Keith and Kelly Hamilton Prayer Letter: BBQs, Revivals, and Camp

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our most recent prayer letter. May it be a blessing to all of you. We are so grateful for those of you who support us through praying and those who also support us financially. We have seen the Lord take care of our every need over the years and are thankful for the consistent support we have received as we have strived to get the Gospel out to the people in Ireland and to be a needed lighthouse in the Limerick area.

May

The month began with an annual event that has been named “First Fruits.” It is where young people from IBCs across Ireland congregate to use their talents and abilities to glorify the Lord and to hone these abilities so they can be used in the ministry. They are challenged to do things that could be used in a church, from preaching to song leading, leading choirs, baking, taking photos, making furniture, writing, and teaching a Sunday school lesson, etc. Kelly and I participated as assessors, and the boys played a hymn together. The next Sunday was our 10-year anniversary, and we had a Mexican lady come. Someone from another part of the island discovered our Biblical counselling website and contacted us about starting. They were depressed and really struggling, so we agreed to counsel them. They have been doing really well, and the Lord is working in their heart in amazing ways. That same week, Pastor Day and I headed to Birmingham in the UK for a preaching meeting and were encouraged. Then my sister came and visited for two days. It was her first time in Ireland. She was travelling with her friend and found the roads very difficult to navigate, which is what I hear from most American visitors.

June

June began with Kelly’s birthday on the 5th. Keenan and Kendrick conspired and asked her to bake cookies with them. Then when she was somewhere else for a little while, they actually baked her a cake themselves. They cleaned up the kitchen as if nothing had happened. The next day, the boys had a piano recital, and both of them played very well; they are improving each time. Next, we had our Father’s Day BBQ, and as always, we had loads of food. It is a long story, but the Lord also allowed us to get loads of free meat from the butcher we usually use for this event. Then we attended and helped at a revival meeting that the FBMI Field Service Coordinator for the Western Hemisphere, Bro. James Belisle, was preaching in Galway. His messages were great, Kelly got to sing, and I gave a testimony of my salvation. We got to take him to lunch the day after the revival to a limestone-mountain area called the Burren (BURR-ən). The next week was Baptist Youth Camp, where churches across the island congregated to hold a camp for the youth in Ireland. The theme was revival. Midway through the week, I found the kids early in the morning praying together in the auditorium, and by the end of the camp, the kids really seemed to have their hearts turned to God. At the end of the month, a baby was born to a couple who comes occasionally, and Kelly was able to help them with baby things that were given to her from other people. Of course, we have continued as well to go to the Thursday Bible Study in Ennis and Sunday night in Galway, but it is taking its toll on me, so I need to pray about decreasing my frequency. As far as getting into the building that I was looking at in the city, it still seems a bit high for us right now, but we will continue to pray that the Lord will open a door there. Please continue to pray for Keith II, as he has volunteered his summer to work at the Passage Northwest Summer Camp, and we have heard great reports. Also, he is in need of a driver’s license so he can get better job, but He is trusting the Lord to provide for him financially.

Soul Winning

As we continue getting the Gospel out on Saturdays, we are given some of the best opportunities to tell others the Gospel in our services and daily conversations. The Mexican lady who came for our Anniversary BBQ sat and ate with us, enjoying a delicious lunch. As she sat with us, she got to hear the Gospel and several people’s testimonies, but unfortunately, she was not ready to trust the Lord as her Saviour and still trusted in her Catholicism. She was given a Gospel book, tracts, and a King James Bible when she left. When we were out with Bro. Belisle, we were able to get some tracts out and talk to a couple of people. One lady, who owned a chocolate factory shop, was intently engaged in a conversation with Kelly, but as soon as Kelly told her that we were Bible-believing Christians and offered to give her an invitation, she suddenly backed away and said “another time” and walked off. It reminded me of John 15:18-19, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” I had a look at her website later, and the lady was very open to alternative issues, but she wanted to get as far away from God as she could. Unfortunately, that choice will be eternally granted to many people. We have been studying Revelation 21-22, and it is sad to read about all that others will miss, but it is also amazing to read about the things we can look forward to.

Please pray for these needs:

1. Co-laborers in Limerick
2. Protection over the ministry
3. A new building in the city
4. Guidance and wisdom moving forward

Last, I thank everyone who sent encouraging emails, letters, birthday gifts, and offerings and for your faithful prayers and support.

For the souls in Ireland,

Keith Hamilton