Getting Oriented.

Wow! This past week has been so wonderful and so busy. It feels wonderful to be back in Scotland, to be back in Paisley. I didn't really have too much of a problem with jet lag, which was such a blessing. Really I feel as though no time has passed, and I really never left. The friendships that I started building a year ago seem to have only strengthened and grown with time. I also have been able to form some new friendship as well which has been really great. Stanley House feels like home, and I am so happy that I get to live here in this community for the next six weeks. Mostly this past week has been spent getting acclimated and reoriented into the ins and outs of Stanley House. With over 20 people living in one house, there are so many things that go into helping it run properly.   I feel like I was able to transition really well. 

So far, I have been able to help with some cooking, cleaning, yard work, and the like.  It's been really neat because I feel like I have had a lot of time just to be with God and kind of get my heart and mind focused on the next weeks as I'm here in Paisley. The Lord has been continuing to teach me that through Him all the dreams and goals that He has given me are possible. I really have just enjoyed having time to sit in the stillness with God and really reflect on this past year and where the Lord taken me and the things He is still developing within me. 

It's really peaceful here in a way I'm not sure I could describe. In those still, quiet moments I have been praying that Lord would show me ways I can serve here and even just praying that the Lord would develop in me a spirit that is attuned to His... a spirit that always feels as at peace and as calm as I feel here. 

This past weekend was packed full of events. On Friday after cleaning and doing yard work, I went to my first Scottish Ceilidh dance, a traditional Gaelic social gathering that involves lots of dancing. It was so much fun! It was held at one of the local churches to raise money for their mission trip to Romania next month. Traditional Scottish dancing reminds me a lot of country square/line dancing. It was just a great night to be out in community and was a great chance to meet different people from the Paisley community.

On Saturday I traveled to West Kilbride to YWAM Seamill for YWAM Scotland Day. It's a time where all the YWAMers in Scotland come together to share stories, hang out, and encourage one another. It was really neat to be part of it. The YWAM Seamill house is beautiful, and it's right near the beach, so we got a chance to go walk down by the water. The day was so great, and I feel I got a chance to learn a little bit more about YWAM while meeting a lot of really interesting people. Then Sunday I went to church at the Christian Growth Centre, which I really love. It’s the church I attended while I was in Scotland last summer and going back feels right; I already feel so welcomed there. Also, Sunday afternoon we had a birthday celebration for two of the YWAMers here. Then finally Sunday night we had Caedmon's Eve, which is essentially just a night for people in community to share different talents whether they are musical, poetry, storytelling, etc. It was held at coffee shop in Paisley called the Grumpy Monkey; this was the first time they had this event down in town as opposed to at Stanley House. It was really neat, and I got to share song on the piano, an instrument I have been the process of teaching myself this past year.

I love every minute of my time here.  I know this is where God wanted me, and so appreciate your support of me. I posted some more pictures below.  Know how much your prayers and your support are appreciated. I'll hopefully post again in a couple days and keep y'all updated on life here in Paisley.

p.s. Please pray for sun! It's been so rainy lately! :-)  

If you would like to see pictures click here. Eventually they will be posted in the blog but I am having trouble with the uploader today. 

Delayed

I also wrote this in Hartsfield International Airport on June 12 while waiting for my flight. Scroll down to see part 1.

Well...two updates back to back I guess...although this one will be much shorter than the first. Shortly, before I was set to board the plane, I was told that the plane would be delayed indefinitely due to mechanical error. Not exactly the news you want to hear before you step on to a plane. My first instinct when I heard this news was to panic. I've never had a flight delayed before, so I wasn't exactly sure how this was going to change my plans for the day. So as the news sunk in, I looked back down at my computer screen. Hadn't I just written the Lord was faithful and His plans good? Yes. So why I was I worried? The Lord had taken care of every detail of my trip. I could trust Him to get me the rest of the way. 
It was amazing that what started as such an inconvenience turned into a blessing in disguise. All day I had been running around finishing last minute details that I hadn't really had a chance to just sit with the Lord. So I sat there praying for my flight, and the peace I had been lacking all day settled over me. Jesus had taken this "set back" in my plan to refocus me and remind me that I can't go at this alone. I need Him. Without Jesus, I'm a mess. 
Oh, the Lord is good. 

Thoughts from Hartsfield.

I originally wrote this in Hartsfield International airport on June 12, but because I was without Internet was unable to post it until today. :-)

This is it. My bags are checked, my ticket printed, my heart ready. I can't believe after months of praying and waiting that it's finally time for me to go. It's strange to be sitting in the moment you have been anticipating for months. I keep thinking over and over...this is really happening...I'm really going. It feels wonderfully surreal. 

If you couldn't tell, I am so excited to be going back to Scotland. It's amazing that a place I only spent two weeks visiting last May could truly capture my heart. Paisley is probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen, and I still can't believe I get to live there for the next seven weeks. 

Getting to this moment has been quite the journey. Over the last six months, I feel as though I've been challenged and stretched in new ways. I was thinking earlier today as in the car the things the Lord has taught me: 

1st--The Lord is always faithful. This trip has come together in ways I never imagined possible. The Lord took care of every little detail. It was challenging to constantly be in need of giving up this trip and my plans to Him and allowing the Lord to be my guide.

2nd --The Lord always provides. Abundantly.

3rd-- I was challenged to pray constantly.  There were so many details of this trip that were out of my control, and the only thing I physically could do myself was pray. Jesus was faithful to answer every one of those prayers. In His time frame, of course, not mine. 

4th—Love sends. Recently, the Lord has been teaching me that love doesn't stay within itself  just like the Father’s love for us compelled Him to send Jesus so that we could be reconciled to Him. Love compels us to move and to take action. Love cannot be contained, it overflows.  Yesterday one of my best friends got married. It was beautiful. After the ceremony, the wedding party got a chance to celebrate with the bride and groom on our own. The guy who played music during the ceremony started playing worship music; we danced, laughed, and sang along. The joy of the Lord was truly present in that moment. The love of our friends, for one another had poured out onto ,nd we couldn't help but respond. It was such a beautiful moment. I truly felt like the Lord was there with us just as delighted as we were. It was amazing. Love sends, move, and overflows. Just like my friends can't wait to share with everyone the news that they are married and share their joy with others. so must we be with the love and joy of Christ. 

My prayer for Scotland is to love others well. To allow the love of Christ in me to overflow onto those that I meet in Paisley. My hope is that others see and experience the abundance of Jesus’ love through the glimpse that they see in me.

Well...here I go. The plane will board shortly. I don't know what's in store for the next seven weeks but I know the Lord is faithful and His plans are good. I'll keep you posted on the rest.