The March Gang

Today we had to do at least a hundred last minute things, or so it seemed.   You always have so many last minute things to do right before you go any where.  We got it all accomplished and came home and finished packing.  We are officially ready to go early in the morning.  We have to be up by 5:00 and leave by 6:00.  It will be worth it though.  We are so ready to see our family and friends.  We have missed everyone so much.  It will be great to be at our home church this weekend.

We had a awesome service at Dublin Sunday.  The Sunday School children have been practicing a song using sign lanuage and we surprised the parents and did it for them.  The kids were a little nervous, but did a great job.  I was so proud of them.  After the service they had a going away party for us.  We had a delicious meal and they also gave us a love offering.  What great saint we have.  We have fallen in love with them and will miss them this summer.

It seems to be a running theme here at the March Gang that time slips away and updates are slow coming.  A lot has been going on, but then in truth it seems not much has been going on.  Makes no sense I know, but just humor me if you will.  Since our last update Dennis, our fellow AIM’er, has went back to the states.  His Pastor, Bishop Tom Suey, suffered a heart attack and so Dennis cut his stay short by two weeks and headed home, which we didn’t blame him for that.  Bro. Suey is doing great and God has really touched him.

The McFarland’s are still state side and will be for another two weeks.  Bro. Mac will be back in Ireland around the 14th of May, a few days before we leave for home.  So we are here holding down the fort and keeping things in 0rder.  I am getting myself a good education that is for sure.  Taking care of two churches and all that comes with that can be a challenge to say the least, but in a good way.  Tara of course is a huge help and proves to me every day why I married her. She says it was because she felt sorry for me, but she and I both know that it’s because she was just smitten by my charm.  Oh alright! It was because she felt sorry for me.  Seriously, she is an amazing woman and I couldn’t do any of this without her.  May 14th we will be married for 15 years.

We attended a birthday party Monday night for Faith, Kyle and Lynn’s daughter, and Kyle.  Faith turned  five on Tuesday and our kids had a really good time celebrating with them and their family.  It was Kyle’s birthday on Monday and he said he turned 27.  That is up for debate, but since it was his birthday we let it slide.  Like I said we had a wonderful time and was glad they invited us to help celebrate.

Last Sunday after church in Dublin we took Simeon to Captain America’s on Grafton Street.  Actually Dennis ended up treating all of us and we were grateful for that.  Simeon of course is all about his super heroes and thought it was very cool.  The food was excellent and we all had a good time.  Dennis ended up sitting with a group of young ladies that were on their way to a Pink concert. (Pink is a Pop Rock music artist for those who were wondering)  He invited them to church and made a connection with them as Dennis only could.  However, they just about did him in when he questioned who Bono was.  There was a guitar hanging on the wall signed by Bono and a plaque explaining the significance of the guitar.  Bono of course is the lead singe of the band U2 and lives in Dublin.  According to the ladies he is pretty much considered the Patron Saint of Ireland.  In Dennis’s defense he is pretty much old school country when it comes to secular music, but is more prone to break out in an old school song from the Hymn book more than anything.

Well, we are counting down the days until we head home for a few months.   The kids are very exicted and can’t wait to see all their family and friends.  They are also looking forward to seeing the latest member of the March Gang which is their new dog Miley.  I think MeMe and PaPa Slusher and MawMaw and PawPaw March are top of the list as well.  So for now we will leave you with a video of some street preformers in Dublin and a picture of Miley.  We will see most of you in 21 days.

The kids had a great day Easter Sunday.  In Sunday School Ashley told the kids of the Resurrection story.  I am always moved about the great sacrifice that our Savior did for us.  To love us so much that He died for our sins, so that we might have life and life more abundantly.  God is so good to His children.

The kids then decorated bags to go egg hunting.  The girls made bonnets, that didn’t work out as they were suppose to, and the boys made bunny finger puppets.  After church they had a “Candy rain”, Dennis climbed up on top of the roof and threw candy to them.  They had a blast.  We then had a potluck lunch together.

We loaded up and then headed to Dublin.  We had a first time vistor to join us.  Dennis had handed her a track a couple Sunday’s before and she came because of it.  Isn’t that awesome!!!

The kids decorated more bags this time to hunt for candy.  We have a small space at Dublin and can’t go outside, but Shawna and Ashely made it fun for them.  We had a wonderful Filipino meal after service, with great fellowship.

Last night we had the McFarland over for supper as a farewell meal to Shawna.  Shawna is taking a position at the church in Alexandra LA.  We will really miss her, but we know that she is in the will of God, and that is what matters.  Riley drove them to the airport this morning.  So, we are holding down the fort for a couple weeks.  Please pray for us, we have to take care of Dennis.

It has been way to long since our last post and for that we are sorry.  It has started to warm up a little and we have had some really nice days.  However winter still seems to want to hang around and so the good weather is still sporadic.  Tara and the girls have started walking every day for exercise.  Well, Tara walks and the girls ride their bikes.  They walk about a mile a day and have been very faithful in doing it.  It has warmed up, but of course it still rains so they just put jackets on and hit the road.  Simeon and me hold the fort down while they are out losing weight and getting in shape.  Tuesday me and him did go out with them, and the little guy rode his bike the entire mile.  I was very impressed and he said he could already tell he was getting stronger in his legs just after one trip.

Tuesday we had a package arrive from America, and as always we were glad to see it.  We want to thank our Uncle Lynn and Aunt Becky for it.  I finished off our last box of Lucky Charms that morning and what do you know two more boxes come in the mail.  I am pretty sure it was a God thing.   I like my Lucky Charms!  The kids also got some more ramen noodles.  They do have ramen over here, but not the same flavours and trust me they are not the same.

The McFarland’s are heading back to the states for a family vacation next week.  During that time they are going to be moving Shawna, their oldest daughter, to Alexandria LA.  She has taken a job working in Bro. Mangun’s church.  So while they are gone we will be holding down the fort for them.  Then after they get back we will be heading state side a few weeks later.

We will be heading home May 19th and everyone is very excited about that.  Tara and the kids have been marking off the calendar.  We have a huge list of places we have to go once we touch down.  I know it may seem silly to some, but it is funny what you miss when you don’t have it.  I am pretty sure that Tara is going to just camp out in Walmart for a few days.  As far as restaurants go Mi Casa in Doniphan is at the top of the list.  On a side note according to Roland Baker Mi Casa, in little ole Doniphan Missouri, is the best Mexican restaurant he has ever been to.  Of course the top of our list is getting to West Point to see family and friends and just enjoy a church service at home.

Just to give you an update of what all has been going on here in Ireland.  Both churches are doing good.  Dublin has been doing very well.  We have had a student from Brazil attend service the past few weeks and he loves it.  I just ask when you are praying for us and Ireland to remember Matthew.  God is getting ready to blow the doors off of Dublin not only can we just feel it, but we have had many confirmations to the fact.  It is exciting times in Ireland right now.

We are going to leave you with a few pictures from a trip to the park we took a few weeks ago.  It was a pretty sunny day, but still a little cold.  I also want to point out to my sister to take special notice to the swans in the pictures and let her know that “Yes swans do have legs”. (If you know Eleisha you really have got to ask her to explain this one)  Love ya Sis!

On the last day together with our family, we went to the Carrickfergus Castle.  We really like this castle and enjoy going to it, however, yesterday we battled the wind and rain all day.  So, we kinda ran through it fast.  We asked the workers at the castle where they would recommended eating.  They referred us to SoZo and it was excellent.  We all got something different and tried each others food.  Simeon ate all his soup and then ate most of my Irish Stew, and loved both.  They also told us about a great bakery and we went and bought sweets.  They were also excellent.  We walked the village of Carrickfergus and went into some very nice charity shops.  Peyton has decided to start collecting tea pots and tea cups.  She found a cute tea pot at one of the shops that is a wee sink with dishes on it.  Kirsten is now collecting spoons, but was not able to find one she wanted.  Simeon just collects all kinds of toys and more toys.

We then headed back to Bainbridge to do some shopping.  We walked in the village and Eleisha and Seneatha found some thing they could not live without.  Then we took them to the American outlet to the tea and coffee shop, because really you can not leave Ireland without a teapot and teacups.  We came home to fix supper and off to church.  We were privileged to have Bro. Shurte from Saint Cloud, FL. to minister to us.  He is here visiting the McFarland’s and will be ministering to us again on Sunday.  After church we made one last stop at Tesco to get all the last minute breads, cookies, and tea that everyone requested.

The kids and I slept in this morning while Riley took them to the airport.  They are now on their way back home.  We had a great time and was very glad to have them here.  We need family to visit us.  It helps the kids and the parents with the homesickness.

We have had a great week so far.  Friday we picked up Eleisha, Riley’s sister, and Seneatha, our cousin, from the airport.  We were about thirty minutes late and they were getting a little worried.  Since Friday we have been going non-stop.  Saturday we took them to “Wee Barney’s” for some traditional fish and chips.  Then walked all around the village of Portadown.  Sunday we were in church, where we had great services.  I now teach Sunday School so I had the kids to make Mother’s Day card, because it was “Mum’s Day” in Ireland.  Monday we went to Tollymore.  Eleisha slipped and fell on a rock and took Simeon down with her.  He got a bump on the head, and she got a skinned knee and jammed finger.  Peyton slipped and fell in the water, again.  She did the same thing last time we were there.  The kids love going there.  They have become quiet the little explorers.  We then traveled on up the coast for a while.  It rained off and on most of the day.  While driving along the coast we saw a beautiful rainbow.  God has made truly beautiful things and places for our enjoyment.

Today we went to Giant’s Causeway and to Dunluce Castle.  This time the trolley was going at the Causeway’s so we didn’t have to walk as much, which is great.  We have been walking our legs off, definitely burning lots of calories.  This was our first time at the Dunluce Castle and it was great.  It is just ruins, but a lot of fun to explore.  We walked down 113 steps to see where they would pull their ships under the castle for quick get aways from their enemies.  It was really neat, but that meant we had to walk back up those 113 steps.  Riley, Kirsten, Simeon, and I were the only ones who made that little trek.  Simeon rode on Riley’s back all the way back up the steps.  When we got up the steps he said “Man, we walked up all those steps.  I need a drink.”  He also told me yesterday that he was tired and he needed to “Recharge his batteries”, and then went to sleep.

It was rainy all day today.  We have learned that you just go, because if you waited for the sun you would be waiting a long, long time.

We are off to Carrick Fergus Castle tomorrow and who knows where else.  We have to cram a lot into a few short days.  We have really been enjoying having them here.  It is always great to have family with us.  We will be sad to see them leave on Thursday morning.

We gave the kids their birthday presents.  Peyton got a digital camera from all of us, and she loves it.  She has been taking pictures of everything.  She also received a journal from Uncle Lynn and Aunt Becky, and has been writing in it everyday.  Simeon, his birthday is the 27th,  got some transformer toys and shirts from his different Uncles and Aunts.  We got him a toy drum set and he loves them.  He plays on them all the time.  He tells us he is Greg, which is Greg Fowler our drummer at West Point.  He loves Greg and wants to play the drums like him.

To end on a great note!!!   We received reports from West Point.  Over the weekend they had a children’s revival, twenty kids received the Holy Ghost and six were baptized.  We are so excited about this.  God is truly an awesome God.

The last two weekends at our churches have been amazing.  Sis. Lynn Harvey was baptized a week ago Sunday.  We are so happy for this step she has taken.  We then traveled to Dublin where they had an awesome time worshipping and being blessed by God.  I am now teaching Sunday School class, so I was unable to hear the preaching, but by the way it sounded it was great.

This Sunday in Gilford the presence of the Lord was so awesome.  We started worshipping and everyone was getting a touch.  The young people started praying for each other.  Sasha got an amazing touch from the Lord.  I believe that God did a lot of unseen things in our midst.  We are getting ready to see amazing things happen in Ireland.

They then traveled to Dublin where Riley ministered to them.  The kids and I didn’t go, because Simeon was sick, but apparently we missed a great service.  They had a great altar service for about an hour.  People were getting blessed and needs were meet.

God is such a great and awesome God.  He always knows what we need, when we need it.  He knows all and I am so glad He has control of my life.  I couldn’t imagine a life without Him.  To God be all the glory!!!

Bro. Mac., Riley, and Dennis, our Aimer from Herrick, IL., have been very busy the last two weeks working around the church.  They got the caravan, or as we would say house trailer, taken apart and destroyed.  They finished getting the AIM flat back in working order.  Dennis has been staying with us for the last two weeks until the flat was fixed.  He took his stuff to move into it today.  We have enjoyed having Dennis with us.  Boy, can he eat.

We are so excited!!!  Eleisha, Riley’s sister, and our cousin Seneatha are flying in Friday for a week.  We can’t wait to see them.  We have many fun things that we want to do within a few short days.

Thank you to everyone who left comments for Peyton.  You made her day even more special.  Thank you for caring enough to want to wish her a Happy Birthday.  You are very great people.  We love you all.

Yesterday we took a field trip to Tollymore National Forest and Newcastle.  Since it was technically a school day we deemed it an official school field trip.  We had a lot of fun and seen a lot of beautiful scenery.  We went with the McFarland’s (Bro. & Sis. Mac, Shawna, Ashley and Caleb)  and our newly arrived AIM’er Dennis Conway.  Dennis is from a great church pastored by Jermery and Tom Suey in Herrick Illinois.  Dennis traveled back with us from the Men’s Conference and is going to be with us for a couple of months.

The kids had a blast on the trip.  Tollymore looks like you walked into a Robin Hood fairy tale.  There is a stream that runs through the park, and it is beautiful.  Peyton found out first hand how cold the water can be in March.  She and Caleb were out exploring ahead of the rest of us and she slipped and fell in.  Because those two were out running around we didn’t get many pictures of her.

After Tollymore we headed off to Newcastle and drove down the coast.  We stopped at the harbor and watched the fishing boats come in.  We also got to watch about five seals play in the harbor.  The kids thought that was really cool and have been talking about it ever since.  After we left the harbor we drove on down the coast and enjoyed the rest of the day.  Believe it our not the day started out with crazy weather.  Within an hour we saw hail, sleet, snow, rain and then sunshine.  We were glad to see the sun as it turned out to be a wonderful day.

Take a look at our Flickr site to see all our photos of the day and as always we love your comments.

Our Flickr Site

A few or our favorites:

I am back in Ireland after spending a week in Herrick, Illinois.  I didn’t get to make it down to South East Missouri and I wish I could have, but time just didn’t allow it.  Seven of us from Ireland were able to attend the conference and we had a great time.  We were able to hear some awesome preaching from T.F. Tenney, Anthony Mangun, Thomas Suey and David Shatwell.  We also enjoyed some great music and worship services.  Bro. Tom Suey and his son Jeremy are the host pastors of the conference and every year it seems to just get bigger.  This year there were over 700 men who attended.

Kyle Harvey was one of the men who got to come with us.  He is our very own bagpiper and used to compete professionally.  He is awesome and he played at the conference.  Needless to say he was a huge hit and did an excellent job.  My Dad also showed up for the conference and I was glad I got to spend time with him.  He and I shared a hotel room and other than his snoring we had a great time.   I also got to see my second cousin Bobby Gentry and his son Marcus.  I was happy for that as well I just wish we could have had more time to visit.

Tara and the kids survived another week without me, which I didn’t have any doubts that they would.  I was very glad to get home to them.  The kids were happy too and I am pretty sure Tara was as well.  Towards the end of the week I got an email from Tara that made me laugh out loud.  Tara said that the kids were getting pretty rowdy and stressing her out.  She had to get on to them several times and even sent them to their rooms for a little while.  Later that night they sat down for dinner and Simeon prayed for the meal.  After asking for blessings on the food he said “Oh and God please help Mommy to calm down”.  Tara quickly followed by asking God to please help Simeon not be a brat.  He is our in house comedian and always keeps us laughing.

I almost forgot we are also happy to have with us for the next couple of months Dennis Conway.  He is from Bro. Suey’s church and is here as an AIM’er.  He is staying with us for a few days until we are able to get the AIM Flat in order.  We moved it a few weeks ago on the church property and still haven’t’ got the power and water hooked back up.  This guy is amazing and his testimony is just as amazing.  We are glad he is here and welcome the extra help.

Here are a few pictures of our trip to Herrick this past week…

I know, hold on to your seats we have made a post within a week of the last one.  I always have good intentions, but seem to get distracted.  Tara has really been doing good with this thing.  We truly are thankful for all of you who stop by and see how we are doing.  We also love the comments you leave especially any you leave for the kids.  It lets them know they haven’t been forgotten and someone back home is thinking of them. It lifts their spirits and puts a smile on their face.  I assure you Tara and I appreciate it very much.

I got back from Scotland on Friday night after a long week.  I must say that at first I was a little on edge about the whole “teaching at a college” thing, but after the first day it went great.  The students there were also great and a lot of fun to be around.  I enjoyed getting to know them and the time spent with them outside the class room.  There is a large variety of nationalities represented at the school.  I also enjoyed my time with Bro. & Sis. Kelly.  They have been missionaries to Scotland for at least 25 years now, and have a awesome work there.  The church is running on average now  100 plus people and no signs of slowing down.

I did have a little bit of excitement on my flight to Glasgow from Belfast.  We boarded the plane and was taxiing onto the run way when one of the passengers got sick.  I wasn’t paying attention real close because I had my iPod on, but by the time I realized what was going on we were heading back to the terminal.  They have this guys laying flat down in the seats and have given him oxygen.  We sit for awhile waiting for the EMT’s to show up.  They arrive and check the guy out and then take him off the plane.  That is when the real excitement began.  All the stewardesses gather around the seat the man was sitting in and make everyone in the three rows in front of him and behind him get up.  They then tear all the seats apart.  They take all the coverings and cushions off the seats and then make everyone standing claim all the baggage in the overheads.  The thought didn’t even cross my mind until they started searching for possible planted bombs.  They were making sure the guy didn’t plant something and then fake an illness to get off the plane.  I was glad they searched, but since they brought it to our attention I was hoping they didn’t miss anything.  We were delayed about 40 min, but finally was cleared for take off again.  We arrived in Glasgow without a hitch.

Tuesday I am leaving to attend the Central Illinois Men’s Conference held in Herrick.  There are seven of us from Ireland that will be attending.  We are looking forward to it and know we are going to have a great time.  I of course am leaving Tara and the kids.  She is a trooper I tell you that for sure.  God has blessed me with an awesome wife.  I will say that the next trip to the states everyone will be with me.  My father-in-law has given me strict orders to the fact.   We are planning on coming home for a visit around the end of May, first of June.  That is when we actually have to come back and raise our new budget.  Lord willing that wont take long, but the time spent home will be good.