Tuesday, we had a team meeting and then were at work in the office. Lucy worked on putting together final touches for the new volunteers coming such as their welcome packs, phone cards and recruiting other team members to set up the rooms. Micah spent most of the day restoring our computer since it decided to have issues! Luckily, it is back up and working again and it motivated us to back up our pictures we have taken so far here! In the evening, we had Cami’s farewell prayer. Cami arrived a few weeks before us and returned to France to continue her studies in translation. For her prayer we had an assortment of breads, cheese and meat, all things she loves and missed while here!
Wednesday was a rest day again. We went to Common Grounds Cafe with Cami and Rachel for lunch. In the afternoon, Lucy had a doctor’s appointment because her migraines have been REAL bad lately. The doctor was a bit less than helpful, but hopefully soon they will be getting better! In the evening we went to cell group and continued to look at prayer.
Thursday, we worked in the office. We had a meeting with Scott and Maria in the morning to look at our job descriptions before they are put into our files. Then Lucy went out to lunch with Maria while Micah had a meeting with Open Door Housing Association (a collaborator in Root Soup) Then Lucy met with Cami to do her closing check-in. It is a way to make sure people feel ready to transition out of L’Arche and feel positive about their time in L’Arche. Micah had a meeting with his business mentor, Valerie. In the afternoon, a new one month volunteer arrived from Austria, Manuela. Micah went with a few from the community to the pub to celebrate Cami’s time in L’Arche. Lucy stayed home with a migraine.
On Friday, we said goodbye to Cami which was hard to do. She was a central part of the Ember life because she was so welcoming, but the other volunteers that live in the Ember will do a great job at creating the home it needs to be!! Afterwards, Micah headed to the garden to pull weeds, mowed, and picked a bit of veg. Lucy spent the morning relaxing, went for a walk and read. In the afternoon, Lucy was in the Ember.
Saturday we headed out to pick blackberries. Blackberries grow in random places here so we headed to the Annadale Embankment, which had a lot, but was quite noisy from the traffic. We were able to pick enough blackberries to make two blackberry and rhubarb (from allotment) pies! Yummy! Emily, a new 8 month volunteer from Seattle, arrived! Now all the transitions for this month are made! In the evening we went to a couple from our cell group’s house for dinner. They (or more truthfully she) made enchiladas! So nice! We do not get enough Mexican food here! It was a really nice evening since we were outside the community. We love the community, but it is nice to break outside once in awhile.
On Sunday we were in the Ember. The day was pretty low key since the new volunteers were settling in. We worked on puzzle together and had evening prayer. Other than that it was a lot of tea and chats.
On Monday we had a rest day after our team meeting. The day was pretty calm. We rested a lot and played a bit of “greedy”.
On Tuesday, we had a community life meeting in the morning. We looked at what we want to be as a community and the gifts each one of us brings. In the afternoon, Lucy had meetings with Emily and Manuela to make sure they are settled in and finish their file for employment. Micah did something, but he doesn’t remember what...After work we had a birthday prayer for Makiko. It was great to go around and say all the good things Makiko brings to the community!
On Wednesday, we made our weekly trip to Ian’s Bakery for delicious and cheap doughnuts! Then after our walk, we pulled a TON of weeds. Our back “garden” aka rock pit was full of them. This is why we are proposing getting a few chickens. Two benefits are that one we get eggs and two they do the weeding for us when we move the cage around! Sounds perfect to me! In the evening Lucy covered the Ember for Makiko so she accompanied Thomas to Common Grounds. It was great to see Thomas in his element working and serving people food and taking orders. It was really fun to see him at one of his favourite points during the week. After getting done, the two of us used some free tickets to a gig that Neil had but wasn’t using. The singer/band was called Lisse and she grew up in Illinois!! It was good fun and a nice change of pace.
On Thursday, we were back in the office. Lucy responded to LOTS of emails and then had a meeting with Maria and Emily to get the newsletter back up and running. For awhile it looked like it was going to be an additional responsibility for Lucy, but luckily Emily has a gift in writing and was keen to take it on as the editor. You can check it out on the L’Arche Belfast website! She did a great job! Micah had a meeting with Maria in the morning then started a grant application.
Friday was garden day again so Micah headed with Scott and several of the volunteers up to the allotment. They painted a new picnic table and gate, weeded and chatting. Lucy had the morning off and spent time walking, finishing pulling the weeds in the back garden and then was on the in afternoon at the Ember. She made some pizza for dinner. Larry was meant to cook alongside her, but he was quite sick with a cold, so no cooking for him!
On Saturday, we were both present at the Ember. Lucy got Thomas up early and they headed into city centre to run some errands. The two got art supplies, toothpaste and renewed Thomas’ bus pass before stopping for lunch. Micah spent the morning buying groceries and then preparing lunch. The afternoon as spent in the Ark for the first of many L’Arche art days! It was a time for the community to paint, draw, hang out and make cards for past assistants. It was great and we will hopefully be doing it monthly! We rounded out the day with a nice barbeque. A good barbeque always is a good way to end the day!
Sunday we finally attended City Church again! Between holidays and working on Sundays we had not attended since Micah’s family was here!! It was so good to be back and reconnect with the congregation again! Afterwards we went out for some Chinese food (yummy!) before a walk. Once back in the Ark, Micah painted while Lucy made some wheaten bread for the Soup Shanty that is coming up quickly. In the evening Micah went to the E.P. launch and gig for Neil’s band. Lucy stayed in because of the series of recent migraines!
Monday was a rest day for Lucy and a “rest day” for Micah. Lucy spent the morning at the team meeting, had an eye appointment (still have good vision) and went for a walk. Micah spent 8 hours in meetings. He met with Valerie, went to the team meeting, went to the Indian centre where the Soup Shanty will be held, met with Alison a potential cook for Root Soup, and gave the board of directors an update on the progress Root Soup has made over the summer holiday! He was a busy boy!
Tuesday we were back in the office after training on report writing. Lucy answered emails, typed minutes for Micah’s meetings and set up meeting with potential local volunteers. Micah made a lot of phone calls and took some time off since the day before was so hectic! In the evening we went to the Freedom in Christ course our church is offering. Session one was great and we will keep you updated as we progress through!
Today we again had breakfast at Ian’s as usual on Wednesdays. Then we went for a walk. Lucy attempted to go to a review meeting for Thomas at his day centre, but found out it was next week so came straight back home. Micah continued to work on his painting...it is so close to being done! After lunch we headed into town to try yet again to set up our new bank. We think we did it! We just need to be approved by the head office since we are not EU citizens! Then we did some window shopping while we were in city centre. When getting ready to walk back to the house, we ran into May and her friends! May practically lives in the city centre...she loves it there! Tonight we had a great dinner at the Ember with the community full of laughs about all the differences between US and British/Northern Irish English. It was great. Just a few of them for your enjoyment: the pronunciation of aluminium, garage and oregano are completely different, tarmac means driveway, pants means underwear, trousers means pants and a courgette is zucchini. These don’t even include all the slang phrases! Yikes it’s crazy here!
The weather has really changed here the last few days. We are intensely moving to autumn/winter. The wind has been blowing like mad and the temperature has dropped dramatically! It is taking some getting used to, but also makes us realize we have almost been here for 6 months, which is quite hard to believe!
One prayer request would be for Lucy’s headaches. They have been real bad over the past few months and she has a doctor’s appointment in about 1.5 weeks again to hopefully get some more help with them, but obviously God can take of it before! She won’t be mad!
We wish you all well this coming week! We think of you often despite the many miles between us!
Cami during her blindfolded cheese tasting challenge.
Rachel and Octavia
Jillian working hard on her painting! Emily (one of the new volunteers) in the background.
May and Jill painting away! Thomas and Larry didn't work on their projects nearly as long as these two dedicated spirits!
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