32 Years Ago Today

That was the day, July 2, 1982, we arrived in Ireland (because Belgium wouldn't let us in) for our very first mission experience together. We went not knowing where we would end up for our 3-year term -- Spain, Greece, Ireland, maybe Belgium? The hardest part was saying goodbye to family and friends but we were excited about our new adventure whatever it would be . . .

Little did we know what an amazing and rewarding adventure WAS ahead as we got off the flight in Dublin met by a team that welcomed us refugees without a country. 

Phil and Cheryl

The Kingsleys, who had already been in Dublin for a whole 3 months helped us settle in, and we had total confidence that they knew everything about Ireland and missions.

As it turned out -- we were there for only about 3 weeks before we got word that our visas for Belgium had finally been approved after a year of waiting. Within a couple days we were whisked off on a ferry across the Irish sea to pick up our car and some belongings that had been shipped to Liverpool, for a drive across England, car ferry to France, and the rest of the journey to Brussels. 

But in those short weeks in Ireland we bonded with the team and the country and are thankful for that great welcome experience God gave us. 

Sort of our missions honeymoon. 


I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
 Isa 42:16