Its Just an Ordinary Day

As I have been settling in Belfast, it has come to my attention on how much I rely on routine. It came up because of the lack of routine I can now rely on. I think that I have needed that though. We all can have trouble reacting to change. I was ready for change of atmosphere but then was not prepared for the constant change within my environment. I will also experiencing with both congregations that I work with, the tearing down of their churches and facilities. This will happen right after Christmas. I will discuss later the magnitude of this for both congregations as they will have times to celebrate and remember the times shared in those buildings. It will always keep me guessing and never complacent hopefully. Well, since I work with two very different places, I thought to show 2 days in the life of a YAV in East Belfast. This post will be one of those days.

Tuesday

7:00-745am run around East Belfast normally running part of the greenway which is a 7-mile pathway of greenery lined with tons of blackberry bushes. I tend to smell the local bakery on the way back to my house on one of the large roads that I run through.

7:45-845am get ready for the day, which normally means making breakfast, turning on the water heater for the shower and dishes from breakfast, and of course getting dressed

9am I arrive at the offices of East Belfast Mission, where I sign in and then go to a weekly prayer meeting where most of the office meets for reflection and prayers

9:30-11:30am Pastoral Meeting- where the pastors meet and discuss the life of the church and the programs that go on, its kind of the behind-the-scenes for me and is a crash course for me in some ways of how the church functions through another angle.

11:30-1pm Office work, that constantly changes depending on what programs need some administrative work. Soon that time will be used to work on Christmas projects!

1pm-1:30pm Lunch at the Mission Cafe, a place within the East Belfast Mission family to provide people a place to eat at an affordable price and also supports a program called Meals on Wheels

1:30-3:00pm more office work of various sorts

3-4:30pm football (soccer) at Orangefield High School, a club just started by East Belfast Mission. Orangefield is a high school located in inner East Belfast. It doesn't get much funding so hopefully this will bring more attention and help to the school. I am not sure what my role will be there as I won't start that until the middle of November.

5:15-6:45pm go back to the house to make dinner and have a little time to relax by watching some tv or reading the local paper. It is a 20-minute walk back to my place and I am normally surrounded by the hustle and bustle of people trying to get home. I pass by my local library, my GP's office (doctor's office), the local butcher's shop and the smell of the fish and chips shop. Chips in Northern Ireland would be a french fries but thicker. If you want chips, you would ask for crisps. And if asking for a fry, you will get breakfast fare. I love everything being so local, the feel of the community is fantastic.

7pm chaperone two girls from inner East Belfast up to Dundonald on the metro bus to Re:act, a youth group that meets at one of EBM's member's houses

7:45-9:30pm Re:act, which I help facilitate with a couple from that live in Dundonald and are a part of East Belfast Mission (the church, rather than specifically the organization).

10pm I usually have a cup of tea and talk with my roommate Patricia about the day before going to bed not too much later, as I have to get up even earlier for the chance to run on Wednesdays.

Blooper of the Week: I remembered and set my clock back today but then still was late 5 minutes for church. The doors were closed and I had to go to the side entrance, which was locked but I had a key. I was forced either to wait where later I would do creche (nursery) or go through the door from creche to the door at the front of the sanctuary. Naturally, I waited in the creche room, rather than making a grand entrance in the front for all to see I was late (no one comes in through that door, only leaves).

Word of the Week: Chuffed, means happy and since its been a while I will give a couple more words common around here:

Pram is a stroller (which a lot more guys push around here, no matter the age, which I think is fantastic), Hob is the stovetop, Plaster is a band-aid, and Pavement is the sidewalk

Photo of the Week: they have many sayings and stories about the Titanic being built but my favorite that I have heard recently is, "The Irish built it but an Englishman sunk it."

With that I bid you a good week and it might be a while before I can write again as I will be away for the next two weeks in Donegal.