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!)

The Scottish life begins...

It’s now been four days of officially “living in Scotland”, and as I said in the last post- so far, so good! 

Today is the first day of school at CCS....very strange not to be there, right in the thick of things. But I know they’ll have a great day; I already can’t wait to hear all about how the new students, the new seniors (including my youngest sister!), and the new staff did on the first day of 2013-2014. 

Kitchen (east side)

      The big news on my end is that after a lovely couple days with my aunt and uncle, I’m now officially installed in my one-bedroom apartment downtown. (In British terms, which I’ll slowly switch over to, that would be “my wee flat in the city centre”. :-) The building I live in was constructed in 1789 (because I live in “New Town” in Edinburgh- you can only imagine the age of “Old Town”!), and as a result, certain components have shifted over the last couple hundred years. My wooden floors have a variety of gentle slopes. The wee kitchen table has about a 2 inch tilt from one side to the other, so I’ve propped some things under the legs so that my food won’t roll away when I’m not looking. When I first sat down, it felt like I was at sea (complete with seagulls in the background)! I wouldn’t change a thing about the structure, though- it all adds to the charm. Of course a 1789 room can’t be expected to live as though it was born in the 1990’s! :-)

Southwest corner of main room

      Another feature I love is a whitewashed stone wall in the living room- definitely adds some interesting character. And I can’t forget the large north window (complete with window seat!), which lets in a surprising amount of light all day long; being on the fourth floor probably helps, as few buildings in this area are taller than that. Technically, this window faces Edinburgh Castle, and if I could see straight through just one building, I’d have a clear view. 

      You might be able to see in the picture below how I’m using some of my shelf space!... and I have to tell you why...though I was looking forward to moving in, it’s a bit lonely to spend all day setting up a flat by yourself, 5,000 miles away from friends and family, and wishing you could blink and find yourself somehow with them. But, late last night, I had an inspiration- decorate those big empty shelves with the cards I’ve received for my Scotland move! It was delightful and so warm-fuzzy-feeling to re-read them

Northwest corner

as I arranged them, and by the end (I’m not making this up), it felt like everyone was there with me! So many great messages and verses are on those walls, and they remind me that I’m not in this alone- my community’s “here” too. 

      Bit by bit, details of “normal life” are falling into place...my UK cell is set up, I’m shopping around for internet, and will be buying a weekly bus pass later today. I went to a meeting with various Liberton Kirk committee members last night, and am working my way into the role of Children’s Worker there. Liberton is VERY active in youth work, and they have done a fantastic job of intentionally interfacing with their community youth as much as possible. It was so exciting to hear about various programs and events at this meeting, and to learn what I’ll be involved in. 

      Backtracking a bit, on Sunday, I made it to church at Liberton Kirk (with just enough time after landing to have some breakfast and change), where I received such a warm and gracious welcome. It was a special service to welcome new members, so about twelve other people and myself were called up front to be recognized. And then, they did something I’ve never seen before- all the congregation came up and greeted us individually, passing through us like a reception line! It was so special to personally be welcomed by every person there. I can’t imagine a better first few hours with my new church family. 

      I think that’s enough for now; going to try to avoid writing massssive blog posts that take forever to read. But I know many friends want to get the “flavo(u)r” of life, work, and ministry over here, so I’ll try to provide that. :-)

Verse of the day/post (this one was from Lynn Myers, shared the day before I left):

Jude 1:24-25

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”