Only in America!

I found these in a shop the other day- Its pringles but they have travia questions printed on them! Could be fun but think of the extra e numbers used to make them. Least you'd learn while you snack!

Something else that I thought would only happen in America is when I heard an advert for medical research that went something along the lines of... "If you or your child have bad acne then we need your help, if you have approx 17 or more red open spots, 13 blackheads and 7 whiteheads then call 1-4-4283-77687" Now folks a little challange put that number in your phones predictive text and work out what it says! The number 1 at the begining is not important and the - is a space.

Another dog story:

The dog was up to her old tricks this morning. Now when Cheryl told me this story I immediately felt sick! So I am not going to post it on the blog as it is SO disgusting - So bad I would have to put an 18 rating on my blog. If you think your up for it. Email me and I'll reply with the story that will turn your stomach!

Bucks: 85 Celtics: 79

Had a great day today… Was at church twice this morning the first service at 9.30 was the proper church service followed by 'Isif' which is a service for the senior high kids both were really good. We had communion at the 9.30 which was a little different than home. After the service I met Kathy and we went for lunch by Lake Michigan. Then headed to the basketball game. It was great all go for the entire match and I got the hang of the rules pretty quickly.
It was a massive stadium and we had pretty good seats not to high up and not to low. Lots of music and songs played through the match. It was pretty tight one team would start to win then the other catch up and over take, which made for an interesting match. Some of the best stuff was probably the entertainment during time outs and at half time we had: People break dancing, cheer leaders, stunt basketball players who jumped on trampolines and did summersaults to put the ball in the net and competitions like the best dressed bucks fan etc. Plus the Bucks won so was good all round. My favorite player was Andrew Bogut
he’s the guy on the far left of this picture he’s also the tallest… he is 7 foot tall!! When he played it was like he was in slow motion and could just hold the ball above other players heads- he was good to watch. After the match we went to the Cheesecake factory, I had a grilled chicken and avocado club sandwich with chips yum yum and then had toblerone cheesecake- again yum yum YUM! Then home to watch 24 with Cheryl and Dana they have rented all of season 1 so I’m watching it again with them. I would like to take this opportunity to point a few things out: You all know I love my boxsets… well in coming over here I could have watched new episodes of all 4 of my favorite programs but choose not to [only 24 because the family watch it]. I also do not carry my UK mobile phone around with me 95% of the time its in my room the other 5% its in the living room. Some of you may find it hard to believe but its true I also do not wear my watch so here I am not ruled by my mobile phone, tv or time and you know what?! I think I may like it!!

Seriously... what are the chances?! - Small small world!

I was invited to a dinner/party thing downtown Milwaukee tonight. Within a few minutes of arriving I had met a girl from Ukraine who not only knew people I knew from both Kiev and Xhmelnitsky but also Alison Daniells from church!! I came back and told Dana [The dad] who informed me of the '6 degrees of seperation' theory in which every 6th person will know you, know of you or knows someone who knows you and I had just put it down to being a small world! Not to sure about the 6 degrees of seperation maybe it would just occour in your localish area or at least in your country if it was small not on the other side of the world- but who knows!

Tonight I also became slightly addicted to around the world table tennis, with the object being to run around a table tennis table hitting the ball back and forth. You start with 3 points and everytime you miss it ir dont hit it properly you lose a point! When you lose all 3 your out until there is only 2 people left. Who then have their 3 points fully restored and play until 1 of them loses all their points. At one point there was about 12 of us playing/trying to run round the table ina very confined space- was pretty funny! I started off pretty bad at it but once the addiction started and I played more and more I got better. Just need to find someone at home with a table tennis table!

In reference to Paul's comment a few posts down... My accent is holding out fine, no american twang and I'm even spreading the northern irish phrases- i.e the craic is 90!

Kindness Milwaukee bucks style!

Every Tuesday before God Squad I help a woman called Kathy to cook dinner for the leaders. This week she asked me what I wanted to do in America that I have not done yet. I listed a few for her...

- See/ go out on Lake Michigan
- Go to the cheese cake factory
– See a live professional American football, basketball or baseball game
– Go to Chicago and have real Chicago style pizza! [Can now strike that one off the list!]

Kathy phoned me this morning and told me that she’s got us tickets for the Milwaukee bucks basketball team for a match against the Boston Celtics on Sunday! And that we’re going to the Cheesecake factory afterwards! How exciting and very kind of her!

Chicago

Was in Chicago today with some of the people from the youth office in church was a good day didn’t get to see too much as everyone had to get back up the road pretty sharpish- which is ok as I’m heading back down on my own next friday to meet up with a girl I was at bible college with last year so ill get to see a bit more of the place then. We went to the Shedd Aquarium, saw the real life Nemo!
sharks, whales and a dolphin show [Which over looked lake Michigan which was cool such a nice day also] and lots more, visited Solider stadium home of the Chicago Bears football team, Michigan Avenue and had real Chicago style pizza!!

Going's on

Hey really starting to feel settled here and enjoying myself. Its going well for this post I think ill use bullet points:

- The work with the junior high is probably my favorite work at the minute I’ve had more of an opportunity to get involved and to get to know the kids its been cool since I spoke at God Squad last week its put me on a new level with the kids and they are coming and chatting to me and having a bit of banter and keeping me going about some of the stuff I shared that made them laugh. I’ve also been given a small group to lead of 6th grade girls lets just say they are very energetic and good at copying my accent!

- Driving is going very well had no major near misses or find myself on the wrong side of the road!

- Went to taco bell drive through that was funny the woman didn’t have a clue what I was asking for and thought that I was making a prank order- Its not like the drive through at home where you order through a window but into a microphone at a menu board- which I didn’t realize when I heard this voice saying “Hi how are you today” it scared the life out of me as I knew it wasn’t from the person in my passenger seat!

- As I think I’ve mention on previous posts I’ve been given the opportunity to meet with some of Elmbook’s pastors to ask questions about their life and their ministry. I met with their mission’s pastor- Dick Robinson [I find it weird here that Dick is someone’s name I know its short for Richard but I just cannot bring myself to call someone Dick so I always have to follow through with their last name! I’ve meet 3 or 4 so far!] last week which did not go well I felt like I was just wasting the guys time and he didn’t seem enthusiastic at all or even interested and barely answered my questions which made me feel pretty wick… and not looking forward to meeting with other Pastors- Stuart Briscoe in particular. I shared my feelings in our junior high personal staff meeting [We have 2 a week 1 for ministry the other about ourselves and praying for things] I was told that Dick [Robinson- see I can’t even just type it by itself!] is probably the hardest pastor to get on with and hold a proper conversation/meeting and if your not talking about things that are important for this exact time he doesn’t talk much so that made me feel better leading into my meeting today with Scott Arbeiter who is the associate pastor which went a lot better he gave some good answers and insight into Embrook, himself and ministry.
For your information I asked the following:
1. How do you lead a church of this size? How do you envision and inspire such a large amount of people?
2. What challenges do you feel the church will face in the incoming years? [Asked especially for Charlie!]
3. How do you/ Elmbrook test the call on someone's life for ministry?
4. How do you manage your time between your ministry and personal life? What boundaries do you set yourself?
5. In such a busy life and caring for others how do you keep your own personal devotional life on track?
6. What is your most treasured experience from your time in ministry?

Let me know if you want to know some of the answers!

- Tonight we are having a indoor winter Olympics for the senior high some of the events are interesting to say the least one being frozen turkey bowling!! and we made a bobsled out of bins and wood- its pretty sweet it even has breaks! I’m the Ukraine team leader – what other country would I chose when we couldn’t find a Northern Ireland flag?!

Here’s to going to Chicago tomorrow baby!!

Snow and a dogs tale!

It snowed here a couple of days ago so the place looks like the set of Narnia! This is a picture of the view out my bedroom window the morning after it snowed! Driving the bumper car was interesting the night before when the snow started and then got very very heavy but I just slipped her into 4-wheel drive and away I went! Was in Madison yesterday its Wisconsin’s capitol was nice to have a drive about and see more of the state and hear about the history of it all. Plus a road trip in the snow was pretty cool!


This is a picture of the capitol building in Madison. Been watching American football all afternoon I’m just about getting used to the rules looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers the Milnes favorite team are going to make it to the super bowl. So spirits are high here at the minute with 9 mins left on the clock although if you know anything about American football that could last anything from 15-20 minutes what with adverts and time outs!

Another dog story: I’m sitting at the computer [Again in the house by myself] and I hear this bang behind me. I turn round and the dog is humping the end of the sofa and in the process knocked over the side table- This sight very much disturbed me and it goes without saying ill never sit at that end of the sofa!

A dogs dinner

I came home and went down to my room and heard this banging but knew that no one else was in the house but the dog maggie so wondered into the kitchen to see what she was up to… To my horror Maggie had knocked over the oven pan that had a massive big ham in it that was for our dinner and was tucking into it on the middle of the kitchen floor!! I locked her away and put the ham back in the pan and onto the work top! Cheryl bought the ham espically for tonights dinner! and out at the minute so I’m going to have to break the news when she comes home- Maggie is in trouble she ate a couple of cookies the other day and got a severe rebuking! I wonder what will be for dinner now- and I love ham.

Some visuals

This is the Milnes house where Im staying while Im here.



This is Elmbrook church it is that big so its hard to get it all into one picture but this is the main part of the building.



I work in the west wing of the church building!!



Again its hard to get it all fitted in but this is where all the youth workers have their offices/ cubicles [Including me- Ill have to take a picture of that sometime]

Always a Ukraine connection!

I noticed on the church bulletin on Sunday that there was a lunch for their Russia focus group and that there would be missionaries from Ukraine there to give a presentation on their work. So I asked if I could attend. The ministry is called ‘Read Ministry’ which provides training [In Xhmelnisky of all places- where we visit every summer and is only an hour’s drive from Volochisk!] for people to become librarians and it provides books for churches to set up their own borrowing libraries. Was great to hear of other peoples work in Ukraine and I told them about Ballynahinch’s partnership with Volochisk and they are going to contact them about the possibility of starting a Christian literature library in Volochisk. Looking at their pictures and hearing their stories brought back lots of memories of Ukraine I can’t wait to go back in July or maybe even before then! Isn’t it amazing how God can bring me to America to make connections that will benefit Volochisk?!

Jack is back in style!

Had a great day yesterday after going to bed on Saturday night at 9pm feeling very very ill and sleeping right through until 8.30am I went to the middle service at Elmbrook and then went to the senior high service both were excellent and both so like home this church is just like Ballynahinch expect on a much bigger scale! Came home and had a few lessons on American football as we watched the Steelers vs Colts the family [Milnes] I’m staying with are big Steeler fans and they won and are through to the semi finals of the super bowl. Then I was invited over to another girl’s house for dinner and to watch another American football game (I’m getting the hang of it by this stage!) Well her dad is a massive Packers fan who are the team of Wisconsin in the middle of the game he disappears and comes back and hands me a signed packer shirt that was worn in the 1996 super bowl final by Sean Jones (No clue who he is!) and pictures he had taken of their current quarter back- Pretty generous of him maybe something to do with my accent it holds great power over Americans! We had dinner during the match and then watched the film ‘National Treasure’ id seen it before-good show. Then back to the Milnes household who had taped the 1st double episode of 24 season 5!

That’s right folks Jack Bauer is back and back with style for all you 24 fans prepare to gasp and to sit in disbelief when it hits our TV screens at home. It was also cool today as everyone was talking about it and they were people I didn’t know so talking about 24 helped me get to know people and I’ve even been invited over to someone’s house tonight to watch the next episode- God used 24 to open new friendship doors which is eta classna!

Badges

I’m surviving ok in the bumper car have been out a bit more over the past couple of days although I do find myself on the wrong side of the road at times espically in car parks and the estate I live in. Last night at I was out at a Mexican restaurant with one of the girls from the youth office and her friends it was in an old train car which was cool. I’m so excited as 24 season 5 is starting tomorrow night with a 2 hour special tomorrow night and Monday night! Now I wasn’t planning to watch 24 here as it would be so long before I’d see the end of it at home but since I can’t watch the oc or lost due to being at youth events. The temptation to watch it is to great… plus the family here love it so it would only be rude of me to sit in my room!

Bumper Cars

I’ve decided that driving over here is like driving bumper cars except obviously for the fact that you don’t purposely bump into other cars. Don’t know how many of you have driven automatic cars before but you basically put in one gear and have 2 pedals the brake and accelerator [Much like bumper cars!] The past 2 days I’ve been driving a bit more and finding my way about the place nearly caused a serious accident yesterday on my first drive by myself they don’t have round abouts here but 4 way stops and you have to try and work out if its your turn to go yesterday it wasn’t my turn to go! And a truck had to swerve to miss me!, they don’t give way to the right or anything like we do at home. I also continuously find myself on the left hand side of the road in the estate where I’m staying or in park parks- Not good when there are cars heading straight for you! Mot much else really to report I had the first fondue of my life last night was pretty nice especially as it was a chocolate fondue and today I was at a lunch for all the youth workers in the state which was cool they meet once a month so I’m able to go again next month. Ok I’m going to attempt to drive to Walmart now!

Right hand side of the road

Well I got my jeep it’s a bright blue Jeep Cherokee, Its pretty old style but cool and my favorite colour! Dave the person in charge of the churches etc cars was very apologetic that it wasn’t better said there was a couple of missionaries over from Africa in the other ones, but really who would turn down a jeep with free petrol for 6 weeks in American sure not me I'm happy as larry- whoever he is! Was out for a wee lesson today Dave said I did well so I’m allowed out on my own, Cheryl the woman I’m staying with is going to take me out later to get familiar with how to get to the church, the mall and the cinema etc. Also when I went to pick up the keys the guy Dave hands me a wrapped present and says they are so happy to have me here and that he, randy and bob would like to take me to lunch sometime- I ask who are randy and bob when they are at home?! So that could be pretty random! Here is some of the people I’m working with:

The guy is Ryan the senior High youth pastor, left of him is Cheryl the woman I’m staying with, the girl in the middle is Kelly she picked me up from the airport and served me Moose! And the girl on the right is Jen I stayed at her house on my first night because Cheryl was out of the state. There’s also Kurt and Brendon but I couldn’t find a picture of them. I meet with Ryan today to define what I’m doing for the next 6 weeks. So far I know I’m working with both middle school and senior high which is pretty much like junior and senior youth, I’m also helping to organize a big once a month event for the High School and helping organize a Super bowl party don’t know much about American Football so should be interesting! He's also given me the opportunity to meet with some of the churches pastors to ask them about certain aspects of ministry [The call, context, boundaries and devotional life etc] which is cool Stuart and Jill Briscoe ill hopefully be able to meet some of you may have heard of them they've a load of books out and are from England. He also wants me to do an evaluation paper looking at the aspects of the American church that encourage/concern me, how did I see God at work in the lives of the students here, and what are my thoughts on the effectiveness of the ministry to students and give some suggestions and ideas to help their ministry. Now this scares the crap out of me as this is a mega big church with 200 paid staff this includes 23 pastors, a congregation of 9,000 they have a graphics, human resources, cafe, a full on Christian book shop, a library, finance, technical, missions [Their mission budget is 2 MILLION DOLLARS!!] and maintenance departments and that’s only a small handful of what does on here and I've to write about it all the good and the bad- Oh crap! Yeah and tonight I’m helping with the middle school programme they have approx 500 kids and tomorrow night with the senior high there will be 800 kids- The size of this place is mind blowing. Please pray for my safety on the road and keep in touch.

Greetings from Milwaukee

Well I made it in one piece its all good so far here's a quick run through of my time so far:

- I flew with continental and on the side of the plane they had written "We're not called continental for no reason" which sure is true was so freaking hot (Was like being in a continental country) on the plane thought I was going to pass out esp as I was at the window and the 2 people beside me slept the entire was so I only got out of my seat once.

- I was served moose as in the animal for my first meal here which was interesting to say the least felt like I was in Ukriane or Moldova.

- The family im staying with is cool, There is Cheryl and Dana are the parents and then they have four kids 2 are at home- Jason and Bethany and 2 are at college. The house is nice kinda landed on my feet, Ive my own room with a king size bed, they hav a games room in the basement with a pool table, table tennis and air hockey and playstation, 3 computers and is in a nice area... and at the church they've given me my own desk and computer. Plus they're giving me a jeep to drive! I'll get it tomorrow so stay posted for my first driving story tomorrow.

- Have been to the mall and to the cinema saw 'Fun with Dick and Jane' its not out at home yet but if its out before Im home go see it its very funny, and at the cinemas here you can go out during the film to get drink and pop corm re fills cant see Lisburn cinema starting that up!

- Was at church this morning Elmbrook has a congregation of 9,000 the place was like a community centre, school and church all in one it looks like the oddessy. As I walked about it was like being at a concert, pretty sure I wouldnt be a fan going there full time the service and all was good but its just so big but new experiences are good for us.

- Currently sitting here watching an American football game the family here are big into it and I have no clue!

Leaving on a jet plane tomorrow...

The departing week:

Its been a busy week feels like the week before Ukraine except I don’t have to do everything times 46!

Monday: I went shopping with mum to get all the last minute bits and pieces, a new coat for the freezing temperatures there at the minute and some gifts for the family I’m staying with etc.

Tuesday: I got the death trap car fixed, visited my granny and then spent most of the day with Lois and getting more last minute bits and pieces I had forgotten to get on Monday, Travel insurance, my tickets etc!

Wednesday: I looked after the Dunlop girls, had lunch with Mike got even more last minute things in Lisburn [Travel plugs!] Then home to wash the rest of my clothes for leaving. Out to Karen Hewitts for a haircut , goodbyes and a wee play with the boys if you’ve never played guess who with a 3 year old endeavour to do so very funny. Home again to pack mum is making me take the most horrendous bag you know the ones you pull behind you? I know they are easy to carry etc but I personally think they are wossey.

Thursday: Called in office to say goodbye to Pauline, then Lorna. Had lunch with Claire. Then over to Stu’s to watch the last 2 episodes of Lost season 2 that we have. Off to Lois’s in Belfast for my last meal before heading on a jet plane. We went to Scalini’s and then to cinema was a very charming and laugh filled night with 2 of ‘moy looshy droogs’ [Who knows what that is in Russian?!] The nice thing about going away somewhere in my house is that mum makes all your favourite meals before you leave, Monday was salmon, Tuesday honey glazed ham and Wednesday night lamb mmmmmm good choices I feel!

Its now 2:12am I leave in 3 hours for the airport, What should I do now? Sleep I will not be able to…

Do all keep in touch you hear!

December 21st - New Year

Just a little catch up:

- My car’s been playing up, I took it to the garage just before Christmas and apparently it needs a starter choke but the guy had to order it so it couldn’t be fixed until 3rd January. So I’ve been driving round in a death trap. Firstly if the car has been sitting anymore than 4 hours dad seems to be the only one who can start it, once he’s got it going in the morning I have to start it every 2-3 hours to keep it ticking over. Worse still it will just cut out when I’m driving usually when I’m slowing down or turning which let me tell you is not safe. Although I’ve learnt that when it cuts out if I put my foot heavy on the accelerator it restarts but gives the car a jump acceleration so need to be careful! Thankfully will be fixed on Tuesday.

- I faired pretty well at Christmas for going to America lots of cash some people even went to the trouble of giving me dollars saves me time getting it changed! Plus wireless internet which is pretty sweet, No wires here to step over and very handy when you have a laptop.

- Had more time for the old favourite boxsets what with the death trap car [and dad stopping me going out at times when my brother told him the car cuts out when I’m driving it!] I’ve made my way through One tree hill season 2, Half of The OC season 3 and Lost season 2, all thanks to Ebay- Love it!

- The formal has come and gone, was a good night just pity about the weather, the new location was a hit as well as the dj’s my 2 good friends Stu and Dave.



- 31st December marked my last shift at Carphone Warehouse.

- Attended alot of partys and played lots of games and as Charlie’s already mentioned Empire was a great hit amongst the Christmas partiers, was especially pleased with my victory last night!

- Russia cut the gas supply off to Ukraine, after Ukraine refused to pay the new charges which are 4 times the orginal price- President Putin thats not very nice!

- I leave in 5 days… This week will be spent saying good byes, getting ready to go away, and kaking myself!

Oh and Happy New Year!