Hello everybody…
I don’t know if anybody out there still logs on here. I am so sorry that I have been so terrible at keeping up on well… updating. 
However… I do have a new website that I promise to keep better up to date with. It is simple..
www.shawntelgrabowski.com
I will keep this site up if you want to read any of my old posts.
Thank you all for reading… and I hope to see you all on my new site!!!
We are in Harpenden, England having a bit of a “free day” if you will, so I figured I would write a bit of an update while I try to “dethaw”.
Cork:
Our first ten days of outreach was in a town in the Republic of Ireland called Cork. We stayed at a local church called Cork Community Church (CCC) graciously opened their doors to us for our entire stay in Cork. We did some maitenence/cleaning work in the building for the church since the congregation has unfortunately decreased in numbers over the past year. The elders of the church were the kindest and most generous people I have met in quite some time.
We also worked in a local cafe/bookshop called the Haven. Padraig and Evanne (husband and wife team) run this buisness and have a lot on their plate. We were able to come in and help lift the load by volunteering in the cafe, cleaning, running the bookshop, and helping with inventory at the beginning of the New Year. They have a huge passion for Cork and for the community and their passion spills out to everyone they come in contact with.
Cobh (pronounced Cove):
We went to this little town… more like an peninsula… or island… okay… not 100% sure what it was… just outside of Cork for the last few days of our stay. Some of our team would stay in Cork and work at the Haven, and some would go to Cobh. The first day in Cobh ( I went this day) we went on a prayer walk for the city. The city has a very dark and sad past. It was the last port the Titanic was at before it sank, also the Lithuania was last seen at that port. But even a more personal sadness for the Irish people is that is the largest port that the families last saw each other before sailing to America during the famine. More recently there have been many young people committing suicide. There is a spirit of oppression in Cobh that needs to be broken.
The following days in Cobh we had different teams go and work in a local church we have a connection with (Good News Christian Church). We went and cleaned and tidied up the rooms, painted, and made a great dent on the work that needed to be done. Good News Christian Church is coming under great attack because of its presence in the community of Cobh… its light in the darkness.
Helen Barrett:
There is a lady in Cobh, her name is Helen Barrett, and she is called the White Witch of the Isles. She has the most authority of all witches in all the Isles. We went to where she lives and prayed. During that time I wasn’t scared or nervous or anything, I just felt a strong burden for the woman herself… Helen Barrett. She not only has great influence on the local community but also has an overwhelming influence on political and other prominent figures in society. They go to her seeking advice for things; things that will change society. We looked her up recently and she predicts many things, and many of those things have come to pass. She is a real person, and someone who is dealing and working with real supernatural forces. So… please pray for her… Do some research and pray…
I am sorry this is so long. I decided it was time to fill you in on some of the things I have been doing.
Here are some links to some photos of the random craziness of life as a DTS student. Hope you enjoy.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=72811&l=679df&id=657935750
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=75433&l=c0cb9&id=657935750
I will try to get more photos as soon as possible. I am bad at taking pictures. But I’ll do better!
Well… Back in Closkelt? Not for long… long enough to unpack.. laundry… repack..
We leave for a YWAM base just outside of London tomorrow morning (Saturday morning) at 11:30.
PRAYER REQUEST…
One of our students is from Costa Rica… we had to send for a Visa request for him to come to South Africa. However… they have neither approve nor rejected his application. They still have his passport….
The leaders have been calling the embassy and have been jumping through every flaming hoop they have asked…
We are going to attempt to get Jose on the flight with us to London with his identification card and passport print out. They will be meeting with the embassy to try to get his passport before we fly to South Africa on Monday. We all would greatly appreciate your prayers… our team isn’t complete without Jose.
I will try to update as I know what we will be doing in South Africa… and inform you of what ministries we will be working with. I am not sure how often we will have internet and computer access, but I will do my best to keep you updated!
Once again thank you for your support and prayers.
I can’t believe the “outreach” phase is already here!
Tomorrow morning we leave for Cork. We will be there for 10 days. We will be working with a local church, and their local cafe. Beyond that I have no real idea what I will be doing… which is always exciting!
We will return to the base for a quick stop to switch clothes…
DROP THE SWEATERS… GRAB THE TANK TOPS… WE’RE HEADED TO SOUTH AFRICA!!!
We will be making a small stop right outside of London for a few days while we “switch planes”… hard life… I know…
Oh but don’t let me fool you… once we hit the ground in South Africa… we will be running… I don’t know all the details yet, but hopefully as I experience I will be able to let in on everything that is going on. I do know that we will be in the Durban area for our 8 weeks in South Africa.
I don’t know what my “internet” situation will be over the next 2.5 months, but I promise to update as often as I can. Please keep me and the team in prayer as we travel and work with many different ministries.
Hello everyone…
I am so sorry it has taken me so long to get a post up here.
We have been incredibly busy, but that is no excuse… I am sorry.
OUTREACH:
Anyways!!! We are getting ourselves ready to go on OUTREACH. Which incase some of you are not aware, that is 2.5 months of putting everything we have been learning for the last 3 months to practice. On the 29th December we are going to the city of Cork which is in the Republic of Ireland. We will be there for 10 days working with a local church and various ministries. Then we will return to Closkelt for literally about 1 day and then we will fly to London where we will stay with a local YWAM base for a couple days until we leave for South Africa on 13th Jan. We will be doing the vast majority of our ministry in Durban which is on the east coast of South Africa. We are all getting very excited. It will be a long, strenuous 2.5 months, but we are looking forward to see what God is going to do in and through us during this time.
CHRISTMAS:
This week is our final week of lectures here in Closkelt… ( we will have one remainder week of lectures in South Africa ) We will have next week off for a bit of a holiday… which will be nice since we will need to do laundry and prepare for outreach. We are also planning on having an entire day set aside for a Lord of the Rings marathon. Woot Woot. We are hoping to get a Christmas tree this weekend, to make things feel a bit more like home. We have a few strands of Christmas lights up (which some folks call “twinkle lights” or “fairy lights”) makes things feel a bit more homey… but nothing is quite the same as a Christmas at home.
I am sorry I have to make this a quick blog, but I will try to update more frequently. I am not sure what the internet/computer situation will be in South Africa, but I guess I will let you know when I get there! But I promise to update prior to then.
Once again I wanted to thank you all for your continued support and encouragement. I would love to hear from you, so if you don’t feel like responding directly on the blog… please email me at: telly86@gmail.com
What a God we serve. He is so big and so remarkable that He is able to reveal different aspects of Himself daily and NEVER repeats Himself.
Fun stories of life here in Closkelt:
- Nightreach: The “Love in a cup” outreach program where we preach without words to young people leaving the pubs in local towns. They warn us before going out there that the women on our team might get hit during our evenings out so be prepared. This last weekend took the cake. I GOT PROPOSED TO! But it was still lovely to try to talk him down and offer him a cup of tea instead of my hand in marriage. That same weekend was Halloween so I went out both Friday and Saturday night. On Friday night the BBC (British television station) was out following the police officers doing local patrol. Well, they ended up coming by the Nightreach booth and getting cups of tea and coffee, and the segment featured the outreach and the police officers mentioned how much they appreciated this type of organization and such. WHAT a blessing. NOT to mention I am totally featured in the segment serving tea!!! Haha
- 24/7 Prayer: Here at Closkelt YWAM we are having 24/7 prayer. Which literally means someone is in the prayer room 24/7. Our main focus is for Northern Ireland and Ireland, seeing that YWAM Northern Ireland and YWAM Ireland just reunited this weekend. Everyone on our base was asked to sign up for 9 slots this week. This means 9 one hour slots… I did a two hour block yesterday afternoon, and a one hour slot today. In the room they have art supplies, music, bibles, tea, and coffee; everything pretty much you could think of to creatively pray. When you arrive for your hour you pray for the person leaving and they pray for you as you get ready for your hour. Today I went it about 10ish minutes early so I could make myself a cup of tea before my hour started. Another student Zach was already in there finishing his hour. He gave me a little card with some words on it that God gave him as I walked into the room. Then we prayed for each other and he left. As soon as he left the room I felt God say “It’s all about PEOPLE”… I knelt on the floor and started painting a picture of those words and a little note explaining the picture. That took roughly a half hour so I still had a half hour to go. So I sat there and went… “ ok God… now what do you want me to pray for?” He said “It’s all about PEOPLE… grab some paper…” which to me means He is going to give me some specific words for someone. I was slightly nervous when He said that considering I only had a half hour left and I really didn’t wanna spend my WHOLE Saturday in the prayer room. I know, I know… selfish Shawntel… (By the way we can go in even if we are not scheduled). So I grabbed some paper… He then said “ok write down the names of EVERYONE on the base…” I was like “SERIOUSLY GOD!!??!?!?! That’s like 18 people.” I am use to getting words for a few people max! So I was obedient and sat down… Two and a half hours later I walked out of the prayer room… God gave words for every person… Although my hand was tired it only felt like I was in there for twenty minutes. Through this I was just being shown that if we are willing He will use us… we may not be perfect and we may even be selfish, but just be open to being used… and be obedient when called.
- Giants Causeway & Dunluce Castle: Oh one of the perks of living in Northern Ireland is the beauty… We got to go Giant’s Causeway and the Dunluce Castle ruins on Thursday afternoon. Oh we also got to go to Bush Mill’s Whiskey Distillery. AMAZING… all of it… the beauty… the creativity… the hand of God so unique and just ah I don’t even have the words to describe. I will try to get pictures up of everything, but until I do, go onto a website and see these places… they are extravagant. Well not the distillery… haha.
I probably have TONS more I could update you on, but I will leave you here for now… I just want you to know that I am so thankful for you support and prayer support… Without it I wouldn’t be here…. Wouldn’t be learning the things I am… wouldn’t be with these amazing people, and would have this amazing chance to experience God in this extravagant way. So thank you again for everything.
I am so sorry this is late in coming…
Saying that I am busy is a very true statement, but saying that I haven’t been making time to post an update is also a very true statement.
Here is a basic rundown… Every week we have worship or intercession… or sometimes both, first thing in the morning. Then we start lectures… We have a different speaker each week and the have a specific topic that they will teach on for the entire week. They have a few hours before lunch each day… (Monday through Friday)… Then after lunch one Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays we have silence and reflection for 30 minutes. It gives us a little break to ponder what has been going on that week and gives God a chance to speak to us without us bringing everything to Him. Then immediately after that… and also on Tuesdays and Thursdays… we have Small Groups. This is a time where our school splits up in two groups and talks about what is going on in our lives and what God has been working on us through the lectures. Then we usually have a small break and then WORK DUTIES… mine is housekeeping… I figured I have a bit of experience I might as well stick with it. Ha ha. We do that from 4:30-6 Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Friday. The nice thing about Housekeeping is once you are done with the job then you have free time. Hence why I am able to write this right now! ;o) Then we have dinner…. oh one of my favorite times of the day! hahhaa just kidding… Monday nights after dinner the boys go to what is called Boy’s Brigade at the local church… It is very similar to Awanas in the states. Tuesday nights we have community night where the entire base meets for worship and word (pretty much like a little church service). Wednesday night is a free night… Thursday night is community fun night… the whole base gets together and we either play games or watch a film. Friday night the girls go to Girls Brigade which is the same as Boys Brigade… just for girls! haha. Then weekends are free… (When I say the ”whole base” that means everyone that lives on the base, not just the DTS students and staff. There are also other staff that live on the base as well.) That is a very generalized break down of a week at the DTS base here in Closkelt, Northern Ireland… but I hope it gives you a slight look into my life right now.
This week in lectures we were talking about the Father Heart of God. It was incredibly powerful.
God really revealed himself to me in a myriad of ways. The thing that really touched me that most is how I would be pondering something, either something about God’s character, or just about something in general… and INSTANTLY God would answer… either through Micheal (yes that is how you spell it… its Irish) giving a prophetic word, or God just showing me through another situation.
It was simply amazing… God just showing me how real He is. I could go on and on describing how magnificent it was… and still is.
I think what He has been showing me since I have been here, and just keeps showing different depths to it, is that He wants to meet us where we are at. Whether we think we are “unholy” or “unworthy” He doesn’t care. He will meet you in your situation… He will meet you EXACTLY in the way you need to be reached. He knows the way you will respond best to Him and He will act accordingly… He is not a cookie-cutter God… Same thing for everyone… yeah I hope you understand that… It makes sense in my head… but that doesn’t always mean anything…
Anyways I think this is long enough for now… I will try to update more often. I will attach a picture of my team and our leaders… I will see if I can label them or tag them somehow…
(Top Left to Right: Greg (Staff), Hannah, Ariette (Staff), Corby, Jose, John)
(Bottom Left to Right: Amy, Shawntel (ME), Zach, Mikael (Staff), Kayla, Nathan, Rachel)
So I have been in Ireland for three weeks as of today.
I have learned so much about the history of this place and learning so much about my team mates as well.
But as I sit here, I am just wondering if I doing all that I can and getting everthing that I can out of my time here.
I came here to seek answers and to distance myself from everything that I know. To soley offer myself and my time unto God and grow in my relationship with Him. I just want to make sure that I am doing that.
I know I haven’t been prioritizing as well as I should be. The balance is very difficult.
Everyday is breath-taking though… Even though I haven’t been taking the time to meet with God, He always meets with me… whether it is a sunrise that He told me He would have made just as beautiful even if I was the only one looking, or a story of another team-mate having a close encounter with Him.
I don’t know what to really think of everything at this moment, but I know that if I just focus on Him then I will be ok.
Hello everyone…
Well its Sunday evening… We got back from Belfast last night… We got there Thursday evening and spent the weekend there learning about Irish history and about what they call “The Troubles”.
It was highly informitive and impactful. We walked down two different streets… One called Shankhill Rd which is a Protestant street and one called the Falls which is Catholic. They have a peace wall dividing the two… It is amazing to see the two and the devistation and see how deep and extensive the conflicts have torn this country apart. We saw murals… Beautiful and some disturbing painitings of peoples pictoral expressions of what has happend and is still going on.
On a fun note we walked to a pub on Friday night… very fun…
We seriously walk EVERYWHERE!!!! In Belfast we probably walked way over 15-20 miles per day that is a rough guess… It could have been more than that.
We stayed in a house that YWAM Belfast just “let” which is what they mean by “rent”… so they literally were signing papers when we showed up… They didnt have the “gas card” which would provide us with hot water and heat… so we roughed it the whole weekend… lol… fun fun… But that house is a huge blessing for YWAM Belfast… They have a DTS starting in November so we got go in test it out and be there guinea pigs lol.
It rained on Saturday… we were walking around… we got soaked… we were wet.. very very wet… I created a song to try to stay happy… didnt last long.. once me feet were wet all the way through the song no longer made me happy. lol.
But back here in Closkelt it is BEAUTIFUL! Total countryside. I mean it rains of course, but we have been on a couple walks…
Our team is amazing… we are bonding beautifully. We all have unique gifts and personalities. It is exciting to see what God has in store for us. I will explain everyone later…
Our leaders are great as well. Mikeal is originally from Norway… moved to the states when he was 10… he is pretty relaxed as of now… but we have had a few laughing moments. lol. Arietta is from the Netherlands… I love her dearly she makes me laugh so much… she is adorable. Greg… oh Greg… I dont know how to explain him… I will get back to you on that one hahhaa. He is from the states but lived in Ukraine with his family as a Missionary kid. He is only 19 but is wise beyond his years.
I need to work on my journal and read a book for a book report… so I need to get going, but I will continue to update with exciting adventures…
Hello ya’ll…
Well I am here safe and sound… Got here last night after a cancelled flight at the London Heathrow airport.
4 hours later… caught the next flight, but with 2 of my fellow DTS mates so that was cool.
Slept great and today was fun. Had lunch and went on a BEAUTIFUL walk around about… it was about a 45 minute walk… tomorrow we might try to explore some more and mosey down to the pub. lol.
It is absolutely beautiful countryside. We had great weather today… not too cloudy actually nice and sunny for a bit… a little chilly but no rain. We just had dinner… they just keep feeding us… and lots of tea… which I enjoy.
Getting along with everyone thus far… One guy just joined us… he is from Northern Ireland YEAH finally and Irish accent that will be around us… (heard some at the airport but then none at the base)
I am sharing a room with one other girl, Hannah… which is good cause I have lots of stuff! I will take pictures of everything to show you guys… if you haven’t seen them on facebook so far.
Well, it is getting chilly tonight, so I think I am going to go get some tea and maybe read for a bit. Miss ya’ll already… It still doesn’t seem like I am in Ireland.
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