Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Ireland

I am on my way back to England after a three day adventure in Ireland with two other (awesome) GEM interns. We decided to use some of our holiday time to travel together, and what better place than right across the way to Ireland!

These are two girls who I had the wonderful opportunity to get to know during our departure training in January. Since then, we have been able to stay connected through Facebook, as well as the GEM intern reunion we had in London in April.

It has amazed all three of us how much has happened in the past 5 months. We have all experienced trials, excitement, and how incredible God is. Even though our placements and our experiences have been different than each other's, we were able to once again connect with each other, and encourage and share with one another while exploring Dublin.

Our trip was short, but so full! We landed in Ireland on Wednesday afternoon, and the adventures began right away. After getting to the city centre, we stopped for a late lunch at one of the many pubs. Our waiter was hilarious. Due to the fact that we are all on an interns budget, we ordered tap water with our lunch. The waiter (as well as a few people siting near us) gave us a hard time for ordering water (not beer or cider) in Dublin. So my friend made a joke saying if we could have a drink for free, we wouldn't mind it. The next thing we know, our waiter brings each of us a half pint of cider FOR FREE! It was a hilarious way to start off our journey.

The people in Ireland are so friendly. Everywhere we went, we were greeted with smiles and conversations. An Irish lad came and sat with us after his dog ran up to us. And for the next hour we all chatted about Irish culture, why we are in Ireland, and what we are doing in the UK, as well as constant joking around and laughing. During our tour at the Guinness factory, we sat with a German couple also on holiday, and had similar conversation with them for about 30 minutes. Almost everywhere we went, we made friends with the people around us. 

The atmosphere was so different to England. When I walk around in England, people will avoid even making eye contact with others. It was a breath of fresh air for all of us. And it made our three days of holiday an opportunity to represent Christ in a casual way with the people we came across. During each of our conversations, we could tell them how we met through GEM, and about the church and community work we do in England. Even though we may not have been intentionally trying to build up long term friendships or trying to convert people, the three of us prayed that the people we came across saw something in us, that will spark something in them.

Ireland has been my favorite country I have visited yet. The people were great, and we stayed in a home right next to Howth (pronounced Hoet) , a beautiful beach town right outside of Dublin. I really loved it. I feel like Ireland would be such a wonderful place to serve, where you can so quickly connect with the people in friendships.

Now I am on the flight back to England. And I am so ready to be back at my placement after a few weeks of being in a wacky schedule because of events, taking time off to be with my parents, and this trip to Ireland. It will be nice to be back to my normal daily groove at my church and with Sublime.

Please keep me in your prayers, as I have recently acquired information that requires discernment and confidence. I am also trying to know God in a deeper way through biblical truth.

Me in Howth at sunset our first night.

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