Republic of Ireland

Joel & Cindy Hylton
Abby, Emily, Elizabeth, and Rachel

Prayer requests for 2006-2007:

Our primary work here is to develop young Irish and American leaders. As we make more connections and build long term relationships here, we need wisdom in how to adapt this program to better suit the needs of emerging Irish leaders. Pray also that our understanding of this culture and working within it would deepen.

We need more long term staff--both Irish and American--to follow up with the young adults we work with on an ongoing basis. We need more American apprentices and interns from the US who are interested in missions.

While the Irish are a generous culture, historically church workers have been expected to volunteer. As a result, it is difficult for the Irish to raise money for the apprenticeship or to expect to be able to find a job if they were interested in full time Christian work. Further, as Ireland becomes a prosperous nation, there is immense pressure for young adults to enter a career track in order to ever hope to afford a home. This makes it even harder for young people to consider pursuing full time ministry here.

Pray for our family as we now have two daughters at university in the US (Rachel and Emily at UNC) and two daughters with us in Dublin. The separation and limited time together as a family is one of the difficulties of mission life.