Scotland 2010 Quick Update

Greetings All…  We wanted to bring everyone up to speed on where we are, how we are and what we are currently up to.

First of all… Since we last wrote… We have moved from Dunfermline to Edinburgh, Scott is working full-time, Patti has a number of students, We are working with college students, working a youth club, doing street witnessing in the City Centre, Patti is leading worship several times a week, praying with students, ironing sheets, and much much more.

This is our new home. That’s our window top left.

We are living at Faith Mission Bible College. in an area called Gilmerton, which is in southeast Edinburgh.

Scott is the Property Manager of the college (which simply put means the upkeep, repair, and remodeling, of a 100+-year-old building) The College has been going through an accreditation process which all of the schools here must go through  in order for students from abroad to get student visas and gain entry into the UK. There has been a great deal of work to be done to accomplish this and Scott came in on the tail end of this process to finish up the practical/ construction requirements of this process. If you will recall from one on the articles in our last publication, Scott mentioned that he did not believe he was supposed to get a full-time job, and how this would be a hindrance to ministry… God has a great sense of humor… Scott has a full-time Job and it is ministry 24/7. (This has provided us a place to live, and covers our basics like utilities, and food.) In addition to the upkeep of the building and plans for future development… Scott has responsibility for the men students. They have practical duties they are to perform daily and once a week he has them for several hours of practical work. Scott also gets together with a number of the men for prayer.

Patti has a position at the Bible College as well… She is the House Manager… This means that she sees to it that rooms used by guests (kind like a bed and breakfast) and groups are tidied up, linens are washed and ironed, etc. Patti is also in charge of the women’s practical duties, and prays with the women. She also leads worship a couple of times a week for the students morning devotions. Patti also teaches piano and voice to some of the students and Faith Mission workers, as well as some of the family members of students.

In addition to the day-to-day at the Bible college Scott and Patti have had opportunity t o work alongside the students in outreaches in Edinburgh’s City Centre. Known as the “Underbelly” this area of the city is where the pubs are concentrated, homeless people panhandle, etc. Faith Mission works with a couple of other churches and set up tables where people can pick up free hot drinks (Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate) and there is free literature and tracts. …What an experience… more on this in future articles…

We also have an “open door” policy with the students and workers here. So we see quite a number of them when they need prayer, encouragement, an ear to bend, a mum or dad to bounce things off of. It is a privilege we get to carry.

In addition to Faith Mission activities… Scott and Patti are involved in the Calvary Chapel in Danderhall (Calvary Chapel Edinburgh). Patti leads worship on Sunday mornings, leads the Women’s Studies, and is on the planning committee for the Women’s Retreat (for all CC in Scotland). Scott has been asked to fill in on Sunday mornings  when the pastor (Dan Starling) is away. Scott is involved in the “Y” Club, our outreach to the youth in the local area. Dan and Pat have become dear friends and we get to be surrogate Grandparents to their three lovely children… Joshua 5, Daniel 3, Noah 18 mo. This is a wonderful little fellowship with a heart to reach out to the surrounding community. We look forward in anticipation to what the Lord is doing here.

We are still in contact with a number of folks in Dunfermline. Patti gets over there at least once a month to visit, and several folks have come to visit us here. The friendships we made there are very precious.

We were able to go back to the states over Christmas holidays. We spent six weeks in California and traveled from one end almost to the other. We visited with our church family in Grass Valley, our Son and his family in Santee,  Patti’s Family from San Clemente to Lassen, a number of friends in between, and a week-long Mission’s conference in Murrietta. With six weeks you would think you could get to see pretty much everyone but we missed getting to see family and friends in Riverside and a couple of other places we had planned. We got to share what’s been going on at a number of church events and meetings, and we had a chance to rest, and be Gramma and Grampa for a while… what a joy!

We still look to start Bible studies in the North of the country “Aberdeenshire”.Through Faith Mission we have met a number of folks who are from or are working in Aberdeenshire. We pray that these connections will help connect us with places and people who desire to Study the Word. Please keep this in prayer as we work this direction.

Please look for more information on these outreaches and prayer requests in our other blog articles…

Thank you again for all of your prayer support, contact (e-mails, calls, and Facebook), and financial support. It is knowing that you are with us that helps keep us going.

Blessings