Orientation, Time Changes, & Pubs, Oh My!

This week was orientation week--in other words, "Info Dump." This was the week we were informed of policies and house rules/inner workings, signed contracts, and made our debut at events as the "new DTS." We also received our first assignments in the classroom, and received extensive introductions to topics like hearing God's voice, intercessory prayer, dependence upon God for finances, and conflict resolution.

We started in on mealtime chores, went on tours of the house, and went on a scavenger hunt around Rostrevor (on which we had waaaay too much fun taking pictures of us doing things that were not required).

An Cuan, the YWAM Rostrevor Base

Today we all told our testimonies--DTS students and staff alike. Although nerve-wracking for all of us, it was amazing to hear all that God had done to bring us each individually to where we are now--both in our relationship with Him, and to our physical location at YWAM Rostrevor. God has brought together a very colorful group of individuals in this season, to His glory, and I look forward to seeing the tapestry that He will weave through this time.

It has been a very full and informative week, which has left little free time (except in the evenings, when we are tired from the day and want to do little else than lounge around socializing and drinking tea, take showers, or sleep). We have all been adjusting from jet lag, which we finally figured out has been especially difficult because of multiple time changes; we "sprang ahead" with the time change in the States, then lost an entire day to international travel, lost 7 hours upon arrival (since the U.K. is currently 7 hours ahead of California), and then found out the U.K. has not yet hit Daylight Savings and will be "springing ahead" within the next couple weeks--meaning yet another time change. Needless to say, we're all looking forward to this weekend, both for free time and for sleep.

"Free time" does not, however, mean that we are left with nothing to do. Most of us still have an assignment to complete this particular weekend, and we all have to come together to sort out meals on weekends in general (as we just learned). But there is plenty to do corporately outside the base as well. Pub ministry takes place on weekends. Our Irish teammates have connections to other ministries, as well as friends to connect with. And some staff members open up their homes for movie and game nights. The local restaurants and ice cream shop also stay open until late at night, as people are out late for the pubs.

Most American Christians, I think, would hear "pub ministry" and cringe. They think of a Christian sitting at a bar, fighting the temptation to conform and get drunk with people, as they try to evangelize the the unbelievers around them, and wonder how valid of a witness that is. (Or at least, I would, because I've heard of too many people falling.) But pub culture here in Ireland is very different from American bar atmosphere. The legal drinking age is lower, the overall attendance age is very mixed, and the music doesn't start until 10pm and goes into the early hours of the morning. When I say "music," I mean live performance...and when I say "live performance," I don't just mean a band; I mean there may be one hired musician, who gets paid, but anyone else is free to join in--either with their voice, or with an instrument they brought. And there are times when the entire pub will quiet so a single person can sing--a person who may or may not be an accomplished musician or a seasoned patron. Never have I seen such a music-based culture, so rooted around creativity and performance. This creativity permeates the YWAM base, and propels its residents outward into the community to share their gifts effectively for Jesus, whether in worship halls or pub settings; the versatility is truly amazing.

The crazy part is how well recognized the YWAM base is in the community. The townspeople are aware that new students sweep in and out every few months, and they are aware that we stay at the historical Christian Renewal Center, which is so famous for its work during the Troubles. They have seen the community work of previous DTSes. They have come to Open Mike Nights, Community Fairs, and Monday night Harbour services at the base. Please pray that this outstanding witness would continue.

Please also pray that, as we all get ready to enter into our first "real" week as a DTS, we would grow together, that we would be refreshed, and that we would be able to hit the ground running.

For me personally, please pray for my Jesus time and alone time, as I am not yet sure what that should look like here. Please also pray that God would direct me as I seek out both Him and those places and things that He has shown me and continues to show me, and that He would keep tight hold of my heart for the duration of my time here (and beyond). Another continued prayer of mine is that God would continue to cement into me the reality of where I am and what He is doing with me here.

Thank you for your continued prayers and little electronic notes of support! I appreciate them. :)

Pre-DTS Weekend

Yesterday Renee, Nashed, and I explored around town. We went to breakfast at a coffee shop called The Old School House, had an interesting conversation with an older Irish gentleman (who told a story in which we were married to one another--to our hysterical bafflement, which we held in until after he left), and then ventured into the local park. The park was full of rolling green hills, but also had a random woodsy area. It was surrounded by an old stone wall. We did not go to the two-story cafe in the center, or find the trail to the mountain, but we did find a fenced-off exercise section, which we had WAY too much fun playing around in.

Later, we accepted an invitation to a pub to get our first taste of live Irish music. We had fun, but it started late at night, and by the end we were all very tired.

Today, we attended an Anglican church in Newry, called St. Patrick's. The worship was surprisingly contemporary, and the teaching very down-to-Earth. The people were warm and welcoming, and even let us join them afterward for some Irish stew in honor of Saint Patrick's Day! The sight of a flute player made me sorely miss playing my flute in worship. I'm starting to regret not bringing it. But there may yet be a solution for that...

After that, we went to a grocery store resembling a SuperWalmart (only better), which revolutionized our idea of two-story shopping by utilizing a cross between a moving sidewalk and an escalator that magnetized the wheels of the shopping carts to stick to its slope while transporting them (and us) to the second floor. The rest of the day was pretty low-key as our remaining group members slowly trickled in as they arrived, until finally it came time for the welcome dinner YWAM threw for us in honor of the beginning of our Discipleship Training School to help introduce us to the staff.

Tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day--a national holiday, and the first day of Orientation Week for our DTS.

Prep, Flight, & Arrival

For those who have not been following me on Facebook, I apologize, as I realize I did not post about actually receiving my visa on this blog. I did receive my visa in the afternoon on Wednesday, the day before I flew out. I also received my renewed debit card that evening. Those were the two big snail-mail items that I needed before I left, and both arrived just in the nick of time.

I pulled an all-nighter on Wednesday night, continually weighing my toiletry bag and my suitcase until I could get it just under the allotted 50lbs. It was frustrating, to be sure. I kept trying to take stuff out of my suitcase, but I really didn't have all that much in there! Either that, or I did have a lot in there, but each thing weighed very little, and together the bag weighed a lot. Sometimes it was hard to tell which was the problem. And sometimes the two scales said two different things...Blah. Anyway, I had said I could pull an all-nighter, but I wasn't sure I actually would, until I finally finished cleaning up the mess I had made of my parents' extra room and went to take a shower...and ran into my dad, and realized he was up for the morning. Hence I had a very queasy, sleep-deprived car ride to the airport with my parents in early morning San Francisco stop-and-go traffic.

We got to the airport with enough time to spare, which was good because neither my parents nor I really knew where we were going; all of us usually fly out of Sacramento, and I've only ever been picked up from the San Francisco airport once (unexpectedly, when I was ill and exhausted), so it was a new experience. The place was so big, I was amazed we made it to the right terminal. My suitcase made it under the weight radar, and then I was off with my two heavy backpacks, jackets, and travel pillows. I thought a couple times that I might have to check my carry-on backpack, but it made the cut both times. The flight to Newark, New York/New Jersey was 4 hours, and then I had a couple hours' layover, and the second leg directly to Belfast was 5 hours. The 4-hour trip was a drag, because it was light out but all I really wanted to do was sleep, and I had trouble getting comfortable. But the 5-hour trip was international, so it had free movies, and they served us dinner and a mini-breakfast. I managed to get maybe an hour and a half of sleep on that flight.

The weird thing about the second flight was the realization that I was walking on a flight to Belfast, and that when I stepped off of that plane five hours later, I would be in Belfast. I was starting to believe it, and I felt all fluttery inside. There was this panic-voice saying that I could back out--that what I was doing was crazy, that this was too big for me--but that was ludicrous; I mean, of COURSE it's too big for me, but God's presence with me and His assurance were so strong, His voice so clear, His pleasure so real, I'd have to be a fool to second-guess it.

I didn't know what to expect when I flew into Belfast. I had been interested in Northern Ireland for 14 years, and in the last several years I had been calling it God's "call" on my life, saying it was meant to be permanent. But I had never set foot on Ireland--either Northern or Republic. I always get a very keen sense of the places that I visit, and typically either really like them or really don't. How was I to know which it would be? Sure, I loved these people from afar, without ever having met any of them. But what about when I dropped into the culture? What if I got there, and I really didn't like it, and then I was stuck there and had to tough it out for three months? But I needn't have worried; before we were even on the ground in Belfast, I felt it: a sense of belonging, such as I do not remember feeling in all my life. It is as though I was always meant to be here. My love for the people has not gone away; if anything, it has increased, despite my difficulty in understanding them sometimes when they speak.

This weekend, we are largely on our own--free to explore the building (bigger on the inside) and the grounds and the nearby town. I was the first to arrive, since I came in at about 7:45 this morning, and then Renee (from Oregon) and Nashed (from Israel) arrived in the afternoon while I was catching up on some of my missed sleep. We were the first 3 of 7. Four more will arrive this weekend: 2 locals, and 2 from the States, if I understood correctly. It will be a small group, with only one guy, and it sounds like we might all be in our 20s.

If you would like to contact me while I am here, please do so through Facebook, email, iMessage, or the Kik app, or you can leave a comment here. I will not be receiving phone calls or text messages, and will not be able to send them either; I'm sticking with wifi as a primary mode of contact.

Last Look at Lodi

Last night, I went out to dinner with my parents. I looked out the window of the restaurant, and thought about what Lodi would be like when I came back. I don't imagine its buildings will change much, but the people will. All the people I know and love will grow and change, and so will all of my acquaintances, and all those people I have never met. They will be different internally when I come back, and so will I. Such things can hardly be put into words. But the Spirit moves us where and how He wills, and who can tell where they are going? (See John 3:8.)

Today my visa should arrive. It was in West Sacramento super early this morning. Please pray that there are no hitches, and that it arrives today as it appears it will, so that I will not need to reschedule my flight for Friday. It would be dumb if it was in Lodi today but did not make it into my hands until tomorrow...unless God had a reason for holding it back.

Today is packing day. I still have a few last-minute errands to run, but for the most part it is an around-the-house day. I will close up the last of my already-full boxes that I have been in and out of for the past couple days, and will make the last judgment-calls on what will be taken with me in my suitcase. In other words, today I pack up the last of my life here, to fly out in the morning. And when I do, I will be boarding a plane to the place I have been waiting to go for the last 14 years.

Visa Approved & Cost Covered

Well, God has done it again!

I received an email notification yesterday saying that my visa has been approved! They mailed it yesterday, though that means I think that it goes out today. Since the envelope I enclosed with my application was prepaid priority mail, the envelope should arrive within 2 days, if my application's journey was any indication. That would put it arriving on Wednesday. That is the very last possible day I can get it without having to change my flight, so PLEASE PRAY that it comes by then! My flight leaves Thursday morning.

Thank you all for coming alongside me to support me financially! I looked at the cost and grew disheartened, thinking it impossible, but through you God has done the impossible; He has moved you to give all the money I need, and more. At this point He is impressing upon me to cap it, so I am going to ask you to please not donate any more at this point. May God bless you for your generosity, even as you had blessed me.

As Time Grows Short

I changed the title of my blog, as I realized it could be construed as political (which was not my intention). When I say "reconcile," I mean spiritual reconciliation to one another through Christ. I am sorry if this caused any confusion.

As my time whittles down, it's beginning to sink in that (provided I get my visa in time) next week I will be in Northern Ireland. The stress of the last month is finally giving way to some excitement, though the stress is not over yet. I have today and tomorrow to finish packing, but that time is not uninterrupted; I have other things to coordinate and work on as well. And I still have not booked my plane flight, which, at this point, I will have to book before I hear anything back. Booking my flight now goes against advisement, but waiting any longer to book my flight goes against reason; I feel caught in the middle. I really hope they inform me of my visa soon. They have not said anything about needing anymore supporting documentation, so it must just be a matter of paperwork changing hands...?

PLEASE Please please pray for my visa. I'm trying to have faith and trust God and not freak out and all that stuff, but really it IS a major concern. They have my passport right now, so if I don't get my passport and a stamp on it then I can't go. So PLEASE pray!!!

As far as finances are concerned, I have a friend who is willing to match anything you donate to my trip between now and March 10th. That means if you donate $5, he donates $5 to match it; if you donate $100, he donates $100...and so on, and so forth.  You can give online using the "Donate" link here on the lefthand side panel, or you can write a check. If you write a check, PLEASE make the check out to Remedy Church, not to me personally! Remedy is handling and recording the donations. Thank you for your support!

Immunization & Packing

Alright, everything is happening pretty quickly now, so here's a summary since I last updated:

My mail tracker informed me that my visa arrived in New York on Monday. On Thursday I received an email informing me that my visa application had been received, opened, and prepared for processing. Now all I can do is wait, and pray. According to the website, processing for my type of visa usually happens within 10 days. Let's pray it's less than that; we're cutting it pretty close as it is.

Thursday was immunization day. I got vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus--all of which I had been vaccinated for before, but had expired at the 5- or 10-year mark. The shots weren't all that painful at the time, but man, that nurse wasn't kidding when she said my arms would be sore! (It makes sleeping very uncomfortable still.) The nurse highly recommended a Yellow Fever vaccination for the region I might end up in in Africa for the outreach phase, but I don't know yet whether I need that.

Thursday and Friday were packing days. Two ladies from church graciously volunteered to help me pack up my stuff from all around the house I share with my roommates (one of whom brought boxes), and another lady from my church community group dropped off a bunch of boxes as well. My mom brought the bubble wrap, paper, and tape. It was quite the packing party. Thanks to them, all of my books, kitchen stuff, decor, and some of my closet are packed. Today I managed to do a little more by myself. Thank you, ladies! You have all been a huge blessing!

I have raised about half of my funds. Thank you SO much to those of you who have given to fund my trip! You have stunned me with your generosity.

Please continue to pray that my visa will be processed quickly. I would LOVE to be notified of acceptance ASAP, by the end of this week at the latest (as my time grows short). Please also pray that God will place on people's hearts to give to fund the work that He wants me to be a part of in Northern Ireland; He has already proven that He can. You can also pray that the rest of the packing and moving will go smoothly. We will be moving things out on Wednesday night. I still need to buy my plane ticket, as I have been waiting on my visa, so that is another thing to pray for.