Where the Streets have no name...literally

They say you never really get to know your way around a place until you've gotten lost and had to find your way back on your own. Well, hopefully I can say I know Dublin now! Today, by far one of the busiest days I've had here, was made even busier by a last minute assignment to go around the city centre and put up posters at all the colleges. There is only one problem, or maybe a few...Dublin doesn't have street signs and if it does they are very stealthily concealed from anyone with less than super 20/20 vision.

So, Rachel and I went on our merry way into the City Centre, and walked around...and around...and around looking for the above mentioned colleges...We were supposed to be able to get to four different colleges within the span of an hour...but hey! I feel like one is pretty good for a couple of American girls with nothing but a google map that mysteriously eliminated Grafton street from existence.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions; this adventure through the streets of Dublin.  Funny at first, exciting, then hungry, then tired (and grumpy), then cold, then even more hungry. We walked up and down Grafton Street (once we'd found our way there) putting up posters in shop windows and at Trinity College (which we may or may not have been allowed to do) until we couldn't feel our feet for being so hungry. I came home to a lovely meal, which I ate in less than 5 minutes! And I was off again to another meeting.

I definitely have a new appreciation for the U2 song Where the Streets have no name and I think I am slightly more aware of my surroundings now, though I can't say I'd want to relive the experience anytime soon. :)
Here are a few snapshots of my day, enjoy!

 Grafton Street

In November

5..4..3..2..1..

And we're back, ladies and gentleman. I've been back in Ireland for about 2 weeks and last week was spent in Belfast, Northern Ireland where I helped with the Future Youth conference and the 20th Anniversary for Youth Initiatives! It was a great celebration of the amazing work God has done in the youth in Northern Ireland over the past couple of decades.

It was truly incredible to be able sit among the past and present workers of YI and hear the speeches of tremendous people like Jamie Treadwell and Doug Smith, to hear the history of the program, and to see the crosslinks performance of the current youth. Knowing that 20 years ago this organisation was just an idea and now is a full fledged charity doing so much good for the country is so encouraging.

It was especially cool for me to be there because some of my siblings have gone to work with YI in the past. My brother, John was the first and then my sister Anna. They both played a part (and made an impression, apparently) in the growth of Youth Initiatives. And here I am, so blessed to be at the 20th Anniversary of such a great program.

It was amazing to me how many of the staff I met in Belfast recognized me because I look like my siblings! I think a huge reason that YI has worked so well and made such a difference is the commitment of the people who work there. Their steadfast dedication to serving the youth of Northern Ireland throughout the years is astounding! The fact that these people remembered my family from many many years ago says so much about their personal characters and their unity as a group to forge ahead through all sorts of ups and downs all for the sake of giving hope to youth for the future. It is truly inspsiring to encounter.

So a special thank you to all the staff at Youth Initiatives for showing me how to put others first, what it really means to commit to something and what it looks like to answer the call. I am so blessed for having witnessed such great love and devotion.