6-29 Catching Up!

Sorry for not being able to post for a couple of days, we’ve been very busy!

SATURDAY, June 27th
Saturday we spent the day in Dublin sightseeing. It was very warm, in fact, unseasonably so. We thought perhaps we had carried the heat on the plane! It was in the 80s most of the day and in Ireland, they have humidity! But walking all over was great fun!

Several of us went to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, a very old, incredibly detailed and illustrated copy of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. After seeing that exhibit, we also walked through “the Long Room,” in the old Trinity Library, a long, barrel-vaulted room with literally thousands of ancient and valuable books floor to ceiling. After finishing there, it was off to Christchurch Cathedral, established over 1000 years ago just a few years after the Norman Conquest in c 1066.

Others went and visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral or the old Dublin gaol, or jail. Ask Angela or Brandon or Jacob about being in the jail and what happened there. The last group went to the Guinness Storehouse museum, a history of the making of Guinness beer.

We met back up at the hotel and loaded up to head to Northern Ireland and Glengormley. Lots of friends and family were waiting for us when we arrived. Glengormley Methodist Church (GMC) Pastor Mervyn Kilpatrick welcomed us with prayers and then it was off to a welcome tea prepared for us by our friends. We met with our host families and left to settle in for the night.

SUNDAY, June 28th
Sunday was a very busy day. We met up at GMC to get set for the two services we did. The 10:00 service is their more traditional service and we did two songs for them. The 11:30 service opened with the GMC Praise Team and Band leading in worship. We sang three songs for that service.

Then it was time to picnic! GMC had an all church picnic in the park across the street from the church. It was a lovely time to get together, meet others’ host families and generally relax and visit. Did I mention the weather was GORGEOUS! Highs were in the 60s. It was slightly overcast, but there was no rain.

Then last night we did an evening concert at the Ulster Temple in Belfast. It was incredible! The Holy Spirit was moving in mighty ways! We sang for about an hour and the congregation was singing with us and worshipping with us. Bob Baker, Amy Kinney and Freelon Payton each gave personal testimonies on how God has moved and continues to move in their lives.

It is hard to describe the energy that was flowing through the room last night. I know several of you have been praying us though our performances and we felt your love.

MONDAY, June 29th
Today was a sightseeing day. We took off together on the bus to tour. Did you know that the Titanic was built in Belfast? There is a whole section of the city called the Titanic Quarter that is in and around the shipyards. It is the largest dry dock in the world. Then we were off to Stormmont Castle. It was very emotional as this is the first place Melanie visited and the place where the picture was taken that was used in the press and on the coin. We felt her joy there with us. Then we were off through the Irish countryside to the ferry that took us to Portaferry in County Down. Carl remarked as we were arriving in the picturesque little sea town, that it looked just like the picture you might find on a jigsaw puzzle. Very charming. There was an old castle there built in the 15th century, and at the local aquarium there they had some very old whale jaw bones and vertebrae!

Tonight DeDe and Jeff will host a worship seminar at GMC for several people in the area. Tomorrow we are off to the Antrim coast!