GPS, Bumblebees and Comfort Zones

Another day escapes by in a flash.  It's hard to believe how quickly February has flown past. We met as a team this morning as Doug illustrated his morning events with all the gusto his eyebrows and physical dramatization he could muster.  He had heard buzzing upon waking and realized there was a bumblebee in his room.  He managed to trap it in a towel and kill it- barely escaping death, but by the time he came to telling us about it, the bee's corpse had vanished, thus giving us license to discredit all that he had described.  Doug absolutely could not take this and has devoted much of his sprare time to searching for set corpse.

This morning howver, was also another early assembly which I can personally vouch for being stunned afterwards as if it had all gone by like a dream, with little recollection about how.  We were at Downpatrick Primary School and the children were so lovely and orderly.  Before heading in the auditorium Doug (on his bee quest)  asked in the staff room of the school if it were at all plausible for bumblebees to be about this time of year.  One teacher's response was that one of the children had been stung the day previous.  Doug could not hold in a fist pump of celebartion in affirmation of the possible validity of his tale.  The teacher looked quizically at us, wondering why he had cheered at a child being stung, but laughed heartily with us as we filled her in on the fabled morning events. 

Sitting in their rows, bright eyed and attentive these yourng children were just brilliant as we shared about ourselves, sang some action songs (which were entertaining to say the least) and painted an illustration about Canada; how large it is, how much larger God's love is, and how much farther He goes to show us that love.

After the assembly Harry gave us directions to make it into the heart of Downpatrick by foot, and recommended a gem of a little cafe for lunch.  The wandering haulted completely when we found "Sports Direct.com" shop where Doug could finally gaze upon the long awaited Manchester City Jersey he had been coveting.  We dragged him out of there soon enough and headed off to lunch and then back to "The Manse" (Harry and Jenny's) to chill for the afternoon.  By the time we had returned Jenny had posted a wanted poster on the door for the killer of the house bumblebee- suspected murder as it were, £10,000 for capture of the accused.  This is by no means an exaggeration or at all unrepresentative of our hosts spirits. (as it was indeed Jenny's fault the leaders were up far too late both nights previous- there's ALWAYS time for a "cuppa"- or the now famous saying: I was ready to go to bed, and then Jenny came in).

We spent some time before dinner (tea) distributing flyers in the community for the group of Americans that will be leading some children's events as we leave.  It was quite a different experience going door to door, having a "wee chat" with those who desired, and even those who seemed disinterested would perk up at our accent or when they learned we were from Canada.

Tonight was our last real night of officially leading a kids event.  John drove us to Poleglass - an adventure in itself driving maual on the opposite side of the road and car, with a GPS tuned in to a slightly alternative destination, but thats another story- and we delivered a night of team challenges for a group of 50 (or so) teens.  It was such a fantastic night.  We had a blast with all the teens and the leaders as well.  Isaak afterward declared jovially "I don't think I've ever been so social, I loved talking to these kids- Northern Ireland is really expanding my comfort zone!"  I think I can speak for all of us in saying that God is working on all of us in such a way, and has honestly blessed and been so good to us on this trip.

We returned to Downpatrick quite late and all of us were eagerly awaiting our beds.  Doug still attempted to pull out of Jenny exactly what she was up to with whatever twist she has up her sleeve about this bumblebee business, but only time will tell- stay posted:)  I can promise you- pranksters Harry and Jenny Robinson are not to be messed with.