by Reilly Harris, J2A 2025 Pilgrim
When we were told we would no longer be able to travel to Cuba, there was silence in the room. After many Sundays and discussions, we had finally voted on pilgrimage to Cuba, but weeks later, we were told that it would no longer be our destination due to infrastructure concerns in Cuba.
This last-minute change would come to be a blessing in disguise.
The first day of our pilgrimage to Ireland was a rocky start, but not as rocky as the mountain we would later climb. It was a red-eye flight leaving at 9:00 pm EST and arriving at 9 :00 am Irish Standard time (4:00 am EST). After the seven-hour, sleepless flight, we were thrown into Ireland, where we met John.
John was one of the founders of Wonder Voyage and owned the farm at which we’d be staying. He took us on what he called “a mild walk,” which turned out to be a three-mile walk. This doesn’t sound bad, except most of us had been awake for over 24 hours. But truly, this was a beautiful walk around a mountain, and through the ruins of a sixth-century monastery and ancient graveyard. Afterwards, we drove to John's home to see the yurts—our homes for the week—or the first time. For those asking, what is a “yurt,” it’s a sort of glamorous tent with an outlet and mattresses. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared of the yurts, which we later named the Gurt (Girl Yurt) and Burts (Boy Yurts).
We spent time visiting the ruins of multiple abbeys and even a lighthouse. But the day that resonated with me most was our mountain hike at Coumshingaun, late in the week. I am not a hiker, but it was the most beautiful hike I’ve ever been on. On our way up, I’d turn around and just look out over the Irish countryside, and we even passed by multiple goats on our way up. Almost at the top of the mountain was a lake created by a glacier. I wasn’t planning on going in, but after that hike up, I knew I had to. The water was freezing, and most of us only stayed in for a few minutes, but some people thought the temperature was just lovely. Henry was trying not to freeze to death while building up a tolerance for cold, while Rafe and Avery were just swimming around like it was nothing.
I won’t forget this trip and won’t forget the late-night sessions playing the card game Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, as well as the many fingernails I lost to that game and the many bruises I gained. Ireland was the place, but it was the group that made it so memorable. I grew up going to church school with a couple of them, but I didn’t know them all that well. I dreaded as the week came to an end because I knew there would be no more J2A every Sunday. No more late-night Gurt talks and no more bus-ride karaoke.
I think I can speak for everyone when I say that our pilgrimage to Ireland is something none of us will forget, and we’re so grateful to the congregation for helping us make it happen. We look forward to giving our pilgrimage presentation later this year as well as running a Church service.
Thank you all again for this unforgettable opportunity.