A Season of Firsts
It’s been over a month since you’ve last heard from us, and we have been busy adjusting. If I were to describe our first month here, it would be new and exciting while also feeling incredibly clunky and awkward. Now that we’ve passed the two month mark and are almost hitting three, we feel we have settled in slightly with somewhat of a rhythm of life. Most days feel “routine” but then there are humbling moments that remind us there is still so much to learn about the people and the culture. We’re on our way!
These last 7 weeks were filled with lots of “firsts” for us. During the kids two week long spring break (insert crying emoji), we got to travel to the west coast for the first time! We made our way to County Galway, taking in the views of the mountains and fjord of Killary in Connemara’s Gaeltacht. In Ireland, there are regions of the island where groups of people live in communities known as the Gaeltacht, where Irish is recognized as the first spoken language and the preservation of the Irish culture is fierce. Connemara has one of the biggest Gaeltacht’s on the island and the first ever Téigh Gathering (téigh is Irish for “go”) commenced here. We were able to be a part of this exciting new endeavor as EdenGate was the one to organize and birth it. The purpose of the gathering was to bring together Native Irish speakers and those learning the language to worship, pray, and read the Bible in Irish. For most in attendance, especially those from the Gaeltacht, this was the first time they ever experienced the Gospel in their native tongue. Many living in the Gaeltacht say they don’t know anyone who has a personal relationship with Jesus. The hope for the Téigh Gathering is to be able to build up resources and materials, worship to be experienced, and the Gospel preached, all in the Irish language so that the Gaeltacht is no longer an unreached region. We had no idea about this group of people or this need before hearing about the plans for Téigh, and the three days that we experienced was just scratching the surface. Even though we barely understand a word, hearing people praise in their island’s native tongue was a beautiful moment of Rev. 7:9 in action.
Back in March, I had to fly back to California for a quick weekend of work and while I was gone, Jeremy and the kids got to experience their first church family weekend in Rostrevor. Jeremy and the kids had a great weekend of bonding with the congregation, forging friendships and leaving some lasting impressions… Jeremy stuck a grape up his nose in an intense game of “Risk It For The Biscuit”, leaving some church members scarred… I came back to some stories to stay the least.
My time in California was bittersweet, visiting with family and friends with the little time I had. We had only moved overseas 6 weeks prior to this work trip but it was a stark reminder that life back in the states just continues on without you, almost like you were never there to begin with. Returning back to the island was difficult.
Some worship in Irish during the Téigh Gathering in Connemara, County Galway.
We have now celebrated our first Easter holiday here and it was interesting to see the different celebratory traditions they have. Instead of Easter baskets, children are gifted giant chocolate eggs from friends, neighbors, teachers, grandparents, etc. and they enjoy a good egg roll race down a hill for a bit of fun. The week leading up to Easter Sunday was packed full of church services for every day of Holy Week. Jeremy had the chance to participate in reading for the congregation during Good Friday service, and also getting to portray Jesus in a fun Easter Sunday skit. The man can do it all, apparently.
In other news.. A very unexpected announcement we thought we never would have the privilege of saying again is that I’m pregnant! After 6 years of trying to have a baby and it not seeming to be a part of the plan, it was the biggest shock of our lives to see a positive pregnancy test. The kids are so excited to have a baby and eagerly ask every week what size it is. We feel so blessed and still in shock that this is our new reality. Baby is due November/December and really giving me a run for my money with the pregnancy symptoms this time around. Immediately after returning from California, I was stuck in bed for about 3 to 4 weeks - I’m back on my feet now and feeling a lot better coming to the end of my first trimester. Please pray with us that this pregnancy is complication-free and both baby and I are healthy throughout and after delivery.
Though some time has passed since we’ve arrived and in some ways it feels more “normal” being here, we are still very much in a season of settling in. We don’t know how long this season will last, and sometimes it can feel like we’re still waiting for our true work to begin - the purpose in which we have made the upheaval of our lives to begin with. And even in those moments where we feel that way, God has given us glimpses that the work has already begun. It appears in small comments from people in our church, a text message from a small group member leaving a big impact on our hearts, in the way our children pray at the end of the day like they’ve never prayed before, in their friendships at school, in connections to complete strangers on the other side of the world we could’ve never strung together in a million years that only God could. These are moments where we are reminded that God is saying “I’ve laid the foundation far before you stepped foot here and I will see it through.”
So even though we may not be at work exactly how WE think we should be YET, God has it sorted. It’s our job to just continue to be faithful to what He has called us to, and He will continue to be faithful to do the unseen work.
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Jeremy is beginning his integration into the youth program at St. Donard’s. This process is looking like a “building from the ground up” situation. He’s very excited and working along side some solid people.
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The Kinfire Team is thick in planning the biggest Christian festival in Ireland this summer. Please pray for all those planning, coming to volunteer, and coming to receive. Pray that hearts are prepared to be changed and stirred for the people of this island, to continue to share the Gospel, and how God can change their lives.
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Even though we’ve been here for 3 months, we’re still looking for monthly partnerships! We’re still about $700 shy each month. Please pray about partnering with us - as small as $10/month helps!
Other Notable Facts
RJ has thoroughly enjoyed nights spent at the RIOT House - a youth outreach program in Dundrum (will share more about RIOT soon! [Revival in our Youth])
We experienced our first lambing season! The field behind our “garden” (the whimsical way they refer to backyards here) was filled with so many lambs and their mama’s, and was a nice sight to watch on sunny evenings.
We’ve had lovely weather the last couple of weeks. Such a nice change of pace after the intense winter storms the island has experienced.
Unfortunately, the nice weather has been tainted by The Mourne Mountains being on fire for about just as long… Seeing the fire burning at night and the smoke on the drive to school every morning is such a sad sight.
We are both well underway in our work with EdenGate/Kinfire/St. Donard’s and have adjusted well. We’re excited to return back to the Kinfire Festival this summer! If you want to join in on the fun, you can purchase tickets here!