Yes!  We are attempting to successfully deal with some big changes in the Enget house!  Saorsa has officially become a teenager and started Secondary School.  Phew!  The whole family is feeling the changes as they ripple through and slowly but surely take root in our hearts, minds, schedules, and wallets.     But we are so proud of the young lady she is.  And what a blessing she is to our lives!

It is also a new semester at the universities around Limerick and we – along with our fantastic intern – are working, planning and preparing for great and amazing changes in student’s lives.  We have been met with some significant challenges right from the “get-go” but are pressing through and believe that God can and will work around/through them.

Our church has also experienced some fantastic changes and we are desperately in need for larger facilities to rent, lease or (by the grace and power of God), possibly even buy!  Please be in prayer with us and our pastors concerning this.  We, as a congregation, just celebrated Abundant Life Christian Church’s 15th year!  It was a super anniversary celebration in remembering and walking through all that God has done.

So, yes, change IS in the air and we are ready for God to direct those winds of change towards Him and fill the air with His love and power.  Amen!

Our lives, both as individuals and as a family, are closely and intimately intertwined with SFC (as we refer to it)  but more adequately called Students For Christ.  So what exactly IS Students For Christ?  SFC is an ever-growing and changing community with and of university students, together growing in relationship with Jesus Christ; encouraging and challenging one another in our varied journeys of faith.  It’s sharing our lives both good and bad with students in an attempt to show the love of Jesus and be transparent examples of what it means to have daily relationship with God and recognising Him throughout both the mundane and fantastic.  It’s a lifestyle with eternity in sight.

We have had a challenging and yet rewarding semester.  We have had the pleasure to see several new students come into our SFC community and some of those to come into new relationship with Jesus.  (Angels rejoicing!)  And there are those who have now graduated from University and we’ve had to say our goodbyes to.  We’ve prayed with students, listened to students, talked with students and walked through some very difficult situations and life issues with students.  And God has faithfully shown Himself  to be all that we know He is.  It has also been such a joy to have our first intern,Ellie, working with us.  She has truly become a part of the family and a vital part of the ministry and logistical work.  She has also been a huge blessing to us on so many levels and we do our very best to keep her good and busy.

Bible Courses, Discipleship, SFC weekly meetings, BBQ/Game Night, Girls’ Night Out, coffee & chats with students……

And now, we look forward with renewed vision to the next school year.  We feel and anticipate that God has a fantastic plan for what’s ahead this Fall.   And in the meantime, is our summer SFC Europe Conference being held this year in Budapest with other students ministries from around the world along with numerous outreaches.  Woohoo!  There’s loads more to come….

HELLO!!!  Did you ever have one of those days,……those months,…..where everytime you sit down to do something there’s a million other things shouting out for your attention??!?  Wow!  That pretty well sums up the last few months for us.  BUT first and formost I must start by saying,

WE ARE SOOO HAPPY TO BE HOME IN LIMERICK, IRELAND!!! Even if it does mean that we are running around like madmen, at times. 

God has been so very, very good to us and we shout praises to Him for all His provision, protection, guidance, and blessings over the last several months.  So, what has happened since Thanksgiving??  Hmmm……let’s see if I can give you a brief (though inadequate) overview of our last 3 months.  Here goes.  Sunday Services, Wednesday services, packing, school tests (for the girls), packing, sorting, cleaning, packing, mailing, visiting, Christmas, packing, paperwork/paperwork/paperwork, packing, crying, Goodbyes, flying and more flying (woohoo!), coming home, cheers!, cleaning, sleeping, unpacking, cleaning, unpacking, sorting, shopping for school, unpacking, cleaning, meeting with students, back to school (for girls), meeting with friends, paperwork, church ministry, SFC, mentoring, teaching, cooking for students, training and working with our intern, sharing the LOVE of JESUS!!  Phew!  And believe me, that doesn’t even come close to giving you an adequate picture.

And did I mention that much of that did not include Brent??!?  For those of you who didn’t know, Brent seriously damaged his back during all the packing and sorting to leave the States and was left on bedrest for several weeks while Lori and the girls headed out on their own.  He was able to join the family for a couple of weeks at home in Ireland but then flew back to the States to do some final itineration.  He has traveled miles and miles over the last 5+ weeks and is anxious to get back on a plane to Ireland.

So,…are we busy?? Uhm,…..YES!!  Crazy??  Sometimes I wonder.  However, even when the life schedule seems to be racing by in a blur, WE LOVE what we do!!  There’s nothing like “being” in just the place God wants you.  There’s nothing like loving the life God has given you and using every moment to shine for Him, honour Him, and let Him love through you.  HE is amazing!

We are so thankful for you!   We are thankful for your prayers both for our family and for the University students of Ireland.  We love what we do and can hardly wait to get back.  According to a recent headline in a Irish newspaper, our job has grown in just the few months that we have been away.

“More students than farmers in Ireland, latest figures show” RECORD NUMBERS of students are enrolling in third-level colleges amid continuing uncertainty about employment prospects. The current academic year has seen unprecedented demand at the Central Applications Office (CAO), with applications up over 8 per cent… (Irish Times – 11 November 2009)

Isn’t that amazing?!!  We have an even greater challenge ahead of us and even more opportunity to see a nation changed.  We are counting down the days until our return to Ireland.

We hope and pray that you have a fantastic Thanksgiving Holiday surrounded by friends and family and that you know and experience God’s favor, provision, and incomparable love for you.  You are valuable to Him.

Take a moment with me and picture in your mind a large, strong arm with a hand at the end reaching out to gently touch someone or to  offer a piece of bread.  Interpretation—the hand is us, the Engets…… the missionaries.  All of our fingers are working and responding to the needs presented to us.  We are touching lives that come across our path with the gentle and embracing love of Jesus.  The arm is YOU.  You, the arm, extends the hand to reach out.  The arm mobilizes us to get to the various places where we can touch more lives with the Gospel.  The strong arm is able to lift the hand to places it could not reach on it’s own and with the strong arm there is strength to lift what the hand could not lift on it’s own.  But if the arm is weak and unsupportive, we, the hand are very limited in what we can accomplish.  We hear the brain (Our heavenly Father) giving us our instructions and direction and we are fully functioning, but limited without the proper support and strength of the arm.  Will you be a part of strengthening the arm that supports us?  Will you work with us to reach the hurting and lost Irish students? 

Our SFC students in Limerick are doing their best to carry on while we are away, but are struggling.  Please pray for them and for our speedy return to them.  Thank you for being such a vital part of what we do and what God is doing through us!

The only thing truly predictable about missionary life whether Stateside or overseas, is how unpredictable it is.  To call it “an Adventure” would almost be an understatement.  It’s a “Great Adventure”; though, that in no way diminished from the difficulties that are consistently presenting themselves.  And what have we learned so far on this Great Adventure??  I believe our family has learned and is learning the constant life choices we have to make.  Choosing to look at life and the constant change we face as missionaries from the top of the hill; always striving to look up rather than down.  Again, this in no way removes the hurts, the struggles or the stress.  And I would be lying if I said we always saw the silver lining of the clouds.  But we are learning that our attitudes and our choice of perspective makes all the difference.  Of course, our Heavenly Father is right there with us, as well.  He is the one who is always pointing the direction we need to be looking.  The question is,….are we looking for Him?  Are we watching where He’s pointing or are we too caught up in the daily stresses of life to notice that He’s even there?  Our girls are learning to find His handprint, to notice God’s presence when they are stressed about how different school is here in America.  When they feel they can’t struggle through another assignment they don’t understand fully.  We are even learning to see God’s hands at work in the lives of those who live around us and those whom we meet briefly at each new church.  And we are blessed!  God IS good!  He is so faithful. HE is unchanging and I’m so glad that is true.  My trust is in Him,…..that’s my choice no matter where I am.  So, we are halfway through our six months Stateside and counting down the days to our return to Ireland.  But our eyes must remain focused on Christ, our resolution firm in the kind of attitude that keeps us looking up.  There’s a lot of work to be done and a lot of life to live to the full.  What an Adventure!

Have you ever felt like a stranger in a place you thought was familiar?  That’s the position we often find ourselves in now back in America.  It amazes us how much of our adopted culture (Ireland) we have taken to heart and live from day to day without even thinking about it.  Our way of life in Ireland has become familiar and comfortable to us and now we find the American way of life a challenge.  Funny, isn’t it?  But it is a good thing.  We know and believe it’s what God has intended for us.  Since landing in very hot and humid Oklahoma, USA, we have hit the ground running – almost literally.  We had four days to begin to adjust to our new time zone and get over jet-lag, then we were off to Springfield, Missouri, for our Missions training/debriefing/renewal.  Driving on the right side of the road again did pose a few challenges from time to time – particularly when turning from one street to another.    But we have survived so far.  Ha!  After a few weeks time we set off from Springfield on our long journey towards the great state of Montana.  This too was not without it’s exciting moments when we quite suddenly came upon the beginnings of a tornado just south of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  As we watched the debris being blown across the road and feeling as though our car would be taken along with it, we were reminded of how volatile the weather could be in America and how thankful we are for God’s protecting hands.  

It was a joy to once again drive across the beautiful prairies of North Dakota and through the badlands.  We had the pleasure of stopping at the Roosevelt National Park where the girls were able to see live buffalo up close and personal.  They were actually lying in the road – a sizable herd of them.  The girls were overjoyed to see the amazing animals they had only read about in school in Ireland.  Then we were off to cross the immense state of Montana.  Driving across the high line of the state gave us plenty of time to practice our driving skills back in America.  Once we reached the mountains, we were all thrilled by the change of scenery and the majestic beauty that welcomed us.  We drove approximately 12 hours that day to end in a small town in the northwest corner of Montana, Hungry Horse.  This is where Grandma and Grandpa live (Brent’s mom and stepdad).  That statement alone should speak volumes to those who have children and grandchildren.  Thank you God that Your hand is with us no matter where we go or how we get there.  He is a Great God!

  A day in the life of a missionary family…. 

     Wake the girls one last time from their beds in our home, Get everyone a quick and simple breakfast and pack the last of the kitchen things away.  Wash the last few items of clothes and linens to be packed in the suitcases.  Welcome in the neighbors who have come over to say their goodbyes.  Help the girls each finish packing their bags for the plane and put away the last few things in their rooms.  Cry with our girls as they say goodbye to their friends and with our pastor and his wife as they help us to load the car.  One last look through the house we call home; the house that has been a place of worship, discipleship, teaching, counseling,    healing, training, and love for dozens of students.  Close the door and cry together as we leave the land of our calling, our passion, our home.  Though every day holds its own unique joys and challenges, this day was especially bittersweet for us.   No, the goodbyes were not permanent and yes, we most definitely plan on returning.  But those facts are hard to focus on in these moments. 

        Over the last  3 1/2 years, we have poured ourselves out as a family spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically.  We have given all we have to  embrace our adopted culture, learn to relate/communicate to those around us, and share Jesus in both words and action.  We have used our skills, our talents and at times just a simple desire to serve and be used of God.  Has it been worth  it all??  Would we be ready to do it all again??  Without any reservation, our entire family cheers in unison “YES, YES, YES!!”  And we anticipate our speedy return to the land that holds our hearts…..Ireland.

Hmmm….so first of all,….what is your comfort zone? It is the atmosphere, group of people, or situation in which you feel at ease or comfortable.  Your comfort zone is not a bad thing.  We all have one.  But sometimes our comfort zone is not very large and/or we are not very good at pushing ourselves outside of it.  Do you think Jesus had a comfort zone?  Well, whether or not He did, we do know that according to Scriptures He was a friend to sinners and often ate with them.  I think you could safely say that Jesus was comfortable around sinners.  That being said, I have to ask,…..why aren’t most Christians?  It is my belief that many Christians feel the need to “protect” themselves from the world.  Yes, the Bible does say that we are to be “in the world, but not of it”, but the interpretations of that have gone a bit awry.  Jesus said that we are to be the salt & light of the world.  Neither of those things can be accomplished when we hold ourselves apart from the world.

Since coming to Ireland, most of the people we are around on a daily basis are unbelievers.  I admit, it took me quite some time to feel truly comfortable with this.    My comfort zone had to be stretched.  And that is just what God has done.  It was only just recently that I came to realize how much God had changed me and in the process has used me – used us (our family) – to be salt, to be light in Ireland.  To show the love of Jesus in our everyday lives to the people we see/meet/contact everyday and to be the tool through which the Holy Spirit draws them unto Christ.  (Thank you, Pastor Ed!)  I have to say, we love living life this way.  Why don’t you give it a try?