Get ready for a very long update with just gobs of photos. My last update left you all before Halloween. We were excited to see what Cork would cook up. We knew by the jazz festival this town loves parades. Also, Halloween started in Ireland so we had high expectations. I made chicken tortilla soup, invited some friends over, and we walked to town to find an extremely creepy, demonic Halloween parade. No princesses and spider men, nope just skeletons and dark stuff. Not the best vibe, but the floats were extremely impressive.
 |
| One of many creepy floats at the parade |
 |
| Our little sad clown |
SCHOOL UPDATE:
School is winding down. We only have this week and the next left of regular classes. Then we get a study week, which means go travel, then two weeks for our finals. I'm realizing I'm a bit stressed about the fact that I really don't know how these exams are structured. Most of my classes fully rely on how well I do on one test, which is a bit daunting, to say the least.
 |
| What my campus looked like this fall |
 |
In my professional ethics class, my next paper will be on affirmative action which I'm excited to learn more about. My last paper was on why sweat-shops are not ethically, something I'm really passionate about and continually want to learn more on. It took me aback in class at the fact that there was a philosopher who wanted to argue for the opposite. But now I'm even more equipped to defend what I strongly believe in.
SOCIAL LIFE:
 |
| A beautiful day at Fitzgerald park |
I was just in a group project for relationship marketing with all Irish students. We had a blast putting together a slide show presentation of instagram influencers and rewriting their captions to be more truthful. I had lots of questions about Irish life answered, but had so many more questions after spending time with them.
 |
| In the Fitzgerald park they have little fair and gnome doors. Beautifully painted of course! |
Friendships are deepening mostly with Americans here which was different than what I thought, but I was told to expect that. Recently, my friend Marah has been joining me at church which has really opened the door to other friends there. I mentioned last time a table of Canadians, French, Indians and Africans, that has continued throughout the weeks and I have been able to hear more of their testimonies which is my absolute favorite thing.
 |
| a beautiful tree in Fitzgerald park I talked to Asa on the phone on. Yes it was quite a sight of me trying to get up. It's higher than it looks. |
 |
| This is the view of the city on my way up to the music building. This is the point where the sweat starts to actively roll down my face from the steep climb. |
So my recent obsession has been researching everything I possibly can about cross fit. It's so fascinating to me the level of athletic abilities these humans have. I mean come on, they can do everything! It gets me stoked to continue to strengthen my body to push my human athletic ability, not for aesthetics but to be capitalizing on the gift of a healthy body. I just watched, Fittest on Earth, the Netflix documentary on cross fit, you should watch it because wowza! I wish by me writing about cross fit it would mean when I come back y'all will be like "oh my gosh! you are so ripped!" Ha no, watching YouTube videos about it and actually doing it are two very different things.
 |
| This music building I used to take my Irish singing class in and that I take my dancing class in. |
SPIRITUAL LIFE:
This morning I watched this amazing Bible Project video. It's about justice and God's heart for justice on earth and our role in that. I often don't hear Christians talking about how important raising up the weak is to God and what that looks like practically. The verses they used in the video literally had me tearing up at how applicable they are right now. You must go watch it. What is your specific calling to bring justice to those who are being oppressed?
"Bring about just righteousness.
Open your mouth for
those who can't speak
for themselves"
-Proverbs 31:8-9
"Thus says the Lord: bring about
Justice and Righteousness.
Rescue the disadvantage, and don't tolerate
oppression or violence against the immigrant,
the orphan and the widow."
-Jeremiah 22:3
"The Lord God upholds Justice for the oppressed,
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free, he loves the
Righteous but he thwarts the way of the
wicked."
-Psalm 146:7-9
 |
| These houses are on my way from the music building to the gym looking out on the River Lee. |
I also watched this beautiful talk from Steffany Gretzinger who used to be the lead singer at Bethel. She is talking at a worship leader conference, however, I think the talk is so key for everyone. She talks about working through your stuff with God and how it's going to be messy but he needs to peel back those layers and sort everything. Come before him asking Him what He has for you that day, don't leave until you hear something. She also talked about who you are in the quiet place. Are you dancing around in worship only when 500 people are watching or when it's only you and God?
I've been having these really beautiful talks about God with a friend here. It's amazing how answering someone's questions draws you into His presence to find more answers and to abide. I also listened to this sermon by Bill Johnson which really encouraged me to eat up The Word. Sometimes I have to be reminded of how important the Word of God is. This sermon is a game-changer for sure.
HOMELESS HELP:
haha I found some photos I did not know where taken of me on the homeless help facebook page. This one is my personal favorite. A little traffic cone.
Helping out here has still been just my absolute favorite thing about Cork. Each week I learn more about the hearts behind the volunteers and the complexity of the situation in Cork. They were saying that our numbers are increasing because they are coming down from Dublin because the homeless crisis there is out of control. Right now at the emergency housing, Cork Simon, you have to walk to the courthouse to get a ticket for that night. That means if you are physically or mentally not able to walk across town, you won't have a bed that night.
The other week I was walking in the drizzle that is the everyday weather of Cork and one of our regulars says," hey your hair is going to look horrible in this weather." Shocked, I replied "I know!!! it's terrible!" He replied, "yeah I know, my mom is a hairdresser." I keep thinking of this story and first, how hilarious it is that he would know such a specific thing about curly hair, and second that each of these humans have families and mothers and siblings. They are just like us and not to be avoided and assumed they are horrible druggies and alcoholics.
HOSPITALITY:
I shot this photo of Chelsea and her friends from UCLA. She often makes a big pot of chili and invites whoever wants to come over. It's amazing and fills the whole apartment with laughter and warmth. She's taught me a lot about hospitality and generosity and that cooking someone food quickly builds a relationship. She is always working to bring this large group together yet often it goes unnoticed. Well not by me Chelsea!
My flat is planning a Thanksgiving feast with everyone we know. I even made a Google sheets for it because we need to be THAT organized. We are looking at upwards of 35 people packed in this little kitchen. We are super stoked to say the least. I'm also planning a long trip to Belfast and then Germany for my study week. At church, I met a really awesome girl visiting from Belfast who I'm hoping to hang out with.
 |
| The beautiful night sky from the bridge I cross to get home. |
Seeing this sky was one of those moments were a large smile spread across my face that I'm in Ireland! After I put that as a prayer request, it comes to mind so much more! I stop and think "Oh my gosh! I'm in Ireland!!" And the smile lasts for quite a while.
ASA:
Guys! Asa is done with Officer Candidate School! He is officially a Marine. I was sad to miss the big celebration but so so proud of everything he has accomplished. Thank you for your prayers for him. We can all tell he is doing what he has a gifting for. It's so beautiful to watch someone feel really proud of something they've accomplished. But, he's not done, he started again on Monday for another 6 months so you're not off the hook for the prayers!
- Stress free end of the semester
- A blast with my family who come on THURSDAY!
- That the Word of God would be a magnet to our hands
- Smooth sailing with travel
- A second wave of stamina for Asa
ANSWERED PRAYERS:
- A smile a day
- Asa thriving at Marine training
- Healing for face!
- Deeper friendships at church!
Add your comment