December Update

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!
Thanksgiving has officially come and gone, and the Christmas rush is in full swing here just as it is in America. I enjoyed bringing Thanksgiving to Ireland this year. I invited a few friends over to Kevin and Shirley’s house and, with Shirley’s help, prepared the feast. It was most enjoyable. Ironically, the Bible study for the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving was on being thankful. It was very fitting for the occasion, and it helped me remember to continue being thankful for the many things God provides for me, both big and small. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4.

Joshua 1: 8 says, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” The Spirit has led me to this verse a lot this past month. I feel constantly reminded about the necessity to stay in the Word daily. However, this is not simply just to read it, but also to meditate on it day and night. We are all called to know the Word and obey it. Furthermore, the Word is our sword. If we are unaware of its contents, then we find ourselves weaponless against the enemy and his schemes.

I had the privilege of meeting with Kathy Perry again this month. We met once again in City Center at a Starbucks. It was absolutely wonderful! This was just before Thanksgiving and we were able to talk a little bit about loneliness. It is easy to become lonely in a foreign place, just as it can be easy to be lonely anywhere. Kathy mentioned that being lonely sometimes just comes with the package. Again the Lord has been faithful to me. I remain to stick with Paul’s words when he writes, “Christ is sufficient for me”. Please pray that I wouldn’t become lonely. Know that I am developing wonderful friendships here, and being lonely and feeling homesick is not happening as often as it did at first. God is good!

John, a man from the congregation, has taken the job of running the center and he began this week. He is in charge of the different rooms we rent out and for keeping everything in order. Kevin and I are now able to move into a pastoral office we created upstairs in the church. Kevin

did a fine job of painting the room, and we are both enjoying the quietness of the new office.

I continue having a difficult time relating to the kids in Tallaght. I give praise to the Lord that kids continue to come to the church faithfully each Friday evening after soccer. There are five or six kids, ranging in age from ten to fifteen, that are consistent and there are usually a couple of new faces which show up each week as well. It truly fills my heart with joy to see these kids so eager to come to the church every week. I imagine a large reason for their coming is that it is a place to go other than home, but the Lord is being faithful to bring these kids into our lives.

If you recall, in my last email I mentioned that the kids seemed more excited about the drinks and treats than anything else. Chuck Orwiler commented on that by referring me to a saying Dave Williams used to share when he was working as youth pastor at First Denver Friends Church. The expression was, “what brings them here, keeps them here.” I know this is a true saying. I have been doing my best to fizzle out the drinks and refreshments from Friday night. I do not want free handouts to be the reason kids show up. As a result, nothing has changed and this is a very good thing. Lately I have only been giving the kids water, and they are still excited to come. Again I give all the credit to our holy and ever faithful God!

The problem that continues to persist each Friday is the struggle to know how to present the Gospel to the kids. I must be honest and share that I have been sadly filled with a spirit of doubt, which I know is of the enemy. I hear his lies floating around in my head and have been struggling to ignore them. Lies such as, “These kids will never accept the gospel. They are going to think that the whole idea is stupid and leave. God has the power to work here, but He is not actually going to do anything. These kids aren’t interested in anything you have to say, what can you really do for them anyway?” I know that all of these are lies, but I am still struggling to trust that the Lord is actually going to change the lives of these kids.

Writing these things down has made me feel a bit foolish, but I would rather be honest and seek prayer than to pretend all is well and allow these things to float around in my head and fester. Kevin and I discussed this issue the other night and we talked about the different processes that many people go through when accepting the truth about Jesus Christ. One of the processes is plowing. That is, the turning over of ideas people thought they had about Christ. Even if they do not accept what is said at first, that ground has been turned over and the new thought is now in their head. It is hard to persevere when we do not see results, but again I need to trust Christ and His power. How dare I deny the power of God and all that He can do in this place!

Martin and Dave, the two men who originally began playing soccer with the youth, are still having personal struggles. I would love to see them come back and help again with the Friday night youth group, but I cannot get them to respond to me. Please pray for them. Pray that the Lord will work in their hearts and that the enemy will not mislead them. Pray for their personal growth in their relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ross came to me yesterday and asked if I needed help with the Friday night club. Oh how amazing the Lord is as He moves! I have still been having trouble with his age group. We tried having a Bible study for them on Sunday afternoons, but they didn’t show up for church or the study. I have been struggling to know how to reach this group. What a wonderful opportunity to help Ross, and perhaps eventually the others, be involved in ministry. A fear that goes along with this is that Ross may not be walking with the Lord as close as you would want a leader to be. However, then the next question would be, “Where is the place that we must arrive before God can begin to use us?” Again, it is vital to trust that the Lord knows what He is doing.

My current game plan for the young adult age group is to try and befriend them rather than approach them as a “leader.” I am so close in age with them anyway; I trust this will be more affective. I am sure that this is what I should have been doing from the beginning. Hopefully by being a friend and not a leader figure to them, I will be more affective in helping them.

I recorded Shirley last Sunday playing the four parts to O Come, O Come, Emmanuel on the piano so that the other singers and I can sing it here in the next few weeks. This was a fun experience for both of us. I am anxious to see how it will all come together. I burned the parts to CD and am going to give them out at our next worship team practice. Hopefully it will be a nice and effective ensemble.

The Lord is being faithful to our prayers! Is this really shocking? You

do not have to look very far to see growth in different individuals here. The Wednesday night Bible study is growing. There is still a lot of growth that needs to happen, but it is exciting to know that our prayers are being answered. Our God is a mighty God!

The church is hosting a Carol Service next Wednesday, which I am also excited about. Many people from St. Mark’s church in Dublin will be coming and participating in the service. It should be a beautiful celebration of the birth of our Savior and King, Jesus Christ! Kevin, Ross and I were able to put up the church Christmas tree yesterday. The plan for Christmas day is for me to go with Kevin and Shirley to Kevin’s parent’s house in the morning and then spend the rest of the day with them in their own home. They are truly a blessing and a joy, and I am very thankful they have invited me to share Christmas with them. I do not know where I would be if the Lord did not bless me with such good friends.

Kevin and Shirley have also invited me to go with them down to Shirley’s parent’s house in Cork. This is a city that is about a four-hour drive southwest of Dublin. We will leave a few days after Christmas. I am looking forward to this trip. It will be a wonderful opportunity for me to see another part of this beautiful country. Thank you all for your continued prayer and financial support. You are a vital part to the ministry that is happening here in Ireland, and I am truly thankful for all you do. May the Lord bless and keep you this holiday season. Please share with me if there is anything that I can pray for with you, or if you have any suggestions or wisdom to battle different issues I have discussed in this letter. All praise and glory be to our God who reigns on high!

His peace.