saturday, it was finally the weekend! Yesterday I went to church at Discovery where the pastor talked about marriage. I sat next to my friend Leanna who also went to Taylor and we both had a Christian Marriage class this past semester. We kept looking at each other and smiling, thinking that we were there all over again. Haha! Then, after church, a bunch of us went for Indian food. It was really good but we were there for like 3 hours! Oh my word it was crazy! We had a fun time and it was good getting to know new people. CJ and I were the only Americans that went and it was fun just hanging out with the Irish! They are so funny!
After lunch I came back and just laid around all day. I put my Colts jersey on around 6pm because the game was starting. Yes people, it is Colts season and I am not in the states to watch it. It is so sad and discouraging. However, I do have nfl.com which allows me to watch lines on the screen and gives me a description of the plays just after they 've happened. It can be discouraging though to sit in front of your computer for 4 hours just watching these lines but at least I know what's going on! I do miss watching Manning and Harrison and the rest of the gang! Oh well, they won last night and are 2-0!! Woohoo!! Leanna and I celebrated with a little photo shoot in our jerseys. It was good craic. Every week, after every game, we are planning on taking pictures in our jerseys. So stayed tuned for what's to come next! GO COLTS!
Well, I think that's about it for now. I have probably bored you all long enough again...=) Please continue to pray for strength and energy. Please pray for roommate situations and for unity. Please pray for the ministry that more youth would come in and for sales to increase in the shop. Please pray for God's presence to be felt when people walk into this place and that they would feel it as a safe place. And praise God for His goodness and faithfulness in the good and bad times. He is incredible and is our strength through everything. He never leaves us! So praise Him because He is good!! I love you all and will catch ya later!
Cheers!
-Michelle
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Finally a new update!
Okay so I figured it's about time to update you all! First things first: Here are 10 things you need to know about living in Ireland.
1. They don't say excuse me, they say sorry. Excuse me can actually be negative and in fact, rude at times to use. (That's the big one I'm trying to work on cause I say excuse me all the time!)
2. They don't say twelve thirty or five thirty, they say half twelve or half five instead.
3. You don't leave a tip when you're done eating. Kinda nice compared to the states!
4. Shops around here close super early, like 5 or 6 early. Even the malls will close around those times. But you can be assured that those pubs will stay open really late!
5. They call a cell phone a mobile and text each other WAY more than we do in the states.
6. People usually walk everywhere to go places. Yeah, people have cars, but it's just more convenient to walk.
7. When greeting, they sometimes say "hiya" and when saying thanks or just saying goodbye, they'll say "thanks a million."
8. I heard this one today. The Irish can usually tell who the Americans are. They are the ones who walk through town making eye contact and keeping their heads up when they walk. Many of the Irish keep their heads down when they walk (not all the way down but they can usually spot Americans). =)
9. The cash register is called a till.
And last but not least...
10. They call a movie a film and they call the movie theater a cinema.
Okay so those were really random but they are some things I am getting used to while living here! I know there are so many things that are different than America but I just can't think of them all...oh wait, here's one (and this is so sad): they don't put pickles on sandwiches and hamburgers. That makes me very sad cause I love pickles (however, there is a Subway right across the street from me so I guess if I'm really missing them I can get them there!)
Well, I am sure you all are wondering what I've been up to for the past week! Where to begin, where to begin. Let's see, last week we started working in the coffee shop. Oh my, can we say overwhelming. First off, I must explain that our busiest time of the day is between the hours of 1 and 2. This is when the kids get off for their lunch break. The schools are very different here and they allow the kids an hour for lunch but don't provide lunches like they do in the states. So An Tobar Nua appeals to the kids because they have great and cheap prices for good food. So a lot of the kids will come in and eat.
There are a couple of different stations you can work at during the lunch hour. You have the front where the till (cash register) is and where orders are taken. Then you have the people in the kitchen making the food, and then you have people out on the floor who deliver the food to the kids. When the kids make their order, we put their names on the slip of paper then when the food comes out we can take it to them. Well, for our first day of work, we were put on the floor, in the thick of things (right where all the action was). Oh my word, it was so intimidating and hard. The kids were messing with us saying that the food in our hands was theirs but they were really just lying to us. I even ended up giving one of the plates of food to some girl that it didn't even belong to. It was so frustrating cause I didn't know any of the kids! Oh well, the other staff said that usually happens. Anyway, I made it through that day and I was so happy!
Last week, I spent of lot of time working in the bookstore as well. I took over for Deirdra, the woman who works there full time. It's nice and quiet in there, which is great to have sometimes. They wanted one of us to be the person that knows how to do pretty much everything in there so that ended up being me. I had expressed a lot of interest in wanting to work there so that's why. It's cool cause it's really personal working in there (however, the coffee shop is really personal too)! It's fun being able to help people find a CD or book or talk about a certain book in the shop. Good times! =)
So yeah, back to the coffee shop. There is so much work that goes in to running that place everyday. They clean so thoroughly in there. Oh my word! Mr. Muscle becomes your best friend (ha, that's the stuff we use to clean with)! And there are so many small things to learn...don't do this, don't do that...remember to say this, remember to say that...the list goes on and on! Very overwhelming but just today, I was starting to feel like things were finally clicking. I still feel new but not as new as I did. Today, I worked in the kitchen for the first time. I helped get the meals ready and was trying to learn as best as I could how to put the sandwiches together and cook things and this and that! It actually doesn't seem bad but I just gotta remember the little details of things. And oh my word, the only downside about working here is that there always seems to be little sweet treats floating around everywhere...someone's got cookie dough left in a bowl that we can have...this cookie is broken, go ahead and eat it...this brownie is falling apart, eat it, etc. Ah! It's so good but I just hope I don't go on sugar overload! Ha!
So I'm sure you're probably wondering if I'm even getting an education while I'm over here. The answer is yes. We just started class this week. (I know! Already mid-September and we're just starting class! Ha!) We are taking two missions classes with Arden Autry plus a living cross culturally course. I am also taking Celtic Christianity and Hill Climbing on Blackboard (online) and then I am doing my Psychology practicum. My practicum is working in the coffee shop (working with the ministry). So I am definitely staying busy with work and school (but still having fun too!) The people here are great! I work with an amazing staff. There are 4 other interns that are here working for a year. They are Leanna, Cat, Scott, and Maren. They are great, such a pleasure to work with! Then we have our Irish friends who work here and they are Megan, Donna, Paul, and Tommy. They are all hilarious, full of great craic! (By the way, craic, or crack as we pronounce it, is actually another word for fun, not actually the other stuff...and you know what I'm talking about). =) Then we have Susan and Kelly, the founders of the mission, and Mike, Deirdra, Anie, and I think there is someone else but I forgot her name! Ah! Anyway, they are all incredible! Such a blessing and a pleasure to work with! So welcoming here! And the youth coming in to the shop have been the same way. Even though I have had some trouble with the kids giving me a hard time cause I'm new, they really have been so wonderful and I really have been connecting with them. Some kids come in and hang out all the time, like Conor and Aine, Heather and Mel, just to name a few! It's great just hanging out and talking with them, getting to know them better and what's going on in their lives. Oh and last week, I totally became friends with two Italians and a Spaniard that were studying in Galway. It was so random too cause I was brining them what I thought to be an americano but instead it was an espresso. I said somethin about it being americano and the man was like "Oh no, it's not americano, those Americans, they only copy us." I realy didn't understand what he said but when I came back from getting him some sugar, I introduced myself. He asked where I was from and I said the states. Then he apologized because he said he made a mean comment to me and he was sorry about it. Of course I said no worries and that was the begining of our friendship! They called me back there later cause they wanted a picture with me! So fun! And the two women with this man even wanted to buy a t-shirt from our store which was cool cause most people aren't really interested in buying them! They came back the next day and I got the chance to talk with them some more which was incredible! They tried to teach me some Italian and we just laughed about things. It was a great conversation though and such a neat opportunity to have!
Okay, so hopefully this is it because I feel like I have just overwhelmed anyone who reads this! If you are still with me, wow, you are a trooper!! =) Thanks! Okay so here is a typical day for me. The coffee shop is open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10:30-5:00. The staff gets together at 9:00 for devotions, prayer, or worship, depending on the day. Then, we finish and get ready for the day. I usually eat around 2, once it's slowed down a lot from the school rush. Then, if it's a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday, I go to class from about 3-5. If I don't have class, I continue working of course and usually don't get out till about 6 or 6:30. Then, in the evenings, I sometimes go out for a walk on the Promenod, which is a beautiful walk that takes you out by the Galway Bay. If it's not raining, it is a gorgeous walk! Very peaceful. I usually eat around 8 or 9 and then, if I can get the internet, try to get on that when I can. Sometimes I have movie nights with the girls, which is fun too and sometimes we like to walk in to town before the stores close if we can (like Thursdays and Fridays, the shops stay open later and that's what we ended up doing tonight after work).
Okay so I think that's enough info for now. As for me, I am okay. I have definitely been struggling a lot since I've been here but I am trying to rely on God as my strength. It's definitely hard living with people that you didn't know beforehand and trying to make it work. I am just praying for God's strength and wisdom through it all. He had definitely been faithful but it still doesn't make it any easier. Through it all, I am learning a lot about myself and areas of my life that I really need to grow and change (like pride especially). So yeah, God has a reason and purpose for everything and I have a choice to continue to move forward and let Him change me and grow me.
Thanks for all of your prayers and love. Please continue to pray for me. I am still getting over a sore throat that I had earlier this week. (plus I had flu like symptoms but they are gone now, praise God!) Pray for unity among me and my roommates and for God to really grip hold of our hearts and continue to just give us a thirst for Him and to be with Him. Pray for divine moments with people that walk in the coffee shop and that God will give me His words and not my own when speaking with people. Again, thanks for keeping me in prayer! I love you all so much! And please, PLEASE let me know how you all are! You can now leave comments on my blog page (no worries, you don't have to sign up for anything) or if you'd rather send an email then please do that! And keep checking my pictures page! Hopefully I can continue updating them often!
Well, thanks a million all! Catch ya later! Cheers!
-Michelle =)
1. They don't say excuse me, they say sorry. Excuse me can actually be negative and in fact, rude at times to use. (That's the big one I'm trying to work on cause I say excuse me all the time!)
2. They don't say twelve thirty or five thirty, they say half twelve or half five instead.
3. You don't leave a tip when you're done eating. Kinda nice compared to the states!
4. Shops around here close super early, like 5 or 6 early. Even the malls will close around those times. But you can be assured that those pubs will stay open really late!
5. They call a cell phone a mobile and text each other WAY more than we do in the states.
6. People usually walk everywhere to go places. Yeah, people have cars, but it's just more convenient to walk.
7. When greeting, they sometimes say "hiya" and when saying thanks or just saying goodbye, they'll say "thanks a million."
8. I heard this one today. The Irish can usually tell who the Americans are. They are the ones who walk through town making eye contact and keeping their heads up when they walk. Many of the Irish keep their heads down when they walk (not all the way down but they can usually spot Americans). =)
9. The cash register is called a till.
And last but not least...
10. They call a movie a film and they call the movie theater a cinema.
Okay so those were really random but they are some things I am getting used to while living here! I know there are so many things that are different than America but I just can't think of them all...oh wait, here's one (and this is so sad): they don't put pickles on sandwiches and hamburgers. That makes me very sad cause I love pickles (however, there is a Subway right across the street from me so I guess if I'm really missing them I can get them there!)
Well, I am sure you all are wondering what I've been up to for the past week! Where to begin, where to begin. Let's see, last week we started working in the coffee shop. Oh my, can we say overwhelming. First off, I must explain that our busiest time of the day is between the hours of 1 and 2. This is when the kids get off for their lunch break. The schools are very different here and they allow the kids an hour for lunch but don't provide lunches like they do in the states. So An Tobar Nua appeals to the kids because they have great and cheap prices for good food. So a lot of the kids will come in and eat.
There are a couple of different stations you can work at during the lunch hour. You have the front where the till (cash register) is and where orders are taken. Then you have the people in the kitchen making the food, and then you have people out on the floor who deliver the food to the kids. When the kids make their order, we put their names on the slip of paper then when the food comes out we can take it to them. Well, for our first day of work, we were put on the floor, in the thick of things (right where all the action was). Oh my word, it was so intimidating and hard. The kids were messing with us saying that the food in our hands was theirs but they were really just lying to us. I even ended up giving one of the plates of food to some girl that it didn't even belong to. It was so frustrating cause I didn't know any of the kids! Oh well, the other staff said that usually happens. Anyway, I made it through that day and I was so happy!
Last week, I spent of lot of time working in the bookstore as well. I took over for Deirdra, the woman who works there full time. It's nice and quiet in there, which is great to have sometimes. They wanted one of us to be the person that knows how to do pretty much everything in there so that ended up being me. I had expressed a lot of interest in wanting to work there so that's why. It's cool cause it's really personal working in there (however, the coffee shop is really personal too)! It's fun being able to help people find a CD or book or talk about a certain book in the shop. Good times! =)
So yeah, back to the coffee shop. There is so much work that goes in to running that place everyday. They clean so thoroughly in there. Oh my word! Mr. Muscle becomes your best friend (ha, that's the stuff we use to clean with)! And there are so many small things to learn...don't do this, don't do that...remember to say this, remember to say that...the list goes on and on! Very overwhelming but just today, I was starting to feel like things were finally clicking. I still feel new but not as new as I did. Today, I worked in the kitchen for the first time. I helped get the meals ready and was trying to learn as best as I could how to put the sandwiches together and cook things and this and that! It actually doesn't seem bad but I just gotta remember the little details of things. And oh my word, the only downside about working here is that there always seems to be little sweet treats floating around everywhere...someone's got cookie dough left in a bowl that we can have...this cookie is broken, go ahead and eat it...this brownie is falling apart, eat it, etc. Ah! It's so good but I just hope I don't go on sugar overload! Ha!
So I'm sure you're probably wondering if I'm even getting an education while I'm over here. The answer is yes. We just started class this week. (I know! Already mid-September and we're just starting class! Ha!) We are taking two missions classes with Arden Autry plus a living cross culturally course. I am also taking Celtic Christianity and Hill Climbing on Blackboard (online) and then I am doing my Psychology practicum. My practicum is working in the coffee shop (working with the ministry). So I am definitely staying busy with work and school (but still having fun too!) The people here are great! I work with an amazing staff. There are 4 other interns that are here working for a year. They are Leanna, Cat, Scott, and Maren. They are great, such a pleasure to work with! Then we have our Irish friends who work here and they are Megan, Donna, Paul, and Tommy. They are all hilarious, full of great craic! (By the way, craic, or crack as we pronounce it, is actually another word for fun, not actually the other stuff...and you know what I'm talking about). =) Then we have Susan and Kelly, the founders of the mission, and Mike, Deirdra, Anie, and I think there is someone else but I forgot her name! Ah! Anyway, they are all incredible! Such a blessing and a pleasure to work with! So welcoming here! And the youth coming in to the shop have been the same way. Even though I have had some trouble with the kids giving me a hard time cause I'm new, they really have been so wonderful and I really have been connecting with them. Some kids come in and hang out all the time, like Conor and Aine, Heather and Mel, just to name a few! It's great just hanging out and talking with them, getting to know them better and what's going on in their lives. Oh and last week, I totally became friends with two Italians and a Spaniard that were studying in Galway. It was so random too cause I was brining them what I thought to be an americano but instead it was an espresso. I said somethin about it being americano and the man was like "Oh no, it's not americano, those Americans, they only copy us." I realy didn't understand what he said but when I came back from getting him some sugar, I introduced myself. He asked where I was from and I said the states. Then he apologized because he said he made a mean comment to me and he was sorry about it. Of course I said no worries and that was the begining of our friendship! They called me back there later cause they wanted a picture with me! So fun! And the two women with this man even wanted to buy a t-shirt from our store which was cool cause most people aren't really interested in buying them! They came back the next day and I got the chance to talk with them some more which was incredible! They tried to teach me some Italian and we just laughed about things. It was a great conversation though and such a neat opportunity to have!
Okay, so hopefully this is it because I feel like I have just overwhelmed anyone who reads this! If you are still with me, wow, you are a trooper!! =) Thanks! Okay so here is a typical day for me. The coffee shop is open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10:30-5:00. The staff gets together at 9:00 for devotions, prayer, or worship, depending on the day. Then, we finish and get ready for the day. I usually eat around 2, once it's slowed down a lot from the school rush. Then, if it's a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday, I go to class from about 3-5. If I don't have class, I continue working of course and usually don't get out till about 6 or 6:30. Then, in the evenings, I sometimes go out for a walk on the Promenod, which is a beautiful walk that takes you out by the Galway Bay. If it's not raining, it is a gorgeous walk! Very peaceful. I usually eat around 8 or 9 and then, if I can get the internet, try to get on that when I can. Sometimes I have movie nights with the girls, which is fun too and sometimes we like to walk in to town before the stores close if we can (like Thursdays and Fridays, the shops stay open later and that's what we ended up doing tonight after work).
Okay so I think that's enough info for now. As for me, I am okay. I have definitely been struggling a lot since I've been here but I am trying to rely on God as my strength. It's definitely hard living with people that you didn't know beforehand and trying to make it work. I am just praying for God's strength and wisdom through it all. He had definitely been faithful but it still doesn't make it any easier. Through it all, I am learning a lot about myself and areas of my life that I really need to grow and change (like pride especially). So yeah, God has a reason and purpose for everything and I have a choice to continue to move forward and let Him change me and grow me.
Thanks for all of your prayers and love. Please continue to pray for me. I am still getting over a sore throat that I had earlier this week. (plus I had flu like symptoms but they are gone now, praise God!) Pray for unity among me and my roommates and for God to really grip hold of our hearts and continue to just give us a thirst for Him and to be with Him. Pray for divine moments with people that walk in the coffee shop and that God will give me His words and not my own when speaking with people. Again, thanks for keeping me in prayer! I love you all so much! And please, PLEASE let me know how you all are! You can now leave comments on my blog page (no worries, you don't have to sign up for anything) or if you'd rather send an email then please do that! And keep checking my pictures page! Hopefully I can continue updating them often!
Well, thanks a million all! Catch ya later! Cheers!
-Michelle =)
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
The Cliffs of Moher and so much more...(I know, that was pretty terrible!) =)
Hey ya'll (yes, I've still got a little of that Southern twang in me even though practically every time that I am about to speak a sentence I think about it in my head and it goes through this Irish filter that says my words in Irish. Here's the sad thing though, when I say it in my head, it sounds perfect and great, but when it comes out of my mouth, it doesn't sound right at all! Haha!) Anyway, enough of that! I hope you all are well! I am doing pretty good, just adjusting to life here! Sunday we got to go to church to a place called Discovery Church. It was a good service but I was still super jet-lagged from the flight. Then we went to lunch in town (Galway) with our new friend Maren. Maren is in her second year as an intern here and is a graduate of Asbury College. She was so great. She took us around town to the places we needed to go and helped us out in many ways. Then later that evening, we went to some of the interns house in Salt Hill (a part of Galway about a mile away from the coffee shop) and watched The Princess Bride and ordered pizza. It was really nice because it gave us a chance to not only get out of our rooms but get to know other people, especially people that we will be working with every day. It was definitely overwhelming but good because it made me feel a little bit more settled.
So anyway, one of the friends of the interns, John, is Irish and is going to be leaving this Friday to work in the states. So Maren and this other intern Scott (he's 19 and an intern from Texas) wanted to go to the cliffs for the day with John. Now the cliffs they are referring to are the Cliffs of Moher. For those of you who have seen the Princess Bride, they are the Cliffs of Insanity! Inconceivable! Haha! Anyway, Maren asked us if we wanted to go along! Why would you turn down an offer like that!! So we went and it was the perfect day! The sun was out (which doesn't happen that often here) and the weather was just perfect. (sorry Mom and Dad...the time we went it was rainy, cloudy, and cold...better luck next time?!) =) If you check on my dropshots page, I uploaded a video and some pictures from the day. Plus I loaded a few pictures of Galway and the coffee shop. Hopefully I can get some more up soon. Anyway, the day was incredible at the cliffs! CJ found out that they are 702 feet high! We ended up hiking around the cliffs. (a little scary at times but amazing!) So that was Monday. And once we got back, we had dinner with the Autreys. Arden and June Autrey are missionaries here and Arden is a Bible teacher (plus our teacher while we're here). They are incredible people (and made us some incredible food)! So yeah, that was our Monday! By the way, the coffee shop is not open on Mondays. They are open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10:30-5:00. Kind of nice having Monday off. =)
So Tuesdsay we had staff devotions at 9AM which went well. Then Kelly Curry, the founder of An Tobar Nua and Foundation in Christ ministries, wanted to talk to us about theologies and stuff. So we met for like an hour and a half and discussed the different theologies and what people believe and where in Scripture it is found. He talked a lot about the Catholics and what they believed too (since Galway is a highly Catholic town). It was actually really interesting and I learned a lot from it. After that, we just went and hung out in the cafe. I got talking to two girls and they had me sit down with them! It was really wonderful because I felt like I was starting to connect with the youth already! We talked about all sorts of things! Then, it was time for lunch and I ate in the cafe (which was incredible! had the best grilled cheese ever). We get one meal a day and we have a lot of great selections! Seriously, every one of you should come over to Galway, Ireland to have some scones and tea at this coffee shop, plus whatever other things they have there! Haha! Anyway, after lunch, we just hung out around here and relaxed. And then, since we didn't have much to do, we watched High School Musical! Ha! Good times! If you haven't seen it, you should watch it. So cute!
Anyway, then we got together today. We met with Susan (Kelly's wife) and she told us about how the ministry was started and where God has brought them over theyears. It really is phenomenal all that God has done in their lives! We had lunch again in the cafe and this time it was during the busy hour when all of the school kids come in. It was neat just sitting there and observing them (makes me glad I'm not in junior high and high school anymore). =) After lunch, we went next door to the bookstore that is owned by An Tobar Nua. They wanted us to start getting training because we will be helping out there as well. I am so excited about working there! I think it will be a lot of fun! We had a chance to help the woman who runs the shop with some little things here and there. It actually felt good to do some work and get things done. I think I'm just ready to get in on the action. =)
And now I'm here, sitting in my room, starving cause I haven't had dinner and it's already 9:17pm, which would be about 4:17pm your time. Personally, I am doing well and just ready to start work. I have been having some struggles since I got here, but I am trusting in the Lord and seeking His direction and strength in it all. God has just been incredible. I feel like I am growing little by little each day in my relationship with Him. It is still super tough with all the other things going on, BUT God is faithful! God is amazing! And I really believe He is becoming my everything. I can't make this life without Him. I can't make this trip without Him. I can't make this day without Him. He is my source of strength, my energy, and my guide! And in the hard and crazy times, I know He will always be with me. So I guess just please keep praying for me! Pray that I will get settled in and be prepared for the work ahead. Classes start next week and work in the coffee shop starts tomorrow. So please pray!! But God bless each one of you and I hope you are doing well! Please let me know what is going on in your lives! Give me updates!! My email is michelle_cravens@tayloru.edu if you ever want to email me or fill free to leave comments on my webpage or dropshots page or even snail mail (address is down below). I'd love to hear how you all are doing and know how I can be praying for you!! God bless and I will leave you with some verses from Psalms that have been encouraging to me over the past month!
"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besdies you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever....But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your good deeds." -Psalms 73:23-26,28
I love you all and thanks for your support and prayers!
~Michelle~
So anyway, one of the friends of the interns, John, is Irish and is going to be leaving this Friday to work in the states. So Maren and this other intern Scott (he's 19 and an intern from Texas) wanted to go to the cliffs for the day with John. Now the cliffs they are referring to are the Cliffs of Moher. For those of you who have seen the Princess Bride, they are the Cliffs of Insanity! Inconceivable! Haha! Anyway, Maren asked us if we wanted to go along! Why would you turn down an offer like that!! So we went and it was the perfect day! The sun was out (which doesn't happen that often here) and the weather was just perfect. (sorry Mom and Dad...the time we went it was rainy, cloudy, and cold...better luck next time?!) =) If you check on my dropshots page, I uploaded a video and some pictures from the day. Plus I loaded a few pictures of Galway and the coffee shop. Hopefully I can get some more up soon. Anyway, the day was incredible at the cliffs! CJ found out that they are 702 feet high! We ended up hiking around the cliffs. (a little scary at times but amazing!) So that was Monday. And once we got back, we had dinner with the Autreys. Arden and June Autrey are missionaries here and Arden is a Bible teacher (plus our teacher while we're here). They are incredible people (and made us some incredible food)! So yeah, that was our Monday! By the way, the coffee shop is not open on Mondays. They are open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10:30-5:00. Kind of nice having Monday off. =)
So Tuesdsay we had staff devotions at 9AM which went well. Then Kelly Curry, the founder of An Tobar Nua and Foundation in Christ ministries, wanted to talk to us about theologies and stuff. So we met for like an hour and a half and discussed the different theologies and what people believe and where in Scripture it is found. He talked a lot about the Catholics and what they believed too (since Galway is a highly Catholic town). It was actually really interesting and I learned a lot from it. After that, we just went and hung out in the cafe. I got talking to two girls and they had me sit down with them! It was really wonderful because I felt like I was starting to connect with the youth already! We talked about all sorts of things! Then, it was time for lunch and I ate in the cafe (which was incredible! had the best grilled cheese ever). We get one meal a day and we have a lot of great selections! Seriously, every one of you should come over to Galway, Ireland to have some scones and tea at this coffee shop, plus whatever other things they have there! Haha! Anyway, after lunch, we just hung out around here and relaxed. And then, since we didn't have much to do, we watched High School Musical! Ha! Good times! If you haven't seen it, you should watch it. So cute!
Anyway, then we got together today. We met with Susan (Kelly's wife) and she told us about how the ministry was started and where God has brought them over theyears. It really is phenomenal all that God has done in their lives! We had lunch again in the cafe and this time it was during the busy hour when all of the school kids come in. It was neat just sitting there and observing them (makes me glad I'm not in junior high and high school anymore). =) After lunch, we went next door to the bookstore that is owned by An Tobar Nua. They wanted us to start getting training because we will be helping out there as well. I am so excited about working there! I think it will be a lot of fun! We had a chance to help the woman who runs the shop with some little things here and there. It actually felt good to do some work and get things done. I think I'm just ready to get in on the action. =)
And now I'm here, sitting in my room, starving cause I haven't had dinner and it's already 9:17pm, which would be about 4:17pm your time. Personally, I am doing well and just ready to start work. I have been having some struggles since I got here, but I am trusting in the Lord and seeking His direction and strength in it all. God has just been incredible. I feel like I am growing little by little each day in my relationship with Him. It is still super tough with all the other things going on, BUT God is faithful! God is amazing! And I really believe He is becoming my everything. I can't make this life without Him. I can't make this trip without Him. I can't make this day without Him. He is my source of strength, my energy, and my guide! And in the hard and crazy times, I know He will always be with me. So I guess just please keep praying for me! Pray that I will get settled in and be prepared for the work ahead. Classes start next week and work in the coffee shop starts tomorrow. So please pray!! But God bless each one of you and I hope you are doing well! Please let me know what is going on in your lives! Give me updates!! My email is michelle_cravens@tayloru.edu if you ever want to email me or fill free to leave comments on my webpage or dropshots page or even snail mail (address is down below). I'd love to hear how you all are doing and know how I can be praying for you!! God bless and I will leave you with some verses from Psalms that have been encouraging to me over the past month!
"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besdies you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever....But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your good deeds." -Psalms 73:23-26,28
I love you all and thanks for your support and prayers!
~Michelle~
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