Month: July 2006

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen. Tonight’s ‘blog’ spiel is delivered to you by myself, Alasdair Mackenzie. Understand that I will type this s l o w l y so that you may have a complete understanding of the accent. This evening’s addition has a slight dedication to one man; no not Christ, but Drew ‘WJH?’ Stephens. Drew has blessed the group with a team slogan for the Iona Project 2006.

Drew’s enthusiasm for light entertainment and group energy always grants the team joy and humility. His contatious chesire grin spreads quickly throughout the team and from this developed WJH? After spending now one week with the Americans, an educated guess tells me that almost all memebers of the team have emulated Drew’s slogan at some point, whether it be during meal times or at group meetings – thank you Drew.

Over this weekend we finished our ministry outreach in Naas, Co. Kildare, on Friday evening with a special finale from a Brazilian family of whom we were treated to Glorify Thy Name (Father, Jesus, Spirit we love you!) in Portugese.

Saturday morning started at 6:30am; then again at 6:45am and then again sometime later. Eventually the morning began at 8:00am with Kevin’s third and final wake-up call – remember this fellow was in the marines so I marched quickly downstairs and out the backdoor hopping over Toby (the dog) lying on the back doorstep enjoying young puupy dreams – he has the right idea – and into the back of the car. A train journey took us into Dublin where we arrived at around 10:00am and enjoyed a full day of sight-seeing and Irish banter. The majority of my day was spent relaxing in St. Stephen’s Green, a public park adjacent to the city’s pedestrian shopping where a brass band were performing live music for the general public with a few popular numbers, some Sister Act renditions, the mighty LOCH LOMOND and finishing with an encore dedicated to ol’ blue eyes himself; My Way and New York New York. “Start spreading the news” A wry smile drew itself upon my face as I recited the opening lines to this such well known song, remembering why God has brought me here. A train journey back to Athy station brought us all home safely where and exhausted team dragged themselves to that evening’s team meeting discussing the day ahead. As shopping stories of the afternoon unfolded it was hard to judge who was more tired, the group, or their parents’ credit cards – ask your banks!

Sunday morning arrived sooner than needed where the Forrest household awoke to a fully fried Irish breakfast before church at the expense of super cooks Carl, Colin, Mathew and his older borther Odhran. A sweet sensation of grizzling bacon rashes and black pudding stirring up in the frying pan was enough to drag all out from under the covers.

Church began promptly at 10:30 in Athy where stand-in minister but local missionary William Workman led the service. Prayers, testimonies and scripture readings were also well incorporated into the service with several team members participating, not to mention a solo performance from the angelic yet dominant voice of Jenifer Johnston. Quickly the mini-bus was loaded up and revving to go as we dashed across to Naas to delivery a similar service where Ryan and Regina introduced a new song to the congregation that the the children had been learning all week. As the afternoon continued we were invited to a family BBQ close to Athy – I hope my American friends were not too disappointed in comparison to the infamous southern-grills they are more acustomed to. Food and company were a blessing; musical entertainment was provided by Regina, John and Jenifer and not to mention the exquisite violin performances from Sarah Park (without the ‘s’).

The afternoon allowed for me to take a trip across the road to visit my hosts from last year, Tom and Margaret Leahy. Tom – an elderly gentleman – and I recolected our year gone pass and exchanging stories on what Christ has did in our lives as well as discussing the scriptures. Ryan and Drew arrived some hours later from an afternoon trip to the Peat Bog and joined us for a small tea party before evening service. Team Leader Kevin McGuire delivered a short but challenging sermon on Acts 9 regarding Saul on the Damascus road. Kevin diligently pointed out that the immediate cry from the blinded man was ‘Who are you?” A key question for us all to ask ourselves of every morning, who am I, and where am I going? To imagine you were Saul at this time, theres one other question and emotion that would not escape you the entirity of your life, what just happened? I’m sure Saul was in awe of the overwhelming light and voice from heaven; he then believed and was baptised when his sight was restored.

So I say to Drew, your slogan adopted by the team has led me to believe that in order to have a mature and fuller understanding of God and his ways and our futures with him I feel that we must learn from what has gone before us. It is wise to take a few steps back before taking a few more forward. I’ve learned not to ask why me? but to ask what now? His plans invovle me but do not resound around me; as Ryan put it earlier this evening, its not me who saves but He. To understand the Lord and His ways of working in our lives we must first accept and understand, what just happened! ~ Thank you Drew.

Alasdair Mackenzie