Greetings on a rainy day in Greystones, Ireland. Though Thanksgiving is not a national holiday here, Erin and I were thankfully still able to get our turkey dinner yesterday. We spent the evening with Scott and Jenn from the Taylor group around the corner as well as with a few Irish friends. We had an incredible feast and a good bit of fun.
This week has been a good week for both Erin and I. We had a great party on Saturday with the Taylor group of students watching the Ohio State-Michigan game. (Unfortunately the better team lost.) Work and ministry have gone well this week. Youth group went well on Friday evening and basketball practices have gone on very well in Ballymun.
God has been so good to us here and we are so grateful for how God has put this experience together. Erin and I are very happy in what we are doing at the school, with the St. Mark’s youth, and in Ballymun with Sportslife. One bit of news, for which we are particularly grateful, is that we will be getting a free place to live from the middle of December to the middle of January. This will save us a considerable amount of money and will afford us a more comfortable setting over the holidays. Thanks be to God!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Tyler and Erin
A few things to be praying for:
- St. Mark’s youth retreat - which will be taking place now from December 15-17. Complications came about with the original dates in November, but it has all be worked out and rescheduled. Pray for God’s leading and blessing on the weekend.
- Dan and Amy Tabb – co-workers of ours’ over here who have been in quite a bit of physical pain lately. Dan is having severe neck and back pain, while Amy is pregnant, and often feels very sick.
- Job for Erin – She is currently looking for temporary job opportunities for after her student teaching experience ends in mid-December. A permit has come through for her, so now it is just a matter of finding a place to work from here on out that would hopefully employ some of her talents and likings.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Tyler and I are having another good week here in Ireland. We both miss our moms and dads– well, at least I do.
I love school, nothing beats having a tea, coffee, and scones break. Did I mention that teachers get complementary lunches here? I think that is typical in Ireland, but don’t quote me on that. I have actually been able to eat lunch the past two days with two girls from the Taylor University Irish Studies Program group – Lauren and Amanda. They have been observing different teachers in the primary school for a few days. It has been fun comparing notes with them on school systems in the US and in Ireland.
I am working with a wonderful teacher named Mary West. She has been so helpful with showing me the ropes of teaching secondary students. My students are great! There have been a few particular classes that I have been able to really get to know because I see them three or four times a week.
One of my students I see a lot of happened to be good friends with my brother Ryan when he attended St. Andrews for the 03’-04’ school year. Her name is Saskia, and she is from Holland. She is amazing when it comes to painting, and she also has a good eye for design and composition. I also have many other students that have just been a joy to get to know. The more I am in this school, and no matter how preppy or international it is, highschoolers are highschoolers no matter where in the world they come from. They all have the same hopes, fears, dreams, struggles, desires, wants, needs, and the list goes on.
Tyler is doing well and continues to enjoy his work with both the sports ministry and the youth group. He’s been fighting a bad cold all week, but he thinks he is finally breaking it. Saturday’s have become our day off together, which has provided for loads of fun. Last weekend, we hiked a mountain called Sugarloaf. It was so windy - blowing up the mountain - it nearly blew us off our feet at the top. Then it took three tries to get back down going against the wind. It was worth it. We had a great view of the towns of Bray and Greystones. We warmed up, thereafter, at Powerscourt Mansion, sipping coffee and enjoying the views that you may remember from the party scene in the movie, “Count of Monte Cristo.” There’s your recommendation for a movie to watch this weekend… after you cheer on Ohio State to their victory on Saturday – GO BUCKS!!!
Okay, I think it is time for bed. Good night.
Erin Whitney
P.S. If you are in Upland area, you must see my good friend Becky Beeh’s senior art exhibit at the Metcalf Art Building. I had a sneak peek of it before I came here – I am sad to be missing her opening on Friday night the 17th from 7-9pm. It should be up for at least two weeks.
I love school, nothing beats having a tea, coffee, and scones break. Did I mention that teachers get complementary lunches here? I think that is typical in Ireland, but don’t quote me on that. I have actually been able to eat lunch the past two days with two girls from the Taylor University Irish Studies Program group – Lauren and Amanda. They have been observing different teachers in the primary school for a few days. It has been fun comparing notes with them on school systems in the US and in Ireland.
I am working with a wonderful teacher named Mary West. She has been so helpful with showing me the ropes of teaching secondary students. My students are great! There have been a few particular classes that I have been able to really get to know because I see them three or four times a week.
One of my students I see a lot of happened to be good friends with my brother Ryan when he attended St. Andrews for the 03’-04’ school year. Her name is Saskia, and she is from Holland. She is amazing when it comes to painting, and she also has a good eye for design and composition. I also have many other students that have just been a joy to get to know. The more I am in this school, and no matter how preppy or international it is, highschoolers are highschoolers no matter where in the world they come from. They all have the same hopes, fears, dreams, struggles, desires, wants, needs, and the list goes on.
Tyler is doing well and continues to enjoy his work with both the sports ministry and the youth group. He’s been fighting a bad cold all week, but he thinks he is finally breaking it. Saturday’s have become our day off together, which has provided for loads of fun. Last weekend, we hiked a mountain called Sugarloaf. It was so windy - blowing up the mountain - it nearly blew us off our feet at the top. Then it took three tries to get back down going against the wind. It was worth it. We had a great view of the towns of Bray and Greystones. We warmed up, thereafter, at Powerscourt Mansion, sipping coffee and enjoying the views that you may remember from the party scene in the movie, “Count of Monte Cristo.” There’s your recommendation for a movie to watch this weekend… after you cheer on Ohio State to their victory on Saturday – GO BUCKS!!!
Okay, I think it is time for bed. Good night.
Erin Whitney
P.S. If you are in Upland area, you must see my good friend Becky Beeh’s senior art exhibit at the Metcalf Art Building. I had a sneak peek of it before I came here – I am sad to be missing her opening on Friday night the 17th from 7-9pm. It should be up for at least two weeks.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Now We’re Going Full Speed Ahead
This week we got to experience what a normal week will be like. Erin is back to teaching at the school. She is really enjoying her students and the teacher that she is working beside. It has been interesting to see how independent they allow their students to be, especially the older ones. Most of the classes allow the students to just work on projects they have going at for a while. Because of this, Erin has really been able to converse and get to know her students, which is great.
Work in Ballymun with Sportslife is going well. Dan coaches a school team of freshman boys and I am now his assistant coach. The boys on the team are great and we have a fun time with them during practices. Beyond that, I have started to do some administrative work for the ministry as well.
Both Erin and I attended our first youth group meeting at St. Mark’s this past Friday. The students are much different from the kids that Dan and I work with in Ballymun for obvious social reasons, since many of them have been in church their whole lives. But just as in any other youth ministry, there is still a lot of room for growth in depth of commitment and in numbers. On Sunday morning, one of the other volunteers in the youth ministries told us how one of the girls, in particular, really clicked with Erin and couldn’t wait to see her again. Outside of Friday night meetings and Wednesday night leaders’ meetings, I will be putting many hours in at the office at the church working on youth group matters.
Thanks again for your prayers and support. We are really enjoying it here and feeling as though God has us in the right place at the right time.
Love,
Tyler and Erin
Prayer Requests:
- The Holy Spirit’s guidance as we plan a retreat for the St. Mark’s youth group at the end of the month.
- The guys on the freshman basketball team in Ballymun – that Dan and I would have opportunities to share and converse with them on an individual basis
This week we got to experience what a normal week will be like. Erin is back to teaching at the school. She is really enjoying her students and the teacher that she is working beside. It has been interesting to see how independent they allow their students to be, especially the older ones. Most of the classes allow the students to just work on projects they have going at for a while. Because of this, Erin has really been able to converse and get to know her students, which is great.
Work in Ballymun with Sportslife is going well. Dan coaches a school team of freshman boys and I am now his assistant coach. The boys on the team are great and we have a fun time with them during practices. Beyond that, I have started to do some administrative work for the ministry as well.
Both Erin and I attended our first youth group meeting at St. Mark’s this past Friday. The students are much different from the kids that Dan and I work with in Ballymun for obvious social reasons, since many of them have been in church their whole lives. But just as in any other youth ministry, there is still a lot of room for growth in depth of commitment and in numbers. On Sunday morning, one of the other volunteers in the youth ministries told us how one of the girls, in particular, really clicked with Erin and couldn’t wait to see her again. Outside of Friday night meetings and Wednesday night leaders’ meetings, I will be putting many hours in at the office at the church working on youth group matters.
Thanks again for your prayers and support. We are really enjoying it here and feeling as though God has us in the right place at the right time.
Love,
Tyler and Erin
Prayer Requests:
- The Holy Spirit’s guidance as we plan a retreat for the St. Mark’s youth group at the end of the month.
- The guys on the freshman basketball team in Ballymun – that Dan and I would have opportunities to share and converse with them on an individual basis
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Gettin' the Ball Rollin'
This week we began work with both the St. Mark's Church youth group and in Ballymun with Sportslife International. On Tuesday evening, both of us met some of the youth from St. Mark's for the first time at a a Halloween alternative party. With students in Ireland having this week off, Halloween is that much more of a problem over here with drunken bonfires taking place all over. The party was a first-time attempt to provide a fun alternative event for the local youth groups. It went well and was fun for all. I was humbled in the blow-up sumo ring as Andrew, one of the older kids in the group, got the best of me with his size and rugby skills. Erin and I will both be helping out with the normal youth meetings on Friday nights.
Yesterday, I got my first experience with the Sportslife ministry in the Ballymun community. As referenced in our initial letter, Ballymun is a rougher community in northern Dublin that has been ravaged over the years by unemployments, drug usage, and suicide. The event we put on yesterday was a three-on-three basketball tournament for mostly 10-12 year olds. We only had about a dozen kids, but I think they all had a good time. One of the other volunteers presented a short lesson on John 3:16 during a break. It looks as if ministering to these kids will be a tough task, but if God is with us anything can happen.
Erin is in the middle of her midterm break. Pretty rough to work 3 days and then have one week off! On Tuesday, we got to enjoy a long hike on Bray Head, which was a gorgeous walk on a gorgeous day.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support. May God bless you richly.
Love,
Tyler and Erin
Prayer Requests:
Tyler - That good relationships would start to form with the kids at St. Mark's and at Ballymun.
Erin - That Erin would continue to know her students on a deeper level
Erin and I at St. Stephan's Green in Dublin
Carrig Eden - where Erin and I live
This week we began work with both the St. Mark's Church youth group and in Ballymun with Sportslife International. On Tuesday evening, both of us met some of the youth from St. Mark's for the first time at a a Halloween alternative party. With students in Ireland having this week off, Halloween is that much more of a problem over here with drunken bonfires taking place all over. The party was a first-time attempt to provide a fun alternative event for the local youth groups. It went well and was fun for all. I was humbled in the blow-up sumo ring as Andrew, one of the older kids in the group, got the best of me with his size and rugby skills. Erin and I will both be helping out with the normal youth meetings on Friday nights.
Yesterday, I got my first experience with the Sportslife ministry in the Ballymun community. As referenced in our initial letter, Ballymun is a rougher community in northern Dublin that has been ravaged over the years by unemployments, drug usage, and suicide. The event we put on yesterday was a three-on-three basketball tournament for mostly 10-12 year olds. We only had about a dozen kids, but I think they all had a good time. One of the other volunteers presented a short lesson on John 3:16 during a break. It looks as if ministering to these kids will be a tough task, but if God is with us anything can happen.
Erin is in the middle of her midterm break. Pretty rough to work 3 days and then have one week off! On Tuesday, we got to enjoy a long hike on Bray Head, which was a gorgeous walk on a gorgeous day.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support. May God bless you richly.
Love,
Tyler and Erin
Prayer Requests:
Tyler - That good relationships would start to form with the kids at St. Mark's and at Ballymun.
Erin - That Erin would continue to know her students on a deeper level
Erin and I at St. Stephan's Green in Dublin
Carrig Eden - where Erin and I live
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