I read of Bekah’s friend who died this morning of cancer.
She was very young…on the brink of life, nearly finished with her PhD…a loss
for her friends but gain for her as she was confident of her life in Christ.
Reading her blog (a repeat from a few months ago and reposted) was both
inspiring and draining. It was a sad moment for a gal I never met.
Thursday morning at Moms and Tots in Castlewellan again. I
had a serious conversation with one mom about Jesus. There are so many layers
to the issues here. She and many like her have been beaten down by the “church”
and the Troubles. She said she has little faith. She doesn’t want to introduce
religion to her little boy because of all the heartache she has suffered. She
is in a “mixed marriage” which here means Protestant/Catholic. It made me sad. But on another note, one
little gal was celebrating her third birthday. I loved her outfit…something
tells me that she chose it herself. Pink cowboy boots, pink Mickey/Minnie
sweatshirt and a red tutu with a big “3” button. She’s too cute!
Bebe and I were invited to join the volunteers at Moms and
Tots for lunch but we needed to get back to Murlough as we were going with
Deirdre and Jen to Slieve Donard Hotel for a Craft Fayre (fair to Americans).
It’s a very exclusive hotel. The Fayre was to benefit cancer research. There
were lots of vendors in the Grand Ballroom—all the typical craft items plus
Aran knits, framed photography, foodstuffs (like brandy butter) and finger
knitting kits. We saw several people we
have met at different functions. Tea was available in one area and desserts
available from the vendors.
Jen dropped us off and called back in about ten minutes. Richie
had fixed supper for all of us! We drove over and sat down to a nice meal.
After that Richie went off to play soccer and we watched a DVD. Now Deirdre
wants to be sure I blog this next part…. Someone fell asleep during the movie.
Yes…me! The other part is that someone snores.
Talbot, Shillidays’ lovely little Yorkshire terrier, and I were sleeping
and it was not Talbot that was snoring. (There Deirdre!!)
Friday
John B. (the worker placed at MH who is on a sort of
unemployment) is leaving. He has been here for two 13 week sessions and now has
some other scheme (which is what the government plan is called). Deirdre wanted
to have a special lunch for him. She asked me to make a chocolate mayonnaise
cake. I had made one for the Georgianna team but was disappointed in how it
turned out…not being used to a convection oven. Today’s cake was just right!
Deirdre made fish pie with green beans and boiled potatoes for lunch. Richie
offered prayer before lunch and John said he had to step out. He went down the
hall until the prayer was over. That made me sad. He is Jehovah’s Witness.
Alan brought the Prayer Calendars so I folded and stuffed
envelopes. There were not enough so I had to call Belfast. I finished up what I
had and later Keiron called back to let me know they would be delivered
tomorrow. I also tried to get my credit cards approved for international
shopping but was not successful. I did get the Amazon.uk order straightened out
with the Travel Visa. I couldn’t use my credit card for the UK online purchase.
In the afternoon Jen was back to begin baking for another
sale. She made Pecan Pies and Shortbread. The group started coming in at 7:30. There
was a mini-crisis. The leader had called last weekend and asked if they should
bring bedding and towels. Because I came last year and didn’t need those
things, I said no. Well, our group was five people, not sixty!! I should have
said YES, bring sleeping bags and towels. We do provide sheets and pillows.
Well, here we are now with all these people in a cold manor house and no
blankets. We started going through the cupboards and linen room. Duvets were brought
out. The duvet covers had to be put on. Blankets were counted. A few sleeping
bags were found. When all the available bedding was pulled out, we were still
short. Richard and Bebe drove over to Oasis and brought back duvets and towels.
The leader called some of the people to ask them to bring bedding. (Some live
close by and were having youth meetings
in their own church before coming.) Crisis averted!
“Supper” was served at ten pm. Scones, Fairie Cakes, biscuits,
tea and coffee! Deirdre was baking all afternoon and then started working on
tomorrow’s lunch. We set up the table, cover, tea, coffee, sugar, cream, cups,
and three trays of desserts in the Teaching Block. That meant at least six
trips from the kitchen across the drive and into the Teaching Block. Bebe had
taken a few things and Jen and I finished up. I set the tables for Saturday breakfast. We
left the kitchen at 11:30 p.m. It had been a very long day, both emotionally and
physically draining.
Saturday
Up early to help with brekky (breakfast) for the group. It’s
a group of older teens from all across Northern Ireland. A simple fare of
cereal, juice and toast doesn’t seem like much until you stand at the toaster
preparing enough for 55!! Three four slice toasters still
have to be “reloaded” several times! We
set up ten tables which required more than you would think…juice, butter, jam,
etc. After the meal, the visitors help with the clearing and the washup. It is
very helpful but you have to train them as you go.
I was sent off to Newcastle for bread and milk and while
there, filled the Suzuki so she would be ready for our venture on Sunday. On
the way back, I stopped at 12 Arches Bridge. I had only been able to see ten
arches from the road but they are all there. There’s an historic marker telling
about Domangard/Donard and his introduction to Christianity from St. Patrick.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5WWkFEyAn3oC&lpg=PA74&ots=Vk_ZsurUBR&dq=domengard&pg=PA74#v=onepage&q=domengard&f=falseThere is history all around. I mentioned it to Richard, the gardener, who has
never stopped at the bridge although he devours history books.
The balance of the Prayer Calendars was delivered while I
was in Newcastle. I finished folding and stuffing them and Sarah took them to
the Post Office.
Lunch was a lot of work but well received. Deirdre had
called in three teen volunteers from the Crosspoint ministry. Keiron, Nathan
and Tori did a lot of work! Sarah came in too so there were six of us to follow
Deirdre’s instructions! Again the visitors did their bit in helping with the
cleanup and washup. Supper was similar but Sarah and Tori were not here; Jen was.
In the afternoon, I took a nap. It was delightful!! Then supper! Richard came to help with cleanup so Bebe and I were released from that. Thank you Richard!!
Later I worked on getting information about Zechariah. I’ll
present that in first person mode on Tuesday at one of the ladies’ groups in
Newcastle.
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