Days 11-17

Hello again! so i dont have much time again, but here goes real quick. also, 9 days till the release of HARRY POTTER!!!!!

Day: 11... Sunday we went to church in Raphoe, very good message by the minister about listening. Then we again went back to the Stuarts to plan lessons for the week and bbq and hang out. That night we might Iris, a bible camp coordinator, and went around family neighborhoods in Convoy and invited kids to the day camp. People dont really seem to mind solicitors here like in the states.

Day 12: Monday, we started our day camp in convoy. only about 10 kids came because they have never really had a christian kids camp in convoy, so it was very new for the town. But the kids were very quiet and polite. That night we went to another night time kids bible club and helped out, only about 35 kids at this camp. It was fun to work with a bunch of new helpers from Belfast.

Day 13: Tuesday, we went around neighborhoods again in the morning with invitations and leaflets, and then did day 2 of convoy daytime kids club. It was ok, only about 9 kids though. \then again went to the nighttime kids club and their were about 40 kids. It was a good day.

Day 14: Weds, Convoy day camp again. And then we had a new event for the night. They wented out a pool hall for us to host a teen drop in event, where we had juices and tea and chips and cookies. It was good, we played pool and hung out with about 15 teens that night. We didn't expect that many so it was good to see a fair turn out.

Day 15: Convoy Day camp, and then teen event. Except this time, about 30 teens showed up to hang out. I don't know if any were christians, but we let them all know why we were there, and just provided a safe place to hang out and talk, because convoy is not the nicest place ever.

Day 16: Last day of Convoy drop-in was really fun, but i was quite tired of the game they love, King Chicken...it kills my knees. And everyone here is obsessed with soccer and gaelic football and rugby. I am horrible at all three. Then we went to this barn to help set up for a barn dance the next night, so we set up big canopies and party tents. Then we had our last teen drop in. About 40 came throughout the night, so it was pretty packed.

Day 17: 4th of JULY woooo hooo. so saturday we had to wake up early and go set up the rest of the stuff for the BARN DANCE they were throwing for us this nihgt for a 4th of July celebration. The farmer needed someone to go up and attach this tent sheet, so I volunteered, so he put me on the end of this huge tractor/forklift, and lifted me about 25 feet in the air. It was awesome. Ok so my mom and brothers went to ryan stiles big 4th of july party, so I was super sad I couldn't go and that I had to go to an irish barndance instead???? But that night we went to the barn dance, had great bbq, about 170 people showed up! and we danced for about 3 hours straight, not joking. it was like prom, but better. my calf muscles deffinately hurt today, to say the least. It was so fun. they taught us a bunch of corny dances, we did the macarena, the irish version of the electric slide, and the guy tried to play/sing Sweet Home Alabama for us americans, but wasnt too successful. overall it was a very good 4th of july, and i sang the national anthem to my teammates about 20 times, so im sure they never want to hear it again. it was great dancing with all the 70-year-old presbyterian church ladies too. everyone stayed till midnight, it was terrific.


day 18: TODAY, sunday. We went to church. Message was about Esther and the 300 Spartan battle. then we left the countryside and donegal, and went to the coast. We are now in the coolest hostel i have ever seen. it is amazing, and we are now on our 5 days of holiday/vacation. The beach here is great, and I'm loving it. ALSO, happy birthday to KARLY SAPP. I love you!

ok so, the irish hospitality has been amazing. so many presbyterian families have taken us in and feed us the most amazing meals ever. its been wonderful. also, I have been reading Mere Christianity by C.S.Lewis and it is rapidly becoming my favorite book. I recommend to all. He wrote it for atheists, but of course chrisitians are obsessed with this book. Also, HARRY POTTER comes out next week. I am currently reading the Book of Luke, and pushing through it. We are going to Scotland for the next 3 days for vacation, so I am SOOOO excited to take a train through scotland for vaca. WHOOOO HOOO! AWESOME. ok well, i am much enjoying not having a cell phone and only checking facebook once a week. it is quite nice.

love ya all, thanks for reading. miss you.
proverbs 3:5-6

kelly thoma