(Two years ago this month, I went on my first mission trip. Our Sisterhood team spent a week in Craigavon, assisting Celebration Church Northern Ireland.  I recorded our adventure as the official blogger for the team and the trip was indeed life-changing.  Recently I’ve been reflecting on my time there, and wanted to share some of our experience here, now that this space has been created).

Monday morning found us tending to the garden.

The team house is a beautiful home located amid beautiful grounds with blooming flowers and luscious hills.  In the back, the yard gently slopes upward to a carefully planted and well maintained garden.  Many of us spent our morning devotional time sitting among the tender foliage, enjoying a moment with our sweet Savior as we breathed in fragrant perfume of flowers in bloom.  As I walked the pathways of the garden, I noticed the pristine flower beds and wondered at the lack of weeds growing.  There were a few stray strands here and there, but for the most part, the soil was free of undesirable vegetation.  For most of the week, I wondered how they were able to maintain the garden in such a way.

On Monday, I found out.

The weeding of the garden is very intentional. Every mission team that is housed on the property is assigned a few hours to mill around the garden and pull out the weeds. Our day was Monday. On hands and knees, with fingers in the dirt, we pulled out the things that could eventually choke the growth of the purposeful flowers. I m so grateful that this process is done routinely.  Had we been assigned to pull weeds from a garden that had not been tended for a long while, we would have been overwhelmed by the amount of work there would have been to do.  We would have wondered where to even start, and maybe even considered that our efforts would be for naught, so why even try.

As it was, this garden was maintained as we all should maintain our own–intentionally.  We should deal with weeds as they appear, and not let them sit in our soil unnoticed.  If we give them a opportunity to grow, they will choke out the beautiful flowers and the fruit-bearing plants.

Later that evening, we were getting ready to meet for our evening devotional.  We were approached by the young man who had escorted us to the graffiti bridge, who asked if he and his two friends could join us.  We were thrilled that they had asked. These three teenagers spend a lot of time at the team house, and we had all come to love them.  They have such energy and a great zeal for life. And considering their backgrounds, this is amazing.  Their lives were literally changed when they walked through the doors of Celebration Church Northern Ireland.

The fact that it was Lea’s turn to lead the devotional that night is just further proof of God’s perfect timing.  Those kids sat as we did, mesmerized by the wisdom and knowledge that poured forth from her.  They took notes. They asked questions.  They soaked it in as these 12 American ladies poured into them and showered them with love and affection.  We spoke words of affirmation over them. We let them know that we were proud of them.

That’s not something that they have gotten a lot of previously in life. When they left that meeting, they were walking a little taller. Their heads held a little higher.

It seems that Monday morning was not our only time to tend the garden.

We left those kids amidst hugs and tears.  We prayed over them, and will continue to lift them from across the ocean. We are incredibly humbled that God has given us the opportunity to plant a seed in each of their hearts.  And we will wait patiently, as God continues to grow and nourish them, guiding them into the man and the women he intended them to be.

“This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.  Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.  All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.  As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” –Mark 4:26-29

Seeds have been sown.

A harvest is coming.

(Two years ago this month, I went on my first mission trip. Our Sisterhood team spent a week in Craigavon, assisting Celebration Church Northern Ireland.  I recorded our adventure as the official blogger for the team and the trip was indeed life-changing.  Recently I’ve been reflecting on my time there, and wanted to share some of our experience here, now that this space has been created).

June 22, 2014

Tomorrow , like every other Sunday, we will attend Celebration Church.  Just in a slightly different location. Celebration Church Northern Ireland is a young church, having been established in 2010.  They don’t yet have a permanent building, so they are currently meeting at a community center’s gymnasium.

They are a mobile church.  The chairs have to be unstacked and set into place every Sunday morning.  Every piece of equipment, every speaker, wire, monitor, sound and light component  and even the lights themselves has to be loaded and driven to the church.

Then they have to be unloaded and set up.  And after the service is over, it all has to be done in reverse order.  Only to repeat the entire process the next week.  And the next.  And the next.

It is physically demanding.  It takes a team of hard working individuals with a heart for the church to successfully accomplish these things week after week.  Likewise for the ones who provide childcare, run the media station and lights.

And what do they get paid?  Absolutely nothing.  Not in dollars, anyway.

(Excuse me, I meant in pounds).

They are volunteers.  And like very other church, we couldn’t exist without them.

They serve.   And they do it well.  Week after week.

Today, it was our honor to serve the servers.

Our team hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Night here on the grounds this evening.  Pastor John gave us very few guidelines, and said to just make them feel special. I believe we did.

There are challenges to putting on an affair. A few more show up when you are hosting in a different culture.  We know how WE would like to do it, but more to the point is how would THEY like it done?  We may have a few  differences, but we have  more in common.

We serve, too.  And the mindset of one who serves is not, what I want– it is what can I do? How can I assist you?  We look for needs and we fill them.  Even when it’s inconvenient.  Especially on a mission trip.   The heart of a true servant is one who puts the needs of others before his own.

There was nothing inconvenient about today.  We simply asked questions to determine their likes and preferences.  And then we got busy.  Twelve women  quickly divided the tasks.   Some worked on decor, some worked on the more menial chores like vacuuming, dusting, and making the bathrooms shine.  Furniture needed to be moved and groceries needed to be purchased.

And there amidst the busy hum of housework, God gave me my big blessing of the day.

I was unable to blog the night before, and with today’s packed schedule, I wanted to make sure that I did not get further behind.  When the strategy meeting ended and everyone scattered to begin their tasks, I stopped our co-leader and  asked her if I could please have a couple of hours somewhere in the day to do the previous day’s blog.  She told me to go ahead and start writing. I balked, thinking how in the world I could sit and write while the rest of the team is working ?  I was concerned it would appear as though I was trying to avoid some hard work.  She said, “This is what you came here to do.”  And so I set up at the kitchen table and began to compose.

I am not sure how long I was there, but at some point, someone came behind me and wrapped her arms around me.  As she held me, I asked her  why she was doing this.

“Because I felt like you needed a hug.”

During the next couple of hours,  four other women got that same nudge.  And one by one they stopped by, unaware that others had done the same.

When we broke for lunch, I  told them how much their hugs had meant to me, and I admitted my earlier concerns of how it would look if I sat out during the hard stuff. Every woman at that table, whether she had embraced me or not,  told me that it was never even an issue.

That’s the heart of servanthood; it doesn’t matter what the other person is doing, you focus on the task you were assigned.  And that’s the heart of every woman sitting at that table today.  It was such a beautiful display of grace and teamwork. I am so honored that God chose these women to pour into  my life.

We are sisterhood.

After lunch there was again the hum of busyness, as we  transformed the house and property to resemble a carnival.  The team really did a phenomenal job of putting the event together.

As the guests began to arrive,  we were delighted to see their faces light up at the festive atmosphere.  There was food, games, and props, but mostly, there was love and appreciation for all their hard work and sacrifice .

They were the guests of honor, and it was an honor to serve them.

(Two years ago this month, I went on my first mission trip. Our Sisterhood team spent a week in Craigavon, assisting Celebration Church Northern Ireland.  I recorded our adventure as the official blogger for the team and the trip was indeed life-changing.  Recently I’ve been reflecting on my time there, and wanted to share some of our experience here, now that this space has been created).

June 21, 2014

The Bible says that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind can conceive what God has planned for those who love him.

I can also say that there are no words that could ever begin to convey the powerful impact that was our yesterday.

Please forgive my feeble attempt to do so.

A mission trip is not easy.  Nor should it be.  We are here with a purpose, and for a purpose.  Our days begin early and end late.  Every minute is scheduled.  Each day is titled: Prayer Walk Day;  Volunteer Appreciation Day;  or Sisterhood Event Day.

Yesterday was Our Day.

I thought the day was called that so that we could be given a chance to relax and decompress. I found out that instead, it refers to the fact that while all the other days are spent with God pouring into others through us, yesterday was our day to be poured into.

Even Our Day begins early.  We arose and had some personal devotion time.  We then gathered as a group as we do each morning and one team member leads the group devo.  Yesterday the topic was faith, and it was so very timely.   On the agenda for the day was a visit to the Northern Coast, and there we planned to finally see for ourselves The Rope Bridge.

We have heard the legend of The Rope Bridge from sisters who have come before us.  In that part of Ireland, where land and sea mingle, there are high rocky cliffs.  In one particular spot, there is an island unto itself just beyond the coastline.  It is not far out, just a short distance, but to get to the island, you have to cross The Rope Bridge.  Living up to its name, it is a series of ropes  strung together and stretching the gap between the two land masses.  It is situated a hundred feet above the water, it shakes violently as the coastal winds whip around, and one slip will land you among the myriad of craggily rocks below.   An obstacle of fear; a test of faith.  The devo was perfect.

We gathered into the van, and began our trek northward.  After a good two hours, we found ourselves on the narrow winding road leading to the higher elevation.  We were already “oohing” and “aahing” as we looked at the vast green pastures and rolling hills.  But then we rounded  the highest bend and were met with the most incredible vista I have ever seen.  An endless ocean with the most beautiful shade of blue water and a shoreline that ran for miles.  The hillside was luscious green on one side, and jagged rock on the other.

It was literally breathtaking.  After parking the van we all climbed out and started our hike along the rocky path.  It was a long climb, harder for some than for others.  The path rose and dipped, and at some places, the terrain was so steep that rock steps had to be built.  After walking for quite a while, we found ourselves at the entry point to the bridge.  There, we found a set of metal steps perched on the side of the cliff. The descent incredibly steep, and once at the bottom, you are standing at the foot of the bridge.

Some crossed with no problems.  Some were trepidatious.  One was in complete fear.

She is afraid of heights, and has not been looking forward to this challenge.  Several sisters had pulled her aside throughout the week and prayed with her.  My plan before I left the states  had been to walk hand In hand with my sister across her fear.  As it happened, the long trek separated us and she ended up walking across all by herself.  She was surrounded by her other sisters, but it was God who carried her over.  As she stepped foot on the other side, cheers went up as the tears came down.  We all celebrated her beautiful victory.

We are sisterhood.

And it only gets better from there.  Walking out onto the crest of that cliff and feeling the sun and the wind on my face, surrounded by indescribable beauty, only one thought came to my mind:  God does good work.  I found a little spot near the edge, and I sat down and just began to thank God for this incomparable opportunity.  I cried and I prayed and I had a moment with God.  No interruptions, no distractions.

When I looked up, I saw many of the team members in similar positions.

Long before I was ready, our friend Tim who was chauffeuring us ,informed us that it was time to go. So one by one, and two by two, we walked back across that rope bridge.  My friend who had been so fearful, walked a little more quickly and confidently the second time.  As our team leader Lea would so profoundly state later,  when God calls us to step out into something that we fear and we do it afraid, the next time we won’t have to.  We will no longer be afraid because we have seen how he will carry us.

The trek back was hard for me.  I have learned that you cannot climb while crying.  But that’s  another blog.

We made a couple more stops on the way home.  We had tea and scones at the site of a centuries-old castle that sits along the shoreline, and we visited Giants’ Causeway where the most amazing rock formations are scattered along the coast.  At each stop, I noticed one or two sisters sitting quietly by themselves, in an obvious state of reflection.

And along the way, I had a chance to get with each one alone, and ask her if she had experienced a God moment.  The answer was a tearful “yes” from every single one.  Each and every one  had encountered God up on that mountain.

Late in the evening when we had gathered for our nightly devotion,  we were all brought to tears as we each shared our God story of the day.  It was without a doubt, the most beautiful and heartfelt connection I have ever had the honor of being a part.  Each woman has a story, and it is her story to tell, so you won’t learn here what God put in each of their hearts.  But know that it was profound.

This morning I got up and showered, and as I stood in front of the mirror to brush my teeth, I noticed I was sunburned.  Like really sunburned on my face.  I hadn’t even noticed it last night.  But it reminded me of something I had read in the Bible, and so I went to Exodus 34, the 29th verse:

“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai… he was not aware that his face was radiant, because he had spoken with The Lord.”

Yesterday was Our Day.

We went up the mountain, and we spoke with God.

Our faces are now changed.

Our lives are now changed.

We are Sonburned.