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Chef Graham
Ribs, hamburgers, chicken, and steak! Ok, before I get into the entry for today let me make a couple of corrections from the last blog.
First, my apologies for misspelling Eilean Donan, and then the Explorer Pass was actually like this: you get to go 3 days within 5 to any of the 78 places for the first price I mentioned, and then the 2nd option was 7 days within a 14 day span for the second price.
The other previous blogs have been basically only about what we have seen and done from the perspective of being a tourist. Now let me tell you a bit about behind the scenes.
While we were in Tanzania it was so nice to be able to have visitors from home. You always got the scoop of how things were going in the states, hear familiar voices and possibly even get a few requested American treats. This trip we were on the other side of the coin so to speak.
We are the foreigners going to a foreign land to visit local missionaries. The language is not familiar to us - it's English - but with the totally cool Scottish brogue. The missionaries here are
BBQ at Graham's house
We all had a great time. It was nice and on the warmer side this day. Adam and Melanie Barr and Graham and Elizabeth McDonald. They are here as missionaries in their own home country. They both trained in the US. Adam attended David Lipscomb in Nashville, and Graham attended Florida School of Preaching.
We have spent time in both homes and have been treated like family. Graham has a incredible ability to tell jokes and stories, which you all know I love to laugh, so we get along 'smashingly'. And I imagine somewhere along the way, there are going to be some pictures of me at their house at a BBQ red faced, tears streaming down my cheeks, where I am laughing so hard I think they are laughing at me instead of Graham's jokes! For those who know Graham or get the opportunity to meet him, ask him to teach you Chinese or tell you about the farmer with a one-legged pig. Go to the bathroom before he starts or you could find yourself in a very embarrassing moment of wetting yourself. He of course goes a lot more than tell jokes as he and Adam team up to do the work in the Cumberbnauld area.
Elizabeth is as calm as a
AB laughing
AB laughing at Graham's teaching us how to speak Chinese. cucumber talking charge of Joshua, Elijah, Megan and Bethany, 2 guinea pigs, one chinchilla, 4 rabbits and Graham of course. She is like the rest of us moms juggling, house, laundry, dinners, school, and all the things that go along with being a mom. She also works getting the curriculum prepared for the Bible school classes, as I am sure many other things that we did not discuss in our time together.
Adam and Melanie have one daughter, Nicole. She has just finished her first year at Harding University in Arkansas. She arrived home just the week before we got there, so she is getting back in the swing from being away from home for a while.
The Cumbernauld congregation have an incredible challenge in front of them. To reach the youth of their area while they are still impressionable, and before they are lost to the world of materialism and false doctrine.
In the Letters to the Editor section of the 'The Scotsman' newspaper we read this week, an article stated that the materialistic secularism of today has given rise to the decline of Christianity in Europe. In 1910 there was a Missionary Conference in Edinburgh
Me - Laughing or Crying?
You know me, once I get my tickle bone turned on, it's all or nothing. and at that date Christianity had become a worldwide religion with the dynamic centres moving from Europe to Africa, Asia and South America. Yet, at this time the Missionary enterprise has come full circle as partner churches in Africa, and elsewhere, send missionaries to proclaim the Christian message to Scotland.
Thus the focus that Adam and Melanie and Graham and Elizabeth have here in Scotland.
Over the past days we have talked about so many things, so I ask for forgiveness up front if I get some of the details wrong. Melanie told me that Adam was part of a youth group as a young boy, and someone took an interest in him. He wants to pass that on, and Melanie and Elizabeth's mother both told me this week that they are seeing 2nd generation youths now in their group. (Kids of the kids from years past are now part of the group). Some that were children in the group at a young age, have contacted them via Facebook to tell them that they remember the youth group and that they had some of the best times in their lives when they were a part of that.
Breakfast ... at lunch
It's good no matter what time of day. The Cumbernauld congregation has a group of their own youth going with Adam to Malawi to be a part of a small campaign. They have prepared and raised their support for the trip and from experience I will say that their young lives will be changed forever. This past week they got together at the building and beginning 6pm Friday night all the way to 6pm Saturday night they fasted with only rice and water to eat. This was also in an effort to help raise the support via sponsors for the trip to Malawi, but it had a greater impact I am sure to let them get an idea of what it might be like for some of those that they are going to be visiting in Malawi. Anthony and I went and talked to them briefly about our stay in Tanzania and I made a traditional meal of 'ugi', which is basically wheat mush. The pizza at 6pm was much better received.
They also have summer VBS, as we call it, 'Heatherbell' which is a summer camp, and then every Tuesday night that school is in session they have Youth Club. I have been very impressed with
Biscuits and Gravy
It's always good to have a meal from home. NOTHING was left thanks to Adam. the interest that they show in their young people. We could be inspired with their efforts.
We have talked with many of the folks at worship and had wonderful fellowship with them at both Sunday services, Thursday evening Bible class, and then a wonderful BBQ at the park today. One thing is for sure, they all love their young people and want to see them grow into young Christians with a faith in God that is their own, not anyone else's. An admirable goal for any congregation, a hard task for one in an area where there is more pulling them away from the Church than to it.
To them we are grateful for their hospitality and hope that we have been more encouraging than anything. Our sincere love to them for a newfound friendship. Memories are always there for us to keep those far from us, close in our hearts.
We will be on our way home in the morning. Our prayers are for a safe trip home to dear Tennessee.
Love to all,
Shasta
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POLLY ESCUE
non-member comment
hey browns
way to go ol chaps, love you all polly