Filling the Need in Limerick City
In the center of Limerick City by the Shannon River, there is a sculpture of a heart torn in two. This sculpture is an accurate picture of the spiritual condition of the city. This city is the suicide capital of the country, and the last two months have brought several suicides and suicide attempts. There are several Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Calvinistic churches in the city, in addition to the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, so we are viewed as just another “non-Catholic” sect. My burden for the city is increased every day. Please pray that God would open their eyes to biblical truth.
March
In Ireland, our Mother’s Day is in March, so the first Sunday of March, we flooded the streets with Mother’s Day invitations and honored all the mums with a gift certificate to a local tea shop. At the end of the month, we had Resurrection Day, and I promoted a Facebook advert that reached several thousand in the area. That morning I taught on proof for the Resurrection, and we had 2 visitors. It was also the 100-year anniversary of the infamous 1916 Easter Rising, when Ireland began fighting for their independence from Britain. Through the course of the month, one of our faithful men and soul winners, John F., acquired a job in Dublin. I helped him take many of his things to his new apartment, and at the end of the month, he made his final move. I was able to see him one last time at the Irish Men’s Camp in County Waterford, where we learned about David’s mighty men and where I got to preach this year on “Adino.” There are only two verses about him, but I managed to get out a 45-minute message. It was John’s first Men’s Camp, and he absolutely loved it. We are sad to see him go, but we are thankful it is not because he is leaving church.
Family in March
The month began with a snowstorm. We decided to have a snow day, and the boys got to go out and play. While they were out, Kelly decorated and had a snow-themed lunch for the boys. On Mother’s Day we took Kelly out to a local Japanese sushi restaurant, and she loved it. We were thankful to see the boys on their best behavior. At the beginning of the month, a friend was talking to us about the benefits of getting a piano for our house, but knowing nothing of pianos, we were not sure where to start. Suddenly, an offer from a missionary in Dublin came up in our email for a great deal on a piano. The Lord had provided the money for us, and we were able to purchase the piano just before leaving for the Men’s Camp. Now we can begin practicing for the church when we move into a larger building.
April
This was indeed an event-filled month. Men’s Camp finished, and on the first Sunday, we had a visitor from Afghanistan. On Saturday, April 9, Kelly took a lady named Arit down to a Mother-Daughter Banquet in Cork. In the middle of the month, a group of 11 people from Bible Baptist Church in Ballincollig came to help us with soul winning. Sixteen of us went out that day, and they were able to acquire 7 new contacts for me to follow up with. Then Saturday after the group came, we were saddened to find out that our friend Arit had to leave Ireland and go back to Nigeria. Although she did not come regularly to our Sunday services, she was faithful to our Saturday soul-winning program, as well as being discipled by Kelly.
For years our eldest boy has yearned to run in the kids’ marathon at the Great Limerick Run. I signed him up online, and on April 30, he got to run a 12.5 km race at the University of Limerick. I was proud of him, that despite his asthma, he pulled through to the end.
I have been trying to plan a short furlough but have continued to face different oppositions. Thankfully, we have recently acquired the final amount needed to be able to purchase plane tickets, but now I need to find the right person to fill in while we are away. Please pray that this need would be filled. We were hoping to be able to be back for the fall of 2016, but that will not work, so we are planning for spring 2017.
Please continue praying for these needs:
1. Our support level is at 90%; please pray it might increase.
2. Co-laborers
3. Someone to fill in during furlough
4. Protection over the ministry
Many churches have sent love offerings toward our furlough expenses over the past few months. More recently I want to thank Freedom Baptist Church in Eastover, North Carolina, for the large offering they collected on behalf of our plane tickets. May the Lord bless you for your sacrifices.
In the campaign for Irish souls,
Keith Hamilton