Ireland and Northern Ireland 2009

Posted September 1, 2009

Dearest Friends,

MORE STORIES

Each afternoon and evening as we shared on the street, we had friends out in the crowd who were talking with people. In truth, we have more stories than can be written. God called hundreds and hundreds to stop and listen. Thousands of people heard about the hope that only Jesus gives as the 10 days of touring finished.

The band passed out over 5,000 free CDs of their music and a testimony on the streets. Time and again we heard the same statement. People said "I’ve never heard these stories before. There is something different about your faces. What is it you have?"

1)Raymond is a Nigerian man who was offended by the hypocrisy that he saw in his family that professed to be Christian. He hated God. After an hour of conversation with our friend Padraig, he began to see the difference between real faith and empty words.

2)After we left Galway, a lady that we had talked with on the street went to the church that we were working with and planned to start attending services. Praise God!

3)We saw many people standing on the street reading the Christian literature that the band and churches provided.

4)James was a man who was into spiritualism who was very confused about the source of the power behind those beliefs. He did not understand anything about Satan. Many here are devoted to beliefs that they do not realize are much more than non-Christian. They dismiss God, but also fail to recognize Satan’s influence in their lives.

5)Many times on the street, I told the story of the prodigal son. I was amazed at how responsive people were to the idea that God their Creator waits to welcome them home and become God their Father.

6)One friend that we met 2 years before on the street in Dublin came to see us. When last we saw him, he was homeless and had not trusted in Jesus as his savior. He wanted us to know that he had become a Christian and now has a home. When I asked him how it happened, he stated that he had no choice. God pursued, he won! Please hold him in your prayers.

THE PRICE OF A YOUNG GIRL

There are so many homeless people on the streets in Ireland and the numbers are growing. Two young girls, in their late teens, settled into sleeping bags on Grafton Street and spent the night. We came across them as we were setting up for a show and they were sound asleep. At some point of the program, one of them woke up and left with a young man.

I overheard a conversation that broke my heart. She had sold herself for a diet coke and something to eat. I wanted to weep, but more I wanted to do something. Anna and I went to buy food for them that we could help and tell them about Jesus. As we returned with the food, the Guarda (the police) were dragging them away.

I cannot get their faces out of my mind. Please pray for these 2 young girls to discover real love at the foot of the cross. God knows their names. Only Jesus can restore their dignity and give them hope. Only faith in Christ can give them a sense of worth and purpose. Please ask the Father to send believers to them who can help them and tell them about Jesus.

SAFE HOME

In hours, we leave for the airport. We will arrive home on Wednesday afternoon after 4 in the afternoon. As our Irish friends say, "Pray us safe home."

ETERNALLY GRATEFUL

Only in heaven will the Father give Sam and Silvana Shaw and the members of Reality the true reward that their labors have earned. The team and I have spent the last 2 and a half weeks traveling with heroes, people who love Jesus with Passion. I am eternally grateful to all of them for the privilege!

Read more about the wonderful things that God is doing through Sam and Silvana Shaw by visiting their website www.godshandiwork.org

Enjoy the music of our friends in the Irish band reality by visiting their website at www.realitynet.co.uk

Thank you for praying!

In Jesus,

Linda for

Sam Shaw- Assistant director

Silvana Shaw

Naomi Armstrong-USA team member

Joe Streett

Alex Chaney

Posted August 30, 2009

Dearest Friends,

BLESSINGS IN DUBLIN

Everyone is quick to tell you that Europeans are not interested in the Gospel. However, hundreds and hundreds of people who stood on Grafton street this afternoon and tonight would prove that statement false. Many stayed for more than one set with the band and the puppets. What a wonderful miracle!

This great blessing was not without opposition as the Irish police stopped us after only an hour in the afternoon, despite the fact that we were legally there. In the evening, they encouraged us to keep going and showed us favor. In the last few days, we battled wind that threatened to make our stage a giant box kite. We trusted the Father to keep us warm and to stop the rain so that we could share. We truly found the joy of the Lord to be our strength as all of us grew tired from sleeping on church floors. Tonight the Lord lovingly removed the drummers who played louder every time that we tried to share last night. All of the harassing drunks were even absent tonight.

The following are just some of the awesome things that we saw the Father do. It is now past 1:30 in the morning here and I must be up in hours for church, so I will just share a little bit tonight and the rest in my next email.

LAUREN’S STORY

A lovely lady named Lauren who was out for an evening with her friends stopped and listened to the program tonight. After I finished telling the story, she came over to speak to me. She said that she had heard something that she had never heard before and wanted to talk. I shared my testimony with her and talked with her for a long time. I told her that she could ask Jesus to be her Savior and her king right now. She told her friends to wait and prayed with me, calling on God to forgive her and asking Jesus to be her Savior. Then she said, "I believe! I believe!" Please pray for her as she discovers who Jesus is in her life.

TWO LADIES

Josie and Cathleen grew up in a church, but were drawn to the songs and stories that they heard tonight. They talked with me for quite a while and listened intently as I shared with them how Jesus had written His love across every page of my life and wanted to do the same for them. Please pray for these sweet ladies from London and Dublin who need to have a personal relationship with Jesus.

DADDY, PLEASE

An Italian family that had seen our show in Galway came to me after we finished and said,"My children heard the story but cannot understand it. They beg me to tell them what you say. I cannot follow the words.They want to know the story, please." We agreed that I would send him an email with the story written out in English so that he could take his time and translate it. Is there anyone who can write the story for me in Italian so that I can be sure that his little girls hear the story of Jesus?

Rejoice with us and continue to pray for us as we share in a church and then travel to the north.

In Jesus, Linda for all the puppeteers and the band

Posted August 29, 2009

Dearest Friends,

ONE HEART

We are nearing the end of our adventure, traveling across Ireland with our band friends in Reality. Now, we are in Dublin and sharing with hundreds of people at each program. It is wonderful! All of us are so excited. In truth, we represent 4 ministries. We have directors of 3 puppet teams (France, Ireland, and America) and the band. I love how the Father lets us work together. There is the sweetest spirit among us, no competition, just a desire to serve and be a blessing. We truly enjoy one another’s company. No matter how rough it is on the street, we always have each other’s fellowship to remind us that we always have His fellowship! God is so good to us!

PRAYER AND PRAISE

1. Please pray for us as we are doing 2 sets of street shows on Grafton Street in Dublin today, Saturday.
2. Please pray , asking the Father to give us a good spot to set up our equipment, where there are good crowds.
3. Please pray for safety as there are some very broken people on the streets. The drunks are out at afternoon and very aggressive.
4. Please pray for patience and a sweet spirit for all of us .Last night, a drunk man wanted to dance with me. We all need to show God’s grace as we deal with these situations.

In Jesus,

Linda for Sam, Silvana, Naomi, Joe, Alex, and Anna

Posted August 27, 2009

Dearest Friends,

HOPE AND FEAR

We have now travelled to Castlebar and Westport, in the West of Ireland. Yesterday, we set up on an outdoor mall and watched as the Father did a wonderful thing. So many people came and listened. The crowds were better than we expected and it did not rain. We are blessed.

These towns are hard places for the Gospel because people have 2 big problems here. First, they are very comfortable and live in such pretty places that it is easy to ignore your heart’s need. Second, most people here have heard about God all their lives but most would define being a Christian as being good. They do not know about Jesus as someone who died in their place to take their punishment for their sin and give them real hope.

As I told the stories yesterday, I looked into so many eyes that mirrored the struggle of their hearts. Some were smiling, some were not. Some were old and many were children, but as I looked into their eyes, I saw the same fight. Hope struggled with fear. Too many were too afraid to embrace hope, Jesus. I beg you to pray for these towns as fear rules too many people’s lives here. Recently, there were 3 people stabbed in this county and these events have shocked many people. Some who watched the puppets and listened to Reality yesterday confessed their fears to me. Ask the Father to use these events to show people their heart’s needs. Please pray that they will choose hope that they will choose Jesus.

HURTING PEOPLE

I am so surprised at how total strangers will come up to me and tell me their deepest pains. In Tralee, a father brought his 12-year-old daughter and 8-year-old twins to watch the puppet show. He told me that he was so happy that we were talking about Jesus. The Father was a Christian and hurting. His wife had died 4 months earlier at the age of 38. The children desperately missed their mother who was also a believer.

God’s Word says that "we comfort with the comfort that we have been given". I have been given comfort, so by God’s grace, I was able to love that family in a special way. I told them Mike’s story, shared my certainty of heaven and spoke with them of the Father’s deep love and concern for them. Sam and I carry special books for children with us. We made them a gift of a children’s Bible and other Bible story books. I encouraged them to lean on Jesus and trust their Mom to a faithful heavenly Father, even as I trust that God loves Mike and me and has only good plans for us. Please pray for these children and their father.

PRAYER NEEDS

1. Please pray for a travelling organ builder, a German journeyman, that I met on the streets in Tralee after he watched our program. He does not know Jesus, but accepted a Bible and literature in German.
    
   
2. Please pray for dear lady that I met at a church. I always miss my dear grandchildren when I travel and so I helped and so I helped a mom with little ones. She thought that I was a blessing to herm but I assure you that she and the children blessed me more. Please pray for her husband to discover deep faith.
    
   
3. Please pray for mothers and fathers to stop dragging their children away from our shows. As soon as I say "Jesus", they become offended. The children look backwards, still trying to listen, as they are dragged away. Please pray!
    
   
4. Please pray for Julie-Ann and Emmett who came to the puppet show yesterday. Julie-Ann spoke to Michelle while the puppet show was happening. She said, "You have what I have been looking for, not religion something real." Please pray for them to trust in Jesus!
    
   
5. Please pray for 2 more outreaches in this area and our shows in Dublin beginning on Friday. We all want to be faithful servants and see many discover a relationship with Jesus.

In Jesus,

Linda for the team

Posted August 26, 2009

Dearest Friends,

We have so many blessings to share with you, but we also have had many challenges. Everything we cover with prayer, knowing that there is no problem that God cannot handle. First I will share with you the blessings. Each day we work with dear friends from a local church. As the band sings, we do puppets and I tell stories, people pass out free CDs and free Christian books to the children. The CDs have a Gospel message with them and the children's books have a letter in them that explains how a child can know Jesus. Also, we have a new website for the children where they can see more puppet shows and watch more stories. It is www.thegreatstoryteller.com.

All of us have such hope that the Lord will call many of these that we have shared with to Himself. We want to see heaven full of people from the crowds who have watched the band and the puppets. Pray with us.

BLESSINGS

1. The rain at first seemed a problem, but it became a blessing as the band members took to the streets to share while we did a puppet show in the rain. Our equipment will dry, but the amount of water we had would have destroyed their equipment.
    
   
2. Outside a pub, 2 of the band members who could not sing due to the rain shared with Arthur. He said that he was nobody. They explained to him how God knows him and cares for him. They told him about Jesus. As Michelle shared the story with us, we all agreed with her that truly this was a God-ordained meeting. Please pray for Arthur to come to Jesus.
    
   
3. As soon as I said the name of Jesus, one family immediately left. They were from Germany and not very open, but listened long enough to hear a lot about Jesus. Pray for them.
    
   
4. One friend saw a man walk by and just asked him a question: "Have you ever heard the true Gospel?" We all laughed when he told the story because it was not a great way to start a discussion. Unbelievably, the man stopped and said, "no". Then he talked about Jesus for half an hour with our friend Padraig.
    
   
5. One man who stopped to talk was a scientist with many questions. He talked with Kathryn and Dana, two band members who were sharing on the street since they could not sing. He had opened the Bible for the first time in 25 years just recently. He told our friends that he thought it was interesting that they had showed up to talk to him. They talked all evening in the rain. Pray for him to trust Jesus.
    
   
6. Anna shared with two French tourists in their own language. They were classical musicians and atheists, but tonight they heard about Jesus. Anna is the Director of our lead French puppet team.
    
   
7. Tonight we saw a man who was reading a tract. He had heard us this afternoon and came looking for us to find a Russian speaker so that he could better understand. Lucia speaks beautiful Russian and they talked a very long time. He promised to come to church tomorrow. Pray for him.
    
   
8. A man wrote from Tralee and thanked the band for the CD that he had received 2 days ago at a street show. He told us that he could not stop playing it.
    
   
9. People from all over the world are on the streets of Galway. I spoke with an Italian couple, 2 ladies from Israel, and 2 German Christians who work with children, all in one night. Others talked with people from Poland.
    
   
10. A sweet man and his wife found us in the rain in the evening to thank us for what they had heard in the afternoon. One of them was not a believer, but enjoyed the program anyway. They were both so kind and encouraging. If we had paid attention to the rain, we would have stayed home and missed them.
     
    
11. Some people listened to our entire program from their third floor apartments, even taking photographs.
     
    
12. An English puppet team from Cambridge stopped to encourage us.
     
    
13. A Malaysian student prayed on the street today, asking Jesus to be his Savior. Praise God!
     
    
14. I had the joy of acting out the story of Zaccheus and the miracles of Jesus because it was raining too hard to draw. Amazingly people stopped to listen.
     
    
15. The town council allowed us to share in the park and waived the normal charge of $800. What a miracle!

CHALLENGES

The drunks in this city are aggressive. All of us have heard an ocean of cursing and threats. As I said the name of Jesus tonight, one lady said, "Jesus is xxxx xxxx." Another man called me a witch. I do not understand how being drunk affects your eyesight, but it must. I am working with a team of lovely young ladies, and twice I have been kissed on the cheek by a drunk. A homeless man gave me an umbrella that he had stolen from a hotel to thank me for the story. His name is Patrick, and every year that we are in Galway, he dances with the puppets and the band as they sing. The weather is always a challenge, but God is always faithful!

It is very strange, but all of us agreed that doing a show in the rain last night was the biggest blessing. We were all so wet when we came back to the church where we are sleeping. There are puppets lying everywhere and we sent the curtains home with a friend to dry. For ourselves, we downed many mugs of hot tea and sat together for a very long time sharing stories of what our wonderful God had done. We have all joy!

In Jesus,

Linda For Sam, Silvana, Naomi, Joe, Alex, Anna, Reality

Posted August 25, 2009

Dearest Friends,

CHILDREN, DRUNKS AND A MUSLIM

Over the last 4 nights, in Tralee and now in Galway, I have seen such brokenness. Every night, we have huge crowds, hundreds and hundreds of people who listen to the Gospel. They stare at me as I tell the stories about Jesus and I see such longing in their eyes. In all kinds of weather, they stand and listen. Many do not stop and just keep walking. We see young girls who are so badly dressed and so drunk. For many the morning will bring heartache.

Indeed, we see so many whose hearts are so hard. I have had CDs thrown at me and all of us have been cursed. Tonight, the abuse was enthusiastic. Every time I said God, a Muslim man yelled Allah. He was verbally abusive. One man became very aggressive with Sam while he was sharing and jerked his microphone off his head. As I write these words, they are trying to solder it back together. Another drunk tried to destroy Reality's equipment. These things happened as hundreds stood and listened. Many thanked us. We ran out of free CDs.

My heart breaks for these dear people. I know the Father loves them and wants them to have a different life. Please pray for people to stop and listen. Please pray for wisdom and safety for the team. Ask the Father to pour out His Spirit on all we do. Also, our days are long. We usually leave the streets around 11 pm or so. We are up even later as we try to repair equipment. Pray for sweet rest.

Rejoice with us as all of us in Reality and The Agape Puppets love this work. We would choose to be no other place than the street. Lost people are not found by the hundreds in our churches, but they are waiting for us on the street. It is difficult and wonderful and sweet beyond words because you are so faithfully praying.

In Jesus,
Linda for the team

Posted August 23, 2009

Dearest Friends,

THE MOST WONDERFUL THING

After we finished the program on Friday night, a well dressed man came and spoke to me. His name was John. He said, "Tonight, I heard the most wonderful thing, that I believe will change my life. Thank you". Please pray for John as he discovers who Jesus can be in and through his life. I loved the way he described the Gospel. Truly we have the "most wonderful thing". Who is waiting for you to speak to them about "the most wonderful thing".

JAKE'S STORY

Jake is a 5 year old little boy who came to the puppet show and band concert on Saturday night. We were on the main stage at the Rose of Tralee Festival for 1 and a half hours and even listed in the program. What a miracle! We are the only Christians with this privilege and surely it happened because so many faithfully prayed.

He had his parents bring him because he got a Reality CD last year and it is his favorite band. So, just like in scripture, this little child led his parents to our program tonight and everyone heard about Jesus. They were very happy to receive a picture that I drew tonight of the cross of Jesus as the bridge between us and God. They watched me draw the picture

A SHOPKEEPER

Between programs, I walked in a little shop and met the owner. I began to talk with him and tell him stories about the children that we have the privilege to serve. I showed him pictures. The other man who worked in the shop came over and began to listen as well. It was so sweet what God did. The city was bursting with people but no-one came into the shop while we were talking.

He began to tell me a story about a friend of his, a lady who he knew who did the same kind of work I do. As I listened to his story, my heart broke for his friend. After the death of her husband, she changed and became angry at God. She blamed Him for her situation and began to do things that she would never have done before his death. She became an immoral woman. As I heard this story, I thought of God's grace in my own life. Only faith in Jesus kept me from the same darkness. Only complete trust in a sovereign God who has a plan, whether I understand it or not, kept me from certain disaster. Since faith and trust are God’s gifts, I can take no credit for any strength in this situation. I beg you to pray for this lady whose name we do not know, but God knows.

After he finished his story, I laid my hand on his and said, "Oh sir, how special it is that you would choose to tell me this story. Let me tell you my story." As I told him about Mike and my life together, Mike's death, and my certain hope, I could tell that he was really listening. I was overwhelmed by his response. He wanted to thank me and he presented me with a gift from his shop. God is so amazing! Please pray for this dear man to come to deep and wonderful faith in Jesus Christ.

STANDING IN THE RAIN

I never cease to be amazed at how people will stand in the rain to hear about Jesus Christ. I confess to you that I do not believe people in my own country would stand for up to 2 hours, listening to every part of the program as the rain came down. The corwd is full of little children but they don’t want to leave either, even the old people stay. On our first evening in Tralee, there were literally hundreds of people crowding the street and listening. Everyone says that Europeans are not interested in the Gospel, but surely those people ignore the power of prayer. We are all blessed, wet and happy.

Our times of sharing have not been without verbal attack. I will not share with you what was shared with us, as you would not like to hear it. People feel very free to scream at you on the street and add interesting expletives to their sentences. Through it all, we keep smiling. God is so kind to us.

GALWAY

Today is our last day in Tralee, tomorrow we move to Galway. This is one of the darkest cities that I have ever worked in. Each year, we have many difficult situations on the street. Please pray for wisdom and open hearts.

In Jesus,

Linda for Naomi, Joe, Alex, Sam, Silvana, Anna, Reality

Posted August 20, 2009

Dearest Friends,

THE SWEETEST SOUND

There is no sound that I love better than to hear children call on Jesus to forgive them and be their King. Tonight, I heard 2 little girls on the Shankhill Road praying in soft whispers. It was a wonderful last night and all of us were blessed to have these three evenings with the children. They live in a very difficult place where there is so much spiritual darkness. On the sides of buildings and even on telephone poles, hate is proclaimed. The children grow up accustomed to seeing vulgar remarks spray painted on walls. Now, neo-nazi groups are advertising in the area. Only Jesus can change this place. Please pray for these children to be lights in the dark.

THE SWEETEST SIGHT

When we scheduled the caravan park for today, we were told that there would only be a few children. This morning, we prayed and asked God to do the impossible. Imagine our delight as we saw that the Father had sent us 40 children and their parents. God is so good to us! Everyone listened so well to the puppets, the testimonies, and the Bible story. Praise God!

NO BIBLE, NO BREAKFAST

Each morning, we meet for Bible study with the Director of Murlough House, John Moxen. He always tells young people, "No Bible, no breakfast. No Bible, no bed." Each day, he challenges us to spend time with our Father and listen to what He tells us.

He has another favorite quote that I copied into the back of my Bible years ago. He says, "The Bible is not black ink on white pages. It is the living Jesus." John's enthusiasm for Jesus and God's word is boundless. He is 74 years old and I expect that he will be running hard until he finishes. His life of service to the kingdom challenges me to be faithful. I have known John as a partner in ministry for more than a decade. I love the way he loves Jesus! Each morning, we are blessed.

FUNNY THINGS

1. I was sharing with a lady in a store in Newcastle. I told her that I was a story teller. She immediately asked me, "Are you clairvoyant?" I quickly explained the kind of story I tell and how Jesus can give hope. Sam suggested a brilliant answer that I could have used, but I did not think of it. He suggested that I should have told her that within 2 possibilities I could tell her how she would finish her life. I will know what to say next time.
2. We all speak the same language, but we use very different words to describe the same thing. For example, the word "pants" refers to underwear. The young people must remember to say trousers. If they say that they have lost their pants, people are quite shocked. The trunk of the car is the boot. All of us are having "great craic". This is pronounced crack. Here, that phrase means that we are having a good time.
3. A favorite flavor of ice cream here is called "Pooh Bear". It has a piece of honeycomb stuck in it.
4. Cookies are called biscuits which to someone like me who is from the southern part of the United States is very different.

TRALEE

Tommorrow, Friday, we will travel to Tralee which is 6 hours south of here. We will be sharing at The Rose of Tralee Festival. We even have an opportunity to share on the main stage on Saturday night. Please begin to pray for these opportunities.

In Jesus, Linda for the team... Sam, Sil, Naomi, Joe and Alex

Posted August 20, 2009

Dearest Friends,

CARAVAN PARKS

Each day at noon, we do a program at a caravan park, a place where people from all over Northern Ireland come to spend their vacation. At one place, it was raining and we had to set up inside a building that housed a small concession stand and a game room. Imagine telling a Bible story while all around you children are playing game machines with loud sound effects. Still, 3 little boys sat on the floor in front of me and really listened. A mother and another group of children sat on a pool table and also listened. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is hard to share with the children, but always we are blessed. Also, as Sam pointed out, many of the children who appeared not to be listening really listened well. Please pray for these children to remember what they heard and trust in Jesus.

At another show, it poured just before we started and right after we finished. In between, 50 people, children, teenagers, and adults gathered at the playground to listen to a story about Jesus, watch a puppet show, and listen to testimonies. Most of these people would have been quick to tell you that they are Christians, though most would rarely attend church. Even fewer could have told you how to become a Christian. These children grow up with some head knowledge of God, but with no heart understanding of who He is and how He can change them. Please pray for the children who came to the show to discover the awesome reality of Jesus Christ.

THE SHANKHILL ROAD

If you followed the news as Northern Ireland experienced their "troubles", you will remember that the Shankhill Road was an area where they experienced some of their worst problems. Bombs were often found in this area and some exploded. People died in the bomb blasts or were shot and everyone lived with fear. Children grew up learning to hate. Though the time of the troubles has passed, its legacy remains. This community would proclaim itself to be Christian, but most of its churches have closed. Those that remain open are mostly empty. This is a hard place for the Gospel. People know just enough about Jesus to think that they know it all, but the reality is that they do not personally know Jesus.

We are working with a group of older ladies who for years have made an effort to reach these children. They need your prayers as they are growing discouraged.

The children that come every evening to our programs are not from Christian homes. They bring themselves to church to hear about Jesus. They come with little Bible knowledge and a deep need for Jesus.

Each night, I tell them miraculous stories of unbelievable things that God did in the Bible. Strangely, they never question the truth of those stories. Often in America this summer, I had children ask me if the story about Jesus I told really happened. These children recognize truth, but have a deep need to trust in this truth. Only Jesus can change this place where they live and put love and forgiveness in their hearts. Please pray for them.

MORE PRAYER NEEDS

All of us feel the attack as we prepare to leave tomorrow, Friday, for our ministry tour of cities in the south of Ireland. Several band members in Reality are very ill. More, the puppet team seems to be experiencing an unnatural exhaustion. We have also had some equipment problems. Please surround us with your prayers!

Posted August 18, 2009

Dearest Friends,

THREE CHILDREN

Sunday morning, we did a special children’s service at a small church. Though all of the adults were also present and other children, it was 3 children who sat on the front row that held my heart. The youngest one was 8, with a dirty face and a baby’s pacifier in her mouth. When I reached out to touch her, she pulled away from me. I wanted to cry. All three of these children had been so hurt by the abuse in their home. They struggle to trust people.

Amazingly, they get themselves up every Sunday morning and come to church. There is no one to encourage them. Please ask the Father to call this entire family to faith. Please ask Him to keep them safe.

I know that there are children who are afraid where you live. What are you doing to reach them for Jesus?

CARAVAN PARKS

People from all over Northern Ireland come to the Newcastle area in the summer and rent a mobile home in different parks. This is their holiday, their vacation. Each morning this week, we are going to a different one.

I was so blessed yesterday with the 48 children and adults that the Lord sent us. I remember when we would do the whole show for 3 children. I remember when as soon as I would say the name of Jesus, people would leave.

Yesterday was so different. Everyone seemed to listen. One precious little red haired girl even started to clap when Jesus fed the crowd. It was awesome!

I also love how the Father keeps us humble. A little boy said, "I remember you. You told me a story last year. Will it be different this year?" I smiled, thought how sweet and assured him that it would be different. Then I asked him if he remembered the story and he said,"No, not at all, but I want a new story." I laughed out loud and was reminded to walk in humility.

IRELAND... HOME

We arrived in Dublin,Ireland on Saturday with no real problems. The airline had lost one bag , but found it a couple of days later. Sam and Silvana Shaw, the Assistant Director of The Agape Puppets and his wife, met us at the airport. Their warm welcome always makes me feel like I am home. In just a couple of hours, we arrived at Murlough House , outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland. John and Jo Moxen , Director of Project Evangelism and his sweet wife, are taking wonderful care of us!

I love being in Ireland! In many ways, it is the easiest trip that we take in a year of ministry, but in other ways, it is a hard trip. Mike and I worked here for so many years together that every place I go is full of memories. We have so many dear friends here and their love is a great comfort. Last night, we met for prayer with members of the Irish band Reality that we will be traveling with beginning on Friday. Still, it is so strange to be here with our dear friends without Mike.

I take comfort in the sweetness of the service we shared, but I keenly miss him. At times like this, I know what to do. I am talking even more with the Father and going deeper into His word. He truly is my comfort. Please pray for me as I am working on 3 new stories. Ask the Father to give me the courage to tell these new stories as it is always easier to fall back on what you know. It is also much less work. I am excited to see how the Lord will use what He has given me.

Tonight, I will tell the first new story to a group of children in a very difficult place. Pray! I want them to hear about Jesus with their ears and their hearts.

In Jesus, Linda for Sam, Sil, Naomi,Joe, and Alex

Posted August 14, 2009

Dearest Friends,

We are on our way to Ireland and Northern Ireland. We fly today and I am so excited to see what the Father will do! Please hold us in your prayers!

In Jesus, Linda for the team