Dublin Prayer Conference - Thursday

What in the world is a prayer walk? That was our question when we were told we were going to be doing one Thursday morning in Dublin city. It's so easy to be skeptical about such a thing, but we just have to say it was awesome. In fact, it was one of Megan's favorite things from the whole week. We were in a group of about 10 people and we paired up and walked a set route stopping at various places to pray for various things. So, for example, we stopped in front of the Parliament building and prayed for the government and their impact on the people, we prayed for a church and its leadership when we passed by, we prayed for university students at Trinity college, we prayed for the people and their obsession with materialism in one of the busiest shopping centers, and many more. Now so you don't think we were crazy, most people had no idea of what we were even doing. We prayed as we walked - about things that came to mind or things that we saw - and when we stopped at particular places we looked like a group of friends having a conversation (and we were - with Jesus!). Again, we were really blessed by doing this and its one of things that really smacked us in the face and caused us to wonder why we don't do it in the community we live in now.

One of the funny things that came up during the prayer walk was the reality of the saying they have here in Ireland: "If you don't like the weather just wait ten minutes - it will change." Oh how that was true! It had been sunny/partly cloudy most of the week but on Thursday it would rain for ten minutes every 60-90 minutes or so. Good thing I had my rain jacket with the rolled up hood - too bad the hood was too big for my head. :-)

On Thursday night, Eric Brauer, the field director here in Ireland for WHM, gave us an update on the vision and various ministries going on in Ireland. Oh, how we wish he would have done this earlier in the week! This seems to be the moment that everything fell into place for us. Its so easy to wonder why this or that thing is being done the way that it is but there is always a reason. And just let us tell you, their method of ministry is brilliant. WHM is committed to shrinking into the background as facilitators and allowing Irish people do ministry in their country in their way. It was so encouraging to hear how God has not only moved among Irish folk in the last twenty or so years, but how he has given humility to the American missionaries who don't get much recognition and public credit for all the work they do behind the scenes. But their reward comes later in heaven and you can tell they really delight in doing what God has called them to do.

And of course the evening ended at the pub with a pint and a good conversation with new friends. And to make things even better, I got to smoke my brand new pipe that I bought from Peterson's!