Off to Ireland
Did you know that Jesus is awesome? Yes, HE is.
He is Worthy to be recognized as awesome, all knowing, indescribable, ever present, relational, LOVE, salvation, compassionate, and so much more. I have been waiting on my incredible Creator for direction ever since I have acknowledged His clear call for me to go to Ireland.
When should I leave? Where will I stay? What should I do? These are some of the question I have been asking since last July. I must confess, I have not been the most patient while in this season of waiting. He has been developing the specifics of my calling and as each new aspect was revealed I stumbled head over heels in a desperate attempt for obedience. In my eagerness I almost missed the very thing He was telling me. After bumping my head into a couple closed doors I finally realized He wanted me to wait quietly (Lamentations 3:25, Psalm 62:5). As I waited I was amazed by what He showed me. You see, last July I left for my first trip to Ireland and it was there that He began a fire in my heart for church planting. However, I didn’t recognize it as a calling. I told myself, “You are a woman and women don’t plant churches!” How silly of me. Even though I had discouraged myself from what the Lord was calling me to do, the passionate fire grew within me. After some wrestling with my own ideas VS God’s apparent plan for me I decided to surrender. That was a humbling process… But praise the Lord! “‘For I know the Plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:11.
“So Church planting it is! Get me a ticket. I’m leaving tomorrow!” I couldn’t wait to get out there! I was so tempted to let eagerness get the better of me again. Yet through much prayer I realized my season of waiting was not quite over. I prayed and waited and waited and prayed. Then the Word came, “Obey Me and I will give you your next step.” This one took me a while to realize what He was talking about. Obey? But You haven’t told me to do anything specific yet? Should I buy a ticket? Should I sell my car? What do You want me to do? Then it hit me like a ton of bricks; it was what I wasn’t doing. I was in disobedience. Quite a while ago He told me very clearly to end my work commitment and step out of serving in preparation to leave soon. Well, I started out more than willing to step away but as my season of waiting grew longer I began to become doubtful. “I could be waiting for a years,” I thought to myself. “Soon is such a relative word.” As I prayed and His call to obedience became much more apparent I purposed in my heart to walk in obedience. The very next day I noticed a friend that the Lord had been putting on my heart to talk to for a while but life happened and I was just never able to meet up with her. However, on this particular Tuesday I was free and we started talking. She brought up Galway Ministries and kept insisting that I should look it up. I went home and looked it up that night. My heart started to beat wildly as the words, “Plant healthy Bible teaching churches,” caught my attention. I instantly caught the vision of this ministry and my heart rejoiced. I prayed about it and God said go ahead. I got in contact with the ministry overseer and we both prayed. As a result of our prayers I am heading out for a scouting trip from mid June to late August to see if this is a long-term ministry opportunity for me.
I am writing because I am so excited about what God is doing in Ireland and I would love to get you involved too! As the body of Christ unites in prayer I am encouraged by this passage, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Will you stand with me as we fight this real battle for lost souls? Please support me with your prayers. Secure the work that God has at hand with your prayers for Churches in Ireland to be built up and strengthened.
It is humbling to be called and sent. I am so dependent on Him in every way. Some things you can be praying for as I take this leap of faith:
Finances. I will have no steady income as I make my way to Ireland so I will be relying fully on His provision.
Lodging. The Pastor and overseer of Galway ministries is trying to help me find a place to stay during my time spent in Galway. This is peak season in Ireland so the price tag on everything skyrockets. Also, please pray for a blessing on those that allow me to stay with them while I’m there.
Softened hearts. Pray that the hearts of the people would be softened and that the impersonal religion they have all heard of will be replaced with a loving, relationship based faith in Jesus Christ.
Guidance. As Galway ministries and I pray about potential long-term opportunities, pray that I am aware of the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for taking this leap of faith with me by joining me in prayer. Please let me know if you have any questions.
#missions #ireland #faith #trust #disobedience #repentance #forgiveness #Obedience #PrayerRequests