So the Northern Irish journey begins . . .

Well . . . Tanner and I have officially made it to Northern Ireland safely!  For those of you who may not know, Tanner and I are both enrolled as full-time students at Belfast Bible College for the 2009-2010 school year (www.belfastbiblecollege.com).  We are both in the one-year certificate program and are extremely excited to have the opportunity to study alongside one another and dedicate this time to focus our thoughts on what God may have for our future.

We have officially been in Northern Ireland one week, and we really like it here!  Our first week was rather busy, and I have to admit that I am glad we just stayed in our apartment all day today to chill our and relax.  We arrived to Northern Ireland on Saturday, September 12^th.  Some dear friends welcomed us at the Belfast International Airport.  My brother, Caleb, recently married Julia Anderson.  Julia’s older sister, Kristen, lives here in Belfast with her Northern Irish husband, David.  So, David and Kristen welcomed us when we arrived last Saturday and helped us settle into our new place.  They even took us to Super Tesco (which is similar to Super Target or Super Wal-Mart), and we were able to grab a few items to help furnish our new apartment.  We are living in a small flat on the campus of the Bible College. 

         

We spent the rest of Saturday and all day Sunday unpacking and resting for the week ahead.  And while we saw other students around campus, we really didn’t meet any new people until orientation started on Monday morning.  Orientation lasted from Monday, September 14^th until Wednesday, September 16^th.  Orientation was amazing and a bit overwhelming as a lot of information was thrown our way.  We tried to catch all the details we needed to, but seeing as how we were fighting jet lag, I am just praying that we will be on time to our classes and have all the right papers filled in for this upcoming Monday!  

David Shepherd, the principal of the school, gave a small sermon/talk on the first day of orientation.  He explained that Belfast Bible College is most certainly a place to come and be academically challenged and encouraged and propelled to learn new things regarding scripture and theology.  However, that reason for coming to school should be second in comparison to the importance of living in the light as we live in community with the brethren at the Bible College.  Belfast Bible College exists to encourage its students to know the heart and character of God deeper and extend that love and grace toward our neighbors.  David talked about the importance of living in community, and not only living in community, but living in the light within community.  If even just one brother or sister in the community is living in darkness, then the WHOLE body suffers.  I am continually amazed that God has brought us to such a unique community here on the outskirts of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Tanner and I are not only looking forward to this next year, but we need this experience to teach us what it means to live in true community with other believers.

         

The second day of orientation began with a lecture from one of the professors within the Post-Graduate studies department.  He spoke for nearly an hour regarding devotion versus academics.  While he encouraged us to do all our work with excellence, he pointed out the importance of our walk with God and the supremacy it must take when studying at Bible College.  Our walk with God, our personal quiet times and our prayer time must remain primary, allowing the daily grind of homework and assignments to fall into place accordingly.  When I attended college in the United States, I went to the largest Christian University.  And while I absolutely LOVED my time at the University and grew tremendously in my personal walk with God specifically by being involved with my church, this idea of devotion being primary over academics was most certainly not shared in any of our orientation sessions.  While loving God with our all our mind is most important, we must not forget how vital it is to also love Him with all our heart, soul and strength (Mark 12:30).

          

Official orientation ended around lunchtime on the afternoon of September 16th.  After lunch, all the students along with the student life committee headed to a place about 45 minutes from school called Castlewellan.  We all stayed in this huge Castle for two nights, and had the opportunity to dine together, walk around the beautiful lake with one another, enjoying sports and worship together!  What a picturesque way to end your first week in Northern Ireland and to meet all the students you will be seeing around campus for the next year or so.  Tanner and I met so many amazing people!  Before we moved to Northern Ireland, I was afraid I would be the “old married” lady living on campus.  I had fears that others would be intimidated to befriend me because . . . well I don’t really know . . . I just was worrying way too much.  There was no need for me to worry because Tanner and I have already made many friends, from many different places.  Out of the 200-member student body at Belfast Bible College this year, over 30 different nations are represented.  I have new friends from Scotland, Germany, USA, Brazil, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, England, Kenya, Slovakia, Canada, Poland, Sudan . . . the list could go on and on.  Two doors down from our apartment lives another young married couple, Eric and Mary.  Eric and Mary are from Canada and we have truly enjoyed getting to know them.  We had them over for dinner the other night, which was a hoot seeing as our kitchen table takes up the ENTIRE space in our dining room/kitchen.  Anyways, in the process of getting to know one another, we have come to find out that Mary has volunteered in an orphanage in China, Eric has one biological sister, 3 sisters adopted from China and 2 brothers adopted from Ethiopia, and they have been to Nashville before and even know where Barbara’s and Puckett’s Grocery in Leiper’s Fork are!  (For those of you who aren’t from our hometown, these are both two obscure restaurants close to our home in Franklin).  Isn’t that so like God!  Wow.

         

One afternoon while we were still at Castlewellan, someone noticed the hat that I was wearing had James 1:27 embroidered on it.  My friend, Shelly, asked me what that verse said.  We were sitting around a picnic table with a handful of other friends from Northern Ireland and England.  I told her that James 1:27 talks about pure and faultless religion being one in which the Church, the body of Christ, cares for orphans and widows.  Just quoting this verse opened up a really intriguing and encouraging dialogue regarding orphan care.  Everyone around the table began talking about orphan care and what we might be able to do to even make small differences in the lives of children even in our own backyard.  An English man named Bill, who is in his late 50’s and is attending Bible College with his wife, Nola, piped up and began talking from the perspective of an orphan.  Come to find out, Bill was adopted in the 1950’s domestically in England.  He has a big heart for helping the children in the foster care system here in the United Kingdom.  And after our 5 minute conversation regarding orphans and what we might do to even show them just a glimpse of our Father’s love, my friend Shelly suggested we pray.  And what unfolded over the next 10 minutes was so powerful and deeply inspiring.  Young people and old people, those that were once orphaned and those that knew nothing about the issue, were interceding on behalf of so many children who need forever families.  And not only were prayers offered for these children, but a sincere request was made for God to grant us wisdom in how we can adequately and appropriately respond to the issue.  Young people . . . we were praying for our generation to be the one that changes the mindset about adoption and orphan care within the Church.  And the power of prayer cannot be underestimated.

         

Well . . . I suppose this is a bit of a wordy blog.  Thank you for reading and for supporting Tanner and I as we are on our Northern Irish journey.  We have already had many amazing experiences and made wonderful memories.  We are confidant that God has great truths He wants to reveal to us this year.  

Comments

[Christine Gordon and Family in MA]

you are NEVER wordy; I was hanging on every word. so exciting to SEE the seeds that have already been planted in your first week in Northern Ireland. Praying on for you and Tanner and thrilled to be able to read your blogs! thanks for taking the time to share! WITH HOPE!

[Vanessa Schaecher (from Nebraska)]

Emily...so GREAT to hear from you all the way from Northern Ireland. What an awesome year you & Tanner are going to have...I can already tell. I look forward to future updates (and will check out Tanner's blog also). And I will keep you in my prayers. Blessings to you both!

[Jess :)]

Loved that post, Em!!! :) What amazing things you and Tanner will get to see, do, and experience together. I know God will be honored through all that you do.

Thank you for sharing and it wasn't too wordy! It's always a JoY reading your words.

Love, Hugs, and many Blessings,
Jess :)

P.S. I LOVE your hair! It's absolutely adorable. Oh, and just so you know who I am...I'm the girl who you talked with in Sioux City, IA and you so graciously took a picture with me & " baby Stellan's sign" and then went back and got pictures with your dad and Uncle Geoff!

[Priscilla from NZ]

Hey Emily!

Sounds like you guys are already having an incredibly awesome, blessed time at BBC! How cool the way God has drawn people from so many different nations to be there on that campus and to be able to fellowship with one another & get to know more about other cultures & living in community :) Definitely a little taste of what heaven will be like for sure.
I'm looking forward to reading more of what you guys will be learning and what life in Northern Ireland is like :)

p.s. Just read Tanner's blog - he is a great writer also!

~Priscilla from New Zealand

[lori in nc]

So glad to hear that you are settled and know that this will be an incredible year for both of you. You guys will be in our prayers!!

Lori and Abigail Oakley

[Shari]

Where is Tanner's blog? Thanks for the update. Praying for you both.

[dang miaomiao]

I am glad to read your blog...thank you for sharing it...wish you all the best

MiaoMiao Dang from LuoYang

[Deidre]

So exciting to hear how God is working in your lives. Thanks for updating!

[Julie]

Loved reading about your first experiences in Northern Ireland. Wanted to make you aware of an AMAZING Christian artist who is headed to Belfast in the next few weeks. (You may already know this since I believe Jim Houser is his manager, too) Nathan Tasker is from Australia but now lives in TN. His website is www.nathantasker.com and will give the dates/details.
Enjoy it for his fans that can't be there!
Blessings from Dallas TX

[gdugan2]

You guys are in IRELAND for a year? That was a surprise.

I hope you both have a great year.

And your blog was a quick read - not too wordy.

[jill]

So glad to hear that things are going well in NI. If you want some cool ministry opportunities while you're there, my friends Lucas and Susan (from the US) live just outside Belfast and attended BBC as well. They do a lot with the youth in the area and are one of the most amazing couples ever. Praying for you guys.

[Cindi M.]

Loved reading about the beginning of this great adventure..
Keep us informed.

Love from NC.

[Rochelle]

Emily, keep on being wordy (not that you were) because I enjoyed reading your blog very much. I hope you and Tanner have a wonderful experience there. You are certainly off to a great start. We'll be praying for you both.

[gwen]

what an amazing adventure you are on w/ the Lord ... i can't wait to see what God has in store for you and Tanner ... love ya bunches and GO JAMES 1:27 HAT

[Kimberley Byrd]

This is not too wordy at all! I LOVE it! And I cannot wait to see what God does with both of you in Ireland. We are a missionary family living in Costa Rica learning Spanish (we also have adopted children...and older children) I will write you both in my prayer journal and commit to pray for you each day. Big Hugs!

[fan]

So glad to finally hear that ya'll arrived safely and are settling in. Praying that you will have a God filled experience and will SEE where he is leading you two.

[June Vendetti]

Hi Emily, You are right in saying you can never underestimate the power of prayer, nor can you ever know where it is going to take you. That's the amazing grace your father sings about in the "Great Adventure!" I still love that song, even to this day! Though I am very Catholic, I can certainly relate to all you are saying. I am very glad for the work you and your family are doing for the orphans. God bless you and Tanner, and may our God lead you where He wants you to be!

[Sandy B]

Emily,
It is so good to hear from you. I have been praying for you both and am glad to hear that you are settling in. It sounds as though God is already doing amazing things through you both already. Thanks for sharing your heart for orphans, both here and on your hat:). And thanks for the sweet card and gift. Can't wait to spend it.
Keep us posted,
Sandy

[Jennifer]

So glad to hear about your new journey. Praying for you and Tanner to grow and be used by God in a special way during your time in Ireland!

[Lee]

Agree with all the others not wordy at all, very interesting and articulate, Thank you for sharing your life and this amazing journey with everyone, even though you do not know all of us we are part of the same family with an awesome Father.

[Nancy from California]

It was nice to read your blog. I have been praying for both of you as well as for your families (adjusting to the separation). I spoke with you several weeks ago--well actually, I did a lot of crying and we talked together for about 25 minutes. I thank you for the prayer you prayed for me. I've really been praying about how closely God wants me to be praying for and reading about your family. It's strange to feel connected to people you've never met, knowing that you may never meet them here on earth and you're really just a stranger to them. I don't know--maybe that's deception--getting the focus off of the HEART of the matter--lifting our fellow brothers and sisters up when the Lord places it on our hearts, not expecting anything in return. I'm so glad your start there has been so good! I pray God will bless this time in ways you never imagined!
Nancy

[Charity]

Hey Emily and Tanner, we are excited for y'all as you start this journey! My husband and I are missionaries in Wales- (from TX) so if you ever get to travel around, come to Wales!!! :) Have a blessed day!

[Beth H.]

Emily,
Keep those words coming, girl! It is such a blessing to hear what God is doing in and through you and Tanner! Still praying in Knoxville...

Peace,
Beth

[Melissa (from TN)]

Emily, I loved your entire post, but I especially enjoyed the part about living in community. This is something my husband and I have been learning over the past several years. We are so hungry to build that community wherever we are because we have experienced if but just a piece of what true community is like. I encourage everyone reading this to take time to get to know your neighbors. If someone new moves in to your neighborhood or area, take them a small gift (an adress book with your name, number, and address in it; flower seeds; etc.) and introduce yourself. You will be amazed at what a difference a small gesture can make with new or existing neighbors. And, you know what will really blow their minds? Plan a block party and feed your neighbors! You aren't doing it to show off or anything, you are doing it so that people can meet each other and again, you will be amazed at what you will see happen!
Blessings to Emily and Tanner and to all of us as we seek Community!!

[carryu2jesus]

Awesome!! I'm so glad you'll be blogging about your time there. Prayers for you and Tanner!