We took Lars and Maria and the boys to the airport on Wednesday for their flight to Denmark. We loved having company but are worn out now, and looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. It’s great to have people visit us though. I think with Northern Ireland being such a similar culture and language to our own, you often don’t notice the subtle differences. I think we feel so at home here, that we don’t realize the small ways that we don’t feel at home until we get to spend time with people from home. So it’s been refreshing. Thanks to our guests. We had a great time with you.
Sometimes it’s just nice to hang out with people who call french fries french fries and spell color without a ‘u’, you know?
Walking on the promenade with the Kristiansens.
Bridge over the Shimna
Lars, Maria and the boys at Tollymore Forest Park.
This look captures about how I felt watching the video of my acting...
It’s been a quiet week for us. Campbell and Kristi left for a month-long trip to visit her family in Thailand on Monday, which always leaves a bit of a vacuum socially. The upside is that you know you have good friends when you miss them. We’ve needed a quiet week though, since the ones before were pretty manic.
Tuesday night the local theatre group I was part of had a barbecue and a showing of the DVD of our performance. It was really fun to see everyone again. It’s always really weird to see yourself on video though. At this point, I’m pretty used to hearing myself speak and sing so that’s not awkward anymore, but seeing is a whole ‘nother deal…
Anyway, since there’s not a lot of news, here are some fun photos.
An authentic Irish BBQ - rain and all (this is from a gettogether at Campbell's a few months ago)
The Irish version of a coffee house church...
Well, we all knew it would happen. Sooner or later, the excitement of moving and meeting people and dreaming wears off and you’re left living in a place that’s still slightly uncomfortable, missing your friends, and gearing up for the reality that dreams take work, risk, and hardship. We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. We’ve been expecting it. We’re not cursing God and packing our bags. But we’ve been sad this last week.
It’s one of the great beauties of the Christian life that we can say “I am in the right place. God is good and on the throne. I really want to be with Pat and Lezlie or Jay and Jess (or whoever). I’m really sad that I’m missing the early years of their kids. It hurts like crazy.” And there’s no incongruity in that statement. It’s just the tension of life and trusting God in that tension is one of the most glorifying things we can do.
Sorry we haven’t had a lot to say recently. We really are doing pretty well and getting adjusted. We love you all and miss you (well…most of you).
Mark and Ange
It’s been a busy week for us. Thursday we were in Muncie for a goodbye party for our good friends Josh and Michelle Garrels. Friday we were in Muncie again for dinner with our friends the Kristiansens and the Millers (two of the three couples on our team). We had a really fun evening together. Saturday night I played a few songs as an opening act for my friend Jason Wolfgang (you can download his songs free at thewolfgangarchive.com).
Then this morning we got up at 6am and drove to Gas City, IN, where we lead worship at one of our sister churches – Exit 59. It was a really beautiful time and our whole team was there. They prayed for us and sent us out with their blessing. Did I mention we love that church?
Finally, always a glutton for punishment, we returned to Indy where I filled in the pulpit (a.k.a. stool) at our own Indy Alliance. It was an exhausting day at the end of an exhausting week, but it’s been exhilarating too. We’re in for a whirlwind six weeks here, and it probably won’t stop until a few weeks after we’ve landed in Northern Ireland. That’s what we signed up for, though!
Mark
we had a cookout with friends last night (whom we consider our indy family) and i thought i’d show them off to you.
Last Saturday (the 5th) some of our good friends (and a few of our bad ones) threw us a big Ireland awareness/goodbye/pickin-and-grinnin party. Lots of our musical friends played some of their stuff and everybody else just ate a lot, talked a lot, and tried not to step on each other. It was kind of like an open mic night in a really cool sardine can.
Ange and I played some of our own stuff, and there was an impromptu re-union of our old band The Lions. Here’s a photo:
We had a super fun time, though and I must say we’ve never felt quote so hip. Many thanks to Lisa, Joseph, Laura, and Chris B (and the others) for throwing us such a cool party.
