Greetings from Ireland! Let me just take a moment to savor that statement being true at least for the next few days. It is so weird to think of leaving Enniscorthy, this place we have grown to call our home for the past 2 years! Yet somehow we are leaving Ireland in T-MINUS 4 DAYS FROM NOW. It's is getting real y'all.

But first before I get all nostalgic on you, let's rewind and talk about how amazing Summer camp was this year!!!

SuperKids & GForce Summer Camp

Friends and family, thank you so much for your prayers over the week of camp. It was such a blast! We had record numbers of over 400 kids and teenagers attend the camp regularly throughout the week: About 350 kids and over 60 teenagers! Beltway Park Baptist Church also sent a team of 45 (46?) Texans to help staff and lead the camp with us. All in all we had between 80-90 volunteers running the camp, and we needed every. single. one.

[Photo credit: Phil Dosa]

There were a number of things that made this year so different from last year. First, for Molly and me, doing this camp for the second time we were able to invest more fully into the experience, knowing what to expect each day and being able to know when to conserve our energy or when to hit the cray button (watch me hit the cray button!). Second, while the numbers of kids attending camp was similar to last year, we had more kids regularly coming back every single day. Third, a huge number of the teenagers who attended last year graduated, but we had a huge influx of 13-14 year olds to replace them, adding quite a different energy and excitement to the GForce camp (for those of you with teens, you know what I mean). Additionally, last year was the first time we ever had over 400 kids and you could tell all the volunteers felt stretched thin and a little bewildered. However this year we hit our stride, providing new dramas each day, learning several new songs to sing, and we were able to deal with problems effectively and with more joy than before.

To sum it up it was an incredible experience. God provided for every situation, the Beltway team was so encouraging and fun, and Enniscorthy was shaken up yet again.

Our last week goals

Many of you may be wondering what the past few weeks have looked like for us. If you have seen our facebook or instagram, you know we have been posting a lot lately, and there is a reason for that. One of our biggest goals for the past few weeks have been to meet up one last time with dear families and friends we love here, as well as visit our favorite spots in the sunny southeast of Ireland. We have spent a lot of time reflecting, reading, celebrating, eating, and thanking God for our time here. It has been so deeply fulfilling, so truly sweet, and yet wholly bittersweet all at once. We really love these people.

In the midst of all of this, we have been processing what sets the Irish culture apart in our minds. What is it, really, about these Irish people who have captured our heats? Beyond their food, words, accents, history, and geography, what has made them so dear to us? For any missionary, or person who has lived for longer than a year in another country, it is vital dive into these questions so we can emotionally grow, remember the joys of that being in that season, and integrate them into our new understanding of who we have become through the season. So get ready, here's my attempt to answer these questions.

What I will cherish about the Irish culture

Irish Hospitality: This is first and foremost what Molly and I enjoy here, as well as what we want to get better at. This is the innate ability of any Irish person to make you or anyone feel at home and wanted in their house, no matter who they are. This often involves a never-ending supply of tea, coffee, biscuits, and sweets offered to the guests, whether you want them or not. They will invite people over, let them join in with the life happening in the home, with only a vague sense of agenda or time people should leave. The only agenda is to laugh, eat, talk, cry, sing, and be together.
Pedestrian Culture: While American cities tend to be spread out over miles, most European cities are quite walkable because they are condensed around the city center. Even in a small Irish town like Enniscorthy, it will usually be easier to get around town just by walking (yes, even up the massive hill) instead of driving. It is honestly more fun to take walks once you get used to it, and you end up experiencing more of the life in the town. During lunch hour people will take their lunch and sit out by the river when the sun is out, or even go fishing in the river. Rain, wind, and cold doesn't stop any truly Irish person. And for an added plus, during our first 3 months here without a car I lost 15 lbs. just walking between out house and the church, and we got some serious leg muscles to show for it!
Global Mindset: Living in Ireland, in the European Union, you quickly grow to better appreciate how different cultures are. Even in Enniscorthy about 1/2 of the population are "Irish", with 1/4 being African and another 1/4 being from other European countries. There are so many languages are regularly spoken and so many cultures with their own way of doing life, all living as Irish citizens. This kind of global mindset jars you out of an "Us vs. Them" mentality and creates a desire in you to understand how the world works on a grand scale. Honestly, I was never that interested in world history until I came over here. You also begin to appreciate the global Christian church more deeply as well!
"Having the craiq!": Yes, that is what people say here. It is a common phrase that literally means "having a good time". This encompasses the ability to get out of your head, remove your inhibitions, and just have good fun with people you love. Get out of your comfort zone to sing, laugh, dance, and yell not caring how you may look.
"Ah sure it'll be grand.": This phrase is often spoken to friends or family members worrying about an event or situation. This is such a huge difference between American and Irish culture. Americans, we can so easily find out self-worth out of our productivity and achievements and status, so we prepare and plan things months and even years in advance. The Irish on the other hand don't let themselves be too bothered by stress, may throw things together closer to the deadline, knowing in the end it will all turn out fine.
People-oriented over task-oriented: Most Irish people will be able to set aside whatever they are doing just to talk with and get to know those around them. More than once the line a grocery store will get backed up because the grocer and the customer are catching up. They value getting to know someone just to share life, not so they can use them. They put value in remembering people's names, finding things in common, and they love to know their neighbors.
The Fighting Irish: Picture the mascot of Notre Dame and you're not far off. As an Irish person, when the going gets tough, when you get beat down, and when the rain continues to pour, you get back up, laugh, and ask for more. There's just an ability of the Irish people to outlast and patiently (sometimes stubbornly too) endure things that would break most Americans. No matter the economic situation, political upheaval, rising floods, constant rain, frequent days of no sun, and difficult spiritual climate the Irish people are able to walk through the tough and savor the good.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it summarizes most of what I see every day. The Irish people are incredible and it has been a blessing to have lived here for the past 2 years.

We're looking forward to seeing you in the states!

One last thing. We will be officially leaving Ireland this Tuesday, where we will then spend a little over a week in Europe travelling and meeting up with dear friends. Then we plan to arrive back in Texas just in time for the Olympics, which we are crazy looking forward to! So please be praying for safe travels, no missed/delayed flights, and for spiritual direction as we enter this new season of life.

We will keep you updated. See you soon!