It all started on a rainy day. You would think that we would be used to this kind of weather, as we are living in Ireland, but we have been blessed with incredible weather so far. So it was a little bit of a downer, but I was still pushing through. I personally had no idea where we were going either. All I knew was that we were going to be hiking, but that was about it. For some reason, Jess, one of our P.A.s, was super positive and hyper. Her attitude was so great, so ready for anything, and it was catching. I am so thankful for that positivity, as otherwise the day could have been awful. But with her infectious smiles, it was amazing. As we got off the bus, I saw that we had come to a lake, and there were three motorboats that looked like canoes. We were going to take a ride around the lake and look at the views, and then it was going to take us to starting point of our two hour hike. The views were amazing. You could see the mountains, the foliage, the random islands, and even a castle popped up there. Everywhere you looked it was simply breathtaking.
Then we came to a bridge, and the river had a rapids going that the boats couldn’t cross. We had to get off the canoes and cross the bridge, pull the boats through with a rope. My canoe pulled up to the land, and the guide told us to follow the path and cross the bridge. We saw no path at first and were a little confused; then we also saw that the other two boats were unloading at a point much closer to the bridge. Realization hit us: there was no path. Not only was there no path, but the ground was flooded to about mid-calf. There was nothing to do but to forge ahead. So my group did it. And as a result, our boots were soaking wet the whole day. But it was totally okay. I had a bullet proof positive attitude. We pulled the boats through the rapids, and got back on them. We finished the boat ride among downpour, but I had a great time with the people in my boat.
And once we got hiking, we felt much warmer. The hike was amazing. The view of the Gap of Dunloe was simply brilliant. God’s beauty and brilliance almost hit you in the face; it was so in front of your eyes. It was a really fantastic day for me. It not only brought the beauty of God’s earth in front of me, but also the beauty of His people and their individual personalities. As a group in close quarters, we are easily affected by one another. I was so thankful for Jess and her attitude; she made the whole day not only bearable, but fun. I was able to find the joy through the discomfort and the cold. This is a big thing for me, as I tend to be a negative person. So this day was not only fun and full of gorgeous sights, but it was meaningful, and it taught me a big lesson that I have been trying to keep with me, and intend to keep with me for the rest of the trip.
written by Kaela Blasen
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
A walk through Glendalough
8:15 a.m.-Stumble into kitchen to make bagged lunch, put on too much mayonnaise, climb onto tour bus, fall asleep again.
9:45-Wake up at place called “Glendalough”, put on lots of rain gear, make funny faces at little kids before tour starts.
10:30-Half-listen to tour guide, half-mindedly take pictures of high crosses, round towers, and St. Kevin’s “Kitchen”.
11:15-Take lots of pictures in front of glorious lake and majestic mountains, drink hot chocolate, put on more rain gear.
11:45-Begin a “fun and exhilarating” hike with 19 people, stop to take pictures at St. Kevin’s cave, eat a snack bar.
12:30 p.m.-Stop for lunch at old ruins, watch mountain goats play on rocks, get soaked because of lack of rain gear.
1:15-Put on any rain gear not already on, climb up rocks, stop to take pictures at neat waterfall.
1:50-Reach the top of the hike, cross very scary bridge over waterfall, take a few more pictures, lose feeling in toes.
2:20-Try not to fall off a path that is the width of two railroad ties and has little staples in it to increase grip, try really hard not to fall off path when the person behind you grabs your backpack to keep their balance.
2:55-Stop to take more pictures, battle epic wind and rain, get a little muddy when the path isn’t where it should be, lose feeling in fingers.
3:20-Try to figure out what’s going on with the weather, rain and sunshine, repeat, take off rain gear because it is sunny…nevermind, it started raining again.
3:35-Witness the hand of God painting a brilliant rainbow in the brightest sky, send up a prayer of thanks, take more pictures, take off rain gear.
3:50-Start thinking about how you can invent “breathable rain gear”, start descent into forest down 200+ steps, lose feeling in whatever hadn’t already lost feeling.
4:15-Back in parking lot, holding a cup of the best hot chocolate ever, hearing stories from everyone else about sights and sounds seen and heard.
4:35-Climb onto bus, get as comfortable as possible in wet clothes and muddy shoes, fall asleep within minutes.
Proof of a day well lived.
Written by Erin Flathers
9:45-Wake up at place called “Glendalough”, put on lots of rain gear, make funny faces at little kids before tour starts.
10:30-Half-listen to tour guide, half-mindedly take pictures of high crosses, round towers, and St. Kevin’s “Kitchen”.
11:15-Take lots of pictures in front of glorious lake and majestic mountains, drink hot chocolate, put on more rain gear.
11:45-Begin a “fun and exhilarating” hike with 19 people, stop to take pictures at St. Kevin’s cave, eat a snack bar.
12:30 p.m.-Stop for lunch at old ruins, watch mountain goats play on rocks, get soaked because of lack of rain gear.
1:15-Put on any rain gear not already on, climb up rocks, stop to take pictures at neat waterfall.
1:50-Reach the top of the hike, cross very scary bridge over waterfall, take a few more pictures, lose feeling in toes.
2:20-Try not to fall off a path that is the width of two railroad ties and has little staples in it to increase grip, try really hard not to fall off path when the person behind you grabs your backpack to keep their balance.
2:55-Stop to take more pictures, battle epic wind and rain, get a little muddy when the path isn’t where it should be, lose feeling in fingers.
3:20-Try to figure out what’s going on with the weather, rain and sunshine, repeat, take off rain gear because it is sunny…nevermind, it started raining again.
3:35-Witness the hand of God painting a brilliant rainbow in the brightest sky, send up a prayer of thanks, take more pictures, take off rain gear.
3:50-Start thinking about how you can invent “breathable rain gear”, start descent into forest down 200+ steps, lose feeling in whatever hadn’t already lost feeling.
4:15-Back in parking lot, holding a cup of the best hot chocolate ever, hearing stories from everyone else about sights and sounds seen and heard.
4:35-Climb onto bus, get as comfortable as possible in wet clothes and muddy shoes, fall asleep within minutes.
Proof of a day well lived.
Written by Erin Flathers
Finally...
Well, after five weeks we've finally started to settle into life at the Y and an understanding of what this life in Ireland will look like. This also means that several students have now heroically produced blog entrances (admist other work and play) on some of their experiences thus far.
These entries are written to be delightfully interesting to parents, family, and friends while giving a glimpse into how students are personally interacting with the many sites and experiences they've encountered in Ireland.
We'll begin way back in Glendalough, throw in a boat ride extravaganza through the Killarney Lakes, explore the rugged cliffs of Skellig Michael, and finish with just another day in the Y.
We're basically throwing a heap of excitement your way. Hope you enjoy these accounts and we'll work on adding to these soon.
Thanks!
Laura
These entries are written to be delightfully interesting to parents, family, and friends while giving a glimpse into how students are personally interacting with the many sites and experiences they've encountered in Ireland.
We'll begin way back in Glendalough, throw in a boat ride extravaganza through the Killarney Lakes, explore the rugged cliffs of Skellig Michael, and finish with just another day in the Y.
We're basically throwing a heap of excitement your way. Hope you enjoy these accounts and we'll work on adding to these soon.
Thanks!
Laura
Monday, September 28, 2009
To Galway and Beyond.
We returned home from Galway on Saturday. We had another 3 days of incredible weather as we got to explore:
We are also settling in to the realities of community life. Random dirty socks are piling up. Newspapers are piled high. We even realize that we can get on each others' nerves when we spend this much time together. At the same time, we are challenged to love each other even when it's hard. To embrace the nuances that each person provides, even when it might be annoying. And, to continue to learn what it means to seek God in this time and place.
What a blessing it is to learn and serve in this community.
Kyle
- The Cliffs of Moher
- The Burren
- Connemara
- Galway
- Bunratty Castle
- Da Robertas Italian Restaurant
- A Rugby Match
- The Bogs
We are also settling in to the realities of community life. Random dirty socks are piling up. Newspapers are piled high. We even realize that we can get on each others' nerves when we spend this much time together. At the same time, we are challenged to love each other even when it's hard. To embrace the nuances that each person provides, even when it might be annoying. And, to continue to learn what it means to seek God in this time and place.
What a blessing it is to learn and serve in this community.
Kyle
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Day 25...
The students have been here for 25 days now. We got back last Friday from an incredible trip to Killarney in the southwest of Ireland. We enjoyed weather rarely seen by Ireland for 4 consecutive days which allowed us to spend long days traveling around the beautiful coastline.
We spent time learning a bit about the immigration of many Irish people in the previous 2-3 centuries from the Queenstown Museum. We stopped for several hours at the infamous Blarney Castle where many attained the “gift of gab” with a touch of their lips to the “stone”. We traveled the Dingle Peninsula the Ring of Kerry and got out to see an ancient monastery site called Skellig Michael. I‘m sure this was a highlight for several, while the 10 mile boat ride in open sea might have been harder to stomach for others. The Gap of Dunloe also provided quite an adventure that you should ask the students about.
We’ve been back in Greystones for a few days now and everyone seems to feel a bit more like this is home. At the same time, this is an adjustment for all of us, so there are the usual ups and downs of a new place, away from home, with new people. We are learning so much from these new things though.
We started small groups two nights ago which should be a great opportunity to dig deeper on what it means to be a deeply committed follower of Christ.
We are reminded continually that we are blessed to have this opportunity. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers as we live life together in a beautiful place full of rich history and culture.
Friday, September 4, 2009
2 weeks down...
Friends & Family of FISP 2009,
It has been too long since I last updated you on our time here. We have had a full week in which we spent a day in Dublin seeing the Book of Kells and Trinity College. We also stopped in at the National Gallery for students to select the works of art they will be presenting on later in the semester. The students had time to explore the city on a rainy Monday afternoon.
Tuesday we visited Newgrange which is a breathtaking ancient Irish site. No one is quite sure how it was constructed or for what purpose, but it dates back to 5000 BC and it's quite incredible to be inside this burial site/religious building/memorial of some sort and realize that it has stood for about 7000 years. We also stopped in for a short tour of the Old Melifont Abbey which now represents one of the oldest and most magnificent Abbeys in Ireland.
Wednesday through Friday have been full of class, rain, DART trips, homework, sleep, lack of sleep, and Greystones exploration.
The students are becoming quite a close knit group as they spend a lot of time together. There are plenty of exciting things to learn together and about each other and we tread ahead...mostly with joy. I am so proud of the way the students are embracing this experience and seeking to learn along the way.
While we face the normal of challenges of living life together and away from home, I can say without question that God has been faithful to us in so many ways to this point.
It has been too long since I last updated you on our time here. We have had a full week in which we spent a day in Dublin seeing the Book of Kells and Trinity College. We also stopped in at the National Gallery for students to select the works of art they will be presenting on later in the semester. The students had time to explore the city on a rainy Monday afternoon.
Tuesday we visited Newgrange which is a breathtaking ancient Irish site. No one is quite sure how it was constructed or for what purpose, but it dates back to 5000 BC and it's quite incredible to be inside this burial site/religious building/memorial of some sort and realize that it has stood for about 7000 years. We also stopped in for a short tour of the Old Melifont Abbey which now represents one of the oldest and most magnificent Abbeys in Ireland.
Wednesday through Friday have been full of class, rain, DART trips, homework, sleep, lack of sleep, and Greystones exploration.
The students are becoming quite a close knit group as they spend a lot of time together. There are plenty of exciting things to learn together and about each other and we tread ahead...mostly with joy. I am so proud of the way the students are embracing this experience and seeking to learn along the way.
While we face the normal of challenges of living life together and away from home, I can say without question that God has been faithful to us in so many ways to this point.
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