wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] 'Amazing. Love,

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ECUNET.ORG>]

Note #8996 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

05584
Oct. 26, 2005

'Amazing. Love, Christine'

A missionary letter from Northern Ireland

by Christine Coy
Young Adult Volunteer

BELFAST, Northern Ireland - Amazing. No other word is adequate to describe
the past six weeks of my life. If that word were able to convey all the ways
Northern Ireland has affected me, I would stop there: "Amazing. Love,
Christine." 

	But I know that wouldn't be good enough. So I'll do my best to
explain why and how this small part of the world has amazed me.
	    
	For starters, I'll provide a theme song: "The Seven O'Clock
News/Silent Night" by Simon and Garfunkel. It may seem an odd choice, but I
have come to see it as the theme song for the gradual culture shock that I
have been experiencing. 

	It's a simple song, beginning with soft, beautiful voices delicately
harmonizing to the familiar tune of "Silent Night." As it continues, the
stark voice of an anchorman reporting the evening news creeps into the
background. As the carol continues, the news becomes ever more audible, the
headlines reflecting prejudice, injustice and war mixing dissonantly with the
serene lyrics. By the song's end, the news has become the dominant sound and
the comforting and familiar tune has faded into the background.
	    
	In a similar way, Northern Ireland's initial welcome was familiar and
reassuring. There are some obvious differences, such as driving on the other
side of the road, more rain, the accent that evokes my normal response:
"Pardon?" 

	But there is also a wealth of comforts. Never before have I
encountered such warm, welcoming, and generous people, opening their hearts
and homes. I am constantly being humbled by their generosity and compassion. 

	Nor have I ever met people so committed to their work. Regularly
making the needs of others their priority, they graciously flow through
stressful lives, epitomizing the ideal of a selfless servant. 

	And I take comfort in my own work with young people at Garnerville
and The Link. It often reminds me of crazy times as a camp counselor.
Volunteering with a program for people with addictions - the MARC Project -
allows me time to sit back, have a cup of tea and play dominoes with people
society often ignores. I end my days feeling exhausted, but in a good way -
when every aching muscle is a reminder that you have laughed, listened, and
made progress toward significant relationships. 

	In fact, it sometimes troubles me, the fun I'm having. I forget that
I'm living in Northern Ireland. 
	    
	Then it happens, inevitably. Stark reality creeps into my comfort
zone. Quietly at first. The murals along the streets. The flags. The
"peace-lines." The things Northern Ireland is known for. 

	And the intolerance. While people struggle with issues of religion
and self-determination, they often neglect more prosaic social ills such as
sexism, racism, and classism. 

	I often find myself challenging the opinions and language of the
young people at the Drop-In, challenging their prejudices, trying to show
them that even they are affected by intolerance.

	These discussions are difficult and sometimes heartbreaking, but I
usually can keep my bearings, steadied by memories of past experiences back
home.
	    
	But that doesn't always help. Sometimes I find that I have no context
for understanding the pain of this region. 

	I'm feeling a tinge sad right now while listening to a CD sent by a
friend. The sadness doesn't stem from homesickness or nostalgia; it is the
strange feeling I'm getting from Garth Brooks' Ireland song - all cheery and
festive - while I hear helicopters hovering over my house. 

	Something is happening in this city right now. I don't know what it
is (which is driving me nuts) but I know it's something dangerous and that
I'd best stay inside. As Rick (Garnerville's minister) said today, "They
don't pay for helicopters to hover around just for the fun of it."

	Now fire trucks are charging down Pims Avenue (my street). It's
surreal - if I turn up the music, I can just barely tune out the helicopters.
  
	I learned later that I had been overhearing responses to the largest
riots in Belfast in 10 years. In an effort to maintain peace, the government
had re-routed a Loyalist (Protestant) parade to avoid provoking residents of
a largely Nationalist (Catholic) area. The result, however, was the release
of deep-seated Loyalist anger at the police in three nights of rioting. 

	The wreckage from the riots not only physically scarred the city, but
stirred emotions that had been somewhat dormant. I have spent much of the
past month listening to the diverse emotional responses of the people with
whom I work. 
	    
	Many voiced frustration with the Protestant/Loyalist community. Some
characterized the Protestant paramilitary organizations as thugs who care
less about rights and reconciliation than about power. Others shared more
sympathetic views of the Loyalists. One Protestant said she proudly calls
herself Irish. Another, who seemed mostly unconcerned, said he would defend
the queen if necessary. Tommy a MARC Project client, is a proud Ian Paisley
follower, while Jonny actually took part in the riots. 

	Even chance occurrences have been enlightening, such as the time when
Bryan, my taxi driver one night, spent 40 minutes (after a five-minute trip)
explaining the plight of the Protestant working class. 

	Everyone here has an opinion, one steeped not only in personal
beliefs, but in family histories. The young people I work with are children
or grandchildren of people who participated in "the Troubles." How could they
not have strong opinions?
	    
	In the past week, "the evening news" has become even more intrusive.

	The staff of The Link have been negotiating with local paramilitary
leaders to help a young person in our Drop-In. The boy had somehow upset the
leaders of the paramilitary group and was to be shot in the knees.

	What was supposed to be a time of reconciliation has ignited
sectarian anger throughout the country. Father Alex Reid, a priest who
witnessed the IRA "decommissioning" ceremony a few weeks ago, reacted to
Loyalist criticism by comparing the Loyalists' treatment of Catholics to the
Nazis treatment of Jews. Needless to say, the comment wasn't taken very well.

	It is events like these that shock me out of my Christmas carol - and
help me understand how much I have to learn. 

	I spend a lot of my time smiling, laughing, talking, playing guitar,
eating great food and sharing good craic (Northern Irish for "good fun"). But
Northern Ireland will continue to find ways of shocking me, especially when I
least expect it. 

	Yet, thanks to the loving people around me, I still wake up each
morning with a sense of comfort and excitement, ears and eyes open, waiting
to see how the coming day will amaze me.

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