The Start of the Scottish Invasion!

Well, I am back from Manila (in one piece!). Crazy, crazy people on crazy, crazy roads. Seems like the most logical and acceptable place for some Filipinos with big cars to overtake is

* just before the brow of a hill
* at the outside lane of a hidden bend
* on the hard shoulder when all the rest of us have stopped for roadworks

Yup, I think we have seen a few 'near misses' in the last few days ... but praise God we are still in one piece. I am not joking! Had to laugh though. Many cars in Manila had these car stickers ...


...so funny!

We had a great service at Cornerstone United on Sunday. We had a lot of people there and we had the visit of a YWAM team. A local Pastor spoke about how we need to live in the grace and power of God. Really exciting to be there.

We left on Sunday afternoon to go to Manila. Wow, what a long drive. Monday was the first day of classes here in the Philippines and I think that every car, truck and bus was on the same road as us! We arrived there at 11pm, but safe.

Had a great time with my wee girl in Manila. Lydia behaved so well and really enjoyed herself. She thought she was a really big girl because she helped her daddy and took care of him! (I am only 38 ... not 83!!!) On Tuesday Vivian arrived and Lydia was over the moon to see her 'Aunty Viv-ee'. We left for home on Tuesday afternoon .. and we had a traffic-free journey! Bliss.

From now on it's all systems go as far as visitors are concerned. Vivian is here now and we are also expecting an Australian couple from John Partington's church in a few weeks. I am going down to the south of the Philippines to the island of Palawan to preach at my friend's church. On the way back we will pick up a team of 5 young adults from Cornerstone Singapore. They will be here for a week's mission and will minister in the church and at our various ministries and outreaches.

I will drop them off at Clark airport on July 2nd and then continue down to Manila to pick up a team from Fraserburgh. My cousin Elizabeth and her husband John are coming out with their two beautiful girls Libby & Milly. Another family is coming with them - David & Grace Strachan and their two kids and last but not least is a lovely young lady from Fraserburgh AoG called Kirsty. Lydia and Josiah are so excited to see their 'sorta cousins'!

They will be here until the 19th July and on the 26th July more friends will arrive - Michael & Alison Tait with their niece Jemma. They have been such a blessing in so many ways to Sefton Village for many years and this will be their third trip. It is always great to hear their enthusiasm and encouragement as they see what God is doing. Michael and I also share a love of good food ... believe it or not!

They will leave on 14th August and we have no visitors until October 2nd when some of the Ritchie tribe arrive. I am so delighted that my brother Paul is coming out with his whole family - Ashley, Nathan & Aaron. I am looking forward to some 'nephew time'. My mum and dad will be coming with them (their 123rd trip!!!) and also my cousin Alexander's wife Monica will be coming. She is so gifted in singing and songwriting and she has made two beautiful CD's.

Of course, at the end of September the newest part of our Sefton Team will arrive - the Kerr family. They will be doing the Missions Course at Mattersey and then coming out to join us here. We are about to start renovating their house next week. Please pray that all their practical plans will go smoothly and that everything will fall into place. They are so brave and we know that they will be such a blessing to Sefton Village.

There is word that my other brother David might be coming out with a friend at the end of the year ... so it is all systems go!

And that's not all ... it seems like Sefton Village is in hot demand for Missions Teams. In March, a team from Mattersey, led by Dr John Andrews, will be coming for a fortnight. In April, our good friend Pastor Steve Ritchie is working on sending out a team from Fraserburgh AoG. There has also been contact from a three churches in Scotland who are in the planning stages of sending teams out from their churches next summer.

Phew. It's all happening.

Please pray that, for every person and every team, they would be a blessing ... but be blessed. They would give a challenge ... and be challenged. Be an inspiration ... and be inspired. Bring change .... and be changed. For every sacrifice they make to come here ... God would send the fire on their altars. For every hope and vision they have ... God would do more.

This is my hearts desire ....