When Worlds Collide

If you asked me three years ago if I thought I’d do ministry in a foreign country, I would have laughed. If you asked me three years ago if I thought I’d be a youth sponsor for high school teens in America, I would have laughed. If you asked me three years ago if I thought I’d  do ministry in a foreign country alongside the teens I work with in America…you guessed it…I would have laughed!!! Isn’t God funny?! I’ve done these things that I never imagined possible, only by the grace and glory of God. My worlds (life in America and life in Northern Ireland) have collided this week, and it’s been incredible to be a part of that.

What a week I’ve had with the Northview Christian Church mission team from my home church in Danville, IN!!! The Lord has indeed worked through them this week to glorify His name!  The team worked in Burrendale park in the afternoons conducting a VBS for primary school-aged children. This is the park we worked in two years ago when I came on the team. They spent their evenings at Crosspoint Centre, where I’ve worked with teens since September 2010. It was amazing to see relationships form between the teens I work with here and from home.

Two years ago when our team worked at Burrendale, we had some tough kids who cussed like sailors at the age of five, kicked soccer balls at our heads, and called us every name under the sun. Be encouraged because in spite of the fact that they still do all of these things, God is making a difference in this area and in their lives. There is a young man named Ben Haas working with them in a full time capacity doing drop-ins and other activities. It was neat see the same kids two years later and also to run into the older ones around town (Daniel, Joe, Willy, Conan and others). Conan also just became a Christian a few weeks ago, praise the Lord! Please pray for God to continue the work in Burrendale park through Ben and future mission teams.

At Crosspoint with the teens, the team spent the evenings hanging out, playing football (soccer), cards, ping pong, pool, and getting to know the students. At the end of each evening a few members of the team would share their testimony with the teens. Three of the five nights this time turned into a 20 – 30 minute question/answer and discussion time – something VERY rare for these teens to do. It was great to see them ask the ‘tough questions’ and talk through some of their thoughts with the team. Side conversations also took place after the group time was over. God was definitely knocking at some hearts this week. I ask that you pray for Him to continue to pursue these teens through additional teams that come here and through relationships that developed with the Northview team this week.   

It was easier than I expected to say goodbye to the team this morning; reason being because I will be back with them at home in two short weeks. As my time here comes to an end and I begin to pack (thank you team for taking home a 50 lb. suitcase of my stuff!) I’m thinking of memories from almost nine months of ministry. I’m praying that God has used it and continues to use it for His glory. There have been peaks and valleys along the way, but through it all God has blessed me with community and relationships, servant hood, and most of all - His love. I will head home in two weeks, but God will continue the work He has started through His servants here in Northern Ireland.

If you’ve been partnering with me in prayer or through financial gifts, I thank you and ask that the Lord bless you. Please continue to pray for Northern Ireland and the work being done through Murlough House. I look forward to seeing you all VERY soon!

Blessings to you all!

Jess Grove

April Showers??!!....Not in Ireland!

This month has FLOWN past! We’ve had two American teams at the house this month. One was Southland Christian Church from Kentucky and the other was Forked River Baptist Church from New Jersey. Both teams were high school youth group teens and their respective leaders .  I’ve titled this blog as such because there was not a day of rain in the combined 20 days that these teams were here!! That’s a rarity here for April!

The Southland team focused most of their efforts in the local high schools here. They went to four different schools throughout the week and were able to speak to over approximately 800 students. They participated in the Religious Education classes of the schools that they went to; the team members shared their testimonies with the students IN THE classrooms. REALLY neat to see this take place in schools here!  The team also did some work at a place called “Kairos Centre” in Newcastle. This is a center used for ‘drop-ins’ for local kids and teens to hang out on certain nights of the week.  It was especially neat to go to the drop-ins with the team because this centre is where our Northview Christian Church team did some of our work on our trip in the summer of 2009! I got to see some of the kids that we worked with two summers ago! For those who were on the 2009 Northview team, I saw Daniel, Joe, and a few of the other boys and girls that we worked with! Yep, they’re still coming and being mentored by some great Christian men and women!! Praise God!

The Forked River Baptist team just left this morning to return to New Jersey. They spent their week working in the Crosspoint Centre in Dundrum with the children and teens we work with on a regular basis four days a week. It was very exciting to see the team interact with the students that I’ve gotten to know here. The team ran the kids club (primary school age) program in the afternoons and hung out with the teens every night; they played football (soccer), pool, hung out, and shared testimonies every night. One testimony in particular really struck a lot of the kids and you could hear a pin drop in the room (something very rare with this group of teens). The girl was also able to share some truths about Christianity and the Christian life with the teens as well, which was very touching. Praise God again!

There are a few new studies I’m involved in this month as well. One is a discipleship group of late-teens to mid-20’s girls who will meet once a week for discipleship and prayer in Newcastle. The other study is one that I’ve started with my Dundrum teen girls. We’re reading through the book “Lies Young Women Believe.” We had the first night for the book last week where I introduced it with some of the videos from the book’s website and the introduction chapter in the book. The girls really seem to like it and they asked many questions that night. I was also able to share more of my testimony and the gospel with them! Haven’t had many chances to do that since September, so praise God for guiding me to this book for the girls! I’m looking forward to the discussions we’ll have in the coming weeks!

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. I’d be lying if I said that it hasn’t been hard to be away from my family to be here. It seems especially hard this weekend knowing that they are at my Grandma Grove’s house together to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. I am comforted by God’s promises however, for He has said in Mark 10: 29 – 31 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.” I trust that this time spent spreading the gospel and sharing God’s love will greatly impact me and my family in the years ahead and this truth that God has given me is a HUGE comfort right now.  

Speaking of family!!!....I’m looking forward to a visit from my mom next week! She will be here at Murlough House with me for a few days and then we will head to Dublin for about four days as well. I’m excited to show my mom around this beautiful country and possibly get to introduce her to some of the girls I’ve been working with here! Can’t wait to see you mom! Please pray for safe travel for her, Ginger and Mandy who are coming as well.

If you’ve been partnering with me in prayer, I’d like to ask you to pray for the following:

Mondays:  Pray for safe travel for all the American teams that come on mission trips to Murlough House. Also pray for the team members hearts to be open to what God wants to do through them.

Tuesdays:  Pray for the continued strengthening of John Moxen as he is getting more energy back.

Wednesdays:  Pray for the children we work with at Kids Club in Dundrum; especially for the seeds that were sown by the Forked River team to continue to grow.

Thursdays:  Pray for the teens we work with in Dundrum; especially that they continue to discuss questions with us from when Forked River was here and stirred up more interest in the gospel.

Fridays:  Pray for the study I’ve started with the Dundrum girls over the book “Lies Young Women Believe.”  Pray that the girls continue to be interested and ask questions.

Saturdays:  Pray that the Dundrum kids and teens would accept Jesus as their personal Lord and savior!

Sundays:  Pray for the continued health of all who serve at Murlough House.

Blessings to you all!

Jess Grove

MaRcH MaDnEsS!!!

Glory be to God for the month of March in Northern Ireland! It’s been quite a busy time around the house this month as we’ve housed over 60 people from four mission teams over the past few weeks. I am feeling very refreshed, encouraged, blessed, inspired, rejuvenated, the list goes on and on… To be honest, I looked at the month of March with some anxiety because of all of the people coming and all of the work that would have to take place. But God has used the teams and the staff at Murlough House to glorify His name in many places here.  

I led the team from Philadelphia Biblical University that came from March 12^th to the 19^th. The team was led by two very special new friends of mine Matt and Michele McAlack. They are a lovely couple who exude Christ’s love in all they do. It was such an encouragement to have the team here. Their main ministry was in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. Matt and Michele have come for four years now and have been able to continue their relationships with the children they’ve worked with in Downpatrick, something very encouraging to see here.  I’ve listed some of the highlights of the team’s week below:

-          Downpatrick Presbyterian church: Sunday night youth service, Sacred Space

o   Team set up eight stations for the teens to go through (“love letter from God,” “you are the potter, we’re the clay,” “praying hands,” etc.)

-          VBS in Parish Hall in Downpatrick: Monday – Wednesday afternoons

o   Team did games, songs, story and craft with the children. Great relationships made and wonderful response from the children (also wonderful to see continuity of relationships with Matt, Michele and a few of the repeat team members).

-          Assembly at Blackwater College (high school): Tuesday morning from 9:30 – 1:15

o   Team led icebreaker games, a drama, three breakout sessions ( 20 minutes each; main themes were “better together,” “the power of your words,” and “you are valuable.”) The students were ages 12 – 14.

o   The team also led in a worship song to close the workshop. VERY neat to see all of this done in a school!

-          ­Down High Scripture Union (kind of like FCA): Tuesday afternoon

o   Three of the team members spoke at the SU meeting. Shared things most meaningful in their lives (i.e. being open to God using them and their gifts wherever He calls them to)

-          Drop in at Downpatrick Baptist Hall: Monday – Wednesday nights

o   Played games with teens/children, developed relationships with the teen volunteers from Presbyterian church.

o   The last night (Wednesday) had some worship/prayer with the teens who were there.

-          St. Patrick’s Day Events

o   Pilgrimage walk from Saul church to St. Patrick’s Cathedral

o   9 team members and I participated in the St. Paddy’s parade!! Great memories, even started up some games with the children who were in the parade J

-          North Coast trip: Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Dun Luce Castle

o   Had mostly good weather for the trip, many special moments including a double rainbow at the Causeway!

o   FISH AND CHIPS at the Galley (award winning)!!

I said goodbye to the Philly team last Saturday. I miss having them in the house and doing ministry with them. They probably had no idea how much they would minister to me while they were in Northern Ireland. They brought so much love, friendship, encouragement, worship and joy during their time here and I will miss them all greatly! I’m hoping to make a trip to Philly in the fall to visit them!!

Another encouragement in the past few weeks was the CSI (Christian Services International) team who made a repeat visit to Murlough House. It was wonderful to minister with them as well. They participated in some of the continuous youth work we do at the Crosspoint Centre as well as other work projects. They also conducted the morning service at a local Methodist church and lead the worship at a night service at a local Baptist church. They were a huge blessing to all of us at the house!

I think God has been teaching me this month that His work must continue here, no matter how many people He has to do it. Teams will continue to come and spread the gospel, and the work will go on. He will not be stopped or stalled, His message is too powerful. It has been so encouraging to see how the staff at the house and the teams pulled together to make His name great this month! Please pray that His Spirit continues to sew seeds in Northern Ireland for years to come!!

Also, if you’ve partnered with me in prayer, please lift up the following this week:

Monday : Pray for rest for the staff at Murlough House, especially Jo Moxen. Pray that we will be rejuvenated for the teams who come in April.

Tuesday:  Pray for the continuing health and strength of John Moxen.

Wednesday:  Pray for the children and teens we work with and the relationships we’ve established in Dundrum at the Crosspoint Centre.

Thursday:  Pray for the high school girls I  minister to as we begin a study on the book “Lies Young Women Believe…and the Truth that sets them Free.”

Friday:  Pray for the teams getting ready to come in April, that their hearts may be open to what God wants to teach them here and how He wants to use them.

Saturday: Pray for financial support to continue to come in for the remainder of my time here.

 Sunday:  Pray for the health and strength of all who live/work at Murlough House.

Blessings to you all!!

Jess Grove

Guess Who's Back.....Back again!!

I’ve made it safely back to Northern Ireland after a wonderful time with family and friends at home for the holidays and a time of rejuvenation. Feeling refreshed and ready to spend the next few months serving here. It was a bit harder to leave my family this time around, and also hard to leave a new addition to my ‘family’…baby Ella – Heather and Sean Ferguson’s first baby who was born February 7, 2011. I miss them all and look forward to seeing them in the summertime.

The ministries here were in full swing on my first week back. For the weekend, I found myself helping in the kitchen for a local high school’s Scripture Union (SU-sort of like FCA, I believe) that used the house for a retreat. They were a lively group of teens who enjoyed the house; they even used their creativity to put together a live game of “Clue.” It was neat because Murlough House has rooms such as the Library, the Dining Room, the Lounge, the Kitchen, the Bedroom, etc. Very creative bunch! They also arranged for Bryan (my fellow intern) to do all of the speaking for the weekend. He did a wonderful job talking to the teens about love - God’s love, relationships, etc. It was a great weekend for the students who came.

The Kid’s Club has been running since the end of January (before I returned) so I was able to get right into the swing of things for this past Monday. We did a lesson on David and Goliath which the children enjoyed. They also like to watch Veggie tales videos now, so we showed “Dave and the Giant Pickle” this week. The children continue to enjoy activity packets they can complete for a prize (the packets have crossword puzzles, word searches, mazes, coloring pages, etc.). Please continue to pray for the fruit of this ministry! It has been encouraging to see the difference from September until now, not only in their behavior but in their attention to the bible stories we teach them!

For the girls’ ministry, we’ve started doing a bit of physical exercise with them each week. It’s been good to see them enjoy doing a bit of yoga and palates. We plan to do an outing in the next few weeks to a local pool they enjoy going to. Please also continue to pray for these girls and their families!

I’ve acquired a new flat-mate since my return. As many of you know, long-time resident and Murlough House interior designer/decorator Cynthia Swavey has resigned from full time service at Murlough House and has moved in with a friend in Newcastle just down the road. I will miss living with her very much, but will be able to see her often as she is still living close by. My new roommate, Sarah Darragh, is originally from the Isle of Skye in Scotland. She’s a lovely lady who has spent some time serving on the Logos Hope ship. She has a wonderful personality, we’ve already ‘clicked’ very well and I’m starting to think in her accent, which is very humorous! I may come home with an accent after all!

I’ve also started playing for a local football (soccer) team, Tollymore United women’s team. I went to my first practice Thursday night. The girls are a variety of ages, anywhere from 15 all the way to 47!!  It will be fun to get to know more girls in the area and play soccer. Matches start in April...more to come on this new development!

The schedule for the remainder of my time here gets a bit busy, to say the least! We’ll have a total of nine American teams coming in the next few months. March will be interesting to see what God has planned for the four overlapping teams that will be in. Please pray for all of the Murlough House staff as we work out the logistics of the teams who are coming and make their time here enjoyable and fruitful!

Also, if you’ve partnered with me in prayer, please lift up the following this week:

Monday : Pray for the children in the Kid’s Club and their families.

Tuesday:  Pray for the teens we work with at Crosspoint Centre and their families.

Wednesday:  Pray for the preparations for the American teams coming in the month of March. Pray also for the people coming with the teams, for safe travel and that their hearts would be open to what God wants to do through them here.

Thursday:  Pray for John Moxen who was recently in hospital again. He is out of hospital now, and still tires in the afternoons.

Friday:  Pray for the Oasis ministry (25 and over fellowship) as we meet tonight for the monthly fellowship meeting.

Saturday: Pray for Sarah Darragh, my new roommate, as she settles in to Murlough House and her role here in the ministry.

Sunday:  Pray for the health of all who work at Murlough House as the seasons begin to change.

I hope all is well! If there is anything I can be praying for for you, please e-mail me at jessgrove85@yahoo.com.

Take care, and God bless!