Holly's Blarney

Walletless in Barcelona

I had just taken the train from the airport into the centre of Barcelona. I was transferring down to the metro when my wallet was stolen. I went to put my metro pass in my wallet, but when I went into my bag it was gone. The distress & panic that over took me was horrific. I was instantly aware of my aloneness & lack of Spanish. Then began the instant list in my head of all that was taken; €350, US driver's license, Austrian driver's license, Irish immigration card, 1 credit card, 2 bank cards, the yellow fun wallet that I loved, & my emtional security. 

I was walletless yet God sent angels. I felt so alone & couldn't stop shaking, but God kept sending me help. Angels came in the form of, Mary, Steve B, Ana, & Gladys (a Spanish woman I had never met), a kind Spanish policeman, AIB teller that cared, & a genuinely concerned voice at the end of the phone at my credit card company. In 3 flights of stairs my excitment for Spain was gone, luckily my phone & passport were still present. Mary & Steve began texting me phones to cancel my bank cards & visa. One of my angels even instatnly wired me money through Western Union.

A lot of things were taken from me that morning, but my lovely mama told me that she believed that God would return everything to me & more. I am taking her words & trusting in God's goodness. I return to Ireland this evening. Soon I am going to be navigating the trains again, but I will be repeating (possible out loud at times...that should scare them off) "I am NOT alone!" I return to Ireland walletless, but keenly aware that angels exsist & that God sends them right on time!

 

This is where it all went down...coming down the stairs on the right.

Palm Sunday Sermon

Palm Sunday at Dublin West was an all age service organized & planned by the teens (with a lot of help from Dave & myself ;) ) I delivered the sermon. We read the Luke passage out before I spoke & had the children & different parts of the congregation yell out the sounds of the passage. It definitely brought the Bible to life! Here is an MP3 of the sermon. Go easy on me as it was my first sermon! (New prayer letter coming to a mailbox near you in the next week)

Download Holly Davis-Psalm Sundaymp3  (click this link & it should download to your computer)



Here is a photo of the Palm Branches that people wrote on & laid down in expectation of what God could do with their hopes! (must listen to sermon to fully understand)

Connect Review

What a great weekend in Kilkenny at Connect! It was not a weekend without challenges though; I went to drive down only to discover a flat & find out I need four new tires, one of the leaders wives got sick once he left home & he had to return to Dublin, another leader got a wax earplugs stuck in his ear & spent a whole morning in the ER. The craziest of all the challenges turned out to be the best. Just as Andrew beginning the Saturday evening main stage talk the power in ALL of Kilkenny went out! The whole entire town lost power! So what do you with 300 students...we began singing. We had an hour of spontaneous worship. We then hooked up a sound system to a lad's car & had a disco. We were having so much fun that when the power came back on 4 hours later, the teens began to boo. We turned the lights back off & kept dancing!

If you would like to see the main stage talks here are the video links:

Welcome: (Alex, Linda, & myself)

Main Stage 1 (Alex & Suzie)

Main Stage 2 (Jonathan & myself)

Main Stage 3 (Andrew & Suzie)

Main Stage 4 (Tim & myself)

I did not get many photos as I was a little preoccupied ;) There was a guy there taking photos for us & once we receive the cd of photos, I will post more.

The boys prepping for their one of many movies.

Who's got my shoes?!

The power went out & we found a stash of glow-sticks. The teens started spellings out to entertain themselves.

Peter leading worship with power.

Tim & I on main stage during our talk.

The Busy Week Ahead

I returned from Chicago last wk & I have been too busy to experience jet-lag. That is a good thing or a bad thing depending on whether you are a glass half full or half empty kinda human. I am going to go good thing this time around.

This weekend is the nation wide youth retreat, Connect, down in Kilkenny. I will be heading down on Wednesday to start help setting up with the rest of the steering committee. We have been praying & planning for this weekend for almost a year now. This is the big event! It all comes together this weekend! We would all covet your prayers as 350 students from around country gather together.

The music is being lead by two different church bands, one of them being my church Dublin West Community Church. Peter is one of the leaders & Dave is playing the drums.

I myself will be speaking during two main stage teachings times with two different men, Jonathon & Tim. Saturday morning Jonathon & I are talking about "Who do we connect to?" & Sunday morning Tim & I am speaking on "How do we stay connected?" I am also do a break session called "Holly's Kitchen" on Friday evening.

(Here are a few shots from my reunion time in Chicago. It was so fun to see everyone! It was encouraging to hear what God has been doing in all our lives.)

(there were a lot more people at the reunion then this, but unfortunately they didn't come to the reunion room straight away & missed the shot. )

Chicago

My college friends surprised me with an airplane ticket so that I can attend our 10 year reunion! I'm sitting on the plane right now giddy as all get out! I'm so grateful for this gift & blessing that I'm sure the week will bring! They are closing the airplane doors, better sign off :)

10 Year Reunion in Chicago

If all else fails, at least I can Ice Dance!

The teens went Ice Skating. We had a glorious time sliding around on the ice. I told the girls to bust a move on the ice & this is what happened...the ice dance routine of the year!!

The Christmas Tree outside the Ice Rink

Girls on ice; JoJo, Elyssa, & Tegan

Dave helping Tegan improve her moves.

We got free 7-UP & green hats because we were a group & the ice rink is sponsored by 7-UP.

A lovely evening was had by all, laughes all around!

Locked gates

Just another day in Ireland! We had a church mtg tonight. I turned left at the round about, but instead of driving through the gates into the community centre I found this... Everyone piled up in the cars as the gates were locked. Leaders were parking us like sardines. It is freezing here tonight, yet we all got out of our cars & had a laugh. Life in Ireland is good!

Wanna Pray but don't know where to start??

Yesterday people across the globe were praying for Europe. G.E.M. put together this great tool: virtual prayer walk through Europe. All you need to do it click on a country & if it's available click "pray for  _____". Another smaller window will pop up that displays photos & facts about the country you have chosen. Praying hasn't been this interactive in years!!!! Don't forget to click the red button "I have prayed". You will then see how many people have prayed for that country & many others.  Get your prayer on!

Time in Austria

I am currently sitting in Linz, Austria! I flew to Vienna last wknd to visit a new couple with GEM, Danielle & Bobby Harnist. Danielle use to be in the MN youth group that I worked with. She is now a full grow adult with a husband a year of living in Austria under her belt :) Her folks have been dear friends of mine for ages as they, Denise & Mark, were volunteers in the MN youth group. I spent an evening with my friends, Claudia, Tommi, & Mikey. I stayed with the beloved Eric & Christy & their two lovely girls. The weekend warmed my heart & refilled some of my empty "tank". Here are few shots from the wknd off my phone...better ones to come later when I can get online with own computer. I'll write about my time here in Linz when it's over, but I will tell you that Linz is gorgeous in the fall!!! I feel very blessed today!

 

Claudia & I at the lovely little dinner she had prepared for us

 

Denise Gjerde & I at my new favorite Cafe in Vienna- Cafe Central. This is where the intellectuals use to hang out back in the 1800 & 1900's.