Busy like crazy

So this morning I hit the snooze a couple of times and woke up an hour later than we had planned. We followed Phil and Cheryl out to Leixlip (I think I had said it was Lucan earlier) for our GEM Ireland meeting. It was good to see most everyone again.

Some of the GEM Ireland people

We left there about an hour later than we had anticipated, because several people who came to the meeting got stuck in traffic on the motorway around Dublin as they came in from the north (we came the southern route).

It took us a while to connect up with Tim and Moya Jarvis due to the fact that my phone ran out of minutes while I was talking with Moya to get directions to their house. I had just registered a credit card with the mobile phone company, but apparently it takes some time before it activates, so we had to drive until we could find a pay phone.

Tim gave me directions to their house which happened to be maybe half a block from where we were when I got cut off while talking with Moya.
With Moya (Brennan) and Tim Jarvis

Had a really nice time with the Jarvises, discussing many different aspects of music, worship, ministry, raising kids, etc. They were a great source of information and encouragement, giving us a perspective on worship ministry that we might not get from the typical worship leader. We arrived strangers and left friends.

After that we went to get our phone working again and then found ourselves back at the Kingsleys' for dinner and more phone calls. Our dance card for our great tour of Ireland is just about as full as we can get it.

We still have some time to fill while we're in Dublin, although we only have about 5 days left that are open for making appointments.

The Weather - 'twas quite blustery today, but rather mild. About 50F with light rain here and there.

Tomorrow - Cork.

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.

Ready or not!

They have taken over our bedroom and office, their mouths gaping, hungry, begging to be filled. "They" are our suitcases and carry-on bags.

Sorry - didn't mean to scare you.

I'm sitting here racking my brain, trying to figure out what I've forgotten. The bills are paid. The dogs and house are taken care of. We have all our prescriptions filled. Molly has the contact information she needs. I still have a few odds and ends to do around the house, not the least of which is to finish packing.

I just got off the phone with an Internet vendor from which I ordered some lenses and filters for our camera which were supposed to have arrived Saturday at the latest (I paid for expedited shipping so that I could have them for this trip). I was ready to be all mean and stuff and demand this and that and threaten to write a bad vendor review on Amazon. However, after finding out that the package is apparently lost in the mail somewhere, I'm glad to say that I was told they were going to do whatever it takes to get another package to me before we leave for the airport tomorrow. We'll see.

This trip is lining up to be a very busy one. We have heard back from some of our contacts "down country" (that means outside of Dublin) and we may end up taking a 4 or 5 day circuitous trek through Northern Ireland and the west coast to see them all. That's in addition to our long weekend in Cork.

It will be interesting to see how it shapes up. We should have a better idea by Wednesday night after we call everyone when we arrive.

Well, I have a lot to do and the hours are growing shorter.

Keep coming back for exciting play-by-play action!

But Three Days

The holidays are now past. Things were very laid back for us this year. But it was nice. Molly returns to the dorm today. Tempus fugit.

There are but three days left before we leave again for Ireland. It seems like we were just there, and yet it seems too long. Our hearts are definitely becoming anchored there.

Here we are in the City Centre of Dublin:


It's going to be a challenging trip over, in that between the two of us we will have two large suitcases, two guitars, four carry-ons, a keyboard and a portable sound system. Crazy, huh? Fortunately, the keyboard and sound system will be living in Ireland.

We were needing to have these for the work we're doing, but there were two factors to consider. One, we didn't want to have to haul them back and forth to Ireland every time we go. Two, musical and sound equipment is very expensive in Ireland. So it just made sense to purchase them here in the States and take them with us to leave over there.

The guys at the music store (Tringas Music - Pensacola - give them your business) did an incredible job boxing everything up for us (using three roles of packing tape in the process). Now I'm wondering if TSA will have to open them up to look inside. Guess I'll call and find out before we get there Tuesday morning.

Be sure to check back here often over the next few weeks. We'll keep you updated during our travels -- try to make you feel like you're there with us. And hopefully you will be through your prayers. We need them.

Be blessed...

Humility and encouragement

Yesterday, Beth and I had lunch with a very interesting man, Dr. T Lunkim (do a Google search with his name), who is the father of a friend of ours.

Just a few things that will help you understand a little about him:

- Born to an animist priest, a member of the Kuki people, and now works in his homeland in northeast India
- Saved shortly after his marriage
- At 22 was made head of the North East Kuki Baptist Christian Circle Conference
- Translated the Bible into the Kuki Language from Hebrew and Greek texts (for which he was imprisoned for 43 days) and finished it in 4 1/2 years, the shortest time ever taken by any Bible translator
- Some 500 churches have been founded under his leadership
- After visiting family in the U.S. a year ago, decided to return to his work in India even though he knew there was a price on his head. He was subsequently kidnapped and held captive for 61 days by the Kuki Liberation Army -- he is now in his 80's

So here we are, at Barnhill's Country Buffet, answering questions about our work in Ireland, feeling that it is so insignificant compared to Dr. Lunkim's ministry. I mean, good grief, how can what we are doing have anything near the impact as Dr. Lunkim has had in India?

But Dr. Lunkim was so gracious and so encouraging. He didn't hesitate to express his feelings as to the importance of our ministry. He's been to Europe and seen the spiritual darkness and the need to support the church there.

He is heading back home soon and has no idea what to expect. But he is determined to continue doing what God has called him to do. He reminds me of the apostle Paul when a prophet told him that if he returned to Jerusalem he would be bound and imprisoned, yet Paul chose to go because that was what God had called him to do -- and the Gospel was advanced because of his obedience.

So now we are preparing to head to Ireland next week. Yes we're excited. We always get excited when we're doing what God has called us to do. I'll be updating this blog and uploading pictures and stuff to our website during our travels.

Stay tuned.