Now, Where was I ....

G'day folks. A week is a long time in politics, but four weeks without internet is like a prison sentence! Yup, still waiting. I was one of those poor souls that saw SKY's offer of free broadband and thought that 'coming very soon' meant exactly what it said. After waiting three weeks, I got an email from SKY with the great news that I can get my SKY broadband in around 12 months time!! Great! I'll be thousands of miles away by that time. AAAggghhh ... back to square one. Anyway, good old BT will put in my broadband on Monday - after all my effort!!!!

What has happened in the last 12 days? Well, here's a wee update:

* Ended up staying in Fraserburgh for a week extra. Couple of reasons - we had difficulty getting Josiah's TB medicine here in UK. Turns out that there are very few kids with TB in UK, so getting syrup was almost impossible. But Garden's Pharmacy in Fraserburgh were fantastic and went the extra 100 miles to make sure wee Josiah didn't go more than 2 days without the medicine. We went down to the Central Belt a week late, but it worked out well.

The second reason that we could not go down to the Central Belt was that we were absolutely shattered. Both Mary & I felt a level of exhaustion and tiredness we have never experienced before. We just could not physically go. So we decided to stay in Fraserburgh for an extra week and let the kids have some settled time. Good choice. Kids had great quality time with my mum & dad.

* Went down to Central Belt and stayed with our agents' Norman & Gillian in Bathgate. They have done a lot of work to their house and it is beautiful. Great to catch up with their family again. Met a lot of friends over those few days - Lesley & Stuart Baillie in Edinburgh (had a great time with their kids - especially finishing a jigsaw with Joshua!), Andrew & Lois Smith (had an amazing curry at their place ... MMMMmmmmmm!!!!), went to visit Mrs Nora Graham in Larbert to show her photos from the school. Mr Graham is seriously ill in hospital so we spent a bit of time just listening and praying with her in her home.

Had a great time on Sunday morning at Whitburn Pentecostal Church. So great to see old - and new - faces, and to feel the presence of the Lord there. Loved it.

Heard the sad news that my sister-in-law Ashley had fallen and broken her leg in three places at Youth Camp. Couldn't believe it. Just a day before the family were going to go on holiday. Please pray for Ashley, Paul and their lovely boys Nathan & Aaron.

Came home and spent a few days in Fraserburgh. Our friends David & Jenny Thomson from Edinburgh were up to stay with Kenny & Suzanne, so we had a great night with them. Have to admit that us boys stayed up until 4am playing tiger Woods golf!!!!! But just ask Kenny & David who won!! These are the times I REALLY MISS.

Had a great time with my Uncle Billy and Aunty Betty in Gamrie. If you have never been to Gamrie, you should go. Breathtakingly beautiful ... but not so satisfying as the scrumptious meal that they cooked us! My cousin Elizabeth was there with her two beautiful girls - Libby & Milly. They have become Lydia's 'kinda cousins' and new friends!

Last Saturday we came up to Wick. Met the Thomsons and the Ross' families at Elgin on way. What a laugh. Six adults, ten kids all packed into Burger King. Imagine. Arrived at Wick late at night but happy to see Mary's mum & dad again. But not half as happy as they were to see us!!

So we've been here for a few days and went to the Salvation Army on Sunday. Good to see everyone again. Major Norman told everyone about my Blog from the front - thanks Norman!!!! Again, Mary played her coronet in the band - so proud of her. Lydia was amazed that mummy could play the metal thing!

Will go down to Fraserburgh again on Thursday and hopefully John Wildrianne from AoG World Ministries is coming to visit us on Friday. Next week is kinda hectic - Lydia starts school on Tuesday, Thursday I meet the new World Ministries Director Dave Russon along with our action Asia Director Mike Dixon in Whitburn and on Saturday I am going to a AoG Regional Ministers meeting in Perth.

To be honest, we have been really finding it hard in these last few weeks. I cannot switch off from Sefton Village, as we have no consistent cover for the 6 months we are here. I am still contacting the Philippines regularly. We are also really struggling to get out itinerary organised, prepare powerpoints/prayer cards/pens/bookmarks/DVD's etc. It is hard to do between all the travel and appointments we are doing.

Please pray for us at this time. We are going through what they call in Missiology "Reverse Culture Shock" or "Re-Entry". We are coming back into what was our own culture, but now that culture has moved on. People have moved on. Trends have moved on. Fashion has moved on. Churches have moved on (well, some!) There are things that we have had to re-learn and things that are brand new. It just take time to adjust. It is late, so I will write a bit more about it tomorrow. Until then, just keep us in your prayers.

BLESSINGS ....