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

Moving

Greenhill YMCA closed for the year last week, so all the volunteers scattered back to their homes all over the world. Well all except the RAD team. We were in Ireland to do missions, so that is what we were going to do during the three week vacation.

Kevin, Caitlyn and I moved to Belfast to work at the East Belfast Mission (EBM). We are now volunteering in a charity furniture shop that EBM uses to raise money for other important work, one being a counseling center for ?????????. EBM houses us in a nice place that is just the right size for three people to live comfortably. It is right across the street from a "peace wall." A peace wall is a 50 foot high fence put up to keep Catholics and Protestants from destroying each others homes. Luckily the violence has diminished in the past 5 years. The homes that are right by the wall, which were destroyed during the troubles, are now being rebuilt. It has calmed down enough for people to feel comfortable in homes so close to the "border." Its exciting to see a sort of renaissance for this part of Belfast. Also in Belfast we are closer to Tim (he's in charge of us while we are here) which is good, because Tim is a really good guy to just have a conversation with or help the group through a problem.

One downside about working here is that, like any time one moves, we don't know many people. What makes it worse is that we only have three weeks here, which isn't enough time to start a meaning relationship with the community. So lately I've had a lot of time to myself (with no TV or internet). This gives me a chance to really reflect on my time in Ireland so far:

I have been struggling to make Ireland my home in a sense. I keep thinking back to how things were back home. Other times I look ahead to what life will be like when I return, or what college will be like. I have struggled to live in the present. By not living in the here and now there are so many moments that can be missed, and I don't want to miss any important moments during this year. I have realized the opportunity that is here for me to grow in my faith, and to live out my faith. For the first time I am living in a secular community in Greenhill. I have realized that while most of the other volunteers don't really have a faith they still want to talk about spiritual matters. I'm always glad to facilitate that. I have had many good conversation with them, and have built up a good relationship with all the other volunteers. Being away from all the guys in Greenhill has made me realize how close I have gotten to them. I hope that I can continue to strengthen the relationships I have with them when I return there in January.

I miss you all. Thanks for all the Prayers.

Check this out

Well things are winding down at Greenhill for the year. I leave for East Belfast Mission on Thursday, but other than that I don't have much news. I saw this video at an FCA meeting before I left, and I thought it was awesome, I just came across it again and thought you might want to check it out. Enjoy :)

What I've been doing

Those of you who get my email would have already read this, but I realized that I hadn't writen about the actual work I've been doing, so I thought that it would be appropiate.

I've been in Northern Ireland for over a month now, and things are going well. I am working at a YMCA called Green Hill. It is a youth camp. They have all sorts of outdoor activities. I've spent this month figuring out what my role here will be. It's been frustrating at times not exactly knowing what work I would be doing. Most of the other volunteers (13 of us live in one big house on the beach) here are outdoor instructors primarily. About half of them would call themselves christian. One of the reasons we were sent to this YMCA is so that hopefully we can start a trend of Christian volunteers here. also to get the "Christian Ethos" back in the Greenhill Y (over the years it has lost many church connections). But the work I'm doing while trying to help accomplish these goals is what I have struggled with. I like to do a little of everything so thats what I have been doing. First one of my tasks was to start up a shop (sell tee-shirts and chocolates and such) to help raise a little money for the center. That was a very slow and boring process, but I think that once its running well it will be useful. I have also been working on a DVD for a charity in Uganda. This is more of a favor. A man at Rod's (volunteer coordinator) church had worked in Uganda, and saw how orphans were treated, so he decided to start his own children's home type thing. The land had been donated, but he needed some help raising money, thats where the DVD comes in. I had some experience editing movies, and I had a good program for making it, so Rod asked me. He also hoped I could make one for Greenhill afterward, which is fine with me. I have also been working with the rest of the RAD team on a prayer walk, which should help give Greenhill a more christian feel. These jobs still weren't nearly enough work though. I was used to a busy schedule of school, practice, homework, and having fun. Plus being at an outdoor camp I really wanted to do some outdoor work. So now I am also training to lead outdoor activities. This morning I was helping lead a group through a river (yes it was cold), but I loved it. I think my year at Greenhill will be great. :)

Now as I'm finally getting settled in at Greenhill Christmas vacation is coming. While its closed Caitlyn Kevin and I (the RAD team) will be going to Belfast to work at the East Belfast Mission. It will be a big change, but it sounds like exciting work. Marry Christmas. I'll write you next year.

God Bless,
Jon