Hi friends, 

"Jack Spanner" and "Lorry Wing-nut",
from the South!

It’s a blustery, chilly, damp-in-the-air sort of day here on Sept. 1 in Edinburgh- pretty different than Ohio’s balmy 70’s right now. This is typed from my getting-cozier flat, and may or may not be finished before I need to head out in an hour or so. 

Today was “Sunday Buzz” at Liberton Kirk, which happens on the first Sunday of the month. “Sunday Buzz” brings all the different classes (“Sunday Clubs”) together for one big children’s service, and takes place across from the main church in what is known as the church halls. The older, traditional church buildings don’t have many rooms besides the main sanctuary, so any activities that require space during the service often meet somewhere outside the old building. 

Connected "bee-ing thankful" (the theme)
for what I brought with  me

For “Sunday Buzz”, they are carrying through a theme of “Cars” that began during their summer camp. As a result, I was “Lorry Wing-nut” from down South, complete with official coveralls and everything. The southern accents that the Scottish can pull off are very impressive, I have to say! Including the adults and teenage helpers, there were probably fifty or so in the group. Part of the program included me narrating the story (the curriculum said it was supposed to rapped?... it definitely wasn’t. :-) of Zaccheus, mimed by compliant and longsuffering teenagers, and then I shared a bit about my move over to Edinburgh. All in all, it was a very nice “Sunday Buzz”- definitely a hit with the kids (who have the cutest accents ever!)

I’m settling into the flat, and had three big shopping trips last week- one for apartment and kitchen items, one for food, and one at the local charity shops (like our Goodwill/Salvation Army’s) and Poundland (the “dollar” store, haha) for random decorative and/or useful items. Of course, I was limited to buying only what could go home on the bus with me and be carried up three flights of stairs...I probably made a pretty silly picture, waddling on and off the bus with several bulging bags! But, I think the big things are now in place- in other words, I have a French press, bacon, a deep red curtain, and fresh flowers and herbs. :-) 

This newly-curtained window seat is my pride and joy!

It’s amazing how your perspective can shift so quickly...compared to home, the kitchen seemed absolutely dwarfish at first (the only usable counterspace is a two-foot block), but either it’s grown or I’ve shrunk, because now the size seems absolutely perfect. Same with the fridge, which is around 2.5 feet by 1.5 feet by 1.5 feet (a big mini-fridge?) that at first seemed impossible, but now that it has food, I’m wondering how I’ll eat all of it! And the one cabinet I’m using for food and ingredients still has empty space. You realize after a couple days how little you actually need...and my lifestyle at home tended to accumulate so much “extra” of everything. Also, almost everything comes in smaller packages here, and for only one person, that’s definitely a plus. 

 Tonight I’m heading to a more informal evening service at the church, followed by a Young Life Connection Group (known as “Campaigners” in the US), which is a group focused on those who wish to grow in their Christian faith and learn more about it. After that, we’ll be watching the fireworks show that marks the end of the Edinburgh Arts Festival, a massive month-long event that includes a huge amount of visual, literary, and performing arts, and brings people from all over the world to Edinburgh. 

Though today’s been great (and I’m sure tonight will be), I knew that some loneliness and homesickness would set in about now, and it has. Because I don’t have internet at the flat yet, I haven’t been able to skype home yet, so though there have been emails and a couple phone calls, I do feel pretty isolated from life in Ohio (thank goodness for data on my cell, which is how I'm posting this, and a nearby Starbucks...and the nice guy at the phone store who gave me free mobile data for a year?!...:-). Also, with the exception of one and a half days this week, I’ve been pretty much on my own, which has always been the best and worst part of my travels. Friendships are forming, but it’s a process. As you think of it, I guess I’d appreciate prayer that I would continue to adjust to a new life without trying to rush it. Thanks- and feel free to email or message via facebook. :-)

God bless!

Verse of the post:

“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  II Corinthians 9:8 (courtesy of a card from the Botke family!)