As promised...

Here it is. Dublin home. We are pretty much a fan of the whole deal and can't seem to imagine how it would have all played out if we lived somewhere else. I get to use a skeleton key, an intercom and walk up flights of stairs to merely look out my window and see even more beauty. my definition of beauty can sometimes be singular to only me but it is hard to argue with the treasure hunt feeling of a skeleton key. And i have no doubt that my window leads to a beauty that is universally recognized.

Another month?

How is it possibly October? Danielle and I were talking about this yesterday... we have been here about 8 weeks but when you say that we have lived in Ireland since Aug. and it is now Oct. well that just sounds so much more permanent. That feeling is also my excuse for not updating in so long, if that works.

This past month has been full of figuring out routines. Which way to walk to work, what time to have breakfast, who gets to making dinner etc. And of course our routine seems to fall more on the unplanned side but we are starting to be regulars in a couple spots, which is good craic indeed.

A couple weeks ago work showed to be harder than I projected. Something about kids being back in school and parents free of restraint made everyone venture out to my little cafe. At that point I had yet to really grasp the routine of work and with the sudden rush [along with a fall-out in my brain] it was a less than wonderful week at Metro. That said, I learned a good amount. Especially in that silly fast paced world I needed to figure out what I based my worth on and who's words meant the most to me. I am learning quicker than I knew I could.

Our flat continues to be wonderful. There are 4 flats in our building and they are each filled with quality people. It feels a little like school complete with pranks, cards and lack of sleeping. It is easy to call it home. It is rare that the 3 of us eat dinner without friends. If the neighbors are not over then they'll be by for tea later. There are 6 of us who seem to vaguely represent "Friends" complete with character casting and all.

I am trying to get involved in the wild world of film here in wee Dublin. So in a crazy effort to accomplish something I signed up for an 8 week workshop today that will hopefully teach me some things along with introduce me to some movie makers. Here it goes, living the dream. :] This place continues to be unreal... pictures to prove my point coming soon.

so so much love.

-paige

My God is so big so strong and so mighty

That silly kids song plays over and over in my head all day every day. I think it's because it's true. Sometime I sing it with a hint of doubt because we were still living in a hostel, and the smell was not getting better. And then sometimes, "... there's nothing my God can not do," came out loud as I walked away from turning in my very first resume [they call them CVs here] and having a trial run a hour later.

My God is so big so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do! So as it is, not having updated in so very very long, I have much to tell. A week ago this past monday I had a job! I was confused walking by trying to read the sign that said this little one-of-a-kind cafe was looking for intelligent, charming staff with all sorts of experience. I handed in my CV only because the manager tried to make me sit down for lunch. 2 hours later I had on an apron and was taking orders. It's funny how God works.

Yesterday Danielle and I both were off [she is working at a sheet music shop, because she can read music better than she can read words! It's amazing! :] and we were very set on getting a house. We prayed, "our God is so big, so strong and so mighty and please God don't make us live in a hostel anymore." Our mighty God gave us exactly what we were looking for with room for sleepovers [with our youth group girls], close to the train station, walking distance to work and even an intercom to the street, just like I've always wanted. I have continued amazement for what He is doing for me and I am so excited to see what comes of whatever comes next.

P.S we live a block away from the biggest theatre in Dublin! Might this be a sign? I think so :]

Much love,

Paige

Friend List

1. Collen

2. Mark

3. Gabby

4. Steven

5. Terry

6. Chelsea and Kate

Barcelona in pictures [pieces of it].

O Captain, my captain. I've met a Spaniard, he does not talk much but i like him.

this is a cathedral we happened upon.

the harbor we are staying very very close to!

the work of Gaudi! incredible.

Goodbye for now.

A much smaller team of 3 of us said goodbye to St. Field, Northern Ireland yesterday. The other 4 left a couple days previous and it left us with such a funny feeling. Part of the family was absent and Danielle, Kristin and myself had not prepared. Luckily the little team of St. Field locals came to our rescue. We went on their family outings and joined their tables for tea [dinner]. I don't think I will ever be able to a paint the hospitality of northern ireland for someone who has never been. Because it still does not make sense to me!

The past week was full past the brim of joy. We did a VBS, holy bible kids' club. Where we had 5 year olds climbing on our every limb. Our mornings with the kids didn't start till half 12 so we spent that time exploring nearby towns. Scrabo Tower, pictured to the right was one of our stops. We walked next to green fields with sheep, tickled by the fairy tale picture. And then, deep breath, we got to the top of the hill, no breath. It was astounding countryside and it's rather consistent. So our mornings were filled with natural beauty and then afternoon brought on the kind of beauty that dresses you like a bear and then makes you play tag. There were a couple times I thought my heart would burst from all the joy. The team got to work with a couple St. Field all stars like the Bowmens and the Hyndmans and they just make everything fun and inspiring. I have so many stories to tell and not a clue how to capture the magic of reality. I shall think on that... Currently I am in Barcelona, Spain! We are here for a little holiday before we start the hard task of living in Dublin!!

More pictures and stories soon!

love love love

Paige

too much to type

It has been such a rush of activity since we got here. The 7 of us [on our wee little team] have been running around sometimes working, mostly just enjoying. We have been doing a bunch of prep work for the kid's camp that starts tomorrow. I'm not sure if I have ever before done so many crafts in such a concentrated amount of time. There have been a few students around here and there but the majority of them got back thursday so from that point it's really been grand. Friday night was "Messy Fun Night." And it is as wonderful as it sounds. We were covered in egg, flour, shaving cream... and a wonderful invention called yuk. Basically we had a food fight with an entire youth group. My body still feels a wee bit trashed, but I could not be more honored to feel like an old woman.

Then last night was DEEP. The kids of northern ireland have some magic in their blood. This country is filled with family and they have no hesitation in bringing you into theirs. We had a little concert and improv/skit sesh with them. Which was then followed by a hip hop dance off. [you can tell we are american because we dance with our whole body, they dance from the waist up... rather silly].

The church family here is on the look out for work in Dublin for Danielle and I, which also incredible. I've already made a couple contacts and gotten numbers for people down in Dublin. Now if I only had a phone! haha.

love to you all.

Almost there

I am just now starting to breathe again. These last couple days successfully set the foundation of impossible. Visa woes continued and seemed to do more crashing than moving. But I can o so happily say that I not only have my visa in hand but also my passport!! The team is all together in southern california doing team like things. What a beautiful team I have. The 7 of us will be in saint field, northern ireland on the 24th of July untill the 7th of Aug. We get to be the crazy americans who entertain and makes fools of ourselves through skits and music and who knows what else. We fly out in the wee hours of the morning tomorrow and finally start this 9 month journey and I don't know if I could be more excirted!

Journey fast approaching

Talitha koum, it means "get up little girl," in hebrew. In Mark chapter 5, Jesus said this to a dead girl [and there is no time for zombie jokes]. She was dead and Jesus said no more to that, in fact, rather than just wake up... you should walk. And so I start my journey. A week from this Friday I will be on a plane with 6 other excited individuals with the hopes of landing in Northern Ireland the following day. This is walking for me. I get to be alive, I once was dead, but now I am up and walking. I am that little girl. So "Talitha koum"[blog] is an account of this adventure that God is taking me on. It is the reason that I get to be alive and He is the heat beat I choose to follow.

At this point in my preparation I am still lacking a tangible visa, not to mention my passport, which the consulate is currently holding. I want to walk where He wants me rather than to drag my feet in fear. This blog is supposed to be a mapping of this new adventure to Ireland but my hope is that it will be far more about the waking and walking [with Him].

-Paige