|
|
|
Posted in General Posts by Toni-Lyn Keller on 7/22/2011
We've all arrived safely in Atlanta for debrief. Everyone is currently enjoying a day of rest. Although our hearts are with all of our new Irish friends we look forward to coming home to share our stories and what God is doing! it's been a truly amazing trip and it will honestly be one of the hardest things to see all of them go home. Last night we had the opportunity to pray over one another and God reminded us that community is not bound by geographical location. It's been such an enormous blessing to have each of these guys on the team. God seems to once again have so perfectly and intricately fashioned this team. His provision never ceases to astound me. so, with all that God has shown us we continue home with great responsibility to share what we know to be true and live life in love in the communities God entrusts us with.
We will see you tomorrow!
Much Love,
TL
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by leadership team on 7/12/2011
It truly has been an honor to lead a group that is made up of such amazing and beautiful people! Thank you for trusting us with them. We gave each participant a chance today to write a letter to everyone back home. Hope you enjoy!
kindly,
frank, bekah, and toni-lynn
Ireland is such a beautiful land, like something you would find on a postcard. But once you look around and see large groups of teens wandering, smoking, drinking and hunched over literally looking for trouble - you realize that this beautiful place is far from picturesque. Also, the teens view of God and Christianity is more of a religious nametag instead of a genuine relationship.
Even though we've only been here a short time God is already showing up. He's opening doors of conversation and allowing the teens to be open to our love for them. I praise God for all of the people who supported me and allowed God to use them to send me here. The whole team is anticipating God's future works.
Please continue praying for us as we pour more into the youth drop-in center.
Love,
Megan
The Lord's utter magnificence, power and planning has time and again made itself evident. The uniqueness of each individual on this team, and how each of us complement each other, building us up, astounds. Our team is great, love everyone, the diverse and different backgrounds we come from strengthens the drive and purpose we have here at the Drop-in center. So I want to say thank you, love you guys, and again reiterate the strength of God's presence here.
Katie
Hello from Ireland!
After traveling 36 long hours we finally arrived in Dungarvan about 8 days ago. Everything is green, and all the people are so nice. There are a lot of things that are culturally a bit different from us but we are enjoying learning from our hosts how to better connect with the youth here.
One thing God has been teaching me lately is that even though we're all different here, we all serve one God and he is always the same. See you all at the end of the month! Thanks for all the prayers and support.
Love,
Kat
Thank you for the opportunity to be able to go to Ireland. So far the drop-in center has been doing great. Please be praying for more youth to come until the end.
Ben Mulhern
hello to everyone home and thank you for your prayers and support! i'm so excited to be here and the work we're doing here is truely amazing.
- Darleen
thank you to everyone who has supported my journey in ireland. not only have we been able to help the teens here, but we've also been able to help each other. as we strolled the park of a castle on sunday, God seemed to answer many questions i had about myself and my future. i'm excited to be here and can't wait to come home with a new attitude and outlook towards obstacles, mistakes, and situations.
Thanks again to my support back home!
Chelsea
| |
|
Posted in Field Support by Rebekah Burder on 7/12/2011
It's Tuesday morning. Our seventh so far. The sun is shining and there are team members spread around the house journaling, reading and listening to music. Its our hour set apart for quiet time after breakfast and showers. After this we'll debrief our quiet time to see what God has revealed to each of us. It's a powerful time when our joy, insecurities, hurts and excitement get voiced. When we pray over hurtful memories or feelings about who we are. Where we, as a team, teach each other how God sees us, instead of what the world sees.
After this, we are ready to share life every day with the kids at the drop in centre.
The past two days where a little out of routine. We spent Sunday at two different church services, with a break spent touring the beautiful Kilkenney Castle. The evening service was especially moving. We had a chance to worship with a hundred or so American teenagers as the founder of the drop in centre program lead worship. It was, for all of us, one of the most God filled sessions we've experienced.
And then we found God in nature. At the amazing Mahon Falls. We spent three hours hiking and enjoying one of the most beautiful natural sites. We would post pictures but are unable to do so from our iPad, and, as I'll write later, our computers and cameras are begin hit hard.
Pray for the following:
Toni's computer and camera- Both are being hit by spiritual attacks. Internal parts have shifted. Batteries have died, despite using the appropriate cords and converters. It's very discouraging for this to happen.
Team unity- Our second week of time in Ireland will be full. We need grace and love to make sure everything gets done.
Wisdom- For the team to be filled with discernment.
Energy- God has answered prayers for energy. Despite a series of long days, we're still excited and have enough for each day. Pray that this continues.
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Toni-Lyn Keller on 7/7/2011
Travel Days: 7.5.11
Today was supposed to be our first day in Ireland, but we had a few snafus in our travel plans. Currently we are sitting in the Newark airport for four more hours until take off. However, our ministry has already begun. These kids are incredible! Allow me to rewind to yesterday.
Yesterday, we left AIM around 9:30AM to drive to the ATL airport where we were planning on spending about five hours before our flight to Newark. We had a great drive to the airport and once we arrived and made it through security we cozied up to our assigned gate for what ended up being almost seven hours due to weather delays. The group morale remained high, we prayed over the traveling, made goals for positive attitudes, and the leaders shared some hilarious stories from the mission field. Not to mention our team’s obsession with planking, a new craze most of us are not yet familiar with.
The plane ride was lovely as it involved sharing music with Darleen, watching the sunset, seeing the stars, and crossing over Manhattan. The city was all lit up and sparkly like glitter and we could see tiny fireworks displays all over the grid below for the Fourth of July. It was truly spectacular.
In Newark, we ended up missing our Dublin flight by one hour. There was a weird and dark spirit around us of fear and anxiety as we spoke with the airline representative. For some reason we were not getting much help from the airline.
I got the team’s attention and we started praying over the situation: for peace and compassion from the workers and that God would give us a safe place to sleep. The thing is (and what we shared with the team) that when you are going to do something good - something in the name of God - there will be a battle. We established this past week that this is not just a frivolous trip to experience Europe, we are going with a purpose and it is going to change our hearts. We are going to experience God and love people in that. God is doing amazing things. So, we all prayed out against the struggle we were having.
As soon as we looked up the entire situation had shifted. The anxiety was gone, we all became calm, and the airline rep that had been walking away in frustration suddenly turned around toward the counter again and began helping us. It was like a switch had been flipped. We ended up having three hotel rooms comped for the team to rest. NOT ONLY this, but this morning (7.6.11) when we arrived in the airport again we began to have a struggle yet again to get anyone to assist us. As we stood by the counter trying to get anyone to help us Frank tapped me and Bekah on the shoulder and pointed toward our team. There they were in a circle praying for us. Smiling and encouraged, we turned around and suddenly someone was helping us. Someone was printing all of our tickets.
While these things may seem minor, it is a battle against what we are going to do. It is something that as a missionary you have to combat and pray for discernment to be able to recognize these things in yourself and your team and call it out in love. Things like frustration and fear could cause disunity and can close us off to what God has for us.
Satan cannot touch us, but has a role in twisting our situations and luring us away from God. So, we cling to Christ. It’s incredible to be a part of a team that gets that. We are children of God and we are called here with a purpose.
With all of this in mind, we have less than three hours now until our flight to Ireland. The team is enjoying their time in the airport and even met an Irish teen right here. His name is Mike and he’s teaching them to juggle. While the travel thus far has been challenging, it is such confirmation again of God’s astounding provision and encouragement for what is to come. Praise God for everything He has done! Onward to Dungarvan!
Arrival: 7.7.11
We arrived in Dungarvan yesterday! The countryside on the drive in is so gorgeous and our walk around the town was equally stunning. Dungarvan is a quaint Irish bayside town. We spent time this evening (Thursday, 7.7.11) at The Drop, which is the drop-in center we are assisting in developing here. The team spent time hanging out with some teens in the area and played a raucous game of Spoons while getting to know one another. We are developing a logo and branding for the drop-in and passing out fliers around town tomorrow inviting everyone to hang out at The Drop. This is the ministry we will be doing daily here.
Team time is going really well; everyone is in great spirits and loving the chilly weather and friendly people! Tonight is Ben's 18th birthday and we are celebrating with a cake and a movie. We will connect back soon and are keeping you all in our prayers.
Much Love,
Toni-Lyn
| |
|
Posted in Field Support by Kayla Phillips on 7/6/2011
We just spoke with the team leaders and they've all arrived safely in Ireland. They are in route to their ministry site and will be settling in these next few days and getting some orientation from their host. Expect to see some blogs rolling out in the next few days as they find internet. Thanks for all the prayers for this team!
Ambassador field support team
| |
|
Posted in Training by Rebekah Burder on 7/2/2011
Have you found yourself wondering what happens at training camp? Maybe late at night while sitting on your sofa you've thought, "I wish I could participate in a dance off." Or maybe you think you've been a little too cool today. If so, training camp is for you.
Here's a rundown of all that could be yours, or your teenagers on this trip:
Packing seven outfits for seven camp days. Then realizing on the third day that you're running through the clothes at double speed because you've sweat more at camp than you have in your entire life.
Forgetting a pillow.
Forgetting a pillow AND sheets.
Creating an awesome team flag.
Winning a dance competition! Yes, you read that. Team Ireland won the 2011 Ambassador Training Camp Dance Off.
Learning what God thinks of us.
Going on a Surrender Walk through Georgia woods.
Learning what it means to be a team.
Worshipping together as a team.
Sharing our fears and hopes.
Learning how God speaks to each of us.
We can't wait to get to Ireland. Pray that we stay energized and healthy. That we continue to build a great team. And that we get as much from this trip as possible.
| |
|
Posted in Training by Rebekah Burder on 7/2/2011
It's 7:30 at night. I'm sitting in the training center while 80 participants, leaders and staff members are learning about who we all are in Christ. It's been a long day, and the team is feeling the effects of a lack of sleep and many hours outside on a hot day.
God is moving here and I pray that these Ambassadors will feel that in big ways on this trip.
Pray against discouragement and frustration. Pray for team unity as we learn about each other. Pray that we speak life into each other. Pray for high energy, good sleep and health.
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by on 6/30/2011
It has been a busy day as 71 Ambassador participants arrived for training camp. The teams have been able to meet face to face and get to know each other, as well as their leaders. They have gotten settled in their cabins and have started their training.
| |
|
Next 10 Articles >>
|
|
|
