Day 3 - 9 July 2011

Today was all driving. Peter took me down to Belfast to meet up with my team. He showed me where the Titanic was built and where they're building a memorial because next year will be 100 years since it sank. Then he showed me the Europa, the most bombed hotel in the world. After that, he showed me where the riots took place a couple of weeks ago and the bank where the biggest robbery in history took place. £26 million and they never caught the people who did it.

Peter also showed me the theatre where Liam Neeson got his start and told me that Liam's sister was one of his teachers in primary school. Apparently she was very mean haha. He also showed me Queen's University (where he and Joanne studied) and the statue of C.S. Lewis going into the wardrobe...that was really cool.

Then we met up with Chris and eventually the rest of the my team and Peter went back up north and I went down to Cork. The other people on the team were telling me how long of a journey it was for them...it was 6 hours long (including stops and wrong turns) Which to me is just going back to Wake Forest. But today I travelled the length of Ireland and I was only in the car for 8.5ish hours. I feel so accomplished =)

What IS In A Name?

I couldn't even think of what to name this post...it doesn't really have a unique purpose I guess, other than to update the status on Ireland. I have my British Pounds and my Euros and I and just trying to figure out how much money/snacks I'll need for the flights. 11 more days. 11...long...days...I know I said that I would appreciate these last days because the more I rush this time, the faster Ireland is going to fly by...but it's really hard and when this world puts you through some tough times and you just want to give up, it's SUPER hard. I just want to wake up and it to be next Wednesday. But no, I have far too much to do and enjoy in these 11 days for that to happen. I will wake up and it will be tomorrow. The same trials will be there, but I will have slept and I will do my devotion before ANYTHING ELSE tomorrow and I will have the strength of God on my side to face them, which is what I've had all along, I just need to reach out and let Him hold me up. So when other people cause you headaches and make your life miserable, remember that God is there to life you up when you are weak and hold you even when you think you can stand on your own...because you will never be able to.

21 Days

3 weeks...so short and yet so long...I ordered my British Pounds (GBP) the other day and now all I have to do is wait for enough money to order my Euros and then go get them. I am amazed at how God has provided in every way and continues to provide. People keep asking questions about where I'm going to be staying and even though I'm not exactly sure, I know that it's with an organized program so it is under control and God has given me a peace about that. I am so excited and I want it to be the 24 hours before my flight so that I can call the airlines and confirm all of them. But I know that if I runs the 3 weeks leading up to the trip, the 3 weeks of the trip will fly by even faster. So I'm going to drink it in. Enjoy every second for what it is. Be focused on the here and now. Be prepared for what lies ahead but be firmly planted in today.

So, It's Been a While...

I know it's been forever since I've updated this, but I haven't had anything to update until now. I've raised about half of my funds for the trip! Now I have a donate button that links to my paypal account so that donations can be made all the easier :)

Also, I finally heard back from the people at Baptist Youth this past week! The first email came on last Wednesday asking for my references email addresses. I sent them to her, and then Thursday she emailed me again asking for me to get a background check (I'm not a criminal, YAY!) and suggesting that I purchase travelers insurance :) Sitting here writing this at 1:30am I'm all nervous and giddy and excited and ready to go and not come back. Forget UTK, I'll just find a college over there and finish in Ireland. Maybe its the lack of sleep talking...

New subject! First goal before Ireland, Finish all my "in progress" books...not sure if that will happen with 37 days till I leave. Goal number 2, get KidStuf prop room all clean and sorted. Goal 3, I'm starting to reset my internal clock to avoid jetlag...my goal is to be going to bed by 9pm and waking up at 6am which is like going to bed at 2am and and waking up at 11am, which is what I normally do and then I can adjust to whatever the camp schedule is. Speaking of lack of sleep, I'm going to be waking up early to go down to Soddy to visit family tomorrow morning around 7 or 8...yay lack of sleep!

Can I have a stamp?

Saturday I sent out my support letters. I always feel kinda awkward sending them out, but I know that it's the best way to ask people to give. Here's a copy of it:

"As you may already know, I have been presented with an opportunity to participate in a mission trip to Ireland this July. I will be working in 3 camps, each a week long, in different areas of the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland while I am there. I believe God has shown me how I can contribute directly to this effort and help fulfill His commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15.

Ireland, though once called the land of scholars and saints, is in what One Mission Society UK is calling “A Famine of Faith”. The camps I will be working with are children's camps and will hopefully raise up a generation of God-fearing Irish people. You can read more about the camps at http://www.byouth.org/

I am writing to ask for your help in 3 areas. First and foremost I ask you to pray for the success of this trip. It’s not automatic just because I show up. I’ve already begun searching for transportation, gathering the materials I might need, checking formalities, etc., and frankly, unless the Lord is directing these efforts, I would just as soon stay home. So your prayers are extremely important.

Next, I am asking for your financial support if you are able to help. Some part of me cringes to ask for money like this, but on the other hand, I truly believe the Lord IS directing this trip and your money will not be wasted. I need about $2000 for traveling expenses and cost of the camps where I’ll be working. Unfortunately because I am going on my own and meeting the organization there, your gift is not tax deductible and checks should be sent and made out to me. Every penny that you send will go towards either this trip or future trips to Ireland as that is where I feel God is calling me to go.

And lastly, I need you to pray again. Yes, the money is important, but “where He guides, He provides”, so I know He will make a way, but I need to be assured that People of faith are interceding as I take on this task with others in the Irish Baptist Association.

Thanks for taking time to read this and thanks in advance for your support. I’d like a chance to tell you about my experiences when I return, but while I am preparing, and while I am gone, you can keep up with all I’m doing here: http://shenanigansofdrew.blogspot.com/ "

Do with this post what you will, but I hope that you support my trip, whether it be through prayer, financially, or both.

Takin Care of Business

Today is the day that my application was turned in to the Baptist Youth office. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Today is also the day that I sit down and hammer out my support letters along with the list of people I plan to send them to. I still need between $1500 and $2000, but if God wants me to go on this trip, I trust that He will provide exactly what I need. Any money that goes over my goal this year, or that I don't spend while I'm over there is going to go into an account to go towards my trip next year. The huge downer is that since I'm not going through an organization, any gifts that I receive are not tax deductible for the giver. I'm praying that this doesn't keep people from giving to the advancement of God's Kingdom.

This video was sent to me by Peter Lawther. It's a very powerful video that shows the spiritual climate of Ireland. Please watch this and keep the people of Ireland in your prayers!!