Faugh a Ballagh!

This is going to be a long one, so come back if you need to :)

Some of you know we have been on a rough ride since early May. May 8th Chaz’ mom passed away and her funeral was planned for mid June. The end of May I had my annual physical and mammogram. The scan was on Friday (5/29) late afternoon, by 7:30 I had a message that I needed to come in for a re-scan, there was a concern. I know this happens to people all the time, but it’s never happened to me. I was pretty concerned. I prayed that God would heal whatever needed to be healed and that if he was sending us to Costa Rica that this would not derail his plans. No weapon formed against us will prosper. Is 54:17

Sunday night we had dinner with some dear friends who we haven’t seen in a while. We shared about Costa Rica and the recent upheavals in our lives. It was a lovely evening and when we were leaving they prayed for us. He had a word for us that he prayed, God clear the way - Faugh a Ballagh. He explained that an Irish brigade would send a runner ahead, through the towns along the way to the battle, crying Faugh a Ballagh! While he was praying he heard Faugh a Ballagh. This has become our word for this final push. Late that night my mother passed away. {Chaz and I have had complicated relationships with our parents. While this is a difficult time, it’s not the typical grief and I’m grateful for Jesus meeting us both in the middle of it.}

So on June 1st, Monday morning, I was on the phone with my mechanic who kindly snuck me in for the desperately needed oil change (Shout out to Automotive West on Kilgore in Muncie!). Then I was pressing the Imaging Center for the re-scan and to kindly not make me wait two weeks and two funerals to have the results. God in his kindness made the way and I went in for the re-scan early afternoon on Monday. Turns out there is a tiny benign spot and I’m clear. So I jumped in my car and headed off to Metro Detroit to walk with my siblings as they buried their mother. It was a long week, there was a lot to process. I loved spending time with several of my siblings (I include in-laws in this, if you’re brave enough to marry an O’Malley then you’ve earned it) and nieces. I also got to play taxi for my favorite aunts! There was a lot of joy that week!

I learned some encouraging things about my parents as I read some of their across-the-ocean pre-marriage letters. They really loved each other and they really loved the Lord. They longed to honor God and to have a marriage dedicated to him. That was good to discover.

I returned to Muncie on Monday June 8th, on Wednesday the 10th we headed to Wisconsin. We were so happy to spend that night at Chaz’ sister’s house and meet their mission minded neighbors. Great dinner and conversation! Thursday we headed to Northern Michigan (the Yoop). Thursday-Saturday was time with Chaz’ sisters and his mom’s burial. There’s a fun story about a house snake, ask me about it LOL. It was good for Chaz to have time in his childhood town and woods. We were so grateful for other dear friends who let us spend the night at their place in Wisconsin on our way home to decompress a little before the return to Muncie. There’s something so under-appreciated about pressing pause. Often there seems no space or opportunity for it. Not simply rest, but pause. We are so grateful for these friends who have such a heart for Jesus and for member-care who made that space so easy for us. We returned to Muncie Sunday afternoon.

We’ve taken an unusual approach to fundraising, many have commented. God made the invitation, so God has all the details figured out. Our job is to listen, say yes, and obey. We have reached out where we feel led to and we have asked when we feel led to. Most times we are convinced that our part is to tell the story, tell about our team and the vision, share what the need is and then let God move those he has invited to invest. Our Father is the abundant one, he owns all the cattle on all the hills, why would his child need to go begging? Granted if that’s what he led us to then that’s what we would do!

So here we were in a local coffeeshop getting a drink to bring to Erik for his morning work break and having a cuppa ourselves. A friendly gentleman struck up conversation and in that, shared that they travel to Latin America. I heard Jesus say “tell him about Costa Rica”. And I replied, ummm Jesus I don’t know him. Jesus insisted and so I did. I mentioned we are relocating to CR and he thought that was great and what were we moving for? I shared some details and all of a sudden he says I want to support that! How do I donate? I was floored! We had a great conversation and discovered personal connections we have with them and what a small world this really is.

Another on the to-do list- we’ve had progress with housing for Rhys and Erik and are praising God for his perfect plan and provision!

Today we had another donor share with us that their employer, who was already matching their pledge 1:1, was, for June, offering to match 2:1! And they had gone ahead and given their whole year’s pledge so that we would benefit from the generous match!! Praising God for the ways he is providing. Praising God for the reassurance that we are listening, our YES is wholehearted, and unhesitating.

In Isaiah 45 the truth that He is God and there is no other is repeated nine times. This is what we know to be true. He is our provider. He is our source of all things good. The idea of faugh a ballagh is also found in Isaiah 45:2-3: “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.” 

It is clear we are at the end of this season and ready to start the next. We are so thankful that He is clearing the way. Come on Jesus, faugh a ballagh!


Prayer requests are:

a) That Chaz’ eye would miraculously or medically be healed. There’s inflammation to the surgery area and he will need another laser procedure if God doesn’t provide healing differently. Fortunately, that will not interfere with our timeline, according to the doctor.

b) Our lease ends July 23rd, in faith, we are not signing another one. It’s time to move.

c) We have had to extend our health insurance as things have continued to popup (mammogram, eye surgery). I’m so grateful that God provided for the continuation of the insurance I had with Odle, but that is $1,000/month. We’ve had to take it from the money we were setting aside towards our budget and even that is a provision from God that we are so grateful for!

d) Finalization of housing for Rhys and Erik.

e) Restoration of relationships that we believe God is working in.

f) Full provision for our monthly budget and the go ahead to purchase our tickets!

g) Provision and wisdom regarding our language school decision.