Tonight I had my first drop-in since being back and let's just say I had a few butterflies walking into the place. Both from excitement and nerves. But something you need to know about the Irish...they know how to make a person feel welcomed! Man oh man did I ever! I got to catch up with a few friends and fellow drop-in workers beforehand and then met some new ones as well.
They recently bought Just Dance for the Wii at the Kairos Centre (drop-in) and let me tell you, if you have Wii this is the game to get. It is so much fun (both to watch the screen and the people playing lol) It definitely is one of those games that anyone and everyone can enjoy together. I also got to chat with some of the young men from one of my small groups. It was encouraging to hear these guys who use to fight us about the Bible and God speak of how they enjoy Bible teachings and are looking at mission trips to Romania and such. Then playing ping pong against them and not being near as bad as they thought I'd be was quite fun as well. Sitting together and chatting, playing games together, being open and honest and simply doing life together. It's a beautiful picture, so it is.
Speaking of together, that is one of my main focuses while I am here. Several people, when chatting and catching up, have told me, "It almost feels like you never left." That is one of the most encouraging things to hear coming back to the place where my heart has been the last year and a half since my internship. But I think much of the reason for that is because we are together because we are the Church no matter in Ireland, America, or anywhere else in the world. Because we are the Church we are together in Christ. My desire, however, is to bring people together where they do life alongside one another, through the good and the bad, the pretty and the ugly, the easy and the difficult.
One thing I find difficult in the culture here is getting people to open up. The way I like to describe it is that Americans (on average) are not very hospitable, but we'll tell you our life story within a few short moments of knowing you. Irish, on the other hand, are very hospitable, but (on average) put a wall up to where they don't share their difficulties and hardships. This is one thing, as an American, I would like to see change, not so the young people are more American, but so they feel they have a place they can come to for refuge during hurting, trying times. I envision Kairos to be the place, that when all else fails, will stand next to them, giving them the strength only supplied through Christ.
I've looked at the word together since writing it in this blog and it makes me realize that we the Church need to come together to-get-her. Let me explain. The Church is always called the Bride of Christ and therefore it is considered she (or her). And as the Church, we are incomplete until we have reached all with the Gospel. So as the Church, the Bride of Christ, we must come together in order to get her, the rest of those untouched, unloved, that should be unveiled to His redemption and restoration. It may not make perfect sense in a post, but it is compelling in my mind to where I wish I had the words to make it all make sense. Maybe one of these days I'll expound upon it.
But know that Christ is moving in and through you in ways you couldn't imagine. Remember, less is more. John 3:30 "He must increase, i must decrease."
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