Hard To Believe

It’s always hard to believe two weeks have passed. We had a wonderful kids club and teens group. Pray there will be good participation in the school year for the clubs offered. Praise for local help and hosts. Pray for William and Ann as they prepare to be married in two weeks. Thank you for your prayers and support! The team made it to Dublin and to Atlanta. Thankfully, no bad weather affecting connections.

More updates to come!

Jennifer

Amazing Week

Dear All,

What an amazing week the team has had! The children this week were very attentive and we had good attendance all week. We studied the Wordless Book with the 5- to 11-year olds and they worked hard to learn their verses,  Romans 5:8-9. Each day we concentrated on a different message from the Bible and stories sharing God’s love and gift of salvation.

We have had some wonderful hosts as always!! The teen helpers were a blessing and most came in the evenings for sports and Bible lessons with team members sharing testimonies.

We got to visit Moone High Cross which was carved in the 9th century and we had a bit of a boat ride on the river Barrow.

Tomorrow we head to Dublin to prepare for home. Pray there is no conflict with the bad weather approaching the coast at home. Also, pray for William and Ann as their wedding is only two weeks away.

Thank you for prayers and support.

Jennifer

Update from Jaci

Hello All,

It’s been a busy but wonderful first few days here in Ireland. We got to visit one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen—Glendalough. In my opinion, it was everything I dreamed of Ireland to be in a two hour hike—beautiful rocks, lakes, massive trees, waterfalls, rolling hills, random sheep, fog and mist. It was an amazing reminder to me of how magnificent our Creator really is and an incredible beginning to my first visit to Ireland. 

On Sunday, we attended a small Presbyterian Church. It was much different than the church service I regularly attend, but really cool to see the different traditions and experience a little more of the Irish culture. Meredith arrived safely, which completed our team for the week.

We’ve completed our first couple days of Kids Club and so far everything has gone really smoothly. The kids are so excited to come each day and they really have a hunger to learn more about Jesus. 

We have also had two nights of youth group, where we minister through sports and time in the Word to the teens in Athy. This group has also been very attentive and open to learning. 

I love seeing the way the team has unified, and how God really uses all of our gifts, talents and personalities in different ways for one common purpose. Looking forward to see what he does these next 3 days. Thank you for your prayers and support. We could not do this without all of you!


Jaci Spain 

Last Days at Club in Carlow

Dear all,

Have had a great week !! Sorry to be behind—it has been very busy Wednesday, Thursday and Friday preparing for the dinner Thursday night and the crafts and lessons these last days at the club in Carlow. We will be moving everything to Athy today. Thank you so much for your prayers.

Please remember to pray for the Harper family in the loss of a brother-in-law to cancer this week. Prayer for the health of all team members. Jaci arrived with no problems yesterday. Please pray that Meredith will arrive with no complications tomorrow. Also please pray the red van continues to make it. It has been little sluggish and not wanting to start the last 2 days. We know it is not the battery. 

The pictures I am posting are from clubs this week during the day and from the dinner and praise meeting on Thursday and Friday night.

Jen

Day Three

Day three! I can’t believe we are halfway through first week!! We had new children today and will hopefully have chance to update pictures tomorrow.  I never knew so many games with a parachute. 🙂 Happy 4th of July at home in the USA. We are cooking lots of food. Prayers are appreciated for many to come and be fed both spiritually and physically Thursday night. And please continue to pray for team travel and wellness.

Jennifer

All Went Well

All went well for first day!! Most of the children had come last year. We are thankful for the local church volunteers. Mary teaches tomorrow. Please pray for good turn out and weather.

Jen

Sunday Church and Preparation

The Scots Presbyterian Church here originated when the British Empire sent Scottish over to serve. Some of the cemetery is from the original time as well as now. We had a wonderful day today at church (sermon from John where the blind man is healed) and visiting for lunch with local friends.

Pray everyone on the team stays well and safe travel for other team members coming Friday and Sunday. First day of children’s club tomorrow. We did some preparation this evening when we returned to the church. We will begin teaching lessons, games, songs and Bible stories using the Wordless Book along with crafts tomorrow. We will be cooking for around 100 folks for Food & Friends Night on Thursday when I fry American style chicken, make American baked beans and peach cobbler while William and Eric cook burgers and church members bring dessert.

The church has recently been painted and looks lovely. Please be praying for a one member whose brother will likely be joining the Lord within the next day or two and pray for the pastor who has had a bout with a virus. Many thanks to all of you who support us in prayer and financially.

Jen

Arrived Safely

2019 marks the 15th year we have been helping with the Holiday Bible Clubs!

We arrived safely and all is well though we are tired yet grateful.  Please pray for good attendance and open hearts for the coming week.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we join William Workman and the local congregations in Athy and Carlow for church services.

It is beautiful weather today but very warm (72°F) with no air conditioning for this southern girl. 🙂

2019: Ready to Go

We are ready to go! This year’s team members include Jennifer Johnston, Eric Johnston, Geoffrey Johnston, Mary Woodard, JC Spain and Meredith McCormick.

Please pray for us in our travels, outreach and health and for our families at home to be without complications while we are gone. And please pray for the hearts of the children as we share the wordless book.

Thank you for praying for and supporting us!

Jen

Made It To Dublin

Hunter made it in Wednesday,  Mary Ann and Let made it in Sunday.
We three have made it to Dublin and now the fun! Double check 7 bags of partial crafts and weigh them all—ha.
Prayers requested for us as we travel to Birmingham in the morning  and Robin and Naomi drive from his grandmums in wexford to Lisburn, NI.
Thanks so much for all the prayers and support.
Jen