United by faith in Northern Ireland

           The phrase “Let’s go, girlie wirlies,” often began the days in Northern Ireland during the University of the Cumberlands’ Baptist Campus Ministries spring break mission trip. The seven of us girls would pile into the mini bus as the speaker of that phrase, Desi Fisher, drove us around the village and countryside of Nor’ Ire’n’ (as the locals say Northern Ireland) and taught us about the area.

                                                                  Photo by Lydia Huggins
Fisher led us around the town March 11
and throughout the week, teaching us about the community
and the need for God's love and unity in the area.

            Fisher and his wife, Pamela, are the directors of Adventure Leadership Training, a charity that empowers young people to develop as leaders in the church and community through training and adventure programs. From the very beginning, they told us, “You’re here for the kids. We’re here for you.” They did just that. Desi would take us place to place in the mornings and afternoons and Pamela would prepare dinner for us and make us feel at home so we could prepare for afterschool with the kids and reach out to the youth in the community.

Our main mission was to help ALT in their work and share the gospel with whomever we built relationships with. People back home might have wondered why we were sharing the gospel with people who should already know the gospel in a Catholic and Protestant-populated area. As the Fishers explained to us about all of the disunity in the community and need for peace and love among the people, we realized our importance there.

                                                                  Photo by Lydia Huggins
Left to right: Jasmine Newport holding a cup of tea,
Natalie Graham listening to Fisher (far right) tell stories
about how God is working in Northern Ireland.

During the evenings and over many cups of hot tea, we hung out with teenagers and students our age. We laughed at jokes, compared cultural differences of the U.S. and Northern Ireland, and talked about life. As we began to build relationships with them, deeper conversations came up about life as we discussed what faith in Jesus really looks like. We discussed how being a Christian is more than just attending church and doing good works, and even more than just believing in Jesus. We were able to share personal life stories about how God has worked actively in our lives and how we need to talk with God every day and read His Word every day. The students sat up, put away their phones, and listened intently to the stories that we had to share.

The youth also noticed the love that we had for each other. Even though we all attend or work at UC, we didn’t all know each other very well beforehand. During the trip, the team built relationships that showed God’s love as we encouraged each other during the week. We also saw other followers of Jesus from Northern Ireland that had a strong love for God and the people around them. They welcomed us into their homes and encouraged us in our walks with God.

                                                                  Photo by Lydia Huggins
Newport, team leader, director of Appalachian Ministries
and associate campus minister, prays for the people of Northern Ireland
along with the rest of the team at Dundrum Castle March 11.
Front to back: Newport, Katie Herrington, and Caitlyn Howell.

During our time in Northern Ireland, God gave us many moments to be still before Him and just enjoy His beautiful creation and the company of others who follow Him. As a college student, I can easily get distracted from God and get caught up in the busy day-to-day life. My daily walk with God can look very different depending on my stress levels and emotions. Thankfully, even though I am not always faithful to God, He is always faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).

A verse in Hebrews stood out to me during our time in Northern Ireland that describes the need to put faith in action. "For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened," says Hebrews 4:2 (English Standard Version). People are all around us who need to hear of the Living God who desires to be active in their lives because He loves people of all nations.

                                                                  Photo by Lydia Huggins
              Rainbow over Northern Ireland at St. Patrick's Memorial Church Saul,
             which was built on the site of the first Christian Church in Ireland 432 A.D.

The UC team enjoyed time with each other in God's creation during
 a peaceful day at Giant's Causeway and other sites on the north coast of
        Northern Ireland March 14.
      Left to right: Myah Fletcher, Herrington, Howell,
      Arianna Broughton, Lydia Huggins, Newport, and Graham.

Just me and God

I walked barefoot on the church’s stage. Moses walked barefoot on holy ground so it seemed appropriate. I was about to paint during the music and art worship service at my church. Nervously, I told myself it was just me and God.  

My paintbrush soaked up the blue paint for the sky. On the left side of the canvas, I painted everything in more dreary tones than those on the right side which were bright and cheery.

Many of my favorite worship songs were played while I painted. I probably looked like a fool because I was dancing and singing too. David danced for the Lord so I didn’t care what others thought. It was just me and God.

The image on the canvas contained green hills in the background, a dark city in a desolated land, and a hill. The two last images I painted were Jesus and the cross. My hand was shaking. All of the sudden, I was distressed.

My paintbrush lathered the brown paint in a straight line down the page. Tears started pouring down my face. I had difficulty breathing because of an awful pain in my chest. My whole body was shaking as I sobbed for my Savior who died for all of my sins. I tried to paint, but I could hardly stand.

The cross left unfinished, I collapsed on my knees probably looking drunk like Hannah did when she prayed fervently. I was devastated that my sins had caused my Lord’s death and for those who didn’t know of His love for them.

Two of my friends had been praying with me as I sobbed. When we finished praying, I got up and finished detailing the cross.

When the painting was finished, I was satisfied with it. It wasn’t a master piece, but it was my offering to God like the widow who offered Him two coins.

In the painting, Jesus was surrounded by a bright landscape. He cried and looked lovingly upon the dark city. Laying my paint brushes aside, I prayed again for people who didn’t know of His love.

Doodling to an art major

                                                                 Photo by Lydia Huggins
Abstract Composition in progress by Lydia Huggins.

            Chalky pastels cover Lydia’s hands. She’s frustrated with the college art project that she’s working on. Stepping back and crossing her arms, she stares at the picture. The abstract piece seems to mock her. She has no idea what she’s supposed to be doing. 

            Turning up the volume of her music, she picks up different colors, but none of them seem right. Lydia puts them back because she doesn’t want to ruin what she has already drawn.

            Lydia feels like giving up. She sits down and swings her legs back and forth.

            A younger even shorter version of Lydia swings her legs back and forth as she sits on one of the pews in the back of the church. She wants to kick off her black shoes and lace socks. Her older sister Mary tells her to sit still and stop fidgeting. She clutches her miniature purse and takes out a small notebook and a pen. The blue ink slides across the page. She draws a beach scene with a mama turtle and three baby turtles going out to sea.

            When Lydia finishes the doodle, she feels a tap on her shoulder and turns around. An elderly man said, “That’s a really good drawing.” Then, he handed her a two-dollar bill.

            Lydia didn’t understand why he would give her money. She looked up to her best friend’s mom, Allison, and asked, “Does he want me to put this in the offering plate for him?”

            “No, it’s for you,” Allison said.

            Lydia still looked confused. Allison and Mary explained that two-dollar bills are rare and he thought that her drawing was good so he was being sweet.

            Excitedly, Lydia turned around and thanked the man. From then on, she would draw pictures for the elderly man, Mr. Moorehead, almost every Sunday. She didn’t draw them for the money, but for his happiness when she gave him the drawings.  

            Lydia stands up and picks up an orange pastel. She draws it across her abstract art piece. Now she’s excited to finish the piece and wonders what Mr. Moorehead would think about it.

                                      Photo by Lydia Huggins

Abstract Composition by Lydia Huggins 

featured in the J.M. Bowell Art Gallery

 at University of the Cumberlands.