We begin a new week in Northern Ireland with our usual tasty breakfast at Farset Hostel. Linda Noonan shared devotions, finishing with a wish for us to be blessed and to be a blessing. The group walked down to Forthspring Community Center with the desire to be blessings by accomplishing a number of tasks while we are there.
We are very happy to report that we indeed accomplished a great deal of the work on our list while enjoying each others' gifts and graces and good humor. Deb painted the outdoor, concrete window ledges at the Sisters' home. Paul and Mary Ann weeded and planted with the Forthspring voluntary gardener, Linda in the beautiful backyard enhanced by flowers and vegetables. Pam cleaned and scraped the wooden deck in the backyard, to prepare it for a sealing compound that other Forthspring volunteers will apply, whenever there is a dry day (?) Our Linda painted a door that opens off the deck.
While all of this was happening in the back, Rob, Rod, Martin, Mike and Chris were busy finishing off the capstones on the front brick wall. The capstones were drilled and bolted and sealed off, resulting in a strong, handsome entranceway for the building. Chris moved a wall safe. Rod and Chris fixed the gate between the front and back portions of the yard. Jane and Paula hand sewed a large rip in the recreation room sports net. Martin, Rod, Deb and Mike prepared and hung a plexiglass shield for a TV set in the recreation room, to protect the flatscreen from flying balls during sporting games in the multi-purpose room. Lyle was on hand to help and encourage the various workers and Linda followed us all around with Henrietta, the canister vacuum cleaner.
In the midst of all the projects we broke for lunch with the President of the Irish Methodist Church, Rev. Heather Morris and District Superintendent Richard Johnson. It was a great honor for us to have them join us. We enjoyed our meal which included home made scones with jam and cream with home made fruit tarts (pies) from the kitchen and hands of Sisters Bridget and Gillian.
As tokens of our connection, respect and affection we presented President Rev. Moore with a prayer blanket from the VIM team that had been prayed over by members of the Burnt Hills UMC. Rev. Morris expressed heartfelt appreciation and confirmed a continued support from the Methodist Church of Ireland for the programs at Forthspring.
We were also blessed with the opportunity to present prayer blankets during this day to Ruth, Manager at Farset Hostel who extends warm hospitality to us each year, Mandy who assists us and Forthspring in many significant ways and Charlene who works with the children in the afterschool "Springers" program at Forthspring. Each of these women are very appreciated for their generous thoughtfulness and dedication to the West Belfast community.
The staff of Forthspring also presented each team member with a goodbye gift -- all were beautiful wall hangings consisting of Gaelic symbols of Christianity and friendship.
The evening consisted of a delicious meal at the Crown Bar in the City Center. It was very pleasant to spend our last night in Belfast at a historic building enjoying the blessings of good food, laughter, conversation and the excitement of the approaching visit to Corrymeela.
Shalom, Paula Miller
Working at Forthspring:
Prayer Blankets from BHUMC Given to President Morris, Christine and Mandy
Forthspring gives the Team gifts:
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