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!
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