Well, we made it home. But not without a travel adventure.
We started out at 7:30 a.m. in Dublin yesteday (2:30 a.m. on the East Coast) and headed to the airport. Check-in was pretty quick, as was security and the U.S. Customs pre-clearance (you actually go through the customs process in Dublin, so you don't have to go through it when you arrive in the U.S.).
We arrived in Philadelphia on time around 2 p.m.
I should back up and explain that our flights were scheduled from Dublin to Philadelphia to Newark. Philadelphia is much closer to home, but it saved us approximately $150 per ticket to go to Newark. Airlines are manipulative.
We had considered just walking off in Philadelphia, thinking that we would have to pick up our checked bags for the customs process. Thankfully we did not decide that, as our bags were headed straight for Newark. And so was our ride! The Landis's graciously agreed to pick all 13 of us up at Newark. Which is where they were at 4:00. We were supposed to arrive there just after 5. But thanks to weather on the East Coast, our flight in Philadelphia was delayed multiple times, then finally cancelled.
We went to the airline and told them we would not be interested in re-booking, but would really just like our luggage. In the meantime, the Landis's began another long leg of their journey from Newark to Philadelphia! Oddly, we could see our luggage the entire time we were waiting in the terminal...the airline had it all out next to the plane we were supposed to fly in. I might add, that they left it lay out there IN THE RAIN...for several hours.
By 8 or 8:30, we had our wet luggage, and the Landis's arrive at Philadelphia International for us to head home.
What a day!
Special thanks to the Landis's who drove two vehicles for hundreds of miles and many hours on our behalf! Everyone is happy to be home safe!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The End
Yesterday was a great ending to a great time in Ireland. God has been so faithful to us and the list of highlights is very long.
We began our last full day at a groovy cafe in an old shopping arcade. They had a great little basement room that served as our debriefing room. We spent an hour or so tailing through the concept of transitioning these lessons home. It's important to discuss these things in order to make the most out of these types of experiences. Our students will have a lot to process as the go home - they have had so many rich experiences this week.
We closed out the week of kids camp with one more day of loving on the kids. We were able to do a few activities that allowed us to affirm the children and encourage them with words that they don't hear very often. These "simple" expressions of love will mean the world to them for years to come.
Many of the parents made comments to Scott and Rebekah expressing that they hope their kids are one day like our teenagers. They were so impressed by what they saw. Please pray that the impact will be spiritual in nature - that they will comprehend that the difference in these teens is Jesus!
We then headed into Temple Bar area to an Indonesian restaurant for our 'last supper'. We had the upper room of the restaurant where we lounged around tables and shared some incredible food. We had a great time of sharing with the Beckers and Kian, an Irish teen who has become a good friend of all our students. It was the perfect ending to our time, hearing how God has been moving in the lives of each teammate in the past ten days of so. We also had a time of encouraging one another, and a significant and moving prayer time over the Beckers, their ministry, and their family.
We are heading to the airport this morning for the hop over the ocean. This has been a great trip because, and we have recognized that we hve a huge team of supporters! Thank you all for investing in us through time, energy, dollars and most importantly, prayer. You are all an equally important part of the team.
Please pray for our students to transition well to home, and to continue to learn the lessons God has for them.
Cheers
We began our last full day at a groovy cafe in an old shopping arcade. They had a great little basement room that served as our debriefing room. We spent an hour or so tailing through the concept of transitioning these lessons home. It's important to discuss these things in order to make the most out of these types of experiences. Our students will have a lot to process as the go home - they have had so many rich experiences this week.
We closed out the week of kids camp with one more day of loving on the kids. We were able to do a few activities that allowed us to affirm the children and encourage them with words that they don't hear very often. These "simple" expressions of love will mean the world to them for years to come.
Many of the parents made comments to Scott and Rebekah expressing that they hope their kids are one day like our teenagers. They were so impressed by what they saw. Please pray that the impact will be spiritual in nature - that they will comprehend that the difference in these teens is Jesus!
We then headed into Temple Bar area to an Indonesian restaurant for our 'last supper'. We had the upper room of the restaurant where we lounged around tables and shared some incredible food. We had a great time of sharing with the Beckers and Kian, an Irish teen who has become a good friend of all our students. It was the perfect ending to our time, hearing how God has been moving in the lives of each teammate in the past ten days of so. We also had a time of encouraging one another, and a significant and moving prayer time over the Beckers, their ministry, and their family.
We are heading to the airport this morning for the hop over the ocean. This has been a great trip because, and we have recognized that we hve a huge team of supporters! Thank you all for investing in us through time, energy, dollars and most importantly, prayer. You are all an equally important part of the team.
Please pray for our students to transition well to home, and to continue to learn the lessons God has for them.
Cheers
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
On the Homestretch
Today was another great day...we even got to experience the first big rain of our time here. Too bad most of us forgot to carry our rain gear with us today! We've been so spoiled we forgot!
We started the day with a mandatory hour with God. The weather was great this morning so students spread out all over St. Stephens Green and at a nearby cafe, enjoying lots of quiet time in Gods Word, in prayer and journaling. We finished that up with a bit of team time processing our experiences over the last few days.
We were then off to the ministry center for our day of kids camp. Plans needed to change a bit as the skies were getting gray and outdoor activities seemed to be out of the question. Once again, our students did a great job flexing and loving our our kids. Jeremiah got to teach the lesson today, about the God-shaped hole in our hearts that can only be filled by Jesus. Please pray that the planted seeds will grow. One child opened up to Jeremiah later in the afternoon based on some of their life stories being similar. God is at work!
After the camp, we headed out into the rain. The students were in charge of dinner tonight, so they were given money to head to the grocery store and we all ended up at the Beckers. The boys did the cooking and the girls cleaned up! The adults all relaxed and enjoyed one anothers company for a bit. The dinner was awesome and there are about three gallons worth of leftover pasta! :)
After dinner students had the opportunity to watch Irish movie. Some of them didn't last too long as the busy days are catching up to us all!
Tomorrow we will begin debriefing and packing for the journey home on Friday. We will also be concluding the kids camp.
We started the day with a mandatory hour with God. The weather was great this morning so students spread out all over St. Stephens Green and at a nearby cafe, enjoying lots of quiet time in Gods Word, in prayer and journaling. We finished that up with a bit of team time processing our experiences over the last few days.
We were then off to the ministry center for our day of kids camp. Plans needed to change a bit as the skies were getting gray and outdoor activities seemed to be out of the question. Once again, our students did a great job flexing and loving our our kids. Jeremiah got to teach the lesson today, about the God-shaped hole in our hearts that can only be filled by Jesus. Please pray that the planted seeds will grow. One child opened up to Jeremiah later in the afternoon based on some of their life stories being similar. God is at work!
After the camp, we headed out into the rain. The students were in charge of dinner tonight, so they were given money to head to the grocery store and we all ended up at the Beckers. The boys did the cooking and the girls cleaned up! The adults all relaxed and enjoyed one anothers company for a bit. The dinner was awesome and there are about three gallons worth of leftover pasta! :)
After dinner students had the opportunity to watch Irish movie. Some of them didn't last too long as the busy days are catching up to us all!
Tomorrow we will begin debriefing and packing for the journey home on Friday. We will also be concluding the kids camp.
More Pictures
Lovely Ladies
Kids we've been loving on all week
Handsome Men
Girls craft-time
FREE burgers!!
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