Catching the Mission Vision!

Mission Team, Oak Island Presbyterian Church

Mission Team, Oak Island Presbyterian Church

What a great weekend! Oak Island Presbyterian Church celebrated their first ever mission weekend on October 15-16, punctuated by an amazing Saturday evening during which their sponsored domestic and international missions were highlighted. Abby & I were privileged to be the keynote speakers Saturday night, and I then preached on Sunday morning.

Oak Island Presbyterian is led by the Rev. Walter Taylor with whom, along with his wife, Agnes, and his children, we have been friends for many years. Walter is blessed by a warm and Christ-centered congregation and a great Mission Team which is working enthusiastically to make Oak Island Presbyterian even more of a mission church than it already is. And they're doing a great job!

Abby & I also enjoyed a special surprise when we checked into the Hampton Inn in Southport. Scott Gilland, the Assistant General Manger, greeted us at the front desk. Scott had been part of our youth group at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Charlotte (1982-83) when Abby and I were volunteers there, just before we left for seminary. It was a wonderful blast from the past and a real encouragement to us. Scott then joined us after worship on Sunday for a time of reminiscing. He is pictured standing to Abby's left in the checkered shirt and jeans.

Abby & I cannot do what we do in Zambia and beyond without dear partners and friends like this. We're grateful to Oak Island Presbyterian for the privilege of partnering together in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)!

What a difference you've made!

We've been home from Zambia for a couple of weeks now. It's been interesting readjusting to American culture. The pace of life is so much faster here, but the easy availability of goods and services, the great roads, the variety of food and such are wonderful, of course. Worshiping with our home church, Lake Forest, spending time with friends and seeing our beloved family (!) have been amazing. Boy, did we miss our kids and grandson!

Just before we left Zambia, our new friends Pastor Elvin and Ezi Simungoma (Greater Harvest Rhema Church) sent us a photo of kids receiving shoes from the shipment that arrived from the U.S. in July. Greater Harvest works in the poorest section of Livingstone and the kids were thrilled to receive the shoes without which they cannot attend school. Plus, who doesn't love an awesome new pair of shoes?

Ezi told us with a smile that when they first laid out the shoes, the kids scrambled to grab a pair, regardless of the style or size and then were very reluctant to give them up. After much urging that they would all get a pair, but that they needed to be fitted, the kids very reluctantly handed back they shoes they'd grabbed, scared that they'd not get another pair.

It's funny, but then not so funny after all, you know?

Anyway, a big shout out to Rachel Sanford and her Interact Club, and to Centre Presbyterian Church and all the others who contributed to getting the shipment to Zambia. You made it happen!

Pleae pray for Elvin and Ezi as they continue to bring the Gospel to these precious kids!

Oldmeldrum, Loch Lochy, Isle of Skye & Fort William

Meldrum House Hotel, Oldmeldrum

Meldrum House Hotel, Oldmeldrum

Some experiences are life changing. When Abby was twelve years old, her parents took her brother and her to Scotland for a month. Abby's mother's ancestors were from a place called Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire.

They spent a glorious evening at the thirty-eight room Meldrum House with its Laird (Lord), Robin Duff, who was a very distant relation, and a gourmet cook and wine connoisseur to boot. Abby laughingly told me some forty years ago about being allowed to drink wine at such a young age, and rather too much, it seems. Getting tipsy at twelve with a Scottish Laird! LOL!

Well, Abby and I traveled from Edinburgh to Oldmeldrum and spent a glorious night at Meldrum House (now hotel) in one of its grand rooms. Due to a couple of room mishaps, we were upgraded to a room about the size of a two car garage with 12' ceilings. The enormous bathroom had a claw foot tub that could have fit a family of four!

Meldrum House Hotel swans

Meldrum House Hotel swans

Leaving Oldmeldrum we drove through Inverness along the northern coast, then south past Loch Ness (no sightings!) to Loch Lochy where we spent one glorious night on the loch in a small hotel.

loch lochy at sunset

loch lochy at sunset

Then it was on to Isle of Skye on a single lane road across mountain ridges by way of a small community ferry to the village of Portree for several amazing days in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Breathtaking vistas with water everywhere were around every turn. The weather was wet, gusty, sunny and ever changeable.

on the road to isle of skye

on the road to isle of skye

heather and ferns on the road to isle of skye

heather and ferns on the road to isle of skye

community ferry to isle of skye

community ferry to isle of skye

the old man of storr is 160' tall (far R), isle of skye

the old man of storr is 160' tall (far R), isle of skye

centuries old church ruins, isle of skye

centuries old church ruins, isle of skye

quiraing, isle of skye

quiraing, isle of skye

sunset, isle of skye

sunset, isle of skye

waterfall, isle of skye

waterfall, isle of skye

highland cow, isle of skye

highland cow, isle of skye

neist point, isle of skye

neist point, isle of skye

neist point, isle of skye

neist point, isle of skye

sunset and moon rise, isle of skye

sunset and moon rise, isle of skye

We left Isle of Skye yesterday and traveled to Fort William on the mainland by way of Eilean Donan Castle, made famous by its inclusion in the James Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough, and the Sean Connery movie, Highlander. 

eilean donan castle

eilean donan castle

Today we're in Fort William at the base of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland at 4414'. Tomorrow it's back to Edinburgh for our flight home on Wednesday.

God's kindness and mercy have followed us on our trip. We are overwhelmed with the beauty of his creation and the amazing people we have met along the way. Thank you, Lord!

We are so looking forward to being home and appreciate your prayers for travel mercies as we spend our last three days in Scotland!