Peace

The CIY team was staying at RIOT last week, and it was magnificent! The house is so quiet now!! The people on this team were from EVERYWHERE!! Hawaii, Nebraska, California, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, Missouri and more, haa, a great mix of young folk :) 

 

The team would go during the day and learn about Northern Irish culture or explore the beauty of this place. In the evening the youth centre would be open for any kids who wanted to come hang out and be around some crazy Americans :p (yes, i'm one of them). 

The teams are encouraged to get to know the kids, and challenged to talk on a deeper level with them by the end of the week. It was sad to see this team go, because i know they made an impact on the kids here! 

 

(and that's what happens when one gets ahold of my phone, haa, love it!!)

Each night about three people from the USA team would share their story of how Jesus had changed their life. Most of the kids from this town that come to RIOT only hear about Jesus through the youth centre here, so it's great to have more brothers and sisters around that shine the light of Jesus!! 

Last week, while the team was here, i was very sick and could barely talk the first days they were here, which was a bummer. I spent most of the time in my room, resting, which was the hardest thing for me to do. 

DOING is what i love doing best!! I find comfort in doing things that occupy my time that seem important and help others. Simply BEING is hard for me. Growing up i found it hard to comprehend that there was NOTHING i could EVER DO to be in Heaven with God forever, but it was all about what He has already done on the cross. All i have to do is believe that. 

This past week i could not DO anything, which made me feel very useless.

Like i was not important.

And not needed.

This was the first time i've felt like this, and it was really hard for a bit, until i cried, haaa. Literally cried my eyes out and cried out to God, telling Him that i was not needed, that anyone could do what i do, and that i knew He had me here for a purpose, 

BUT WHAT?! 

God knows His children. He's a good father, and He told me my purpose, which is to be a vessel for Jesus. Such peace, comfort, and hope came over me, and He made me realize it's not about ME. He told me there's not enough people in the world who shine for Jesus, so that is my purpose, and THAT is totally worth living for!! 

Please pray that i would give my own desires up to do this, and to trust more in God! 

I also have $4,000 more to raise to stay here till August, so please pray about giving!! :) If you click on the link below, you can give there. 

https://www.gofundme.com/mirwas88

Or if you have any ideas, then feel free to email me!!

mirwas88@hotmail.com

Thanks Everyone!!! :D 

New Year, New Day, New Moment

Well folks, it's been TOO TOO long since i've written on this blog or updated at all for that matter!! 

 I've been in the town of Dundrum in Northern Ireland for a little over three months now, working at a youth centre called RIOT. 

I came here two summers ago for 3 months and loved the youth, the heart of the ministry here, what God is doing, and the country. But being here in the winter is a lot different than the summer!! It does rain A LOT, is very windy, and the sun doesn't get out much :) . 

 If you can remember, i really wanted to come to Northern Ireland right after i graduated from Asbury University in Dec 2014, but God had other plans and i did not have the amount of money i needed to stay here, until September 2015. All of which, God knew exactly what He was doing for me, His child. :) 

What I've been doing:

Well, i am the only intern here right now, so i stay at a huge house by myself (as seen above), but very often spend time with my supervisor, his wife, their two girls (ages 2&3), their wee baby boy, and dog at their house. This interaction helps me get to know the culture a bit more, though the wife is from Canada :) , their lives are an encouragement to those seeking to live for Jesus in REALITY!! The HOUSE i'm staying at is also a HOSTEL, with 4 rooms upstairs and 3 bunk-beds in each, it has quite the accommodation for any visitors, or teams that want to come and help share the love of Jesus with the kids here in Dundrum.  

The house I'm staying at is on the same property as the Youth Centre, which the YOUTH of the town are WELCOME whenever we are open (after school on Tuesdays and Friday 7-midnight) to hang out. We have ping pong, pool, biscuits (cookies), TEA, and a Tuck Shop where kids can get their crisps (chips), soda, and chocolate needs :D . We also frequently watch movies on a Friday night as well, or have outings with the kids like go-carting or to the cinema.

 I prepare for our Girl's Group, which meets on Tuesday evenings, where high school ages ladies gather and have fun cooking, or watching a movie, doing crafts, COLOURING, reading truths from the Bible and MORE!! There are some other leaders that help with that, which i could'nt do without as well! 

Before Christmas i did my first big planning event, which was our Christmas Party!! Learning to lead by experience was QUITE an experience!! :P It was really FUN actually, though scary; bringing people together to help tackle ALL the elements that go into planning a party. And thank the Lord it all worked out ok!! 

I'm also involved in a church's youth programme down the road in Newcastle, where we have an afterschool programme for kids twice a week, attend church there, and meet on Saturday nights with the youth and leaders to learn more about the Bible and growing in our relationship with God. 

A lot of being here is BUILDING relationships, not only with the kids, but with fellow leaders as well, because that's how you build TRUST, and if trust is built, then hopefully the deeper conversations will be had with PEOPLE, and the more can be shared about how JESUS came to RESCUE those who are BROKENHEARTED, LOST, LONELY, and AFRAID. 

So, please pray that God would show us how to be Jesus' HANDS and FEET in this community, and that God would open doors for His Spirit to move. 

Also, there is a team from the US, (a group from C.I.Y.) who is arriving on Friday and will be hanging out with the YOUTH every evening next week. So please PRAY that God will OPEN doors, BUILD friendships, and leave the kids in AWE of the reality of Jesus' love for them!! 

And, please pray that God will provide for the rest of my stay here, (which will be around $4,000 to stay till August.) :) and that i will truly trust God for it.

REALITY is... trusting in God is difficult.