Kids club, girls' ministry, and bears...oh my!

I've been in Northern Ireland for nearly a month today. It's been a great time of planning for youth programs, establishing relationships and community, and spiritual growth. It's interesting to feel yourself slowly integrate into another culture while striving to stay connected to everything and everyone you know and love back home. 

As far as ministry work, we started a 'Kid's Club' childrens' bible school this week that will take place every Monday after school. We have games, crafts, activity packets and bible stories. We are teaching them about the 12 disciples over the 12 weeks of this portion of kid's club, along with a bible story that ties into the theme of the day (various themes include creation, faith, love, holiness, etc). The kids are in Primary school, like our elementary; they are in grades P4-P7 (they are 7 years old up to 10 or 11 years old). The kids are, needless to say, full of energy; the first week with them was enjoyable and I've made friendships with the young girls. They are just precious!

Over the past two weeks, I've led the high school girls bible study that meets on Thursday nights (soon to move to Wednesdays). We're going through a study that was created by a few former interns at Murlough House. The study is called 'Purely for Him' and centers around 'Our place' as Gods creation, daughters, temple, etc. Great study, has sparked many interesting conversations/questions already! The relationships with the girls are growing which is also exciting to see. Even had a conversation with one girl this week on questions around creation, spirits, evil in a god-created world, etc. Pray for these conversations to continue and expand.

Also, Heather Ferguson helped me coordinate pen pals from the youth group at Northview for the girls here in Dundrum. The girls here have been excited to receive e-mails from the girls in the states; they are also working on letters to send them! If the girls in the states come to Murlough House with Northview's team trip in the summer of 2011, they will get to meet their pen pals! Can't wait!

If you are partnering with me in prayer, I've listed a few prayer requests below:

 - That relationships would continue to grow in depth, trust, and love
 - New ways to minister to the girls would reveal themselves
 - The health of all who work at Murlough
 - The health of John Moxen who is still waiting to get to the hospital in Belfast to have a diffibulator put in. Has been in the hospital since August 31st. Also for his wife Jo through this time.
 - The girls here would start to ask the questions of why I'm really here and questions about faith, God, etc.
 - For the families of the children we minister to; that through that work, they may somehow also be reached if they are not already.

I appreciate all of your love and prayer support thus far and look foward to continuing to pray for you. Please e-mail me jessgrove85@yahoo.com if there's anything I can pray for for you!

Take care and God bless!
Jess Grove