A Tale of Two Cities....

So we arrived in Dublin on June the 10th, and immediately took a bus to Belfast. And since then everything else has been pretty much a surprise to us. Ireland is no doubt beautiful, and has many amazing lessons for us in its history, both Christian and secular, but the reality that most Northern Irish people live in especially in the city of Belfast is one that needs to change!!!
We have been spending the majority of our time in "West Belfast" or in other words the poorer Catholic side of the city. The amount of sectarianism that is still alive in people's mindsets and actions is quite stunning and un-believable to most Americans. The amount of hardships and pain that most people in Belfast had to go through during the times of "The Troubles" has created a people that are very divided, mistrusting, violent, and very hardened in their outlook on life. As I have been told many times since arriving, "You have to be tough to make it in Belfast." If you go on the west side you will see the tri-color flag of Ireland being flown, and murals dedicated to the hunger-strikers, and kids playing Hurley and Gaelic football. Where as if you go a couple miles to the east, you will see the Union Jack, and murals telling how evil the I.R.A. is and celebrating their own para-military organizations, and a lot of kids playing football (soccer). There are still people to this day that have lived their entire lives in Belfast and have never been to certain parts of town!!!

However........ In the midst of all this the Lord is moving, the people in Belfast are beginning to realize that violence and hatred is not the answer and it isn't going to solve their problems. With the peace that they are now experiencing, they need somewhere to put all their energy, which was thrown into the war between Republicans, and Loyalists. The children of Belfast for the most part are not interested in carrying on a conflict that from what they have witnessed has only brought about pain and hardship on their families and friends. They are looking for a better way. The revival that has been going on in Lakeland has actually been brought to a church in Belfast where they have been having meetings nightly for several weeks now, and have seen signs and wonders!!! This is just the beginning, there is sooooooooooo much to do here in Belfast with the spreading of the gospel and seeing people's hearts and lives being healed. But the Lord is on the move, and He loves the people of Ireland very much, and has great plans for them.

I have personally been praying and believing Zech. 9:13 "...I will raise up your sons O Zion against your sons O Greece, and make you like a warrior's sword!!!" When the enemy comes in and wreaks havoc and raises up an army, and uses violence and hatred and manipulates people to try and solve their own problems in their own ways, and rely on the wisdom of man, which is apposed to the wisdom of God, when things look blackest, the Lord raises up His own army, to contend with the enemy, and He strengthens them, and they wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against demons, and principalities,and powers, and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God!!! And that is what the Lord is in the process of doing right now in Belfast!!! Thanks for reading, and please be praying!!!

Be Blessed,

Evan