Off to Cork again

Well we're heading to Cork tonight (wed 31st Oct). We'll be down there for two weeks and will be meeting with the leaders from Grace and starting our training with them and also will be meeting with some college students and some church leaders. We are looking forward to catching up with everyone again and to seeing where God continues to lead us.

More House News

Another buyer viewed the house today and afterwards told the estate agent that she liked the home and has the money to buy. She also viewed 2 other properties which fitted her needs and she wants to go away and make up her mind as to which one she wants. Please continue to pray that if this is the person to buy our house that things might move into place to make this a reality. God has been so faithful to us, providing a blessing of a 2 day conference called the Global Leaders Summit which has nourished us and blown our minds in terms of inspiration and ideas. THANKS FOR ALL THE PRAYERS AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU WE CAN REALLY FEEL IT.

Pray, pray, pray

We have just found out that people who came to view last sat are going to do their figures and get back about a 2nd viewing. The only problem is that they are looking at other properties. Please pray that this might be the buyer or that the buyer would come soon.

Just one of those weeks

Do you ever feel at times that someone is sticking pins in you. It's just been one of those weeks where it seems like everything is going wrong. We got back from Cork on Wednesday evening and the plan was to relax, re-focus and just spend some peaceful time reading and spending time with God. Right well that was the plan but instead since we've come back it's just been one stressful thing after another and no peacful times whatsoever. It just feels like a couple of digs keep coming every so often during each day we've been back. Please pray that we will just be able to have that time as we feel it's crucial for our work in Cork. We have a lot to plan and direct but we need God's insight and wisdon on a few decisions so we need that time out. On the good side we had another viewing this morning (sat) so that makes it 13different parties in 2wks that have viewed our property. We just need that one buyer, God has been so faithful in getting the people in. Let's see what happenes...................

Back in the big smoke!!

It is hard to get back, we are by the fire and already sick of Dublin traffic, and at a bit of a loose end, although we're looking forward to a time of study and reflection. We had a great week in Cork, playing capture the flag indoors last friday, meetings with people re:mission possibilities, lots of different church leaders and even a radio programme for youth possibility.

On wed we attended a day of seminars for people in leadership at Grace, very refreshing and solid, Nick parks from Drogheda, talked on the power of the Blood of Jesus and how it is often taken out of context. He also did a section on conflict resolution and forgivness in leadership and Tom the pastor at grace spoke on being culturally relevant in Ireland. We're still waiting for an answer to prayer re:the house, but know the Lord has it in his hands.

On reflection of our time in Cork it was exciting to see 12 leaders joining us as volunteers to help us at Grace with the youth there. They seemed passionate and ready to begin discipling and hanging out with the teens there. We have the privilage of training these leaders and look forward to that very much.

Will keep you updated as we go, thanks for continuing to support and encouraging us.

Another week goes by

Well another week has gone by here down in Cork and what a great week it has been. We have had great meetings with church leaders, youth leaders and college students and are slowly but surely getting the bigger picture of what is happening and what is not happening here in ministry in Cork. It has been an eye opener but with that has brought excitement as we wait and see what God does. Many more doors have opened and we are loving the networking part at the moment.

In other news our work for Grace is well under the way and this week confirmed 6 more leaders which we have taken on to train making the total to be 12 leaders that we will train up over the next while. We had our first Grace youth leaders meeting on thursday night and we were very encouraged by it. Not everyone could make it but you will see who was there in the photo below. There is a great sense of excitement and challenges ahead but we have a GREAT group to do it with. We also had youth group last night at Grace and had a great time of fun with the teens and we had two of the new youth leaders there as well. It is exciting times and God has been so gracious by going ahead of us the whole time.

We have a meeting with Lee Valley Church (Baptist church) next week to talk about the possibility of working for them in training leaders as well and building up a college group. We are also in the process of dreaming & recruiting for a college group to start here in Cork that will just be for anyone from any church. So if you haven't sensed is already we are quite excited as to what is unfolding before us but as always it is never that simple as we still wait for a buyer for the house. We have an open viewing in our house today again from 1-2 so hopefully/God willing we will get a buyer in time. We'll update you again soon & will see some of you back in Dublin next week. We get back on the 18th.



The new team at Grace youth group (we're missing 3 people that couldn't make it)

Settling In

It is hard not to get caught up in things here. On friday night I(alex) was at a rugby match and may even have been spotted wearing a Munster jersey(allegedly), there is a photo rumoured to be doing the rounds of me standing in a sea of red supporters not looking too out of place.

In other news things are progressing nicely in Grace, we got back to what we love to do on sunday morning when we spent time discipling a group of teens, looking at the first chapter of James, we came away buzzing, was so good. We also got to meet with some of the volunteer leaders which was great and we really felt that those meetings were beneficial.

This week we have a meeting with the Leaders of the church, we are meeting other leaders from around Cork to begin to get the big picture of all thats happening and we have youth group on Fri night, leaders meetings and just hanging out with teens.

Tomorrow and wed are our days off which is great, Andrew and I are going for some much needed wakeboarding time in the warm irish sea and on wed I am taking my beautiful wife for some dinner and a movie which should be nice.

Anyway just another quick update, will try to get more photos up soon in the meantime take care and God bless.

Arrived in Cork

Ok so we've been in Cork for one day now and we feel like already so much has happened. Officially even though we're not there apparently the sign has gone up on our house, so it's all in God's hands now. Please keep praying we can sell. Alex has been out working with my dad and will tomorrow as well which has been great as it brings in a bit of cash which is well needed at this stage. Today I met with Ciara from Grace and we chatted through a few things for meetings coming up this week so we're quite eager to get going there. I also got to hang out with my mum for a couple of hours of nice quality time (which is long overdue at this stage). I also got to visit the new SU bookshop (Christian bookstore) which has opened here in Cork and where they also have a coffee shop next door to it. I got to meet the people in charge of both and introduce myself and let them know what they're doing there. They are quite keen on meeting and chatting further about what's happening in Cork. Overall for one day there was great networking going on. And to confirm the move I found out today that 2 more churches want to meet with us as our names are coming up in conversation. God is opening so many doors and is allowing us to walk right in and meet so many. I can't help feeling this is the calm before the storm before the battle really begins. But thank God for this really encouraging time and a time where he is showing us so much and allowing us still to enjoy everything without getting too busy. Just wanted to let you know a little of what's happening.

The outlook for the next few days is as follows ~
Thursday ~ Alex working, Linda networking, Dinner with youth leader in Grace

Friday ~ Meeting with two youth leaders from Baptist church to talk about monthly leaders meetings

Saturday ~ Meeting with all the youth leaders from Grace to plan out from now till Christmas

Sunday ~ Church at Grace and small group with teens

We're hoping to meet with all the youth leaders from Grace indiviually as well over the next week so looking forward to that.

Answer to prayer

Oh my goodness God is mad. (In a good way).So we went to Alex's graduation today (Sun) and afterwards someone came up to ask us if we were going to the leadership conference and we said we didn't know as we were trying to work on funds etc and they said they had two tickets with our names on it. Isn't God amazing. His provision never ends. We really wanted to go but honestly had no money for it and the next day after we post it and ask people to pray we're told that there are two tickets for us. Thank you for your prayers those of you that prayer and THANK YOU GOD for your never ending love. Xo