Countdown begins!

My much anticipated Irish experience will soon begin. Actually, it has begun. A big part of the experience is the preparation. The last few weeks have involved a lot preparation and there is still much to do.

Bebe Dorris and I have been meeting with more ideas and plans over the last several weeks. We went to Indianapolis together on August 4 for our "biometrics" appointment. We thought or at least I thought that this would include an interview with the British Consolate representative. Wrong! We went to Homeland Securities!! And "biometrics" is simply a photo and fingerprints. Now when we go through Immigration, our passports will be scanned and we will verify our fingerprints on the small screen.

Since we were in Indianapolis, we made a vacation day of it. We lunched at the German Rathskellar, then went to Keystone at the Crossing for some shopping. We found a few things at Coldwater Creek. Then we stopped in at the Cheesecake Factory for dessert. We had planned ahead and had tickets for Circe de Soleil at Conseco Fieldhouse. What a show! What a wonderful day!!

On August 5 our passports together with the biometrics verification were in the mail--now to the British Consulate in New York. We felt that we would be able to travel by September 4. I did more collecting of materials to use for both the seniors group and the primary children (not our focus but it always pays to be prepared). Our passports were returned on August 18 with NO visa. We had not included all the documentation we needed. So the next few days involved getting a statement from the bank that I am not indigent, more passport pictures (in addition to the biometrics), and a copy of the Tier 5 application filed in N. Ireland. Back in the mail on August 27 and another wait. Because I need to be in the US for board meetings Sept. 30-Oct 1 and Oct 6-8,  it became apparent that it would be better if I delayed until after those meetings.

Our passports came on Sept 5 and 6. We HAVE the UK Tier 5 Religious Worker Visa!! We can travel to Ireland and do ministry! However, now Bebe has seen that an immediate departure is not possible. After some scheduling, she has booked flights for September 25. I shall be booking mine for October 10 or 11.

We are still gathering up resources and trying to decide just how little we can pack and still have everything we need for 2-3 months. I've done this part many times before but this is a different culture and a different climate. I used to travel to Kenya with two or three 70# trunks. I'm trying to go to Dundrum with only two suitcases (50# limit and $35 for the second bag)...and Aer Lingus (airline) only allows ONE carry-on.

We'll be staying at Murlough House, pictured below. Built in 1859 as the summer home of Lord Downshire, it's a lovely manor near the sea.

Map of Ireland..pen points out Dundrum Area

This venture is a bit different than the others I've done. At Friends Theological College, I was given a schedule of classes. I knew when and what I was teaching. I filled in the balance of the day with preparation, study and socializing. At Belize Friends Boys School, there was a schedule. I took care of the management, visited students' homes, and taught an occasional class. In Ireland it appears we will be less structured. We will be supplementing programs that are in process but we are just not sure how all of that will fit together. We are excited and looking forward to what God has in plan for us..."senior interns" with a heart for service.