When the year began, after two years of lockdowns and a new location in the country, I was unsure as to what this year would entail, but it has been as busy as ever.
September
I had just returned from my short journey to the USA and was welcomed by an office full of stacks of papers I had been searching through for our older son’s immigration paperwork. In the end, we were finally able to wrap up the application on September 30. Now, we have to wait for possibly two years before we receive a reply. Where it used to be only six months, they are now backed up because of all of the COVID lockdowns. The citizenship would allow Keith II to move between countries freely. One family that has been between churches for the last year finally made the decision to stop attending the church near their home and begin travelling 45 minutes to attend our church exclusively. Many of our people travel a distance to come to our church. One lad spends two hours on the bus each way, another family travels 45 minutes, and a single man travels 45 minutes just driving across the city. As they say, “A church that’s alive is worth the drive.” I am so thankful for their sacrifices to be faithful to the services, despite the gas prices here, which were already two times that of the U.S. but have more than doubled in the past six months. Keith II also continued to help with what the Day family’s Bible services has been doing for some Ukrainian families in a town called Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare.
On the first weekend of September, my family and I got to attend a counselling conference with Dr. Terry Coomer, and he was a great help in teaching us how to walk with God. It went right along with what I was preaching at the time, so I took a few weeks to teach our people what he taught in his books on walking in the Spirit. He really lays out some simple but effective principles for asking God questions to keep engaged in Bible study and prayer, not just going through the motions. I was also able to purchase loads of his books for the church bookstore.
Thankfully, I did not postpone going to the USA in August, because just a month after returning, Hurricane Ian directly hit my family in the Fort Myers, Florida, area. We are thankful the Lord protected them; they were all safe and made it through without injury or much damage to their homes.
October
I noticed several of our people who were travelling by bus needed to wait an hour or so after the service to catch their return bus, so back in July, we began having sandwiches after the services. Then in October, we began a discipleship class on Sunday afternoons, and the people are delighted to be grounded in the Word of God.
I discovered that there is Hate Speech legislation that the Irish government will push through by the end of the year. It would criminalise even being in possession of materials that they would deem “hate speech,” which would include anything against transgender. This will be the final nail in the coffin and will make Ireland a totalitarian society by eliminating any dissenting thought. Violation of the Hate Speech laws could mean five years in prison. By the time I write my next letter, this legislation will have gone through or not. If they do not get it through directly, they will then try to do it piece by piece. Please pray for the Irish people to awaken and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation.
Soul Winning
We are continuing to get the Gospel out to the Limerick community and go out every Saturday door to door. My wife had the opportunity to speak with an agnostic American lady who was open to talking to her and hear about the Gospel. We were able to get out hundreds of tracts and talk to many people. Please pray for the Lord to work in hearts.
Please pray for these needs:
1. Co-laborers in Limerick
2. Protection over the ministry
3. More visitors in the countryside
4. Hate Speech laws not to pass
Last, I want to thank everyone who sent encouraging emails, birthday gifts, and cards for Kendrick and for your faithful prayers and support. Enjoy more pictures of our life and ministry.
In the battle for the souls of Ireland,
Keith Hamilton
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- Sunday afternoon discipleship group
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- My pulpit on Sunday mornings
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- Keith II helping the Days with their Ukrainian ministry