Day Four

Hey everyone! Corey and Lizzie doing a blog. We didn’t get a chance to blog on Wednesday, so you’re going to have two entries today. Yesterday we woke up slightly more exhausted than usual as the jet lag truly set in, but we fought through it, made our lunch, and struggled through the shower process (which is a lot more difficult than it should be, considered 7-8 people trying to take a shower, when only one is available and its timed!), and then headed out to the bus. We traveled along to Croagh Patrick, which was quite a long time in the bus, giving us the opportunity to continue our beauty sleep. Croagh Patrick is a mountain in Ireland that St. Patrick climbed in the year 441 A.D. It was previously a sacred site for the Celtic druids, but after Patrick, it was transformed into a holy Christian site. We learned that each year almost a million people climb the mountain path for various reasons including penance, connecting to God, and to experience the natural beauty. As we were about to embark, it started to drizzle and we were faced with a decision. We could go up the mountain and risk one or more of us slipping or only climb to a certain point. Well, we decided on the latter, bringing mumbles and grumbles of discontent to some of us in the group. It was, admittedly, disappointing, but the decision was the right one and we ended up having a good time in community with each other. We also saw a unit of the Irish Army running down the mountain. Periodically, a pair of service members would pass us on their way down. Some of us took pictures with them and stopped them to chat. After coming down, we sat on the grass and had a peaceful lunch. Pastor Elizabeth even bought us all ice cream! After this we ventured across the street to look at a sculpture of a Coffin Ship, one of the vessels that carried Irish men and women to the United States. These vessels were named “Coffin Ships” because typically half of its occupants at the beginning of the journey did not make it to the destination. We also held Eucharist in an old ruin of the Abbey Morrisk. It was an interesting service and it was even related back to our own church and how both the abbey and Old Donation had been burned down. We were all grateful that Old Donation had been rebuilt. Our bus driver/guide even joined us in Communion. After this, we all got back on the bus and were taken through a beautiful valley to Kylemore Abbey. Our guide informed us that a man built the castle to influence a woman to marry him. I hope it worked because that was the best looking property I’ve ever seen. The castle was on the shore of a clear lake, at the base of a mountain, in the middle of a small forest. Next we ventured back to our hostel for some much needed rest, relaxation, and prayer to prepare us for the next day.

Lizzie Sims and Corey Schweiger for the Confirmation Class Pilgrims