Final Blog

Sorry its been so long since my last blog. This is going to be my last one, since I'm going home on Tuesday. (I won't be back in St. Marys until Saturday though). Its been weird saying good bye. I don't think it has really sunk in that I'm leaving so soon. It has been such a good and challenging year, and I would like to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers for me during my time here. The challenges haven't stopped quite yet though. Last Sunday Caitlyn (the other RAD participant here with me) fainted in church. She went to the hospital for a few days, and remained kind of out of it. She and I got quite familiar with the British health care system (its not all its cracked up to be). The doctors couldn't find anything wrong with her, but released her anyway. She is back at the house, but still very weak. It will be very difficult for her to fly home, both physically and mentally. Please keep her and I in your prayers as we finish our time here, and head home. I can't wait to meet all of you again, and I can tell you about my experience personally.

The Beginning of the End

Greenhill has been under construction for about the last 5 months. They are building new guest accommodations, a new parking lot, new tent bases. The center is definitely in a state of transition. It is true for the volunteers as well. Although Caitlyn and I are the next volunteers to leave (on June 24th if your wondering), there are a lot of others who will be leaving soon after. By September there will only be one member of the current staff left. Because of that there are a lot of "newbies" now. There are two locals (Jason and John), and two internationals Pavel from Czech Republic and Chantle from Spain. They are fitting in very well, and have really become part of the team. Its nice to meet new people, although its weird to think that I'll be leaving them in a month. One more thing that has added a change in the atmosphere is that Christof and Seb are on vacation for the next month. They are the two most experienced instructors, and the two that I probably got the closest to. Christof is going on a road trip through Scandinavia, and will be back two days before I leave. Seb is visiting family in Peru, and won't be back until after I leave. I will really miss those guys. Plus almost all the climbing I did was with those two, so now I have to find new people to go with, this should give me a good opportunity to get to know some others in the short time I have before I leave.

Norway

Last week Aidan (a Greenhill worker) and I went to Norway to visit Stefan, a friend who used to volunteer at Greenhill. One the first day we hung out with him at the school he is now volunteering at, and did some work with him as well. On the second day Aidan and I visited the Nobel Peace Prize Center. It was really refreshing to see how much good a person can do. We then toured around Oslo with Stefan and his freind Fritz. After that things got really exciting, and we took tones of pictures. since pictures say a thousand words, I'll just let you see what we did. for the next four days.

Norway Photo Journal Part One: Oslo

Norway Photo Journal Part 2: Road Trip

Norway Photo Journal Part 2: Road Trip

Tide

The tide has been extreme high and low this week in front of our house. Thats about the best way to describe the things that happened last week. There were some of the most encouraging and discouraging moments of my time here. Two of the major ones happened about half an hour from each other.

On Monday night I was talking to Kevin. He told me that because of health problems and other issues both at home and here he was going home. I knew about the health issues a bit, but it was still a pretty big shock. Things moved very fast from there. He left Thursday morning. Luckily we got a nice goodbye meal with him before he left, but its odd here without him. If you could all keep him in your prayers it would be appreciated.
About ten minutes after that Philip came into the house. He had just finished a 30 page report to his sending organization about Greenhill: All the volunteers, activities, accommodations, pay, everything. I wanted a copy of it, to share, but it was all in German. He did share with me what he had written about the RAD team. He basically said (and I'm paraphrasing some) that the Americans changed his idea of the stereotypical American, and also the stereotypical christian. We encouraged everyone to explore faith, but don't "point fingers." We have helped him with his faith journey, and he is very glad that he's gotten to know us. If I would have written out goals for my time after being here a month that is exactly what I would have said they were. It was so encouraging to hear a friend say that I've reached my goal without even know he was saying it.
It was a whirlwind of a night. Thats how it goes sometime, high tide and low tide, but for the most part I'm feeling great about my time here.

Rolling along

It feels like ages since I last blogged, it has been a while, but also so much stuff has been going on. I don't know where to start updating you all. Things at work have been going decently well. I’m now qualified to lead most of the activities the center provides. My favorite one is the adventure walk. We only do it with young kids, but it is basically an imaginary scenario. The kids have to sneak all around the center, because everyone is out to get them, and they have to save the world, and get very muddy in the process. It’s so much fun for me to use my imagination. The more I act like a kid the more fun the kids have and the more exciting the adventure. Outside of work things are going brilliantly. The slightly warmer and less wet weather has allowed me to get out of the house a lot more. I’ve started climbing regularly in my time off with some other volunteers. It’s so much fun just spending a day in the mountains with friends. I feel like I’ve really hit a groove in my time here. Things are rolling along well. I sometimes wish they would slow down a little, but at the same time I can’t wait to go home and see everyone again. I guess that’s a good dilemma to have.

London and a Retreat

Last week was brilliant. The weather, which hadn't changed since November, finally got a bit warmer. Its amazing how warm weather can raise your spirits. (I even got to wear shorts one day :)) After a very fun week the RAD group headed to the North Coast for a Mennonite Missions Network (MMN) retreat. The North Coast is a beautiful part of Northern Ireland (it's the same place I went with my parents). We spent one day site seeing, but the rest we spent at a Christian retreat center that was right beside the ocean. We met Tim, two MMN volunteers from Bradford, and one from London. Also two of Tim's friends who are preachers (Anglican I think)came as well. It was very refreshing to hear people who are doing similar work, and going through similar challenges. I had an amazing time. Rod came on Sunday night, so that he could spend the night, and get up really early and take us on a plane to go to London.

An airline called Ryanair was selling tickets to London for one pence (Cent). The leadership at Greenhill decided that it would be a nice brake if everyone went on a day trip to London. So at 5 AM on Monday morning Caitlyn, Kevin, Rod, and I left the retreat center to meet up with the rest of the staff at George Best Belfast City Airport. The plane left at 8, and we got into the heart of London around 10. There were two types of plans people had. 1)visit everywhere you can in a day, or 2)find one nice attraction and spend the whole day there. I decided to go to as many things as I could. A group of 6 of us all traveled together (by foot we didn't want to spend the money for a bus tour) to almost all the major tourist attractions. We didn't go into any of the because they were too expensive for our volunteer budgets and because it would take up more time. In only 8 hours we saw St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Place, Westminster Abby, snow sleet rain and warm sunny weather, Trafoger Square (pardon the spelling), Big Ben, the Globe Theater, The London, Millennium, and Tower Bridges, The Tower of London, and I'm sure I've forgotten to include some spots. As you can guess we were all dead tired for the trip home. It was a great day.

Things are going better than ever for me here right now, which might be why I'm finding it so hard to find time to write. I'm loving every minuet of it, But I would also love to hear whats happening back home. Write me.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

The last week was a bit rough. The weather was cold and rainy. We did the helicopter crash scenario with a group, which wasn't bad, but cold and tiring. The week did come to a nice close, when the group left they really seemed to appreciate the time they had spent with us.

Then after a relaxing Sunday it was St. Patrick's Day. About half of the Greenhill volunteers were gone for winter skills training in Scotland, but we did have some visitors. A few old volunteers who came back for a couple of days. The only one I knew was Stephen, who I had gotten to know really well when I first got here. He is now working at a YMCA in Norway. Anyway all of us went to Down Patrick. Down Patrick is a town near where we live. It's near where St. Patrick landed in Ireland, and its where he is buried. There is a large parade held there every year. While we were waiting for the parade a bunch of us went up to see his grave stone. It was amazingly unimpressive. Only a rock with the name half broken off. It really makes you think. With all the glamor and the celebration associated with the day, how humbly he lived. We then watched the parade which was a lot of fun, and it was a great bright sunny day to help get everyones spirits back up.

Half Way

I can't belive my time here is half up. I got here exactly 4 months ago, and will be home in exactly 4 months. Something I've learned since I've been here is as you walk up a mountain it can seem like your getting nowhere until you look back and realize how far you've gotten. Thats what I'm doing now.I think back and wonder where all the time went. On the other hand I think back to my first week and think how far I've come. I've become a part of a great community in Greenhill and in Newcastle.

What's been happening most recently isn't that exciting. We have had a few new volunteers join the group. One from Germany, which makes 5 Germans (We always joke about how we have way too many Germans) and two local volunteers. The new volunteers are getting their outdoor training. Since at first no one knew I was going to be an outdoor instructor I never got training, so the powers at be in Greenhill decided I should train with them. Most of the stuff we are learning I already know, but its good to have a refresher some times.

Something else that is finally starting to take off is the planning for the prayer walk. The RAD team had been assigned to try to create a prayer walk for the center. We really started from scratch, and have brainstormed through a lot of ideas. As we made relationships with people in the church we have gotten their help on it as well. The plans are finally starting to take shape, plus the center has gotten some funds to help in the creation. Hopefully we can get in running before we leave (things work a bit slower in Ireland than in the States).

Thats about all I have for now. God Bless.

Crazy Week

The last few weeks, the Y hadn't been very busy, but that all changed this week.

It started on Sunday night, the Superbowl. I wasn't planning on watching it, but some friends invited me at the night youth church service. I figured I'd go, even though it started at midnight, and I had work the next morning. I had loads of fun (except there were british announcers, and none of the "Super Bowl ads") There were about 10 people there, 3 were Americans. Most of the Irish guys just made fun of American football the whole time. I really didn't care who won, but I found myself rooting for the Giants most of the time, I had a blast.

Monday morning I was surprisingly rested. The Key group, the one we are going to take on the bivi out (my last blog), was here for their last training time before the bivi. I helped lead a session for them in the morning afternoon and evening everyday during the week. I even had my first assessment, and I passed (It was over knots and harnesses). I was at the center from 9AM until around 10PM. It was a really long week, and by the end most of the staff, including me, was worn out, but it was a really good week. We aren't going to be that busy for the next few weeks, but we will be a bit busy. After working all week, I just wanted to relax on Saturday. I slept in, and then tried getting a hold of the tennis club (which I've been trying to do for a few weeks). I actually got a hold of someone, and he asked me to come down to the courts to hit around a bit. I said sure, and I was excited to get to finally play some. I stepped out of the door in my full winter gear, and tennis racquet, and suddenly realized that if was really warm out. It felt like summer, or at least spring. I went back in and changed into shorts and a tee-shirt, in the middle of winter! I hit around for a while and he invited me to play on Monday night. After that I decided I couldn't wast such a nice day, and went out and through the frisbee around with Cailyn in the park some. It was a brilliant weekend. This week looks to be just as exciting, if not as busy.

Bivi Out Pictures

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Bivi Out

Over the past few months there has been a school program called Key that has come to the center 3 times. Unlike other groups they actually get "graded" on what they do here, and they are supposed to learn specific skills. On their fourth visit here we will test all their skills in a scenario. This past weekend we tested the scenario on the permanent staff (our bosses) and some of their friends.
We load them all up in the van, with all the window covers, and a helicopter noise. All the stuff they brought is in their packs. All of a sudden an alarm starts sounding and they all have to hurry out of the "helicopter" without their stuff. The copper leaves and suddenly they hear a loud bang and see smoke. They go and investigate and see the navigator, played by Debbie (a volunteer), screaming about her broken leg, and wanting them to check for other injured in the area. As some of the group started performing first aid on Debbie the others looked around for more injured. Very soon after they find the load master from the helicopter... Me. I'm laying face down, and when they turn me over they see that my face has been badly burned around the eyes. I'm also unconscious. I had trouble not smiling as they tried to preform first aid and did a terrible job (they said I must be dead 3 times), with very little organization. After they had finally patched me up I became conscious, but still blind with a bandage over my eyes. As that was going on they found the pilot Pavlina and treated her for a broken leg, which she didn't have, and a broken arm, and a head injury, she regained consciousness too. Then Debbie showed them where to get their gear on a map and sent them out to get it. Soon they were back with all their stuff. Now we just had to get to camp for the night. I had to be lead because of the blindness, and Debbie had to be carried because of the broken leg. When we made camp the group had to make a fire and cook over it. I think the meal they made was better than the one we brought up and made. Then we set out our sleeping bags with only a poncho hanging a foot over it incase it rained that night (its called biviing), luckily it didn't rain.
The next day we got up and had to be re-bandaged. I didn't do much that day besides being lead around and sitting blind, but the group had to find a place to cross a river, translate Spanish from some natives (oh yah the simulation takes place in Peru) to get food, build a bridge (they needed help for that one) and walk back to camp. We all spent 24 hours in the forest, it was my first time biviing out, I was blind almost the whole time, and it was a brilliant weekend.
PS: I will put some pictures on soon.

Happy New Year

Sorry its been so long I haven't had internet since Christmas so I haven't really had a chance to post much. I just got back to Greenhill from Belfast, and things are starting to get back to normal. My parents came and visited for a few days after Christmas. It was awesome. I got to be a tourist for a little while, and it was great to hear from about everyone back home. By the way thanks everyone who sent stuff for me with my parents (I had so much I had to give some away, I hope you don't mind. Here is a post I was going to put online before new year, but never got a chance. Hope you enjoy it:
Happy new year. I have been off since Christmas, so there isn't much news other than my parents coming to visit, which was awesome.
With 2008 here I started thinking about 2007, so I made a list of a few (50) memories throughout the year. I doubt that anyone knows what all of these are about, but I think everyone will have at least one memory they shared with me. If you know of any that I should have remembered please let me know. Without any further adu this is 2007 in review:
St. Marys
*New Years eve @ Newloves'
*Ice-cream/ trivial pursuit
*Basketball team Dinners
*Winning TV 44 scholastic bowl
*Stolley Hustle Award Banquet
*Pizza Tuesdays
*Lunch table
*TENNIS (Doubles with Jameel, Great season with great teammates, almost getting a golden match and many many more)
*Prom and Dino the limo driver
*Watching the girls Softball state run from the couch
*The last day of school camp out (and kick out)
*Graduation / Grad parties
*Early morning soccer
*Evening tennis
*Thursday night sand volleyball
*Wednesday night water polo
*Bonfires under the stars
*Drive-in
*Waffle-house
*Wiffle-ball at Lloyd's
*Working at McD's (and living) with Saji
*"Breakfast" (and all our inside joke)
*"Homecoming"
Chicago
*The Bean
*Jazz Festival
*Celtic Festival
*Quote wall
*Edna's
*The conservatory
*Krista's tours
*Orlando
*USA vs. Brazil soccer game
*Tuesday lunches
*Seeing Jameel's last high-school soccer game
*Welcome home party
*Hearing about Fabio
*Commissioning/ Saying goodbye
*Newark Airport fiasco
*Seeing my aunt, cousins, and Grandma
Ireland
*Jet-lag
*New home/ housemates
*Halloween feast/ fireworks
*Staff room
*Ping Pong Tournament / soccer match/ pool night
*Thanksgiving feast
*Helping a kid overcome his fear of heights
*Moving to Belfast
*Living across from a "peace wall"
*Getting sick on Christmas (along with Kevin)
*New Years eve with my parents, who were visiting

Happy new year, may this one be better than the last one, no matter how good the last one was.

God Bless