Are YOU willing to take the step of faith?

The $100 deposit for Ireland is due tomorrow. I encourage you to pray about it and take the step of faith to go on the trip. I know it takes faith to make such a big commitment. Questions come about the plausibility of it... "How will I raise enough money?"  "Is it even possible to get that time off work?"  "I'm already too busy, should I add such a big commitment?"  All these are questions have asked myself many times as I decided to plan the trip, often wondering why I took something on that I knew nothing about.  I'd like to encourage you to step out in faith, if God is calling you to go on this trip, send in your deposit, He'll take care of the rest!

Send your check to:

Capitol City Vineyard Church

1635 Coolidge Rd.

East Lansing, MI.

48823

Attn: Ireland, (insert your name)

In the memo of your check, write “Missions”

"Dad, you're going to Ireland!"

When I got back from my tip I was exhausted, but very excited about it.  I told my parents right away that I wanted to go back in 2015 and Dad was coming with me.  "What about the money?" Dad asked. "Oh, don't worry, I'll pay for both of us!"  Dad just smiled, thinking it would all blow over once I got back into the routein of home.

Well, it was a few months before I mentioned returning to  Ireland again. This time, telling Dad I was in contact with the church there and they were sending me details.  "Aren't you excited to go?!" I asked him.  He seemed surprised I was still thinking about it and patiently listened to me chatter about how much it was going to cost and all the wonderful  things we will be doing there. I kept trying to get him excited and to really believe that I was serious about going.

Since he still seemed quite skeptical that I would follow through with my plans, I decided I would just have to take the next step and contact someone who would be able to help me figure out how to buy plane tickets.  I knew this was going to be the hardest part for me since  I knew nothing about buying tickets and setting up group flights. 

After getting a price and figuring out many details, I showed Dad the travel agreement from the agency I am working through.  I asked him to read it to make sure nothing was amiss.  After reading the agreement and realizing that I actually have tickets reserved to get us to and from Ireland, he finally took me seriously! I am so excited to experience serving the Lord with my dad, with the most amazing man I have ever known!

Many times during this process I felt overwhelmed and confused, wondering why I ever got this crazy idea and am trying to follow through with it.  The only answer to that question is God. He has called me to bring a group of people back to Ireland with me. It is Him who I have turned to in prayer at each mistake I have made and wall I have come up against.  With God in charge of this trip, there is nothing to fear.  When I don't know how I will be able to make enough money to follow through with my promise of paying for both Dad and me, I just have to remember that God provides!

Last year I went with my Grandma, next year my Dad will be going!!!

Day 1 in Ireland, 2014

It had been a long trip, we had been traveling for over 24 hours and in the air a total of  11.  Everyone on the team was exhausted and ready and be done flying.  Then, through the clouds I saw my first glance of Ireland. After years of hoping and dreaming of going to Ireland I was finally about to land there, on a mission trip with my Grandma!  I had expected to be crazy with excitement, but after so much lack of sleep and so many altitude changes I was just dazed. I couldn't quite grasp that I was actually IN Ireland!!! Yes, I was excited, but mostly because I knew that we would be done flying soon. It wasn't until the next day when I was meeting "locals" that I actually realized my dream had come true.

 [First view of Ireland]

As the plane landed and we waited to get out, I thought over my first experience flying. They had served breakfast at 1 am Michigan time, in London I had gone sprawling into people while trying to stand in a packed trolley at 3 am, and I had attempted, but failed to sleep in the last 24 hours since leaving for the Detroit Airport.  This was quite the introduction to traveling by air!

[Irish country side on our way from the Dublin airport to Derry]

After trying to locate our luggage and waiting for our ride, we piled in a bus for the 2 hr. drive from Dublin to Derry.  Now, I got to experience my first of many drives on Irish roads! Lots of rolling hills, curvy roads, many cattle, strange road markings, and a few moments of fear as I thought fleetingly that we were driving on the wrong side of the road and were going to hit the car coming our way!

 [Each person got their own room with a sink, bed, closet, and table]

When we arrived in Derry right away they got us set up in our rooms. The housing was at a college dorm, each person had their own room and shared a kitchen, bathroom, and shower with 4 other people.  I was excited to see that they had stocked the kitchen and got some food, then went to take a nap.  Later that evening, we walked the board walk along the Foyle River.

[A view from the window of my room]