okay, these posts are getting less and less frequent...

Our time here is slipping away.  I'M GOING TO MISS IT HERE SO INCREDIBLY MUCH!!  I try  not to think about it a lot, because the idea of leaving makes me just want to burst into tears! This summer has been so beautiful... thank you for all your prayers.  It is amazing to think that I could contribute a small part to everything that went on.  And there is so much more to do!  Sometimes I wish I could stay and keep helping.  Two months is a long time, but it is also a very short time too in the grand scheme of things.  I have to go home though.  I have things to get back to, and a year of school to finish.  Abbey will always be in my prayers, and who knows, maybe I'll be able to come back someday -- at least for a visit.  

I'm nervous to go back, and I know that I'll probably have some culture shock in the States for awhile.  Transitioning back into reality will be enough of a challenge.  But then there is senior year, and all that goes along with that stage of life...  and then add a few things that are different now because of this trip.  Life is crazy!!  But God is good.  If I've learned anything this summer, it's that sometimes I just need to trust... and he IS trustworthy.  It almost makes me excited, in a strange way, to be so overwhelmed.  Because he will work through that.  He is SO strong in my weakness, and so I'm going to keep resting in him. 

sorry!

I'm sorry, I know I've been less frequent with the posts lately.  Everything is winding down... which has been somewhat of a relief, but mostly it has been very sad.  If only there were a few more weeks left!  Xpresso is over, so we now we just have Open Abbey duty, plus a few other tasks to get done here and there.  It has been nice to have some free time to hang out with the friends we've made here though.

As promised, here are a few pictures of the cafe!

oh how i'll miss xpresso.

Wow, it's been awhile since I've posted.  The festival was amazing this week!  Thank you for all your prayers.  It was crowded every night!  I got to meet some interesting people and was able to spend some good time with a lot of the people who I've met here this summer.  We received some really encouraging feedback... everyone seemed to love the festival!  Mostly I rotated between helping with the food in the kitchen and hanging out with people.  One night I got to perform though!  I played keyboard and sang with the our intern band, Hey Dublin and The Family (inside jokes).  I think the cafe was incredibly successful... we continued building friendships, increased awareness of the church, and had the amazing opportunity of celebrating God's greatness together.  Two personal highlights for me: So many youth came every night!  And secondly, I got to speak in Spanish to some girls last night!

I'm continuing to see how God shines when we are weak.  I have hardly slept lately!  I have been grumpy, I have been frustrated with little things, I haven't felt like loving anyone (and especially not those who are difficult to love anyway).  But I can look back and see how God still used me somehow.  For instance, I was sitting in the cafe last night and I REALLY didn't feel like making an effort at all, but then my friend Connie ran up to me and told me to come meet her Spanish friends.  And that wasn't the only time something like that happened.  Plus, just being on kitchen duty was nice because it was a straightforward task job that could be completed.  

ANYWAY, the point is that God is so gracious and I am constantly humbled that I am here in Ireland contributing to the advancement of his kingdom.  I am not a naturally loving/helpful person at all.  I am so incredibly self-centered.  But somehow, and for some reason, God is using me and allowing me to be an instrument.  That is truly the story of my summer... God's grace, down-pouring on my life.  This summer has been a taste of heaven, there is no other way to put it.

day one of xpresso.

So we interns went to sleep at 5am last night, and I was up three hours later (some of the others actually got up earlier than me)!  What a LONG day.  Mostly, I was helping with catering stuff... a job that continued through the Xpresso cafe itself too.  BUT, the first night went amazingly!  The basement looks so cool.  It is completely transformed into a music venue/coffee shop atmosphere.  Pieces by local artists are displayed everywhere.  There is a green tent area with all the food/beverages.  We have couches, chairs, and tables scattered in little vignettes all over the place.  And then of course the stage looks great too.  I'll have to post some pictures when I get a chance.  This week is so exciting!  Lots of people showed up, and it was only the first night.  I met one girl who was really loving the event, and she said she had heard about it online somehow.  I guess our advertising is paying off!  We have groups "busking" (playing on the street) during the day to get the word out too.  I can't wait to see how the rest of the week goes.  

eeek.

Happy late 4th of July!  Still a lot going on.  This Sunday is the radio service... Liz and I have been working hard! It is 1:30am here and I just finished some bulletin preparation.  Tomorrow we have some other last minute things to get done before the afternoon music practice and then the station's run-through in the evening.  

I don't think I've mentioned this yet, but I'll actually be reading a poem I wrote about the shootings.  (I wrote it a few months ago around the one-year anniversary.)  I'm a little nervous to read it on the radio -- especially since it's so personal -- but I was asked if I could contribute something since I'm a writer and have experienced the tragedy (which fits into the first part of the service).  

Anyway, I am wondering lately when I will be able to sleep!  X-presso Arts Festival starts MONDAY!!!

INSANITY!

There is so much going on!  Short-term team just got here, and another will be here later in the week.  It is all very exciting, but at the same time, I think we are all getting into panic/stress mode.   Trying to wary about satan's attacks... they were definitely felt today.  

ALSO, here are some beautiful verses from Isaiah 62...

You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the LORD delights in you,
and your land shall be married.

And they shall be called The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.

prayer requests!

HERE ARE SPECIFIC THINGS YOU CAN BE PRAYING FOR EACH DAY! (from the lovely katherine manning!)

Sunday, 29 June

* Pray for X-presso: This upcoming week is going to be extremely busy at Abbey with many teams joining us and with the numerous preparations for X-presso! Please ask that the Lord would place His blessing upon this whole week! Ask that all involved would be joyfully focused upon Him, thanking Him daily for His strength and provision! May His great name be glorified in Abbey, in Dublin and in this world!

Monday, 30 June
* Pray for the Jeff Owen Team: A team of 15 is coming over from America to help prepare for the Arts' Festival! Please ask for their safety during travel today! Ask also that the Lord is preparing to do incredible things in and through them!
* Publicity for X-presso: Ask that the Lord's blessing be upon all publicity for the event. Ask that we will be able to reach all those in Dublin who need to hear about X-presso and that they would come!

Tuesday, 1 July
* Pray for the Ministry Team: Ask that there would be a deep unity and love within all the members of the team and everyone working on X-presso! Ask that Christ's love would shine through our interactions with each other! Ask that we would have patience and grace with each other.
* Construction of Boards to Display Artwork: The Jeff Owens' Team will be building boards for our artists' to display their artwork. Ask that the project would get completed. Ask for protection for all the projects. Ask that everything would be done with excellence.

Wednesday, 2 July
Teenagers with Urbansoul: A team of seven will be working at Abbey for three days through Urbansoul, a city-wide Christian outreach event! Thank the Lord for their willingness to serve and ask for His protection and strength for the team!

Thursday, 3 July
* Wade Williams' Team: A team of talented musicians are coming to Dublin to participate in X-presso! Pray for their safe travel today! Pray that the Lord is blessing them and that He is preparing them for their time here. Thank the Lord for their gifts & their willingness to share their gifts with us!
* Sound and Lighting: Ask that all technical details would get taken care of.

Friday, 4 July
* Harvey's Guesthouse: All of our summer interns, visiting teams and musicians are staying at Harvey's Guesthouse on Gardiner Road! Thank the Lord for Robert and Ilish, who run the guesthouse and their willingness to accommodate all of our guests! Ask that the Lord would bless the house and that He would be at the center of all interactions there!
* Decorations: Ask for creativity and excellence in the decorations for X-presso! Ask that would be able to create an environment that is inviting and glorifying to the Lord!

Saturday, 5 July
* David Dewese: Musician, David Dewese, is traveling to Dublin from Nashville, Tennessee today! Pray for his safe travel! Thank the Lord for David's desire to come back to us and for his supporters!
* Hospitality at X-presso: Thank the Lord for all who will serve tea and coffee at X-presso. Thank Him that we can offer this to our guests! Ask that people will feel welcomed and loved, & that Christ's glory will shine through this ministry.

Sunday, 6 July 
* Pray for the RTE Radio Broadcast: Our service will be broadcasted live on RTE radio today! Ask that the Lord is glorified and praised all over Ireland as the nation joins in our worship! Pray that people will hear the gospel of Jesus proclaimed and come to know Him!
* X-presso Details: Tomorrow night is the first night of X-presso! Please pray that all last minute details would get taken care of! Ask for an abundance of patience and joy within all those participating. Ask that the Lord would do incredible things this week in Abbey and in Dublin!

Monday, 7 July - X-presso Begins!
* Pray for Susie Young & Soul Connection: This jazz group will be performing at X-presso Mon - Wed. Ask for the Lord's blessing upon them, that they may bring glory to His name! Pray for their safe travel and their stay in Dublin.
* Pray for Shea Phelan: Shea is a wonderful storyteller from Dublin! Ask that the Lord would strengthen him as he shares stories that bring true life to his audience.

Tuesday, 8 July - Night Two!
* Pray for Len Carolan: Len is a Dublin musician, interning at Emmanuel Church at ICM. He's performing at X-presso three nights. Ask that the Lord would be glorified through him.
* Busking: During the day, many of our visiting musicians will be playing music on Grafton St. and Henry St. and inviting people to X-presso. Ask that they would be joyful in this. Ask that they would meet and invite the people who need to come!

Wednesday, 9 July - Night Three...Pray for Persistence in Excellence!
* Pray for Matt Moorman: Matt, a musician from N. Carolina, has been the youth worker at Lucan Presbyterian in Dublin for the past year. Pray that the Lord would bless him as he performs at X-presso!

Thursday, 10 July - Night Four!
*Pray for Third Lobby: This will be Third Lobby's third trip to Dublin to perform at X-presso! This group is such an incredible blessing to the community at Abbey! They offer continual encouragement, prayer support and a genuine desire to glorify God in Dublin! Thank the Lord for their partnership and willingness to journey across the Atlantic! Ask that many will continue to be blessed through them.

Friday, 11 July - Night Five!
*Pray for Niamh Murphy & Jo Burke: These Dublin girls will be returning from a month long mission trip to perform at X-presso! Pray for their rest! Thank the Lord for their willingness to share their gifts and ask that He would be glorified in them!
* Abbey Congregation: Thank the Lord for this body of believers who are hosting X-presso! Ask that He would always be glorified in them.

Saturday, 12 July - The Final Night of Celebration!
* Donking and his dance troupe: Dancer, Donking will bring a team of break dancers to perform at X-presso. Thank the Lord for his willingness to come from Kilkenny with his troupe and ask for safety.
* Pray for Rev. Alan & Ruth Boal: Thank the Lord for this couple and their commitment to His work in Abbey and Dublin! Ask for the Lord's strength to continue. Ask that they would continue to be faithful to His voice. Also ask for strength for Alan to get up and preach tomorrow!
* Thank the Lord for all the gifts He has blessed us with! Thank Him that we can bring glory to Him through music, art, dance, poetry and all other aspects of our live. Thank Him for His greatness, power, holiness, purity & perfect love! Thank Him for what He has done this week at X-presso!