To recap the past few weeks....
Things at JIMS have been going as normal. I'm getting on really well with all of the kids and I feel very much accepted in many different friend-groups amongst the youth at JIMS.
Halloween weekend I got to go to Dublin to see Allie Harris. Allie and I have known each other since we were 7. We met a Christ Lutheran School/Church and we've been friends ever since. She's been an Au Pair in the Suburbs of Paris for the past year and a half. And she had some off time to travel so we met up in Dublin and hung out for a day or two.
In Dublin I got to walk around O'Connell Street and Grafton. Both are big shopping areas. I also got to wander around The Temple Bar area. That's famous for The Temple Bar and other pubs. I got to get coffee with Bailey's in it at the famous Bewley's. I was pretty bummed, I didn't get to do any major sight-seeing because it was a holiday weekend so everything I really wanted to see was closed. But it was a good weekend none-the-less.
Right now JIMS is preparing for a fundraiser for BBC's Children in Need. We are holding a Coffee Morning on Saturday and then in the evening there will be a Fashion Show/Talent Show. I have a fashion team put together with three of the kids I've been getting to know. The theme for the show is ''The Four Seasons.'' My team is doing Rainny Weather for Spring, complete with raincoats, wellies and umbrellas. Summer is a beach theme, Autumn is Turkey and Harvest Foods (Costumes naturally) and Winter is The Grinch.
I am very nervous for the show. So I ask for prayers to calm my nerves and that everything runs smoothly.

Thanks

Ellie O'Connor

So much is happening in Kilkeel. God is moving here and in everyone.
The past few weeks have been a real challenge to my faith but also a real blessing.
Northern Ireland is really starting to feel like home now. I now know most everyone in Kilkeel and they all know me...or at least know of me. I thought Stevensville and St. Joseph were tight-knit communities; they pale in comparison to Kilkeel. Everyone knows everyone and when in "outsider" is in Kilkeel everyone knows who they are.
JIMS is now in the full swing of things. We have Drop In every Friday and Saturday night from 7:30 to around 1 am. This is my favorite thing at JIMS. Basically kids, 4th year(freshman) and up, pay a £1 to get in and they just hangout. We have a pool table up stairs, an Xbox (complete with the new Fifa '12), the tuck shop, table tennis and playstation. There's also the upper-room. It's just a room with couches and people will just go up there to sit and chat. Like I said before, this is my favorite thing at JIMS. It really gives me a chance to get to know the kids, laugh, be crazy and unwind from the week.
This past weekend I got to meet some of the crew from YWAM. They are based in Rostrevor about a 15 minute drive from Kilkeel. They came and helped out with Drop In. Last night I went to the YWAM base for an open mic with a few of the youth that I work with and it was such a fun time. The YWAM crew is so welcoming and easy going, it was really nice to hangout with them and the youth I went with. It's good to get out of Kilkeel every once in a while.
While things are going so good for me there are my down times. I'm finding it hard to find people my age that I can confide in and be friends with. And I do get lonely sometimes, especially when I think of my family. I'm not homesick, but I miss my family terribly.
Pray for me
Pray that I find a friend to confide in. Pray for my family as this is a time of big changes for them. Pray that my faith and relationship with Christ will be a light leading others to a relationship with Him. Thank God for my housemates, thank Him that we get along well and we can rely on each other. Thank God that JIMS is a safe place for not just the youth of the community, but for everyone in Kilkeel. Pray that JIMS will continue to grow in Gods direction and continue to be a light for the community. Pray that I continue to grow in my relationship with God. Pray that I not be so worried about the little things.
Pray for Kilkeel.

Ellie O'Connor

Finally.

Here are some pictures of the town I'm living in.

Here is a picture of the house I am living in. It's called The Cornerstone and it's right in the church yard of the church I go to. I have four housemates, Glenn from Ohmagh not too far from Kilkeel, Jason from Chicago, Keri from South Carolina, and Peter from Belfast.

This is the view of some of the town from the park. The Mourne Mountains literally surround the entire county. You can see the mountains from almost everywhere in Kilkeel.

This is a shot of the harbour. Once again there are those mountains. Prince Charles and his wife actually came to the harbour this past Friday and the whole place was packed with people wanting to meet him.

I will try to post more pictures later

Saint Patrick's Breastplate

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,

Through the strength of his resurrection with is ascension,

Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of

Doom.

I arise today

Through thge strength of the love of Cherubim,

In obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In prayers of patriarchs,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to save me

From snares of devils,

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those

evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my

body and soul

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom,

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ

when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness,

Of the Creator of Creation.

Here

Well I made it.

I got into the Dublin airport around 10:35 am on Friday. My flight was long but good and timely. My boss, Ivan, and one of my coworkers, Megan, picked me up from the airport and drove me to my new home.

So far I like everything very much. My house is very cozy. It's right next to one of the churches and right across the street from a chippy and a convenient store. I have my own room and bathroom and an excellent view of the church yard and street. From my house, a walk to work is no further than 10 minutes and that's if I'm walking slowly.

My first day here was slow. After Ivan and Megan dropped me off at my house, which they call the Cornerstone, and showed me around they left me to unpack and unwind.

Yesterday two of my housemates moved in and I was able to explore the town and it is gorgeous here. I discovered from my house it's about a 5 minute walk to a bakery, ice cream shop, small grocery store (Like a Walgreens), Pound World (Dollar Tree), and Gordon's Chemist (sells shampoo, soap, meds, ect.). I walked down to the harbor, which is about a 20 minute walk. On the way to the harbor I found the main grocery story called ASDA that is about 15 minutes from my house. I found another Gordon's Chemist, a tea room/cafe, Neptunes Cafe, and a Chinese restaruant. Keep in mind on the way to the harbor I passed about 5 or 6 chippies and I intend to try them all...

I will upload pictures of the town as soon as I can. It really is very beautiful here. There's this park overlooking the sea that is only a 10 minute walk. And looking back at the town from the park I can see the Mourne Mountains surrounding the town. Truly breathtaking.

I will update more later and try to post pictures in the meantime.

Ellie O'Connor

Today

I leave from Chicago at 5:10 and should arrive in Atlanta around 8ish. From Atlanta I leave at 9:35 and should arrive in Dublin around 10:30 the next morning.

I am freaking out today. I ask everyone for prayers that the flight will go smoothly and timely. I haven't been on a plane since I moved back to the US from the Philippines when I was 5. I am very nervous about flying. Pray that I will be able to sleep on the plane. I also ask for prayers for my family. I am and have always believe that it is easier to leave than to be left. As hard as it is for me to leave my life here in Michigan, it is even harder for my parents and sibblings.

I am so excited for everything that awaits me.

God knows how to take care of me

Ellie O'Connor

Ten, Nine, Eight....

Ten days until I take off.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported me with their contributions.
My Visa was issued to me last week and today I began sorting through my clothes and packing.
Lots of weeding through item I can take, can't take, what I want to take....I am pretty limited in the space I have to bring things.

Decisions, decisions, decisions....

I ask for prayers as I say goodbye to lots of friends and as my packing and sorting continues.

Ellie O'Connor