Wellcome Update

Urban Soul Report - DAY 2

Things have come together well for Urban Soul, but it hasn't been without it's hiccups and surprises along the way.  I had service projects for 130 people, but we had quite a few extra registrations come in last-minute.  So in reality, we've managed to squeeze 156 young people and their leaders into 16 service opportunities across Dublin.  (CLICK HERE to see a map, with most of the projects listed, minus one.)

We're hearing some great stories from young people about the joy they see on the faces of elderly folks that they're serving.  In one part of the city, other teenagers from the surrounding council housing (low-income housing) are joining the efforts to create community garden areas.  And not far from the iconic O'Connell Street, refugee families are coming out in droves for free coffee and tea and kids activities. 

The evening gatherings have been absolutely inspirational, with worship leading from Paul Baloche, teaching from Andy McCourt (down from Belfast), and a brilliant concert performance from Foy Vance. 

Thanks so much for your prayers!  Keep it up as we finish tomorrow evening!

 

Detailed Prayer for Urban Soul

Just a quick update to let you know how we’re doing and ask for prayer.

We had a great meeting with a midwife this last week who answered our questions about giving birth in our home this time around.  After talking with her, we felt very comfortable and safe about having the baby in-home come this Thanksgiving.  (In fact, we were given a due date of November 26, almost exactly 2 months after Caitlyn turns 2.)  Please pray for a healthy pregnancy for Kristy!

With regards to my involvement with Urban Soul, I can’t begin to explain some of the things I see God doing to bring churches and communities together through this event.  It will be significantly smaller than last year (about 140 vs. 250 from last year).  However, the ways we see God on the move in the run up to the event this year seem more intense than last year. 

Hit the Ground Running

We've hit the ground running here in Dublin.  Kristy has been busy looking into toddler play groups and meeting with friends and colleagues. 

I've had a really good time pulling together service projects for Urban Soul.  I've met with several community and church leaders who've brought me in to meetings with Dublin City Counil folks.  This has given me firsthand observation of how Dublin City Council works (with all the political warts, as well as the good stuff.)  Last night, I met with the Serve the City team (our first meeting since we arrived back) and told them that because of my involvement with Urban Soul, I'm seeing some big opportunities and open doors for future Serve the City initiatives.  Tie this in with our involvement in a new church, and we're beginning to see some big things down the road for encouraging and empowering the demonstration of the Kingdom of God. 

For now, Urban Soul is keeping me really busy and I'd appreciate prayer for all of those projects to come together. 

I've also had a chance to meet with 3 of the writers for DublinBlog.ie and I was really encouraged.  We're planning on meeting at least once a month, which will give me opportunity to build stronger relationships with those guys.  Pray particularly for Dec, Dervla, and Marcel (who's actually from Cologne, Germany!)

Back in Ireland, Slow Transition

• Lost luggage? Check. (UPDATE: Recovered the next day)

• Dead car? Check. (UPDATE: In the shop, ready to be picked up today with a new battery and alternator)

• Broken boiler/furnace? Check. (UPDATE: Scheduled to be repaired today; fortunately, the weather has been warming up here in Ireland and we've borrowed a space heater just in case.)

• No internet? Check. (UPDATE: Got connected first thing this morning while eating breakfast, YES!)

• Jet lag afflicted pregnant woman and 20 mo. old toddler? *yaaawn* Check. (UPDATE: Neither Kristy nor Caitlyn sleeping through the night, but it's getting better)

• Yard grass tall enough to tickle the armpits? Check. (UPDATE: Thank God for a sunny weekend!)

• Help from friends, neighbours, and colleagues? CHECK! (UPDATE: Without the help of GEM colleagues and our neighbour, things would've felt much more gloomy and our cupboards and fridge might still be empty!)
  

Final Newsletter of 2009 HMA

If you haven't already seen it in your e-mail box, our latest newsletter went out a few days ago.  You can view it online by CLICKING HERE.  To get the newsletter by e-mail, sign up by typing your e-mail address in the little window on the left-hand column of this website that says, "Enter your e-mail address to sign up for a new iPOD our eNewsletter."  It's right there under the section entitled "eNewsletters" and just above the section entitled "Donate."  See it?  You can't miss it.  Let us know if you have any trouble finding it. 

Picture from The Anchorage in Ireland

Just wanted to share some pictures of the continued work that the church plan in Dublin is doing at The Anchorage.  If you don't remember, The Anchorage is an outreach centre in a disadvantaged area of Dublin that we've linked various groups with (churches, Serve the City, Urban Soul, Habitat for Humanity) to help them with renovations.  The Anchorage hosts a daycare, homework and tutoring clinics, youth clubs, and job training for locals, all with a view to sharing God's love and demonstrating the Kingdom of God. 

Just before we left Ireland last autumn, the new church plant were discussing the option of coming alongside The Anchorage in a focused way to help renovate much of the aging and somewhat dilapidated building.  From the e-mails (and pictures!) that we've gotten over the last several months, I'd say they've definitely moved aggressively in that discussion!  We're excited to get back and join them in these types of endeavors!

(That's our friend Dave Lynas to the right, giving what looks to  be some sort of manly Irish battle cry.)

(On the left is Ross Hill, one of the core leaders involved in the new church plant.  In the past, Ross and his wife, Lucy, have put together various conferences for young church leaders in Dublin.)

Guess What?

NEW Prayer Cards

A few months back, a friend and financial partner of ours offered to design new prayer cards for us.  After much deliberation over the best picture(s) to use (and which pictures made Brandon look fat), cards have been made and will be shipped shortly.  Below is a preview of what they will look like.  We'll be sending out stacks of these cards to our supporting churches, so contact your mission committee/pastor if you are involved in one of those churches.  If you are not at one of our partnering churches, let us know and we can get a card to you in the mail.

Feel free to click on the thumbnails below to get the fuller size and then "right-click/save" if you'd like to download them onto your computer hard drive.  We've set the image size so they should fit as a desktop wallpaper on a PC, should you choose to use the image as a special reminder to pray for us every time you sit down to your computer.  =) 

(Special thanks to Stephanie for designing the cards!)

God is Providing!

Over the last several weeks, God has shown his faithfulness in unexpected ways.  Thanks to a few new financial partners, increased commitment of faithful long-term partners, and a very generous special gift, we will be returning to Dublin in a state of financial health that should carry us for a good part of the next year.  God is good and he has demonstrated to us yet again that what He calls for, He provides for!  Only this time, it was a good reminder that His timing is best!

We were encouraged this last weekend when Brandon had the opportunity to lead worship at Grace Community Church in Auburn.  It was a great chance to be involved in the life of the church one last time before we head back to Ireland in a few weeks.

Coming up next week, we'll be heading to Denver for one last chance to spend time with Kristy's family and give them some more time with Caitlyn. 

We appreciate your prayers as we prepare to head back.  In your praying, please keep in mind that the preparation includes the material/administrative, but also the emotional and spiritual!  Please also join us in thanking God for his financial provision and that He would continue to meet our monthly financial needs.  (We're at about 90% of our monthly need.)

Ministry Partner Development Update

The fund raising is coming along, and we've enjoyed seeing God raise up new financial partners.  We're fairly confident that by the time we leave on May 20th, we'll have about 90% of our total monthly need.  Thanks so much to those of you who've joined our team in the last few weeks!

Please continue to pray for the remainder of our financial need.  We're realizing that we will have to find a way to step up our fund raising from Ireland when we arrive back, or else we'll end up with more paycheck cuts within six to ten months.  This is much more difficult to do from the field, but with technology tools like Skype, it's much more plausible these days than even just five years ago.  It also means diverting some time and energy away from the ministry opportunities that God has given us. 

Family Time

We've had a good couple of weeks here in the States, since we waved goodbye to the Dublin flight that we were originally supposed to be on.  Last weekend (4-6th of April), Brandon's brother and his family drove all the way up from California for one last opportunity to spend some time together.  We were incredibly blessed with some great memories!  (You can view LOTS of pictures of our time together by clicking HERE.) 

Easter weekend was interesting.  Caitlyn and Grandpa Wellcome both picked up a chest cold (likely from Caitlyn's little cousins) that has progressively gotten worse, so Brandon stayed at home from the Easter services to "play doctor" for Caitlyn and Grandpa.  Despite the sickness, we had a great time with Brandon's aunt and uncle who came down from Seattle and stayed over Saturday night and left after a big Easter meal on Sunday.  We're just hoping they didn't catch whatever is going around the Wellcome homestead!

Recent Support Letter (via snail mail)

This last week, we sent out a support letter via U.S. postal service.  If you're reading this, you've probably already received it at your street address or PO Box.  If not, you can download it HERE.  (Right click and select "SAVE AS.")