In Dublin

Well, we have arrived safe and sound. The travels were uneventful and we got everything here in good shape, including the keyboard and sound system. Although is was tricky getting it to the rental car.

We're staying at Phil and Cheryl Kingsley's. Yesterday's challenge was to stay awake long enough to ensure a good night's sleep. When you travel this direction, the best thing (in our opinion) is to be sure to stay awake the day you arrive, even if you didn't get a good sleep during the overnight flight (which we didn't). Then you can get a good solid night of sleep without waking in the middle of the night with your internal clock all confused. So we went out driving and then to a shopping mall and kept looking at our watches. "What? It's only 5:00? How are we going to make it to 9:00?"

Somehow we made it. This morning I woke up and it was beginning to get light out. At home that would mean it was about 6 AM. I looked at my watch and it was 8:00. Couldn't believe it. I never sleep that late. The next thing I remember, I was awakening again and it was 10:00! So 13 hours of sleep and we're doing great!

Today we have to go shopping for stands for the keyboard, speakers and microphones and for a keyboard case.

Tomorrow after our GEM Ireland meeting in Lucan, just west of Dublin, we will make our way to the other side of Dublin -- Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Dun Leary -- no really) to meet with Tim and Moya Jarvis. Moya, better known as Moya Brennan, is a Christian recording artist who was in the group Clannad and is the sister of Enya. She and Tim have been heavily involved in their church, St. Mark's in Dublin and will hopefully help us gain insight into the whole area of worship in Ireland.

Our trip through the country is beginning to take shape as we hear back from people abroad. More on that as it develops.

That's about it for now.