Final Weeks in Beautiful Ireland.

Well, I am finally home from this amazing adventure, but I thought I would write a little something about the last two weeks I had on that beautiful Isle as schoolwork and building relationships dominated all my spare moments.

After we returned from Liverpool, we had a few school days and then a new, exciting adventure! Our entire team took a two-day vacation (vacation while in Ireland, weird huh?) to Dublin, Ireland. We had the days to explore, shop for a few souvenirs, eat local food, and enjoy each other’s company. By this point, I felt like a true traveler. I did not have to ask for directions, and reading the bus schedule was as easy as reading a children’s pop-up book.

While in Dublin, we took a James Joyce tour that proved to be quite interesting as I slowly discovered the genius in his writings. He writes in such a way, that the reader is able to create his or her own story within the backbone story his provides. It is a beautiful thing that can prove to be encouraging as well as comforting or even disturbing; the best part is it’s your choice! Later that night, stargazing and wonderful conversation about God and His impact in our lives proved to be exactly what I needed to end the day.
The next day, we took a tour of this beautiful town while riding on the top of an open double-decker bus. Talk about exciting! That is until it began to rain steadily and no room was in the inn. I sat with a great person, rain pouring down, and spoke of life, and it was nothing shy of wonderful. After the tour ended, two other girls and I took off to mozie around town for the afternoon. With a few souveniors for loved ones in our hands and a smile on our faces, I would have to say this day was a good day indeed.

The following days were packed with schoolwork. Schoolwork is frustrating when you are in such a beautiful country, but with the constant reminder that we “are here to study” and that we “are not on vacation” par say, completion of these grueling assignments was finally reached.
But, amidst these monsters, we spent a day in the North Coast of Ireland that was not only much needed, but a blast and an inspiration as well. As we were about to head out the door, our leader spoke of a tradition, or more so a challenge, that takes place in the North Coast. If up for the challenge, we were to bring clothes to get wet. I readily accepted the challenge due to my competitive nature and grabbed my clothes quickly before scampering out the door.
Upon arriving, the first stop we made was at a restaurant that served up more than smiles. With our stomachs not only talking, but yelling as well, we ate up while watching the cold, damp weather flee from our presence. After finishing up, we made way for the rope bridge. Though the bridge was not quite as intense as expected, it still made my heart leap, but not quite for joy! We wandered through fields and tracked up a hill to get a view, and a view would be an understatement. Pure beauty of God’s breathtaking creation stood before us, wind pushing and shoving its way through the crowd. This was a sight to take in and never let out.
The next stop we made was at Giant’s Causeway. Legend has it that two giants, one in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland, were quarreling day and night. In order that they may fight face to face, the Irish giant created a path to Scotland. Being weak by all the path building, he dressed up as a baby so that when the Scot came he would see how large the Irish giant’s baby was and cower at how large the giant himself must be. So, the Scottish giant comes, and low and behold, his plan works perfectly, with the path being readily destroyed by the Scot on his flee home. And so, the Giant’s Causeway was created. This stretch of land was so incredible it looked as if man (or giant) must have created it. The rock was formed in such a way that thousands of columns all in perfect hexagonal shape covered the shore. After running around in awe and venturing on a coastal path, our next stop just ahead was the great challenge.
The challenge was simple: jump in the “Perky Pool” which was an area in the rocky shore of the North Atlantic Sea and remain in there for four minutes. Easy right? Wrong. Not only was the air around us around 52 degrees, but the water we were to hop in was a mere 40 degrees. I contemplated the odds of me making it out alive without loosing an arm or leg, or a life for that matter, and decided it would be worth the plunge for the glory. So I, along with 5 guys and 5 girls (the girls being the first girls from our university to ever make the plunge), all jumped into the ice box. Cold ventured throughout my body, first making stops at my lungs and heart which both fought hard to rid of her existence. Next, the cold made its way to my appendages, which still fought hard, but weren’t quite as victorious as the inner force of my lungs and heart. After four minutes was up, I hastily climbed out of the freezing water, and attempted to put a towel on, but due to my lack of feeling I could neither put it on by myself nor feel it once it covered me. As I walked back to my belongings, tiny needles pricked me all over as if I had been wrestling a cactus and had lost drastically. I thought I would never be warm again, but despite it taking a solid two days, my body finally regained its vigor, and I was warm once again.

The last week flew by. With homework hanging on like a burden, we still managed to make the most of our time.  One evening, a night out turned into quite the adventure which was composed of a spectacular view upon a mountaintop of the entire city of Belfast, a glorious time spent in a cloud, an unexpected visit in an Irish home while seeking a cab, unforeseen participation in a breast cancer awareness walk, and a concluding Asian dinner with more than a few good stories! Night after night, we watched movies, mainly Lord of the Rings and Pixar. We soaked up every last moment building relationships with those who became family. I miss my family.

The plane might have left early that Friday morning, but the old me did not join. I left Ireland as a new person. 

When I began this trip I jokingly told everyone that I was going to gain all knowledge and find myself, but I would have never guessed that I would attain both of these goals in such a short time. Going through the Cost of Discipleship challenged me in so many ways, it would take days to write it all out, but one thing I learned was that “True knowledge is to not know where you are going.” When I first read this, I thought it paradoxical. If I do not know where I am going, then I would be unknowing, right? But then the beauty shined through the passage as I realized that I will never gain all knowledge, but what I can gain is true knowledge in knowing that God is leading me every step of the way. What else do I need to know? If I fix my gaze on Him, nothing can cause me to stumble from His perfect path. If I let Him lead me, what more do I need to know? I serve an awesome God, a perfect, personal, magnificent God. He is all I need; His words are all I need to know. In knowing Him, I have all knowledge. In trusting Him in each step that I take, I hold dear to the true knowledge He has given me.
I found myself by first discovering who I was. With many wonderful conversations about life, the past, present, and the God-directed future, with some of the most amazing people, I discovered more of who I was each day. I am a child of God. I am a fallen, broken, healing, mending, joyful, prideful, wonderfully-made child of God.