Corrymeela

Group photo

This past weekend I went to Corrymeela with the Sticky Fingers and the Women Moving Forward mums and their kids. The Sticky Fingers group is a mums and tots program and Women Moving Forward is a women's group, both are sponsored by DFCI. I realize that most of you reading this don't know anything about Corrymeela, so I will tell you about it.

http://www.corrymeela.org/

We went to the Corrrymeela Community for a retreat weekend. It was so beautiful! I could have stayed there forever! Before I went, I thought that it was just a retreat center but soon after arrival I realized that it is much more. The volunteers there work year round with different visiting groups. They do everything from childcare to cooking.

Corrymeela's mission is: embracing difference, healing division and enabling reconciliation. Our vision is of a peaceful and sustainable society based on social justice, positive relationships and respect for diversity. The Corrymeela Community strives to embody these values in every aspect of our lives. (From the website)

The building where we stayed

view from Corrymeela

I found out that Doug, the YAV site coordinator for Belfast, used to work there. 











I made some new friends and began to build some relationships with some of the mums and kids. We all had a great time! We did some pampering, relaxing, and some fun stuff too! It was nice to see the mums kick back and unwind a bit. I got to see a little bit of the town, Ballycastle, and the beach! It was a very successful trip! I would love to go back and  maybe even volunteer there one day.

While I was there I came across a beautiful garden, where I sat down and prayed for a long time about the future, my life, etc. And I realized that when it comes to my future and my life I have no idea what comes next. I feel like I am driving down a dark road and can only see a few feet in front of me. I know that I am going the right way and I'm on the right road but I can't see where it leads or what's up ahead. I know there will be bumps and forks in the road, maybe even a few wrong turns. I might even get lost. All I know for sure is that God will be with me the entire way. I hope to one day to look back on the road I have traveled and understand. But for now I'm just driving along enjoying and wondering where the road might lead me. 

"Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)

Beavers!!!! :)

So every Thursday night I work with the Beavers (like boy scouts). They are a group of boys ages 6-7. We have anywhere from 20-25 boys that come every week! And boy are they a lively bunch! But even though they are wild and crazy, they are becoming the highlight of my week! They are so full of energy and are typical boys! They may sometimes get into a wee bit of trouble but they are still good boys! Today I went with them on a hiking trip to a waterfall. It was beautiful! The boys loved it!

Later, the boys had to do a challenge. They had to all climb up this steep bank and then walk through this patch of woods then climb back down the steep bank on the other side of this giant tree. So I went up with the boys to help them and make sure they went down one at a time and didn't run into each other or push each other. They were pretty good, and all of them made it up and down several times. However, it was very muddy so there was a lot of slipping and sliding, which the boys loved! All of them ended up very muddy! Including me. After I made sure all the boys made it down safely, I had to go down and by that point all the sliding the boys had done made it like a slide. I was very successful at getting down without falling, just using my hands and feet and kinda crab walking down. But then when I got close to the bottom, my foot slid and I just kinda sat down in the mud. We all had a great laugh! :)
 
 While I am learning a lot this year, I remember that its always important to take some time to have fun! And what's more fun then playing in the mud?! Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!!! (Ms. Frizzle). For when you make mistakes that's how you learn.