(Quiet and wonderful early breakfast before going to Dublin on Monday, July 8th- the view from Trudy's)
I spent a week at Allister and Trudy's in Letterkenny. Allister and Trudy were a huge blessing to open their home to me for the week! I had a wonderful time from them. They are a lovely couple. Letterkenny in north of Strabane, but is not in Northern Ireland (the part of Ireland that is in the UK). It is in the Republic of Ireland in the County of Donegal.
(Meet Allister and Trudy Johnston who hosted me my 4th week at Phyllis and Kassim's wedding)
Later, there was a BBQ at the Aiken's to say goodbye to the Cornells.
(Clive, my Irish dad)
(my little pals!)
(The Barrs and I)
(Lauren and I)
(Aimee and I)
(Damien!!)
(Noeleen and I)
It was wonderful and sweet. I was surprised and touched that the fellowship and friends also pointed out it was my last time with them as well. I miss my friends that I made at The Bridge and I do hope that I will be able to see them again sometime. I do hope that the goodbye was only a goodbye until later. But, if not, I can have full assurance of worshiping together one day with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Brian and Heather Chambers came to pick me up early from the BBQ so that I could make it to prayer time at Letterkenny Baptist Church. Goodbyes were short and sweet. Prayer time with the members of LK Baptist was encouraging and Spirit-filled. Afterward, I went home with Allister and Trudy Johnston who were members of the church.
On Monday, July 8th, Trudy, Sylvia (Trudy's friend) and I went to Dublin. First, we went to Newgrange, a pre-historic monument in County Meath, Ireland. It was built about 3200 BC in the Neolithic period, possibly older than the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge. It is not sure what the purpose of it was, but it is most likely that it was religious purposes, possibly a temple for the people who worshiped the Dagda, the sun-god. According to legend, the Dagda built the monument for himself, his wife, Boann, and his three sons.
(Newgrange, County Meath)
It was truly a miracle that we got into Newgrange! Usually groups book tours about 2 years in advance and those who are wanting to get in need to come in hours before tours to try and get tickets.
We came in around 10:50 am wanting the 11:15 am tour, and the lady told us that the only next available tour was at 2:15 pm which we would not be able to stay for. Only a few minutes later as we were about to walk away, she came back with three tickets for 11:15 am and we got them half price because it was so close to the time and someone did not want them!
We were so excited and shocked and we ran to the bus stop for the tour!
(entrance stone with megalithic art)
We ate lunch and barely made the train into Dublin on time. We went to Trinity College and Trudy showed us around because she had studied Pharmacy there for 4 years only a few years ago.
We saw the Books of Kells in the Trinity College Library.
(dreamy bookcase in the Trinity Library)
(Trinity College Library, home of the Book of Kells)
We sat on the great lawn of Trinity and watched people and talked. Trudy and I got orange juice from the bar which was pretty humorous because the bartender seemed pretty surprised by our request.
(Trinity College in Dublin)
(Dublin)
(Dublin)
(Temple Bar in Dublin at night)
We walked around and went through a beautiful park. We ate dinner in Dublin's Temple Bar which was buzzing with people of all kinds. Around 10:45 we ran and barely made it to the train in time. It was a wonderful day! Tuesday and Wednesday were both days that were more relaxing and full of preparing for the BYE team (Baptist Youth Evangelism team) coming to Letterkenny Baptist coming to help with the Holiday Bible club and the youth club on July 20-28th.
(Holiday Bible Club flyer- designed by myself with help from Trudy)
(Youth Club flyer designed by myself with help from Trudy)
On Thursday, I had lunch with Heather Chambers and then we worked at the bookshop that Letterkenny Baptist Church has. In the evening was the wedding of Phyllis and Kassim. Phyllis and Kassim are both from Ghana. (There is a large population of immigrants from Ghana in Ireland, and many people who go to Letterkenny Baptist are from Ghana.) Last minute, it was decided that I would play my own rendition (me improvising with the chords) of Amazing Grace (it was not as impressive as this sounds) for the bride, Phyllis to walk in Letterkenny Baptist to. It was informal, exciting, and a combination of two wonderful cultures! Not bad for my second experience of a wedding. I had a blast!
(the Letterkenny Baptist worship team played some worship songs)
(me playing "Amazing Grace" for the bride's entrance)
(Pastor Stephen Wilson marrying Phyllis and Kassim)
(3 ladies sang songs in blessing to the bride and groom! one in their language!!)
(Sweet Mona Lisa, a member of LK Baptist)
(Pastor Stephen Wilson and Alister Johnston)
(Heather and Brian Chambers)
(after the ceremony!)
(One of the sweet girls who befriended me because they thought I had a good sense of fashion!)
(dancing!)
(Phyllis and Kassim, the newlyweds!)
On Friday, July 12th, I went with Alison and Aimee Smyth to Ballymena, N. Ireland for the Protestants march. Every 12th of July, the Protestants gather pipe bands and parade and celebrate together- obviously a big day for Protestants. (Just to make sure that everyone knows- I DID NOT go for a political statement- only for the purpose of the experience and to see what it was like.)
(It was pretty fun!)
(Alison, Aimee and I)
(One of the MANY bands!)
Later, Alison dropped me off in time to go with Trudy to Allister's family's caravan park in Marble Hill on the north coast. It was wonderful. We had tea (dinner) with Allister's parents.
(Allister and Trudy and Allister's parents)
(Allister's parents, the Johnstons)
Saturday, July 13th, I prepared to go to Richill Baptist Church to work with the CYIA team in Derry (Londonderry) and made cookies for Trudy to bring to her nieces and nephews when she went back to the caravan site. David Baird, the pastor at Richill Baptist, picked from Allister and Trudy's to bring me to the church. I met the team that night and even though they had all worked together before, I connected and fit in pretty well immediately.
My next update will be about my week with the CYIA team working children's holiday Bible clubs in the neighborhoods in Derry.
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