This last two weeks I have been in Ireland scouting the land and ministry opportunities i hope to be involved with in the very near future. I have been staying with a YWAM (youth with a mission) base on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Their heart and desire is to see the North and Republic reconciled. And like myself they have a heart for countries that have a history of conflict. I will tell you much more about them and the ministry i will be working with in the future but this last couple days have been a crazy adventure i would like to share with you.
I was to leave out of Dublin on the 22nd of Dec. and spend Christmas with my friend Rachael and her loving family. This month Ireland has received the coldest temperatures its seen since 1910. They are not use to temperatures this low this early in the year and consequently they have not been prepared. No snow plows... no snow tires... and no chains means roads are not to be driven on. The traffic reminds me of home sweet home (the greatest freeway parking lot) but I'm not use to seeing so much ice and snow...
With a runny nose and a nasty cough i was about to head to the airport when my flight was cancelled. The next flight out was the 23rd. A ride to the airport that should have taken 45mins took well over 3hours. I arrived 20mins before my flight was to take off. The flight was then cancelled! the airline could get me on the last flight out on the 24th but i would be flying into Edinburgh not Glasgow where i was meant to originally come in at. I arrived once again to the crazy Dublin airport... as i was standing in line to check it snow started to fall outside and one after another flight were being cancelled or delayed, people were becoming irate, shouting and throwing things... My flight was delayed for 2hrs... i got on the plane and we were about to push back when the captain came on the loud speaker to tell us "an airplane has become stuck after skidding off the end of the runway and we will be delayed another hour to get the plane free"... we pulled away from the gate 45mins later and i could see a whole line of aircraft in the sky positioned to land... by this time its dark.... as we take off the passengers erupt into applause and another hour later we land safely but my travels were not over for the day because now i had to make my way via bus and train to Rachael's where her family welcomed me with open arms. 3 days later i arrive at the Howsons around 9pm Christmas eve....
God is sooo good... thank you for all your wonderful prayers... i dont think i would have gotten off without them. I was the last flight out to Scotland that evening and might have been spending Christmas in the airport!
I attend the midnight service at Rachael's church where she was singing then I was straight off to bed. This Christmas morning has been great. They made me a stocking with things i really needed and things i love like chocolate. I feel so blessed... I love and miss you all please stay safe and sound this Christmas!
your Lauren-Jean
