I feel like I say this in every update
but I can never believe how fast time goes here
In less than two months I'll head back
Back to the States, back to Canada
And a whole new adventure will start again
I probably will be saying this every time I transition
But I don't feel ready to go back
and readjust
again
How did this place become a place I don't want to let go of?
A place that will be another hard goodbye?
The relationships built here
In the team, on the streets,
At church, at coffee shops,
at the refugee centre
How our hearts can grow for something unexpected
But we still have 2 months
So I’ll try not to get too sappy yet
It’s crazy to think back and think of all that’s happened since the last time I wrote
But there was a week in between it all that still blows my mind
OM had the suggestion that before I head back to the States,
I should visit OM Austria and at least see the ministry I originally thought I would be at
So there I went
And stayed at their refugee centre for three days
I couldn't believe that I was there
After all that happened, to be able to live in it for a small time
Face to face with a dream that I needed to let go of and move on from
Having to wrestle with thoughts of what could have been
But it was worth it
I am so thankful for the opportunity
Three days of doing life with them
Having me join in on things like
German classes and Bible studies,
Women's sowing meetings and kids programs,
Their International Cafe
It was incredible to see what they do and meet the people involved
Meeting people from all over-
Austrians, Germans, Syrians, Afghans, Iraqis
Trying to work through German language barriers
Learning how OM works with the Austrian government to house Christian refugees
Hearing more of how the refugee situation is so complicated and goes so deep
Seeing a different reality in Austria versus what I’ve seen in Ireland
Many refugees in Austria are getting refusals to stay and are struggling with where to go
But seeing how many of them have become Christians
And are trusting God with what’s happening
Or hearing stories about how they’ve come to faith in Jesus
but how that’s changed everything in their family
I was talking with a woman from Afghanistan and
she explained that she hasn’t talked with her family
since she became a Christian 8 years ago
But she started listing off staff members’ names one by one
And explained, “The people here are my family”
It was amazing to meet these people who have come to know Jesus
but I don’t know if I’ll ever grasp how much it has cost them
Seeing how God has worked and is working in Austria
And then knowing the friends we visit at the refugee centre in Ireland
It’s our prayer that they’ll come to faith in Jesus too
But to see how God is working here in Ireland
Building relationships and having more conversations
Jesse offered an Arabic Bible to one of our close friends there
and he said, “Of course, why not?”
and he said, “Of course, why not?”
Another friend opened up for the first time a couple weeks ago
And we were able to talk about Christianity versus other religions
Which led to sharing the Gospel with him for the first time
Connecting more with a woman who's an atheist
It’s so cool to see what God’s been doing
And when talking with those at OM Austria about what’s been happening in Ireland,
There was this realization that Ireland is a place that I want to go back to
Not where I thought I’d be
but realizing that there’s work to be done in Ireland too
So, everyone, I was able to go
So incredibly thankful
Please be praying for the work in Austria as well as at the refugee centre here
Also please be praying for Ireland as a nation
This past weekend there was a nationwide vote
to repeal their 8th amendment which was set in place to protect all life
Which meant abortion was still illegal in this country
Until Saturday
My pastor said at church this Sunday,
“We may be bruised and battered…
the constitution may have changed,
but the facts don’t. God still reigns.”
Also please keep the woman I wrote about last time in your prayers as well
We’ve been able to keep in touch
And we met up again
I offered her a Bible and she said she wanted it
But then I found out this weekend
that out of superstition
she left the Bible on the side of the road
I don’t know what God is doing
But to trust Him through it
and to thank Him through it
Thank you for all your support and encouragement
Until next time,
Ell
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| Just when you thought Ireland couldn't get any greener |
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| St Peter and Paul's Cathedral in Athlone |
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| Helping at youth conferences has it's perks |
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| So thankful for this team. OM Ireland, I'm going to miss you. |
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| Heather came! |
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| Rend Collective in Ireland...I died. |
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| We thought it would be a warm day at the beach... |
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| At a pro-life rally in Dublin. This country had been battling for so long. |
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| Hoping one day more people will own one of these |
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| I'm just gunna say, this whole selfie with a sheep thing has been a lot harder than I thought |
"The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunders of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-
the Lord on high is mighty."
Psalm 93:3-4
