Thirty years ago, I spent a summer in ireland with a team of young Christians from all over the world through Operation Mobilization. We lived with families of a small church, and helped with children’s ministries, Bible studies, and door to door outreach.
When I think of Ireland, I think of a land, green and bursting with blooms from the soft, daily rain. I think of rainbows. I picture old men in tweed jackets and shilleIaghs walking through fields wtih wooly sheep, little girls breaking into joyous jigs, harp players on the street corner. I remember people who, when they spoke sounded like poetry set to music. People who valued conversation over activity and community over things. People with a long history, who had been wronged and conquered, but still carried on forward with as much of their culture as they could maintain. People who had deep seated traditions of faith, but who lived in current spiritual darkness.
One of the ways that we ministered in Ireland was to just talk to people, door to door, or in public areas. The Irish loved to talk, and were very interested in people from other places. We had a little brochure that we gave about the life of St. Patrick, and how he brought the gospel to Ireland. While they knew of St. Patrick, and his possible connection to Ireland having no snakes, they did not know the true spiritual story of St. Patrick. Maybe you don’t know the story of God’s providence for Ireland through the life of a man named Patrick. you can read it here.
Story of St. Patrick — DesiringGod.org
In the US, many celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green, marching in parades, and drinking way to much green beer. For my family, I always celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an Irish meal of ham or corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, scones, etc. I reminisce about my time in this beautiful land. We pray for the nation of Ireland.
Here are some prayer points, if you would like to pray for Ireland with your family on St. Patrick’s Day.
Operation World — Ireland
With Joy,
Kathleen
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