8 Days

In 8 days on Thursday February 6, I am headed back to the States for a two and a half week visit. I've been talking about it daily for weeks now. I'm so excited to just spend time in my parents house, chilling, heating, and just being with them. I'll also visit other family and friends in Iowa and Illinois and spend a few days visiting friends in the Twin Cities.  The goal of the trip is just to have some time off recharging for my service in Belfast.

In some ways it feels like I was just back in the States, but I know for my parents they patiently wait for my visits back to Iowa. Last time I was home, I literally traveled all over the Midwest visiting friends and fundraising.  It was incredible being able to see so many people, but it wasn't necessarily restful. I'm constantly having to battle myself to take time off and just rest. When my family isn't around its easy to get wrapped up in work or the busyness of life.

I look forward to sleeping in, watching movie with mom while knitting a scarf, playing cards with dad, and having dinners together.  It will be strange to go from mild wet weather into the snow covered frozen tundra.  I can't wait to eat my favorite foods, see my new room, and drive a car. I'm so blessed to be from a family who loves me so much, and I long to spend more time with them.  As much as my family loves me, I am so grateful that they let me go, to follow Gods call on my life and the great adventure in which I am on. It really is a wonderful adventure!

Snippets of 2013

Snippets of 2013

New Years with Maigheard at the Chelsea. Staying at Elaine and Mags. Moving up the mountain to the OHares. Proper Westie meals- meat and potatoes. Boggle and cards. Frozen meals. Allergy room. Grey, grey, and more grey. Hannahstown Church. Being sick for a month. Can't remember much except being sick and homesick. Rain and sunshine. Black taxis. Late night McDonalds trips. UCO lifts home. #purebant. Last touch back. The fight of Christ classes. Semi-silent retreat at Portglenone. #D7 Discerning the call on my life.  St. George's Market with Elaine for crepes. Sitting in the upstairs office on the floor. The old PC. #stinkin Ash Wednesday Lifeline night. Under pressure. Outreach forms. Hope Rises. Love Wins. The Well #outofthedarknessitrises.  Poland. Kairos Conference. Worship in Polish. #newmates Krakow at Night. Beer tent. #trumpetplayermidstop. Shammy Burnsh. "See your face..." Ball pit. "Mummy!" Hyper night. Cheap pretzels and sketchy neighborhoods. Hunting Lodge. Irish rainbows. Surfing X2. Heather's Hen Do. Sketchy beach games. Portrush rides. Family to Ireland.  Family vacation up North. Staying in youth hostels. New discoveries. So beautiful. Titanic Quarters. Discovering the waterfall. Dad driving. Seeing my life in Belfast. Elaine letting us stay at he house. Moving to Siobhans. #roomies.  Illegal garden. Dublin Vacation. Sun, wee beers, and laying out. Seeing Bono's house. Time with the Morans. The Well to the beach.  Beach and mountains with Siobhan.  #adventureswithsiobhan. Amazing Summer Scheme Team! 12341234TwinbrookTwinbrook. #divedeep #life Water and stress. Laughter and bonding.  So many memories and good pictures. Driving Tonys car. #stalledat3redlights. Too many leaving parties. Choosing Belfast.  Falling in love with this city. Up the mountains. Favorite sights. Digging Deeper Summer Camp. Banbridge girls. Young people encountering God. SPO Ohio people in Ireland. Praying with Nuts girls. 3 AM walk with East girl talking about God. Prayer room. Marquee.  Who camps in Ireland? #wet #floodingtents  Visit back to the States. Surprise of seeing Grandpa and Grandma at the airport.  #myparentsareamazing. Hanging out with my family in Naperville. #cousintime Swimming. Eating. Trampolines. Catching up. Steak, potatoes, salad, and peach pie. #ilovemyfamily Going to the lake house with Grandparents, Mary Rose, and Anna. Buying peaches and stopping at a priests house. Going skiing and floating. Driving my pick up truck around 6 states and over 600 miles in one month. #coffeeandpints Back home in Detroit. Back and forth between Detroit and Ann Arbor visiting friend. I don't remember Ann Arbor roads as well as I thought. #ihategettinglost Road trip to Columbus. Connections with parishes and SPO friends. Not Belfast Bant #missingbelfastmates Videos to Siobhan. Finally back in Iowa. All my favorite food. #redjello #iowafood Family time intertwined with support raising. #madness #myparentsreallyareamazing. Supporters over for dinner. So blessed by my friends and time in Minnesota. #encouraged #loved #laughter #perspective Trip to Target with Joe Hall. Massages with Kelsey.  Watching the sunset over the Mississippi River. Another stop in Iowa and Illinois before heading back to Belfast. Mexican food. Hating saying goodbye to my parents in the airport. #dontknowwhenimcomingback Good to be back in Belfast. A couple of weeks adjusting back to YI life. Debbie and I running faith development. Laura and I running faith development! #what?!? #forsuchatimeasthis #godisgood. I'm getting paid a wee bit... Like just a wee bit, but it's amazing to have my rent paid for. Transitions. Never get too settled. Glow girls group in full swing. #silliness Unique program. Sky trek high ropes course. "Sarah's scared too- she'll go first." Thanks Sheena. Glow Garden. #growth TkOne meetings with girls and staff. Happy 25th Birthday to Me! Piñata and sleep over with Debz and Heather. Siobhan's away. Dublin trip with Christiana. Lunch theater.  Dublin Castle.  Birthday pint in Temple Bar.  Birthday Lords Day at the Brothers. Dance party in their living room. Out to the Kings Head for pints. #blessed #loved #belfastfam #bringon25. Random trips around Northern Ireland with Heather. New sights and loads of laughs. Still not sure how I'm in charge of faith development. Laura and I figuring things out. #vision #grace Amazing faith development team. Homesickness. Thanksgiving at the Brothers. Charis Women's Retreat at White Park Bay #sisters Late night swim in the sea. #memories #baltic #adventure Advent. Paths. Always running into people in town. Christmas continental market. Isaiah. Auna from Divis Bode is coming.  Worlds collide again. Unprepared. Christmas excitement. Plans with Siobhan. Siobhan and I are actual roomies! Baking Christmas cookies with Ciara. Christmas Eve steak dinner at the Tony and Sorchas, followed by games at Matthew and Sheenas and midnight Mass in Lagmore with some of the young people. O Holy Night. Up until 4 AM. Holding baby Jesus close. Christmas dress. Presents, prayer, and egg dish for breakfast. I'm going to see River Dance! Call in at the Darragh's and keep getting things served to you. Christmas dinner with the Byrnes plus 5 Americans. Meeting Laura's aunts. Boxing Day at the Darragh's and of course The Kings Head. No more room to eat.  Harry Potter Marathon. New Years in Glasgow.  His. Witnessing miracles. Seeing lives transformed. Being transformed myself. You are God. I am not. I trust in You.

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