Training So Far

So I have now been here in Ireland for 3 weeks and man have they been some eventful 3 weeks.  At times it feels like I have been here for 3 years rather than just 3 weeks.  It has definitely been a fun time so far but God has taken this NET training to challenge me to grow in so many ways I often feel physically, emotionally, and mentally drained by the end of a day.  I am however, grateful for this opportunity and the chance to be here (even if it is finally hitting me just how long I will be here).  
Our first week of training was so much fun (and humbling).  I can a week early for music training which was such a great expereince.  I got to learn a whole bunch of new music and at the time God took that opportunity to remind my place in this world.  I've been used to being a big fish in a little pond in some ways.  Music has always been something I've taken my identity in a lot of ways.  You would think when the pond shrinks you would just become a bigger fish.  Wrong!! God reminded me the very first day here that I am not that special (in his most loving way of course) and I still have so far to grow.  There are so many great musicians here and I am so grateful I get the opportunity to learn from and grow with them.  I know they have so much to teach me beyond all they taught me my first week here.  
The second week life started to get busy.  Music training was super chill and then the rest of the netters showed up and everything went into high gear.  We went from maybe 6 hours of intense training a day to 16 in seemingly no time.  The first part of training was set up in a reatreat style.  We took a little over a week to really examine our relationships with God and work on that relationship first.  NET's idea for this is this, you can't give what you don't have.   It is important to make sure our relationships with God are in a good place because trying to do missionary work without a relationship with God just doesn't work at all.  That second week of training is really where God started to challenge me to grow.  He challenged me to let go of a lot  of hurst from the last 2 years of my life and move forward.  He challenged me to see myself through his eyes and have confidence in who he created me during a weekend where we split up as men and women.  That weekend we focused on what it means to be a daughter or son of Christ respectively and how we will live that out this year. 
Then last week, I think on Tuesday (the days are starting to blur together) our teams were announced.  They totally surprised us with the announcement, they even got the priest involved and tried to convince us we were going have a public confession time and then dropped the team announcement bomb on us.  It was a really exciting and emotional night for all of us.  On Monday I was asked if I would serve as a team leader for a parish team and I said yes (sometimes I wonder what I was thinking).  So I knew that night I would be on a parish team but I had no clue which one.  That night I found out I was put on the parish team that will be in Delvin.  That night I had no clue where that is but I found out later it is a small town about an hour North West of Dublin.  When I say small town I mean population 415ish small town.  I am excited for this adventure although I am definitely nervous as well.  The other roles I willbe taking on this year within my team are music leader, household person and recruiter.  It will definitely be a busy year but hopefully fruitful.
Now wer are continuing training and learning the skills that will help us survive the next year of our lives.  This last week has been incredibly heavy and most night my head is so full of info I am so tired I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.  The info is good though because it will help me survive this year of ministry.  I have put some pictures up on facebook so be sure to check those out and keep checking here and there for more information.  Also check out the NET MInistries Ireland website to see pictures of my team and see updates from them. Because I am on a parish team I will have an address so as soon as I know that I will put that up so people can send me things.
I love you all and miss you all so much.  Write me messages and keep updated on your life.  I can't promise I'll write back with any regularity but I will be reading and praying for you so keep me updated please!  Again I love you all!
God Bless,
Amy