Well, actually I left, and made it safely to Northern Ireland thanks to my lovely host family! It is so exciting to be back, but the adventure didn't even start in Northern Ireland, but when I got on to my connecting flight in Atlanta, GA.
You know how famous Christian leaders always seem to have that mile high conversation where they seem to be given the opportunity to share Christ and His love with the person next to them? Well, that wasn't me, at least not really. Here, let me explain.
The man I sat next to was probably in his upper 50s or 60s, an Irish man from Dundalk, who was flying home to tend to a garden to prepare it for the summer. He now lives in Orlando, FL with his second wife. Both his wives (the first died in a car accident) were both named Anne and both nurses. He told me story after story and we continued well into the night sharing bits of our lives with each other as if we were old friends. It was lovely to be given a reminder of the culture here where conversation is plenty and your tea cup always full. We laughed, we cried, we shared in the riches and sorrows of each others' lives, but the best part was that it was not I that talked most about the faith, but he. Growing up Catholic in Ireland he began to tell me stories (some he doesn't tell many people because they are indeed so personal) and it was such an encouragement and wonderful reminder of why I have felt called to Northern Ireland. He shared the hardship of losing his first wife and the adventures he's had with his second wife. He filled me in on how his son recently announced over Christmas that him and his girlfriend were now engaged to be married and moving to Phoenix, AZ where he will be working at Arizona State University. The best part was when he began asking me about my faith, what I will be doing, who is my support, and be interested in why someone from America would come over to Northern Ireland, he really was the one to minister to me in the sense that he was very encouraging and wanting to give me information that could help me and things to look out for. Like I said before he was truly a lovely man and I was truly blessed to sit next to him and enjoy all of his fantastic stories.
Now let me tell you, I had the privilege of flying business class (thanks to the lovely Fergusons who helped me out in booking tickets via a buddy pass they were gracious to give me). However, everyone around me could tell I felt completely out of place (and I was) especially being younger than any of the other people in business class by about 5-10 years. But it was such a reflection to me of how Christ takes care of us and gives us so much more than we deserve. Looking back on the flight, I in no way earned the privilege of flying in business class, yet it was given to me anyways because I chose to follow Christ and His calling on my life. There was fine dining, true, deep fellowship, and such a peace (once I was shown how to recline my seat that is hehe). It was a modern example to me of how Christ made a way for us that if we chose to follow Him there would be more than we ever deserved ahead of us. Granted He did not say it would be easy, and getting to this point was not easy by any means while going on this journey, but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it was, is, and always will be worth it. I didn't deserve to be seated where I was on that plane, but Christ is not about who, in our eyes, "deserves" to be rescued because in His eyes we are His children and when we choose to follow Him, He wants nothing more than to lavish upon us the riches of our Father.
This blog shall be quite long, but that is also because it was quite a packed couple days and I want to share it all with you dearly. Upon leaving the airport, as we began our drive from Dublin to Newcastle, I could not help but notice the smell of the air. I can't quite describe it, but it is a lovely smell that grips my heart with anticipation every time I come back. It's a reminder of how it all started, with a single breath, and in that moment of taking that first breath, my life took a turn I could never have imagined. Well, this is the fifth Sunday of the month and something that the three churches in Newcastle do is meet together for a city-wide church service, which was fantastic! It was quite a cool evening of worship, Scripture, teaching, and delightful conversations over numerous cups of tea. When I got to the service with two of the girls I had grown deep relationships with during my internship and mission trip, the first two people to recognize me and say hello were two twin boys I had worked closely with in the drop-in centre. I was very moved to see that they remembered me after a year and half of being gone. Then came all of the hugs, life updates, conversations of getting me involved in this ministry and that, how long I'd be staying for and setting up times to get together for a wee chat. Most of this, of course, over several cups of tea. And afterward the daughter of the host family and I sat around talking over a cup of tea and pudding for another hour and a half.
Remember, relationships are key. You need to earn the right to speak into someone's life, no matter who you are. Don't expect someone to take your advice or loving correction just because you are you. Give them a reason, give them a relationship. Jesus showed us the greatest example of this with his twelve disciples. He showed us this by eating with sinners and tax collectors (and in case you haven't noticed we're all sinners in need of a Savior). Be intentional about your relationships, don't take any for granted and lift each one up to God, praying the Spirit moves in you to evoke in that person, that child of God, the realization that they are in need of redemption and Christ is the restorer. He is with you, you are not alone, no matter who you are or where you are.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
--let this be our cry as we reach out to a broken world, revealing to them the healing power of Christ.
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