I am making myself go to bed before midnight (is my goal) so with 10 minutes to spare I am going to try to post the fastest recap of the year! It is one year ago today that our flight took off from Ireland. I remember calling my Grandmother from the airport to tell her I love her. With her being 92 that this might be the last time I am able to communicate with her while she is alive while on this continent. That proved to be true, because in March 2009 she passed away. What a blessing it was to knowingly say our goodbyes and while she was in good health.
We left with just our suitcases. We were organizing and repacking up until the last 30 minutes before we left. It was simply too expensive to take the things we planned to take in order to make our new home, HOME. So we took what we could.
It does not seem like a lot but the Lord had been really working on us especially the past couple weeks in showing us the difference between needs and wants.
I have to say, sitting here a year later we have all we need and more than we deserve (which is nothing-we deserve). We look around and are so blessed and cannot imagine that we moved here a year ago.
January: We arrived and looked for housing while staying at Leena and Mary's house (they were gracious to be bombarded by a family of four). We went to Mosbach, Germany for orientation and training with Operation Mobilization. We came back and got settled into our cottage at Portrunny in County Roscommon (in the midlands of Ireland).
February: We found out our family of 4 was going to be a family of 5. I think I skipped culture shock and just plain was in shock!!!! Connect Youth Event at Kilkenny College.
March: Started going to a local Moms and Tots group and meeting other moms in the community. Ludie gets involved with the Big Red Bus Outreach on Sundays at a local Mall.
April:FCA Golf Camp at Glasson with Anders Forsbrand (Ryder Cup Champion). Went up to Ballina, County Mayo to help with a youth outreach event.
May: Ludie shares his testimony in a church in Belfast. Get to ride the Logos Hope from Belfast to Dublin and stay on it a couple nights. Al McMillan from FBCW Missions Department and Steve Hyland, our SMP leader come for a vision trip.
June: Griffin starts soccer. Doing homeschool through the summer so we can take our summer break when the baby arrives. Logos Hope arrives in Cork. Ludie does evangelism training on it. Impact Ireland. Griffin goes to Art Camp at our local church.
July: Griffin goes to VBS. Impact Ireland lasts through until July 21st. Cross walk from Cork to Rahara Ireland, many lives touched by the message of the cross. Ludie joins the Core Leadership team for OM Ireland.
August:Immersion Ireland team arrives
September: Immersion Ireland Team
October: Immersion Ireland Team goes to their assigned locations throughout Ireland. Emily Grace born!!! Mom and Dad visit.
November: Ludie goes to Germany for OM leaders conference. God is working on his heart regarding evangelism.
December:Immersion Ireland team finishes their first semester! Much needed and enjoyed family break!
Well that is a fast recap that will be edited later but the kids have been sick this week and there is a lot to be done around the house tomorrow. I don't want to miss my time with God tomorrow before the house wakes up because I stayed up too late. Not because I am that "spiritual" but because I am NOT that "spiritual" and need the Lord's hand on my life more than ever!!!!
