Hello friends! Wow - what a trip this has been. We leave tomorrow morning at 10:30 Glasgow time (3:30 AM Denver time) on our flight back home across the Atlantic. It's been so awesome to see God working here, and the love that is truly overflowing from the staff of the mission. It's hard to go back, but we are excited for what God has in store for us in Denver, and I for one want to return to Glasgow at a later date!
Saturday the 29th was a free day. Tyson, John, and Ben stayed in Glasgow while I took a one our train ride to Largs, Scotland (on the western coast). The weather was crisp and cloudy, and the breeze off the water was a bit cold, but still I loved every minute of it. Susan Robertson, who is on staff at the mission, lives in Largs with her family. I walked along the beach and met up with Susan and her husband Callum, and then we went to the famous Nardini's restaurant for lunch. There was a music festival, LargsLive, happening that weekend, and I got to see Sambayabamba, a 26-piece band from Glasgow that played Brazilian-style music on various percussion instruments and horns. Then back to Nardini's for their famous ice cream - yum! Then over to the Lounge for a pint and I was on my way back to Glasgow.
Saturday evening, we had the first meeting of Stuart's new ministry, nicknamed "The Beard" (See Psalm 133). Stuart shared his vision with about 15 friends, and a few people shared their talents, and what God has shown them recently. The ministry is off to a good start, with quarterly meetings of people gathering to share life together.
Sunday we all slept in (except Ben who went to Carbrain Baptist Church), and then went out to lunch with Stuart, Lynsey, Graeme, and Steven one last time. So hard to say goodbye to those wonderful friends!
Then off to Mosaic service in the afternoon, and dinner with Ewan and Garie (from the mission).
Then Tyson and I went to Ben Nevis for whisky and beer with Garie. Wonderful day!
Monday we had a free day, and I had breakfast with Ben at Lola and Livvy's - the best Scottish breakfast ever! Then a whirlwind of souvenir buying, and time to reflect in my journal. Our last evening service was emotional Monday night, with many volunteers saying goodbye.
Tuesday was another day of goodbyes and pictures. I got to chat with VJ from Latvia one last time, and was encouraged by his smile and good conversation, and his scripture verses that God had shown him.
As I write this, I'm hanging in the office with the staff, reminiscing about our trip. Tonight will be good, as we have our goodbye party at a local restaurant. Many people are coming by to send us off!
Glasgow, we love you, and we pray "for the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you" (Romans 1:10)!
02 July 2013
28 June 2013
27 June 2013
Hello friends! God is good and continues to work among us in Glasgow, even in our final week.
We had a wonderful day Thursday, networking and continuing to marvel at what God is doing here.
We've been reading the verse for Scum's prayer and fasting week every day, and I believe it's helped to focus our minds on things back home as we prepare for our journey back next week.
Now for Glasgow: Tyson and Ben went to the Under 40's Men's Club to play games and chat, and John and Matt went to the Next Steps Club, preparing people for university courses, and helping them find jobs.
Today we were kind of slow in the Next Steps club, but I got to talk to a friend of mine, Vjslachav (Not sure of spelling!) from Latvia. Also known as VJ!
I had met VJ at some of our evening meals at the mission, and he was always interested in chatting more. This was the first time I had seen him during the day. He seems hungry to talk more, and seems interested in my story. We chatted about Scum of the Earth. He was familiar with the passage, 1 Corinthians 4:11-13, and said he liked that one a lot!
Pray for VJ as he continues to build relationships. Although he has a few Latvian friends in Scotland, he must feel alone sometimes.
Thursday evening, the volunteers at the mission had a quarterly training session, and it was good to mingle with everybody, even though it was our night off. Our friend Graeme picked us up and took us to his home in Cumbernauld, where he cooked a traditional Scottish meal of haggis, neaps, mashed potatoes, and stovies. Then we had apple pie and strawberry trifle for dessert!
It was wonderful to chat with Graeme, Stuart and Lynsey, and Steven about the new ministry that they are brainstorming about here in Falkirk, as we have another meeting tomorrow night, with more of their friends. Pray for Sat. night, that God would move among people's hearts as they hear Stuart's vision.
Pray that God would move people to come alongside them to help them start up this ministry.
It was great to hang out and chat into the wee hours with our friends. We'll miss them so much, but trust that God may bring us together again (as he has many times before!)
Peace,
Matt
We had a wonderful day Thursday, networking and continuing to marvel at what God is doing here.
We've been reading the verse for Scum's prayer and fasting week every day, and I believe it's helped to focus our minds on things back home as we prepare for our journey back next week.
Now for Glasgow: Tyson and Ben went to the Under 40's Men's Club to play games and chat, and John and Matt went to the Next Steps Club, preparing people for university courses, and helping them find jobs.
Today we were kind of slow in the Next Steps club, but I got to talk to a friend of mine, Vjslachav (Not sure of spelling!) from Latvia. Also known as VJ!
I had met VJ at some of our evening meals at the mission, and he was always interested in chatting more. This was the first time I had seen him during the day. He seems hungry to talk more, and seems interested in my story. We chatted about Scum of the Earth. He was familiar with the passage, 1 Corinthians 4:11-13, and said he liked that one a lot!
Pray for VJ as he continues to build relationships. Although he has a few Latvian friends in Scotland, he must feel alone sometimes.
Thursday evening, the volunteers at the mission had a quarterly training session, and it was good to mingle with everybody, even though it was our night off. Our friend Graeme picked us up and took us to his home in Cumbernauld, where he cooked a traditional Scottish meal of haggis, neaps, mashed potatoes, and stovies. Then we had apple pie and strawberry trifle for dessert!
It was wonderful to chat with Graeme, Stuart and Lynsey, and Steven about the new ministry that they are brainstorming about here in Falkirk, as we have another meeting tomorrow night, with more of their friends. Pray for Sat. night, that God would move among people's hearts as they hear Stuart's vision.
Pray that God would move people to come alongside them to help them start up this ministry.
It was great to hang out and chat into the wee hours with our friends. We'll miss them so much, but trust that God may bring us together again (as he has many times before!)
Peace,
Matt
26 June 2013
The Not So Glamorous Side of Missions Work
Today one of the clients fell down across the street from the Mission in epileptic shock. It turns out she was suffering from withdrawl from not enough alcohol in her system. An ambulance took her to the hospital where she was promptly released. They have no hold system here, and won't treat self-inflicted status unless you have full payment. She returned a short time later to the mission and talked for a long time with the staff, but it's unclear how much of anything they said got through to her as she was still very drunk.
Later at the evening meal I found myself talking to a man who was also very drunk, and said he was being abused by the devil. He also thought of killing himself every day. This was immediatly interrupted by silence for the reading. When we continued, he didn't remember having told me that, didn't want prayer and believed Jesus was a myth. He then demanded more juice and left.
I had barely crossed the room before I was pulled into another conversation with a client I routinely avoid and who we think is bipolar. He clearly had not taken his conversation. His way is talk at you, but in such a way that it demands answers from you. He will string you along asking questions about whether or not agree that Christians should act in such a way or do such a thing. But all of it is a long about why of trying to manipulate you into agreeing with something that he wants to have happen. I finally extracted myself from this conversation to go somewhere else only to have him follow me and begin another conversation about how he didn't have any money or a job. I've already had this conversation with him before. I proceeded to tell him about thirty times in the next five minutes that he should spend all day every day looking for a job until he had one. The most preposterous moment of this was when at one point he said he didn't know what he was going to do tomorrow, other than eat. I of course told him he should look for a job. He didn't listen.
From here were going to go out to a pub to debrief on the day, and ran straight into a man who said the police had sent him there. He said he'd been robbed, had no money and wasn't dressed to sleep outside. He was clearly altered, probably from drinking. And however much of his extensive life history was true, half-remembered or even false, I don't know. But he was definitely scared. We walked him several blocks to a hostel where we were going to put him up, only to find them completely full. In the end we walked back, gave him a sleeping back and said to come back during the day to talk to the staff at the mission. I found myself surprised during this entire encounter at how cynical I had become, not really believing anything the man said at any time. And that concluded our night.
There is a very delicate balance between doing the job of the mission and not losing the heart of it, and the compassion of God. It's very easy to get worn out, and burnt out, to start to not care. To find yourself being used and abused and uncertain if you are really making a difference. But the key with this is to press on. And that seems to be the single focus on this trip for me. Sometimes we cannot see the end, and have to continue on in blindness, doing only what we know his word says. Our feelings are as dangerous to our cause as anything, but our lack of feelings can be even worse. But we have to strive and persevere, doing everything we can to stand; and in the end to stand.
"But we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:3-5
Yours in Christ,
John
Later at the evening meal I found myself talking to a man who was also very drunk, and said he was being abused by the devil. He also thought of killing himself every day. This was immediatly interrupted by silence for the reading. When we continued, he didn't remember having told me that, didn't want prayer and believed Jesus was a myth. He then demanded more juice and left.
I had barely crossed the room before I was pulled into another conversation with a client I routinely avoid and who we think is bipolar. He clearly had not taken his conversation. His way is talk at you, but in such a way that it demands answers from you. He will string you along asking questions about whether or not agree that Christians should act in such a way or do such a thing. But all of it is a long about why of trying to manipulate you into agreeing with something that he wants to have happen. I finally extracted myself from this conversation to go somewhere else only to have him follow me and begin another conversation about how he didn't have any money or a job. I've already had this conversation with him before. I proceeded to tell him about thirty times in the next five minutes that he should spend all day every day looking for a job until he had one. The most preposterous moment of this was when at one point he said he didn't know what he was going to do tomorrow, other than eat. I of course told him he should look for a job. He didn't listen.
From here were going to go out to a pub to debrief on the day, and ran straight into a man who said the police had sent him there. He said he'd been robbed, had no money and wasn't dressed to sleep outside. He was clearly altered, probably from drinking. And however much of his extensive life history was true, half-remembered or even false, I don't know. But he was definitely scared. We walked him several blocks to a hostel where we were going to put him up, only to find them completely full. In the end we walked back, gave him a sleeping back and said to come back during the day to talk to the staff at the mission. I found myself surprised during this entire encounter at how cynical I had become, not really believing anything the man said at any time. And that concluded our night.
There is a very delicate balance between doing the job of the mission and not losing the heart of it, and the compassion of God. It's very easy to get worn out, and burnt out, to start to not care. To find yourself being used and abused and uncertain if you are really making a difference. But the key with this is to press on. And that seems to be the single focus on this trip for me. Sometimes we cannot see the end, and have to continue on in blindness, doing only what we know his word says. Our feelings are as dangerous to our cause as anything, but our lack of feelings can be even worse. But we have to strive and persevere, doing everything we can to stand; and in the end to stand.
"But we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:3-5
Yours in Christ,
John
22 June 2013
Strange Interactions With God
Hey Friends,
As the ongoing saga of my journey of health continues, I find myself in a place I've never quite been in before. Iona was wonderful in a way it wasn't last year. Last year I was desperate for God and angry that He seemed to continually ellude me when I called to him. I spent the entirety of that trip wandering the island and yelling out my frustrations and anger and with what I felt was nothing to show for it. This trip was far different. After a few hours of slow hiking in the morning and sitting and reading while looking out at the sea, I found myself completely satisfied. The book that I was reading was speaking to me in tangent with other things I'd found myself reading earlier in the month and what had been on my heart since the trip started: namely, about healing and faith. While I have a very deep faith, it was very clear that I often let my emotions and feelings decide where I stand at any given moment, whereas my faith resides in my will to believe God, regardless of how I feel. It was the right thing for me to read at the right time, and combined with other things that i had been reading on healing lately, as well as the spiritual journey I had been in so far, I felt strongly that this was exactly what I needed to hear and know. I spent the remainder of the trip just sitting around and being restful and content.
The next day however met with a bombardment of physical attacks on my health, and the following day was even worse. Determined to not give in to emotions and feelings, and fighting fiercely against any pain, I spent nearly every waking minute in conversation with God. This ranged everywhere from pleading, to reminding him of what He's said in his word, to reminding me what He's said in his word, reaffirming that I wasn't going to give up, questioning what His purpose was and ultimately just telling him that I wasn't going to stop wrestling with Him on this until either I was healed, or had an answer as to what I was supposed to take from this. The degree of intensity that this prayer has been is far different than any of the other types of prayer I've ever spent with God. Indeed on the outside I've become very serious and distracted. Not to the point where I neglect my duties to the mission or interacting with people, but noticeable enough to my teammates who began asking me if I'm.
Nevertheless, I'm determined to continue in this action to wherever it may lead. While sometimes physical ailments simply happen and that's the way of it, or we need doctors to treat them- and this certainly may be that, I can't help but suspect there's something deeper going on with this. The sudden onset a month before the trip when I previously have had zero health problems is certainly strange, as is the fact that in the last few months I've decided to go to Scotland on a missions trip that will help plant a church like Scum, help guide Scum into a time of church-wide prayer and fasting unlike what it's had before and have decided what God's ministry calling in my life is. Any one of those things is grounds for an attack by the enemy or testing from God, and I remember that before this all started I both felt I was on the verge of a spiritual breakthrough that would culminate in Scotland.
What does this all mean? I haven't a clue. At this moment I'm in complete darkness. But unlike other moments in my life when the darkness has weighed me down and oppressed me, I feel as though I'm moving through this slowly as though it were a huge pit of mud. But somehow I'll make it through the other side. And I certainly won't give up. We might fear no evil when walking through the valley of the shadow of death, but we still must walk through it.
Yours in Christ,
John
As the ongoing saga of my journey of health continues, I find myself in a place I've never quite been in before. Iona was wonderful in a way it wasn't last year. Last year I was desperate for God and angry that He seemed to continually ellude me when I called to him. I spent the entirety of that trip wandering the island and yelling out my frustrations and anger and with what I felt was nothing to show for it. This trip was far different. After a few hours of slow hiking in the morning and sitting and reading while looking out at the sea, I found myself completely satisfied. The book that I was reading was speaking to me in tangent with other things I'd found myself reading earlier in the month and what had been on my heart since the trip started: namely, about healing and faith. While I have a very deep faith, it was very clear that I often let my emotions and feelings decide where I stand at any given moment, whereas my faith resides in my will to believe God, regardless of how I feel. It was the right thing for me to read at the right time, and combined with other things that i had been reading on healing lately, as well as the spiritual journey I had been in so far, I felt strongly that this was exactly what I needed to hear and know. I spent the remainder of the trip just sitting around and being restful and content.
The next day however met with a bombardment of physical attacks on my health, and the following day was even worse. Determined to not give in to emotions and feelings, and fighting fiercely against any pain, I spent nearly every waking minute in conversation with God. This ranged everywhere from pleading, to reminding him of what He's said in his word, to reminding me what He's said in his word, reaffirming that I wasn't going to give up, questioning what His purpose was and ultimately just telling him that I wasn't going to stop wrestling with Him on this until either I was healed, or had an answer as to what I was supposed to take from this. The degree of intensity that this prayer has been is far different than any of the other types of prayer I've ever spent with God. Indeed on the outside I've become very serious and distracted. Not to the point where I neglect my duties to the mission or interacting with people, but noticeable enough to my teammates who began asking me if I'm.
Nevertheless, I'm determined to continue in this action to wherever it may lead. While sometimes physical ailments simply happen and that's the way of it, or we need doctors to treat them- and this certainly may be that, I can't help but suspect there's something deeper going on with this. The sudden onset a month before the trip when I previously have had zero health problems is certainly strange, as is the fact that in the last few months I've decided to go to Scotland on a missions trip that will help plant a church like Scum, help guide Scum into a time of church-wide prayer and fasting unlike what it's had before and have decided what God's ministry calling in my life is. Any one of those things is grounds for an attack by the enemy or testing from God, and I remember that before this all started I both felt I was on the verge of a spiritual breakthrough that would culminate in Scotland.
What does this all mean? I haven't a clue. At this moment I'm in complete darkness. But unlike other moments in my life when the darkness has weighed me down and oppressed me, I feel as though I'm moving through this slowly as though it were a huge pit of mud. But somehow I'll make it through the other side. And I certainly won't give up. We might fear no evil when walking through the valley of the shadow of death, but we still must walk through it.
Yours in Christ,
John
19 June 2013
Iona!
Dear friends
First off, please pray for Stuart Gilmour. We received a phone call from Graeme while we were traveling yesterday that Stuart broke his jaw in two places on Monday night while playing football (soccer). He was taken to the hospital that night and had surgery yesterday. I have yet to hear how the surgery went. Please be praying for Stuart's healing and attitude, Linsey as she cares for him, Graeme and Steven as they encourage and support the couple. Pray especially that this would not dissuade them from moving forward in what God is calling them to do in building Christian community in Scotland.
First off, please pray for Stuart Gilmour. We received a phone call from Graeme while we were traveling yesterday that Stuart broke his jaw in two places on Monday night while playing football (soccer). He was taken to the hospital that night and had surgery yesterday. I have yet to hear how the surgery went. Please be praying for Stuart's healing and attitude, Linsey as she cares for him, Graeme and Steven as they encourage and support the couple. Pray especially that this would not dissuade them from moving forward in what God is calling them to do in building Christian community in Scotland.
We arrived safely and without incident on the Isle of Iona yesterday afternoon. I mention the travel because to get to Iona takes traveling 3 hours by train, a 45 minute ferry ride, an hour bus ride across the Isle of Mull, and then a 10 minute ferry ride to the island. But everything went well and I was awe-struck again by the beauty of Scotland as we passed by lochs (lakes), mountains (foothills to people who live in CO), forests, and fields and fields of verdant green, speckled with yellow, white, and purple flowers. Ah! It is absolutely gorgeous!
Today is our day of silence & solitude which has been awesome for me so far: I went to the service at the Abbey where I was brought to tears by the way they sing 'All Creatures of Our God and King' as well as the liturgy we read together.
Wandering the Abbey afterwards was just so peaceful and inspiring to read and meditate on our brothers and sisters of the faith who went before, from St. Columba and his successors, to the Benedictines who restored the Abbey in 1200, to the founder of the Iona Community who restored the Abbey to it's current state as evidence of his desire to call Scotland back to Jesus.
I went to the Abbey Museum which I haven't visited since my first time here in 2008. I was astonished by how much they have improved it! It now tells a cohesive, chronological story of the life of the Abbey and Iona from which I learned so much!
After the Abbey, I climbed Dun I (pronounced 'dune ee') which is the highest point of the island and from which you can see the entire island, back to Mull, and out across the ocean. To say it is beautiful is ineffective. It is... I don't know, awe-inspiring, wonder-full, yes, all of this and more. Standing on Dun I, I realize God's love for me and the world and I feel the peace of knowing the His love will triumph over all.
I prayed, I sang, and listened, and cried. God is overwhelming on this island. I don't actually remember how I found it, I believe one of the volunteers at the Mission told me about it and I looked into it, but I don't remember who or any specific details about it. But I know it was inspired and I am so incredibly grateful. Walking onto the island from the ferry, I can feel worries and cares draining off of me. As we walked to the cottage we are staying at this time, I felt God's peace slowly filling me as I entered into it. The early Celtic Christians talk about 'thin places' where the barrier between the spiritual and physical is thinner than other places. This is truly a thin place!
And the final thing that makes me dumbfounded in my joy and thankfulness is that this year, I get to share this experience with Tina! I knew she would love it from the first time I brought a team here in 2008 before we were even dating. It's so awesome that God has provided us the opportunity to be here together and share in the peace and beauty He lavishes upon this place!
Please pray for our team as we seek God today, that we would be open to Him and what He desires to speak to us and show us, pray against any thing that would distract us, and pray for safe and uneventful passage back to Glasgow tomorrow.
Thanks so much for reading!
Ben Mercer
17 June 2013
Thoughts and Questions
Over the last few weeks I've had a chance to see Scotland in a way I never have before. Last year it was very much a chance to see a different culture while exploring myself. But now the second time around I've been able to see the culture more for what it is rather than continually comparing or contrasting with that of our own. During my time at the mission, my conversations with the both the clients and the staff, our time in various churches and our friends Stuart, Lynsey, Steven and Graeme I've had a chance to really put together my impressions of where the culture is at and what God is doing here.
The primary thing that stands out is that Scottish people tend to look backward rather than forward. Having never been to other European countries there's no way for me to ascertain whether this unique or indicative of nations with greater roots than a country as young as ours. The Scots find their self identity in the past: they constantly look to the events of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce as great moments for them, or else remember when the English did this or that to them. This also transpires now as a fair number of people look for Scottish independence. Whether this is good or bad i can't say, but the prevailing ideology by the Scottish people is that they have always been under the English in some form or another and need, for better or for worse, a chance on their own.
The sad problem with this is that there is such a focus on the past that it inhibits them from seeing their lives now or focusing on the future. Additionally, even within Christianity here there is such a strong push for national identity as opposed to remembering that when we become Christians we put aside these things. "We are neither Jew, nor Greek; slave nor free; male nor female." This is obviously not an exclusive problem. We have a very similar view of things in America in our own unique way. Nor would I say that this is indicative of all Scottish people. There are plenty of people who are very much the opposite of this. But if I had to sum of the general feeling in the air that I sense here, that would be it.
Scotland is poor. Not impoverished, as many countries. There is enough, but that is it. There's no surplus. Everyone struggles to make ends meet. There is very little money for recreation and fun. There are constantly companies going out of business. There is also just a very clear sense of depression and expecting the worse because that's just the way it's always been. There's a defeatism here, and in a sense, fighting for independence is all they have left. But that's not what will ultimately help them, because what they need more than anything is God.
Now while this all sounds very dire and miserable, I have a very strong belief that God is on the verge in moving in a very strong way in Scotland. I wouldn't have said this last year, but it feels very much closer to it now this year. While I do see a sad defeated people, i see the pride of that situation and the anger of it disappearing. I see it turning into a hunger that will ultimately be the perfect place for God to begin something miraculous that could spread like wildfire. Our time with Stuart and friends has shown me that there is a desperate heart by people for an authentic experience with other Christians that is no longer what has always been presented: stale and forced, but rather alive and active. I don't know what kind of time frame this will take, how many years or how many steps still to go through in the order for this to happen. But in the spiritual world it feels imminent. This is very exciting and I know beyond a doubt that God is doing something in Scotland and will continue to do more amazing things than any of us can probably even imagine. Continue to pray for these people.
Yours in Christ,
John
The primary thing that stands out is that Scottish people tend to look backward rather than forward. Having never been to other European countries there's no way for me to ascertain whether this unique or indicative of nations with greater roots than a country as young as ours. The Scots find their self identity in the past: they constantly look to the events of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce as great moments for them, or else remember when the English did this or that to them. This also transpires now as a fair number of people look for Scottish independence. Whether this is good or bad i can't say, but the prevailing ideology by the Scottish people is that they have always been under the English in some form or another and need, for better or for worse, a chance on their own.
The sad problem with this is that there is such a focus on the past that it inhibits them from seeing their lives now or focusing on the future. Additionally, even within Christianity here there is such a strong push for national identity as opposed to remembering that when we become Christians we put aside these things. "We are neither Jew, nor Greek; slave nor free; male nor female." This is obviously not an exclusive problem. We have a very similar view of things in America in our own unique way. Nor would I say that this is indicative of all Scottish people. There are plenty of people who are very much the opposite of this. But if I had to sum of the general feeling in the air that I sense here, that would be it.
Scotland is poor. Not impoverished, as many countries. There is enough, but that is it. There's no surplus. Everyone struggles to make ends meet. There is very little money for recreation and fun. There are constantly companies going out of business. There is also just a very clear sense of depression and expecting the worse because that's just the way it's always been. There's a defeatism here, and in a sense, fighting for independence is all they have left. But that's not what will ultimately help them, because what they need more than anything is God.
Now while this all sounds very dire and miserable, I have a very strong belief that God is on the verge in moving in a very strong way in Scotland. I wouldn't have said this last year, but it feels very much closer to it now this year. While I do see a sad defeated people, i see the pride of that situation and the anger of it disappearing. I see it turning into a hunger that will ultimately be the perfect place for God to begin something miraculous that could spread like wildfire. Our time with Stuart and friends has shown me that there is a desperate heart by people for an authentic experience with other Christians that is no longer what has always been presented: stale and forced, but rather alive and active. I don't know what kind of time frame this will take, how many years or how many steps still to go through in the order for this to happen. But in the spiritual world it feels imminent. This is very exciting and I know beyond a doubt that God is doing something in Scotland and will continue to do more amazing things than any of us can probably even imagine. Continue to pray for these people.
Yours in Christ,
John
15 June 2013
15 June 2013
Hello friends and family,
We had a great day Saturday in the city of Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and the site of many historical places. It's about an hour's train ride from Glasgow.
We saw many beautiful parts of the Scotland countryside along the way; lush green rolling hills and meadows covered with yellow flowers.
We got to Edinburgh and toured the National Gallery of Scotland. Many beautiful paintings (mainly oil paintings - Rembrandt and his contemporaries) are preserved there. They even had a small section of American works.
Then we wandered around a bit, and ended up at Maison Bleu, a fancy French restaurant, for lunch. My my, the drinks and the food were exquisite, and not too pricy! Everything from escargot to ratatouille, duck confit and Scottish salmon were thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Then further down the Royal Mile we went, trying to take in as much as we could on a busy Saturday. We went to an underground tour of some catacombs, which had a rich history, and toured some vaults that were pitch black!
We took the train back from Edinburgh to Falkirk, where we met up with our friends Stuart and Lynsey Gilmour, Graeme Watt, and Steven Green. We love and cherish these dear brothers and sister in Christ! Steven opened up his home to us and we admired his lovely aquarium (several clown fish, sea urchin, starfish, several hermit crabs, shrimp, and many others!).
Steven cooked a lovely meal for us which consisted of stogies (Not sure of spelling) - meatballs in spicy sauce, and sausages with leek and onion, and potatoes. Such a wonderful host!
Then out to a local pub where we enjoyed some pints, and God did his amazing work! Stuart and Lynsey opened up about their visions to (possibly) start a new church, and that that might be what God is calling them to. The Scum team encouraged them and called out their giftings (Stuart - preaching/teaching, Lynsey - women/teaching, Graeme - music, Steven - hospitality). We had a couple awesome prayer sessions right there in the pub! God clearly spoke through the Scum team as we encouraged our brothers and sister to meet regularly and continually be in prayer, as this is just an idea at the moment. We believe God is doing something in Glasgow, and specifically in the hearts of these brave men and woman.
Praise God for his continued faithfulness to those who seek his will! He never ceases to amaze me!
Peace,
Matt Kingham
Hello friends and family,
We had a great day Saturday in the city of Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and the site of many historical places. It's about an hour's train ride from Glasgow.
We saw many beautiful parts of the Scotland countryside along the way; lush green rolling hills and meadows covered with yellow flowers.
We got to Edinburgh and toured the National Gallery of Scotland. Many beautiful paintings (mainly oil paintings - Rembrandt and his contemporaries) are preserved there. They even had a small section of American works.
Then we wandered around a bit, and ended up at Maison Bleu, a fancy French restaurant, for lunch. My my, the drinks and the food were exquisite, and not too pricy! Everything from escargot to ratatouille, duck confit and Scottish salmon were thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Then further down the Royal Mile we went, trying to take in as much as we could on a busy Saturday. We went to an underground tour of some catacombs, which had a rich history, and toured some vaults that were pitch black!
We took the train back from Edinburgh to Falkirk, where we met up with our friends Stuart and Lynsey Gilmour, Graeme Watt, and Steven Green. We love and cherish these dear brothers and sister in Christ! Steven opened up his home to us and we admired his lovely aquarium (several clown fish, sea urchin, starfish, several hermit crabs, shrimp, and many others!).
Steven cooked a lovely meal for us which consisted of stogies (Not sure of spelling) - meatballs in spicy sauce, and sausages with leek and onion, and potatoes. Such a wonderful host!
Then out to a local pub where we enjoyed some pints, and God did his amazing work! Stuart and Lynsey opened up about their visions to (possibly) start a new church, and that that might be what God is calling them to. The Scum team encouraged them and called out their giftings (Stuart - preaching/teaching, Lynsey - women/teaching, Graeme - music, Steven - hospitality). We had a couple awesome prayer sessions right there in the pub! God clearly spoke through the Scum team as we encouraged our brothers and sister to meet regularly and continually be in prayer, as this is just an idea at the moment. We believe God is doing something in Glasgow, and specifically in the hearts of these brave men and woman.
Praise God for his continued faithfulness to those who seek his will! He never ceases to amaze me!
Peace,
Matt Kingham
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