Christmas is coming

Happy days, Christmas is coming, and we have a few busy weeks ahead going here there and everywhere, well almost.

This past week has been interesting enough as it is. Caught up with some young folk who have moved into the neighbourhood from a nearby town. I know them well, lovely folk, just coming from a place that evil has such a strong hold on peoples hearts, they understand the difference between faith in Christ and religion. They have seen and known real Christian love. They just desperately need to make that change, to make the choice, it is there only hope. What hope have any of us have without Jesus, none. These are friends that know this better than most. My desperate hope and prayer for them is that the Lord calls them into His kingdom, that he brings the whole family to Him.

Puppets, I have had great news this week about them. A friend in Ukraine is going to make me 10 and Linda 5. I always need more you can never have enough. I am real happy there and it helps her out.

This is the view I saw 

As i was walking on the beach today 

The last show of the day, students at a teacher training college 

The Day of Mikes Funeral the day we heard many of these children pray 

Is everyone having one?

That was the question I asked myself yesterday. In one day I had spoken to three friends that were having children of had just had them. Only one of those couples would I say were a stable married family unit, the last in the world actually that I expected to hear that from. It was quite amazing to hold one of these young children, so small yet so beautiful, carefully knit together by God a miracle of creation. It was amazing, to see beauty, innocence and helplessness.

Sunday's show was real encouraging, it was in the kind of place we most like to work somewhere the kids have little chance to see a program like ours where the Gospel is shared in such a fun and entertaining way. Yet they had the chance to hear of the hope of knowing Christ ever so clearly. This in an army base with few Christian's, and not so much Gospel witness. It is a hard life for the soldiers and their families.

This weekend its of to see the family and do some shows in Scotland, it will be an interesting challenge and time. Not having done show's that far North in Scotland before. It will be a fun challenge.

Perfection

What happens when all the pressure is finally lifted of? You breath a sigh of relief and try and avoid thinking about everything. Thats my response anyway. This is me thinking back on the past week. Where I managed to find lots of wee things to do, to avoid doing the big things, and getting me head around this past month with all that has happened.

Well this week is now over and its time for the big things next week. Trying to be wise this week and treating my body better. Rather than being silly pushing it and doing damage. You allways think you are stronger than you think until you feel it all go.

Tonight has been so much quieter than last week. But what a show we had last Saturday night, what and encouraging night. I have not had so much fun at a church show in a long time. It has to have been a number of reasons, God's Spirit moving mightily, us getting things closer to perfect and the people that were there. It was a missions conference after all.

When It all starts to hit home

It has been an interesting time since my return from Moldova. The trip was good, the ministry was good. The heartache shock and loss of Mike's death back home, I am only coming to terms with now. Now that I have time to think, to walk on the beach and ponder. To realise all that has happened, to realise the implications for everyone, to realise the implications for me.

Sunday was good and fun, the show in the army base, for kids. It makes a first, when the congregation did not bother to go to church, they all came to Sunday school and the puppet show instead, I almost felt sorry for the Chaplain. The kids listened, the parents listened. It is a lonely hard life for them, so isolated and so alone at times. To share the answer was quite the privilege, I am looking forward to our next visit. For these are the people we most enjoy doing programs for.

All that has happened is helping to put things into perspective for me, forcing me to make the hard choices I have been putting of. I no longer have Mike to go to for advice, I have to just stand up and do what I think is right. It is making me take risk's in areas where I have just waited patiently for years now. Will the risk pay of, time will tell, I can not hang around really just waiting on it, waiting for time to redeem past mistakes.

Loosing your voice

You go to bed at night, feeling like you are loosing your voice. You wake up the next day and it feels fine, but oh that evening we are back to square one again, and the voice is going. What can you do, but drink warm tea and honey.

I never thought I would be doing all the storytelling this trip. Fool that I am, I never imagined I would find myself on my own telling all the stories. Lesson learned next time I will be prepared, no matter how little I think I will have to do.

I have to wonder though what will next time look like. With no more Mike to sort all. What will it be like. Time will tell. For now I just have to sort all the wee things. Try not to get caught out like this again, with a dodgy voice and two days of shows left to go. Monday night I can loose my voice but then and only then. With Oksana gone home to seminary there is no back up storyteller. But God knows, and it will all work out for good.

A Border town

Today was the day my friend was buried. I was finishing the last show of the day at just the same time as his funeral was begining. What a way to spend the day though. A first for Moldova, many , many kids praying with us at the end of the first show. The final show all teenagers, man did they laugh, did they listen. I could not help but think of Mike watching us with a big cheesy grin, saying not bad BOY, in that redneck way only he could. I would not rather have been anywhere else today. Being with my family at the funeral would have been nice though, it did not compare with what we saw.
The thinking about the loss about what has happened will wait to next week when i get home.

The war goes on

These past few days have been some of the hardest of my life, the loss of Mike. An adopted father to me. The news came and i sank, i new it was bad news but could never have comprehended its enormity. No time to think, action required to get Linda out of the middle of nowhere in what is basically a communist country. No sleep, when your already tired. I did not feel tired again until 10 PM the next day, living on adrenaline, the Holy Spirit and the numbness. The mourning is to come, but not until this present battle is over. For now we work we share with the children of Moldova on monday my family bury a Hero of the Faith. On the 4th October i arrive home, then i can mourn.

Its Friday, Its raining

Slowly getting stuff sorted for my next trip. My airline tickets arrived yesterday, my visa should be sorted today. It is all coming together for Moldova. Yippee!!!

It takes me a while to catch onto things sometimes, I realised Monday I could get some new puppets home from Moldova via a Ukrainian puppet maker and some friends. Happy days, if only I had thought of it sooner, I would have got her to make me more than eight.

Tomorrow is our first practise back after the summer, it should be good, I need it to be better than good though. Especially with four of us having been doing ministry overseas this summer. The challenges need to get bigger and our skill levels need raising. We have next Saturday's show to look forward to and getting everything in order before the trip.

This year I have learnt the neccessity of keeping myself physically in better shape, with the travelling I had let things slide, like excercise and eating well. But no more, I am learningI have to start slowly though. I have many more aches and pains than years ago, when I was fit.

What can i say

At the end of a fantastic summer can it get any better? It can, in a small church on the Shankhill Road to hear young kids praying out loud asking Jesus to be there Saviour. Kids who are only aught hate from an early age, it was just the best.

It has been a good but full summer, it is over but there is so much more to come. South Africa was just wonderful and then Dunloy. Could I have a better life? Is there a more fun job out there anywhere? I do not think so. Roll on Moldova.

Today has been a cool day, from a rather slow and sluggish morning to talk with a Ukrainian friends in the afternoon and then on to an amazing evening show. All is well that ends well.

Symbols of hate these kids see so much of 

Jean and Sam outside the wee church 

Me Telling a Story 

Kids at Show on Shankhill 

Training Session 

Puppet Show in Scotland 

View from coast road to Glasgow 

Landimer Day

Rutherglen Landimer day, Last time we were here was two years ago, not much has changed from last time.

The main street was closed of, we were set up on some grass opposite the council buildings. I wondered would many stop and Listen. I need not have worried, four shows, good weather hundreds of balloons and leaflets given out. It was a great day!

Peoples prayers were really answered it was so encouraging, such big crowds stopped to listen. One more show in the morning, in church this time though and then I am off to see the folks up north of Dundee.

This has been one of those day's where I get reminded of why I do this. So many kids, few of them who will ever enter a church, stopped, listening, watching, even asking questions.

New friends made, it seems like this may even become a yearly event, happy days. I hope we can make it a week next year. Right now I am knackered and looking forward to putting my feet up this evening.

Rutherglen Heat Waves

Another day, another scorcher, it has been great so far.

Busy days, carrying the puppets about, setting up, taking down, telling stories and sharing. The kids, like kids everywhere have been great, who says you can not make kids who have all they need laugh. Chatting to them after the shows was a real blessing today, to hear from them how they enjoyed the program. Its so different from many of the countries I work in but the needs are still the same, they still need Jesus.

Encouraging time with the folk working in schools here, so different from what I do but so similar at the same time. Working with kids that will never enter a church to hear the Good News. Working with them each week though, instead of my usual traveling itinerant ministry.

Sunny days in Scotland

Its been a great day, lots of shows, lots to do God at work mightily. Headaches for the team at home that allworked out in the end days do not get any better than this. Right now though I think I am righteously tired. Need sleep need another day litke today, tommmorow. Oh and a Sunny day on Saturday as well. This can not be Scotland its so hot!!!

Missed Ferry's

Ok so I have never done it before but how hard can it be to mistake a 24 hour clock for a 12 hour one. I missed my ferry yesterday from Belfast to Stranraer. It was at 5 PM, it left at I thought it was at 7, I left the house at 5, oop's.

Lesson learned, especially when its 3 AM before you get to bed.

I am in Scotland for a week doing shows in Rutherglen and then up to visit my family in Edzell.
Today was two show's, tommorow is more. I was reminded again today of just how different it is here. Much more care has to be taken about how I do things, so as not to endanger future ministry and not to compromise the message. There is a fear of offending that is part good and part not.

Encouraging hearing the kids at an afterschool club saying how they liked the program. I am missing the rest of the team though, it is so much easier when you have the regular team with you rather than just being on your own.

Anyway rest is needed, I may have takena few days holiday last week but a busy weekend, yesterdays mishaps and I am knackered again.

BBQ's and Mission reports

I had a busy weekend, we had a show Saturday evening for a church barbeque and Sunday morning was spent sharing at Trinity Presbyterian. The church barbeque was near Ballygowan, they were raising money to send three young people away on mission trips this summer. We were there to share with the children.

They say the eyes are the windows of the soul. I was reminded of that on Saturday night as we shared. The eyes of these children were eyes of those who were really listening. The show was such a blessing. My first show back home again and it was a real encouragement.

Sunday morning I was telling a new story, I had only told it once before. It will need more work yet, but all went well.

This week I am heading west for a few days break, rest relaxation and hopefully some surfing. The pressure is still on with South Africa and sorting the flights, but Scotland is all sorted, ferry booked and ready for my week’s ministry there.

Home Again

This monday I decided I needed a day of, it was quite the contrast to the previous Monday. It was a 24 hour day that finished at 5 on Tuesday morning when I sat down in my seat on the airplane. It was not until this monday that I really had a chance to take a day of and recover.

At the weekend I was working with friends in a band reality, we involved in sharing at a motorbike race, the North West 200. It is about 100,000 people in the Portrush and surrounding area out to have a good time.

Saturday afternoon we did a street show, it was lots of fun, but so much harder with only a few regulars to help rather than the normal team of the guys I travel with. Still a great day, I think around 60 were listening as the group sang, the puppets danced and I told stories.

Right now I am preparing for the weekend, the summer and South Africa, lots of fun, flights to book, people to call, shows to organise. Oh yeah and the exam I have friday, all fun.

Laughter

This has been my biggest joy, the greatest privilege I have. To make children smile, to hear them laugh. Especially children that have little laugher and joy in their lives. What can be better than that. Could I ever have any more fun than this? These past few weeks have been a joy, hearing time after time the children laugh, seeing them smile.

At the minute I am starting to think about the coming weeks, looking at them with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

Here we go.

More laughter 

Childrens Laughter, What stops a child from laughing? 

War weary

The body is willing but the spirit is weak. I think it is the other way round actually. Right now I am totaly banjaxed, knackered (exceptionally tired). Three programs done today, a meeting with the team here and running messages. Sleep will be a rare occurence tonight. A night of burning picture CD's is ahead of me.

This trip as usual has taught me an awful lot, Slovakia seems to be a country that the Lord teaches me much in. It is somewhere he uses to break my heart with what I see, with the stories I hear.

More than any other country this is one where I know what is going on in the lives of alot of the children we work with. It is hard to imagine the cesspit that is life for them, the question I often ask myself is how often do I want to imagine it? What am I doing about it? I know there are children and young people that live in the most horrible situations everywhere. Do I do enough for the ones on my own doorstep? I see often these children on other peoples doorsteps, but they are harder to see on my own doorstep, many of these things are hidden at home. Many I simply do not want to see, not an easy lesson to learn or be reminded of.

I look at how much I have, and how many people in this world have nothing. They are treated like dirt by many, they are dirt to some, what am I to do? These are the people Jesus came for, ministering to them is where He is at. The challenge to me has to be that I am there with him, not just in the places I travel to but at home. I need to be His hands and feet, rather than sitting doing nothing as He weeps over what these children live in. This is what Slovakia hits me with each time I come.

Heard a story today, of one shelter we shared at last week, a man had turned up at the weekend offering children of 10 and even as young as 8, the equivelant of £2 to go with him. There is such evil everywhere, there is so few standing up against it anywhere. One guy worked at that shelter, he was not always there and what could he do if he was.

These are the stories and worse that I have been hearing daily, the stories I often hear. These are the ones Jesus came for, am I reaching them with His love? Please Lord let me be there, let me be the hands, let me be the feet. Keep my heart broken, give me your eyes to see what you see.

Turn arounds and Spisky castle

This weekend we were participating in a conference for people working with at risk children. It turned out interesting, not quite what I had expected. I got more into things as time went by, today being just great. To see things and not be able to worry is always good, that I always enjoy.

The time this weekend with old and new friends was great, a really encouraging time of fellowship. Its quite cool, going to a conference in another country and meeting friends you have worked with in past years.

The drive home from the conference was a great blessing. The scenery was beautiful and we stoped at Spissky castle along the way. It was an amazing place, built on a site origanally used by the Celts! Like being home.

So often we have driven past this castle, on this trip and previous ones, this was the first time we had seen inside it. The Castle was impressive and the views were amazing. It is refreshing just thinking about them now.

One last day, tomorrow. One more early morning start.

Spissky Castle 

The Bronx

From the infamous Lunik Devit, where the effect of years work, has made its impact, to somewhere that this kind of work is just beginning and then to the village near Poland. I saw God at work in each place. Lunik Devit known as the biggest Gypsy settlement in Slovakia, where the first team to work there was a team of 30 who practised leaving the housing complex before they even started their first program there, it earns its nickname “The Bronx”. There are many stories to go with the nickname.

The afternoon was children playing the game. The, what can we steal game. The adults though were listening even if the children were a little lively! (Okay maybe they were more than a little lively.)

The evening was like returning to friends, the little village of Forbassy near Poland. No church to speak of for miles, but yet there was warmth, a joy and openness to what we were doing. In the end there was the now familiar sound of voices praying, both young and old.

Sometimes I wonder what on earth I am doing. Why am I doing this? Its days like today that remind me why.

I want a better look 

The Wild West 

A parents smile

When you see children smile it is one thing, but when you see the mother of a child on a cancer ward smile and laugh that is something completely different. It was at the final show of the day and only for 6 or so children, and some of their parents. All the children were very sick. They were able to see our full program, to smile and laugh, what must be a rare experience for them right now. They also heard of the hope that comes in knowing Jesus, those children and parents desperately need that hope.

The trip to this country first time around changed me, I had been praying that God would help me loose my inhibitions when telling stories, I was up to then to reserved, not animated enough (I was afraid of looking stupid). I wanted to be more animated, better at working with children. It was in Slovakia that first trip that this prayer was answered, most shows the choice was either get animated or you were in trouble. It was great fun.

This trip I see other prayers being answered, as we do the programs and travel around working with our friends here. Many people hate the folk we are sharing with, in Ireland people hate the Gypsies to, but God loves them. There is nothing like seeing God at work in the lives and hearts of the people we are sharing with. I get to see those the church is least likely to reach being those who respond most readily to Jesus.

Children at show 

Gypsy homes 

Return visits

Today I was in a school we were in three years ago. The teachers remembered us, but we could not remember the school, let alone the teachers. So many schools they all blend into one in my memory, most Eastern European schools look the same in my memory.

The children today were mainly Gypsy children, we saw them smile and laugh, not a common experience for them. Their homes are less than pleasant and home life for many of them is something most of us cannot even imagine. I saw these children experience real joy, as they watched our programs. I heard many pray with us at the end of several of the programs.

Four shows in total, one thing is really clear, it is nothing like Ukraine. The darkness of communism has lifted here. That evil has gone, the people are free and for a time this country is really open to the Gospel, in the way I have seen it in Ukraine at times. The darkness having returned in parts of Ukraine, is barely noticeable in Slovakia, it does not feel oppressive at.

The effects of parents bad choices or simple lack of choices is plain to see in the behaiour of children, and in their appearance. So how the children have responed to us has been prescious.

I saw some Gypsy homes in the countryside today, I do not know whether it is sad or shocking seeing homes like them in Europe, you cannot imagine what you are seeing really being in Europe.

From the ground 

The houses last year. This year, they are worse. 

Past Memories

One of the problems with having been a farmer is the reminders I now have of things I saw on the farm. The smells in the orhpanages of the calf shed at home. I was reminded today, as I visited some homes, of the old farm sheds when they had the refuse cleaned out. I will never be able to adequately describe what I saw, this is often the case, you have to be there, you have to see it, you have to smell it. Can a photo show you even part of it, never. Would it even have been right to take a photo, no.

I have so much, food, clothing, a warm clean bed most of all hope. What do the people I met today have, little or nothing, almost none of the above. I saw one glimmer of hope though, drawn on a boarded up window was a heart with a cross on top. For some there is hope, they have accepted Him. They know Jesus love as a major reality. They choose life maybe not an easy life now, but in the end they choose life. We have so much its hard for us to realise thats the only choice worth making, choosing Jesus.

I have tried to give a glimpse of this morning, we took food, we prayed for them. Can I say anything more? Think again when you meet badly behaved kids, when you meet people who smell, you do not know where they come from. It was they who Jesus came for.

What can you say to a kid that just wants love

A homeless shelter and an orphanage, two shows. What can you say to kids that just want a hug, that just need love. Those with parents who don't care, who just don't love them, those with no parents at all. A truly amazing evening at the orhpanage, such fun, such love and Gods spirit at work. A day not to be forgotten very easily.

What can you say to a kid that just wants love

The Blue House 

Castle in Tatras 

High Tatras

The back seats of small minibuses are never fun, especially when you spend 8 or 9 hours in them. That was me this afternoon, stiff and sore by the end of it, but glad of the experience. I think I felt the same friday night also after we arrived in Bratislava. We were there for the weekend to work with the team we equiped last year.

The drive to Bratislava took us on a southern route through Slovakia and the return took us on the northern route, both 8 or 9 hour drives. Slovakia is an immensely beautiful country, high mountains (the Tatras), forests, castles. Just amazing scenery, on past trips the ground was always covered in snow this time its spring and life abounds everywhere.

Yesterday in Bratislava was great we did 5 shows, with three of them on the street, one in a cinema and one out side a big blue house. The big blue house was a small block of flats that housed 59 families. The kids were normal wild kids, you had to earn the right for them to listen to what you are saying. We made many great new friends in Bratislava, the love of the team there for the children they are trying to reach is truly encouraging. The children they work with live in bad places, they do not behave well, but yet God has laid them on the heart of some people from this small new church.

By the end of Saturday's shows I was knackered, so today was nice, communion with the folk we worked with Saturday, lunch and the drive home to recover from yesterday. Along the way, while we were on the road I recieved text messages from the team back home, they also were on the road home from a big show. It was really encouraging hearing from them.

Something I have never noticed before in Slovakia, there now seems to be lots of graffiti. There was none last year or the year before, it comes with greater wealth suppose.

motocross

This arriving a day earlier than expected can have its advantages. I had one of those gifts I rarely recieve, maybe every second or third year. A friend suggested we try and get a run on his old motocross bike, 500cc's of madness. Riding through forests tracks and fields, a bike way to powerful for the conditions, just what i needed a days good clean fun! I had an encouraging day of fellowship with friends.

Tomorow morning is one or two shows then we have a 5 or 6 hour drive to Bratislava for the weekend. We will be doing minstry in a part of the country we have not worked in before.

I have felt tired all afternoon and evening, I just realised why, being out in the fresh air on the bike and trying to avoid binning it! It was quite a challenge at times, on slippery mud with a powerful bike, knackering.

cancelled flights

My Dublin flight was cancelled, oh no. But all things do work together for the good. The phone card I was by chance last week came in rather useful. I called friends who were able to track down the phone number of the ministry we are working with. I emailed a warning and called as well all worked out better than planed. Its amazing how these things just happen sometimes. And then the guy on the plane next to me from Prague just happening to work in Lisburn. It is truly a small world, with a great big God.

The landing in Kosice i think was about a 7 really fun! Well are unpacking is done for the evening. It is so good to be back here, what will tomorow bring?

May day Fair in Castlewellan

May day in Castlewellan, puppet shows, sunshine and showers, not this year for a change. Three shows yes but this time the rain stayed of until we were packed, most unusual for Ireland. Lots of kids folk coming and going to the Fair, great day.

Each year in spring I forget one simple lesson I should know, when you are getting thin on top wear a hat even if the sun does not appear to be that strong. Sunburn on the top of your head is far from fun.

Happy days in sunny Ireland.

New resolutions

Im sitting here, in a room full of I should have done tidied this long ago. Saw friends from the past this evening. My life seems to get faster, others seem to settle down. It seems I often end up talking to folk either before or after trips.


I leave wednesday for Slovakia, a country dear to my heart to work with many great friends in many fun places. It will I know do my heart good, be an encouragement and a blessing. Least I hope and pray so anyway.

This morning was great apart from my forgetfulness, thankful not a major problem I was able to pick up what was forgotten on the way to the show. Hillside community church this morning 81 kids what a blessing for them, what a blessing for me to get to share with them. The new sketch went down so well and the story I has worked on first thing, was pretty good to.

Its days like today that the Lord encourages me through, to keep going, where I get to see Him at work elsewhere, where I get encouragement from others. This past week has not been bad either with all i have sen in Downpatrick, all encouraging getting into working with the guys there again.

So many adventures to come this summer, a few challenges along the way, like to keep up with this and my email updates, or rather start this and keep up with my updates. Watch this space.

Sunday nights