A day at Lacken House

Dearly beloved,
Yes I have been quite busy infact today was an exciting day and here is glimpse into my day......
Yesterday I came back from my meeting at Kilkenny College. We are renting its facilities for our upcoming youth event in February 2009. So I had to go and check out the facilities. However it was 6 hours journey and got home only at 8:00 pm last night. Had to put together the meeting details so I knew it will be a busy day. But I had no idea what I was in for. After the morning devotions we all were asked to come and help with completing the upstairs office space, it is under construction. We knew that we had to do it since we do not have any resources. So we put on dirty jeans, working gloves, mask and goggles and started to sand the walls and it was dusty, I mean there was a sand storm in the whole upper room, there was sand even in my eye lashes, teeth everywhere. I was thinking of Vicky all the time and how he always used me as a handy man (woman). If only he had seen me now!
Then our servers crashed because of the dust so I had to physically move everything downstairs, clean and re-set it. I am now the official IT Administrator as well! Then the German Embassy called asking for the original letter to be sent directly to them from the OM Germany office. I got on the phone with them and got that sorted. We have a planning meeting on Tuesday morning so I have to travel to Dublin on Monday so I was trying to organize that. After lunch we had a singing session with a couple who has come to spend there vacation here but ended up working with us (bicharay). At 5:00 pm I had a meeting with our communications person and left for home only at 6:00 pm. That is when I spoke to you breifly. Got home, rushed into the shower, ate dinner, put my clothes in the wash, packed ( tell you details in a sec), got online since I still have to do office work and here I am.
We were laughing at work today, "what is happening at Lacken House?" Construction, music, drama and much much more.....but we have a great team. Everyone has such a servant heart. Matlab from my director to colleagues children everyone was helping to clean, sand the walls, paint etc. while singing praises to God. We have no money, no fancy set up, don't know how we will finish all this work but we are taking one step at a time, together .....
The rest of the week is as follows:
Thursday - Going to Letterkenny for the weekend & prayer meeting
Friday - Going to Belfast for Casting Crowns concert
Saturday - Back home since John & Laura arrive from England
Sunday - Sight seeing around Roscommon with John & Laura
Monday - Go to Dublin with John & Laura (staying overnight)
Tuesday - Meeitng in Dublin and back to Roscommon
Wednesday - hopefully a normal day !!!!!
Working for God is tougher since He has high standards. But doing construction work at Lacken House is very exciting as I feel I am making history. After many years when we have all moved on and this building is used for weary souls, conferences, prayer meetings and office space, I will be able to say that I had a part in building one of the walls..... there is a unique satisfaction that I can not explain in words.
So do you want to be a missionary?

My farewell speech to HSBC family

Friends I bid you adieu today
"Nothing lasts forever", they say
I will cherish your friendship everyday
Wish you love and peace along life's way

I joined HSBC in 1999
Time spent in many departments has been more than fine
The pleasure and experience is all mine
The suffering while I was learning was thine

I will miss saying, "I work at HSBC"
But I am free from the fear of rating '3'
We do not always feel a part of the organization tree
Yet we are a big 'happy' family!

Sometimes I will celebrate my victory
Other times I will think of the beloved 'Fish Committee'
Hope you will continue to be Sporty, funny & chirpy
While making lots of money

You may write to leenadavid@gmail.com
I will be glad to mails, From: Friends or foes, any one seeking shelter in a storm
Are welcome to Ireland, my new hom*
*(irish accent)

What a generation!

As I lay in bed, I just thanked the Lord so much for the young people that He is raising all over the world. The numbers vary because some are large and others small however they are all persevering after God. This the generation of 'God chasers'.

I had the privilege of attending the River of Life Church's youth meeting on Friday at Athlone. It was such a refreshing time. I was so encouraged.

I recalled the verse from the Bible Psalm 71:5 For Thou art my hope, O Lord GOD; Thou art my trust from my youth. Yes, as we studied about security in Christ and how God's love is the one true love of our life. Hallelujah! This is an amazing group of young people. They are so grounded in the Word of God, it is marvellous and I am excited to see their zeal. As we continue to meet, I am hoping that we will be able to unfold the wonderful truths in the Bible and be equipped to walk in the image of Jesus Christ.

I am reminded how much I love being around this group of people and so does God. Ask you for prayers to prepare and disciples these teens to reach out to other teens all over Ireland. Amen

Pray for the young people of Roscommon! I know this is the just the beginning of a revolution.

Tumahri Bajia

Good morning Sunshine,

I too love to write to you early morning coming purposely early so that I can spent that time reading your mails and writing back while I take my early cuppa of tea. You are right I should write a book about us and the special relationship that we share.

Sisters are close generally but we are more than sisters, like best friends!

You know what and I have told you many a times that when God finished making me, He looked at me and went, “ Oh no! she can’t be sent to the world all by herself. She will be a terror to others and herself . Hmmmmm! I have an idea, Yes I will send one of my most loved cherubim who hovers around my throne and sees and kisses my face , to pacify her and help her in life.

Then He called out, “My most beautiful and beloved angel, Leena…….You came flying with your pretty wings, ‘Yes Father!'

God: you see this girl here,

Cherubim Leena: Yes Father, You have created her in your image and she is perfect.

God: Thank You my beloved angel. But you see, she is a tough one and she will require someone to take care of her and love her and guide her throughout her life. Otherwise she might destroy herself and others around her. She is quite volatile you know. I want you to be with her as her guardian angel.

And that’s when you set your angel eyes upon me and took me under your charge.

We were sisters even in heaven!

Blessed Bus

On Sunday our team was out for evangelism on the street in a 'BIG RED BUS'. It is the name of a minsitry for children and young people. We have a double decker bus which we park outside the shopping center in the city of Athlone and serve free tea/coffee with snacks. When the children and teenagers come in we tell them stories about Jesus, face painting, puppet shows, show movies etc. It is an exciting way to interact with them. I shared with two girls named Ruth and Philomena aged 9 & 10 yrs. They were so cute. We read stories from the Bible. I taught them the song about the 'wise man built his house upon a rock'. They were so technology savy that they both recorded it on their mobiles & then we prayed the sinners prayer together. I think they are saved in their little hearts! But I am confident that the seed is sown. They were telling everyone that Jesus is their best friend now and they will talk to Him everyday. Another exciting thing was that Mary who accompanied our neighbors for shopping in Atholone that afternoon was able to bring them into the bus. What an opportunity for them to see the ministry in action. Our neighborhood is a mixed community of Indains, Americans and Irish (ofcourse) but we all have connected very well. Orla has become a good friend of Mary's and I believe that the Lord has a divine plan for all these friendships. I urge you to pray for us as we witness to our neighbors. Thank you for your prayers and support once again. My utmost desire to the see the name of Jesus lifted high. All glory and honor be to His name alone.

Prayerfully yours

Leena :-)

Story of the slave sisters

Once upon a time in a land far away there lived two sisters. They were both slaves and worked in the field from morning till evening. After a hard days work they then had to go and work at the master's home. They had to cook, clean and wash and became very tired by the time they went to bed. The sisters dreamt about being free someday. They spoke about taking a leisure walk in the garden, being dressed in pretty clothes and play all day. Some day marry handsome young men and live happily ever after.

One of the sisters actually practiced at night when everyone was asleep. She would pretend that she was was walking and playing in the garden. This really encouraged her and gave her hope that one day her dream will come true. But the other sister dreamt but did not believe that it will ever happen.

One day the Prince of the land was passing by the field and lay eyes in the slave sisters. He took a liking to one of them and started to visit the field everyday. The Prince approached the slave girl one day and asked her to come with him. She was very pleased about the proposal but said that she was just a slave girl and not ready. She told him that she did dream of being free one day but not now. The Prince was very disappointed. At that moment, the other sister who was listening immediately approached the Prince and said, "I am ready to come with you!"

The Prince looked at her and she was similar to her sister. He agreed to take her instead and she was free indeed!

Moral of the story: We will only be slaves to sin till we choose to let Jesus set us free.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

James 1:23 (b) he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror.......as I was meditating on these verses I was reminded of the story of Snow White and the seven drawfs. In the story the queen always stood in front of the mirror and asked "who is the fairest of them all?" When the mirror responded favorably she was pleased however she was very angry when the mirror replied that now the fairest of all is not the queen but Snow White instead of her. I am imagining that she would have even broken the mirror when it gave a negative comment. That is why she plotted to kill Snow White as a result of her jealousy.

Each one of us has a 'mirror' in our hands as Christians. When we begin to examine ourselves in the 'mirror' of God's word what are our feelings? Like the Queen, are we indulged in vanity, do we feel love for others, are we jealous of someone else's prosperity, do we like what we see?

1) Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me. The definition of 'god' according to me is anyone or anything that takes all our attention, time and effort. Our work can be our god, a friend, television, internet, a habit anything that diverts attention from Jesus is a god. Anything that interferes in our relationship with Jesus is a god! Lets examine our lives and make a checklist of who are our gods? Is Jesus the primary focus of our life or is He living in the guest room of our heart. Do we talk to Him occasionally or continuously?

2) Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

My sister sometimes calls my name and when I turn to her does not say anything. It is very irritating. "Why do you draw my attention when you don't have anything to say" I ask her and she does not bother replying. If someone keeps calling your name without really wanting to talk to you how would you feel? Imagine calling the King of kings and Lord of lords, whose name if above all, getting His attention and not intending to have any conversation with Him. It is quite an insult. How do we address the name of our earthly father? Do we cry their name out for no reason, try taking your Dad's name without meaning to talk to him and his reaction will tell you that we should never dishonor the name of God. Saying "Jesus" is not fashionable. If we don't mean it, we should not say it. Remember we are accountable for every word that we speak as written in Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. We will be accountable for every word that we speak without meaning it.

3) Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother.

What is our perception of our parents? Do we respect them and want to introduce them to our friends or are we embarrassed of them? Dr. Dobson wrote in one of his books that our feelings for our natural father on earth is a reflection of our feelings for the heavenly Father as well. In other words whatever is our relationship with our father on earth it is most likely to be the same with the Father in heaven. Take a moment to look at the mirror of God's Word and ask, "what is my relationship with God Almighty?"

We can continue examining ourselves through several scriptures of the Bible. For e.g. in Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the man who:

• does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
• nor stand in the path of sinners
• nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

A scoffer is one who is mocking laughter, mimicry, or comments intended to make fun of somebody in a contemptuous way. Let us examine whether we are intentionally of unintentionally scoffing?

As we examine ourselves we all know our spiritual condition. Peter's message pricked the hearts of the people and they became desperate to 'REPENT'. When we repent our character is groomed and we begin to look nice, just like after a hair cut, trimming of a beard or getting our eye brows shaped.

When we see our unkept hair in the mirror it is a natural thing that we fix it sometime with our hands, other times with a comb. My Uncle was complaining about his dry lips and asked my mother if she could give him a solution. They were young and were not so familiar with cosmetics. She advised him that if he applies lipstick it will be smooth. Taking her advise my Uncle applied lipstick at night with the intention to remove it in the morning. However he forgot and went to get the milk with the lipstick on. He came home very angry with my mother. However she replied that she had asked him to remove it in the morning. If only he had looked in the mirror he would have avoided the embarrassment. We need to continue examining ourselves in the 'mirror' of God's word. And remember examining is for examinations and examinations result in promotion to the next level. If we fail then we remain in the same class. I have just mentioned a few scriptures but I encourage you to keep reading and make a checklist of all the verses that teach us character traits.

My beloved, the Bible has been given to us so that our character will be developed just the way God wanted it to be. Let us use it as a grooming tool to look beautiful whenever we read it. Ask God to fix the uneven eyes, unshaped lips, trim the hair and re-shape us daily in His own image. Amen.

North Ireland country site - Balleybofey

A child again......

As a little girl things seemed so plain

There was joy in the flowers, trees and rain

The age of leisure, of sweet innocence
Like that unblemished rose with fragrance

I wondered as I looked around
When will I grow up and be profound

Then time flew away like the winged bird
And I saw reality as never heard

I myself, became a problem for me
Had ears deaf and eyes that could not see

I wondered as I looked around
Will wisdom ever in me abound?

Then one fine day after the darkest hour

My heart was bitter and eyes so sore

The troubles and hassles of life

Had made my living such a strife

Everything in th eworld was blue

All was false and nothing true

Then I saw the most marvellous light

A revelation divine, a vision so bright

'tis came to me Jesus, the Christ

My strength withered and Iwas full of fright

He came to me and chided with love

He gave me a robe as white as dove

Tears ran down my evil eyes

For the sins I did, He paid the price

I cried, "what do you want me to do, O Lord?"

He said, "Come and live with me, in one accord!

That day when received salvation

My ears, my eyes and heart...had a transformation

The world suddenly didn't seem insane

And I became like a child again!