Sunday School Meeting
I’m just home from a meeting with our Sunday School volunteers and I’m so grateful for God’s blessing in this area of our church. A year ago we had no Sunday School at all, and the area that we are now using was not suitable for children. It was a step of faith for the church to renovate this area when we only had the occasional 1-2 children. A year later and I’m sitting with 8 volunteers who are dedicating their time and talents to the 12+ children that are now part of the church. I am so very thankful to get to see God at work!
New bathrooms at church!
Click for a larger view.
Here are our two new bathrooms being installed, increasing our total to three just in time for our kids’ Bible camp and the Branockstown Summer Festival. Being a portable cabin, this is a temporary solution and we’re exploring a long term solution which involves building a new fellowship hall as well. That being years away still, these new bathrooms will allow us to further utilize our facilities in reaching out to the village.
Lately Around Ireland
- The measles rate in Ireland is the second highest number in all of Europe
- 250 windfarms are planned to meet the EU target of 40% of all electricity produced by renewable sources by 2020
- The “Toys of the Celtic Tiger” went to auction as various new and almost-new luxury autos were recently sold at a 70% discount; Mercedes is slashing prices on its new cars in Ireland by €12,000 ($14,725)
- Unemployment continues upward (highest rate in 15 years) and house prices are still declining
- Farmers in Kerry can earn €500 for each pond they dig on their land to allow the endangered Natterjack Toad to breed; 90 ponds have been created so far
- Authorities fear increased suicides due to unemployment as statistics show the risk to be greater (Ireland was already at the top of most European lists for young male suicides during the Celtic Tiger)
- Norwegian baby eagles are to be reintroduced again in a bid to reestablish the species here
- Prisons are overflowing, so 700 inmates have been released early
- A Leaving Certificate supervisor has been fired for “tweeting” during the time he was supposed to be watching students take the exam (the “Leaving Cert” here is kind of like the SATs or the ACT exam)
- Another freeway has been opened, now connecting Cork directly to Dublin; several more are slated to open later this year, finally connecting major cities in the Republic to the capital via high speed-limit, well-paved roads
- Customers to a supermarket have been warned that if they wear pajamas/sleepwear to the store they will be refused service
New Bible Study Group & Possible New Kids’ Weekly Bible Club
Tonight we had the second meeting of a new Bible study for those in the church not attending the existing study on Thursdays (which is already close to full!). Attendance was up from our first meeting, and there was a great spirit and active participation. One of the cool things that came from the discussion after the study was our need for a weekly kids’ Bible club. This had been on our hearts and in our prayers for a long time, but we have been waiting to have enough volunteers to run it. It looks like we might be ready to launch it in a few weeks for a 7-week run over the summer. We’d appreciate your prayers as we seek God’s will and timing with this possibility.
Flag Presentation at Local School
Today the Branockstown National School was awarded a flag in recognition for the students’ work in environmental conservation. This is the second flag they have been awarded in as many years. We are grateful to have been called by the principal and invited to be at the ceremony today. While there, several parents asked us about our upcoming Bible camp and one family said that with their youngest old enough to attend for the first time, they will have 3 children there this year.
We could tell that our presence there was appreciated and it was great to support the kids and meet more of the parents.
Ireland Weather
