Four Weddings and a Festival

This summer has been jam packed! Between April and August, we hosted four weddings at An Cuan. I had the privilege of being present at all of them, and I played various roles in organising three of them. I wore several different hats while taking on responsibilities such as baking a wedding cake, coordinating, and even being a bridesmaid. Each wedding was unique and beautiful in its own way, and I am thrilled for all the couples! Additionally, I managed to make a quick trip back home to attend a family wedding and reconnect with friends and family, which was a true blessing!

Amidst all the weddings, we participated in various ministries. One of our major summer initiatives is the Fiddlers Green Musical Festival, a week-long affair that draws attendees from around the globe and involves the entire village. We functioned as a cafe, event venue, and accommodation space. This year, we hosted the Music of Healing event, a morning dedicated to German poetry, and an art exhibition featuring works that honour different nations and cultures. We also participated in Summer Madness, the largest Christian festival in Ireland, where we provided security for the camping area and volunteered in various capacities. Throughout the summer, we welcomed diverse groups, including a church group from Missouri who made wonderful improvements to our building and grounds. Our multicultural youth camp was a highlight, always filled with laughter and joy. We held a banquet to say goodbye to one of our long term ministries, The Borderwalk. It's been a wonderful 12 years of peace pilgrimages along the border of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, but all things come to an end and the Borderwalk was due a thoughtful sendoff. I facilitated an online peacebuilding small group that sparked engaging conversations and new connections. If you're interested in joining the next small group, please reach out. Lastly, we gathered for the Summer YWAM Ireland Staff Gathering, a time to reconnect with YWAMers from across the island, and pray for the place we all now call home.

As summer comes to a close, we are organising a final group event and preparing for our Autumn schedule. The preparations for the upcoming Foundations for Christian Peacebuilding mini school in November are well underway. The staff for the September Discipleship Training School will begin their training soon to get ready for the arrival of students in a few weeks. Additionally, there are a few upcoming staff days for YWAM An Cuan, with new staff members joining us. An opportunity to participate in a short-term mission team heading to Lebanon at the end of October has recently emerged, and I will provide more details on this in a future update.

It's been a busy season, but it's been fun! I remembered what the sunny, humid Virginia summer feels like and came back to the reality of a chilly, windy Irish one.

In my previous update, I mentioned that my financial circumstances have changed, requiring additional monthly support. If you wish to partner with me financially and have any questions, please reach out to me via email at kelseachunt@gmail.com or through WhatsApp at +44(0)7902224207.

Thank you all!

Kelsea