Monday was my last day in Tullamore. It was such a blessed weekend with a goodbye BBQ at the church. As people came to thank us and bid us farewell, I was able to see how many people were touched by our work there and it was so much more than I thought. I was humbled and felt very loved. I loved my time in Tullamore and hope to visit again.
Monday afternoon, we came back to Lacken House and were reunited with the team! We then hopped into the car and drove all the way to Derry in Nothern Ireland. It was such a fun time and we enjoyed seeing Historic Derry and spending time together before I leave on Saturday...
SATURDAY! WOW! I can't believe I leave in THREE days! It still hasn't really hit me and probably won't until I'm saying goodbye to my friends at the airport. I'm not a really sentimental person, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to tear up when I say goodbye to the people I've spent this life-changing experience with. :)
Thank you for keeping me in your prayers and please remember the team during this time as they have chosen to stay for one more month to work further with OM's missions.
Blessings,
Leanne
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
1 Week Left
Wow.
I only have ONE week left in Tullamore and TWO weeks left in Ireland! I can't believe it! As my time here comes to a close, I keep thinking about home and how exciting it'll be to fly back and give my family and friends big hugs. Then I thought, "why am I counting down the days to home instead of looking back on the days here?" God has taught me so much and I have so much to be thankful for. I feel like I'm coming home a different person [that's not a bad thing, though!] I've been in my Bible here more than I think I have ever been, and it's very uplifting. I've learned a lot about God, my purpose in life, the Bible, etc. Besides the spiritual and mental growth I've experienced, I have also learned practical life lessons. I've learned how to live with three other [and very different!] people. I've started good habits like eating healthily and exercising. I've learned how to budget and shop. I've learned a lot of different game, activity, and craft ideas for future children ministries. I am taking all of that and so much more away when I fly out next Saturday.
During our last week in Tullamore, we're wrapping up our weekly ministry and also partying! =D We're spending time with friends at BBQs this entire weekend to say goodbye, especially Sunday after service where we will say our official "goodbye" to all of the friends we have made here.
On Monday we're back at Lacken House and hope to take a team trip on Tuesday to Northern Ireland. During the rest of the week we'll be debriefing on our time here, giving presentations about the entire year, and hanging out with each other before leaving. I'm looking forward to the time at Lacken House and know that it will be hard to say goodbye to the families there because they were the first to help us adjust to Ireland. :)
Please pray for the entire Immersion Team as our time comes to a close!
Blessings,
Leanne
I only have ONE week left in Tullamore and TWO weeks left in Ireland! I can't believe it! As my time here comes to a close, I keep thinking about home and how exciting it'll be to fly back and give my family and friends big hugs. Then I thought, "why am I counting down the days to home instead of looking back on the days here?" God has taught me so much and I have so much to be thankful for. I feel like I'm coming home a different person [that's not a bad thing, though!] I've been in my Bible here more than I think I have ever been, and it's very uplifting. I've learned a lot about God, my purpose in life, the Bible, etc. Besides the spiritual and mental growth I've experienced, I have also learned practical life lessons. I've learned how to live with three other [and very different!] people. I've started good habits like eating healthily and exercising. I've learned how to budget and shop. I've learned a lot of different game, activity, and craft ideas for future children ministries. I am taking all of that and so much more away when I fly out next Saturday.
During our last week in Tullamore, we're wrapping up our weekly ministry and also partying! =D We're spending time with friends at BBQs this entire weekend to say goodbye, especially Sunday after service where we will say our official "goodbye" to all of the friends we have made here.
On Monday we're back at Lacken House and hope to take a team trip on Tuesday to Northern Ireland. During the rest of the week we'll be debriefing on our time here, giving presentations about the entire year, and hanging out with each other before leaving. I'm looking forward to the time at Lacken House and know that it will be hard to say goodbye to the families there because they were the first to help us adjust to Ireland. :)
Please pray for the entire Immersion Team as our time comes to a close!
Blessings,
Leanne
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Harvest
The month of April has been a month to evangelize. After our parents came for spring break the first week (we all had a great time and loved our families being there!) we were able to kick-start the last few months in Ireland with the Big Red Bus. The Big Red Bus is used for different kinds of ministry OM Ireland does, specifically for children’s events and tea and coffee evangelism. Sunday night we took the bus to Athlone to do street evangelism and offer tea, coffee, and/or prayer for anyone interested. We had a fantastic experience sharing God’s word. I personally was able to speak with three teenagers who were willing to listen and understand what we discussed. We had a great conversation and they told me they had never heard the gospel explained in such a clear way before and promised they would think about what I had shared. The Big Red Bus gave us more confidence to share God’s word with others in Tullamore. We have shared with schoolboys that come to the church during their lunch break, friends at the pub, and even explained the way we evangelize to friends from our church.
This past weekend was “Team Weekend” in Ballina. We brought the Big Red Bus to Cornel and Lukas’ church youth group where we played soccer and served coffee. Then, we took the Big Red Bus to a housing estate and had about 30 children attend. We all had a blast making crafts, listening to the puppet shows, playing outdoor games, singing, etc. To end it all, the Athenry and Tullamore team were able to participate in the Big Red Bus ministry in Athlone once more. We were able to evangelize to many people and I personally was able to speak with two teenage girls. One said she was somewhat of an Athiest but believed in a creator, heaven, and hell. The other believed in Evolution loosely because her friends did, but said she wanted to believe in a God but hadn’t gotten to that stage of her life yet. As we talked, we discussed sin, God, Jesus, evolution, creation, Catholicism, repentance, and a number of other things. They were very interested and said they enjoyed the conversation. It was a very uplifting experience!
As I told you in my last post, a woman here in Tullamore has been going through a rough time. I’ve been praying for an opportunity to speak with her and it came about the week before our Spring Break. She brought her daughter to Kid’s Club and was obviously upset about something. After the lesson (about Easter!) she and I sat and talked. As she talked about hopelessness I talked about hope in God. As she talked about sorrow, I talked about Joy; as she talked about grief I talked about Mercy; as she talked about disappointment, I talked about love. She said she felt God was distant during her time of depression, but at the end of the conversation she admitted she was the one distancing herself. I told her to pray every day to God about her problems and ask for His help and she promised she would. The week after break, we saw her again at our Kid’s club. She was happier and more joyful. I asked how she had been and she said wonderful. She had prayed every day and said it helped her a lot. I was so glad to hear she is doing better! During our last month here, though, I hope to sit down with her at least one more time and talk specifically about salvation. Please pray for an opportunity to do this!
Please continue to pray for the entire team in Ireland – Athlone, Tullamore, Athenry, and Ballina. God is working and convicting so many people. I pray that if revival doesn’t happen now, we’re at least planting the seeds for a soon-to-be “harvest.”
Blessings,
Leanne
This past weekend was “Team Weekend” in Ballina. We brought the Big Red Bus to Cornel and Lukas’ church youth group where we played soccer and served coffee. Then, we took the Big Red Bus to a housing estate and had about 30 children attend. We all had a blast making crafts, listening to the puppet shows, playing outdoor games, singing, etc. To end it all, the Athenry and Tullamore team were able to participate in the Big Red Bus ministry in Athlone once more. We were able to evangelize to many people and I personally was able to speak with two teenage girls. One said she was somewhat of an Athiest but believed in a creator, heaven, and hell. The other believed in Evolution loosely because her friends did, but said she wanted to believe in a God but hadn’t gotten to that stage of her life yet. As we talked, we discussed sin, God, Jesus, evolution, creation, Catholicism, repentance, and a number of other things. They were very interested and said they enjoyed the conversation. It was a very uplifting experience!
As I told you in my last post, a woman here in Tullamore has been going through a rough time. I’ve been praying for an opportunity to speak with her and it came about the week before our Spring Break. She brought her daughter to Kid’s Club and was obviously upset about something. After the lesson (about Easter!) she and I sat and talked. As she talked about hopelessness I talked about hope in God. As she talked about sorrow, I talked about Joy; as she talked about grief I talked about Mercy; as she talked about disappointment, I talked about love. She said she felt God was distant during her time of depression, but at the end of the conversation she admitted she was the one distancing herself. I told her to pray every day to God about her problems and ask for His help and she promised she would. The week after break, we saw her again at our Kid’s club. She was happier and more joyful. I asked how she had been and she said wonderful. She had prayed every day and said it helped her a lot. I was so glad to hear she is doing better! During our last month here, though, I hope to sit down with her at least one more time and talk specifically about salvation. Please pray for an opportunity to do this!
Please continue to pray for the entire team in Ireland – Athlone, Tullamore, Athenry, and Ballina. God is working and convicting so many people. I pray that if revival doesn’t happen now, we’re at least planting the seeds for a soon-to-be “harvest.”
Blessings,
Leanne
Friday, April 9, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Spring!
Spring seems to have finally arrived here in Ireland! It is VERY welcome! As flowers are starting to grow, so is our ministry. ;) I wanted to drop a note about how our Immersion Team Weekend went!
Last Saturday, the entire Immersion Team came to Tullamore to help with our teen movie night [Pirates of the Caribbean!] We arrived at the church about 2 hours early to prepare and there were already four teenagers waiting for us! These four teenage boys [around age 14] have been getting to know us by stopping by the church openings and bookstore on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For two hours before the event officially began, we played card games and nintendo wii. We had a total of seven teens come that evening - a great number for the work we do here in Ireland! We were able to talk a lot with the boys and develop even stronger friendships with them. After the movie ended they asked if we would be doing it again next week! It was great to see their excitement as they started to feel at home in the church. It was also a blast to have the team over. We were able to laugh and share stories about our own towns and simply "hang out." Thank you for your prayers for this event! We were blessed!
I would like to also ask prayer for a friend of ours who lives here in Tullamore. We have become friends with this woman and her daughter and see them often. Yesterday, she revealed to me that she was on the verge of committing suicide that morning but was stopped by a friend that arrived at her door. Thank the Lord her friend came! She had told us before that she was struggling with depression but recently said she was doing much better. We are going to visit her more regularly now. I really feel like God is preparing us for an opportunity to lay out the entire message of His gift of salvation - please pray for this woman and our team, especially for this woman's young daughter who doesn't realize at all what is going on.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
Leanne
Last Saturday, the entire Immersion Team came to Tullamore to help with our teen movie night [Pirates of the Caribbean!] We arrived at the church about 2 hours early to prepare and there were already four teenagers waiting for us! These four teenage boys [around age 14] have been getting to know us by stopping by the church openings and bookstore on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For two hours before the event officially began, we played card games and nintendo wii. We had a total of seven teens come that evening - a great number for the work we do here in Ireland! We were able to talk a lot with the boys and develop even stronger friendships with them. After the movie ended they asked if we would be doing it again next week! It was great to see their excitement as they started to feel at home in the church. It was also a blast to have the team over. We were able to laugh and share stories about our own towns and simply "hang out." Thank you for your prayers for this event! We were blessed!
I would like to also ask prayer for a friend of ours who lives here in Tullamore. We have become friends with this woman and her daughter and see them often. Yesterday, she revealed to me that she was on the verge of committing suicide that morning but was stopped by a friend that arrived at her door. Thank the Lord her friend came! She had told us before that she was struggling with depression but recently said she was doing much better. We are going to visit her more regularly now. I really feel like God is preparing us for an opportunity to lay out the entire message of His gift of salvation - please pray for this woman and our team, especially for this woman's young daughter who doesn't realize at all what is going on.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
Leanne
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
February Update
As I’m writing this, it is snowing like crazy outside! The weather has been insane this semester. We’ve gotten sun, snow, sleet, rain, fog, etc. Some days feel like the dead of winter and others as though spring has arrived! As we adjust to the wild Irish weather, we’ve been getting back into our weekly ministry-WITH an addition to our team! Anna from Canada has joined the Immersion team and has come to Tullamore. We’re excited to have her! All of our usual activities are continuing to go well. Here’s a brief overview:
Sunday: Church: We were excited to have had some new people visit the church this month. In fact, we realized that there were many nations represented in church this month! It’s great to see people of every “tribe” and “tongue” coming together to worship God.
Monday: Mountmellick Montague Refugee Asylum Center: A new preschool has started at the Montague, taking the time we used to have for the parent/toddler group on Mondays. We were disappointed to hear we wouldn’t be playing with the same children anymore, but we still have the opportunity to supply a parent/toddler group for 1-2 ½ year-olds! The woman who started these programs finished her term this month and was thrilled to see that her program would still continue with us even after she has gone. I was happy to see that we were a help and blessing to not only the parents and children, but also this woman who has devoted her time to the Montague center!
Tuesday: Tullamore College Alpha Course and Busy Bee’s Toddler and Parent group: Busy Bees had its first birthday this year and has grown tremendously since we have been here! We continue to help each week and even have some of the parents come to a Bible Study the church has started.
We are beginning to get regular students attending the Alpha course we teach at Tullamore College. I was able to teach my own lesson a few weeks ago on how God guides us. It was a great experience to interact with and teach the students by explaining how God guided me to Ireland. Anna was also able to share her story of how she came to Ireland.
Wednesday: Bible Study and Church Opening: The church has started a weekly Alpha Course Bible study. We provide a day care so that parents who couldn’t usually come because of children now can. In fact, some women from Busy Bees are beginning to attend the study!
The Church opening is continuing to go well. We use it as Bible Study time in-between visits from people who stop to chat and see the church. We were surprised and thrilled when five teenagers stopped in last week. They seemed to enjoy talking with us and even stopped in again on Saturday during the book store. They say the church is now their favorite “hangout spot.” We are starting to develop relationships with the teenagers here and getting great ideas for activities from them.
Thursday: Kid’s Club and Bible Study: We have about five kids each week at Kid’s club and we teach them a Bible lesson. We’ve recently been going over Paul’s missionary journeys and helping them understand what it means to “race toward a goal,” “persevere,” and help others.
Thursdays nights at the Catholic Parish center we have a Bible Study. We are now going through Philippians. It’s a great experience to meet more Christians in Tullamore, hear their experiences, fellowship, and encourage each other.
*some Thursday nights some people from the group go listen to local Irish music. It’s a fantastic cultural experience to hear real Irish music, played by real Irishmen, on real Irish instruments.
Friday: Day off: On Fridays we SLEEP IN after the long week! We usually try to do some activities in Tullamore on this day like visit the heritage center or the park. At the beginning of the month, though, we took this day and the weekend to visit Whitney and Ashlyn [our other team members] in their town of Athenry. It was great to see them again and spend time with them!
Saturday: Book Store, Bible Study, and monthly Girl’s Night: The Book Store is going well – we usually get adults poking their heads in to see what a protestant church looks like!
In the evening, we have a youth Bible Study that we have started. Last week was our first week and we had one of the teenagers from the church come. He doesn’t regularly attend church, but says he enjoys it more than Catholic Mass. We asked him what kind of questions he’s had about the church, God, Jesus, and Christianity in general. Some of them were “who is God,” “was Jesus really God’s son,” and “where is God when bad things happen?” They were excellent questions we were excited to get into! Over the next few weeks we’re going to look at all of his questions and explain the Christian worldview and Biblical explanation for them. Another friend of ours is going to start attending our Bible Study as well. Please pray for wisdom, patience, and discernment during these times. It’s going to be difficult, but we’re excited.
This month we had our third girl’s night. Our timing for it wasn’t exactly perfect though. We placed it at the end of a week-long school break, so many of the girls were on vacation and no one came. We were able to enjoy ourselves and bond together as a team, however, and are still looking forward to next month’s girl’s night.
Next month the entire Immersion team will come to Tullamore for a team-ministry weekend. With advice from our friends in Tullamore, we have decided to have a pizza and movie night. Please pray that we can spread the word effectively and that many teens decide to come. Also pray that the team can be used in Tullamore efficiently. We’re excited about this time and will even do a little sightseeing by visiting Charville Castle in Tullamore!
Thanks a million for your prayers and support!
Blessings,
Leanne
Sunday: Church: We were excited to have had some new people visit the church this month. In fact, we realized that there were many nations represented in church this month! It’s great to see people of every “tribe” and “tongue” coming together to worship God.
Monday: Mountmellick Montague Refugee Asylum Center: A new preschool has started at the Montague, taking the time we used to have for the parent/toddler group on Mondays. We were disappointed to hear we wouldn’t be playing with the same children anymore, but we still have the opportunity to supply a parent/toddler group for 1-2 ½ year-olds! The woman who started these programs finished her term this month and was thrilled to see that her program would still continue with us even after she has gone. I was happy to see that we were a help and blessing to not only the parents and children, but also this woman who has devoted her time to the Montague center!
Tuesday: Tullamore College Alpha Course and Busy Bee’s Toddler and Parent group: Busy Bees had its first birthday this year and has grown tremendously since we have been here! We continue to help each week and even have some of the parents come to a Bible Study the church has started.
We are beginning to get regular students attending the Alpha course we teach at Tullamore College. I was able to teach my own lesson a few weeks ago on how God guides us. It was a great experience to interact with and teach the students by explaining how God guided me to Ireland. Anna was also able to share her story of how she came to Ireland.
Wednesday: Bible Study and Church Opening: The church has started a weekly Alpha Course Bible study. We provide a day care so that parents who couldn’t usually come because of children now can. In fact, some women from Busy Bees are beginning to attend the study!
The Church opening is continuing to go well. We use it as Bible Study time in-between visits from people who stop to chat and see the church. We were surprised and thrilled when five teenagers stopped in last week. They seemed to enjoy talking with us and even stopped in again on Saturday during the book store. They say the church is now their favorite “hangout spot.” We are starting to develop relationships with the teenagers here and getting great ideas for activities from them.
Thursday: Kid’s Club and Bible Study: We have about five kids each week at Kid’s club and we teach them a Bible lesson. We’ve recently been going over Paul’s missionary journeys and helping them understand what it means to “race toward a goal,” “persevere,” and help others.
Thursdays nights at the Catholic Parish center we have a Bible Study. We are now going through Philippians. It’s a great experience to meet more Christians in Tullamore, hear their experiences, fellowship, and encourage each other.
*some Thursday nights some people from the group go listen to local Irish music. It’s a fantastic cultural experience to hear real Irish music, played by real Irishmen, on real Irish instruments.
Friday: Day off: On Fridays we SLEEP IN after the long week! We usually try to do some activities in Tullamore on this day like visit the heritage center or the park. At the beginning of the month, though, we took this day and the weekend to visit Whitney and Ashlyn [our other team members] in their town of Athenry. It was great to see them again and spend time with them!
Saturday: Book Store, Bible Study, and monthly Girl’s Night: The Book Store is going well – we usually get adults poking their heads in to see what a protestant church looks like!
In the evening, we have a youth Bible Study that we have started. Last week was our first week and we had one of the teenagers from the church come. He doesn’t regularly attend church, but says he enjoys it more than Catholic Mass. We asked him what kind of questions he’s had about the church, God, Jesus, and Christianity in general. Some of them were “who is God,” “was Jesus really God’s son,” and “where is God when bad things happen?” They were excellent questions we were excited to get into! Over the next few weeks we’re going to look at all of his questions and explain the Christian worldview and Biblical explanation for them. Another friend of ours is going to start attending our Bible Study as well. Please pray for wisdom, patience, and discernment during these times. It’s going to be difficult, but we’re excited.
This month we had our third girl’s night. Our timing for it wasn’t exactly perfect though. We placed it at the end of a week-long school break, so many of the girls were on vacation and no one came. We were able to enjoy ourselves and bond together as a team, however, and are still looking forward to next month’s girl’s night.
Next month the entire Immersion team will come to Tullamore for a team-ministry weekend. With advice from our friends in Tullamore, we have decided to have a pizza and movie night. Please pray that we can spread the word effectively and that many teens decide to come. Also pray that the team can be used in Tullamore efficiently. We’re excited about this time and will even do a little sightseeing by visiting Charville Castle in Tullamore!
Thanks a million for your prayers and support!
Blessings,
Leanne
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
2010!
Wow! It has been a busy few months! I apologize for not writing you all sooner! I left Ireland at the end of November for Christmas holiday and the time has flown by. I had a wonderful Christmas home visiting with family and friends and continuing the Christmas traditions of making cookies and acting in our live nativity. But soon, January came around again and I came back to Ireland after the New Year! Let me tell you about some of what’s been happening:
The team and I arrived at Lacken House and stayed for two weeks for classes and “team time.” We were surprised and thrilled when it snowed about three inches one night. Spontaneously we decided to throw on some jackets [in our pajamas, mind you] and play in the snow for thirty minutes. Oh...did I mention it was one in the morning? That was just one of the great adventures we had at Lacken House next to painting rooms, baking American chocolate chip cookies, and finishing up our studies with a look at postmodernism. After that, we packed up and headed for our individual cities. The teams are meeting up, however, each month to do ministry work in our different towns. The Tullamore Team [me] is planning a “sports day” in our park during the month of March. Pray that it works and we have GOOD WEATHER in rainy Ireland! We’re excited about this new addition to the second semester agenda and can’t wait to see the team each month to do ministry work!
Here in Tullamore, our team is getting excited about projects we’re starting. Girls Night is going well! We’ve invited a lot of girls to our second “Girl’s Night” next Saturday where they can do nails, hair, play games, eat chocolate, and more. It’s one of my favorite events and I hope more girls come. We’re also starting a weekly Bible Study for teens. This is a bit of a blind leap – we don’t have any youth who regularly attend the church so we’re asking two friends we’ve met here, who sometimes attend, to come. They’ve both agreed! Pray that they’ll be faithful in coming to the meetings and doing the Bible reading so that we can minister to them – and pray that more students become interested!
All of our regular events are going well. I’m still enjoying the Montague playgroup with the African Refugees. When we arrived for the first time after break this Monday, the kids gave us big hugs the minute they walked into the room! Busy Bees daycare at the church is going well and a few of the adults are starting to ask questions about Christianity. Pray that we can be good witnesses and examples to them!
I can’t wait to keep you updated about what God has in store for us this New Year of 2010!
Blessings,
Leanne
The team and I arrived at Lacken House and stayed for two weeks for classes and “team time.” We were surprised and thrilled when it snowed about three inches one night. Spontaneously we decided to throw on some jackets [in our pajamas, mind you] and play in the snow for thirty minutes. Oh...did I mention it was one in the morning? That was just one of the great adventures we had at Lacken House next to painting rooms, baking American chocolate chip cookies, and finishing up our studies with a look at postmodernism. After that, we packed up and headed for our individual cities. The teams are meeting up, however, each month to do ministry work in our different towns. The Tullamore Team [me] is planning a “sports day” in our park during the month of March. Pray that it works and we have GOOD WEATHER in rainy Ireland! We’re excited about this new addition to the second semester agenda and can’t wait to see the team each month to do ministry work!
Here in Tullamore, our team is getting excited about projects we’re starting. Girls Night is going well! We’ve invited a lot of girls to our second “Girl’s Night” next Saturday where they can do nails, hair, play games, eat chocolate, and more. It’s one of my favorite events and I hope more girls come. We’re also starting a weekly Bible Study for teens. This is a bit of a blind leap – we don’t have any youth who regularly attend the church so we’re asking two friends we’ve met here, who sometimes attend, to come. They’ve both agreed! Pray that they’ll be faithful in coming to the meetings and doing the Bible reading so that we can minister to them – and pray that more students become interested!
All of our regular events are going well. I’m still enjoying the Montague playgroup with the African Refugees. When we arrived for the first time after break this Monday, the kids gave us big hugs the minute they walked into the room! Busy Bees daycare at the church is going well and a few of the adults are starting to ask questions about Christianity. Pray that we can be good witnesses and examples to them!
I can’t wait to keep you updated about what God has in store for us this New Year of 2010!
Blessings,
Leanne
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