Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Climbin on the coffee table
She has started climbing onto the coffee table and has taught herself that if she pulls out the drawer, she can use it as a step up onto the coffee table. Too smart for her own good is our girl. Oh yeah...she has also learned that she can reach dor handles - nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, August 14, 2006
could someone ask doug gifford where my nice leather guitar strap is?
you can imagine how i felt when i went in church after getting my guitar back and found that I had no strap...all i can say is - dougie, you were lucky you wer ein the passenger lounge at the airport
just kidding i had a spare, but i would like my nice one back if it is in belfast
cheers
you can imagine how i felt when i went in church after getting my guitar back and found that I had no strap...all i can say is - dougie, you were lucky you wer ein the passenger lounge at the airport
just kidding i had a spare, but i would like my nice one back if it is in belfast
cheers
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Four days since the guys returned to the USA - they went straight back into school like the day after they got in - yuk!! I hope that jet lag did not mess them up too much!
For us it has been a case or returning to normality since they left. By that I mean Eva and I have been able to return to more of a normal schedule. I don't think she had ever spent so much time in the care as she spent when we were going from town to town to see everyone. It has been nice to get back to normal, but I miss everyone again.
So I got to call Rich yesterday and play catch up with him. When we lived in Florida, Rich and I would spend a lot of time talking many things through - mostly issues facing the church and Christians. Yesterday was exactly the same - it was like we have not been apart in terms of our conversation. One thing that I did leave the phone call challenged about was the fact that my reading and study has been crap recently. Rich asked what I had been reading and I was hardly able to think of what I have been reading recently and while I was thinking this Rich was telling me of a couple of books that he has been reading recently. I was very inspired and am going to purchase one of the books he recommended and we are going to talk it through.
I talked with Stevie about feeling this way after the phone call and he said that he was feeling very similar. It is good to not be alone in the struggles we have - but it is also good to have someone to work it out with.
I have received a number of invitations to speak at services and weekend retreats in the last couple of days. The Summerserve training sessions gave me some good exposure in terms of preaching and I have been invited to do some more training for Youth For Christ in September. Between now and then I have a number of Sunday services in churches including a trip to England to preach in my Uncle's church. I also just got asked to speak at Mannafest in February. Mannafest is a large Christian youth event run by Youth For Christ which gathers hundreds of young people for worship every month. It is a big opportunity for me as well. I am excited about all these opportunities in that one of the major reasons I came home from America was to build up the preaching side of my ministry. It seems that it is working out in terms of opportunity - I hope I can follow through on it by being faithful in every place I am called to.
Eva is learning more and more words every day. If she is not able to say them, she can recognize them - it's pretty cool. I will say, "doggies" and she will turn and point to them. She also knows mummy, daddy, Fred, brandy, light, chair, door, arm, right foot, ear, hair, nose, mouth and a host of others.It's very cool to watch her take things in. She has also developed an ability to climb on everything. We have a coffee table in the middle of our sitting room and she loves to climb up on it and stand for a while before walking over to the edge and looking at us as if to say 'catch me!' She now climbs up if we are on the other side of the room or in the kitchen and she will let out these whimpers making you think something is wrong. But, what she really wants is for you to drop everything you are doing and come and 'catch her'. It's her favourite thing to do in the world at the minute. She is also learning that not everything goes her way all the time. She has also learned that she can cry and throw tantrums when she does not get things she wants immediately. It is hard work but we do our best to communicate that tantrums will not get her anywhere with us or anyone else in the world. It is weird watching as our little bundle of perfection develops conscience and thought processes and no longer agrees with everything that we do for her. She is such a little individual already - its amazing.
Anywho, I should go. I have a sermon and powerpoint to do for Sunday night.
Blessings
For us it has been a case or returning to normality since they left. By that I mean Eva and I have been able to return to more of a normal schedule. I don't think she had ever spent so much time in the care as she spent when we were going from town to town to see everyone. It has been nice to get back to normal, but I miss everyone again.
So I got to call Rich yesterday and play catch up with him. When we lived in Florida, Rich and I would spend a lot of time talking many things through - mostly issues facing the church and Christians. Yesterday was exactly the same - it was like we have not been apart in terms of our conversation. One thing that I did leave the phone call challenged about was the fact that my reading and study has been crap recently. Rich asked what I had been reading and I was hardly able to think of what I have been reading recently and while I was thinking this Rich was telling me of a couple of books that he has been reading recently. I was very inspired and am going to purchase one of the books he recommended and we are going to talk it through.
I talked with Stevie about feeling this way after the phone call and he said that he was feeling very similar. It is good to not be alone in the struggles we have - but it is also good to have someone to work it out with.
I have received a number of invitations to speak at services and weekend retreats in the last couple of days. The Summerserve training sessions gave me some good exposure in terms of preaching and I have been invited to do some more training for Youth For Christ in September. Between now and then I have a number of Sunday services in churches including a trip to England to preach in my Uncle's church. I also just got asked to speak at Mannafest in February. Mannafest is a large Christian youth event run by Youth For Christ which gathers hundreds of young people for worship every month. It is a big opportunity for me as well. I am excited about all these opportunities in that one of the major reasons I came home from America was to build up the preaching side of my ministry. It seems that it is working out in terms of opportunity - I hope I can follow through on it by being faithful in every place I am called to.
Eva is learning more and more words every day. If she is not able to say them, she can recognize them - it's pretty cool. I will say, "doggies" and she will turn and point to them. She also knows mummy, daddy, Fred, brandy, light, chair, door, arm, right foot, ear, hair, nose, mouth and a host of others.It's very cool to watch her take things in. She has also developed an ability to climb on everything. We have a coffee table in the middle of our sitting room and she loves to climb up on it and stand for a while before walking over to the edge and looking at us as if to say 'catch me!' She now climbs up if we are on the other side of the room or in the kitchen and she will let out these whimpers making you think something is wrong. But, what she really wants is for you to drop everything you are doing and come and 'catch her'. It's her favourite thing to do in the world at the minute. She is also learning that not everything goes her way all the time. She has also learned that she can cry and throw tantrums when she does not get things she wants immediately. It is hard work but we do our best to communicate that tantrums will not get her anywhere with us or anyone else in the world. It is weird watching as our little bundle of perfection develops conscience and thought processes and no longer agrees with everything that we do for her. She is such a little individual already - its amazing.
Anywho, I should go. I have a sermon and powerpoint to do for Sunday night.
Blessings
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Final Update
So, some of you are now just going to church as I type, some have just left Oasis and are on your way home via Chili's or some other eating establishment. Those on this side of the Atlantic have been to church already this morning are maybe like me, just woken up from that lovely Sunday afternoon nap. Our intrepid young misiionaries (if all is on schedule) have been in the air for around four hours or so and will soon be making their decsent into Newark airport (yuk!) before connecting to arriving in West Palm Beach tonight. As you can tell by the couple of photos I put up on the blog a day or two ago, I did get out to see Caite and Erika in their mission sites at Moira (moy-ra) and Kilmakee. Both were having a great time and both were obviously a very integral and loved part of their team. Caite was on team with a young girl from Arizona whose family was in Fort Pierce while she in Northern Ireland. Her Grandfather is apparently the pastor of the Christian Missionar Alliance Church in Fort Pierce - small world eh?
Last night we travelled over the a place called Hillsborough (where the Queen has her Northern Irleand residence) to attend the closing event for Summerserve. YFC had arranged a bbq and a very generous farmer had offered to host it on his very spacious farm in one of his extremely ample barns. All the youth were eating burgers and seated on haystacks - it was really cool. The band that had been leading worship through the team's training did the honours again and were fantastic except that the power cut out in the middle of their second song. Though it was a blessing in disguise because the youth all coninued to sing and the drummer drummed with them to keep them all in rhythmn. The Summerserve co-ordinator, Allan Grier, was the master of ceremonies and also gave the closing talk then we all hugged and most of us cried as we made our good byes.
This morning, we have managed to give them a proper Northern Ireland send off. As they were arriving at the airport and getting ready to fly, it was dull, overcast and absolutely pissing out the heavens that annoying drizzly rain.
All of them have been amazing and all of them have testified to how amazing and life altering this has been for them. Thats my prayer answered right there. Now the job and the prayer is to keep them all focussed and to makesure that missions are not just a small fad in their lives as mid to late teenagers. Keep it before them and ask them when they are going again. Support them as they go again and most of all encourage them in their walk with Christ.
I am so amazingly proud of them all and you can be too. I hope you see the difference the love of Christ and an opportunity to share it is making in them as they return.
Blessings
Last night we travelled over the a place called Hillsborough (where the Queen has her Northern Irleand residence) to attend the closing event for Summerserve. YFC had arranged a bbq and a very generous farmer had offered to host it on his very spacious farm in one of his extremely ample barns. All the youth were eating burgers and seated on haystacks - it was really cool. The band that had been leading worship through the team's training did the honours again and were fantastic except that the power cut out in the middle of their second song. Though it was a blessing in disguise because the youth all coninued to sing and the drummer drummed with them to keep them all in rhythmn. The Summerserve co-ordinator, Allan Grier, was the master of ceremonies and also gave the closing talk then we all hugged and most of us cried as we made our good byes.
This morning, we have managed to give them a proper Northern Ireland send off. As they were arriving at the airport and getting ready to fly, it was dull, overcast and absolutely pissing out the heavens that annoying drizzly rain.
All of them have been amazing and all of them have testified to how amazing and life altering this has been for them. Thats my prayer answered right there. Now the job and the prayer is to keep them all focussed and to makesure that missions are not just a small fad in their lives as mid to late teenagers. Keep it before them and ask them when they are going again. Support them as they go again and most of all encourage them in their walk with Christ.
I am so amazingly proud of them all and you can be too. I hope you see the difference the love of Christ and an opportunity to share it is making in them as they return.
Blessings
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
It's time for another mission trip blog.
Since last Tuesday I have taken my time driving from place to place to see all of the youth that are on mission trip. I have managed to see all of them bar three. Last I told you was that I had seen Bailey, Asa, Molly and Megan. Since then I have called with Doug, Amanda, Diane, Chelsea and Grant. Before I tell you about them, I want to update you on Bailey's team situation.
We called with them on Friday night just after they had had their dinner to see how things were. I am really happy to report that they had been able to draw some of their own boundaries in terms of behaviour at their drop in and were regaining control. The tirades of verbal abuse have ceased as far as I know and they are finally starting to make some head way with the kids they are working with in terms of sharing faith. She told me a story of how she had left a team mates bible on the couch inside the drop in and another team mate caught the youth reading it and was bale to talk through some of it with them and eventually pray with them. Things are tough some times but the fact that God is bigger than it all never changes. Bailey's team handled things well but your commitment to read this and pray for them had a massive part in things turning round.
On Friday, I set out to call in with Diane, Chelsea, Caite and Grant. Unfortunately, I was only able to see Diane this day. It seems that her team are doing very well and providing a real service to the youth of the community they are in. They are also seeing many of their prayers answered as a team. She seemed extremely happy to be on the team and they all seemed very happy to see her.
On Saturday, I got a call from Doug (using a team mates cell phone)asking if he could borrow my guitar as he was leading worship on Sunday night. Naturally, I said it was not a problem and arranged to see him that night to drop off the guitar. When we got to him, his team were watching a movie together (Saturday was their day off). Doug came out and chatted with us for a while and was able to tell us that he is enjoying himself and that his team are seeing some really cool things happening. He told of one young woman, who is not familiar to the youth ministry team of the church they are at, and how she stayed behind after drop in one night and prayed with the team. Their teen drop in ministry is their main event each day but the team go to a local park each day and play football (soccer) with some local youth. Doug Gifford is playing football - he admits he is not good but apparently the local kids let him away with a lot because he is American. Doug really seems to be flourishing and is having the time of his life. He has come a long way since I met the shy little guy that played guitar at praise band, I am very proud of Dougie - I am proud of them all.
Yesterday, I drove with Eva to see Amanda in Killyleagh. We chatted for a while and she told me that though it had taken her a day or two to get in 'mission trip' mode, she felt that she was now there and was really sensing the presence of God in all her and the team were doing. They are involved in a kids camp in the mornings and then a teen drop in at nights. She is getting on well with her team and was able to share some cool stories of how she is being used by God in the lives of local teens.
Today, I managed to see Chelsea and Grant. Chelsea and her team seemed to get along very, very well and I had a lot of fun talking to them all. Chelsea was telling of how much she was enjoying herself and some of the things that they have been getting up to. They have also been running a kids club in the morning and a teens drop in during the evenings. They asked the local parish church if they could lead a service for the youth they have been working with and they were told they could do this on Sunday night. Chelsea gave the message and by all accounts did extremely well. This team has had a great impact on their locality with some young people praying with them to receive Christ as lord. It was very exciting for me to listen to this coming from Chelsea. I know that for one reason and another the journey towards making this trip was a very difficult one for her in particular and so it pleases me a lot to see that she is enjoying some success and learning much.
Grant is also part of a team, that has gelled extremely well. Today saw the start of their kids club and I walked in on their debriefing afterwards. They apparently had an amazing morning with 59 kids showing up. Grant was sharing some of the stuff that has been going on. Their drop in has been tough for reasons similar to Bailey's situation but they also seem to have got things under control and are building good relationships with local youth.
I have two calls to make tomorrow with Caite and Erika and then on Thursday with Mike Burns. Hopefully tomorrow I will remember that I have a camera and actually take it and will have some pictures for you to peruse. In the mean time, pray hard for these guys and all their friends that are on Summerserve. These last few days will be extremely tiring and they will all have to dig deep to make it through physically and emotionally. Pray hard for them. You can be proud of your kids - they have thrown themselves into everything they are asked to do and have made me extremely proud. This trip will have been life changing for them - I hope that all who read this will see that. My prayer is that this trip will begin something in all your lives that will continue and grow for years to come and that First United Methodist Church of Port St Lucie, Florida will continue to send out missionaries all over the world.
Blessings
Since last Tuesday I have taken my time driving from place to place to see all of the youth that are on mission trip. I have managed to see all of them bar three. Last I told you was that I had seen Bailey, Asa, Molly and Megan. Since then I have called with Doug, Amanda, Diane, Chelsea and Grant. Before I tell you about them, I want to update you on Bailey's team situation.
We called with them on Friday night just after they had had their dinner to see how things were. I am really happy to report that they had been able to draw some of their own boundaries in terms of behaviour at their drop in and were regaining control. The tirades of verbal abuse have ceased as far as I know and they are finally starting to make some head way with the kids they are working with in terms of sharing faith. She told me a story of how she had left a team mates bible on the couch inside the drop in and another team mate caught the youth reading it and was bale to talk through some of it with them and eventually pray with them. Things are tough some times but the fact that God is bigger than it all never changes. Bailey's team handled things well but your commitment to read this and pray for them had a massive part in things turning round.
On Friday, I set out to call in with Diane, Chelsea, Caite and Grant. Unfortunately, I was only able to see Diane this day. It seems that her team are doing very well and providing a real service to the youth of the community they are in. They are also seeing many of their prayers answered as a team. She seemed extremely happy to be on the team and they all seemed very happy to see her.
On Saturday, I got a call from Doug (using a team mates cell phone)asking if he could borrow my guitar as he was leading worship on Sunday night. Naturally, I said it was not a problem and arranged to see him that night to drop off the guitar. When we got to him, his team were watching a movie together (Saturday was their day off). Doug came out and chatted with us for a while and was able to tell us that he is enjoying himself and that his team are seeing some really cool things happening. He told of one young woman, who is not familiar to the youth ministry team of the church they are at, and how she stayed behind after drop in one night and prayed with the team. Their teen drop in ministry is their main event each day but the team go to a local park each day and play football (soccer) with some local youth. Doug Gifford is playing football - he admits he is not good but apparently the local kids let him away with a lot because he is American. Doug really seems to be flourishing and is having the time of his life. He has come a long way since I met the shy little guy that played guitar at praise band, I am very proud of Dougie - I am proud of them all.
Yesterday, I drove with Eva to see Amanda in Killyleagh. We chatted for a while and she told me that though it had taken her a day or two to get in 'mission trip' mode, she felt that she was now there and was really sensing the presence of God in all her and the team were doing. They are involved in a kids camp in the mornings and then a teen drop in at nights. She is getting on well with her team and was able to share some cool stories of how she is being used by God in the lives of local teens.
Today, I managed to see Chelsea and Grant. Chelsea and her team seemed to get along very, very well and I had a lot of fun talking to them all. Chelsea was telling of how much she was enjoying herself and some of the things that they have been getting up to. They have also been running a kids club in the morning and a teens drop in during the evenings. They asked the local parish church if they could lead a service for the youth they have been working with and they were told they could do this on Sunday night. Chelsea gave the message and by all accounts did extremely well. This team has had a great impact on their locality with some young people praying with them to receive Christ as lord. It was very exciting for me to listen to this coming from Chelsea. I know that for one reason and another the journey towards making this trip was a very difficult one for her in particular and so it pleases me a lot to see that she is enjoying some success and learning much.
Grant is also part of a team, that has gelled extremely well. Today saw the start of their kids club and I walked in on their debriefing afterwards. They apparently had an amazing morning with 59 kids showing up. Grant was sharing some of the stuff that has been going on. Their drop in has been tough for reasons similar to Bailey's situation but they also seem to have got things under control and are building good relationships with local youth.
I have two calls to make tomorrow with Caite and Erika and then on Thursday with Mike Burns. Hopefully tomorrow I will remember that I have a camera and actually take it and will have some pictures for you to peruse. In the mean time, pray hard for these guys and all their friends that are on Summerserve. These last few days will be extremely tiring and they will all have to dig deep to make it through physically and emotionally. Pray hard for them. You can be proud of your kids - they have thrown themselves into everything they are asked to do and have made me extremely proud. This trip will have been life changing for them - I hope that all who read this will see that. My prayer is that this trip will begin something in all your lives that will continue and grow for years to come and that First United Methodist Church of Port St Lucie, Florida will continue to send out missionaries all over the world.
Blessings
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