Dublin—Day 8 and Final Thoughts

I haven’t blogged the last couple of days because I haven’t particularly had the time or the energy to spare to do so.

There’s a good chance that Friday was the best day for everyone on the trip. We had lunch at a place that claimed to serve American style food—although we would beg to differ—and then it was time for boys’ clubs at DCM. For this our group had to separate. Kyle, Aubrey and Becca went to play soccer with one club while Nathan, Kelly and I stayed at DCM to prepare for another. I haven’t heard a lot about the other group’s experience with their club, but from what I understand the boys were pretty rough, and Kyle had a wonderful opportunity to encourage and talk to the boys there. Nathan, Kelly and I had about two hours to kill before our club started, so we talked to Liesel and some of the other DCM workers. Also, Aaron—who basically grew up through the mission—came in with his friend, Liam, who has, undoubtedly the best voice I’ve ever heard from a guy my age—ever. End of story. Aaron asked me to sing for them as well—they had heard Aubrey and me practicing the day before—and they acted really impressed. Normally, I don’t put much into applause from other people, but the people in Dublin have been so real and genuine that I have no choice but to believe that they were sincere. 

Kyle, Aubrey and Becca came back just as my, Kelly and Nathan’s club was starting. Nathan led worship and taught the boys “Grin Again Gang,” and they taught us a song of their own. I meant to take a picture of the lyrics to this song, and I’m regretting not being able to remember them all, but it was totally fantastic and the team thoroughly enjoyed it.

I got to teach the boys a bible verse about helping others. I had so much fun. We did the balloon method for memory verses—each word of the verse goes on a balloon and volunteers from the audience get to pop two balloons, but then they have to recite the entire verse with the missing words. Naturally, everyone wanted to play—they’re boys—and I had a great time with them. Afterword, they played a rough game of basketball and Kelly and I did some dishes in the kitchen. 

Then it was time to prepare for Choose Life, their high school/college age group. I was very excited about this one—this is the age group I am used to! Nathan, Aubrey and I led worship (videos to be posted on Facebook later), and the group really enjoyed us. Later we found out that they never get to sing worship with music, so this was a real treat for them.

After Andrew shared a word it was free time. We played and laughed and danced and talked and really, genuinely connected with them. I didn’t want to leave when it was over.

My only regret is that it took that long for me to realize my purpose in all of this. Liesel confirmed this the next day at a debriefing with the team. We talked about the various ways we were used this week, even though the Queen’s presence in Dublin complicated a lot of our plans.

This is something I say often, but it’s very rarely present in such an obvious way in my life—we can make all the plans we want, but ultimately God is the Creator and Orchestrator of the Universe, and He is going to decide how things are going to go. Aubrey pointed out something that Liesel had said previously that went along with this—“Where does God want you? Exactly where you are.” Kyle began to disagree with this, but then changed his mind, providing an excellent demonstration of this fact: Jonah and the Big Fish. The question was “Well, was Jonah where God wanted Him?” The answer is a resounding “yes.” Jonah tried to do exactly the opposite of what God wanted him to do, and how did God react? He didn’t say “Oh, gosh, didn’t see that one coming, guess I have to change My plans!” He put Jonah in that fish so fast it would make your head spin! God has this way of putting us exactly where He wants us—despite our plans, fears, flaws, failures, doubts, insecurities, etc. 

This was such an enlightening moment not just for the trip as a whole, but for my entire life! I know I hear it (and say it!) all the time, but as lost as you may feel, you’re never far from where God wants you. Lauren said this to me just a couple months ago when I was telling her about Spain and my fears that I would miss out on something happening in Jacksonville or with my family or with my friends—we can never take God by surprise. He’s never caught off guard.

The fact is that God put this Ireland trip on Becca’s heart a long time ago. And He put Ireland on my brain and Aubrey’s brain, and called Nathan and Kyle specifically to Ireland, and inspired Kelly to sign up for specifically the Ireland trip. Each of us had reasons not to go on this trip, but we did anyway. God put us here at this specific time. God was also not surprised by the Queen’s trip to Dublin. He knew she was coming too! 

I know that each person on this trip has probably gotten at least a small amount of flack for coming on this trip. I personally am surrounded by generous and selfless missionaries who take trips frequently to South Africa. This seems like a “cushy” missions trip. Some dared to not even call it that—to my face! But here are the facts: less than one per cent of Ireland’s population are God-fearing Christians. The kids in the heart of Dublin live in absolutely desperate situations. Girls are raised to be tough and cold and mean as a means of survival, and boys are heartless and emotionless in how they communicate and relate to everyone around them. Dublin Christian Mission is the second oldest Christian Mission in Ireland, and they need all the help that they can get. I only wish I could have done more for them, honestly. All I have to offer is my time and my energy and that’s simply not enough. 

The Queen’s presence in Dublin also showed us a side of the Irish we very well may have never known had she not been here—that Ireland is a hurting nation. They have been oppressed and abused and torn down for centuries, and they still have walls up, and they’re still defensive, and they’re angry and hurt—but they are fighters. They will never give up and they will never back down. There were moments where I thought I was too tender-hearted for this trip; my feelings are hurt very easily, and these kids do not care. They are not always soft and cuddly and nice and encouraging and loving and warm. They are cold and bitter and hateful and mean. But they need people like me around, they need to see a more tender side to people—that outsiders do not always come to oppress. That’s why people like Liesel (from Canada) and Samaria (from El Salvador) and Martha (from the United States) are here! 

My heart aches for them, truly. And I hope to return soon and do more for them.

Each person on this team has learned a lot on this trip and will come back different from the people that they left as. We all shared last night the individual challenges we were each faced with and forced to deal with on this trip that, at least for myself, had been avoided until now. I wouldn’t have had this trip go any other way, and I am so thankful and joyful that this team got to be a part of the changes taking place in my life. I only hope I can continue to make these changes as I head back home to hit the ground running with school and work. I hope you’ll keep each one of us in your prayers as we readjust to life after Ireland.