Purple Pat Posts Ponderings

Because Jamie posted on Monday, I postponed my first post. Then I had it all ready to go and my Dell went "down". Too many people at the castle were online, I guess. So here we are....nearly midnight on Thursday....I hope it all goes this time!!

Greetings from the Castle!!

Have you been wondering where we’ve been? We (Traca, Emy and I) arrived on Saturday and quickly fell in step with the men’s weekend activities. We were met at the bus terminal in Newry….yes, we managed to get our baggage from the airport to the bus stop and travel alone for a bit! We had lunch and then a quick “rest” and then helped the Love team with evening preparations. Sunday was still The Way for the men. After that was completed, we had a “debrief” session and then heard plans for Monday. (Jamie continued to blog through Monday). Some of us went to Belfast for shopping and sightseeing. Others went to the North Coast which included Dunluce Castle, The Carrick a Rede Swing Bridge and Giant’s Causeway. Jamie posted pics from all of that on Monday!

Shopping included going to the dome at Victoria Square. It’s a great observation deck and you can see many historic places of note from there. There was a guide who remembered Jean from 2013. He told us that since talking with us before, he had returned to church and was now a Christian. That was good news! And we were happy he wanted to share it with us!! Other places in Belfast included touring the City Building and Nick took a bus ride ‘round the city. Shopping was at specialty shops and souvenir shops as well as stopping for a cuppa’ with a biscuit!

Dinner at McGinn’s…see previous blog for pictures.

Tuesday was departure day for the one weekers who came for the men’s weekend only and arrival day for the one weekers coming for the women’s weekend. Those of us who were either here for 2 weeks or 1 ½ found things to do….slipping into Castlewellan (town) or Newcastle or just sorting out things. Rich is taking lots of pictures (lots…as in hundreds) so I’m using his card to find things to use on the blog.)

Wednesday had options. Go to Newcastle or Castlewellan. Go to Dundrum Castle and Tolleymore Forest. People were in and out with the van and mini-bus on the road at 9, 10, 12:30, etc. Wednesday evening the whole group went to Maghera Inn for dinner. After dinner was a team meeting including all the members from Northern Ireland and the Love Team (both US and NI). After that….more tea in my apartment for several.

And now we are at Thursday. We have run into Newcastle again for supplies and a cuppa’ as well as a walk along the sea. Tables and chairs have been moved and set up. Sound systems have been moved to other rooms. Guest lists will soon appear. The Way #4 is about to begin!! Pray for us, for the guests and for the Body of Believers that will be attending various parts of the weekend. We are expecting great things from God again.