Sunday January 2 we headed to church and then took the train to Carrickfergus. We got a deal on a ‘romantic’ night away. We didn’t know what to expect for dinner since it came with the package, but we were pleasantly surprised with the options! We were able to order any main course on the menu!! Since we are Mennonites and want the best value for money, we went with the most expensive items! Micah had a nice steak with potatoes and Lucy had grilled duck. After dinner, Micah decided to pass on his cold to Lucy. So Lucy felt pretty rubbish for the next few days, which wasn’t helped by loud neighbours causing little sleep! So much for the romantic night away!!
Looking back towards Belfast.
Monday began with a huge buffet breakfast. Then we tried to go see Carrickfergus castle, but we were there 1 of the 2 days per year it closes. So we walked along the sea and headed back to Belfast. Once home, Lucy didn’t leave bed for a few days. Micah did a great job taking care of her! Matthew (a long time friend of the community and new core member) moved in!!
Tuesday, Lucy was still in bed all day. Micah went to a team meeting and then worked in the office. Micah headed to the Ember for dinner and was able to meet the new live-in assistant, Susan from Germany.
Wednesday, Lucy was still in bed all day. Micah had a meeting in the morning about Root Soup with Maria and Allison. They came up with a new idea for fundraising and broadening the target area of Root Soup, called ‘A Touch of Nostalgia”. It will be social events, mainly targeting middle to upper aged people, including cinema nights and supper club events. The first event will be ‘A Dinner to Die For’, which will be a murder mystery supper. Root Soup will cater the events with nice food and will hopefully make a good profit! Wednesday night, Micah headed over to Joy and Bobby’s house. A friend that had been staying with Joy and Bobby made a Cajun meal for his farewell party. (He is from Louisiana.) The food was really nice (and Lucy got leftovers!).
Thursday was Lucy’s first day back among the living. It was a rest day, but we spent a lot of the morning cleaning and the afternoon building the chicken coop. Micah, Bobby, and Micah (Bobby’s friend) worked a few hours struggling to get anywhere. THEN, Sam came into the picture. Sam attends City Church and lives just down the road. Sam worked as a builder before his current job and he took over (in a good way) the building of the coop. Soon enough it had 4 walls, a roost and a door for the chickens! All that’s left is to put siding on, add roofing, build the run and build the nesting boxes. We really are almost to the point to buy chickens! Thursday evening, we headed to Peter and Jenna’s house (the MMN volunteers) to play cards.
On Friday, Micah and the clan headed up to the allotment. They got manure, worked in the freezing cold, dug soil from down the hill to transport to the allotment and went shopping for the chicken coop. Lucy worked in the office in the morning and the Ember in the afternoon.
On Saturday, we were in the Ember. Micah and Thomas went to Common Grounds to volunteer. Lucy and Jillian spent the morning browsing charity shops, having coffee, shopping at the green grocer and getting Jillian’s hair done. In the afternoon, Lucy and Jillian cleaned Jillian’s room. Micah helped Thomas with his laundry. In the evening, Thomas and the two of us headed over to Scott’s house to babysit his three kids. After a pizza dinner and a few games, the kids headed off to bed (except the youngest who really wanted to see mama). He eventually fell asleep in Micah’s arms.
On Sunday we went to church in the morning and then hung out at the Ember a bit, because James and Faythe were back for a visit. (James was an assistant when we got here and Faythe was the volunteer coordinator.) We enjoyed a nice dessert and a trip to the pub with the lads. The rest of the day was not too memorable.
Monday began with prayer and a team meeting. Micah had a meeting in the afternoon to further discuss Root Soup with Alison, Valerie and Maria. The big news of the day was the house across the road (which started collapsing on itself) is being torn down. Ever since we arrived, cracks had been growing on the top floor and before the New Year the roof and front of the top floor fell in. Nothing was done for awhile, but now it is being taken down bit by bit. The odd part is they are trying to save the other half of the duplex which is also cracking. The pictures explain it best!
Picture taken after the initial part fell in, before they started taking it down.
Guys from the City Council working on taking it down bit by bit.
Tuesday we worked in the office in the morning and afternoon. In the afternoon, Lucy got a pretty bad migraine, so she headed to rest yet again. Micah went with the rest of the community to the Loom (the prayer space in North Belfast) to pray and then have a welcome party for Matthew at the Ember. Lucy just rested.
Wednesday, Root Soup kitchen training began! The group met in the Ark to make sandwiches and assemble light supper boxes for a L’Arche fundraiser later on in the day. Lucy headed to women’s cell in the morning and then worked in the office in the afternoon. After work, we did some grocery shopping before heading the L’Arche cinema night. There is a theatre in Comber (a nearby village) that is used for charity events or private functions. It was a real success! A lot of people came and the movie was great!
Night at the Flicks.
Today, we had a rest day. Lucy had a meeting in the morning and since then we have packed and done errands for the trip to Portugal! Tonight we are going to babysit for Padraig and Porter (Joy and Bobby’s kids).
Tomorrow is our last day of work before holiday! Micah will be up at the allotment, building new raised beds. Lucy is in the Ember all day with the lads. One last day before a good, long, warm break!
We are really excited about our week in Portugal! It is suppose to be fairly warm and sunny and we should have plenty of time to relax! Pray for our safety in travel and that we take advantage of the opportunity to rest! And start preparing...2 months from Saturday we will be back in the States!!
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