Much of the team is heading home today after an outstanding week of ministry. The VBS was over the top with over 100 kids attending. God's Word was shared with the kids through out the week with a real focus on Thursday of sharing the gospel. Several kids prayed to receive Jesus in their small groups, while seeds were planted in the hearts of many. 

Not only did we get to work alongside the church in Listowel, we were also blessed to serve with a group of college students from Northern Ireland - outstanding young people and the future of Ireland.

Thank you for praying for our team and the outreach. We met in one of the homes that we had rented and served the men tacos - Tony G. style. The men's outreach was incredible as the Holy Spirit moved upon the hearts of the men. We had a time of testimony, repentance, prayer and encouragement in God's Word - very moving! Photo's of men enjoying the taco's.

VBS Success

Youth Night

Group Effort

Group effort - Cherie, Heather, Erica, Delores

On Sunday Karen from LFC expressed that she needed more time in the ?Word and it has started a chain reaction of transparency.  On Monday the youth met and some of the invited kids saw Christians having lots of fun and yet still be approachable and serious about living their faith.  The Men said their night was "crazy good" - lots of repentance and desire to know God more.  Please pray for men to lead more men's fellowships more often - that someone would step up to help JP organize this effort.  The single ladies were invited to Anne's for dinner and again there was a night of sharing.  Ten of us squeezed around a tiny table in a tiny kitchen and shared and prayed for hours.  Forgiveness for the tiny things that get between sisters was asked for, along with strength to persevere through misunderstandings and the ability to continue to serve side by side.

Tonight - PRAYER REQUIRED - FOR THE WOMEN'S TEA!  We had the evening planned western style and organized, and God has turned those plans upside down.  We anticipate about 50 now, not 30, and may need to break up into small groups to fellowship, which may enable the Spirit to move even more freely.  Pray for our flexibility and that this will be the first of many nights of fellowship here.  They want to meet more frequently, as the men do, to continue to grow and be more effective as a body in their community.

Our first day of Kids Camp!  Many of us were nervous, emotional, concerned that we couldn't do this, so the hardest part was getting to the church.  Our devos reminded us that prayer is the key to allowing God to work, so we were praying mightily!

The kids started arriving all at once and it seemed like pandemonium.  But the Listowel team are experienced hands at this now and managed to get all of the children to the assigned tribes.  We are doing a study of Daniel in Babylon and the various experiences he had there and how God helped him.  So the children are divided into the 12 tribes of Israel.  Most of our team are tribe leaders, but a few are shopkeepers who may be Babylonian.  Today we learned that God said, "I will never leave you.  I will never abandon you."  Daniel needed that promise a lot. So do we.  Together we sang and danced to the fabulous songs, had tribe time where we talked about what it was like to be transplanted into a new and strange culture, and played games inspired by Babylonian activities like building towers and walls.  Then we had a chance to "shop" in the marketplace and visit different booths for crafts and lessons. That is the schedule for each day, ending with wrap up tribe time and more singing with the parents looking on as they wait to pick up their kids.

We were tired but with full hearts as we thought about the fresh young faces listening to God's word and the responses we got from them as they asked questions and talked about the lesson.  They do see this as a trip back in time to Babylon and are quite entranced by the staging of it all.  Listowel Christian Fellowship goes all out on this and the quality is known across Ireland.  But the best thing is that God is being glorified and children and their parents will come to Him this week.

We can't wait for tomorrow! (after a nap!!)

All together for fellowship and devos over breakfast