First Things

I'm here in New Ross! This is going to be kind of a choppy, raw and random post as I'm distracted and rushed. I promise to write a proper post soon and to post some picture as well.
The travel went smooth. I couldn't sleep other than dozing off for 15 minutes or so a few times. I did a good bit of reading and listened to a couple sermons on my iPod. The Swedish man next to me was friendly and interesting to talk with, but had his headphones on and his eyes closed most of the flight (to Amsterdam). The flight to Dublin was short and I had a very good conversation with an Irish man probably in his early thirties. He is living in NYC and returning to Ireland for his brother's wedding. He stated he had a friend from school who owned a pub in Wexford. He wrote down the man's name and the name of the pub (The Thirst Monk). He was very friendly and helpful.
I took a bus from the Dublin airport to south Dublin, where I met Gillian (Miles' wife) and her sister, Georgina. They took me to my first Irish pub, and a good one at that, a place called Johnny Fox's, the highest elevated pub in Ireland, and it had been there since 1798. There I had my first Guinness, which is, as they say, smoother and less bitter than the Guinness in America.
I went back a slept a little and their parents' house. Then Miles came in singing and dancing (he and James, the man putting me up had been up in Northern Ireland preaching) to wake me up to get ready to watch the Ireland vs Scotland rugby match and eat dinner. Ireland played awful and lost 20-17 which caused a lot of angry yelling. Then I rode with Miles and James down to New Ross. There is a lot of green rolling hills. It was dark, but to be honest, it didn't look too different from the countryside of middle Tennessee, just imagine a pub on every corner instead of a church.
James and his wife Sandra are delightful people. They have a sixty-nine year old gentleman named Patrick staying with them as well. So the five of us (Miles the other) had a time of prayer and praise last night before I retired. I am actually staying in a large house next to theirs with a man named Keith, who I have not met yet. I have a key and I sleep and shower in there, but that's been it. Keith has the upstairs, and I a room downstairs. There are probably six bedrooms or so. This morning, we had church at the community center of New Ross. On the way there, Patrick and I picked up a young man named Tom. He is 32, and a brand new believer. He is originally from England, though he has been in Ireland now nine years. I connected with Tom immediately and he has a desire to learn more about the Bible. It wouldn't have been any more obvious if he had said, "I want you to meet with and disciple me." Tom said he drinks a beer or two at times, so I asked if he'd want to meet in a pub somewhere in New Ross where young people go and discuss the gospel of John and of course he did. This is such an answer to prayer! I was never scared of coming over here, but I did think I would feel some loneliness in finding someone near my age to connect with. I know some of you prayed for this and God has answered right away!
After church, the five of us that are currently living at or near the house, plus Tom (who they call Young Tom) ate a delicious lunch (they call dinner) and drank wine. It was at this point that Miles and James really starting cutting up. They're both very witty and creative, they make rhyming poems and songs up on the spot and they were doing this and trying to get me to join in. Well, I'm not so creative, but I came up with this..."There once were two young Irishmen, one from the north (Miles) and one from the south (James), they made up their poems and songs and danced, but never once did they shut their big mouth." They cheered and laughed at this, so I felt Irish. I've finally decided to go by Matthew since Matt is so plain and American. So they call me "young Matthew" or Miles usually addresses me as "Matthew my boy."
I slept this afternoon and then went for a short run, the first time in my new running shoes. It is good area for running and I plan on going again tomorrow morning. Since the time I started writing, I had a Skype conversation with Nathan and Joanna Michael in France, looking to visit them hopefully in late April. They are saying they'll come here in early May. As I type this, I am drinking wine and sitting around with Miles and James. The TV is on, and they are watching some and talking. I am typing and talking. I am going in to New Ross tomorrow with Patrick and Tom to try and meet some people, invite them to church or to the hotel where Miles is speaking next Sunday night, and/or tell them about Jesus. I should get to bed soon, so this is it for now. If you've read all this, thank you! I appreciate your prayers! As I said, expect photos and a more cohesive blog soon.