This morning, I (Noelle) was at birthday party for one of Silas’ friends. My friend, Angela, who was the mom of the birthday boy, introduced me to one of her friends. She mentioned to her friend how Troy and I would be moving in two weeks to Belfast, Northern Ireland for mission work. This kind woman was asking me all sorts of questions about G.O. Kidz and Belfast and she asked me a question that sorta caught me off guard and for about three seconds I was speechless (shocking, I know).
She sweetly said, “I’m just curious, but what made your husband fall in love with Belfast so much that he is so passionate to serve there?”
At a loss for words, I stalled with, “That’s a good question…”
I can’t remember what vague answer I gave her but, this entire day, I have been thinking about it. For crying out loud, I am moving to Belfast in less than two weeks! The question should be already be answered in my heart as to why we love Belfast so much!
It’s not for it’s sunny weather, that’s for sure.
As I pondered this, I reminisced about the first time Troy and I ever stepped foot in Belfast. We were just friends back then, but I’ll admit it – I thought he was hot. We were just two kids on a college mission trip, who thought Belfast was a land where the shamrocks, leprechauns, and lucky charms were plentiful. Well, it wasn’t quite like that at all.
Truth be told, I was sick the entire mission trip and did a lot more sleeping then serving but Troy was out everyday in the schools leading assemblies and talking to kids about Jesus. I remember watching him come into the R.O.C.K. Centre every night bursting at the seams with stories and excitement. Troy has always been an enthusiastic person, but this was different. At the risk of sounding cheesy, it was like watching him fall in love with Belfast. It was unexpected but cool. At the end of the mission trip, he told me he was going to take a year off of college to do missions in Belfast. I was sad (cause I totally liked him back then) but something in me knew it was right.
Well, we became boyfriend/girlfriend soon after that mission trip and just a few short months later, he shipped off to Belfast for ten months. It was challenging to be so far apart from each other for so long but oddly enough it strengthened our romance. He literally wrote me everyday that he was in Belfast. I still have every letter.
While he was serving in Belfast, I went back over to Northern Ireland on a second college mission trip. It was on that mission trip that Troy whisked me away to Belfast Castle for a romantic dinner. After dinner, we went outside to the castle gardens which over look they entire city of Belfast. Troy got down one knee and asked me,
“Noelle will you marry me and serve with me here in Belfast?”
Elated, I answered with a pretty enthusiastic, “YES! YES! YES!”
So, from the very beginning, I knew that being Troy’s wife would mean that we would be in Belfast at some point sooner or later. Belfast would always be in his heart and his passion and he was inviting me to be apart of it.
I sit here amazed to think that in less than two weeks, I’ll be typing on this lap top.. IN Belfast! It boggles my mind but at the same time confirms in my heart that the dreams the Lord gives us when we are young, He never forgets. What a really cool thing. We may forget. We may give up on those dreams But Jesus doesn’t. He doesn’t force us to do anything but He never forgets.
I still can’t give you an impressive answer as to why Troy loves Belfast so much. He just does. I have grown to love it too… even with all its rainy days 
I am looking forward to this adventure of eating a lot of potatoes and driving on the other side of the road. It’s a little scary, but I know Belfast is where we are meant to be.
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