Thursday, May 28, 2009

Bus rides, Noise-aholics, and Football

Well, today was my third day in Belfast and my second day on the job. I was supposed to catch the 11 o'clock 530 bus but it doesn't exist. SO, I showed up at YI at 1 roughly after having caught the noon bus and walked about ten minutes after having gone past my destination. But you know, it happens.

I am currently reading Chuck Palahniuk's novel 'Lullaby' and I am loving it. I love his style of writing and even though it is a bit dark, I found the content to be very humorous and true. He is using the idea that words have power (and in the case of the book, the power to kill). But he makes many references to the fact that we as a world culture are growing more and more to be noise-aholics. He says we can't stand silence and we can't handle the idea of silence. He talks about our music being loud and our talking being constant. He lists of many different things and I think it is true. He contemplates a world where if everyone knew of the Culling Song (a song in the book that can kill), then the world would put a ban on noise. Everywhere, silence would abound. He used the phrase, 'A word is worth a thousand pictures' because every minute word you whispered would have to be precious. You would not want to listen to someone and they speak the culling song. You would die! It was very interesting... contemplate on it. What is sound was a weapon? A mere sentence could kill, eight lines long, ten seconds to speak. If you heard it, you would die.

Finally, football happened today. The kids I was playing with were kids from the West Belfast community (Catholic and rough). They were cursing up a storm and being very rough in the game play. And they were naturally very good. All of these things combined made me very intimidated. They were all good enough to play on any college team, plus they were badass enough to beat me up. It was a thrill and I did not like it. LOL. Next Tuesday I play with the 11- 14 year olds (Lifeline is 15-18). Hopefully that goes better.

I like it here a lot. It is growing on me more and more every day. But I still miss home...

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Street Crossing, Airplanes and Dependance

Dearest friends, family and loved ones,

This is my first post since arriving in Ireland. I am going to be the first person to admit this is harder than I thought. It finally occurred to me today, sitting in the living room of my boss's house that I am on PRIME in another country for six months! Whoa!

I am overwhelmed. That is the only way to describe it. Between everyone being a stranger, living in a new culture, and entering into a new PRIME experience, my body doesn't know how to handle things. BAH!

This place really is beautiful. I took a couple of pictures, but not nearly enough to post anything yet. My room is modest but it is my own and I am grateful for it. I have a moderate headache, which is probably from a lack of sleep.

Despite my initial feelings, I have faith that this is where God wants me. I have faith that he has prepared me for this place and has prepared this place for me. I will learn through hardships and not just let them happen. It will be my choice and that is my decision. I am not going to let a bad situation choose me. I am sure that my anxiety is coming from my feelings of being overwhelmed and that in a week's time, I will be all about this place again (even now, I feel much better about it than before).

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Days Until Something

I find myself at the precipice of traveling to Ireland, overlooking a major change and growth period in my life I am sure. However, looking over the edge, I cannot help but not believe I am here. I find myself in denial of the fact that I will soon be leaving. Do I need to pack? Do I need to start saying goodbye? Do I need to be more intentional about my time? The answer to these questions and more is 'no' and 'yes' at the same time.

No because I don't believe it is really happening. Yes because I know it is.

I can only guess what God has planned over there for me. I can only imagine how tough it is going to be and how rewarding. I can only deny it is going to happen until the moment before, then face it.