Another new experience for me was taking minutes at a meeting. I was grateful it was a small meeting with only four people plus me. I brought my laptop so I could type instead of hand write, assuming I’d be quicker that way. It seemed to go well, and someone mentioned to me later that the minutes were very thorough. So, that’s a successful accomplishment! I was glad to hear I did well. The bonus in going to this meeting, by the way, is that I got to eat the most amazing scone I’ve ever had!
A couple weeks ago, I went back to CFC to hear a speaker who is a prison camp escapee from North Korea. Since escaping he has become a Christian and now tours churches as an advocate for those still imprisoned. It truly increased awareness of the injustices still taking place in our world.
That evening there was a baptism at Strandtown Baptist, and a new friend of mine, Laura Gamble, was one of eight getting baptised. I was so glad to be there to celebrate their declaration of faith. Afterwards I was invited to her mother-in-law’s for a celebration with her friends. There was quite a crowd, so I got to know more people.
Halloween was a bit different than at home. More noticeable in some areas and less noticeable in others. For example, at home lawns and houses are elaborately decorated a full month ahead of time. Here, at least in the city, there were very few houses decorated elaborately or otherwise. There were, however, fireworks every night for a week ahead of time. Driving through the city on Saturday night, the streets were filled with costumed partiers. Of course, the night of, there were trick-or-treaters. This was the height of celebration from what I could see. Further west in Derry the celebrations are much more elaborate, really acknowledging the history behind it. Because Halloween is still associated with its historical roots though, Christians very rarely acknowledge it.
Last week I went to the cinema to see a film with some girls from church. We went to see a chick flick but it was sold out. So we ended up watching Contagion. It thoroughly creeped me out and I did not sleep well that night. However, after much thought and consideration, I’ve decided it was a good movie worth watching. Just… make sure you have some hand sanitizer with you for afterward. You’ll want it.
I was supposed to go shopping in City Centre this past weekend, but the girl I was going in with had to back out when her daughter got sick. So, I decided to go for a little walk and get a latte or some such hot drink. As I was walking, I suddenly heard bagpipe music, and looked over to see a marching band of men in kilts playing the bagpipes. Behind them were soldiers wearing camouflage pants and black shirts pulling an army jeep with ropes. They proceeded to set up on a street corner and promote joining the army while handing out poppies for Remembrance Day. The whole thing felt very patriotic!
From there I stopped at a café. When I walked in, everyone stopped to stare at me. For a moment I thought I’d walked into a private party, but no one said anything. So I made my way to the counter, and the staff continued to stare at me. Finally, I initiated the interaction asking if they did take away. They went to ask their manager. She came over and said, yes they do take away and what would I like. I asked her if they had chai lattes, and had to repeat the question three times. When she finally understood, she told me no. They don’t have them. So I ordered a hot chocolate. I paid, and without another word someone started making me my drink. No one spoke to me after that. I just have to say that it was the strangest café experience I’ve ever had. I left with my hot chocolate to discover that it was mediocre at best with very little chocolate in it.
I decided to take my hot chocolate home, and on the way stopped at a bakery. I ordered an egg salad sandwich (which unfortunately came full of onions) and a pastry. That experience was a bit better than the café. So I took my lunch home from there, and was walking through the door about half an hour after I left. Not quite the grand adventure I had hoped for on Saturday, but it definitely gave me some amusing stories.
That night I went to Killinchy for a young adults Bible study that meets once a month. I had a good time visiting with my new friends from Strandtown. I am slowly but surely getting to know more people. It is such a blessing that I discovered Strandtown Baptist so soon after being here and that it was such a perfect fit for me.
Sunday morning at church was a missions morning, and a man from Asia Link mission organization spoke. It was encouraging to hear of the work being done, and challenging thinking of all that is still to be done. Many people need Bibles, and they need to hear of the love of Jesus Christ. He spoke about a people in northern Iraq that believe in the world-wide flood of Noah’s time. However, they were taught that during the flood, the ark was punctured when it hit a rock. A great serpent – the same one from the Garden of Eden – then coiled himself over the hole to stop the Ark from sinking. So, the great serpent saved all mankind, and when Noah left the ark after the flood he built an altar to worship the one who had saved them – the snake. It is such a sad, twisted misconception of the truth. This group of people believe that works such as tying knots in fabric or hugging a pillar will save them. They do not know that it was God who saved Noah and his family from the flood, and they do not know that Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross to save them from their sins and give them eternal life. They don’t know that their works will not save them. “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) Thus far, one man has been saved in this village. He is under much persecution. Please pray for the work Asia Link is doing among these people, and that more people would come to know the true Saviour, Jesus Christ.
On a more frivolous note, the MTV Music Awards took place here in Belfast this past weekend. Sadly, I didn’t get to meet Justin Beiber, although I heard he visited the local supermarket. Why he did, I’m not sure. Selena Gomez, Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, LMFAO, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and Katy Perry were also here among other celebrities. It was kind of exciting to know that such a big event was happening right where I’m living. I could hear the music from my house! The closest I came to a star though, was when I walked past a couple of large buses with tinted windows pulling equipment trailers. There was most probably a celebrity or two snoozing away inside.
The weather is starting to get a bit colder, and the leaves are starting to fall off the trees. Everyone is wearing poppies for Remembrance Day. I walked past a house this morning that had a Christmas tree up. I’d say it’s almost Christmastime in the city. Time to pull out the Christmas music!
Jaci is quite a minimalist, so we won’t have too many decorations I don’t think. I am hoping we’ll have a little tree, but I think that’s optional.
We’re getting a wood burner put in the living room this week, so the house will be much warmer.
This morning Roberta, a woman who cleans the office twice a week, came into my office and gave me a gift she had found at a charity shop. A set of four coasters with Toronto and the CN Tower on them! It was so sweet of her to think of me, and pick them up. I’m going to keep them here on my desk as a little reminder of home.
I’m settling into work, finishing up the Daily Prayer Guide for the months of January – March next year. You have to start early to get it proofed and sent to the printers. I think it’s going well. I guess I’ll soon find out.
