Free Time - Sunday and Monday in Ireland

Come Sunday morning, Megan and I were on our own. We had arranged to stay a couple of extra days after the conference (mainly because the plane tickets were cheaper that way) and to stay with a couple (the Turnbulls) who were at Uptown Church until they moved to Dublin for work last year. It was our intention to go for a day trip on Monday somewhere away from the city but we had underestimated how exhausted we would really be.

So, we tarried around Greystones a bit on Sunday and then took the train to Sandymount where the Turnbulls live. They were away for the weekend but had arranged for us to be able to get in their apartment. And let me tell you, they have a sweet place. As soon as Megan and I walked in we felt immediately at home and wasted no time taking a nice hot shower in their awesome bathroom. We also sat on their couch - something we hadn't been able to do in a week - and just sighed a sigh of relief. It felt so good to relax. We did manage to get up for a while and walk around the neighborhood, taking in the sights and enjoying a good brunch. When they returned from their trip we enjoyed a nice dinner together that Lauren made and went for a nice walk with Jon. The Christian hospitality that this dear couple shared with us whom they had never met until this point was truly a demonstration of the love of Christ and a welcome blessing to us.

On Monday, we ditched the idea of a day trip and just headed back into the city to see the sights we had missed during the week. We started out on Henry Street, taking in some of the shops and enjoying the hustle and bustle. After that we went to the Chester Beatty library where I had a great time looking at all the old Biblical manuscripts housed there - some dating to 150 AD. I am such a nerd, I know. Poor Megan...at least she kept me from staying there all day. From there we went to St. Patrick's cathedral and enjoyed a good hour looking around the church and marveling at such grand and beautiful architecture. As evening came, we made our way to Grafton Street and found a nice pub where we could enjoy our first dose of official Irish fish and chips (I know it's weird that we waited until the last night to do this). It was really really good.

At the end of the day we were a little tired but yet excited about what God had allowed us to experience and share with other people. Our flights home on Tuesday were uneventful and almost right on time, we were home once again to be greeted by a very very happy cat!