What Would Paul Do?

I wonder what Paul would have done if he preached the Gospel in the 21st century. Would he have kept in touch with Corinthians or Galatians via Facebook or Skype? Would he have flown from place to place visiting on a yearly basis? Would he have written newsletters or sent our mass letters?

I really don't know, but tonight I feel a little like Paul.  Each time I stay in contact with a brother or sister in Sierra Leone or Detroit, I pray that I can be like Paul encouraging those living out the faith.  Running the race and living life each day.  Those who I lived, worked, laughed, cried, and prayed with journeying together side by side.  I'm grateful that our bond lasts beyond a few weeks I spent in Salone or the 14 months in Detroit.  Rather life long relationship has been built, and I am charged to keep lifting them up in prayer.  "I give thanks to my God at very remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the Gospel from the first day until now." -Philippians 1.3-5.

Tonight, one woman in Detroit was on my heart.  I recently was given her phone number, so I decided to give her a quick call.  After several rings (I almost hung up) she answered and we chatted for a few minutes.  She told me how everything was going well and gave me a quick update about moving back to the neighborhood she grew up in.  She also told me about the grades her son was giving including several A's.  I told her briefly about what I was doing, and she was amazed by how beautiful Ireland must be.  I promised to send her a few pictures.  Before we hung up, I asked her if I could pray.  I'm amazed by how God can transcend time, places, cultures, backgrounds, and race.  God is so good.

It was so good to talk with Aunty Button for a few minutes, to encourage, and love her even from a far.  I don't know what Paul would do in the 21st century, but I pray that I can continue encouraging those I journey alongside not only for a season but a lifetime.  May I not be afraid to carry other's loads, but rather lead them to the King who carried all of our loads onto the cross and set us free.  May I live in that freedom and encourage others to do the same.

St. Andrew's Day

This past weekend, Scots gathered in celebration of their patron saint- St. Andrew.  Scots came together, in the kitchen for porridge- cooking competitions, in pubs for pints and whiskey, and attending ceildhs wearing kilts in community centres.  It’s a day to celebrate Scottish heritage and remember St. Andrew.

So who is St. Andrew and why is he so important?  Do you have an older brother who got you interested in sport and now you can’t stop playing? Why do you support Celtic or Man United?  Maybe because your siblings do to?  Or do you have a favorite place to play when you were younger?  It was like a secret hideout that your younger brother or sister showed you. You were so delighted to find it (even though you would never tell your little sister that), and it became the place you hung out at every day after school. 

One of the best things you can do as a sibling is show your brother or sister something incredible.  Something that has changed your life and something that you know will change theirs too.  Andrew was kind of like that to his brother Peter.  Andrew and Peter were fisherman, so they spent a lot of time together.  For a while Andrew had been learning from a man named John who taught him a lot about God.  One day when Andrew was in town with John, a man named Jesus walked by. John pointed to Jesus and said “Behold the Lamb of God.”  Or in Belfast “Aye, there’s the man I’ve been on about.  The one who is God.”  So Andrew and his friend walked towards Jesus.  Seeing them, Jesus invited them to “Come and see” who he was, and they spent the afternoon together. 

Later that day, Andrew was convinced that Jesus was the man who they had been waiting for.  The man who would save them as God’s chosen ones.  He went to tell his brother Peter about Jesus, and brought Peter to meet him.  The next day while fishing, Jesus came by and called Peter and Andrew and ten others to come “follow me.”  And they became Jesus disciples and later would tell the whole world about Jesus. 

Jesus doesn’t force us to follow him.  Rather he invites us to “come and see” who he is.  Then he calls us to follow him, and it’s only by following him that we truly come to understand who Jesus is as the Son of God.  Andrew saw who Jesus was and immediately went to share it with his brother Peter.  He wasn’t ashamed or worried about what Peter would think, instead he shared Jesus with his brother by inviting him to “come and see” as well.

St. Andrew’s day is on the 30^th of November, and Advent starts the Sunday after.  Advent is 4 weeks before Christmas that prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus.  As we start thinking about the real meaning of Christmas during Advent, may we also remember to be like St. Andrew and tell others about Jesus too.  The birth of Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas, and we should be telling everyone about it.  Like Andrew, it’s the best “gift” we can give to our brothers, sisters, family, friends, and all that we meet.

Prayer: Jesus, I thank you for calling St. Andrew and giving us his example to follow.  This Advent can you help me remember that you are the true reason for Christmas, and to give me the courage to share that with others too.  Amen.

What's the Craic with Me?

What's The Criac with Me?

It's mid November. The trees are nearly bare and the wind whips through them.  It's hard to believe I have been back for three months since my visit to the States.  Three months, it seems like ages ago and yesterday all at the same time.

So what have I been up to?  What's new with me? Or in Belfast slang- "what's the Craic?"

Being back in Belfast is so good.  It's as if I never left or if i have been here for ages.  I expected the year to be a year of growth and building since the foundation of knowing people and the culture has already been laid down.  "Maybe things will be easier this year," I thought to myself. And even in many respects they are, there have also been a lot of changes and things to adjust to.

First off, I have a new job and I am "officially" employed by Youth Initiatives. Well sort off... So Debbie the Faith Development Coordinator and employee of YI forth past 17 years took another job in October.  She was my supervisor and i was the other faith development worker in West Belfast.  Myself and another girl named Laura applied for the job and got it as a job share (splitting the work between the two of us)  It was my first ever professional interview and it was with a panel. So I am now leading with Laura the faith development program in West Belfast as a collaboration between YI, St. Colms high school, and the three parishes in higher area.

Realistically, I have been doing many parts of this job over the past few months, but now Laura and I are in charge rather than Debbie.  It's quite a change and adjustment, but it's also exciting.  Since there wasn't very much money for the post to begin with, it's split, and I'm foreigner, I'll get small living allowance rather than a full salary. This will cover part of my budget that I haven't fundraised yet for and other incidentals that might come up.   It's nice to get a bit more money, and to have a larger role within YI faith development. It's scary and challenging, but it's also incredible and a huge blessing.

Besides changes in responsibilities within faith development, In YI I have been planning a gardening horticulture therapy project for our girls program- Glow, interviewing girls for our summer mission trip to Romania, teaching in the schools, meeting one on one with girls, and general "stuff" that chills my work (sometimes beyond) life. It's a lot of things to juggle, but I love it.  Mostly "for such a time as this" God has called me to this life and work in Belfast.  I know that this is exactly where God wants me to be and I am satisfied with that.

So do I have a life outside of work and YI?  No, but I try to...  I love living with Siobhan, and it's been a lot of fun but mostly life giving.  We have been cooking together a bit, watching movies, and talking about the Hunger Games.  I'm just starting to get into the books and I love them.  For the first time in ages, I'm actually reading books and finishing them.  Of course, Laura comes to hangout at the house, and I often end up the butt of jokes.  The joys of being American!  I also have started knitting.  I'm trying to get into hobbies, be productive, and do "restful" activities. I have a goal of knitting a few scarves for Christmas and making a few other gifts.  We'll see if it actually happens.

One of my favorite things about autumn in Belfast is that the weather is usually decent here, and the sun shines more frequently.  A few Sunday afternoons, I have gone for long walks and enjoyed the beauty surrounding me. Of course good cups of tea under a warm blanket is also a great pass time.  Starbucks pumpkin lattes are one of my favorite autumn treats and I am looking forward to Thanksgiving with my American mates here.

Seasons are a funny thing.  They fly by so quickly yet they hold a special treasure to embrace and slow you down reminding you to savor the moment before it leaves.  Just like the leaves on the trees, my autumn has been filled with lots of transitions yet I know it's not an ending, but really a beginning.  In order for new life to grow, the things of the past season must die.  But they aren't gone and forgotten, rather just like a tree a ring is formed forever leaving a mark of the things long ago.  Seasons come and seasons go, but the impact lasts forever.

So that's the Craic with me! Anything new with you?  Please send me an update or any prayer requests at Sarah.nilles@gmail.com.  Much love and God bless, Sarah

Endurance Will Win You Your Lives

Your endurance will win you your lives!

Have you ever found it hard to admit that you are a Christian or a Catholic Christian?  Someone who believes in Jesus Christ and follows His teachings.  Do you ever find it hard to do good when so many things are going wrong around you? Is it easier to put faith in things that you can see rather than God?

Jesus knew that being a Christian was going to be hard for His followers.  People often tease and talk down to things they don't understand like faith. He knew that it would be easier to follow the crowd rather than standing up for what's right and the truth even when it can be hard or when it hurts.

In China it's illegal to worship God and be a Christian outside of the governments religion, and yet thousands of people are willing to risk their lives in order to worship
God.  Even though they may be arrested, beaten, or even killed they realize that their faith in Jesus Christ is more important to them then anything else that someone could do to them.

Watch video:  http://youtu.be/gagY2RXvbWo.  

Jesus acknowledge that people would be persecuted for their faith, but He also said he would always be with them.  Jesus said, "Your endurance will win you your lives."   May we like the Chinese Christians endure through hardships and suffering that come our way and look forward to the promise of eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Let us pray:  Christ Jesus thank you for suffering and dying on a cross for us - that we may be free and have eternal life in heaven with you one day.  Please forgive us for the ways we have turned our back on you because we were afraid of what others might say or do.  Help us to be courageous and always stand up for the faith.  Please bless those around the world especially in China who are persecuted for their faith.  In Jesus name. Amen

Remembering the Dead in November

Below is my latest mediation for St. Colms High School. Please not its a Catholic high school, so the meditation is based upon Catholic beliefs this week.  

Do you ever find the month of November to be a bit of a depressing month?  Everything outside is dying, the trees are barren with maybe a couple leaves still holding on, the air is Baltic, and you barely have time to walk home from school before it starts to get dark.  It's the beginning of the long winter months. To make things worse, they keep talking about November Dead at school.  Could November get anymore depressing? 

Why do we remember the dead in November anyways? The Catholic 
Church sets aside the month of November to remember and pray for all those who have died especially our friends and family.  We write their names down on pieces of paper to go into the church, we attend mass, we light candles, and we say prayers for all those who have died.  We pray especially for the souls who are in purgatory being cleansed from their sins and preparing themselves for eternity with God in Heaven.  They need our prayers as they wait for their time in heaven.  Once in heaven they will then pray for us and all of our needs here on earth.

There is nothing more depressing or despairing then thinking that death is the end. If there was nothing more after death, then there would be nothing to hope in or for.  But it's NOT over!  Over 2000 years ago, Jesus broke through death, pain, suffering, and despair when he rose again from the dead into hope of the resurrection. We now have hope because of the resurrection. Christ offers us hope in the face of death.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus said, "Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive."  May we take great hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and into the fact that our love ones are no longer dead but alive in Christ.  May we always keep them in our prayers until we too one day see them alive in heaven.  

Close in prayer:  In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Let us quietly remember all those we know who have died and ask Gods blessing upon them. 

End with: Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be, and the Sign of the Cross 

Feeling Small?

Feeling Small?

Have you ever had that feeling that you are just too small?  You walk through the halls and everyone runs into because you are too short.  You try to get on an amusement park ride, but you are too little.  The adults are having “adult conversation,” and they ask you to leave the room.  Or maybe, you really want to apply for a job but they would never hire you.  Did you finally get enough courage to ask out a girl, and then she rejected you in front of all your mates?  Whether you are physically short or just feel small on the inside we all experience times of belittling when we lose confidence and we feel ourselves shrinking away from a situation.

There once was a man named Zacchaeus who was too short to see a parade that was going by, and he really wanted to see the main attraction.  Even though he was rich and wealthy, out of his determination, he decided to climb a tree to see this man they called Jesus coming by in the parade.  Lots of people were talking about him and the miracles he had performed. Finally, he made it to the top of the tree and just as caught a glimpse at this man, Jesus turned around looked up into the tree at Zacchaeus and called for him to come down.  Out of everyone there at the parade, Jesus decided he would be staying at his Zacchaeus house for dinner.

  

Show video-

There are a lot of obstacles in life that we face- weather it be physical ones or mental ones because of what others think or say about you.  Jesus chose to stay at Zacchaeus house not only because of his determination, but also to show others that it doesn’t matter who you are but rather what you want to become.  Zacchaeus was a sinner, a cheat, and a thief, and everyone knew it.  However Jesus knew that Zacchaeus was capable of more.  Zacchaeus changed his ways and become an honorable man.

Do you believe in yourself? Do you allow your smallness to dictate how you live or do you rise above it?  Jesus sees more in you than you see in yourself.  Maybe it’s time for him to call round to your heart, and help you live a life of greatness!

Prayer: Jesus I know that I live my life too small.  Help me to be courageous despite what others say and do and live a life only for you! 

Divine Providence

Divine providence- what does that even mean?  I was going to look it up on dictionary.com, but I don’t have any internet connection right now, so I will use my “edumecation” instead.  Divine- something of above or otherness.  Something holy or Godly.  Providence- to provide.  So going with the Sarah-dictionary, divine providence must mean- God providing. 

On Friday afternoon, I saw a pink envelope addressed to me and sent to YI.  Excited at the idea of getting a letter sent to me at work, I quickly ripped it open to see a cute card inside.  Upon opening it, I saw multiple £20 notes.  Quickly reading the letter, I realized that it was anonymous.  Shock and excitement filled me as I contemplated the random act of kindness and generosity of another. 

“Gotta love a bit of divine providence!!! Blessings to you and may the Lord use others to provide for you in the work you do. Here’s to sharing and spreading the gift,” read the card.

This past weekend, I gave a talk and shared my struggle receiving free gifts from others.  I hated being out loved or not having enough time to spend with those who were generous to me.  I remember being in an SPO Christian household, and getting so upset because my sisters were loving me and I didn’t feel like I was loving them enough back.  This was always a struggle for me and something that led to a lot of guilt.  My professors at St. Thomas were so generous to me, and often allowed me to turn in my papers late. I hated having to turn in a paper late, but I was often so busy with other things.  Guilt would again consume me as I would wish that I was a better person.

The worse guilt came when I graduated with honours from St. Thomas.  “I don’t deserve this,” I told myself while everyone else was so excited around me.  If they only knew how bad of a student I was, then they wouldn’t be so proud. 

My dad always told me that he didn’t mind what grades I would get as long as I did my best.  This piece of advice should have been liberating however it often gripped me in guilt and fear.  “Did I really do the best on this paper?”  “If I hadn’t gone out for coffee with that girl, I could have studied more. “ “Why did I go to bed and not study more?”  I never felt that I was good enough or did my best even if I gave all that I could.  “I could have done better,” were my constant thoughts.

Over the last couple of years, I began to realize the prison walls that I had built around myself enslaving me in my guilt and fear.  I realized that by not allowing others to be generous to me or when I did, constantly feeling guilty. I wasn’t allowing myself to experience grace from others or even more from God.  I was closing myself off from God’s love and grace that He desperately wanted to pour into my life.  The truth is, I don’t deserve his love, forgiveness, or grace, but because He is God He does it anyways.  None of us deserve it, but that’s what makes it grace.

If I don’t allow God or others to love me, then I will never be able to truly give to other people either.  I will never be able to live in true freedom, love or joy.  Rather, I will be a prisoner in my own guilt- walls that I have built around myself.  We’re not made for prison- we are made for freedom!  God has been slowly chipping away at my walls, and I have actually been allowing him to do so.  Getting a random anonymous letter filled with money is another reminder of how God truly wants to be the one to provide for me without me doing anything in return.  Instead, I will be grateful and continue to love those around me and “spreading the gift.”     

Persevering Through the Mountains

Persevering Through the Mountains

Why do my teachers always give me so much course work?  I hate school.  It really should be called a prison.  Why does my ma always ask me to clean the house?  Is Christmas ever coming?   My boss is making me work too hard.  I never have enough money. How am I ever going to be prepared for the future?

There is a lot going on in our lives and sometimes it feels like too much to cope with, and we don’t know how we are going to continue on in the insurmountable mountains that loom over us.  Too often to make things worse, there are people who tell us, “you can’t do it.”  “You’ll never be good enough.”  “Why do you even try?”  “No one else in the family was able to do that.”  “You aren’t smart enough.”  “Only pretty people can do that.”  “You aren’t worth it.”  “No one really will ever love you.”  It’s in the face of these situations that you need to persevere and be persistent through the mountains and valleys of life while believing in yourself and the gifts God has blessed you with. 

There is a story of a man named Spence West who lost both of his legs at the age of 5.  The doctors told him that he would never be able to walk or lead an active life again.  But the Canadian-born 31 year old defied all the odds, knowing down every barrier and obstacle in his way.  With the support of his family and friends and through sheer willpower, Spencer has proved the doubter wrong by achieving the impossible.

He climbed Mt. Kilimanjao in Africa.

He spent over 12 months in intensive training, making sure his arms and hands were strong enough to support the extreme physical pressure they’d be put under.  It took him a grueling 7 days to make it to the summit, he traveled only using his hands for a stunning 80% of the trek and with his two best friends by his side willing him on- he held raise an incredible £300,000 for the Free the Children charity.  Through sheer drive, determination and perseverance Spencer West as shown the world that anything is possible and in doing so, he truly is an inspiration to us all.

LOOK at the PICTURES of SPENCER: http://sobadsogood.com/2012/06/23/a-truly-inspiring-story-of-dedication-perseverance-spencer-west-climbed-mt-kilimanjaro/

There is another story in the Bible about a widow who was looking for a just judgment from a judge.  The judge was a cruel man who didn’t care about others or God.  The woman persistently went to him each day looking for a just judgment.  Finally, the judge decided that he even though didn’t respect other people or even God he would give the widow a justice judgment solely for her persistence.

Life can often be overwhelming, but God invites us to be persistent and overcome life’s challenges.  Is there something you need to persevere through?  Ask God for the help and grace to be persistent and overcome the mountains in your life. 

An Attitude of Gratitude

I'm starting to write weekly reflections for one of the local secondary schools based on the Weekly Gospel Readings.  This is my spin on today's Gospel about Jesus healing the 10 lepers from Luke 17.11-19. 

Mentally make a list of all the things you are thankful for.  What are you grateful for?  Who do you need to thank?  Having trouble thinking of things?  Or do loads of thoughts come to mind?  “Who me?” you think, “What do I have to be thankful for?”

Igniter Video (YouTube): "Show me what I have to be thankful for." 

It’s so easy to complain about all the things that are bad in the world and in our lives that we forget about the good things around us.  We forget to say “Thank you.” 

There once was a grandmother with many grandchildren.  Each year for their birthdays, she would send them a card with a cheque in it.  And to her disappointment, each year, none of her grandchildren would thank her.  Finally one year, all of her grandchildren stopped by her house for a visit after receiving their birthday card.  “That’s amazing!” one of her friends exclaimed.  “No it isn’t,” said the grandmother sadly.  “I didn’t sign any of their cheques.”

Too often we approach God like this.  We only go to him when we are in need, but how often do we stop and thank him for his goodness, for all the gifts he has given you, for providing for your needs, for your very life?  Are we too busy running around moaning and complaining that we don’t take time to stop and thank God for all he has done for us?  Do you even take time to thank other around you?

There is a story in the Bible about 10 lepers who are cured from their skin disease.  Leprosy is a horrible disease that affects your skin and eats away at different body parts.  These 10 men asked Jesus to take pity and cure them of their disease.  He told them to go to the holy temple and show themselves to a priest.  While walking, they were cured of leprosy.  One of the lepers realized what happened and went back to Jesus praising God and thanking him for curing him of his disease.  Jesus asked where the other 9 were, and told the man who came back that his faith has saved him.

Which man would you be?  One of the 9 who kept walking or the 1 man who came back and thanked God for his goodness? Gratitude and thankfulness is not only essential to the Christian life, but to living a good life.  By being thankful each day, you slowly begin to change into a better person who has a positive and Godly view on life.  There are two ways to live life.  Either having an attitude of “baditude” or an attitude of “gratitude.”  Why don’t you start to slow down and notice all the things you have to be grateful for?  Then try expressing it not only to the people around you but also to God.  Maybe keep a gratitude journal or write a thank you note.  Maybe God will say the same thing to you as he did to the one leper who came back to thank him, “Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”  

I Just Need a Break

I remember so clearly learning the difference between introverts and extroverts when I was at a summer Christian leadership conference (CLC).  I was an extrovert- people energized me and a lot of my friends were introverts including my youth leader and I never understood how they needed quiet time.  The quiet scared me- actually I couldn’t stand being quiet for too long.  I learned that alone time gave introverts time and space to figure out their thoughts and re-energize.  I didn’t really get it, but I respected it. 

I loved the idea of being an extrovert!  I loved people and how they brought me to life.  In college I remember days feeling like crap and not wanting to go to an SPO event, but I just lit up as soon as I entered the room and talked to all those people.  Yeah, it was sometimes tiring, but I absolutely loved it and I felt so energized afterwards.  “I’m such an extrovert,” I would say to myself. 

During my gap year in Detroit, we took a lot of personality and career development tests.  I loved figuring out what kind of “person” I was and what kind of “people” my friends and co-workers were.  “This makes so much sense. Of course you are that kind of “person.”  One of my fellow gappers hated that we had to do these tests.  “Why do you need to take a test to get to know a person?” he would say.  “You don’t understand,” we would tell him.  It’s helpful… right?

I used to get so frustrated with the guys in Detroit because they would make me be quiet on purpose.  We would be traveling in a car and they would just not talk to me because they knew it drove me bonkers.  Like I wanted to crawl out of my skin… or maybe it was my head because I hated being in someone’s presence and not talking to them.  I later learned that quality time was one of my love languages so I based the value of relationships on time we spent together and the conversations we would have during that time together (another test I took).  That’s how I felt loved, valued, and appreciated.  Instead those stupid boys would force me to be quiet and face the demons in my head.  Ignorant blokes! 

I spent a lot of quiet time in Detroit.  I didn’t have a lot of friends there, so I had to learn how to process life in a new way- by myself in the quiet of my room.  Of course I talked to people, but I didn’t always have someone to talk to as I had in the past.  I also was dealing with much deeper stuff than I ever had before.  It wasn’t just things I could talk about at a party.  “What did you do this week?”they would ask me.  “Well, a guy down the street was shot…”  Not really a great conversation starter.  So I learned how the “alone time” and “quietness” which I had once hated could become a way for me to figure out my thoughts even if it wasn’t something I was exactly comfortable with. 

Today, October 8, 2013, I became very irritated while I at work.  “You haven’t had thinking time have you?” said my roommate.  That just irritated me even more.  When did I need to have alone time to think?  What happened to my extrovert side which thrived in the action and chaos of life?  Am I becoming old and boring?  Why am I changing so much?  Why can’t I handle the fact that I didn’t have enough down time this weekend I the house?  Why do I even need down time in the house?  It just irritates me.

I knew I couldn’t go out tonight even though the UCO church event would have been nice to be at.  Instead, I bought a bottle of wine, lit candles, listened to Bon Iver and ate ice cream.  I just needed a break from everything.  The culture here exhausts me.  If I don’t get a break to center myself, I burst into tears and I begin to shut down.  And yes, that did happen to me today… multiple times.  Why else would I need the chocolate ice cream?! 

I’m really love being here in Belfast and the life I have here.  I have incredible friends who really love me and a fulfilling job.  Sometimes I forget that I live in a foreign country because Belfast has become home and it’s just normal to be here.  Unlike Africa, there are so many things here that are the same as life back in the States since it’s a Western country.  Culturally, Belfast is another planet.  Slagging, poking fun, and general banter force me to build a thick skin even when I don’t want to.  I love it and hate it all at the same time.  Sometimes, I just want to be Sarah, and not try to navigate through all the cultural differences.  Then, when I am back in the States people are oober nice and cuddly and I can barely cope with that either.  I’m becoming a mix- a sojourner in the truest form. 

Sometimes, I just need a break to recenter myself and remember who I am in the midst of everything.  To be Sarah and express my thousands of thoughts constantly flood my head without needing to filter them through a cultural sifter.  I don’t know if I am changing into an introvert or not.  I don’t really care to be honest.  The truth is- I just want to be me!  The woman God created me to be.  I think different seasons will bring out different sides of me, but for now I just have to remember the importance of stepping back and remembering who I am in the midst of life’s every day ups and downs.  

Giving Towards Year 2

 It's that time of the year again. Summer is starting to wind down, kids are heading back to school, and football season is starting. This past month while home here in the States, I have also been able to visit and meet with many of you catching up on the year and sharing stories of what I have been doing in Belfast.  On Sunday I am headed back to Belfast for a second year of service as a youth worker with Youth Initiatives. 

To be in Belfast for a second year,  I need to raise $12,000 through monthly support and one-time donations.  I want to thank so many of you who have supported me financially or showed interest in supporting me financially.  Sometimes it's confusing knowing where to send the money in order that I actually receive it.  Below are instructions on where to write a check or how to give online.  All donations are tax deductible. If you still have questions, please e-mail me at sarah.nilles@gmail.com.

Writing a Check:

1)  Make checks payable to: SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

2) Put SARAH NILLES in the memo line  -  VERY VERY IMPORTANT if you want me to receive the money!!!  :)

3) Mail the checks to:  P.O. Box 4978, East Lansing, MI 48826

 
Giving online:

1) Go to http://sos-nar.com/eGive.htm

2) Click on the

Click Here to Give >> eGive

3) MAKE A GIFT WITHOUT AN ACCOUNT Give to your favorite organizations without an account. Use our online form to complete your gift now! (Unless you want an account)

4) ENTER YOUR INFORMATION

5) ENTER BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION

6) ENTER GIFT INFORMATION
LOOK FOR LINE THAT SAYS : Support a gapper or staff (enter name at Special Instructions)

7) AT THE BOTTOM LOOK FOR:

Special Instructions
Please specify any other instructions for the breakdown of gift

TYPE IN Sarah Nilles, Youth Initiatives IN THE BOX.

TA DA! You're done. I will then receive an e-mail from this incredible lady named Jan who is processing all of my donations. At the end of the month, Jan will send a check to Doug who is the director of YI here in Belfast who will make sure I get the money to pay for rent, buy toothpaste, and other personal needs.  I even have a bank account in Belfast, now!

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. God has made it very clear that I am meant to be in Belfast. I know I wouldn't be able to do the work he has for me without you back home! You are all so incredible. Cheers!

Favorite Part of My Day

Want to hear about my favorite part of my day? 

It’s Friday and I was trying (trying to be the key word) to be productive.  I have loads to do between preparing for camp and my own personal fundraising for when I go home in a week and a half.  Since the youth are off of school, they often come up to YI in the afternoon.  

I grabbed one of the lads who is in the band to ask him about some songs for the camp.  After showing him the songs in the lineup, he started looking on his phone for a song he wanted to add.  Another guy sat down to join us while Katie asked to do my hair.  “I’ll make you look more beautiful than what you already look.”  I ruffle through my bag to look for hair bobbles (hair ties), and she starts to comb back my hair.  

So there we were, the four of us sitting around my desk, listening to worship songs while Katie did my hair.  They talked about their favorite worship songs from their week long service trip to Derry.  Contentment came over me as listened to them sing along to their favorite choruses.  Naturally we talked about God’s love remaining and how good that was.  I thought about them looking for these songs on their own at home, and how maybe what we are doing is hitting home.  Even though they wouldn’t DARE sing out loud (at least not yet), they know the words and what they mean. 

Katie finished my hair and I ran to the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror.  Why don’t I do this to my hair more often?  The style is so simple yet so cute.  And with that, my favorite part of the day is over, and we continue on with our days.  The moment may be over, but the memory lasts. A couple hours later I have another moment “hand hugging” one of the girls that I have been trying to connect with after I walked in the room to give her a big hug.  It’s just another reminder that maybe I am starting to take ground here, build relationships, and witness transformations…  even if it’s one moment at a time. #littlebylittle  #brickbybrick 

"I Saw You..."

"I saw you..." Has become a common phrase I hear from the young people I work with.  At the end of May, I moved to Dunmurry Lane near the "rocket church" (it literally looks like a rocket) with my friend Siobhan. Even though my room is a lot smaller, I have absolutely love living there because it's so centrally located. Not only do I have two bus routes to choose from, I also get the luxury of the train into town.

I feel a new sense of independence and mobility as I can walk to the grocery store in 12 minutes (15 on the way back because of the massive hill), to the school I work at in 8 minutes, and up to the YI project centre in 20.  I live in the neighborhood that I work in and I love it.

Today while running errands I ran into several people I knew.  Walking to the grocery store, I wave "hiya" to another group of young people.  I have a brilliant conversation with a girl who I haven't talked to in weeks while riding on the bus. Then when I go into the school to teach, someone without fail will say "I saw you..." Or "remember when I saw you at..." Oh how could I forget!

Even though Belfast is a city, I often feel like it functions like a large small town.  It seems that most of West Belfast is related to one another.  Without fail whenever I go into town, I will run into someone I know (and I haven't even been here a year).  It's nice to be noticed and known in a place that can sometimes feel so foreign.

In coming to Belfast, I didn't just want to "have a job" but rather I wanted to live life here in an intentional way.  People often ask me if I am here as a missionary. Most days I don't really "feel" like a missionary because I talk so much about being a youth worker.  Doing youth work is the way I practically live out my call to be a missionary.

I often think of my friend Kayla who is a missionary in Africa.  This past year, she has just been in Africa.  She has been practicing the art of being. She has been learning about the culture, the language, the people, the village, and how life is done in this part of the world.  Often it doesn't seem like she is doing much, but actually the long term mission is being established through the relationships.  Sometimes, I wish I had the opportunity to do that here. I know that's not my call right now, and to be honest, I have a lot to learn about just being rather than doing.

It's nice to run into people in the Colin Area and around Belfast.  It allows me to live life rather than just work here.  I'm building my life here while entering into the community.  I literally get to walk alongside young people on the streets of Belfast rather than just talk about the youth work theory of coming alongside youth.  It also calls me on to greater accountability and a life of transparency because I never know who might see me.  You never know who might say, "I saw you..."

Rain and Umbrellas

I don’t own an umbrella.  This might seem to be a strange thing to blog about, but I was reminded of it while watching the rain gently come down while sitting in Starbucks.  A group of men stood under a tree seeking shelter while others held their shopping bags over their head.  Some people quickly pulled their hoods up or hid under their umbrellas.  Then you have the hard core people that just deal with it.  Their hair dampens from the water droplets falling upon it, and it looks like they just stepped out of the shower… sort of. 

Umbrellas seem to be such a hassle. You have to remember to have it with you then if you do have it with you, you have to figure out what to do with it once it gets wet. Then there is the awkward moment of walking next people with umbrellas and you get wetter from the drips off the umbrella rather than the rain itself.  Sometimes this can happen to yourself with your own umbrella.  It never seems to just rain, usually there is a “bit” of a breeze or a full out hurricane. There is an art of trying to keep the umbrella right side up rather than flipping inside out.  It’s an art that I am far from mastering. 

Instead, I just pull up my hood or just get wet.  Since moving to the land of rain and green hills, there have been few times that I have gotten poured on.  There was that one day when it was sunny one minute and literally the next minute it was raining cats and dogs.  If it weren’t for the fact that I was wearing my mates outreach jacket, I would have been completely drenched.  As one young person once said, the weather here is bipolar.  So with any bipolar situation, you prepare for the unexpected and you delight in the moment.  So far, the rain hasn’t killed me and I don’t expect it to! 

Call Ins

Something is changing.  I’m changing.  The way I do youth work is changing.  The funniest thing about it all is that I’m not meaning for it to change. It’s just doing it on its own.  Well, actually I think God is opening doors before me leading me deeper and deeper into the wilderness of Belfast. 

I’m starting to call in to (stop by) young people’s houses.  I didn’t plan for this to happen- it just happened.  Since working for Youth Initiatives, I’ve been a trainee youth worker learning loads about the world of youth work.  We often talk about “walking alongside young people,” so yesterday I literally did that ice cream in hand, walking down the street, engaging in conversations with one of the girls I have been meeting with regularly.  We walked from the ice cream shop to her house – taking the long route- (way too long for this American girl), and stopped by her house.  I went in to use her bathroom and get a drink of water.  Before I knew it, I was staying for dinner and jumping on the trampoline with her little sister. 

It was so simple yet so much fun.  After hearing so much about their family, I was able to finally properly meet them while entering into their life.  It’s such a privilege to enter into a family’s home and life.  That is where I love to be!  On their turf building trust and relationships. I get a glimpse into their reality and into their lives in a way that can’t be explained or communicated with words. 

I have been trying for months to get in contact with a girl from YI, but she never answers my calls.  While leaving the school, I ran into one of her friends and asked about her.  She pointed out her house across the street, so I decided to stop by.  Her mum answered the door and I met with her daughter in their purple living room.  It was so homey, colorful, and cute.  It was fun to just sit and chill talking about life while doing her volunteer interview.  It was so much easier to just meet at her house rather than finding a place to meet up since there are few places to meet in the Colin Area. We talked, laughed, and she invited me to call in any time.  I think I am going to take her up on that!

Dreams fill my head with what I one day long to do in the neighborhood I live and work in.  In some ways those dreams started to become realities today.  Another one of the girls I work with invited me over for dinner.  Rather than just talking about it, I now have a date in my diary to call in.  It’s easy to dream about the “one days,” but I think God sometimes desires to make those one day’s today.  Why not live out our dreams today?  And God’s dreams are so much more than we could ever imagine.  I’m starting to build relationships not only the girls I am working with, but also with their families and the community.  God is so good.  I can’t wait for this adventure to continue on.