Last Post

I don't really know how to end this blog. For eight months I have been chronically the journey God has been taking me on. From acceptance to apprehension to preparation to completion, God has been guiding my ways.

I've been praying about the next right step. What would God have me do? A month since the journey, this is what has changed:

1. I'm seeking a smaller church community to get involved with. I loved the close knit feeling of the group I work with and for a long time have not felt that at my current church. However, size is the only reason for the change. I desire a church that is serious about loving God and loving people.

2. I've been seeking out opportunities that might use my gifts to their fullest ability. They seemed to all pop up within the last two weeks. Opportunities in this city and beyond. I'm not sure where this will take me, but I will follow where God leads.

3. I'm making a trip out to see Jes and Jeremy for Labor Day and they are coming to Michigan in October. God has really blessed me with their friendship. Needless to say, I'm very excited to reconnect with them.

Life seems to be in a bit of a transition right now, but there excitement in change. There is purpose in change. Their is life in change. Thank you for coming on the journey. Thank you for your prayers and support. God has used you in mighty ways.

As life changes and opportunities arise you can follow them at http://amanda-thejourney.blogspot.com/.
So for now, this is Amanda Waldron signing off.

Amazing-Part 5

What I've Learned:

1. God is constant: He does not change from day to day or from country to country. He is faithful.

2. Listen is an outreach: For the most part I feel I'm a pretty good listener. I enjoy hearing stories and connecting with others in this way. Everyone wants to be heard and understood. Something John taught me was that listening can be an outreaching. His word struck me, "No one's ever just sat and listened to me." I'm not always the best talker or the most eloquent, but I can listen and I will do that for God.

3. My weaknesses don't have to over shadow my strength: I've always taken comfort in the passage that speaks of Christ being the strength in our weaknesses. It's always been the weaknesses that seem so present, accept in Ireland. To the contrary, I felt my strengths shone through. It was amazing to me that I could teach and play and love with such freedom. Now that I have an example of what that can be like, I hope to integrate it into the everyday.

4. I know what it means to be fully alive: I know what brings fulfillment to my days and now that I know, I want more. I'm in the process of taking this step further into every region of my life.

A lot of exciting things have happened since the trip and I hope to elaborate a little more in one last post.

Do you have any questions? Please let me know if there's anything I can answer for you. Just leave a comment.

Amazing-Pics 2

Here are the rest of the pics. I'm not sure why I didn't include them all.

Dublin and Let the work begin.
Throughout the week.
Friday and Saturday.
Sunday
Wrapping Up: Lacken House

Amazing-Pics

This week has been a little hectic, but I hope to get some stories on here at the beginning of next week. Also, thank you letters are coming...as soon as my printer stops malfunctioning. :)

Until then here's a link to some picture from the trip, for you viewing pleasure.

Amazing-Part 4

Answered Prayers:
As I sat in my hostel in Edinburgh reflecting on my trip, it suddenly occurred to me the number of prayer God had answered. I had many fears and doubts before going and I expressed several on this blog. God's faithfulness covered this trip.

Each Day Sponsor received a prayer card with the following six requests. Here is how God answered:

1. Please pray that flights are on time and the journey there and back is a calm one.
The drive to the Detroit airport churned my stomach. No matter how much I had researched or been told, I was sure something would go wrong. Security back ups, lost luggage, missing my flight, made my imagination run wild. However, the worry was for nothing, as all my flights went smoothly and all my luggage made it to its destination. YAY!

Hour 11 of my 24 hour travel day on July 18.

2. Pray for the team; for unity, safety, and health.
God is amazing. I've expressed before just how much this team has meant to me. Over and over again the image of the Body of Christ comes to mind. We were united and worked magnificently together. It amazes me how God coordinated all our journeys to meet up in Ireland.

The larger group, as a whole, had a united spirit and a shared mission. Our days would often end well after midnight because we loved spending time with one another. The last night of the trip, instead of going to bed and waking up for our 5:15a bus to the airport, a group of us stayed up through the night, talking and laughing.

God's showed me what it like to live in community. He provided me with people to encourage me. Usually it takes me a while to warm up to so many new people, but I never once felt out of place. Common feelings were wiped out and replaced by the knowledge that God led me here and his timing is perfect.

3. Please pray for the churches that our hosting us.
Hosanna House received many prayers from our team as we worked with them. We asked that truth would be presented and the Holy Spirit would guide and direct us.

4. Please pray that I allow God to work through my weaknesses, that I may show others His strength.
During this time, God showed me what my strengths are. All sense of weakness was masked by who God was telling me I am. I got to lead, and teach, and show love to children. I got to listen, and encourage and be. The experience liberated me from myself and from some lies I had believed. I can see a permanent change. I felt God's encouragement from day to day.

5. Please pray for ears to hear and eyes to see. Both for those we minister to and the team.
God opened many doors; with John, Mary, Jean, and the children we connected with. Though sometimes their questions proved challenging to us, is seemed that if one member could not think of something to say, another would jump in. Or it seemed that at just the right time, God would supply us with word. His faithfulness was evident.

6. Please pray that our passion shows others the freedom, transformation, and hop of Christ and that God is glorified in all we do.
In all things I tried to listen to the prompting of God. I strove to show other His love with a listening ear, a kind word, or a scripture. I pray my actions revealed a little more about who God is.

Next time: final reflections.

Amazing Part 3

Mary and Jean:
The team stayed with two sisters from the church. Both had recently become Christians and had many questions for us. We ofter stayed up into the early hours discussing topics of divorce, alcohol, and forgiveness. The foresight of the pastor in placing us with these ladies was amazing. By the end of the week we were calling them our Irish moms. Truly God brought Mary and Jean to us.

John and Bernadette Moore:
John wondered into the church one day with his daughter Bernadette. Jes jumped up quickly to talk with the pair and soon found herself in deep discussion. The man seemed to be hungering for God and later told the team he felt “compelled” to come there. He showed up later that night and this time we sat down to talk. He had many questions. The team had to move on to our next event, but Ilona, Jeremy, Jes, and I arranged to meet John later. He expressed appreciation to us many times saying, “No one ever comes to visit me,” and “No ones ever just listened to me.” During our visit different member of the team where able to share about God and forgiveness. John seemed to be haunted by his past and desperately wanted to believe in God. We hoped to meet up with him later in the week, but we seemed to always miss each other. Our last Sunday in town the four of us once again walked to John’s house to leave him a Bible. We had written notes of encouragement and had underlined passages that addressed the ares we had discussed. I’m still praying for John and I hope his soul one day finds the forgiveness he has been searching for.

Joy:
Pastor John's daughter was such a blessing to us throughout the week. She provided a clear voice in certain situation and encouraged the team greatly. I got this message from her this morning:

once again, thanks for being a blessing while u wer ova here. i know sometimes it doesnt seem like a lot but i strongly believe u guys have planted a good seed and i can see it growing and u never know what mighty trees will grow from your seeds.
i'm sure ure still doing the good work in ur own community.
(Galatians 6:9)
things have finally settled down here a little nd we're meeting up on saturday to plan the next step for the youth and one of the top things on our list is community service and support! will keep u posted as time goes on.
stay smiling...
Much luv & God bless!

There are so many more that impacted us. Our drivers Ed, Robert, and Janice. The youth at the church with there amazing spirits and soulful voices. Jean's son Luke and his friends. Too many to name.

Next installment will be a few more stories and the prayers God answered.

Amazing-Part 2

The first test:
The struggle started Saturday night at a schueduled prayer service. From 11:30p-1:00a, members of the church gather to pray. This is done commual (everyone at once) and in tougues. As many of our group, myself included, were not accustom to such styles, the service appear caotic and sometimes scary. A sence of uneasiness had settled over the entire team and many looks were exchanged during the service. At one point, a team member felt compelled to step out and we chatted on the steps about the verses on speaking in tougues.

After such an intense experience the team needed time to process, but suddenly we found ourselves being driven downtown. Earlier we had discussed partnering with some Canadian missionares in town to serve coffee and tea to thoes getting out of the pubs and clubs, but nothing had been finalized, until we found ourselves in the midst of it. We were able to start some conversations, but the whole night had made much of the team edgy. As I made conversation with thoes that were around, I was unawear that some members were feeling the imediate need to leave. Jes told me later that she wanted to get out of there and did not like me being so close to the youth that were out. Jeremy had one youth tell him numerous times that we should get his friends out of there. Strangly this echoed what another man said to me. We left with much tension and haste; Riley leading the way and Jeremy protecting the girls.

That night I had Jes fill me in on what everyone else was feeling. I felt comfortable being downtown, but apparently I was the only one. The whole night left us uneasy and we stayed up until 4a talking and praying.

The next morning, as a team we decided to call our leaders and ask for wisdom on the situation. They were able to meet with us and the meeting resolved on a positive note. They listened to our worries and gave us a new perspective. It was during this meeting that I realized how much like the body of Christ we were; so united.

So much for our first few hours in Cavan. Thankfully we had a day off on Monday.

Dublin: Say it to me now!
The team took the bus into Dublin for a day of relaxation and sight seeing. Here are some highlights:

Scene from the film Once

Dublin Castle

Love Wins

Let the work begin: So what did you do?
Our morning were spent doing a kid's club for the local community. The number were not large, but the attention was specialized. We taught a lesson, did a craft and sang songs. Waves of Mercy proved a crowd favorite. My specialties included leading the games, and tag teaming with Riley to teach the lessons. Jeremy played his guitar and Ilona, Erika, and Jes made sure the kids felt comfortable and included.

Lord I Life Your Name on High

Riley speaking on 'Does Jesus Really Care'
We used the story of Jesus sleeping in the midst of the storm.
His disciples might not have thought Jesus cared, but Jesus was always in control.
Jesus cares for you even when you don't think he's listening.

Jes taught the kids to make oragami boats.

Friday, I told the story of the paraletic man and Erika assisted with this visual aid.

Friday=Balloon Day

Two of my favorite children, Rachel and Chelsea.

After the lesson on Friday, Riley asked the kids if they had a Bible. When no said hey had, we were able to make sure every kid got one. They began to run to each of us and asked us to find the stories we had taught them that week. Later on Saturday as we played in a nearby park, one of the kids ran home to grad her new Bible. This is one of my favorite memories.

Friday night our team also hosted the youth group. Now I should preface this by saying the youth at Hosanna House are amazing. We had interacted with them throughout the week and their love of Jesus shines. We talked to them about making missions part of your life and not something you do in another country. We split the group into small groups and had them discuss practical ways they could serve, support, and share their story. I had the privilege of steering the discussion for the night and I truly feel that this is part of what I was created to do. I love to facilitate. Everyone seemed to have a great time. I know I did.

I passed out the stack of Love Wins stickers after the discussion

We also partnered with the Canadian missionaries for an event at the rugby club. We played capture the flag (I had a shining moment of victory!), sang songs, made balloon animals, and painted faces. It gave the kids in the community a chance to get out of the house in the summertime and have something to do.


There's still more to come on the people we met and those that touched our hearts. Also some thoughts on the prayers that were answered. Stay tuned.

Amazing-Part 1

Friends and family, thank you so very much for your prayers and support. I cannot fully express how amazing this experience has been. I felt fully alive, knowing this was what I was meant to be doing at this exact moment. I lived in community with a team, where we balanced each other and truly worked as the body of Christ. I experienced challenges and rewards. Overall, I felt that God had created me to be doing this work and I witnessed the work he is doing in Ireland.

Here's the first of an installment of posts on the trip:

Let's start at the beginning (Lacken House and Training):
OM purchesed this old B&B and this is where we had orientation, Tuesday-Friday. The guys stayed in the main house and the girls stayed in little cabins. They had turned the old stable block into a dining hall and meeting room.

There were about 50 participants and seven staff members. Throughout the week we got to know one another and prepared for the journey ahead. We had worship, teaching and workshops. All were excellent.

The main house and the Chalet.
We had our meetings in the closest door.
The whole gang.
I, Jes, and Anne were connected over Facebook before coming. My Dutch Boys, Leon and Pim. These guys cracked me up!

Here's my Team:
Let me introduce you to the amazing people I worked with. Our amazing guitar player Jeremy (USA). Fearless leader Riley (Canada). Our funny Dutch girl, Ilona (Holland). Kika (Erika, Brazil) our countious. My Jes (USA), the fellow photographer.

I cannot express what a blessing this team was. We became very close and I miss them terribly.
Back: Riley, Jeremy
Front: Jes, Ilona, Me, Erika

Through out the week we were given time to prepare for what we'd be doing with the churches we were partnering with. The other groups were getting detailed outlines and were able to then plan accordingly. Our outline had four items on it and had the words "Sketchy" at the bottom. Since we didn't really know what to plan for, we spent a lot of this time getting to know one another.

Cavan: Hosanna House
Our team was the first to head out on Friday. We partnered with a Nigerian, charismatic church in Cavan. This proved a challenge as many of our group had not grown up with this church background. However, the people were kind and their love for Jesus was evident.

Housanna House was above a convenience store.

Pastor John and his lovly daughter Joy.

African baby dedication our first Sunday.

I love this picture of Joy!

Ballyhaise: Home Away From Home
We stayed in Ballyhaise, 8km from Cavan. Jes and I stayed with Mary. Ilona and Erika stayed with her sister Jean. Riley and Jeremy stayed with Ed, our contact from the church. Mary and Jean had recently become Christians and Pastor John really prayed about who we should stay with. Part of the joy of this trip was talking with these two ladies. We were able to answer some of their questions and their hospitality to us was amazing. Early in our time there, the guys started staying at Mary's too. This made it nice to have everyone so close. The girls could walk to Mary's in the morning, where we would have team time.

Jean

Mary's House. Jes and I stayed in the top/far right room. The guys slept in the living room.

Team time.

Our first Saturday, after having been given no idication that the church planned on feeding us this day, we walked the 8km into Cavan for lunch. The team was all for it and we were able to bond a great deal on the two hour walk.

Riley led the way and Jeremy brought up the rear. This picture is a perfect illustration of the guys leadership on our team.

Team Awesome!

Saturday night was when the week started going, but that's a story for another day. Stay Tuned!