Present Joys

Part of a series.

Early sunday morning, Karen and I woke early and piled in John’s car for a short early-morning hike through the wilderness camp that he and (aunt) Karen work to support, located just a few miles from their home, near the foot of the Comeragh Mountains. Even in deep autumn, the campgrounds were lovely. I can only imagine what a charming place this is during the growing season.

We headed home, switched into some nicer clothes, and drove another 45 minutes to the Beachy Amish Mennonite church in Dunmore East (the only such church in Ireland). After worship, John, Karen, Karen, and I had a lasagna lunch in the church’s multipurpose room (so we didn’t have to go all the way home just to eat!). After lunch, we drove through Dunmore East itself, a fishing village with an attractive harbor. John parked the car and we walked along the coast on a narrow but well-beaten path. What is it with the grass here? It’s literally like a trampoline. Like the grass has covered itself with protective cushion of grass. It’s literally emerald-colored, and the sky is sapphire, and it’s all wonderful.

We traced our way back home along the coast, stopping a few times to take in the sights and the. I’ve missed seeing great works of culture during our time in the Irish countryside, but the beauty of God’s creation here cannot be overstated. Back home, Karen made us hot soft pretzels, which we washed down with milk (by the way, plain old commodity milk here tastes grassy and buttery—nothing like the stuff back home). Tomorrow we bid adieu to our family and head to Dublin.