More on Irish Living

I heard more from my new missionary friend in Ireland today. I had asked her if she has come to a point where she prefers Ireland over the US.

"Hmmmm, that's a good question. There are many things I prefer about Ireland. Lower crime rate, much beauty and history (coming from someone who grew up inLos Angeles!), fewer distractions (it's a much slower pace of life here in thecountryside), and of course a love for the people and culture and the ministryhere.I miss many things about America...cheaper prices! better and cheaper restaurants, FELLOWSHIP with lots of believers, more resources for Christiangrowth (bookstores, seminars, large churches...), more support for home schooling, certain foods...I don't know which I prefer. If we went back to the U.S. I would miss some things about Ireland; right now I miss some things about America.I think it helps, though, that I'm married to an Irish man. I have more of anaffinity for things Irish than I would otherwise. I know other Americans herewho just get really bothered about some things that I see as more amusing."

I also asked her about food/grocery stores there.

"There are many things that are the same. Large grocery stores will carry a lotof stuff that you are used to. There aren't nearly so many mixes, though...nomacaroni and cheese, rice-a-roni, or Hamburger Helper! You can get cake mixesbut they're sooo expensive, like $5 a box! No frosting mixes or pre-madefrosting in tubs. And no Crisco or Bisquick.

I'm looking forward to walking to the store, eating healthier, and losing weight!

Brown Envelope with Harp

Today was the first day we started receiving mail at our temporary address which is Matt's mom's house. I was surprised and excited to see a brown envelope with harp on it and immediately recognized it as being from Ireland because of the harp. It was Matt's work permit which we worried would get lost. It was an exciting moment to hand it to him and say, "You're work permit is here!" Praise the Lord!

It looks as though we will be leaving early next week for our new home. We would definitely appreciate your prayers as this will be an exciting as well as difficult time!

Things I Will Miss in Ireland #3

As I was enjoying lunch today at my favorite Mexican food restaurant, Macayo's, I started to become convinced this was not only my favorite Mexican food restaurant but it may also be my favorite restaurant of all time. I cannot get over how delicious their bean chimichangas are smothered in enchilada sauce and topped with sour cream. They also have the best chips and salsa of any Mexican restaurant, NO CONTEST!

Because I am so accustomed to Mexican food living in the southwest I had my good friend Yunuen, who is from Mexico, show me how to make frijoles from scratch recently. I have yet to perfect them but since refried beans is a staple of my diet I figured I should learn to make them.

I will also miss eating at Jason's Deli where I indulge in their scrumptuous meatball po' boy on a wheat french roll regularly with strawberries and fruit dip. And to top it off they give free softserve ice cream cones!

Advice from Master's Seminary Missionary in Ireland

With the help of the Master's Seminary I was able to make contact with a missionary in central Ireland. I have been conversing back and forth with the missionary's wife who has been exceptionally friendly and helpful and has already invited us to come for a visit once we get there. It turns out her husband is a native and she is American. She was able to recommend two churches for me to check out in Dublin ( http://www.grosvenorbaptist.org/ and http://www.grace.ie/page/Home.aspx ) although she said there aren't many good churches there. She also gave me some tips for coming to Ireland as an American. Here is what she had to say....

"Yes, the Irish are generally friendly, and usually friendly to Americansas individuals--they're just not particularly keen on America as a country. Hereare some tips you might find helpful:

1. Don't hang an American flag up outside your house.
2. Don't keep comparing everything in Ireland to America. This is hard, becauseyou keep wanting to say, "Wow, I've never seen a fridge this small...in Americathey're always much larger" or "I can't believe they don't take credit cards inthis shop...in America, every shop takes credit cards!" Etc. I know in yourown mind you would just be making a comparison, but to the Irish it sounds likeyou think America is always better, and it kind of hurts.
3. Talk in a quiet voice in public places...restaurants, shops, and so forth.
4. Don't talk about American politics unless someone asks you, and even thendon't go on and on about it.
5. If someone drops in to your house for a chat, always offer them tea or coffeeand something to eat...biscuits (cookies) are the usual thing. And if someoneelse offers you tea, it's probably easier just to take one cup than to refuse itand be asked 5,000 more times if you're sure you won't have a cup."

I also asked her what was the most difficult thing to adjust to in Ireland. Any guesses as to her reply?

"Probably the weather! It rains a lot, and is damp and cold much of the time. Inthe last seven weeks, I think we've had maybe 3 days where it didn't rain.Admitedly, it's been a bad summer, but it's like that for much of the year.Bring warm clothes!"

What other questions do you think I should ask her???

Good Bye Happy Home!

Three nights ago we left our first house. After a long day of packing, cleaning and making trips back and forth across town we were exhausted. It was sad to walk out for the last time. I looked at the beautiful wood floor, thanked God for all the blessings we had there, and closed the door for the last time. We then made the long track across town with the yowling cats to our temporary home with Matt's mom. She has 6 cats of her own and it will be interesting to see what happens when we let the Sharptooth and Indi out of our bedroom where they have been confined since we got here. Hissing, growling, batting and puffing out is to be expected. I am just hoping it doesn't turn into all out warfare!

Soon to be Homeless...

One week from today we will be leaving our first home. I remember the first time we walked in the model of this home and how we said, "this is too much house for us." I also remember clearly how I fell in love with it and how no other house we looked at could compare. I asked God for it but thought there was no way we would be able to buy it.

God was so good and blessed us with this great house. From the minute we walked in and tore the carpet out we made this house our own- which is why it is so hard to leave. I soon found out that God had gifted Matt in the area of remodeling. Since we have lived here he put in wood flooring and ceramic tile and landscaped the backyard with a brick patio, a flagstone fire pit, a sprinkler and drip system, grass, and an assortment of plants.

There are many good memories here and it is hard to leave something we've worked so hard on. This house has been great, God has been faithful and now goes before us in a direction.

Johnny Mac Rap

Stumbled across Johnny Mac rapping on one of the blogs I drop in on regularly called "Irish Calvinist." It is a fantastic blog and worth checking out. Here is a link to the rap...

http://www.irishcalvinist.com/?p=896

Christian Music

I find it so unfortunate when I come across Christians who bag on Christian music. Now granted, there are some Christian bands out there that aren't very good but to throw out all Christian music because you've only been exposed to say Stryper, Amy Grant or Micahel W. Smith is not only sad but LAME! Below is a song that is musically and lyrically fantastic and expresses a heart attitude that we ought to have as Christians. To throw out music like this (which speaks the truth and is edifying) in favor of filling up on secular music is unfortunate to say the very least.

David Crowder shows how to play his sweet tune at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKPaXd5zRMI

Wholly Yours
I am full of earth
You are heaven’s worth
I am stained with dirt, prone to depravity
You are everything
that is bright and clean
The antonym of me
You are divinity

But a certain sign of grace is this
From a broken earth
flowers come up
Pushing through the dirt

You are holy, holy, holy
All heaven cries “Holy, holy God”
You are holy, holy, holy
I wanna be holy like You are

You are everything
that is bright and clean
And You’re covering
me with Your majesty

And the truest sign of grace was this
From wounded hands
redemption fell down
Liberating man

You are holy, holy, holy
All heaven cries “Holy, holy God”
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to be holy like You are

But the harder I try
the more clearly can I feel
The depth of our fall and the weight of it all
And so this might could be
the most impossible thing
Your grandness in me making me clean

Glory, hallelujah
Glory, glory, hallelujah
You are holy, holy, holy
All heaven cries “Holy, holy God”
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to be holy like You are

So here I am, all of me
Finally everything
Wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly Yours
I am wholly, wholly Yours
I am full of earth and dirt and You