becky's porch

It is about time!!

2007-02-18T18:26:00.000-05:00

I've been away for awhile, I know. I just haven't really had time to put anything up here until now. January consisted of taking a class for a week - Galatians - and studying for and taking the Ordination Exams. These are the essential exams to pass in order to become ordained in the PC(USA). I'll know at the end of March how I did.
I have also been working away at Target 3 days a week. Nothing new to report. I am enjoying it as much as I can.
We have been getting the cold weather but little snow. The big snow has passed us by but the light snows have been pretty. I got out one day and took some photos around campus. Some of them are posted at my Pictures link in the "Louisville" folder.
Spring classes started on February 8th. I am taking Worship Practicum, Gender, Race and Class in Pastoral Care, To Be Reformed, and Growing in the Life of Christian Faith. After this semester I should need about 12 credits (4 classes) to graduate in December if all goes well.
In less than a week I will get to finally meet the cutest nephew ever - Mark Edward - for a first birthday celebration in Nebraska. I'm VERY excited to meet him and give him a hug and a kiss that may last for the whole 5 days I'll be home with the family. It will be good to see Jed and Mandy again too since I haven't seen them since before Belfast. I'm sure I'll have a few photos to post when I get back :)!

Christmas

2006-12-31T14:41:00.000-05:00

Christmas in Nebraska was great. I got to hang out with my family and received some great gifts. I gave everyone photos from this last year. I was able to see my friend Rachel for an afternoon. I even got to see my friends from high school, Shelly and Leslie Paulsen - they're both married now but they'll always be Paulsens to me. Shelly is having a little girl soon so Mom and I went to a shower for her. Cousin Jennifer, who I visited in California, came to see Gram and brought Scott with her. It was good to see them again and I'm glad the family got to meet Scott before the two of them get married in April. I drove back to Louisville on the 27th so I could work 3 straight days at Target. I have to work 4 days this week, including New Year's Day (or the day NE plays in a Bowl game). I plan to celebrate the New Year tonight with a bunck of friends and try to head to bed early-ish so I can be ready for work. Here are a couple photos from Christmas and there are more at my picture link.

Iowa Wedding

2006-12-17T22:49:00.000-05:00

I went to Iowa for my friend Suzy's wedding this weekend. It was lovely and fun and beautiful. I am very happy for Suzy and Joel. They are such a great couple and they wrote very beautiful vows. It was an honor to stand up with them and I look forward to staying in touch and seeing their relationship develop as a married couple. I hope to have photos in a month or so. This is one of Suzy and me before the dresses went on and after the hair and makeup.

photos and update

2006-12-05T15:54:00.000-05:00

Cool sunsets!

I walked out my door a couple evenings over the past couple weeks and these views are what I was lucky enough to see. I thought I would share!

The semester is almost over. I have two more classes and a few papers due by next week and then this fall semester is finished! It is good to be back in school but I am very thankful for the break. I will be able to head home to Nebraska for Christmas for almost a week! I will be able to work at Target and not worry about doing homework for a few weeks. I will be able to study for the ordination exams that come at the end of January. Maybe I'll even have some time to play my Playstation 2 that was neglected all last year :)

Thanksgiving

2006-11-24T17:42:00.000-05:00

I spent my Thanksgiving here in Louisville far away from home (not as far away as last year). Oh well. I had to work at Target on Wednesday and today and tomorrow. Thursday I got to go eat with my friends Bob and Steph at Cracker Barrel. Most of the day I watched whatever football game was on but managed a walk with Steph after lunch. It was a good day. I am dog-sitting for my friends Kate and Brett and have added a photo of O'Henry and me. He's curled up right next to me as I type this.

Back from Ghost Ranch

2006-11-14T20:56:00.000-05:00

My weekend at Ghost Ranch with the other Young Adults was great. We got to catch up and hear about each other's years and current lives. We had sessions and small groups and good food. Stacey and I and a few others went on a hike on Saturday afternoon and photos from that trip are at my picture link.
This is me near the top of Kitchen Mesa. Thanks to Stacey for taking my camera away from me to make sure there was proof that I was indeed in New Mexico.

Fall

2006-11-04T09:11:00.000-05:00

More fall!! And Emily and Chloe enjoying a brisk walk.

FALL!!

2006-11-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

Fall at LPTS!!

Trip to Gethsemani

2006-10-30T21:39:00.000-05:00

On Sunday I got to go out to Gethsemani Abbey (about an hour south of Louisville) with one of my classes for a picnic lunch. I am taking Thomas Merton: An American Spirituality and so we went to where Merton spent the last part of his life for a little inspiration. It was a beautiful fall day and I was in wonderful company. I took both my 35mm camera and my digital camera because I knew it would be a good day for photography. My digital prints are at my Picture page under "Gethsemani" if you want to see them. I will get my 35mm prints developed soon and maybe put some of those photos up as well if they are good enough and I remember to have a picture cd made.

Back from California

2006-10-23T14:15:00.000-04:00

I should be napping right now but I can't sleep. So here are a couple photos and I will post the rest at my photos link so you can see all of them.
Enjoy!

Fall Break

2006-10-15T17:02:00.000-04:00

Hi all,
Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while. I've been busy with work and school and trying to re-establish some friendships and make new ones. Target is great. I enjoy the people I work with and haven't had too many problems with fitting in and learning the ropes. I had one BAD day but I bounced back and talked to the management about the breakdown in communications and I think we worked everything out.
School is good. It is fall break and I am glad for the break from classes. I need to catch up a bit with readings and I have to take a mid-term exam. Nothing I can't handle fortunately.
Thursday I get to head to Laguna Beach, CA, to see my cousin Jennifer. I'm excited about heading to the beach and relaxing a bit. I'll take some of my homework and try to be productive. I'll have my camera as well to keep adding photos to my portfolio. Check back in a week or so and I'll try to have some photos posted.

my room and target and storms

2006-09-23T11:18:00.000-04:00

These are photos of my room. Mom, I hope you approve. I am very comfortable and happy with my inexpensive couch.

So my first full day at Target was yesterday. I was worn out when I got home yesterday. So tired that I couldn't go play in the rain that was pouring down...I miss the Belfast rain. I didn't really do much yesterday in the way of moving around but I did sit for very long periods of time and tore paper and put signs into plastic sign holders. This should be how I spend every Friday because we have to prepare the "Sale" and "As Advertised" items for Sunday. This proved to be a good time to let my mind wander and think about school and life and music and whatever feels like popping into my head. I like it.
It stormed a lot last night. Lightning and thunder and tornado watches and flood warnings. High School football games were cancelled because of it and made the top news story on the 11 o'clock news. Two of the big private schools in town were playing and it is a huge rivalry. The game was cancelled in the first quarter and won't be rescheduled. Kinda sad for the teams and the fans because it is a huge game for everyone - as big as the NU vs. OU games from my childhood. Emily and I sat out on the balcony/walkway and watched the lightning. I missed that in Belfast. It rained a lot but rarely stormed.

Thanks for checking in!

I'm settled

2006-09-18T16:15:00.000-04:00

In Belfast, I was asked almost every other day for the first 5 months or so if I was settled or settling in. Well, I can confidently say that I am settled here in Louisville. My room is set up to my liking and I am rediscovering the city and renewing friendships and making some new ones.
Today starts the second full week of classes and I am quite pleased with the three courses I signed up for. Monday night is Intro to Christian Worship. There are about 30 of us in there so it is a fairly large class but I have some good friends in there with me so I'm set. The prof is really cool and I think we'll get along just fine. Wednesday night is Thomas Merton: An American Spirituality taught by a priest from Bellarmine University. It is a good mixed class - age and denomination. Still a bit odd for me to be in a mixed group of Catholics and Protestants who aren't discussing Northern Ireland peace and/or politics. Thursday night is Christian Mission through Biography. I think this course has the potential for being my favorite. I'll let you know.
I heard back from Target and I start Thursday morning with orientation. I will finally be doing something with my days other than sitting around and wishing I was at work. All I need is a red shirt.
My friend Stacey just left after spending a long weekend with me. It was good to have her here and she introduced me to a new band - I am always happy to discover new music! She lives in Knoxville so is close enough to come visit. She and I are processing our year overseas together and figuring out how to respond to all the new/old things that we are experiencing back in the US. (She was in Hungary this past year with the same program.)

New Job!! (almost)

2006-09-04T13:52:00.000-04:00

Hey all,
I went to Target yesterday to apply for a job for the next year or so while I'm in Louisville and I was provisionally hired. I have to pass my drug and background checks and then I can go through orientation. I know Target isn't the most glamorous place to work but it will give me money for bills and it isn't a job where the work comes home with me. I will be able to leave work at work and take care of school work when I am at home. I am very excited for this new opportunity. The HR guy who hired me was a really nice guy who is interested in community development and ministry and told me that I could even get involved through Target in community work if I wanted to.
The only downside is that I have to wear a red shirt everyday so I'll have to go out and buy some! Oh well, good thing I was raised in Nebraska where everything is red.
I'll tell you more about my actual job when I find out what I'll be doing - I shouldn't have to be a cashier, I think it is something to do with stocking sale and clearance items and making the shelves look good.

Going to Louisville

2006-08-29T15:18:00.000-04:00

Hey all,
If you are in Louisville, you may be happy to know that I am on my way there on Friday. Email me if you want to hang out or help me unpack.
See you soon!!

Proof that I made it home to Axtell!!!

2006-08-18T19:14:00.000-04:00

I'm home

2006-08-10T13:35:00.000-04:00

Most of you who read this know that I've been home for a week now. It was an interesting trip home with a long stay at O'Hare airport. I can now say I've slept in an airport!! It wasn't much of a sleep with people moving around all night but it was better than nothing. I'll get a few last Belfast photos up shortly so check back at my photo link to see them in the next day or two.
I'm heading to Houston early tomorrow morning to see Elizabeth and Kristi. I'm excited!! It is always good to see friends you haven't seen in over a year.
I may have photos and stories from that trip as I readjust to life in the States.
A few things that seem odd: There are A LOT of tv channels to choose from!! I'm used to 4. It is REALLY hot here! I'm used to 80 being hot. I can get Taco Bell any time I want - but I won't because I want to keep off all the weight I lost by walking and not eating so much fast food.

almost home

2006-07-25T05:39:00.000-04:00

Hiya,
Just a post to let you know the countdown has begun. I will be home a week from tomorrow, Wednesday, August 2nd. I am happy to be getting home to my own stuff and my own family and friends but I will miss the family and friends I have made while in Belfast. I will enjoy my last week amongst my new friends and bring home lots of memories to share.
I will continue this blog for a while after I'm home so I have an outlet for readjustment and such. I'm not sure how long I will keep this but I'll let you know when I'm going to stop.
See ya soon!!

June/mid-July Newsletter (about time!!)

2006-07-17T09:29:00.000-04:00

A lot of people are asking me the same question recently: “So, are you looking forward to going home?” I have struggled to give an answer. You see, I know it is time for me to go home and see family and friends, go back and finish my Master’s degree, drive and eat food from home again, but I really like Belfast. I have come to think of 55 Sunnyside Street as home. I have come to know certain roads better than I remember roads I used to drive everyday in Louisville. I still know my roads in Axtell better, but there aren’t so many to remember. I have made some good friends while I’ve been here, I have become a part of a church family, I have won some trust from my co-workers at the Community House. A friend who came to visit recently said “It really seems like you've found your place in Belfast this year.” I have to agree with her.
You folks back home have probably been wondering what I’ve been up to for the last month and a half, since I didn’t have time to write a newsletter for June. So, instead of continuing on my personal thoughts about coming home and leaving Belfast, I will tell you what I’ve been doing. (this way I don’t really have to dwell on the leaving part and can focus on the fun I’ve had!)
To start the month off, I preached on the 4th of June. It was Pentecost Sunday so, of course, I preached a Pentecost sermon. Basically it was a sermon talking about the gift we were given on that day so long ago - the Holy Spirit. If you would like to have a copy of my sermon, please email me and I’ll send it to you. It wasn’t too long and I think it makes an easy read.
Later in that week, I took a two day trip to London to meet a friend from Louisville who was flying through London on his way to Germany and the World Cup. It was good to see Jake and we were able to catch up and watch the first match of the World Cup together at his friend’s flat. After London, I had a week to do laundry and repack and get ready for a week on Iona. During that week, other than laundry, I attended the cd release party for my friends in the band Blind Friday. It was an amazing night of rock music as they were supported by two other Belfast bands. I met some new people and heard some great music. It is a night I will not soon forget. The boys in the band were worn out from a hard night’s playing but I think overall they were very excited for the turnout and all the positive comments they received.
Iona, a small island off the west coast of Scotland (in case anyone didn’t know), was as beautiful as everyone told me it would be. All of us volunteers headed off early Saturday morning, the 17th. We got on the ferry across the Irish Sea at about 7:30am and were in Scotland 2 hours later. I slept through our bus trip to Glasgow and woke up in time to get on the train to Oban. In Oban we got on another ferry for the 45 minute trip to Craignure where we got on another bus to Fionnphort for the 10 minute ferry ride to Iona where we got to walk the 7-10 minute walk to the Mac where we stayed for the week. LONG day, about 12 hours of traveling followed by a meal with introductions to the rest of the group, a chapel service and eventually to bed.
The week on Iona was refreshing. It was good to get out of Belfast, even if it was to an island 3 ½ miles by 1 ½ miles. The program for the week was called “Seeing the Light” and was a chance for all participants to explore all aspects of light - what it is, what it is like, how it affects us, how we can use it in worship, and how we can express it through different mediums. After looking at some of the options, I chose to explore light through photography. As some of you know, I took up photography a few years back and have really come to enjoy it. By the end of the week, I had a lovely slide show with music provided by another of the participants. When I come home, I’ll show it to anyone who wants to see it. Built in to the week were a couple of activities to take us away from the program and give us a bit of variety. One activity was a trip to Staffa, an island about an hours boat ride away (at least it seemed to take that long). We got to see puffins up close and Fingal’s Cave with rock formations that match the ones you can find on the Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland. Another day was a pilgrimage around the island to see some of the sites of St. Columba’s time on the island. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t agree with us and we got to walk through a lot of rain. The hike was supposed to take most of the day, starting around 10 and ending around 4. We made it to a little past 2, and the only reason most of us made it that long was because we couldn’t really go back. I was willing to walk the rest of the way but the rain wasn’t allowing us to really see anything and most of the group was ready to go back to a warm shower and dry clothes. I was soaked nearly all the way through and decided there wasn’t any better time to revert back to childhood so I jumped in a good number of puddles on my way to dry clothes - it felt good to have some fun!!
The day after we returned from Iona, my friend Stacey arrived in Belfast. She is working as a YAV in Hungary, teaching English to Hungarian students and working with Roma. Belfast was her first real time off during her volunteer year so she was just looking for some relaxation and meeting up with other American volunteers. Stacey was able to attend 2 church services at Cooke, 2 united services on the Ormeau Road, an Away Day with the Community House and meet up with the other volunteers for catching up and such fun things. She and I were able to walk all over the city to see different sites, like C.S. Lewis highpoints and the Maritime Festival celebrating Belfast’s boating history. While we walked we were able to talk about everything and anything. I was able to introduce her to my life in Belfast and she was able to give me feedback about things about me that have changed and grown. By the end of her 10 days, she was ready to head back to Hungary for her last few weeks relaxed and refreshed.
When Stacey left, I headed for Edinburgh to meet up with another friend, Emily. We know each other from seminary and had been planning this visit since I found out I was coming to Belfast. We saw a bit of Edinburgh, took a bus across to Oban, were able to be on Iona for a half day, and headed back to Belfast in a long and stressful day. Once we were back in Belfast we were able to relax. We hung out with some of the other volunteers, we walked all over different parts of the city, and caught up on the last year. It will be good to have a friend at school who has seen my world in Belfast and can (hopefully) help me transition back into school and community.
When Emily left on the 11th, I was able to sit by myself for a few days and just rest. I avoided all 12th of July activities because I was too tired to go anywhere. I am reading through the Chronicles of Narnia and only have one book left. In the next 2 ½ weeks before I leave Belfast, I am leading the 30th of July service at Cooke and I need to try to finish two projects at the Community House. I need to say good-bye to new friends and pack up my things. A lot to do and a little time to do them. I’ll try to write one more newsletter right after I get home to tell you all about my last couple weeks and how it is to be back home. Thanks for reading!!
If you have any questions about anything, feel free to email me. Check out new photos at my picture link - "June and mid-July" (or something like that).

Really late newsletter

2006-07-09T05:20:00.000-04:00

No, sorry, this isn't my next newsletter but rather an apology. I haven't had a chance to write about June yet as I have had back to back visitors. My friend Stacey left last week and my friend Emily came the day Stacey left. Emily heads back to the States on Wednesday. More photos may be posted in the next week if the Community House is open for internet access.
I will do my best to sum up June in a newsletter by the end of next week. July is flying by and I will be home soon so I may or may not have a July newsletter - but knowing me I will write one so you can hear what I did during my last month.
Thanks to all of you who are still reading this!!!

back from Iona

2006-06-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

Hey all,
I have been back from Iona for a few days. Sorry for the delay in posting. I have posted photos and the titles for them will be up soon.
Iona was beautiful and very wet. I will tell you more in my newsletter coming soon.
Enjoy the photos! (Mom, I put some of me up so you can see me!!)

long weekend

2006-06-12T05:38:00.000-04:00

I spent Thursday and Friday in London with my friend Jake. He was on his way to the World Cup in Germany and so I met him in London so we could hang out. His friend had to work so we hung out and wandered around London, ate good food, had good conversations, and watched the start of the World Cup. Jake is a friend from seminary and I found out he'll be in all three of my classes in the fall. I'm really looking forward to those classes and to have a friend in them will be even better.
Saturday I flew back to Belfast early in the morning. I got home just in time to change clothes and get into Doug's van to go for a hike in the Mournes. This was my third trip to the beautiful mountains south of Belfast. It was a good day. Weather was good and the company was good. My legs are sore but I'm glad I did it. I was going to take a nap but I would have missed out.
Photos are posted at my picture link under a new folder - "mixed #2".

2 more months

2006-06-06T07:07:00.000-04:00

I recently passed 9 month mark of my stay here in Belfast. A bit sad to only have 2 months left but very happy to have been here. I look forward to a full 2 months of work and play.
I preached on Sunday - Pentecost Sunday. I felt really good about it and got some good comments back about it. I had an awesome illustration in the middle of it that I am very proud of. I compared the OT to a tug-of-war with God on one side and the Israelites on the other. No matter how hard the Israelites pulled away from God, God was never any farther away from them. The rope in tug-of-war doesn't get any longer, it just moves back and forth.
There are some new photos in the Mixed Bag section of my photos. Doug took us for a picnic yesterday to a tiny island called Nendrum. It was an amazingly beautiful day and we soaked up as much sun as possible. Actually, the weather has been really nice for 4 or 5 days. I even have a bit of a sunburn from being outside so much!! Temps in the lower 70s mean tshirts and shorts for everyone! I just wish I had packed a couple of tank tops. Oh well.

MAY Newsletter

2006-05-31T06:27:00.000-04:00

I think I can say that May has been my busiest month here in Belfast. Starting with May Day as a bank holiday, the month started by standing in beautiful weather cheering on people in the last mile of the Belfast Marathon. I went to a friend's house to cheer on the brave walkers and runners. A few of us gave water to the runners and walkers and we got some help from some of the younger ones. They were more in the way of most of the runners but I think they had a good time anyway.
On the 11th, I turned 29. Belfast gave me a wonderful sunny day. Temperatures were near the 70's and I was in t-shirt and jeans. I got up early and opened presents from home. I took myself out to lunch. I got a hair cut with some new color put into it. I had dinner at Marlene's house. Then my usual Thursday evening activity - Bowls (it was our last night). The bowlers have been very generous. They had a couple cakes for me and gave me a present – a yellow backpack for short trips. Then some friends and I got together for a short evening out.
On Saturday the 13th, I finally got to hold my event I have been planning for the last few months. I found local bands and musicians willing to play for free and the FA Cup match was on television so I projected it on a big screen. I was not as stressed as I thought I would be and the morning of setting up and sound checking went very well. All the bands showed up right on time and all the equipment was perfect. We scrambled a bit for mics and an amp for the acoustic sets after the match but all worked out in the end.Folks from the church were amazing. Everyone who was signed up to help came and were very supportive, even when they didn't really have anything to do. I was much impressed with the t-shirts I had made for all the stewards to wear. With everyone wearing one, the event was given that little touch of looking somehow professional.The lower hall, where the match was being shown, looked a bit like the coffee house I meant it to with chairs set around low tables and all were facing the big projector screen. My friend Dave came with his laptop and I grabbed the projector from the church. Soon, we were watching pre-match BBC1 coverage. Liverpool was playing West Ham for the FA Cup. In the same hall we were selling refreshments so fans didn't have to go far to snack.Even though the match went into extra time, we only started the bands 15 minutes late. The first band was called Ampathy - 4 young guys from a local school. It was their first performance ever and they were a bit nervous. They had worked on the one song they knew and I think they rocked it quite well. It was a tough song, Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Can't Stop", and aside from the singer forgetting some of the words, they did really well. Their bass player was amazing. They were well cheered for and I think they had a good time. A bit more experience and Ampathy may very well have a future on the Belfast music scene!The next band was Blind Friday. These guys know how to rock!! When they walked in for sound check the bass player whispered to me that they were "loud, no I mean really loud." I told him that was not a problem and I couldn't wait to hear them. During their set, they rocked Cooke's stage like it has never been rocked before. The next performance was a guy called David Bell. His band, Standing Room Only, is on a bit of a break at the minute so he stepped into the time slot. I missed most of his set since I had to sort some things out but I think he was well received. I look forward to hearing more from him and his band (once they get back together).The next act was a band called Carson Hill. Their lead singer did a solo acoustic act in the lower hall and everyone said he was really good. I was looking forward to seeing what the whole band could do and they did not disappoint. The final song they covered was "One" by U2 and Jonny hit the high notes just like Bono. I was well impressed! I think their picture will be in the paper on Saturday.The next performer was a guy I met a few months back at a show in the Methodist church. Rick has been performing for a good bit and has written some very good music. He has a unique voice that I really enjoyed. He brought a friend along, Tim Murphy, who performed in the lower hall.
The last act of the night was North, a praise and worship band from North Belfast Presbytery. They ended the night with a lively worship set that left everyone feeling energized as they walked out into the cool spring night.I was very happy with how the day went. I wish there had been more people at the event so the bands would have been playing for more than a couple dozen people but on the whole the day went as planned. Maybe I can do it again someday!I then recovered from my busy weekend and walked right into another busy week. Thursday was the annual bowls dinner at the Ormeau Golf Club. After the meal we had the awards presentations. I was asked to present the trophies to the male winners. I got to give the guys their small trophies and a gift card. One of them got two and came back the second time for a kiss on the cheek - a bit embarrassing for me but it got a good laugh anyway. The presenting was then handed over to Marlene to give out the women's trophies. I was given the Greer Trophy for highest point total in mixed rinks. Basically, I was on the team each week that scored a lot of points. Usually the winner gets to take the trophy home for the year but since they don't want the prize to leave the city, they made me a small replica to bring home with me. I will never forget the kindness the bowling club has shown me, and continues to show me.
Friday and Saturday were spent at two different sales - a jumble sale at Community House to raise money for the after-schools programs and a Spring Fair at the church to raise money for the church. At the jumble sale I stood around and helped where I could and picked up a nice Ireland rugby top for a pound (about $2). At the church sale I tried to sell the left over Cokes and crisps (potato chips) from my music and football event. I didn't sell out but I made a bit more money for the church.The last week of the month has been a bit more relaxing. I am still working on the community directory for the Community House and hope to have everything in the computer and ready to print by the time I head home in August. We are about 2 or 3 months behind schedule but we don’t have the money for the project anyway so we are doing what we can and hopefully the money will come in the fall.

Last week

2006-05-22T14:19:00.000-04:00

I've recovered from my busy weekend and walked right into an exciting end of last week. Thursday was the annual bowls dinner at the Ormeau Golf Club. The meal was lovely, I had the salmon. After the meal we had the awards presentations. I was asked to present the trophies to the male winners. I got to give the guys their small trophies and a gift card. One of them got two and came back the second time for a kiss on the cheek - a bit embarrassing for me but it got a good laugh anyway. The presenting was then handed over to Marlene to give out the women's trophies. I was given the Greer Trophy for highest point total in mixed rinks. Basically, I was on the team each week that scored a lot of points. Usually the winner gets to take the trophy home for the year but since they don't want the prize to leave the city, they made me a small replica to bring home with me. They're worried that I'll forget them so they made sure I got something to take home with me. I will never forget the kindness the bowling club has shown me, and continues to show me. They can't forget me because my name is engraved on the Greer Trophy! There are new photos posted in the "Mixed Bag" folder at my pictures link. They are of my bowls friends and me and the prizes.
Friday and Saturday were spent at two different sales. A jumble sale at Community House to raise money for the after-schools programs and a Spring Fair at the church to raise money for the church. At the jumble sale I stood around and helped where I could and picked up a nice Ireland rugby top for a pound (about $2). At the church sale I tried to sell the left over Cokes and crisps (potato chips) from my music and football event. I didn't sell out but I made a bit more money for the church.
I'll be writing a newsletter again in the next week so for the minute, check out my new photos and come back in a week or so to read about my month of May.

Football and Music

2006-05-16T09:51:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, I finally got to hold my event I have been planning for the last few months. I was not as stressed as I thought I would be and the morning of setting up and sound checking went very well. All the bands showed up right on time and all the equipment was perfect. We scrambled a bit for mics and an amp for the acoustic sets after the match but all worked out in the end.
Folks from the church were amazing. Everyone who was signed up to help came and were very supportive, even when they didn't really have anything to do. I was much impressed with the t-shirts I had made for all the stewards to wear. With everyone wearing one, the event was given that little touch of looking somehow professional.
The day started early, 9 am, when I arrived at the church hall to open the doors and make sure everything was set for the pa system to be moved in and set up. A couple helpers showed up and Al, with the sound, was soon on his way to converting our quiet church hall into a loud concert hall. Chairs were put out in rows and around the walls. Lights were sorted and sound was coming loud and clear through the speakers. Each band came and added to the noise. The solo artists contributed a bit as well. I was getting very excited to see what the day had in store.
The lower hall, where the match was being shown, looked a bit like the coffee house I meant it to with chairs set around low tables and all were facing the big projector screen. Dave came with his laptop and I grabbed the projector from the church. Soon, we were watching pre-match BBC1 coverage. Liverpool was playing West Ham for the FA Cup. In the same hall we were selling refreshments so fans didn't have to go far to snack.
Even though the match went into extra time, we only started the bands 15 minutes late. The first band was called Ampathy - 4 young guys from a local school. It was their first performance ever and they were a bit nervous. They had worked on the one song they knew and I think they rocked it quite well. It was a tough song, Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Can't Stop", and aside from the singer forgetting some of the words, they did really well. Their bass player was amazing. They were well cheered for and I think they had a good time. A bit more experience and Ampathy may very well have a future on the Belfast music scene!
The next band was Blind Friday. These guys know how to rock!! When they walked in for sound check the bass player whispered to me that they were "loud, no I mean really loud." I told him that was not a problem and I couldn't wait to hear them. During their set, they rocked Cooke's stage like it has never been rocked before. If you like hard hitting rock 'n roll, check out www.blindfriday.com. I got their album and it is really good. I'm hoping to see them a couple more times before I leave Belfast.
The next performance was a guy called David Bell. His band, Standing Room Only, is on a bit of a break at the minute so he stepped into the time slot. I missed most of his set since I had to sort some things out but I think he was well received. I look forward to hearing more from him and his band (once they get back together).
The next act was a band called Carson Hill. Their lead singer did a solo acoustic act in the lower hall and everyone said he was really good. I was looking forward to seeing what the whole band could do and they did not disappoint. The final song they covered was "One" by U2 and Jonny hit the high notes just like Bono. I was well impressed! I think their picture will be in the paper on Saturday.
The next performer was a guy I met a few months back at a show in the Methodist church. Rick has been performing for a good bit and has written some very good music. He has a unique voice that I really enjoyed. You can hear some of his stuff at www.myspace.com/rickmckee. He brought a friend along, Tim Murphy, who performed in the lower hall. The two had a band together a few years back and have a mutual respect for each other's music. Both are talented guys who should be heard by more people.
The last act of the night was North, a praise and worship band from North Belfast Presbytery. They ended the night with a lively worship set that left everyone feeling energized as they walked out into the cool spring night.
I was very happy with how the day went. I wish there had been more people at the event so the bands would have been playing for more than a couple dozen people but on the whole the day went as planned. Maybe I can do it again someday!
Photos are posted, check 'em out!

It is my birthday!!!!!

2006-05-11T07:56:00.000-04:00

Today, I turn 29. No one here believes me but it is true. Belfast has given me a wonderful sunny day. Temperatures are near the 70's and I am in t-shirt and jeans. I am still too warm. I got up early and opened presents from home. I took myself out to lunch. In a little bit I'm getting a hair cut and a bit of color put into it. Then dinner at Marlene's house. Then my usual Thursday evening activity - Bowls (it is our last night). Then some friends and I will get together for a short evening out. I think it will turn out to be a very good day. If I get some good photos, I'll share them tomorrow if I remember.

May Day

2006-05-02T09:11:00.000-04:00

Here in Belfast, May Day is a bank holiday. No one had to go to school and most people didn't have to go to work. The Belfast Marathon is run on this day as well. I went to a friend's house to cheer on the brave walkers and runners. It was a beautiful Belfast day with some sun, a couple showers, and a cool breeze. I have posted pictures in a new folder, "Mixed Bag of Photos", so please enjoy the marathon photos. A few of us gave water to the runners and walkers and we got some help from some of the younger ones and there is a photo of that. They were more in the way of most of the runners but I think they had a good time anyway.

April Newsletter

2006-04-30T11:55:00.000-04:00

Greetings once again from Belfast!! April came and went rather quickly for me. The weather has improved and spring really has sprung. We still get random rain showers but lately the hail showers have stopped. Both Allison and I enjoy the light rain on our windows as we fall asleep but we miss the thunder and lightning of a good, strong spring storm.
Holy Week and Easter were eventful. Every evening during the week I was at church at some form of service. On Good Friday, there was an Act of Common Witness by the churches on the road. We started in the Ormeau Park with a short gathering service and then all processed to Cooke, just up the road, for a proper service. In this city known for denominational separation, this Act of Witness is am important event. All the churches on the road were represented - Methodist, Presbyterian, Church of Ireland and Catholic. A couple of Mormon missionaries stopped by but they left before anything got started. I don’t know why they left but it was good to know everyone was welcome.
Easter Sunday was a good day. I didn’t make it to the sunrise service because I forgot to arrange for someone to give me a lift. But the morning service was good and the youth served tea and coffee for the final time. The response to the refreshments after the service was as good as we could expect. The church will be carrying on the service once a month with a different group taking responsibility. The last Sunday of the month was taken by the Bowling Club. After the service, I was invited to join the Taylor family for lunch. We had a very traditional Easter meal of lamb, potatoes and turnip and carrots. Yes, Mom and Dad, I ate lamb! The evening service was a mixed community service.
The youth group spent a Saturday away in Tollymore Forest Park and Newcastle. 15 of us went altogether and I think the kids had a good time. We started in the park and had the kids do some trust activities. They split into pairs and one partner was blindfolded. The first activity was to lead the blindfolded partner to a tree and back to the start. The blindfold was removed and then the person had to try to find the tree. While I scurried around getting photos, the other leaders tried to add distractions to throw off the blindfolded person. Leaves and sticks were brushed across foreheads to make it seem like they were walking through dense vegetation. To watch was quite entertaining! The next activity was to lead the blindfolded partner across stepping stones. Luckily, this wasn’t as difficult as it looked and no one got wet, except for me when my first step was a bit off. We spent the afternoon in Newcastle. The kids got to wander around town for a few hours and eventually nearly everyone ended up in an arcade. We ended the day with a cookout at the Newcastle Yacht Club. A full day with some good memories.
Most of my time this month has been taken up with planning a major event at the church hall. I have been to session to ask permission. I have been back to session to update them on my progress. I have been through a couple of really long sub-committee meetings to discuss some of the finer points of holding a large event at the hall. I have talked to people about volunteering their time. I have talked to bands about playing at the event. On the 13th of May, the FA Cup Final Football Match will be shown on a big screen at the hall. Upstairs, local Belfast bands will be playing. This has been set up as a youth event and outreach event for the church. The community is invited along with many Belfast youth groups. I think it is all coming along smoothly, though there have been a few bumps along the way. I’ll let you know next month how it all goes.
Thank you for your continued support. Three more newsletters and I’ll be home! It has gone by so fast.

Mass update, sorry for the lapse

2006-04-24T13:25:00.000-04:00

Hey all, I posted new photos! They are in the Good Friday folder.
The first few are of the Good Friday Act of Witness that the community churches put together. This is an annual event that shows the cooperation of the churches on the Ormeau Road. There was a 20 minute service in the park and then we walked up the road to Cooke where we had a formal, short Good Friday service.
The next set of photos are from Saturday. Genesis, the church's youth group, went out for a day of fun. We started out in Tollymore Forest Park, about 40 minutes south of here. Gary, one of the leaders, had the kids do some trust activities. They were blindfolded and led around a tree filled area. The sighted partner chose a tree and led the other to it and then back to the start point. The blindfolded partner then took the blindfold off and had to try to find the tree they were led to. The second blindfold activity was across steeping stones across the creek. I was led across by the youngest member of our group but I only misstepped into the water at the very beginning. We left the forest and headed to nearby Newcastle for lunch and some free time before our dinner. We went to the Yacht Club for a cookout and some time to just hang out together. It was a good day.
The next set of photos is from Friday. Allison, Dave and I went on a free bus tour of Queen's Island where the Titanic was drafted and built. The shipyard is mostly empty now and there isn't much to mark where the famous ship was launched and built but the memories are still strong. The tour was informative and free was a good price. There are a couple photos of the walk home where Dave and I stopped and watched the people enjoy the beautiful day at Botanic Gardens. I found a swing to sit on as well and had a bit of fun.
The last photo is from today when some of us YAVs went for a picnic in nearby Belvoir (pronounced Beaver, don't know why) Park.

April showers bring...

2006-04-09T11:25:00.000-04:00

...hail showers! We have been experiencing some classice Belfast weather for the past few days. It has been beautiful when I walked out of the house and 10 minutes later it started sprinkling, then 2 minutes later it started hailing small pellets, then 5 minutes later the hail and rain stopped and the sun came out again. The whole process has been repeated at least 2 or 3 times a day for the last few days. I know there's a phrase in Nebraska (and a few more other states) that if you don't like the weather just wait a few minutes. Well, I'm not going to use that phrase for a long time because it just isn't true, but I can use it here in Belfast where the weather really does change in a matter of minutes.

March Newsletter

2006-04-02T17:19:00.000-04:00

March has been a wet and eventful month. We had the coldest weather yet for about 3 weeks, beginning at the end of February. We have had rain every day, or that’s what it feels like anyway. But the spring has come so we get to see flowers blooming and trees budding. Some days have beautiful sunshine and clear skies!
Lent started at the beginning of the month. Genesis, the youth group at church, is serving tea and biscuits after the morning service as a fund raiser. It is hoped that this Lenten activity will grow into a monthly or bi-monthly practice. Cooke has a wonderful reception area in the back of the church and it is perfect for folks to visit with others in the congregation. It worked especially well since the two candidates for Cooke’s ministerial opening preached on the first two Sundays. Members of the congregation had an excuse to stand in the back of the church and wait to talk to the minister.
My activity in the church picked up a bit during March. I attended a Kirk Session meeting during which I reported on my activities up to that point and told the Session members of my plans for the remaining months. They were very supportive of my desire to hold a concert event in Cooke’s halls. My presentations made the Session meeting last a lot longer than usual but I’m not sure that too many people minded.
On the 19th of March I took the morning service all by myself. I prepared the prayers, selected the hymns, chose the readings, printed and folded the orders of service, and preached the sermon. I had a special guest in attendance, my field education director Garnett Foster. I was a bit nervous but everything went really well. I ended right on time, not too short like I thought. Many people came up to me afterwards to tell me how well I did and how much they enjoyed it.
I took a Thursday morning Bible Study for Marlene when she had to be away for a conference. She is working through the last words from Jesus on the cross. All I had to do was follow the plan from the study guide she gave me. I had a good time on the morning with 13 in attendance. We started with tea and biscuits and then moved into the sitting room for an hour of study and conversation.
In the work I am doing with the Community House, I am steadily progressing with the directory project I am heading. We finally started giving out the letters to the businesses requesting their information to be put into the directory. This means the project is now known in the public sector to some extent. We can’t stop the project, we have an expectation from outside of ourselves for the directory to become a reality.
I have also been hanging about the Community House more just to talk to people and do research on the internet. It has been a great way to get to know the folks who work in the House and I have had many good conversations with different people about just about anything and everything. I also have occasion to help with the Skyway Club, a group for mentally handicapped individuals. Just by hanging about I have helped with elections of leaders of the group and a fund-raiser lunch.
For a few days in the middle of the month, I hosted Garnett Foster, the Director of Field Education at LPTS, where I will be returning to work at finishing my Master’s degree in the fall. Garnett was here to see what I have gotten myself into and discover if there is a possibility for more students to gain church work experience on this side of the Atlantic. I gave her quite a busy schedule packed with tours and meetings. I think she was worn out by the time she headed down to Dublin for a few days of site seeing there.
I know there is a lot that I am leaving out but most of it is not terribly interesting. Some of it may be in previous posts if you would like to check it out. There are photos you may be interested in looking at as well.
Thank you for your continued support!

Garnett's visit

2006-03-23T07:18:00.000-05:00

From Friday to Wednesday, I had the opportunity to entertain Garnett Foster, LPTS's Director of Field Education, here in Belfast. Garnett arrived early Friday morning, St. Patrick's Day. After a brief rest at the home she stayed at, I took her into City Centre for lunch and the parade. The parade was small but well attended. We followed the parade along its route to Custom House Square where one of the many concerts on the day was occurring. The concert we saw was a part of the Celebrate Belfast 2006 campaign. It celebrated the diversity that is starting to show up in Belfast. We only stayed for the first two acts because the bitter cold was getting to Garnett. We walked around a couple of shopping centres to warm up and eventually headed home as jet lag was setting in. After a brief nap at my house, Garnett was ready to go and we headed to dinner at a Chinese place near the University. The Cooke St. Pat's party was next with a quiz, entertainment, and Irish Stew. A very full day!
Saturday was another full day. I had talked a few friends into going on a mini-coach tour up the north coast so we all met up early Saturday and climbed on the bus. The tour took us through Carnlough, a small harbor town, where we stopped for a few minutes for photos and a snack. Then we headed up to the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. This is a bridge connecting a small bit of an island to the coast. It is historically a good place to catch salmon coming back into the river of their birth to spawn. The bridge is a bit treacherous and with the extremely high winds we were not allowed to cross. From the photos I've posted you can see that we were able to get some photos from the start of the bridge. I can attest to the strong, cold winds but I still would have crossed just to say I had done it. We continued to travel up the coast to a photo stop at Dunluce Castle. The ruins of this castle are the most photographed ruins on the island (or so the bus driver told us). We headed to Bushmills for lunch at a nice little pub and a quick wander around town. From lunch, the driver dropped most of the tour off at Bushmills Distillery, home of the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. It was interesting to learn that the old bourbon barrels from the Jim Beam distillery contribute to the triple distilling process of this Irish whiskey. We ended the tour with a free sample of one of the whiskeys produced at the distillery. I can say it warmed me up for the last stop on our tour - Giant's Causeway. I've been there before but I think any good spot is worth visiting several times. I finally got my picture on the wishing seat, along with Davey and Dave. We returned to Belfast worn and tired but I think quite satisfied with our full day. Garnett went to visit a friend and I went home to work on my sermon and service for the next day.
Sunday brought an early start for me. I was the preacher for the morning and still had a few last minute details to attend to. The service went well and nearly the whole church came up to me afterwards to tell me how much they enjoyed the service. Garnett and I were taken out for Sunday lunch at Rockmount Country Club just south of Belfast. Very good food! The afternoon went by quickly and soon it was time for evening service. After the service, Garnett joined me at Genesis (youth group). I wasn't leading so we got to relax and join in the group work of looking things up in the Bible.
Monday brought a trip to Newcastle with Marlene for Garnett and a meeting with Doug and the other volunteers for me. Garnett got a tour of Belfast with Doug in the afternoon and then had dinner with Sandra and me at a nice pub in town. Sandra will be at LPTS with me next year and I thought it was a good idea for her to meet Garnett. Monday evening was Boys Brigade where I was leading a Bible class with the older boys.
Tuesday brought a brief meeting with Doug and then lunch at the Community House. Garnett and I helped set up a fund raiser lunch. The Skyway Club at the Community House is helping the Mount Oriel Special Olympics Football Team to raise money to compete this summer. That evening we had a very nice dinner with Cyril and Evelyn Cavan. Garnett stayed with the Cavan's since all the hotels were full with the St. Pat's holiday. After dinner we enjoyed a small production of "Calamity Jane".
On Wednesday, Garnett was taken around to a few more places by Marlene and then we headed to lunch at a Thai place owned by Thai Christians. It is the third time I have eaten there and the food was good as usual. After that, Garnett was off to Dublin for a few more days of holiday.
A very full trip and I'm sure she will get home and welcome some normalcy and quiet!

New things!

2006-03-14T08:32:00.000-05:00

Last night the congregation of Cooke called Rev. Dr. Mark Gray to be the new minister. Moments after the meeting finished, a phone call was made and the call was accepted. I'm not sure when he will start, but Cooke has the confidence of knowing a new minister will be in their church within the year.
I have posted some new photos for your viewing pleasure. Some from last Tuesday's pool club trip to East Belfast and some from a trip last Friday that I took with some friends.
The pool club photos are of murals and things that we saw and were told about by our guide for the day. Nev is a youth worker on the Shankill and a member of the Orange Order. He lives somewhere near my part of town. He knows the history of the Troubles from a Unionist perspective but tries to tell both sides of the story. Most of the photos I've posted are of the murals.
The trip on Friday was with Cyril and Evelyn Cavan, Dave and Barbara. The Cavan's took us to Scrabo Tower, east of Belfast on the Ards Peninsula for a walk and lunch after. We then went further down the peninsula to Mount Stewart. The grounds of Mount Stewart are beautiful and huge. The site is a National Heritage Site. The weather was forecasted as miserable and wet but we only saw rain at the very end as we were getting ready to head home.
Enjoy!!

I saw live football!!

2006-03-02T08:49:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I was offered a free ticket to see Northern Ireland play Estonia in an international friendly. Of course I took the ticket! Sandra, one of the other volunteers, knows someone who works at Windsor Park, home of Linfield Football Club and temporary national stadium. I watched, on television, Northern Ireland beat England at the beginning of my year here so I was just waiting for a chance to go see the team play live. The night was bitterly cold and snow eventually came down but I think it was well worth it. There are photos at my Pictures link. Northern Ireland won 1-0.
I also put up some new photos from Tuesday from pool club. The boys were taken on a wee tour of Andersontown (West Belfast) to hear about some of the troubles there during the Troubles. Quite informative.

February Newsletter

2006-02-27T13:06:00.000-05:00

February is nearly over and Belfast is getting brighter by the day. The sun is going down later and later giving us a bit more sunlight. Flowers are appearing in parks and people are going out a bit more than they have in the last month or two. Time marches on.
About 2 months ago I was asked if I would speak at a small women’s group on the third Tuesday of February. When I asked what I was expected to talk about I was told to just talk about myself and what I am doing here in Belfast. I didn’t really worry about the day because the task seemed easy enough - I can talk about myself rather well, I think.
When I arrived at St. Bartholomew’s Rectory, I was greeted by the wife of the rector who is also a minister in the Church of Ireland. She actually is the organizer of this group of women who get together once a month. They have speakers in or play games or do some activity to keep them busy on a Tuesday afternoon. The group can number anywhere from 4 to 10 and it was looking like we were going to have a small crowd until a couple of ladies came in a few minutes late. I ended up speaking to 7 women. I talked about the Young Adult Volunteer Program, where I am working here in Belfast and what I have been doing. After I finished talking about those things, I asked for any questions they may have for me. After all, I had been invited to speak and wanted to talk about what they wanted to hear. After some questions about where I’m from and what I hope to do after this year, the minister asked me a final question: “What do you miss most about home?” I decided that this was a good question for a newsletter that is coming at the halfway point of my year here.
What do I miss most about home? I miss family but that is nothing new since I have lived away from home for the better part of 10 years. I miss friends but I have been moving away from friends since I left high school. Both of these groups of people were well prepared for my absence as well. I miss my car mostly because a lot of people ask me if I miss it. I miss my PlayStation 2 a little bit because it helped to relieve stress but I have learned ways to cope without it. I miss being present for my nephew’s birth. That is something I can’t have back but I have his whole life to make it up to both of us.
I miss the little things that don’t really seem like much but if you put them all together they add up to a lot so I try not to think of them all at once. I miss being able to sit out on the balcony with Emily and Chloe and enjoy a beautiful Louisville day and the company of a good friend and her dog. I miss being able to sit in the new Java and use the free wireless internet while enjoying a good mocha. I miss paying a cell phone bill monthly and actually talking to a person rather than just sending a text because it is cheaper. I miss a “home” (studio apartment) of my own with my stuff in it where I like it. Little things.
Even though I miss these things from home, I know there are things that I will miss from Belfast when I go home that will sting a bit more than the few things I miss from home. Things from home I can always go back to, because I know I will always be welcome back home. Things from Belfast will not be as easy to get back once I leave - I may never be able to afford to come back. I know I will miss the ability I have to walk everywhere. I will miss the accent of the very kind folks I live around. I will miss soda bread. I will miss a cup of tea everywhere I go. I will miss Nessa and Rae, Helen and Harold, Cyril and Evelyn. I will miss my wee small bedroom and the challenges it presented and the solace it has provided. I will long for the mountains and the sea in one view from Newcastle. I could go on but I think you get the picture.
Halfway points are, for me, time to get some perspective on where I’ve been and where I’m going. The reality is setting in that I will have to leave and that moment is always getting closer and closer. I know I shouldn’t dwell on the leaving and I should rather think of the time I have left and all that I want to accomplish. It is hard for me because I have to think of what is waiting for me when I get back home. I have a year of school to complete, a nephew to meet, ordination stuff to do and decide on, and as-yet-unplanned speaking engagements. A lot to think about in the midst of all the fun and joy I find in Belfast.
I know there are things I have left out that are important to me but I don’t want to dwell, it makes me sad. But to brighten up the end of this newsletter I will tell you the answer to the question that I gave to the group of women. What I miss the most about home is…Taco Bell! I had to explain this to the women because Mexican food is not found in very many places around here and the concept of a taco is quite foreign to some. Taco Bell has proven to be the one thing I can’t seem to replicate here and I’m sure it will be one of my first meals when I return home!
Thank you for your continuing support. Email if you have any questions or comments (beckysporch@yahoo.com)!

Tuesday afternoons

2006-02-23T08:52:00.000-05:00

I don't know if I have talked about this or not but on Tuesday afternoons I have been helping at a pool club at the Methodist Church. It is an after school thing that 5 boys from the neighborhood come to. They play pool, x-box and football. We, the leaders, decided they needed something a bit more constructive to do so we had a grafitti artist come in and show them how to create their own piece of artwork. It was a 6 week course and the boys enjoyed it, I think. I have posted some photos of the work in progress and the finished work. I think it is rather impressive. There is a signature portion of the work and we all got to put our names up. The leaders names are up too. We all worked on it and it is now up in the hall where we play pool. I thought some of you might be interested.

new photos

2006-02-20T07:08:00.000-05:00

Hey all,
I went for a walk this Saturday with some friends and posted a few of the photos for you to see. They are in the "Walks" folder at my Pictures link. It was grand! We went to the Mournes and walked the Carrick Little Trail near where I walked when Suzy was here at Christmas. The day was lovely and almost warm. Dave, Gary, Emily and I had a good adventure. Enjoy the photos!

Donegal Retreat

2006-02-16T18:30:00.000-05:00

We just returned from our second volunteer retreat to Carrigart, Donegal. There are photos up at my photo link. We left Monday morning and went through Londonderry (or Derry depending on who you talk to). In L’Derry, we met a friend of Doug’s who gave us a mini tour of the city wall and a bit of history. L’Derry is a city like a few others on the island that have a very mixed background and a history that changes with each person you talk to. It is the site of the Bloody Sunday massacre that U2 sings about in “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” It is the site of one of the oldest monasteries in Ireland, though the exact site is in question. The city, like Belfast, is still separated by sectarian violence. There are CCTV cameras watching everything. There are “peace walls” to separate neighborhoods. There are gates opened and closed to keep certain people out of certain places at certain times. Their soccer team plays in the Ireland league because they were kicked out of the Northern Ireland league when an opposing team’s bus was set on fire. It is a city as complicated as any I have heard of.
After leaving L’Derry, we headed to a quick stop at an ancient Irish fort. There is a photo of the description board to tell you what it is. The boys had fun wrestling around in the area that resembled the Coleseum and even found the hidden passageway within the walls.
We arrived at the holiday home we stayed at for the 2 nights. It was lovely. Loads of room, nice and warm, and great views all round. Doug, Kirk and I went for a walk on the nearby beach while the rest of the group started dinner. After dinner, most of us headed upstairs to play the first of two games of Risk played during our stay. Kirk won by sweeping across the board and taking everyone out one by one. It was still good fun even though I didn’t do very well.
The next day we went for a ride to a couple of nearby beautiful views. Doug took us to a Capuchin Friary to walk along the beach there. Most of us got a bit adventurous and climbed on the rocks. Good times were had by all and most of us didn’t get too wet when we crossed from the rocks to the beach! The second stop was nearby Horn Head. It was a good trek across peat and low ground cover to see the gorgeous view and a ruin of a watch tower. Unfortunately, my camera batteries died so I didn’t get too many photos of Horn Head but some of the other volunteers share their photos so when I come home, I may have more photos to share than just the ones I took. On our way home from Horn Head, Doug stopped at the beach near our house so Kirk could fulfill a dream of his to swim on both sides of the Atlantic. The rest of us watched as Kirk stripped down to his swim trunks and jogged into the water, go out about 40 yards, go under water, and come back. He said the water was warmer than the air but still refused to bundle up in the blanket. We gave him the towel and got him back in the minibus to warm up a bit. He started turning a bit purple and decided he should get into the blanket. He was okay and very excited to have accomplished his swim in the Atlantic. We all thought he was crazy. There are photos (I got more batteries at a quick pit stop)!
That night we played another game of Risk after a short Communion service. I almost won until Christine and Chris outsmarted me--I never was very good at strategy. At one point, I covered two full continents and nearly controlled a third. I did manage to hold Europe for most of the game.
On Wednesday morning we were up and ready to go back to Belfast--actually, we all wanted to stay in Donegal, it was so beautiful. Doug fixed us his famous pancakes and we all chipped in to pack up and clean up.
The retreat was good and relaxing. Lots of time together. Some good reading time. Another opportunity to see a bit more of Ireland that we might not otherwise see. Our next trip will be to the island of Iona, Scotland, in June. I really look forward to that!
Enjoy the photos in the “Retreat to Donegal” folder and there are a few new photos in “Walks.” My friends, Dave and Barbara, and I took a trip to Carrickfergus Castle on Saturday.

apologies

2006-02-07T07:10:00.000-05:00

So, I didn't post last week during the conference. Sorry about that for all of you who wanted to know how it was going. Well, I didn't post because I was having 14 hour days of sitting and listening to people talk and by the time I got home at night, I was knackered (or wrecked or worn out).
The conference was good. I don't usually volunteer to attend Evangelical events so I surprised myself by agreeing to go. I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of what was said did not turn me off and that I could agree with a good deal of what the speakers were saying. I did find points that I wanted to throw things but they were much fewer than I originally thought they would be. There were some really good speakers that I hope to hear again someday--Ravi Zacharias, Joel Edwards and Ken Clarke. Look them up on google or something, they are worth finding out more about.
On Sunday night, the first night of the conference, I had a moment when I fully realized how fully in Ireland I am. I was sitting in Waterfront Hall and had the privilege of being in the presence of Moya Brennan, the voice of Clannad (look them up too). Clannad is a traditional Irish group made up of mostly members of the Brennan family. The Brennan family has more than just the fame of Moya and Clannad to be proud of--it is also the origin of the world famous singer Enya. Moya has released a few solo albums and I own one of them and have loved it since I bought it. She sang a couple of songs from that album and I was in awe of the luck I had to be in that hall listening to a real Irish icon. I love music and this experience ranks up there with my most memorable concert experience--Jennifer Knapp in Nashville. On the same evening I was able to hear Kristyn Getty, wife of one of the men responsible for writing one of the most popular hymns of recent years, In Christ Alone. Kristyn is a wonderful singer and is actually in the States right now. She and Keith are living the next 2 years touring in the States. If you have an opportunity to hear them, do it.
I don't think I can really do any justice to the conference itself in this space. It was good and I'm glad I was able to attend. If anyone wants to hear more about it, please email me at beckysporch@yahoo.com.
All the best until next time.

January Newsletter

2006-02-01T02:59:00.000-05:00

Greetings from Belfast once again! I always seem to wait until the last possible minute to write my monthly newsletters and here I am again, writing on the last day of the month. January has gone by rather quickly for me. One day, I was celebrating the New Year, and the next I was being asked how I liked Belfast after five months here. Where did the time go?
Well, the time was spent trying to play catch up on a major project for the Community House, hanging out with a few new friends, and doing things for the church like taking an evening service and participating in morning services. At the Community House, I was given a project a couple months back to create a directory of sorts for the Ballynafeigh community. The directory is to be a directory of all of the businesses, churches, and other various resources of the community that I live in. I wasn’t initially given a time line so I was taking my time gathering information and just thinking about how a directory would take shape if I had to take it on all by myself. Well, at the beginning of January, the first day I stepped back into the Community House after the New Year, I was given a time line. I was told I have no budget because there is no funding for this project but I should have something ready to print by mid-April and ready to release to the public by the end of May. I was told that I am completely in charge of the project and can recruit people to help me. I should clear major things with Gerry, the community relations guy at the Community House. Despite the short time line, the huge amount of material to gather and organize, and no budget whatsoever, I am very excited about this project. It will give me a chance to give back to the community that has welcomed me. With this directory I can help the next volunteers who live here to become better acquainted with this community and know where to go for what and how to do things. I can help to unite the community as well. This directory is (hopefully) going to go into every home in Ballynafeigh (approximately 3000) and will show residents, old and new, what a great and lively community they live in.
At Cooke, my responsibilities are much the same. I led the 8 Jan evening service. I preached about how every day should be New Year’s day in regards to resolutions being made, kept and broken. I think it was a good service and I really enjoyed putting everything together--the prayers, the hymns, the scriptures, the sermon. I am regularly adding bits to the morning services as well. I introduced a hymn one week, took the children’s address another week, and prayed the prayer of thanksgiving and confession another week. I attended an Away Weekend with the youth. It was great. The kids were really well behaved and most of them participated in all of the planned and unplanned activities. We climbed on a rock wall and went to an aquarium. We watched movies and played games. We relaxed and ate well and stayed up late. It was a great weekend!
One night a few weeks ago I was hanging out at my friend Dave’s house. We somehow got on the topic of Northern Ireland politics and such. He is born and raised in Belfast and has lived in Australia and traveled a good bit outside of the UK. I don’t remember how the conversation got started but it turned to the question of why Northern Ireland doesn’t just become a fully independent country and what good it does for Northern Ireland to continue to be a part of the UK. Dave told me a few of the advantages of remaining a part of the UK and then said that the biggest problem with Northern Ireland being a completely separate country has to do with identity. If Northern Ireland were to stand alone as a country, not connected to Britain or Ireland, there would be a huge identity crisis. Individuals can identify themselves as being Protestant or Catholic, from the Shankill or the Falls, born and raised or import. They can identify the others around them as this or that or the other. But when you ask what country they live in, they can’t really tell you. I am attending a conference this next week that is something for all of Ireland. It is being held in Belfast and when they say “Ireland” I think they mean the whole island and it isn’t a political term. Before I came here, I had an argument about where it was exactly that I was going. I said the UK or Britain and more specifically Northern Ireland and the person I was arguing with said Ireland. I couldn’t convince the person I was going to a country separate from Ireland but attached to it. Here in Belfast, if I ask where I am, more often I get a response of “Ireland” rather than “Northern Ireland” or “the UK.” This is not just from Nationalists or Republicans who would like a united Ireland. This response comes from just about everyone! I don’t really know what any of this means for the state of the country and it’s people but it is something that should be considered when looking at the future of this country. Not just the name or nationality bit, but the whole of the identity of the individuals as well.
I am hoping to start a 20-30 something group next month. It is a personal project, not connected to Cooke or the Community House, that I hope will be successful. I hope to get a good sized group together to watch movies, go hiking, take trips, talk about stuff, get out of the house. I have a small, core group of individuals interested so we just need to get more interest from other friends and it should be a good sized group of people.
Well, that’s all for this month. Thank you for your continuing support. Please keep checking out my blog and please email me (beckysporch@yahoo.com) to let me know you are enjoying these newsletters or if there are any questions you have for me.

this week

2006-01-29T05:12:00.000-05:00

This week, I am taking part in a conference called Kingdom Come...more than words. The church has paid for me to attend this 4 day conference that is seeking to bring leaders together to inspire and encourage a mission task and to reach Ireland. Anne Graham Lotz is speaking on a couple of occassions alongside 4 influential UK speakers/ministers. The bulk of the conference appears to be set in workshops and stream that deal with sharing faith, church, society and children and youth. I hope to attend the society stream that will talk about religion and society and the different effects both have on each other. The conference has a definate evangelical slant. It is being sponsored by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Evangelical Alliance. The steering group includes representatives from the Church of Ireland, Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, and so on. I am looking forward to the conference but mostly I am looking forward to the conversations I hope to have with different people from around the islands. I will try to give you a brief summary every day about what happened.

long weekend

2006-01-16T10:15:00.000-05:00

Actually, the weekend wasn't any longer than usual, I was just away with the youth for all of it. The kids were really good all weekend and are very capable of entertaining themselves which is helpful when nothing was firmly planned. We went to the Boys Brigade site called Ganaway where they have tons of space, a small gym, a large gym, a rock climbing wall (awesome!), small dorm type rooms, and games to keep people thoroughly entertained. Sam, the BB leader, organized it all and invited the Guides and Genesis (youth group). We had around 15 kids for the weekend. Part of Saturday was spent in Portaferry at an aquarium. There were "touch tanks" at the aquarium and about 20 minutes after we arrived they had a staff person come out and show us the animals in the tank. We got to touch a ray, a dog fish shark thing, starfish, mollusks, and sea cucumbers. Very cool!!
Last week, my work at the Community House was accelerated. The project I'm supposed to be working on was given a deadline and a few mini deadlines to work toward. We are putting together a Welcome Pack/Community Directory. Not sure where the money is coming from but we're working on that. I am in charge of gathering information and finding a good format for it. I'm very excited that I get to do this project because it will be a lasting impact in the community and hopefully will help future volunteers to adjust to the area. I will definitely be bringing a copy or 3 or 4 home with me if I can. I will keep you posted on how the project is progressing.

New Pictures!!!

2006-01-04T09:19:00.000-05:00

Hey all, I posted some of my photos from Christmas. Look in the Best & Christmas file. I couldn't post them all and didn't take a ton of photos of things like Christmas day or anything that interesting. I hope you enjoy the photos I did take and maybe when I get home, we can enjoy all of them together.
NOTE: the photos are roughly in order of what Suzy and I did while she was here: Dublin, a tour of Belfast (mural photos), Giant's Causeway, Newcastle, Carrickfergus, hike in the Mournes. There are no photos from our hike up Cave Hill on the 26th (Boxing Day) since I have already taken pictures from there.
ENJOY!!!!

December Newsletter

2005-12-30T11:54:00.000-05:00

As I sit here in Belfast, on the eve of a new year, I would love to reflect on all that has happened in my life over the last 364 days but I will spare all of you a rather long reflection and just give you a taste of the last month. (I will save personal reflection for my journal.)
December was a busy month--parties, meals, meetings, a visitor. People told me December would be dreary with early darkness and cold, damp weather but I saw December as a month filled with friends and light. The streets of downtown were lit with Christmas lights and greetings at the end of November. It is refreshing to see “Merry Christmas” all over the city rather than “Holiday Greetings.” Carols played in shops along the road and Cooke’s Praise Group was permitted to sing Christmas Carols in Forestside Shopping Centre on two Tuesdays in a row to raise money for Malawi. The money will be taken to Malawi by the retired Rev. Jim Campbell and his wife Ruth.
At the beginning of the month, there was a C.S. Lewis festival. Emily, another volunteer, and I went on a bus tour around the places Lewis would have frequented when he lived in Belfast. It was an informative and entertaining 2 hour tour. We saw the house he was born in, the church his grandfather was minister of, and the possible inspiration for several pieces of the Narnia Chronicles. A week later, I went to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with the Boys Brigade. We had boys as young as 5 all the way up to the boys who are the leaders with kids of their own watching a movie based on a book written for children. It was wonderful! I have not read the books yet but I plan to when I get a chance. Based on the movie alone, I think the books shall be magical. A week later, I saw the movie again when a friend came to visit.
The Community House had it’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Community Christmas Drop-in on the 12th. The AGM is the Community House’s chance to report on the past year’s successes and show appreciation to all those who have participated in programs and volunteered. There was plenty to celebrate but also some to be sad about. A lot of community organizations receive funding from the government through peace process grants. I believe these grants were a way to bring peace to the city. Now that peace is more or less a normal thing in this city known for violence, the grants are getting smaller and more difficult to get. The Community House has always been in need of more funding than it receives but this year the funding has not come in. There will be at least one empty desk when the Community House opens in the New Year. There may be more empty desks in March when other grant monies run out.
Things at Cooke were lively this month. We hosted a Community Carol Service on the 11th. The church was full and lively as members of the community joined together to sing carols, listen to choirs, and hear the Christmas story read. Two primary school choirs joined to sing two selections and our Praise Group sang two selections as well. Members from different parts of the community read the scripture passages and youth leaders, including myself, prayed the Prayers of the People. It was a positive experience for all. I was able to speak to a few members of the community afterwards, as they were interested to know where my accent is from, and they thought the combined service was a wonderful example of how our shared community integrates itself in such a polarized city.
For the last two weeks of the month, I had a friend visiting from Bahrain. She is originally from Iowa and is serving as a PE teacher with the Reformed Church in America in the small, Middle Eastern island nation. Suzy is a friend from my Fellowship of Christian Athletes days and was tired of seeing nothing but sand so she decided to come visit for Christmas and experience Ireland’s green. We visited the Giant’s Causeway, Carrickfergus Castle, and Newcastle. We attended church together and spent good, quality time together. It wasn’t like having family around at Christmas but it was close.
I wish all of you a very happy and prosperous New Year. Thank you for your continuing support and I look forward to hearing from you in the New Year.

Happy Christmas!!

2005-12-25T14:13:00.000-05:00

Hi all!!
Christmas day is almost over here in Belfast. I have been to church (my first Christmas day service ever) and then to another volunteer's house for a meal. My friend, Suzy, is visiting from Bahrain so she is tagging along with me. It is good to have a friend here over the holidays. Tonight we will kick back and watch a movie after she phones home and talks to her family. I phoned my family yesterday as they were gathering for Christmas festivities at my Grandmother's.
Suzy and I have been travelling around N.I. for the last few days. We went to the Giant's Causeway, Newcastle, and Carrickfergus Castle. Pictures will be posted after the New Year when I can get to free and faster internet service.
I hope everyone's holidays are wonderful and everything they hope for.

December is here!

2005-12-06T07:15:00.000-05:00

Hi all!
Christmas is coming! Advent is here. Belfast days are growing shorter--darkness comes around 4 pm. Things are speeding up only to slow down once Christmas comes. Holidays will be taken and I'll have a friend in town for two weeks. I'm very excited to see my friend. Hopefully we'll do some fun things and have some nice photos to show you of our adventures.
A bit of sad news to report. Last week George Best died. Now, I didn't know anything about him until a month or so ago when he got really sick but apparently he was the greatest footballer in the world. He grew up not too far away from where I live. He and C.S. Lewis are two of the few positive things to come out of Belfast that stick out in memory. The Titanic was built here but "she was fine when she left here" as my favorite shirt says. Anyway, George Best wasn't the best person in his personal life--alcoholic, womaniser, married twice, unreliable--but he was a great friend to those who were willing to put up with the bad stuff, a good father to his son, and he was an amazing football player (soccer). People came from all over the UK and beyond for his funeral this past Saturday. There were several places for people to sign a bereavement book for his family and places that people laid flowers and t-shirts and flags and such as a tribute to him. Many think there should be a football stadium named after him. I have posted some photos of the tributes to him that I found in a couple places. The spray paint photo is from around the corner from my house and is on the side of a bank. The others are from the main gate of City Hall. Tons of people have passed by and left things there. Look at the "Best & Christmas" file at my photo link.

November Newsletter

2005-11-29T08:43:00.000-05:00

November has been another good month here in Belfast. We YAVs have been on retreat to County Fermanagh. I have attended a Youth Rally and 2 different conferences within the Presbytery. I have celebrated Thanksgiving twice, once on the day with a beautiful first snow and once on the Saturday following with the other volunteers, Doug’s family, and some friends of Doug’s kids. I have been given an assignment from Ballynafeigh that will last me the rest of the year. And I have continued to participate in the day to day activities of Cooke Centenary.
In a recent blog, I asked the readers to ask me questions about things here in Belfast. I am choosing to answer my dad’s questions in this update because I think they were spot on questions for where I am at this point in my year.
Q. How do the duties of the Pastor in Irish churches differ/compare with the duties of the Pastor in U.S. churches. Also, what is your perspective on how Irish Pastors are perceived by their parishioners, as compared to the parishioners' perception in the U.S.?
A. Duties of the pastor appear very similar in both countries. General duties like sermon writing, home and hospital visits, funerals and the like are the same. One difference I noticed immediately was that there is no liturgical calendar to aid ministers in writing sermons based on scripture. The liturgy may be viewed as a hindrance to some U.S. ministers but at least it is somewhere to begin and the congregation can find out what scripture will be preached on any Sunday of the year. Ministers here do sermon series or preach on a current issue. I think liturgy is the better way to go since ministers are to preach from the Word and the liturgy encourages this.
Another major difference I have noticed is that most churches here do not have offices for the church staff. Ministers work from the Manse, which is a requirement for all churches to provide for the senior pastor. My housemate’s church, Fitzroy, has recently added offices for the staff. Cooke has an office which contains a copier, a desk, and a good bit of storage. There is also a computer stashed away in a different part of the church complex.
The situation of the city of Belfast also adds another aspect to the job of the minister. Marlene, the minister I work with, is in a clergy fellowship with the other ministers along the Ormeau Road. This fellowship works closely together to provide activities for the community that show that all churches work toward a common Christian purpose. The priests from the Catholic and Church of Ireland churches and the ministers from the Methodist and Presbyterian churches come together once a month to plan activities as a group. The next activity is a Community Carol Service on 11 December. This year it is being held at Cooke. This fellowship has also served as an example of cross-denominational work when the Troubles were at their worst. Every area of the city, as far as I can tell, has some kind of formal or informal fellowship that happens across denominational lines.
The perception of ministers by the parishioners appears to be much the same as that of ministers in the States. Ministers are expected to be everything for everybody. The minister who just retired from Cooke is still remembered with much fondness. He was at the church for about 25 years and is still around town. He seems to have been the minister who was everywhere for everyone. He is very personable and well known in the community as well. I think perception of any minister depends on who he or she follows. If the previous minister was very involved in the church and community, the next minister will be expected to follow the same pattern. If the new minister isn’t as open to involvement in numerous activities, he or she may very well be looked down upon.
Those are my observations at this point in my year. I hope you have enjoyed learning a bit more about my environment here in Belfast at Cooke. Please check out my blog (beckysporch.blogspot.com) to see weekly updates and photos of my adventures. Email me as well if you have any questions or comments (beckysporch@yahoo.com).

Happy Day-After-Thanksgiving!!

2005-11-25T07:04:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a nice slow day for me. I felt my usual holiday cold coming on so I stayed in the house. I rearranged the furniture and thought about what I'm thankful for. Allison came home around 6 and fixed the fastest Thanksgiving meal ever. We had stir-fry turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and just-add-water-dressing. It was good. We get to have a full and proper Thanksgiving meal tomorrow at Doug's house.
I went to Bowls last night, as usual. Most folks knew it was Thanksgiving at home and wished me a happy one. I'm used to being away from home on Thanksgiving, I think I've made it to one in the last 10 years. I still miss my family and phoned them when I got home from bowls. It was good to talk to everyone, especially the triplets who are 3 1/2 years old. They each managed a "hi becky" and two of them told me they were playing with Molly, my brother's dog. I hope someone in the family sends me pictures (hint hint).
Exciting news about bowls--I have my own pair!!! I received them last week as a gift from Helen and Harold, the club organizers. I was very surprised and grateful. By the end of last evening, I was bowling quite well with my new bowls. I think I may get to play in a friendly tournament in 2 weeks. I'm excited about that.
Last night it snowed! Allison and I took pictures and they are posted. Look in the Belfast Beginnings folder. Special thanks to Leslie who knitted the hat and scarf I am wearing in the pictures. I also dyed my hair red last Friday. For most people, it is a shock at first and then they tell me it suits me. I'll probably go back to my normal color when the roots start look really odd. It is a fun color that I haven't had before.
I think that is all for now. I'll be posting a newsletter soon. And Dad, I'll be answering your questions in it as well. If anyone else thinks of any more questions, please feel free to ask at anytime. Thanks for reading!!!

ask me a question or two...

2005-11-17T13:31:00.000-05:00

In trying to come up with something to post this week, I decided to open this section up for questions. Please, ask me anything you would like to know about my time here in Belfast. I’ll answer them as they come up.

Let me tell you a quick story about this past Sunday too. After the morning service a few people noticed a man sitting in the back who looked and smelled a bit drunk. Marlene agreed to talk to him after she talked to a few other people. By this time, I had noticed him as well and went to talk to Marlene. The two of us and two young men in the church went to talk to the man and find out how we could help him. It was Remembrance Day (Veteran’s Day) and the service was focused on this. Thomas, the man, was in fact drunk and we discovered that four of his friends had committed suicide, the most recent one the past week. He was pretty torn up with all that and apparently had been in the Royal Marines as well so the day and the service was pretty hard on him. We all talked to him for a bit, got a phone number to his home and discovered his family didn’t want him there. He asked for an ambulance so we phoned one and they came about 15 minutes later. We learned from the ambulance crew that Thomas has some psychological issues and had been picked up by the same guys a few months back. In the middle of all this, Marlene got him quieted down long enough to say a prayer for him and his family and friends. It was a good moment for me to be a part of as it gave me a chance to see how people can respond with love to someone who really needs it even when they don’t know him or his situation. Please pray for Thomas that he can get the help he needs.

Back from Retreat

2005-11-10T06:27:00.000-05:00

Hello. I am back from a nice, refreshing retreat to County Fermanagh and the Crom Estate. For those of you with a map, look for the southwest corner of Northern Ireland and you will find Co. Fermanagh (I think I spelled it right, pronunciation is a different story altogether). It is beautiful and green in this part of the world because it rains everyday--except for the 2 days we spent there. The first evening was a proper rain storm with good strong winds and heavy rain. But the first full day and our departure day were beautiful. Grand walking weather! Doug took us on a walking tour of the estate. We saw the ruins of the old castle and the remains of most of the other estate buildings. Many of the buildings we saw were actually in quite good shape. It will never cease to amaze me how much history can be found in this part of the world--stuff older than America, even! Most of our time was spent in the lovely holiday home we had for the few days. All of us brought something to read and several hours were spent in comfortable silence as we all read in the same room around the fireplace. Very peaceful. Other activities included games, singalongs and group worship. Meals were fantastic as usual, most prepared by Doug, but the two boys, Kirk and Chris, fixed a great bowl of chili on the first night. Perfect food for a rainy and cold night. Check out some photos at my photo link (Retreat to Crom Estate).
My sermon from last Sunday went well. I received many compliments. The whole service only lasted 33 minutes which left plenty of time for tea and coffee afterwards. My sermon was about worship and how sometimes worship may not look like what worship should look like but if it is heartfelt by the worshiper it is indeed worship.
I have been bowling twice now. I will go again tonight. I posted a few photos in the "Belfast Beginnings" folder. Check out how good I was last week!! The folks I bowl with are wonderful people. They have been very helpful in trying to teach me the proper way to bowl and impressed that I have picked it up so quickly. We are working on finding me the proper sized bowls now. I need a 0 or 00 size since my hands are pretty small and I have been using 3 size. I'll let you know how that process is working out for me.
I think that is the news for now. I will try to do better on posting at least once a week. Have a great day and thanks for reading!

Sunday evening

2005-10-30T19:49:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that my sermon went well tonight. Everyone told me it was a good message to hear. The service also was just over half and hour long so I’m sure they all appreciated a little extra coffee and tea time after the service as well. The sermon was basically about praising God and there not being only one way to do it. We got new hymnbooks today so that was the basis for the whole day.
I HAVE to tell you about my Thursday night. I went to a concert with two of the other youth leaders from the church, Jon and Vic (they’re married). They paid for my ticket which was very kind. We saw a band recommended to me by last year’s volunteer, Jenn. The group is Duke Special and they put on a phenomenal performance. The music is great but the performance of it is a huge treat. First of all, the whole band stands for the entire set. The lead singer plays the piano while standing and the percussionist stands. He kind of steals the show for a few songs because he plays this percussion stick thing that I may have seen on Mr. Rodgers once. It has several different percussion pieces on it. He also played a cheese grater with a whisk! If you google “Duke Special” you will be able to find the website and check out the music and some interviews.

October Newsletter

2005-10-26T17:04:00.000-04:00

Greetings from a more peaceful Belfast!
Since my last update newsletter, the rioting has stopped and not much excitement has occurred on that grand of a scale. There was a decommissioning of weapons by the IRA with mixed reactions. Discussions will no doubt continue and responses will continue to come in slowly from folks on all sides.
Belfast has settled down and the winter is slowly creeping up on us. I’m told the weather will be much wetter and colder--just what I expect from winter. Darkness is also coming earlier in the evening and soon dark will fall in mid-afternoon. I have been told that after Christmas until late February this is a low time to live in Belfast because of the darkness and the lack of holidays to look forward to. I hope to find plenty of people to talk to and plenty of activities to keep myself busy to pass the time.
I am encouraged to report that things are picking up with work. The renovation work on the new hall at church is now complete and we can have our evening events in the spacious upstairs hall. There is enough room for two badminton courts for Tuesday nights and 4 bowling carpets for bowls on Thursday nights. Bowls is nothing like bowling we are used to in the States. It is generally played with four per team and each player has two bowls apiece to roll down the carpet and place closest to the jack--a small ball that resembles a cue ball from billiards. There is an outdoor version as well and the game is traditionally played by retirees though I do know a few younger folk who admit to liking the sport. It is not terribly complicated to figure out but I found it difficult for folks to explain because they assumed that I knew certain things about the game and couldn’t really explain the general rules to me with any specificity. I guess it would be like trying to explain something as natural to us as basketball. We can explain the basics of the sport but to explain the strategy and finer points would take a bit of effort.
I mention basketball with much deliberateness. I have been given the task of teaching the older boys in Boys Brigade how to play basketball. Now, basketball is a sport I love and used to play a lot of so I was rather excited to get to teach the basics to a group of young men. I had about three weeks to build up the anticipation and also make a few comments about how I would have to make sure they knew how to use their hands rather than their feet for a sport…those comments weren’t always appreciated. My first week of basketball training was, in my opinion, a failure. I tried to show the boys the basics of proper shooting form and dribbling. They made obviously half-hearted attempts and openly told me basketball was “crap.” I shouldn’t have been surprised they shunned basketball but I was because badminton is considered a highly competitive sport. (I’m used to thinking of badminton as a backyard game to amuse children during a family reunion or other similar get-together.) It was suggested that I let them have a go at playing a game rather than learning the basics. I was at a loss as to what to do next so I let them pick teams and play 6-on-6. Most of the boys said they had played the game before so I figured they knew about fouling and having to dribble the ball rather than run with it and other “obvious” rules of the sport. I was wrong…at least about the fouling. They dribbled better than I thought they would but I witnessed one blatant trip and numerous shoves and grabs to get the ball. The game ended when one of the bigger boys pushed one of the smaller boys roughly to the floor as the smaller boy tried to take a shot. At that point, I gathered the boys together and informed them that they would have some stricter rules next week. I also apologized for assuming that they should know about basketball being a (mostly) non-contact sport. I am happy to report that the second week went much better and most of the boys actually seemed to have a good time playing.
Work at Ballynafeigh continues to be sporadic but I hope that in the next month or so I will be included in at least a few projects. The one I am claiming as my own idea is some work with folks with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and their carers. I met with two women who work at the Alzheimer’s Society here in Belfast and they were excited at the prospect of some more things happening to promote education and knowledge of the disease to the community. They were also impressed that someone came to them looking for information and ways to help. I learned that I have a passion for Alzheimer’s work and education. I’m sure if I had more time I would be volunteering at the Society and receiving training for volunteer positions that require it. I need to thank my first year field ed supervisor in Louisville, Georgine, for introducing me to the wonderful work that can and should be done with Alzheimer’s patients. I look forward to sharing with all of you the projects that I will be helping to organize for the Ballynafeigh community in this area.
I also was able to get to know the folks who work at the Community House during an Away Day to Newcastle. I wrote a fairly in depth article about it in my blog (down a couple posts) but will summarize for you what I got out of it. I discovered that some of my artistic talent can be used to help redesign a brochure about the Community House. I can also use my newness as an aid in developing material to use for introducing new employees and volunteers to the personnel and programs in the House. The Away Day also allowed me to have some good conversations with folks I won’t necessarily work with in the House but they will be good resources for getting a fuller picture of the work that is done in the House.
There are many more things to tell you about but I realize this letter is getting to be quite long. Please check out the rest of my blog for photos and short stories about some of the things I have been doing. In my next newsletter I will be able to talk about preaching a sermon in a foreign country and some more of the things I have been involved in. Thank you for your interest in this ministry I am honored to be a part of. Please continue to send good thoughts and prayers my way as the winter closes in and my activities continue to pile up. Also, pray for Cooke as they begin the process of formally looking for a new minister to replace Rev. Campbell who retired this summer after nearly 25 years at Cooke. I am excited to view the process in the Presbyterian Church of Ireland and see where polity differs but I am also apprehensive because a new minister means that I lose my current supervisor, Rev. Marlene Taylor, who has served Cooke for 21 years as an assistant minister. She is not allowed to stay on as assistant or fill the vacancy.
I welcome any questions or comments that you may have and promise to respond as quickly as I can--usually within a few days.
Joyfully serving,
Rebecca

newsletter pending

2005-10-26T05:49:00.000-04:00

So I sat down to write my newsletter last night! It will be posted and emailed within the next couple days. Sorry it has taken so long to get a formal update put together. I had writer's block for a bit and also there were things happening that I wanted to write about. Funny thing is, much of what I waited for was not actually in the letter. Oh well, that is what the blog is for.
In the last couple weeks I have...
--met an American minister who is looking to become a minister over here with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
--attended Badminton and Bowls at the church
--gone mini golfing with the church youth
--met with folks from the Alzheimer's Society about starting projects at the Community House
--participated in a Harvest Thanksgiving service
--met Cliff Kirkpatrick from the PC(USA)
--gone for a couple of good, long walks
--and a few other things I don't really remember
There are 2 new photos in my "Belfast Beginnings" folder of the inside of Cooke. Check them out.
Newsletter will be posted soon!

long week

2005-10-15T14:32:00.000-04:00

Hi all (whoever is still reading this!),
This week was probably one of the busiest so far but I don't have too much to report. I am off in a few minutes to go crazy golfing (mini golf) with the youth. Should be fun. I have put a new photo folder up (Walks) and will soon have more photos there from my walk to Cave Hill last Saturday. I'll update that every so often with the new places I walk to on my weekends off.
I hope to send a monthly update in the next week or so. Check back then!

Away Day with Ballynafeigh

2005-10-06T13:16:00.000-04:00

I went to Newcastle with Ballynafeigh Community House on Tuesday. It was a chance for the staff, new and old, to get to know one another and to brainstorm about the future of the organization. We stayed at the Donard Hotel along the main strip. Newcastle sits on the southeastern coast of Northern Ireland. The town sits between the Mourne Mountains and the Irish Sea. There are photos of the hotel, mountains, street, and sea in my photo album.
During the main part of the day, we did a few activities to help bring us together as a full staff, volunteer and paid. Apparently there has been some tension in the past and some miscommunication or lack thereof. And there hadn’t been a day away like this one in several years. We made drawings of ourselves and wrote a word about why we were working at the Community House and then went to every other person and discussed our word with them until each person had talked with every other person in the room. We also added our name and word to the other person’s picture. With the various colors and different handwriting, the result was a varied picture of community and combined experiences. It was a simple exercise but it really did bring us all together and forced us to at least learn the name of someone we may never have had a chance to talk with otherwise.
Another activity we did in smaller groups was to read through a report that was submitted for funding purposes. It was a rather thorough report on history, organization, and projects of the Community House. What came out of the reading through and reporting back to the group our findings was another project for small groups to work on during the afternoon. My group got to work on communications about the Community House both internally and externally. Mention was made that there is no document to hand to new volunteers and employees to tell about the staff and the projects that exist within the building. There is also need for signage around the building telling what each room is used for and who the person/people is/are behind the door. We also were able to discuss different ways to make the surrounding community aware of things the Community House is doing and what we are about. This activity ended the day’s formal activities. The overall opinion of the day was that it was very useful and care must be taken to make sure a lot of the ideas are carried out and followed up. It was an encouraging day for me as I was able to contribute a great deal to my small group with ideas I have thought about since I came here.
The evening brought dinner and merriment. I tried fish, haddock, at dinner and was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed it. I also ate apple pie with custard which should impress my family as I don’t think I’ve ever eaten apple pie. After dinner we had a bit of fun as a group celebrating the upcoming wedding of one of the staff. Anne is being married this coming weekend so we had a “hen party” for her. We let the few men come along with us and even included them in the activities. One activity was “a day at the races” with a twist. Instead of having pre-recorded horse races, they had 4 toy horses (actually 3 horses and Donkey from Shrek) attached to strings on poles. Each person was placed in a race and had to roll the string up on the pole past the mark on the floor. I won the first race and was in the finals where I came in second. We ended the evening with karaoke at the pub next store. I was able to hear Garth Brooks in an Irish accent which was a bit disturbing but good fun anyway.
We spent the night and woke the next morning to shopping and sight-seeing. I took a few pictures that are posted at my link. I plan to return to Newcastle since it is quite a nice little town. Hopefully there will be a bit more sunshine when I return.

Short update

2005-09-30T17:31:00.000-04:00

I realized I hadn't posted for a bit so I thought I would post tonight. I've had a good week. I did some visits with Marlene (the minister I'm working with) to two hospitals and a few homes. I'm slowly getting to know more folks in the church. I got to help with a community meeting between members of the community of Ballynafeigh and the local police officers. It was a good way to meet the police and hear about the neighborhood I live in. I didn't really do much other than contact a few people and help serve tea. I went to Pool Club at the Methodist church around the corner. It is an after school drop-in type thing during which pool and football (soccer) are played. I learned a form of snooker, I think. The boys who come are from the neighborhood. Tonight (Friday) I went to a fund raiser for Cooke. We went 10-pin bowling. For most folks, bowling is a very different sport so I must specify the type of bowling. 10-pin bowling is not as big an event as it is in America. Most people were impressed that I bowled fairly regularly in the States.
I posted 2 new pictures. Check them out at the photo link. One is the Community House and the other is Cooke. It is a massive church and I will post a few more in the next couple days.

A Long Walk

2005-09-21T16:45:00.000-04:00

So I went for a walk today up to Cave Hill. It’s on the north side of town and you can see it from pretty much anywhere. I found the perfect spot to sit and think or read or look at the city. I got about 30 minutes up the trail and decided I couldn’t go any farther and I found this spot. It has a rock that makes a perfect seat and I sat there for a few minutes and just watched the city below. I took some photos as well--check them out in the photo link. I hope to go back to finish walking the trail when I have time. It is supposed to take more than 2 hours to get all the way to the top. Since the walk to get to the trail is about 2 hours, I needed to head home to get ready for my Wednesday night activity. And I was pretty tired. It was a good day though. My feet hurt and I got rained on but it was a good day to walk and think and not think about much at all.

hair cut

2005-09-16T17:00:00.000-04:00

So, I cut my hair about two weeks ago. I think I told a lot of you I was going to do it but I didn’t think I was going to do it so soon after arriving. A group of us were wandering around City Centre and we kept passing hair places so I decided I would just do it. And I did. I went to the Academy and had a student cut it. He had a tutor come over and help him figure out what I wanted done with my hair since it was going to be such a drastic cut. The tutor was great and so was the student, except that he cut my hair really, really slow. I thought it was going to take about 45 minute and ended up sitting in the chair for an hour and a half. He did a good job though and I’m getting used to a shorter style again. With the rain, when it comes, it should be easy to take care of and such. Pictures should be posted, check the link!

First Newsletter from Belfast

2005-09-14T13:38:00.000-04:00

I’ve been in Belfast for two weeks now and have experienced some very significant events. First of all, those who said the place would be damp, cold, and rainy all the time have been proven wrong, so far. We have experienced one day out of 14 that was rainy all day. And the temperatures have been very nice. The sun has been shining and I’ve been able to get out and walk around the city a bit.
Second, Northern Ireland beat England in World Cup Football (soccer)!! No one really thought the Northern Ireland team had any kind of a chance to even play with the England team which features David Beckham. It was played here in Belfast and in the 74th minute, history was made when David Healy scored the only goal of the match. It was the first time in 78 years that England was defeated here in Belfast. 7 September 2005 will go down in history as an important day in Northern Ireland football history and I was here to watch it on television!
Third, rioting has returned to the city. Some of the worst rioting in 10 years has happened this weekend, September 10-12. It is difficult to explain and harder to understand at times. Right now, the blame is being shifted around depending on who is doing the talking. Loyalist/Unionist camps are saying it is the fault of the police and security forces and the parade committee who said the Orange Order had to change the route of their parade by about 100 yards. The police and security forces are blaming the Orange Order for encouraging people to come out and protest in support of the Order. Even with intense rioting in certain areas of the city, most of the city is safe from the violence.
During the next year I can only hope to begin to grasp some of the deep seated feelings and emotions that swirl in this complicated and beautiful city full of genuine and loving and sometimes equally complicated people. We have been given some brief history lessons of the area so we have an idea of terms and phrases that we may hear and read on murals and in graffiti. But even the most in depth history lesson could never hope to truly unravel some of the reasons behind the “Troubles” and the difficult history of the area. All I have found that I can do is to be present with the people and pray for them and let them know others are praying for them as well.
Some of you may be wondering what I have been doing since arriving in Belfast. Well, I had a week of orientation with the other 6 volunteers. We visited everyone’s sites and bonded while we all stayed in one house. We were able to ask Doug Baker, our supervisor, any and all questions we could think of. He and his family provided meals for us for the first week. The food we ate was to show us the types of foods available to us that we may never have had and to show us how far our simple living budget can get us. We will continue having meetings throughout the year so that Doug can continue to help us process the things that are happening to and around us.
During the next week, I got familiar with my home and the area I live in. I also had the chance to go to my sites and meet my supervisors there. The area I live in is a “mixed” area which means that Protestant/Unionist/Loyalists live in community with Catholic/Nationalist/Republicans. There don’t seem to be as many problems here on the South side of town as there are in the other parts of town.
I will spend most of my time working with Cooke Centenary Presbyterian Church. The church was built in 1890 and named for a famous Presbyterian minister, Henry Cooke. The congregation was formed in 1888, the centennial of Cooke’s birthday. A small fact I discovered is that Rev. Cooke and I share a birthday separated by 189 years! One of the biggest differences I have learned about churches here compared to churches at home is that there are no church offices. The church is locked during the week except for scheduled activities and the minister works out of his or her home. So, when I go to have a meeting with Marlene, the minister I work with, I go to her home rather than to the church.
My other placement is Ballynafeigh (pronounced bal-na-fie) Community Development Association. I haven’t had the chance to spend too much time there but I may help with after school programs and newsletters and such. The first few weeks there are generally used by volunteers to simply learn the ropes and figure out what is available and accessible and where there is a need. With my background in writing and some layout experience, the newsletter angle seems the most natural at this point. We’ll see how that goes and I’ll let you know.
I think this is enough for a first newsletter. Don’t forget to check out my blog at beckysporch.blogspot.com. I am trying to update at least once a week. I have some photos as well with more to come as I find a faster internet connection. Please feel free to email me or drop me a note in the mail. All of my information is at my blog website or I can send it to you.
Please pray for the people of Belfast who live in the reality of a violent and confused world most of their lives. They really are decent and good people under it all.

Made it!!!

2005-09-01T03:25:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! We have now been in Belfast for a day and a half and are getting ready to start our second full day. We are visiting all of our sites so everyone can see where everyone else is working. All the sites look really exciting and we still have a few to see. I will update with photos and more news later. I am on a borrowed computer and I hope to have mine connected within a week when Allison and I move into our house. All 7 of us are in one home right now and we're a little crowded but not too bad. More later!

Almost Time to Go

2005-08-16T23:13:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that the visa drama is officially over. I got my visa by Fed Ex today. Mom is relieved and says now she knows everything will be okay. I'm just happy to see my passport again and be official for leaving the country.
Today was my annual consultation with the Committee on Preparation for Ministry. It was a fairly intense time but I feel good about it. I will probably move to candidacy when I return in a year. But that is a ways off and I can worry about all that later.
Packing is my main task right now. I think everything will get in. Weight is my main concern but I should be okay there too. I alternate between feeling like I have too much and not enough. On Sunday, there will be no turning back--when we leave for Lincoln, that's it. I am SOOO excited!!

End of summer update

2005-07-22T12:44:00.000-04:00

I know, summer isn't officially over yet but for me it is winding to an abrupt stop. Camp is ending in a week and I probably won't be here for the end of it because there are some funding issues that won't allow the camp to stay fully staffed during the Hispanic Camp week. So, I may be hanging out at home in Axtell for a bit longer than expected. I'll help Mom around the house and get my stuff together for Belfast. I think I have almost everything I need except for the little stuff. I found some really good sales one weekend with mom so I have water resistant shoes, pants and another rain jacket--a lighter one. My suitcase should be full very soon!
Money is slowly trickling in, I think, for my trip. I am giving all of my pulpit supply money to my account so I feel like I'm contributing a little bit. I'm trying to save as much of my own money as possible so I have a little left from the summer to start out with in Belfast.
I had a bit of drama at the beginning of the week. My visa for the UK was refused. Turns out there are some papers I needed to send in with the application that no one told me to send in--it wasn't on the visa paperwork and the person I asked said I had everything I would need. The issue will hopefully be resolved in the next couple weeks when I can gather all the information needed and send it in. I've been reassured that I am ahead of the game and will not have too much of a problem getting approved this next go around.
Thanks for checking out my blog. Email me sometime to let me know that you're reading. If you're in Louisville around August 8-12, let me know and maybe we can hang out. I'm making a quick trip to do some stuff and say some good-byes and see ya laters.

Camp Update

2005-07-01T21:18:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone! Camp season is half over. It's been an eventful four weeks of camp and I have posted some pictures at my picture link. Fun stuff.
Also exciting news on the Belfast front. I have received my assignment and my address for where I'll live. Here's the official statement:
Rebecca Dimon from First Presbyterian Church in Axtell, NE, will serve at Cooke Presbyterian Church in a part of south-east Belfast with a mixed population (Catholic/Nationalist – Protestant/Unionist.) Cooke seeks to support healthy community relations through an open membership policy for all of its youth organisations and by cooperating with churches of other denominations. Work with children and youth from the congregation and the surrounding community will include Sunday morning Bible class, Sunday evening Youth Fellowship, uniform organisations, and a youth club. Rebecca will also work at the near-by Ballynafeigh Community House assisting with after-schools clubs, youth work, a young women’s group and other projects – providing a connection between the church and the community.
And here's my mailing address and phone number:
55 Sunnyside Street
Belfast BT7 3EX
Northern Ireland
Phone (011-44-28) 9064 4326
Hopefully I will get all my other stuff done this week while I have some time off from camp. Our next camp is Canoe Camp. We're heading to the Missouri with 4 or 5 campers and all 8 of our summer staff.
I guess that's it for now. I hope everything is good for everyone.

here's how you can...

2005-06-11T11:14:00.000-04:00

...support my trip to Belfast!
Send a check made out to The Presbyterian Church (USA). On the memo line write my name and ECO#074229. Send it to The Presbyterian Church (USA), Individual Remittance Processing, PO Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
If you have a church that wants to support me, I have a covenant form I can mail to the church. Just send me (beckysporch@yahoo.com) a name and address and I will mail the covenant out. If the church would like a visit, I can try to schedule something with them. I'm in Nebraska all summer so a visit may not happen until I return next August. I am willing to visit any church that supports me financially.
Thank you in advance for any support you can give. I really appreciate it.

Back from the Wedding

2005-05-31T16:46:00.000-04:00

WOW! What a beautiful wedding it was. Elizabeth and Matt had perfect weather and perfect scenery to compliment their own beautifulness. It was a joy, pleasure, and privilege to be a part of such a wonderful event.
I have added pictures to my picture link so you can see most of what I saw. I drove down through Kansas on a state highway on a perfect May day. I think I added a picture or two of that. I passed the biggest rodeo in Kansas at Phillipsburg, the barbed wire capital of the world complete with museum, and a wind harvesting field. That was pretty exciting, let me tell you!
The bachelorette party was fun with a surprise at the beginning. Our friend Mandy showed up as a surprise for Elizabeth. She wasn't supposed to get in until the next day but she showed up with her 2 month old baby, Faith. It was fun. Faith is a beautiful little girl who takes after her mom, red hair and bright blue eyes. We met up with the guys after a fun and fairly uneventful evening of girls only fun.
The rehersal was windy and cold but dinner was warm and friendly. I met some of Elizabeth's friends from Albuquerque. It was a good night.
The wedding day was good with everything running ahead of schedule--even our hair was done at least an hour early which gave us time to eat before heading to Paako to get ready. It rained for a bit but stopped with enough time for pictures and by the time the ceremony started the sky was perfect and it was warm enough that we wouldn't shiver during the ceremony.
The reception was fun. It ended around 11 with Matt and Elizabeth heading off to the honeymoon suite somewhere around 11:30. They should be in the Dominican Republic by now.
My drive home was nice. I stopped in Estes Park, Colorado to see a friend on the way home. Andrew teaches at Eagle Rock School. It is a great alternative school in a very beautiful location. They have a website you can check out at eaglerockschool.org, I think.
Now I'm back in Nebraska. I have to pack and get ready for camp tonight so I can get there for training tomorrow. I'll be at camp through the end of July and preaching as many Sundays as I can get in trying to raise support for my trip. Hopefully I'll have an ECO # on here soon so you all know how to give me financial support.
More soon!

a quick check-in

2005-05-24T17:48:00.000-04:00

I sit here in Nebraska, getting ready for another long drive tomorrow. This time a trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for Elizabeth's wedding. I'm excited that it is finally here!
While I've been home I have accomplished a few things as far as preparation for my trip to Belfast goes. Mom and Dad bought me a really nice, big suitcase for the trip for my birthday. Very cool. I found a light rain jacket at Goodwill for $3! Very good price and it is water repellant! Oh, and it is bright yellow. Folks will know I'm coming from a mile away:) I also found a good deal on wool socks that are also moisture wicking so my feet will stay warm and fairly dry. Every day brings me that much closer to Belfast (profound thought for the day :)...)
I will post wedding pictures at my picture link as soon after the wedding as I can. It should be a beautiful wedding and a good time.
Thanks for reading and I'll be back in a week or so!

It is finished!!!

2005-05-16T17:42:00.000-04:00

Finals are done! I am tired yet excited. Now I have to pack up and move my stuff. It will be a long night. I hope to have some help but my perfectionist tendencies may not allow that to happen. I was told by Emily to "delegate." I'll try.
It's weird to think that tomorrow I won't be living here in Louisville. I'll be driving ALL day. I better start looking through my music for the drive to keep me occupied.
It's weird to think that I'm going to be home in Nebraska tomorrow night. It's weird to think that I'm going to be in Albuquerque at Elizabeth's wedding in a little over a week and a half. I'm so happy for her.
It's weird to think that it will be two months before I'm back in Louisville and hanging with my friends again.
Summer has arrived!!

one more week of class

2005-05-06T08:55:00.000-04:00

In my preparation for Belfast, one of the most important things I must do is make it to the end of this semester and do well in all of my classes. So, when people ask me if I'm excited to go to Belfast, I usually tell them to hold the question until my finals are done so that I can answer with a whole-hearted "YES" rather than a "yes" burdened by finals and papers.
In the next week I have a lot to do. It will get done as long as I focus on getting it done rather than on the next year. So, on May 17th, when everything is turned in and I am driving a very full car home to Nebraska, someone can ask me if I'm excited and I will say "YES, yes I am!"
I got my coat in the mail yesterday. It is VERY nice. It is fairly light-weight but warm. I'm not a big fan of the blue but I will get used to it. I may have to shop at Land's End more often, especially since they have some really good deals.
Well, I'm running out of things to say so I'm going to go. Thanks for reading!

I think I figured this thing out!

2005-05-01T19:56:00.000-04:00

Well, I have links that you can look at and an all new email address to correspond with. I'm very excited about the possibilities of this site. Please give me feedback if there is something I need to do better or if you have any ideas for things I should have on here. Keep checking back for more info about my trip--like how you can support me financially and how my trip preparation is going.
Oh yeah, I made my first trip purchase a couple days ago. I bought a rain jacket from Land's End. It was almost 50% off. It is blue with water repellant exterior and a fleece interior. It's supposed to be very warm. I'll find out when it comes in the mail this week.

first time

2005-05-01T15:19:00.000-04:00

Here we go...not quite sure what I'm doing but this should be good once I figure it out!