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?