Quick Update

Hey all!!! I hope your last week or so has found you doing well, possibly adjusting to the fall-ish weather. Or getting into the groove of school or other work as 2010 continues to march on!

My last week has been great. Last tuesday Richie Shilliday came back from his honeymoon with his wife Jen and has helped kickstart things around the Murlough House. Cleaning, and planning and getting the first activities started back in the community here in Dundrum.

Primarily I will be working with Richie, Jen, and the other intern living here at Murlough, Jess at the community drop in center called Crosspoint. I will be growing in relationships with these kids that make it a regular place to visit, hang out and be loved on for who they are.

Most of these Northern Irish are in high school, which if i understand right is about our 7th or 8th grade through 12th. But I could be wrong because I think there are like P7 levels or something. Still getting the hang of it all over here. Especially when they call math, Mazz, still gets me slightly confused :)
So an after school drop in for homework and a kick of the soccer ball one day, and a separate day for guys and girls small groups. I will be helping with the guys on Wednesdays with a bible study/discussion program and then playing soccer with them later in the night. So it will be a Bible and Balls type of day! Cannot imagine much better than that.
The girls have after school stuff on Thursdays and then Friday night is the drop in from 730-late night. Just the availability of a place that is safer and more loving than the cinemas or bars or clubs that can be fun but damaging as well.

SO we get to look out for get to know, and converse with these guys and girls in a consistent manner and look forward to seeing how God moves in their lives. We get to be open and willing to help and love wherever we can. Most of these kids are Catholic so it is a bit different at times but still a great ministry of Christ's love at the forefront since we are "protestant" or Christian, just not cathoic but we are still loving on them without judgement.

Will also look to possibly be involved with a Presbyterian church or baptist church in newcastle from time to time. The goal of Murlough House is also to partner with Churches in the are to help engage the youth and culture of today. Not necessarily modernize but equip and see where the Church can be more effective and active in their realm.

It has been a great week and I am looking forward to the busyness, planning and lesson planning which seems outside my forte at times but still beneficial for my growth and challenging myself. Which is a big part of what all this experience is about.

Praise God for his goodness, his opportunity but most often his LOVE, which transforms everything. I read 1 Corinthians 3 today and i really do love Pauls words on how one should hope the ministry is continued. "What after all is Apollos? And what is Paul? ONLY SERVANTS through whom you came to believe- as the Lord has assigned each his own task. I may have planted, Apollos watered it, but ONLY GOD who makes things Grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have ONE PURPOSE, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. we are fellow workers.

May we each be able to DO our assigned task, to it well, with Christ's love over all and God's power carrying it to fruition, to accomplish HIS will.