Heart Surgery

My apologies for the lack of posts but these last few weeks have been extremely hectic. We've been right in the middle of core value month with the students and its been very intense. Its been an emotional roller coaster for everyone involved but God is working in everyone and its fantastic to see. This is an amazing bunch of students and all of them have great personalities and there's a very good atmosphere amongst them.
God has really been meeting with me personally over the last two weeks. Even though I'm serving and ministering doesn't mean God takes a break on working in my heart. During the 1st day of the Father heart I shed some tears and God was just meeting with me again and it was great. But it was just this last Thursday where God answered a prayer I've been praying for a long time. It was healing life's hurts week and the teaching had been good. It was during the ministry time and I was just praying for my small group guys and after i prayed for them I just took a step back and completely broke and the tears just flowed and flowed. This was something I'd been crying out for, for the last year and God completely met with me and I love the way he does it when we least expect it. So although I've been pouring out loads, he is continually pouring back in
Things are going really well here. I'm part of a fantastic team of small group leaders and supported and mentored by an amazing senior staff. The students are a fantastic bunch of people. I'm being given loads of opportunities with worship and different things. I'm where God wants me to be and I'm loving it. I went to my first baseball game on Tuesday and that was brilliant. We got on the big screen 7 times, it was great. God is completely blessing me and I'm having a blast.

Influx of students

So they arrived yesterday all apprehensive and nervous. It was like looking at myself....Just as I started writing this i went to Denise's myspace and saw all the photos of the wedding. Wow it actually happened, they're married. It doesn't really set in until you actually see photos but i don't think it will truly hit me until I'm home at Christmas and its like... you're married...cool. I wish i could have been there to join in the celebration and knowing our bunch it would be some celebration. However, I'm in Toronto and it feels right to be here. As I said it was like looking at myself just six months ago and thinking what am I getting myself into but God completely blessed me with that step of faith. The new students are great and there's a fantastic mix among them, so its very exciting. We went on staff retreat last week and that was a fantastic time. God blasted some people and there was such a sense of joy among us. It was brilliant. Hot tub at a ski resort too so that was kinda cool but no snow. Still a class time though. Since I've been back I've been sensing the presence of the Lord and the holy spirit like never before. Its so tangible and so real. I feel it through my entire body. I feel like he's just constantly equipping me, putting armor on and giving me the tools and weapons that I need. Even as I walk around or if I'm just sitting down he's just continually working in me. I hope it continues because I've such confidence in him. Its totally class. God is working here.

Back at the School of Ministry

So I'm back in the wonderful place the called Canada. The trip over was fun. Heathrow was surprisingly easy to get through with the whole security stuff. I almost missed my flight because I was so engrossed in an episode of Lost on my laptop that. Also in my defence no one around me was moving so i thought I was fine. But somehow (thank you Jesus) I heard "the final call" for my flight through my headphones. So I got on board but the flight was delayed by an hour anyways due to traffic. God bless British Airways, lovely flight crew. Best I've come across in my brief flight experience. I watched the Notebook which was fun, romantic but apparently it was a must see so I took the plunge. i also slept on the plane which i haven't done for a long time. That was nice. We also hit some turbulence with about two hours to go, so I was ill. I have now vomited on land, sea and air transportation. Is that something to be proud of?
I eventually got to Canada and went through immigration. No hassle really but just it took a really long time so I missed my luggage coming off the carousel. When I came out my suitcases were among a pile in the floor and my hurley was lost. Nowhere to be found. So I'm in mourning but eventually I'll live. So I was really tired yesterday and did the whole unpacking thing and realising how bad the food is here. But I'm glad to be back. Missing home a bit and ups and downs. That's all part of settling in. I head on retreat on Wednesday which will be fun and the school starts next Tuesday. I'll keep everyone updated on the goings on over here and feel free to email me. God bless.

11 days until I leave

So the day is drawing closer until I return to Toronto. At this moment in time it feels like a completely different world and like it was an age since I've been there. Its been 7 weeks since I left the school and I feel detached from there now and settled back at home. However, I have to leave again and return to the place where God altered my life. I'm excited to return, i really am but sad to leave home. I found settling in at home easier than expected and its been great seeing everyone and catching up. I think I'm in a stage in my life where change has become a major player. My life up to now has been based around routine and I've been in a comfortable place. I've reached an age where significant change is becoming more and more prevalent and from what I here it set to continue for pretty much the rest of my life. I am adapting though and I'm learning to keep trusting God and put everything into his hands.
One thing that is good is that I finish work soon. I can't say I've enjoyed it but it must be done and the money has helped towards my trip. I'm just going to enjoy my last few days and spend as much time as I can with my family and friends. Exciting times.

28 days until I leave

So instead of a count up its now a countdown until I leave. Its hard to believe its just four weeks away until I return to Toronto. It feels like an age since I left the school and its like a different world. Its been fantastic coming home and catching up with everyone here and just spending time with the people I love and care about. I'm having mixed feelings about going back which is normal I guess. When I think about certain aspects of the school, I get really excited and really look forward to my time there but then there's times I feel apprehensive and nervous. I think its just the thought of leaving home again and for such a long time. I'm going into a position that is outside of my comfort zone and something that I've never done before. Its going to be a challenge which is something I look forward to. Even as I write about it I'm getting excited which is good. So at the moment I'm working saving money towards my trip which is very monotonous but has to be done. So for the next month I'm going to spend as much time with my friends and family as I can and just enjoy my time at home.

Day 142

I'm at Youthstorm and its lovely to be back. I left Toronto on Saturday after spending lovely time with Allan and Paula. I had some fun on my flight with spending over an hour queuing in customs, all the time thinking I'm going to miss my flight but arriving at my gate and finding out we had no pilots. So my plane was delayed by an hour. I eventually arrived in Boston and I met Denise and Joe and it was great to see them. Then only one of my bags arrived. My second bag was on the next flight so we had to hang around the airport waiting for my bag to arrive. We eventually left the airport at midnight. So that was a fun experience. So I'm here at Youthstorm just hanging out catching up with people. I'm leading worship at the prayer furnace tonight which I'm looking forward to. I'm very excited to be coming home and its hard to believe that my flight leaves tomorrow night. I can't wait to see all of you and just catch up and share what God is doing. Its been great to catch up with Denise, she is doing well and really enjoying her time here. Well I'm looking forward to seeing you all in the next few days. See you all soon and God bless.

Day 138

I seem to start every post with an apology for the inconsistency of posting so I apologise for my inactivity. Its been a very busy 3 weeks with a lot of stuff having been packed. Since my last post the "come up here" conference has come and gone. It was great to see my Mom and everyone else and God moved which was fantastic. I also led worship at single parents retreat which was interesting. Its just been a very hectic few weeks but its been really good as well. I've learned so much and just drawn closer to God. Also a lot has happened. My room-mate and another girl were asked to leave the school about 10 days ago which was tough. On that same day I was asked to stay on as a small group leader. So my head was spinning taking in everything that happened. I took a few days to think about it, talked to some people, sought advice and prayed and I decided to take the position. So I will be here for another year growing myself but also helping others to grow and draw nearer to God. So I am now coming home a week earlier and I arrive in Shannon on the 29th June around 7am. Also there is a team from here coming over to Cork to work with us for a week and just pour in, I'm very excited about that. I officially graduated yesterday and we were anointed with oil too which was fun. So today has been a day of goodbyes and tears for some. I've had a fantastic time here and I'm just excited to tell ye all about it. I fly down to Youthstorm tomorrow evening which I'm looking forward to. A chance to hang out with Denise and the rest of the gang there for a few days. I'm in very much a transitional stage in this next few weeks but I'm trusting God. looking forward to seeing you all soon. Keep in touch and God bless.

Day 117

Again my apologies for the long gap between my posts but life is busy here and has been especially over this last two weeks. When I last posted I was in the middle of a fast which God brought me through. It was really good. I spent a lot of time in prayer, reading my bible and just seeking the Lord. Since then I've been to Philadelphia which was an amazing experience. Its still hard to believe there's a third world in the richest nation in the world. We went right down into east Philadelphia to Kensington Ave. This is an area that is rife with poverty, addiction and prostitution. Us guys slept right in the ghetto in this empty women's drop in centre place with no air conditioning. We went to sleep to hip hop beats and other sounds of the ghetto. That's an experience everyone should have. The main reason we were there was to bless the people. There was a large Markee set up in the park that's right along where all the solicitation goes on. We set up a sound system and worshipped over the course of the day. We handed out hundreds of bags of groceries and fed people. We prayed for everyone who came in. Every person had a heart breaking story and tears just flowed when we prayed for people. The place is rife with drug addiction. We were told every third house surrounding the park was a crack house. Some of our group found drugs on the ground under the tent and people would be taking heroin literally 30 feet away. It was an experience I'll never forget. Most importantly God was there. People we touched. We saw people healed and we had some amazing times of worship not just in the music we played but in just reaching out to the people in the community. So that was an amazing weekend.
At the moment we're in the middle of the "Come up here" conference and its been really good so far. My Mom is here as well as Doug, Julie and Eilish so its been great spending time with them and catching up. I don't have much more time left here but it has been an amazing experience. I'll be home in 33 days or so. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again. God bless.

Day 102

I've surpassed a hundred days. That's weird. 100 days without my mom's cooking, the fry, 4 star pizza. Notice all of what I miss is food, that could be due to my fast. Of course I miss you all as well and Ireland its self but its all been worth it. God has been doing so much in me. I'm starting to realise now how far I've come and I'm seeing the fruit of his work in me. I'm in the middle of a fast and its been good. God is bringing me through it and giving me strength. Even doing a fast shows what God has done in me because ye all know how much I love my food. Noel Richards is here this week and he is just amazing. His heart, attitude and knowledge is totally class. He is so down to earth and just a great teacher. He did worship this morning and I got to play bass with him so that was really cool. I'm looking forward to the "Come up here" conference which is in two weeks. My Mom and a few others from home are coming so seeing them will be great. We leave for Philadelphia on Friday so keep me and my class mates in your prayers for that. I'll leave ye with some photos from my time here. They're mostly from a social night we had here last week. We had to dress up as someone else from the school. I was my friend Tim and he took a stab at being me. Also you might see some orbs in a couple of them. Our building is full of angels as you'll see. God bless.

Just to let you know 2..

I was involved in worship again on Thursday night this week. If you want you can watch it on tacf.org and click on revive tv.