Yesterday we woke up and had our daily devotions, primarily focussing on praying for each group of people we've been serving here in Belfast from the children to the elders. We had a beautiful time of worship and then the men came over from the hostel for a big Ulster fry breakfast! :) (Sausages, deep fried soda bread, potato bread and pancakes!). We enjoyed visiting with them and then one of them whipped out a guitar and played some Johnny Cash and some of their own music and our own guys shared some of their music too! We went to the nearby park to get some fresh air and play on the playground equipment! (It's a pretty cool park with a zip-line and super-fast merry-go-round). Once they were gone and we cleaned the place, the young kids came to play after school. It was a loud and wild time but the kids just love being with us and it's hard to get them to go! After that we helped some of the older kids with their homework one-on-one and it was surprisingly quiet! We've appreciated many meals made by women of Harry's church in Downpatrick and yesterday we had some delicious cottage pie! Our last event was youth alpha in the evening when we showed a video on internet safety to bring awareness of sharing personal information on the web. After that Monica shared her testimony and we sang some songs.
Today we walked to the Blythefield elementary school of ninety kids and shared a skit and and song in front of the school. The majority of the kids we knew from coming to Friendship House and we were surprised at how quiet and good they were at listening! It was polar opposite to what they normally are like! They all looked so cute in their uniforms.
Then we had devotions and got things ready for the seniors to come for lunch. One of their specialties is grape and cream cheese sandwiches! It's actually really good! Tastes like cheesecake on bread!
The kids came to play after school again and it was a fun time but we were surprised that the older ladies don't like having them around (because they're too rowdy!)!
We just got back from skating in the West of Belfast! It was so refreshing to just go out and have fun and be active!
Also can you pray for our health as a few of us have been feeling sick and exhausted. Monica went to the clinic today and it turns out she has had mono the whole time but she's just at the end of it. We're praying that no-one else has mono especially since we're sleeping in such close quarters!
Hey Everyone,
ReplyDeleteOnce again, it's great to receive an update on what God is doing in and through your team. We're so encouraged to hear of how you're serving the communities of Belfast and one another! It's great to hear about the connections with the men from the hostel and the opportunity to present in the local school. The children that you have connected with will be sad to see the team leave in a few weeks.
We're sorry to hear that Monica isn't feeling to well. We'll be praying for her health as for the health of the team. May God sustain you all as you serve. Here's a verse to encourage you; "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore." (Ps.125:1-2)
May you feel surrounded by God's strong love and the prayers of many who uphold you daily!
God bless,
John
love your reports Steph -- I get a good feel for what your whole team is doing. The food (breakfast, cottage pie, etc.)sounds delicious! It sounds like your team is really getting into the community with the kids, the school, and the seniors. You guys are amazing.
ReplyDeleteRudy
just want to say hi to our neice Rebecca and to tell her that we are thinking of her... and have her in our prayers...
ReplyDeletethanks for the updates...
Hi from wet, snowy and crazy weather, Nova Scotia.
Uncle Clarence and Aunt Eveline