Hamilton Family: Moving House, Moving Ministry, Moving to America

Moving House, Moving in the Ministry, Moving to America

These past two months have been a complete blur. We thought we would move into our home in May, but the Lord had other plans. With the Lord’s help and the help of others, we were able to accomplish all that we needed to do. Our new address is Woodcock Lodge, Woodcock Hill, Ballyvoughallan, Meelick Co. Clare V94 PKH4 Ireland.

July

This month began with a revival meeting at Carraig Baptist Church. Bro. Bob Jones and his grandson were with us, and he preached for four nights. Many of our people made the effort to come out for the meeting. Everyone’s hearts were stirred. During the week of the revival and the week before, we were packing all of our things, so the day after Bro. Jones left, we moved out of our house completely. We had a week to try to unpack all we could. I managed to squeeze out a makeshift office with a few books, and the third week of July was Victory Youth Camp. I sent Kelly with the two older boys while I watched the little one and did many repairs around the house. This year’s youth camp was another great success, with the theme of the Apostle Paul, and there was a lot of hard preaching dealing with teen issues. Several young people were saved. When they got home from camp, we had a week to get back to the house grindstone, because we were leaving for furlough in mid-August and people would be living in our house. Finally, at the end of the month, we had our first house visitors, a couple lads from NBT who came over to do Summer Bible Camps across the country. When they arrived, the leader, who was handling the kids, had chicken pox. The doctor told him he couldn’t be around kids for a week. He stayed at our house and got better, while the other lad, who specializes in teens, picked up the slack and did both sessions. During the week we had 18 kids and teens come, and 6 children got saved. It was an exciting week, with many of the kids bringing visitors.

August

After the Summer Bible Camp, which overlapped July and August, we had two final weeks to prepare our home for Evangelist Jim Belisle and his wife to stay in our home. We got the roof fixed, but there were boxes everywhere. When they arrived on Sunday, the 20th, they graciously stayed in a hotel so we would be able to work. During the week, they got a quick run-through with the church, the Limerick area, driving on the other side of the road, navigating one-lane roads that are two-lane roads, and learning how to run a house in Ireland (showers, water heaters, radiators, etc.). We also had a baptism service on our last Sunday there, and 2 people were baptised. Finally, on the 25th of August, I flew back to the States with my oldest boy, while Kelly stayed behind to care for a few things. When I returned, it was perfect timing, because my time overlapped with my sister visiting New Hampshire from her home in Florida. I got to spend a few days with her and my parents and start getting settled in America. The day she flew to Florida, we drove down to Boston to collect Kelly and the younger boys from Logan Airport. One of the families from our sending church graciously gave us a car to use, and they have been allowing us to set up house in their missionary apartment over their garage. Since being back, I have been able to reacquaint myself with church members, many of whom are new. Bro. Belisle has been amazed that we were able to get so much accomplished in such a short time, with three kids and so much going on. It has been a whirlwind, but the Lord has been with us all the way.

Soul Winning

During the Summer Bible Camp, the whole week they were telling the Gospel in all that they did. On the second day, it was just the leader and I, and when he gave an invitation, a bunch of kids raised their hands; but there were too many for one of us to deal with. The next day I had my wife come, and when he gave the invitation, 6 children raised their hands (3 boys and 3 girls). My wife and I split them up, and we were able to explain the Gospel to them and answer their questions. They were all ready and eagerly wanted to be saved. One of the girls was so happy she was crying.

Please continue praying for these needs:

1. Our support level is at 95%; please pray it might increase.
2. Co-laborers in Limerick
3. Protection over the ministry
4. Safety on the roads
5. To be a blessing to churches on furlough

Last, I would like to thank all of you for your continued prayers and support. It has enabled us to spread the Gospel in Limerick, Ireland.

In the campaign for Irish souls,

Keith Hamilton