Don't mind me: I'm just feeling a bit nostalgic, right now.

My family is rather large, with many members and many different personalities..the noise level reaches the stratosphere when everyone gets together..we are all crazy in alot of (different) ways, we grate on each others nerves and we get into heated debates. But at the end of the day we love each other. The loud noise is just enjoyment of each others' company. The crazy is just part of life..a life we share together. We grate on each others nerves but it increases our patience. And we engage in heated debates to call each other on to better understanding and behavior.

Yes we get angry with one another, but without anger there is no cause to forgive. I think it's important to practice forgiveness within your family so that when you are faced with an affront out in the world forgiveness is already second nature.

Family is there to teach us about life. We interact and we react.  When everything seems bleak, we have a good cry together. Then, we'll find something funny and laugh till it hurts. Together.



We are far from perfect and I don't always understand everyone but I love them. And they teach me something new every single day. I have a new appreciation for my family this week, being home for a few days for a wedding, I get to see all the different personalities  in a fresh light. You know what they say: "you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family." That may be true. I did choose all my friends and among them are my family members. I think that says alot about the caliber of people they are.

I am definitely enjoying my GAP year and I know it's where I'm supposed to be, but I sure will miss my family when I go back to Dublin! Thanks for reading and my apologies for the sap. :)

Learning curve..

This week is the pledge drive at Spirit Radio and today, a woman called in and wanted to donate some money but needed someone to come and pick up the donation from a house off of Baggot Street. Rachel and I, being GAPpers, were delegated the task of finding the house and retrieving the donation. I know what your thinking: "come and pick up the donation from a house off of Baggot street"? sounds pretty sketch. I thought so too, which is why we went together. But getting a chance to wander up and down Baggot Street in the middle of the work day (in my mind) is an adventure!

So, off we went. I learned some fascinating things on this adventure! After all, what are adventures for, if not for learning new and fascinating things?

Here's what I learned:
1) Jay walking is okay and even acceptable and is widely practiced
2) Look right first then left when crossing the street!
3) If you ring the bell upstairs someone will open a hidden door downstairs and give you money
4) The back gate will stay open if you don't make sure it is shut all the way
5) Just because it is sunny does not mean it is warm
6) Avoid the lift (elevator) to the left..it sounds like it is about to break
7) Adventures don't have to be long in order for you to get alot out of them
and Finally, (from the adventure home)
8) Wait the extra three minutes for the 45. People will be so inconsiderate as to smoke and drink beer on the 7.

For those of you who don't know, the 45 and the 7 are different bus routes, both of which we can take from Spirit to get home. Today, the 7 showed up first and it was freezing outside so we hopped on.  As mentioned above there was a "gentleman" in the back of the bus smoking cigarettes and apparently drinking beer and leaving the empty bottles on the floor to roll around whenever the bus turned. To say the least, it was not the most pleasant ride home, but boy was it ever an adventure!

In other news: I found a copy of one of my favorite books, which is no longer in print, at a second hand bookshop in Dun Laoghaire! Some of you proabably know it. It's called The Robe. If you've never read it, you should. It's definitely worth it.
Thanks for reading. I hope you visit again soon and God Bless!

When it's not always raining..

Now that you've had an intro into why and how I came to be in Ireland I can give you an overview of what I actually do here on a weekly basis. For the first half of the week I generally work on administrative tasks for the Community of Nazareth as well as preparation for Youth Group events, which happen on Friday evenings.  On Wednesdays and Thursdays Rachel (my roommate and fellow GAPper) and I work at the local Christian radio station, called Spirit Radio.  Public transportation is really big in Ireland so we take the bus or train most places we go (It takes about an hour to get to the radio station by bus.)

Spirit's catch phrase is "Ireland's new Positive Sound" so as you can guess they really focus on having a positive, uplifting sound.  My job is to research positive news stories and rewrite them in script form to be read on the air.  I also put together events guides and update the website's calander.  I love working there because it truly is a positive sound, whenever I listen to Spirit radio I can't help but feel happy and encouraged. And by finding positive news and events I feel that I am actually contributing to this Positive sound.

                                                         Working at Spirit Radio.

Last week we had the opportunity to visit a school for three days and help put on a retreat for the first and third year girls (ages 13-15). It was really amazing to see the Lord work at these retreats and I know there will be many more like it to come!

On Saturdays, Rachel and I try to get out and see a bit of the area. The weather has been unusually nice since I got here and so far we have been able to go to Howth, climb the Sugarloaf Mountain and wander around the city centre.

                   This is Rachel and me at Powerscourt with the Sugarloaf mountain behind us.

                                       At Howth, it was such a beautiful day! Sunny and warm.

From left to right: Three of the Mahony's (my host family) Peter, Leanne, Paul, Rachel and me at the top of the Sugarloaf Mountain.

There will be more detail to come, but this is an overview of what I have been doing since I arrived about 5 weeks ago.  Thanks for reading and God Bless.

A Beginner Blogging

Welcome! Throughout the year I intend to post recent events, experiences and developments that take place on my GAP year in order that anyone who is interested can keep up with me while I'm away.

To begin, I should probably give a preview of what a GAP year is and how I came to be on one. I am a member of an international Christian Community of Communities called the Sword of the Spirit (SOS). There are communities all around the world that are affiliated with the SOS and I am from the Word of Life in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

A GAP year is an opportunity for young Christians (ages 18-25) to travel to a different community and offer a year of service to them and to God. It is up to the GAPper (me) to raise my own money in order to live and serve for a year in this community without any income.

The fact that I am in Dublin still amazes me! I had to send out fundraising letters to other members of my community, family and friends. I would not be here but for the amazing support of these wonderful people in my life.

I have been here for one month exactly and I never even expected to get on the plane. I applied to do this GAP year extremely late in the game and didn't expect to get a response from anyone. But the Lord had His hand in it and the Community of Nazareth in Dublin had room for me and invited me to come and serve despite the fact that I applied so late and had not raised nearly enough money to get through the year. So here I am, in Dublin!!

Anyone who knows me could tell you that I have a natural tendency to worry about things and the fact that I have not raised enough money yet for the year is a source of anxiety for me. But I also sense the Lord calling me on to place my worries on Him and to just "Ride the waves"--> This is a whole new concept for me because I really like to be in control..it's going to be wild ride! *yikes*

Dublin is a fantastic city. I live with a family here and one other GAPper (who is also from Michigan) and it feels like home already. They are so welcoming and genuine. I am sure they will play major roles in the future of this exciting story about the year to come.

I hope you will find this enjoyable and informative. I have never written a blog before and am a little bit intimidated, so bear with me and I will do my best :) Thanks for stopping in!

I would greatly appreciate any prayers you could send my way! God Bless.