On to Wexford ...

I've been hungry for news from home for days now -- once we left the Brauers, access to a computer became difficult. There is one in the offices where we are staying, but we haven't been here during office hours.

Thursday was spent at the MAP team's weekly meeting, lunch with the Hyltons, getting settled in our room in Dalkey and then dinner at home of a MAP team member and her Irish husband, Spit (quite the character). It was a good time of eating (scrumptious food -- lamb again with mint sauce, roast potatoes, cabbage and spinach and roast carrots, with an array of Ireland's best chocolate for dessert). Meeting the team members, talking with the Hyltons about transitioning kids, learning the train system (which has been our biggest mode of transportation the last two days) and hanging out with the team were all really good experiences.

Yesterday, we met together with the two single girls on the MAP team -- both incredibly gifted and passionate about Jesus. This was time for talking about our interests and gifts, their roles in the team, our potential role on the team, philosophy of ministry, etc. They took us for a traditional Irish breakfast, including black pudding (made with pig blood -- I tried it, Steven didn't).

Yesterday afternoon looked like our only opportunity for sightseeing, so we took the train into Dublin-proper and packed in as much as possible. Will share about that when I get home. (Did not make it to the art museum, though, Jenny, so didn't see the Carravaggio.)

Last night, dined at a pub with the Hyltons, then went to another pub to hang out with the team as well as the apprentices who are here with the MAP program right now. (It was our first opportunity to meet them.)

I have felt good about all contact with the teams thus far, except perhaps dinner last night -- I think we had probably worn ourselves out a little too much.

Today, it's on to Wexford (down South), where we'll stay in a cottage with the entire team and apprentices. This is a prayer trip, and we'll worship at an Irish church there (where a member of the CR team attends, so we will have another opportunity to see her). I'm looking forward to the worship service -- contact with Irish believers has been incredibly scarce (except for Spit) -- and to seeing the countryside.

Monday, we'll travel back to Dalkey (where we're staying) by train as the team travels further south. We hope to spend the afternoon walking around this former little fishing village and have dinner out, just the two of us, that evening.

Mrs. M, our flight arrives in Birmingham just before 6 on Monday. We should be home somewhere around 7. Burt is picking us up. (I didn't tell Kathy when we would return; do you mind calling her and telling her?)

Has anyone talked with Kathy? Is Bella ok?

A bit of Irish lingo:

slag -- tease
jug -- pitcher

Can't think of any other right now, and Steven is downstairs getting things ready for the trip over to Wexford.

There's a lot to process. This is a foreign land to us, the the gospel is completely foreign to its people. Keep praying for wisdom and clarity.

All of your comments are wonderful. Thank you. And to my children, I may not be able to check e-mail for days, but your comments are sweet to the soul.

Love and miss everyone,
Laura

(P.S. Oh, the weather -- not as cold as we thought, but damp, and windier than I ever could have imagined.)