Go mbeannaí Dia duit!

Greetings from Ireland! We’ve seen incredible fruit simply by being here as a family. Just as Thomas and I experienced in the Philippines and India, people are encouraged and inspired to see us following God’s call in a radical way.

One directee shared with me, if we could take the risk to leave our beloved community in Louisiana and have the Lord provide so abundantly for us then He could do the same for her!

Another friend voluntarily shared with us, “If I could say your greatest impact and witness this year it would be how you prioritize family life.”

The amazing thing? Neither of these were intentional efforts on our part—they were simply the natural fruit of saying “yes” to what Jesus was asking of us. It’s a beautiful reminder that when we follow God’s call, He does the work.

Regarding our transition, it is going well here… though it comes with its challenges. Our transition and mission coach pointed out that the more similar a culture is, the harder the adjustment can be—because you don’t expect the differences. In India and the Philippines we were expecting different and we got it!

Here it is more subtle, but it is there. For example, we have Aldi nearby, but all the brands are different. And you can’t just go to one store to get all your food needs for that week. It often takes multiple stores to find everything on our list. Not to mention, with a much smaller fridge, we now shop twice a week. The Irish accent and local phrases can be hard to decipher as well.

After five months, I find myself longing for familiarity. Everything and everyone here is new. I wouldn’t mind a walk down a Walmart aisle, a visit to our St. Mary Magdalen parish, or a stop at our beloved Abbeville library—places where we felt known and loved back in the States. (Yes, even Walmart, where we would see many friends!) My heart aches when I think of home, but I know it will take time.

I take comfort in Jesus’ words in Mark 8: “Renounce yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.” This longing, too, is part of following Him.

Here at our mission post, we are working with NET ministries. Thomas has started giving regular teachings to the NET staff. He recently shared the Kerygma (basic story of salvation) at the NET office, and an alumni missionary from Hungary, who happened to be visiting, told us afterward, “If this talk was the only reason I came back, it was worth it.”

We recently started a praise and worship night at our home, open to NET and the local community. This has been great “craic” (Irish for fun!). We feel a strong call to invite people into our home—to share life, to witness family life, and to help others encounter God’s love. This was powerful in our own lives when families welcomed us in, and we want to do the same.

One young couple we hosted shared how meaningful it was to see a different example of family life outside of what they grew up with. The kids are also natural evangelists—roping our guests into impromptu nativity plays, charades, and storytime!

Please pray for wisdom as we continue to discern how to best serve alongside NET and in our new community. Join us in thanking God for the many ways He is already at work!

Go mbeannaí Dia duit! (God Bless You in Irish)