Day 2: Glendalough, Avoca.

Day 2 started and we were off for more adventures. This is just one example of some of the roads we ended up on. No room was ever wasted. :)

Our first stop was at St. Kevin's church at Glendalough. St. Kevin came to Glendalough in the 6th century. As a monk, His monastery became the parent to many more monasteries in Ireland. He was known for His extremely devout nature, and His solitude. We had the honor of meeting the priest and a precious sister at the church. It was a rich experience and it was very much a set up from God.  I loved listening to the Father talk, He was a wealth of knowledge who was deeply concerned about the people of Ireland. It would be fun to return there someday!

Next we had the honor of going to see the monastic sight of Glendalough. It has been one of the most visited places in Ireland for 1400 years, starting with the arrival of St. Kevin and then later with St. Lawrence O Toole who was known for his hospitality and His sanctity for people during the many invasions that Ireland has endured. 

At one time there were 7 churches at this small site. People would flock here on a pilgrimage to meet with God. And though most of the site was destroyed by the English in 1398, what remains is beautiful to say the least. While here, I had to wonder, 'if the presence is so strong here now, what was it like when it was a fully-functioning site?'

This, in it's time, was the largest church in Ireland. There was something about walking into this place that made me want to worship God. His presence, even after this place has laid in ruin for so long, lingers here. It's strong on the whole site of Glendalough, but here in the church I could feel it the most. I wanted to pull up a chair and stay a long while.

This was the tower that would ring the call for times of prayer. Also it was used to store food and valuable things. The door is so high because in times of invasion they would hide people in the tower then pull the ladder up so that no invaders could get in. Here, and at another site we went to we noticed that the towers were the only things with no damage to them. The call for intercession and prayer still rings out all over the land.

Glendalough was what we call a thin-place. A place where you could feel heaven's presence just being there. We had fun soaking it in, and also partnering with what we felt God was speaking to us about Ireland there. Many prayers were said for the glory that we felt there to spread all over Ireland, outside the church and into every realm of society.

Behind the celtic cross you can see a hill on the right. This was my favorite hill. Like never before, I was sure there were a whole lot of angels there.

While in Ireland we did a lot of praying at different waters. We prayed that 'deep would call to deep' that the land would remember the times it was in revival in the past and that God would help it happen again. This was a place that I had read about in a brochure the night before but we had no idea where it was, or how to get there. And what do you know? We just 'happened' to drive right past it. It is a place called the 'meeting of the 2 waters' and it's literally 2 rivers merging into one. It was beautiful.

Next we got to go have a bit of fun in a wee little town called Avoca which is better known as the filming sight of BBC's Ballykissangel, a precious show that the VanWinkle's have gotten me attached too a bit. If you ever want to learn a bit more about the culture of Ireland, I recommend it. (uncle Gary.)

Here Jim and Brenda are acting out a scene from Ballykiss.

Next we stopped to have fish and chips at Fitzgeralds. How much more irish can you get?

It was just a little delicious. :)

We drove and found a random B&B in the middle of the country with one of the most precious owners. We all felt extremely blessed as we settled in for the evening. And as if the full day wasn't enough, God gave us this before we went to bed.

Another musing on Trust

Welp. I totally failed on my promise last week with no intentions of doing so. It seems that having 2 jobs, getting a house ready and trying to figure out who you are in the midst of God rearranging your whole life is quite time-consuming. But ALAS! I have a WHOLE day off tomorrow! (first time in a couple of weeks with no agenda) so I fully intend to write many more updates from Ireland tomorrow and then post them throughout the week.

I'm not going to lie, my last week was a hard one. It seems like there is a line between being busy and being so busy that you just feel yucky about yourself. I definitely crossed that line last week. It's not that you're a bad person, but you just have very little energy to really spend on anything besides surviving. I'm so glad that we serve a God that is full of second chances, grace, and compassion that would break the hardest heart. I'm so glad that in seasons like this He is so pleased even when we just simply acknowledge that He is with us.

For some reason God has been having me reread "The Shack" the last few weeks. It's a book that I really do love but I had already had about 3 other books started and so to be honest I thought, "Really? Another one that I probably won't finish?" And yes, it's taking me a lot longer to get through it than books I usually read. But it's been one of those, pick-it-up-to-just-read-a-chapter-and-completely-get-wrecked-and-owned-by-what-you're-reading-because-it-was-exactly-what-you-needed-in-the-moment type of books. Totally and completely set up by God. He is such an amazing pursuer and friend, always giving you exactly what you need, even when you don't know what you need.

To be honest, there were several times where this week I knew it would be easier for me to give up, pack up, and go back to Iowa. When you reach a point like the one I did this week, I think it's one of the clearest signs that you are about to break into a whole other realm. When the easiest option is to give up, it means that you are knocking down walls and taking unknown ground. This usually gives me motivation to keep breaking through, to keep pressing into Him to see whatever I'm breaking into completely fulfilled. This week, however, I was tired and I feel like this is happening in almost every aspect of my life. I felt almost too tired to remain hopeful, too tired to keep dreaming-something I do naturally. So I just put my hand to the plow, learning every day just a little bit more how to trust the process He has me in. Trusting that He is doing far bigger things in me and for me than I know how to do.

Getting back to "The Shack;" at one of my hardest moments this week I, of course, came across this quote which both helped me in the deepest ways possible, and also challenged me a whole lot in my small faith. I'm finding that happens with God-when He shares things with you it's to comfort, but also to propel you into a deeper relationship with Him.

"Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know you are loved. Because you do not know that I love you, you cannot trust me."

I was having such a hard time with trust this week, something that I normally don't struggle with as much. I realized this week that I still have no idea how much God loves me. How much, even in a week when I could hardly stand myself, STILL He loves me. He knows every part, even the parts I want to hide in a corner and show to no one, and still He loves me. He's crazy about me. And He's just as crazy about you! It's when we understand this fact that we can begin to trust Him. First in small things, then growing until we are completely assured of how well He holds our precious lives."

So, needless to say, last week is over and this week has begun. I'm learning to trust His love, trust His timing, and trust that He sees the order in this seeming chaos. I long to live every day in total trust of who He is as a good Father, as a provider, and as one who gives my life meaning and purpose. One day at a time, one step at a time, surely His love endures forever

L

(more ireland to come tomorrow, promise!)

Ireland Day 1: Travel and Dublin.

After an incredibly busy but satisfying first few weeks of May we were off on our adventure. Jim and Kim Vanwinkle, and I left on a sunny Saturday evening for Ireland to join Brenda, who had been ministering the 2 previous weeks in Northern Ireland, Dublin, and Cork.

Our flights all went well though we did get our exercise in the San Francisco airport making sure to catch our connection. But after that we were greeted with the luxury of seats with extra leg room on our 10 hour jaunt to London. The flight went quickly and I, who never sleep on flights, slept surprisingly well. It's safe to say that the trip was off to an amazing start I, myself surprised at the ease and safety I felt.

We arrived in Dublin at around 6:00pm on Sunday evening. After my first experience of driving on the terribly signed, narrow roads of Ireland we all slept extremely well, staying in Dublin for the evening. The next morning after my first Irish Breakfast which was delicious and included some delicious baby mushrooms I'm going to try to replicate, we were off to explore some of Dublin after an amazing time of prayer and preparation for whatever God had for us in this amazing land.

First we went to the Book of Kells at the Trinity College Library. The book of Kells is a hand-copied Bible scribed by monks in Ireland years ago. It made us all think: "How much do you have to love God, and love the word of God to painstakingly hand copy it and decorate it word-for-word your whole life? It was an amazing sight, indeed, and was just one of the many symbols of the rich, deep heritage the Irish have had with God in the past we got to experience. We were excited to be used in awakening that heritage, excited that God would allow us to be in a land that He longs for so much to come back to where they were, and go even beyond that in their passion and pursuit of Him. 

We also got to go to an old church that they turned into a restaurant in the heart of Dublin. At this church, Wesley preached during the reformation, and Handel himself practiced the Messiah on the organ here. 

The best part? We got to get right up to it and touch it. This was an amazing experience for me. To be in a place of such history, and to 'pull' a little on the anointing left there by such profound men. 

On our way out of Dublin we stopped on the side of the road to get some Dandelions, we used them a lot in prophetic acts all over Ireland, I'll share more on that later perhaps. Anyways, when we pulled off, we looked back and had a gorgeous view of Dublin. You could see the ocean and some of the city, and a huge thunderstorm beginning to move in as we looked back over it. It was an amazing sight. We happily agreed with God that His rains would cover Dublin and His presence would stay there and envelope the whole town.

A few miles later, as we were trying to find a B&B following the terribly marked roads of Ireland, we came upon a huge double rainbow. It was amazingly beautiful. Brenda had earlier had prophetic words about watching the skies to see that you're on the right track, watching for rainbows and also that she would receive a 'double portion.' We, again, were on the right path and were so happy to be met with such a sign and hug from God.

From the very first day, I was almost dumbfounded that a place could be so beautiful. Almost painfully beautiful. It is extremely apparent that God has marked this land. The air is cleaner than everywhere I've been before, the weather milder. It's almost impossible to set foot on the soil, or look at pictures and not fall in love. We were ready to see what God held for us in the rest of this extremely experimental trip. We felt blessed and satisfied as we turned in after our first day of praying in Dublin. 

That evening God gave me a vision of the wealth and resources of Dublin (it's a very wealthy city and Ireland is not a wealthy nation) being unlocked into the rest of the nation. I saw all of the huge banks we had walked by earlier that day getting a huge key inserted into them and the faces of the buildings swinging open, the money and resources being dispersed to the rest of the nation. Before we left California we prayed often for the nation to prosper. I'm believing that it will. 

Our B&B sign, on the evening of night 1.

AH! It's coming, I promise!

OK! SO, I have NOT forgotten to give you some stories of Ireland. Upon returning home, I immediately started my new job with Compass Care as an in-home care provider for elderly. I am absolutely in love with my little ladies and honored that God would allow me such a safe environment in which to learn how to love and care in such a practical way for the needs of others. He is opening my eyes in so many new ways, my brain can hardly comprehend it. While, I knew that I would be working for them I had no idea how much, but in the past 2 weeks I have averaged about 25-30 hours with them alone. Add that to my already 12 hours at Target and to trying to get my house settled and to the good bit of jetlag I've been going through and you have one very busy, but extremely satisfied Lara.

SO starting tomorrow I will being going either day-by-day or two days at a time of our journeys in Ireland. I'm so excited to share with you a bit of what God did during our time there, and some fun stories to go along with it. We are still having fun learning all that He's done there and continues to do after us. We just know that much was accomplished for the Kingdom. I will do my best to post some pictures along with what it all was, and feel free to take a little looksie over on my facebook page at the almost finished Ireland 2012 album.

ALSO God has been stirring some pretty exciting ideas in my little brain about some fun things that I hope that you will join me in doing. Look for more info on that on a Wednesday coming soon.
Love you all, and hope you enjoy my 'Ireland in Review' coming to you all week! ;)

-no editing needed-

Ireland, houses and jobs.

Hi just a VERY quick update, probably many grammatical errors, included.

After one of the busiest, craziest, most extravagant months (and especially week) of my life I am 5 hours out from the beginning of my trip to Ireland. I would love and appreciate your prayers as we travel and do what we feel we are called to do there.

In the last week I got hired as a home-care provider for a not-for-profit here in town. I had applied back in March but couldn't work the position they had available but I really fell in love with the people and told them that if they ever had anything else available please call me. Fast forward 2 months to Monday and after literally the night before asking God for another job, I woke up to a phone call asking if I still wanted to work with them and if I would like to come in for another interview. I of course said yes, then found out Tuesday that I didn't need to do the interview and could begin training. In the past 3 days I have been trained in CPR, First Aid and my initial training with Compass Care. I am so excited to begin being able to have direct access with people once again and am so excited for, yet another, new challenge.

After a month of fixing up a house, prepping for Ireland, training for a new job, helping write some curriculum and a slew of other random things I am feeling so empowered in who God has made me to be. I have never before trusted my voice as much as now, never before seen how actively He's working on our behalf. I am exhausted, but I am empowered. It is amazing just how much His grace is sufficient to meet all of our needs and desires. His mercies really ARE new every morning. There has been a lot of hard, not just in my life, but also from afar in Iowa, but there is a lot of amazing in with it. It's important that we never base our theology and beliefs on things that don't happen, or haven't happened but rather we press in and press on until we really do see heaven come on earth. That is my passion. That is my goal. More than ever I know that I know that my purpose is to destroy the works of the devil and see heaven fill this earth everywhere I walk. Why not start now? Why not start here?

Ireland: T-Minus 5 hours. Thank you for the prayer as we go. Not sure that I'll be able to update while there but certainly will have much good to share upon return. Love you all more than you understand.
-L-

Value

Felt that I was supposed to share an experience with you this evening.

I have been in some sort of major life transition for over 4 years now. I've talked about it before, how it's hard to fully function when you're not sure what your 'role' looks like. Most of the time, I don't have a problem being excited and at ease about trusting God's timing for my life. Lately, it's been a bit harder. The combination of being 1900 miles away from my family and anything that's safe with being in a house that is currently undergoing a lot of renovations and has absolutely no order for the last month kind of started taking a toll on my mind this week. There have been some situations this last month that have really left me questioning my value. Now, not my value as a person, etc just my value in the Kingdom and what I'm actually called to.

Monday it all kind of came to a culmination. I was frustrated, exhausted and flat out honest before God. I started asking Him why I was where I was. My heart has only ever yearned to serve Him with my whole life. To give Him the best of what I have. But for the past 2 years it seems like I haven't even known what to give Him. I started having this conversation with Him about my longing to serve Him and yet wondering if I even had anything to offer Him that could possibly help further His kingdom on earth. You see, when someone misunderstands us, or underestimates our giftings or just plain doesn't know us, we have this tendency to tune into them instead of our heavenly Father.

And while there was no immediate answer to this very hard conversation, last night I was awoken from my sleep hearing God repeat and sing (yes, God sings!) this over me:

"I value you. I value every part of you. I value you. I value the very depths of your being-the very depths of who you are. The things you like, the things you don't even know about yourself yet. I value you. I value what you carry. I value the stature of your heart. I value you, and you don't even understand how much I value you. Your words? I value you them. What you keep hidden in your heart? I value that. I value you, Lara. I value all of you."

And the fact of the matter is, He sings the same song over you. It sounds different to each. Each has a different cadence, a different rhythm. Each with different chords and progressions. Each with melodies and harmonies so sweet, so passionate and so uniquely matching what's going on inside. But each message the same. You are valued. You are precious, and listened to and necessary to the kingdom of God.

From the King of a far off land, to a Starbucks Barista. From the pastor of large, thriving church, to the Pastor of a small, rural church that is barely staying afloat. From the CEO of a major multi-million dollar company to the stay-at-home momma rocking her babies to sleep every night. From the ministers of the gospel with a large following and multiple books to the girl who just wants to serve God but is stuck working at Target to make ends meet (thank you Jesus!) We ALL have value in the Kingdom of God. We are each valued by this King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Many parts, same body.

It's amazing how different people act when they know they are valued. It's amazing how empowered they not only feel but they become. I long to create relationships around me that make every single person aware that I value what they each carry so much. I long for people to be fully themselves knowing that I will celebrate who they are and challenge them to be the best possible, because we as a body need it. Because they were created for a purpose, and we need what they carry. I wonder what would happen if the church would begin to fully value peoples giftings even if they weren't giftings that looked uniquely 'church-ese?' I think that the church would grow dramatically. Not just in numbers, but in depth.

My challenge is two-fold. First, is examine your perception of how God is viewing you. If you've struggled at all with your identity in Him take some time, get alone with Him and listen for your 'song.' Hear Him saying over you: "I value you. I value what you carry."

Second, take some time to evaluate and fix any relationships where you have underestimated or wrongly treated people you care about. Especially people in the church. Begin to place value on the giftings you see in them even if you don't understand them or they seem odd to you. Look for what God is doing in them, and partner with it quickly to encourage them in that gift. I have a feeling they will come alive around you in a very interesting way.

I hadn't intended to write this much, but it's amazing what comes flowing out of you in 10 minutes when it's so close to your heart. Sorry it's not much of an update per-say but it is what God has been challenging me with/teaching me. I will have much to update soon for Ireland. IRELAND! :)

Love you all. You are each valued much by me.
Lara
2 Samuel 22:20 "He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He DELIGHTS in me."

The curious case of life.

Well hello all! It sure has been a long while. I'm always struck by the times in life where you seem to have everything thrown at you at once. It seems like I have been going non-stop for the past week and a half of my life and I realized tonight that it feels that way because I HAVE been going non-stop for the last week and a half. To be honest, I feel like a different person and this afternoon that was confirmed as someone said to me, "You are a different person than you were last week." Huh, thanks! :)

My life is amazing. Hard. Beautiful. Super complicated. Wonderful. Seems like we get the hardest as we learn to handle the greatest. Don't know if anyone can relate, but that is so much where I am right now.

For those of you that don't know, I moved into a house last Saturday. It feels like it's been a month, but it hasn't even been 2 weeks yet! Crazy. It has been wonderful. The house wasn't left in very good shape so the 4 days were totally committed to cleaning. Now that things are clean(er) my life has been dedicated to painting, and a random assortment of other things that need to be done. I have had many moments of victory (like installing my own shower head) and many moments where I have sat on the floor (as I currently only have dinning room chairs) and weeped out of exhaustion and frustration only to have God stand me back up and basically yell at me that 'these are your feet, I've given you them to touch and bless nations, you can do this!'

It has truly been one of the most shaping weeks of my entire life. I haven't opened my bible more than 3 times (gasp). I haven't spent time in worship (double gasp). And I certainly haven't had much quiet time (i know, I'm a heathen). ;) But I have had some of the most intimate, deep, wonderfully painful conversations that I've ever had in my life with God, and I am certainly learning the most I ever have. I can literally feel myself getting stronger in every capacity. I have always known that God is simply enough, and now I am learning it firsthand. I am eternally grateful for this week, for this time.

For some people there would be a tendency to wonder what I'm 'doing' in ministry right now. Besides getting ready for Ireland, and I'll get to that in a bit, my life right now is this house. I've been given an amazing opportunity to help get this house ready for another midwestern girl who will be moving here this fall for school. Because of the way the house was before I moved in, I am really viewing this as just as much as a ministry as anything else. I get to prepare the atmosphere as a worshipper. I get to change things physically so that God can change things spiritually. I think of all of the people who will walk into this house in the future, and I am hugely honored to be able to be the starting point of all of that.

Pastor Bill talked this last Sunday about celebrating the favor you've been given no matter what the favor is. I have been given great, GREAT favor in this house in this season. It is this favor that I will now use for the Kingdom. I have it set in my heart that in my house impossibilities will bow. That all who enter my home have to leave changed; more aware of His presence, more full of joy, blessed financially, rested more fully. One of these things must be done. This is the favor I've been given and I will do it well.

So yes. Besides the house we are almost 3 weeks out from IRELAND! I am SO SO excited to get my feet on the soil there. After months of planning we are itching and ready to be there. We are praying, so that you can join us, for God to invade and change Ireland through us. We have had so many amazing words, promises, and declarations over this trip. We believe that revival fires will burn bright once again in Ireland, we are believing for the restoration of families, we are believing the 'impossible' will happen in every avenue of Ireland.

That being said, I am so happy and excited to announce that because of amazing, amazing people like you I have received all of the funds that I need for this trip to happen! I am totally in awe of God and the generosity of all of you. Thank you does not even begin to cover it! God has really begun a deep work in me in my time here in Redding concerning my heart and role in the nations. I do not know what all is coming, what it will look like and where but I do know that my feet will be on foreign soil. This is my first official 'missions trip' overseas, so thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for your first seeds money. I pray that all of you will receive the 'first fruits blessings' that you all so deserve! I would, however ask that you would seek if you are to continue to give towards this trip. There are still people on my team that need more funds, and I am very boldly asking that you would give towards their tickets. If one part of our team needs money, we all need money as far as I'm concerned. If you want to give towards this trip you can email me at larahochstetler@gmail.com or just send me a check! I'll make sure that it gets to the right people for Ireland. Just write Ireland in the memo line.
My NEW address is:
Lara Hochstetler
5343 Stonethrow Ct.
Redding, Ca 96003

I LOVE being able to say that! Please send me mail! I love getting mail and sending mail! :) It's one of my favorite things, actually. (old school mail).

So, I think that's pretty much it for now. I'm so glad I finally had time to sit down, take a deep breath and update all of you crazy, amazing, passionate people that love me so so well. I love to hear back, so PLEASE don't be shy. I cannot even express what is going on in my heart except that it's big and most of it unexpected! It will be fun to see all that God births out of this season. Love you and miss you all.
-L-

Some pictures, as always to send you out with...

My first declaration over my house.

This is my house! :) Come visit me!

Post cleaning/vacuuming. Pre-painting. Everything will look completely different when I'm done.