The days have flown by since I posted last and it’s hard to imagine it’s been quite so long. In some ways it feels like there’s nothing extraordinary enough to post about, but at the same time, there are so many things in my head that it’s hard to know where to start. So I’ll give you a few random bits and bobs.

One new thing is that we have a washer at the house, but no dryer. Since it’s so damp (and cold!) here, it takes a good long while for clothes to dry hanging up, too. The washing machine only holds about 1/2 of a normal load at home and it takes about 1 1/2 hours for a cycle to run. Talk about the normal becoming bizarre. Laundry that usually takes a few hours to get all the way done now takes about 2 days. Does anyone understand how this little thing makes “normal” life weird?

We spent all day Saturday at a 24-7 Conference in Lisburn.  Ross and Kathryn, new friends of ours who pastor the Methodist church in town, told us about it and we spent the day together listening to some really challenging teachings and talking through it over meals.  Talk about a good time.  If you know me, you know I could easily spend the next 2 hours giving you a play-by-play of the whole day, including basic outlines of the talks.  I’ll try to just give you the big points.  Of course, a major thrust of 24-7 is prayer – more time spent with the Lord makes us more like him, more dependant on him, more alive in him, more useful to him.  The team that was sharing do work on an island in Spain that has the most clubs, bars and pubs per square mile in all of Europe.  They were talking about the lost being the focus of ministry.  I was so challenged by my discomfort with people who aren’t like me.  By my dislike of going into darkness to be light.  By my fear that I’m not cool enough to hang with people that don’t need me to lead worship.  By my fear of being too uninteresting to hold a conversation with a stranger.  By the fact that I turn my face from need and talk about how simply I live and how much I sacrifice to make myself feel better.  I realized that I want to get over my fear of anyone and anything other than Jesus.  I want there to be room in my life for him to do anything he wants.  I want him to be my King.  I want his kingdom to come here.

We prayed Sunday morning while walking around town that God would cross our paths with people that don’t know him and give us the courage and compassion to engage them.  One thing we’re continually surprised by is how quickly and obviously God answers our prayers that are already on his heart.  That evening, our neighbor, Sarah, came over to introduce herself.  She came in for a cup of tea and stayed for nearly an hour.  We are nothing alike in personality or beliefs, but we like each other.  It’s just the beginning.  And I can’t wait.

And on that note, I’ll sign off.  I do hope to be back soon.