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.

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.

Three Full Days.

We’re in the midst of our third day and it seems as though everyone is taking full advantage of their experience. Several have already taken the scenic coastal walk to Bray city (and also learned some lessons about public transportation in Ireland). Others have taken a swim in the refreshingly chilled Irish Sea. We’ve all toured Greystones and everyone has seen a local band play a concert which was a great cultural experience. And yes, studying has also been taking place. I know that several were up late last night finishing their reading.

In the midst of settling in to a new culture, the students are settling into their new intimate quarters and getting acquainted with the facility and the outstanding staff. There is much to learn and take in, but I would say that students are adjusting quite nicely.

We’re enjoying the local area before we venture a little further from our “home away from home” in the coming days and weeks.

We’ll have students post on this blog in the coming days.

Kyle

Getting closer

Laura and I arrived safe and sound to Greystones on Wednesday and we are excited to begin with the students next week. The weather has been beautiful, but it will not feel completely like home until the whole group is with us.

It all begins...

As I type this 27 freshmen students are moving into Swallow Robin Hall to begin their college careers at Taylor University. The unique thing about this group is that these students are only spending 7 days in Upland, Indiana. They are headed to Greystones, Ireland to spend their first semester, and the energy is obvious to any casual observer.

Laura and I are excited about the opportunity to get to know what seems to be an impressive group of young people.

This blog will serve as an opportunity to follow this group over the coming 3 months as we explore life together in Ireland.