It's been a whole month

It's been a whole month since the last time I typed. There never seems to be enough time.

Things are going well in Edinburgh. Well, in that respect I mean that things are moving at least. The days are getting really short here. The sun will peak up at about 8, but it is securely down by 5. I mean dark down. Not usual winter. It's not really bothering me like I thought it might.

I'm hoping to move my career along a more adult path. Starbucks just doesn't make me feel happy at all. I feel no reward in my work. I feel that I work, and that I'm faithful to do my job, but I'm constantly in a bad mood. I know I can't be the most pleasurable to be around. I see no purpose in my job. It's a waiting game until I'm off. I will say that some of the guys (and gals) at work are very encouraging. They are mainly pictured below.

I'm have asked myself in the past few days and weeks about my life. I have asked God about my life. Where is it headed? What am I doing? Natasha is very encouraging to say that I've shown great courage and moved out to Scotland, but I still feel like I'm a steam train on a monorail track. Melinda's mother, Sharon, encouraged me the other day with her saying that it was very rare for a person my age to know what they want to do. However encouraging that was, I still don't even know what I would like to do. What would make me happy and make me feel rewarded?

I keep thinking about how my call to ministry (to use an archaic word). What form is that supposed to take. I'm sure it's a lifelong thing, but I'm semi-psued0 seriously thinking about going to a seminary in the next 5 years. Nothing immediate.

Those are my thoughts for the moment because my life it looking forward to the next year. It'll be a big one I'm sure.

To wrap up, I'm happy I'm here. I have great friends, great relationships, a great family, and a fantastic girlfriend. My job sucks, but I'll just get a new one.

Goodnight.

Back to the Blogging Post.

Well, I'm back in Scotland. I'm officially a citizen now (although I always was) and have a passport. I'm excited about being back, but sometimes I wonder where I'm headed. I'm hopeful and happy though. It's cold here, but there is plenty of warmth, if you wanna find it.

I'm nannying two little kids,
William
He is 3 years old and has just started nursery school. He goes with me twice a week, and he loves to ride his bike there. He likes to play with race cars and build big train tracks with his Thomas the train set. He's a very adventurous kid who listens most of the time. He is mischevious and starts every sentence with "yeah, but." He likes to cuddle and we go out to the parks and play on the big slides.



This is Isla. She is like 20 months and she is a fan of the word, "No." She never actually says "yes", but either says "Hu" or just giggles. She has the cutest giggle and she knows she's cute. We play in the parks while William in nursery and she likes to slide all by herself. She likes to do anything and everything that William does. This can sometimes make her upset. She is also very possesive, but William is as well.

They are all down in London right now and I miss them. They are great kids and we have fun. I always have stories to tell at the end of the day.

I'm dating this girl, Natasha Bell.

She is Danish. (That means she is from Denmark, and she speaks Danish) We started dating 21 August, 2008 under the stars at Lake Gaston, NC. She's studying get her certification to teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and wants to travel to Indonesia as a teacher. She is currently nannying two kids as well. She is a very organised person and is very outgoing. She spent 3 months in the States this year. She's been living in Scotland for 13 years, but is ready to leave. She is a day older than I am and is an amazing cook. She is teaching me how to speak Danish, and hopefully she'll take me to Denmark sometime next year.

I'm also working part time at Starbucks. Most of the people I worked with last time are gone, but things are okay there. It's Starbucks.

That's my lot in life right now. I'll try and keep posting ideas I have here. I should have some new ones since I'm reading some very controversial material. (and yes, Drew, I'm reading the book you gave me.) We'll talk soon.

Ian

Edinburgh University

Now seems like a good time for a post.

I received a phone call from Edinburgh today saying that I had been rejected from the University of Edinburgh. This is news that has made me very sad today. I don't feel like working and I certainly don't feel like facing the future. I had so much on the line with that school. I won't say I had it all, but I was really looking forward to it.

So now what do I do?

Well I have not felt as bad as I thought. I feel that God is still greater than this and that this is part of his plan. I'm forced to concede myself to his will. Even though at this point it isn't something that I want to surrender to.

I'm still going to Edinburgh in September. Nothing was going to change that. Wait a second. I HOPE to go to Edinburgh this September. I don't want to be so prideful as to assume my future. That may be a reason for this whole thing. I'll go back and start back at Starbucks and go ahead and get my citizenship and certification as a TEFL instructor. This may actually move my plans to travel ahead an entire year.

I used to say to people who I asked that I felt that I was walking through a fog. I could see the immediate future but not much farther than that. Now I'm in the dark. I can't see but a few steps in front of me, but I've settled it to myself to be confident and content with my situation.

Ian

2 Great Things

There are two great things in life that I've really appreciated recently. The first is:

Tea

Tea is great, but not just for it's taste and health benefits. It's the ability of tea to be thoroughly enjoyed hot or cold. So if you leave your morning tea out too long it just becomes iced tea. If you get iced tea from a restaurant and leave it in your car accidentally, you can enjoy it later as hot tea. (well, if you live in Florida you can). I can pick up tea that's days old and it won't have gone flat or lost it's flavor. Iced tea can become watered down, but that doesn't seem to bother me like it does my friend Cliff. He gets mad.

The second thing is spots. By this I mean locations. You've got your spot, and you've got them everywhere. I have spots where I park my car at all the different restaurants. I have the spot where I like to stand and look over the restaurant. We spend our time moving from one self-determined spot to the next, which is fine by me.

I want you to listen

I would like everyone to listen to the song, "4 word letter" by mewithoutYou. I shed a tear over it yesterday, but that not what I wanna talk about today.

I felt contentment today. Yup, or at least the closest I think I've ever been. It was an incredible calm being completely satisfied in everything. I wanted for naught. It was actually kind of weird, but I just sat in it. Right there on I-4 traveling at about 60 miles an hour. It was quite an experience.

I'm once again taking a break from between my balloon shifts, and I thought I would write a little bit. Nothing else interesting to report today. So I'm off for now. Cheers.

Sitting Between the Shifts

I'm presently trespassing and loitering on the back porch of a Holiday Inn that expressly asked me not to on a sign out front while I was clambering over it.

Not to much to report in my life. I'm working a double today and its not that bad. I did rather well last night, and I also beat adventure mode in Smash Bros.

I did get stuck in traffic today. Do you know what it was for. Not an accident or a wreck or livestock. A kind yet scruffy looking gentleman was changing a lightbulb above a Florida semi-truck trail. And that's it. A lightbulb.

Cliff stayed with me recently. He was away from home for an entire week and didn't pack any clothes. I let him borrow a shirt on his last day, but he was telling me about how he sat in traffic on I-275 for an hour and a half because a water truck was watering the grass. how about that. ehh?

I say that to say that when you are driving a car you forfeit the opportunity to look at your surroundings. If you wanna see it. stop. Let the rest of us get to work. Kids are waiting on balloons.

It's about to start coming down out here, so I think i'll go ahead back to the truck.

Cheers.

James Murphy and mewithoutYou

I just got back from Ybor and I saw mewithoutYou play. It was something very special. There really isn't a way to describe it. If you listen to mewithoutYou then you know how it might have been, but it was really great. I also saw a band called Maps and Atlases which did a great job playing.

James left the other day. I've been trying to get work since then. Work seems a bit scarce at the moment, but I'm trying to take shifts everyday. James said he had the greatest week ever here so that was good. I hope everyone else is doing well.

Pray for me for finances and my application to Edinburgh University which should be in it's last legs.

Cheers

Thank You Hope

I had to include this picture from Hope Mabry's blog because it made me chuckle for a while.

No More Apologies

My friend James, from Edinburgh, is flying in today. I'm super excited about spending time with him. He's a great chap. So that's who I'll be hanging with for the next few days. It's not the best picture of him, but it's all I've got.

Other than that I'm just making balloons and spending time with friends. I just moved into a new apartment. I did realise that I live a lonely life. I wake up and leave early for balloons. I work alone all day until about 11 then I come home and unless someone if free. I go to sleep. I'm happy with it, but I was just thinking about it.

The friends I do have here are really great though. I enjoy them a lot and we have great talks. Anyway this post is boring, so I'm out.

We're Back Where We Belong

Those words ring oh so untrue to me right now. I don't really wanna be here. I'm sick for Scotland at the moment. I miss all of my friends there. I miss just being there. Especially since the weather is probably so lovely right now.

So enough for my ranting. On to life, eh? God is good, whether we think so or not I've met some great folks here in Lakeland. I've been given two new friends, only to have one of them taken away so quickly. Josh Grace and Chris Abel (pictured) have been great friends to me since I've moved in with Josh. Chris has gone on to Guatemala and then to Massachusetts for the summer, so I'll probably not see him again, and Josh moved out of the apartment tonight. I'm sure I'll see Josh plenty, and I'm very happy about that. I've become good friends with him in the last few days. Enough of that sobbing too.

I'm starting balloons hardcore tomorrow. I'll be twisting 2 shifts a days for 5 days straight. Oh the stories I'll be able to tell.

I re-stringed my guitar tonight. I'm excited about playing it. The first song I'm attempting to play is Matt Good - Metal Airplanes. Clikc the play button to start it. It's a simple song with a lot of meaning to me, especially about Scotland.

Another song worthy of listening to is the entire new album by Sigur Ros. You can listen to it here. This is a way for you to hear what I've been listening to recently. A brilliant band. Just hit the big play button on the homepage.

In other news. The flat I'm staying in is now empty. I'm the sole occupant. Today the last of the flatmates moved out. In the move process, I lost a $100 bill. I don't know how it happened because these are, i think, good people, but nonetheless I'm down $100 now. it's funny though, because I think I heard God say to me today, while I was folding clothes in the closet, that it wasn't mine to begin with so why do I miss it so much. I guess He's got a point.

If I write anymore it'll start to be daunting to my readers. So I'll leave you with this picture from the revival in Lakeland, Florida. Tell me your thoughts. The board is on the side of the main road in Lakeland.

One more time

I'm feeling completely shattered at the moment after running 4.5 miles for the 2nd consecutive night in a row. It's funny how muscles that weren't there before seem to pop out of nowhere.

I'm getting settled in to life here in Florida....again. I sill do miss Edinburgh greatly as I imagine that it's the best time of year there.

God's really been looking out for me since I've been here. My balloon job has started off quite nicely. I've only had 2 shifts, but it's been great and I've already had so much fun.

I've also been graced with a place to crash for this week and the next for free with some really great guys. I've met a guy named Josh Grace who has gotten hooked on Smash Bros with me. I've also met another guy named Chris Abel. We have had a lot of great talks about humanity and theology. I wish that I had met these guys a lot sooner or either had a lot more time with them. They are both really great and I'll miss them. They've been great friends for this week and a half.

I'm off to bed now though. Balloons call again.

Cheers

Ian

Cashing in on the Inflatable Animal Craze.

So maybe it's not a craze, but it sure is Craze-Y. I just finished a double shift of balloon animals and it was okay. I'm severely knackered, but I don't feel that it is because of my career. It was dreadfully slow for lunch, but then I got a decent place in the evening. I don't have much else to say other than that. I have a feeling that a good portion of my summer is going to be devoted to these lighter than air (they are actually heavier than air or else they would float. You would have to use Helium to make them float seeing as the only thing lighter than Helium is Hydrogen. The air used to fill my balloons weighs the same as the air around it, but add the weight of the latex and it becomes to heavy to float.) creatures. I have a pounding headache, but I think I'm going to go running anyway. I need to lose some of these steak pies.

Cheers.

I'm Afraid I Have No Pictures To Show Because I Have No Camera

So I'm in Lakeland now, I'm semi-situated. It is very interesting showing up in a town that you have been absent from for so long and trying to get back in to it. Sure, I don't have the plethora of friends that I used to have, but I do have a handful and I am very thankful. 

I'm living on the floor of a mates room. It's not even a flat, it's just a room. and on top of that he's paying $400 (£220) for it. He's really getting screwed, but that's his thing. I'm have a weird time here so far. My mate Jon and I have had some really good talks that I think have been very productive. I also have been very productive and I blame it on the time difference. I can't really sleep much past 8 or 9 because it's 1 or 2 in my brain. So i have gotten a lot of things done. 

Well, Ian, what have you gotten done?

I'm glad you asked. I spent most of the day trying to find a place to stay, which is going great because I might be moving into a place tonight until the 14th and then I'll be moving into another house more permanent. which is all great. I need to look into getting a cycle now. Gas is about $4 a gallon here. Which is plenty. So I'll have to cut back on riding to almost nothing. So that's why I want a cycle. I also am going to go get a haircut today. I wanted to shave it, but then it will take forever to grow, so I'm just going to get it cut really short so it won't be like nothing is there. 

I'm really seeing God provide for me while I am here. He's bringing things together out of nothing. I still really miss Edinburgh. Things here aren't very pretty. there is nothing to look at. There are no hills or rivers or old buildings. 

I turned my £'s into $'s today and that was sad. I wanted to hold onto those. They gave me a rate of $1.86 to £1.00. Not as much as I wanted, but It'll do. At least I'll be able to spend it, right?

I also filled out an application for Starbucks. Now before you say anything, I didn't ask for it. They gave it to me. I was chatting up the girl at the till and she came over and handed me an application a bit later. I filled it out and they asked me to come back to their job fair on the 10th. So I have until then to find a better one. Or ANY other job that is not Starbucks. It's only for a day job anyway. I've got other things. I just want to make as much money as I can this summer because come Autumn there will be a few expenses on the table. 

That's my life at the moment. Hopefully there is something interesting in there. If not, thanks for reading anyway.

Florida, Oh Florda

This is my second post since I arrived back in the States. I spent a few days with my folks up in North Carolina. It was good to see them again. I felt a little bad for rushing away to Florida, but I've realised that I always feel weird when I leave them. So I've just had to get used to it.

I got to go see my small group from Discovery Church in Greenville, NC. If you live anywhere in NC, it is the church to go to. I've never experienced such community so quickly. I was gone for 3 months, but when I opened the door to the house where they were meeting everyone got so excited to see me and gave me great big hugs and where so happy for me to be there. They also had tons of questions for me, which was great. I like to talk about Scotland because I miss it so much. I really had a great time talking to them and seeing them again. I hate that I have to leave them so often. I really wish that I could go to that church, but I seemed to be called away by other things. I wonder if there is such a church here in Lakeland.

Well I'm not exactly in Lakeland right now. I was in Lakeland for about 2 hours and then I headed out to Tampa to hang out with my best mate, Cliff. I really miss this guy and he is one of the reasons that I'm here in Florida instead of Edinburgh, which I miss so severely.

It's very odd being here in Florida again. It's 9:30 and the sun has already been down for an hour. How Strange!! Also last night I was standing around with some of my mates eating ice cream and I started to itch on my legs. I didn't think anything of it and figured it would go away until it started to get worse. I went down to scratch and felt a small squished specimen under my finger. Mosquito. I had completely forgotten about them until I was being eaten by them. It was certainly not a good welcome back into town.

I have gotten tonnes of great and warm welcomes back into the city and I really appreciate that from my friends. It really helps when I'm in a place that I don't really to be.

This is all for now, I'll hopefully explain my trip down to florida in the next blog. talk to you soon folks.

Cheers
Ian

So Here We Are

I'm back in North Carolina.

In Littleton.

Hoy, no esta feliz

I'm packing my room. trying to leave it like I found it like mom said. For I leave today. Actually, I leave so soon, I need to get off here and get to work.


Cheers

Ian

Only 2 More Days

I'm sitting in my bed on my second to last day here in Edinburgh. My heart is so sad because I don't want this time to end. I will truly miss it.

I'll miss Gordon's banter about the world
I'll miss Barry's talks about America
I'll miss taking shots about being America
I'll miss the castle view from West End
I'll miss the football matches and chips with vinegar
I'll miss pies
I'll miss Jon and the bin runs to the skip
I'll miss Sam Raby, even though he's only been here for 3 weeks
I'll miss taking jabs at Victoria.
I'll miss talking with Grace and making jokes about English
I'll miss morning prayers that Pam puts together
I'll miss the Braais at Rich and Heather's
I'll miss the Mabry family immensely. Especially Allana and Nora.
I'll miss Theology with Adam.
I'll miss being in the staff meetings with Tom and Perry and talking church.
I'll miss the sun being up until 10 at night.
I'll miss really long walks through all parts of the city.
I'll miss the flowers.
I'll miss ultimate frisbee with the guys and gals in the meadows.
I'll miss the meadows.
I'll miss the church.

I'll miss way more than that too, but you're getting bored and I've gotta get moving. I'll speak soon. (maybe).

Dunoon

So I drove to Dunoon yesterday and it was awesome and super thrilling. There is nothing cooler than your first roundabout.

It's really pretty over here and I got to meet some family that I haven't ever seen and also family that I haven't seen in years. I'm only staying for one night, so I'm not going to get to see a lot of them, but at least I came over here.

I got to see the little town where my Dad grew up and where he used to go swimming and I got to see my Aunt and Uncle's new house. I'm excited that I have family here. It makes for a great safety net in case anything happens.

I also got to watch Celtic win the Scottish Premier League for football which was a very exciting event for my family. Especially since my Uncle is a season ticket holder for Celtic.

There is not much else happening and I'm going back to Edinburgh in the morning for my leaving party from Starbucks. I'll write after that.

Cheers.

New Post

Hope the world is okay,

I leave in a week.

All the rest of my days are full tons of things to do and people to see. I have a strong feeling that I will be missed here.

If you want anything. post a comment, but I'm not making promises because I don't have any room. and don't ask for William Wallace.

I'm sorry world

I'm super sorry for not writing. I'm trying to make the best of my time time left here, and that doesn't really include sitting behind a computer typing letters

I did get to play a round of rounders today, which is similar to baseball, but with no gloves and some super crazy rules. 

We also played some ultimate frisbee, which is a mixture of american football and rugby except with a frisbee. so that was great fun, it always is.

I must say i've got some great friends here. I really will miss them and I don't want to leave them. 

I did try to get my flight delayed today, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. 

Goodnight folks because my meatballs are done, but that is a little thing about what I've been up to.

And Again, I Notice

Hey world,

  

It's getting into the short rows here in Scotland and I'm very sad. Things are so great here right now and it feels so much like home. I will be flying back to the States on May 27th, but I will be leaving with a heavy heart. I spoke to a friend recently who said they had just gotten back from Uganda and didn't feel like they fit anymore. I think I'll feel the same.

Ian

From Time to Time, I'm reminded.

Wow.

Where have I been.

I'll tell you where I've been.

I have actually been super busy lately. For the past 5 days I've had to be up before 5 and have gone down to bed after 1, so I've been well tired. Today I slept in until about 11 so I'm catching up on all that I have missed. Mom, you can rest easy knowing that.

I've had to get up for work, which I will have to get up for again tomorrow. and I have had language school and prayer and discipleship and theology. I'm well busy at the moment. and I really love it. I really don't wanna leave this place.

It's all nice and sunny now. It really is a great time to be here. I got to walk around in shorts yesterday and play frisbee, which I will be doing today.

On the schedule for today is frisbee in the meadows (the city centre park) and a barbeque, and a youth outreach. I'll take some pictures of them and load them up later. I've pretty sparse on the pictures lately, and I think that's because this place is starting to become home to me and why take pictures of home. Because you're there.

I have recently had my heart jumped upon, spun around, and pounded into oblivion, and it's now in the process of being rebuilt. I went to a meeting called "city reach" for the church about how we want to get involved in the community and be helpers there and show our heart for the hurting and actually help them. and I realised as people were sharing what they had hearts for and what broke their hearts that nothing breaks mine.

I don't care for the poor
I don't care for the downtrodden
I ignore the hurting
I know that's not right

I read about Paul constantly telling the churches to care for the poor and the hungry and the orphans and widows, but I don't. I grew up in upper middle America. I didn't have to deal with them, so I didn't. So I'm off to find a heart for the hurting. It's probably goina suck, but it's like Jesus and I need to be like Jesus.

Ian

From The 'Burgh To The 'Gate

So, I'm sitting here listening to band practice. and good news. I'll be playing bass a week Sunday. Which is great! I'm super stoked. Short sentences.

I have to start out this blog by saying Happy Anniversary to my folks. 22 years today my parents got married. Congratulations guys. and thanks for staying together. and I really do mean that. I'm so very glad you guys are still in love after 22 years. Or at least mom keeps stocking the pops in the freezer. Let all give them a round of applause

*Applause*

There we go.

So I told you I'm learning a lot about myself here in this strange, oh-so-foreign land. I recently confronted myself with my amazing lack of initiative. My father always said that he had to put a fire underneath my butt to get me to do anything. and he's right, but when I did them, I always had fun and was good at most of it.

Is this something I need to change or is it something that I need to feel comfortable that it's just not the way I am? And in that way work with my strengths. I want to be successful and an unfailure, but It's very difficult for me to start anything. I think that I have the gift of leadership, but where is that in all of this. It's a funny thing to think of because I can get in front of people and talk to large crowds, no problem, but I have a lot of difficulty introducing myself in a room. Hmm........... this is something to contemplate. Leave some feedback for those who know my character and personality and what you think of this.

Could it also be that I am not myself. Maybe I am a initiative person, but currently I am shying away for whatever reason. This sure is something to think about.

So I missed Ron Paul at Duke. I also won't get the chance to vote in the North Carolina primaries tomorrow and let my voice be heard. Here's to Ron Paul. So everybody go out and vote for him. for me.

I'm on the train back to Edinburgh again. I have another busy day tomorrow. and an early day, BUT tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo. I will forgo all the worship of ancestors and celebrate with some comida Mexicana. It will be delicious. It will be grand. So I'm off the train in a few and need to get ready for it, but

I want to recommend the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy again. I'm back listening to it and it's the greatest piece of fiction I've ever read. It also has a marvelous ending, so you don't feel jipped after 5 whole books ( yeah, it's a trilogy with 5 books. go figure.)

Until I can write again.

Ian

P.S. Oh yeah, keep praying for my decision about staying in Scotland (if you're not sure read a few entries back.) and my future.

P.S.S. I've never written of these. What should one say at such a time? I've got nothing really important else to say. Maybe I should have saved this for a better time. Well, what's done is done. Cheers

Custard, Yuck!!

This is the second post of today.

I am on the train once again, this time on the way back to Edinburgh, which is curious enough because when I got to Adam's place in Bathgate, we had to turn around and drive to Edinburgh to drop off Caroline Collie at here new home. I met Caroline today who is from Washington, NC. Her husband, Mark, is from South Africa and they are here on staff with the church. Caroline ia also pregnant and she will soon give birth to an African-American. Yup. The burrito of joy is due on August the 18th, which I think would be a fine day for a birth. Don't you, Mom and Dad?

So the reason for the second blog today is because I have just been floored, humbled beyond belief, and scared within inches of my life. Oh, the fear of the Lord descended on me today. And it still lingers. It's a fear that will make a county fair funnel cake eater turn away from food. it's a fear that would drive mothers to forsake their young. It's a fear that lights can't chase away. It wraps up my stomach as if it were the advent season. Churning over like cement, scared to let it lie incase it hardens and become a thing of shame.

Perseverance of the Saints

Let man be damned and the Lord glorified for he is truly a righteous God.

The perseverance of the saints deals with the doctrine that only those who preserver in Christ until the end will be saved. How sobering a thought. I will leave it to you to think of the consequences of such a doctrine.

Forgive me if I'm speaking in an extreme manner here. Just the thought of it is resting very strongly on me at the moment. What does that mean? Especially in conjunction with the doctrine of Election.

What do you think?

Ian

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Isn't it funny how musicians seem to re-release music as their next new album. In the case of Switchfoot, I could understand them re-releasing songs when they went from Christian music to being actual musicians. I was a little dissappointed though when Mat Kearney's "Nothing Left To Lose" album was released to find that 7 or 8 of the tracks had been on a previous album. I saw that to say that he has since re-released that exact same album and tacked two songs on the end. One that I knew of "Chicago (acoustic)" and "Breathe In, Breathe Out" which I heard for the first time live. I say all that to say that I purchased that one song to finally make up his ever expanding album last night, I'm in very happy I did. I get happy/nostalgic/sad bubbles in my innards when I listen to Mat. Here is a little known fact for you. At the same conference that I heard about EveryNationEdinburgh, when it was just a baby idea. (that's who I'm on internship with). I saw him play live. Not only that, but the guitar that he was using to play actually belonged to the guy I'm about to go be mentored by, Adam Mabry. www.adammabry.co.uk

Enough of all that. I'm floating through the countryside on what I can only imagine as the hard work on many great men. How about that work ethic of old? Just a question. No discussion.

So, I'm too short to think of what to type next. Attempting to make this a meaningful exchange as I learn from you by actually writing. And hopefully, a few like to read it out there. I'm having trouble being terribly clever. So there is no clever bit.


The weather here is starting to be really nice. I must say, this place is probably quite nice in summertime. The people here already think that it's summertime. it's only a little over 50 degrees. Lovely little immigrants (because you're hard pressed to find any Scottish) are setting up tables outside to eat lunch at. Which on a side note: it boggles my mind that anyone says, "hey, lets go to Starbucks for lunch. Yeah, that'll be great. We can spend £8 ($16) on semi-meals that are clearly pre-packed by a machine." Also, it's the people on vacation. Every American I see come in that is on holiday, I feel like shaking them. "You travel 5,000+ miles to eat at a place that is right around the corner."

So anyway, the weather is getting nice.

The flowers are in a strong bold bloom against the ever present chill. If you saw that picture of the Scottish Flag made of flowers in a few blogs previous, good for you because it's gone. They done gone and churned it up. But there are the prettiest flowers here. actually prettier than Florida because the flowers are very thick and stiff (to keep out the cold I imagine). But they are all put there by the governmental tourist board. I still must say that the Bird of Paradise is still the sweetest flower on God's green earth. Listen to that phrase. I used to get threatened by it.

Do you think God is green?

Ian

Today, My Heart Swings

Today I remember Jon Krist and Tommy Myers

I'm listening to Interpol and it reminds me so much of the time that I spent living with them. 5 guys in a 4 man room. Who could forget that? Interpol also poses the question, "How are things on the West Coast?" So for this I will divert to Jon Ryan, presuming he reads this. Go ahead Jon.

Jon: Apparently it's on fire again.

Ian: Well that bring me to a new point. Why build houses in a wildfire area. The earth has a remarkable way of renewing itself. Take the four seasons for instance. a constant renewal. Different places renew differently. Florida renews itself through constant rain in the summer time. California just happens to renew itself by burning. I mentioned to Jon Ryan (former roommate who is from the Monterey area) one day that there was this huge fire in Southern California. He spoke to me with shoulders shrugged and said, "So what, happens every year" and never even turned away from the telly. Which made me think why people are so up in arms about it this time. They problem with last year (which is the first one I remember) is that people's houses were burning because they had built them where there are fires. So people's houses were getting destroyed. Go figure. I hear you can get some cheap real estate on the banks of the Nile too.

Also, in just a little poke. I wanna mention that Nevada cancelled their delegate meeting because Ron Paul had an overwhelming "Super Majority," and they just cancelled it. That sure doesn't sound right. Get on it, Cliff.

Oh, so I truly need your prayers at the moment. I just applied to University of Edinburgh and I'm really hoping to get in. Also, the more I think into the future. The more I don't see myself staying in the US. I think I would come back to Edinburgh regardless of whether I got into the school. I just think it would be a cop-out for me to stay in the States. I know this might make some people sad, but I must follow God's little breadcrumb path. So at this point, I think that going back to the States is a waste of money, if I'm just going to fly back. I could get housing here and work my butt off for the pound, since the dollar seems to be sucking wind now anyway. So pray for that. I miss my family. I do miss Florida though. I miss my friends there. I would love to buy a house with my mate, Cliff, since now seems to be the time. I just can't see myself still in Florida in 5 years. I can't see myself in Scotland either, but I don't think I'd be satisfied if I stayed put.

So that is my big dilemma.

So tonight, is the Barcelona v. Manchester United football match. I'm going to go watch is with some mates from work. I just don't know who to cheer for. Well, I don't really like Man U. because they are Man U. and they are also English, which a good Scotsman won't cheer for, but at least they are British and they are the favourites. Barcelona is NOT English and I can speak their language. (Barcelona is in Spain) and they are also the underdogs. So I think that I might go for them, but I don't wanna be the only one in there. Maybe I'll find some nice Spanish folks.

Probably not, everyone here is either Polish or Italian.

Oh, I wore short-sleeves today!!! Woo Hoo.

I'm goina go enjoy that beautiful Scottish sun before it goes away. Even though, it'll be out until 10 or so. Remember what I've told you.

Ian

Sheep

The great inspiration of this Northern Country.

Scotland is a relatively small place. It's about the size of one of our mid-sized states. I would look up all the facts, but I'm on a train with no internet. About 5 million people live in Scotland. The funny thing about this fact is that about 50% - 60% of the people live in a belt that goes from the West of Scotland (Around Glasgow and the Clyde River) to Edinburgh (in the East). The rest of the country is relatively uninhabited. This information is meaningless.

So please pray for me. I'm applying to the University of Edinburgh tomorrow. I've got the application done and I'm sending it in tomorrow. Well I'm actually turning it in by hand. If this works, it'll mean that I'll be in Scotland for another year, which I a very excited about. I want to do things here, but it doesn't seem like there is enough time, and I'm not sure there is. What is the point of starting something to leave before it even gets off the ground. That might cause more harm than good, which is not what I intend to leave in my wake.

More than ever, nowadays, I believe in the sovereignty of God. This means that I believe that God is in control. Actually in control. Not in control of what we humans decide in our free will, but really. It gives me such a peace to think that God is in control. Because above all, I believe that God is love. Therefore, what he controls He controls in love, with love being his main focus of what he does. So I trust, and it makes me feel at peace. I actually feel peace when I think about it. It's a great thing. I get scared when I think of man having complete free will. Because what kind of mess would we make. There is no way the world would still be held together.

I wrestled with God yesterday, and it made my heart hurt. Things are happening. As Paul said in Galatians 4:19, "I am again in deep pains until Christ is formed within you." I rode the bus home from Gordon's house and really felt God twisting me on the inside. Or either, my insides were twisting because of the presence of God. I don't mean to make it sound like I had a holy moment, but it was certainly special.

A song that recently has really made me aware of the depravity of man is Matthew Good Band - The Fall of Man. It is certainly not a nice song, but it makes me think of the mind. the mind of the man and how foul it is. A line says, " you keep begging me to stop, but I was never that nice." and another that says, "stick to the plan, the fall of man."

Well this is my stop. Same time next week.

Ian

Everyone Shed Your Jumpers, Oh, And Your Sweaters

It's hot today, as a sweater was too much to wear for the walk across the castle terrace. Of course, you don't see the castle on this walk. It is hidden by cameras raised high by tourist from every part of the world. Oh course, i cannae say anything against tourist because I myself am one. I don't really understand why people would get upset at tourist. it's kinda like someone is saying, "hey, your city's great." otherwise, I'd be at home in my own. But people seem to.

The weather is changing here in Scotland. And I'm so glad. When I arrived here, the sun set at about 6 or so. Now, it goes down at about 9. and when I finally leave it is supposed to be up until around midnight. How cool is that.

Peeking Around The Corner Into May

Hello world,

You wouldn't believe me if I told you how busy I've been recently. So I won't even try, except that is the reason that you are here so I will explain it.

I've been doing a tremendous amount of work. Whether it is contacting language schools, internship meetings, or church and community meetings. Sometimes I have very early days and late nights. Not getting to bed until way past when I need to. Which is odd, because I never work later than 8.30, but I have engagements with other people or with church. So I might not get in until late.

I was worried the first few weeks when I was here that I wasn't going to have many friends and that I never had anything to do. Now that is different. I always have somewhere to go or somebody inviting me somewhere. Or inviting myself places. This is a great city. It's also great big, so I have to spend a considerable amount of time traveling or waiting to travel. The bus system here is the best I've ever seen though. Much better than Wilson's.

I must say I'm happy to be here now, because I hear about all of the economic crisis in the States and I'm happy to not have to pay for gas and I'm also happy to not to be working in dollars. I have begun to think in pounds and it creates a whole different world because it is so powerful. So when I do think about gas. I think about it as £1.50 and that's not that bad. Can't wait to get home though right.

Speaking of that, the ministry to internationals is finally getting underway, but I hate to leave it. Some parts of me really don't wanna come home and want to continue to help out the work here. Which, by the way, is going very well.

The church I'm with in Edinburgh has started a congregation out in Bathgate (Suburbia) and it has grown to about half the size of the Edinburgh one with over 40 people attending. God is really working out there in that community. I'm really excited to hear about how they do it and their strategy. Because I am interested in planting churches as well.

On the language front, I have had a great breakthrough. Two different schools are going to allow me to come in and observe classes. I'm super stoked about that. Also there is a course here in practical teaching of English as a second language that last 4 weeks, but it's pretty hands on the whole time and costs. $1,900. So I can't do that right now, but I am looking into such a course for the future. So I'm super excited about languages and the future.

The cold really got to me the other day and I wanted to come home, but I've been miraculously encouraged over the past day through talks with people and I have renewed my love for this country and my desire to be with God here and to be used by God here.

So now I have to go to work, but maybe I'll write again soon. I would love to hear some comments. because they make me feel not-so-alone.

I do want to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to Rich and Kelly who got married over the weekend. Best of luck to you guys and Godspeed all the way.

So until the earth makes another rotation on it's axis as if it were a basketball on God's finger, God bless all of you and cause you to sleep the most peaceful sleep of your lives.

Cheers

Ian

cześć

Well here is a little update on what I've been doing.

I'm super tired so this won't be very long.

I've been doing a lot of work recently at the church and Starbucks with not a lot of rest. So tomorrow will be my relaxing day although I need to make some connections.

They've opened up a French Market on the street that I work on. They are selling all kinds of stuff from France that's a little tasty.

I had some great conversations today with some of my workmates.

I've learned tons about theology in the past few weeks that has been very intriguing as far as my view of God goes. I have truly been tested in my spirituality even to the point of having to give up what sounds right to me for what God says is true. The two seem to be farther apart then I thought. So take that for what it's worth.

I really like it here.


ian

OH NO!!!

I just saw a picture of video of the Golden Gate Bridge and I thought the cars were on the wrong side of the road!!!!

Dandelion and Burdock during Cinco de Mayo!!!!

Hello western world, (unless you are actually reading this in the eastern world, I welcome you also)

So my days journeys are over and I'm on the train back to Edinburgh via Haymarket and the number 26 bus. It's so crazy trying to get around here. It's great and I enjoy it much more than having a car here. A car in America is great, but a car here is not so much. I think I would get along fine with a bicycle. But if I have 3 things to do and they all are in different parts of the city I have to walk and bus it and maybe hire a rickshaw. So life in the big city can be tough, but everyone needs a challenge right?

I have nothing new to report other than the usual stuff. I just want to take a minute and say that I'm looking at a beautifully horrible sky. It is semi-cloudy above me, but it looks like a fleece blanket of darkness is headed my way. Oh the beauty in the grotesque. I imagine you could get sick of the weather here, but the beauty of just weather itself is uncomprehendable. Just try to imagine if there were no such thing as weather. Go ahead, I'll wait.........

See. You can't.

What would be in the air then?

I did take up learning Polish (or Polski) the other day. I'm not yet past the "hey, how are you" stage, but you have to start there, right? I have a new challenge in my life and it is super cool.

Here is a picture of a little dog that I found on a walk yesterday tied to a pole. People do that all the time around here. My mom is afraid that it might get stolen, but that doesn't happen here. This poor guy was cold though. You can see that he's a small critter, but he was shivering to beat the band.

On Friday night we (the Starbuck's crew) threw a party for a girl named Monika, who is transferring stores. So I got a chance to hang out with some of the crew after-hours. That is one of the things that I have seen that is different than at home. Your co-workers are just there at work and it never really goes farther than that unless you were already friends. Here though, they have a more community mindset about them. Your workmates here are instantly your friends and you are instantly invited to every function that happens. Especially if there is a match on (football or rugby). People just go and hang out after work and do things together. I like that a lot. The weather may be cold, but the people are warm.

That also brings up an interesting issue. Because Scots aren't warm all the time. They aren't warm like southerners when you are out to walk the dog. But if they have a reason to know you, then they are.

In the pictures shown all over the place are my workmates. The first picture is Edgar's Roommate who is from Portugal and Barry who is from the deepest part of Glasgow. Expect to ask him to repeat himself. He gives me a hard time at work, but he's a really great guy and very funny as well. He got married in Vegas at the end of last year and loves to talk about America.

The next photo is Edgar who is from Portugal as well and Monika who is from Poland. This is her party. Edgar is a funny guy as well who speaks the best English I've ever heard from someone who didn't learn English as a child.

I'm in the last one, from America, of course and pictured with me is Annie who is from Australia. See what I mean by the fact there are no Scots here.

In the last one is Edgar again with Emma who, believe it or not is from Edinburgh, but just got back from living in Australia for 7 years. Jon is on the left and he's gotta be one of the best guys I've ever met. He also just got engaged so congratulations to him.

So I'm doing some studies on Calvinism and Pre-destination. Very interesting stuff which is so tough to get my head around that I won't even attempt to type it. So there.

Sleep well all 3 of you who read this. (this is an attempt to illicit a response.)

Cheers.

Taps and Cinematic Experiences

Taps = Faucets.

Apparently in Scotland they have the best cold water in the world. So they try to keep the hot and cold water separated in the water lines. Because when you run hot water in a line it picks up some of the metal from the tap. I don't think they have thought that the hot and cold water mixes when it goes down the drain.

Here's the problem with that.

Washing your hands

Here is the scenario as it actually happens. You put soap on your hands and turn on the hot water and you have a very limited time to get the soap off because the water gets hot quicker than a dog would sit for a biscuit. So your hands are underneath very frigid water because it is very cold outside, you understand. So when the water starts to get warm it's like a warning. This mean you better finish up quick because it goes from freezing cold to "fantastically hot." This isn't just regular hot. This is I'm trying to get a stain out of a hardwood floor hot. So you draw your hands away very quickly. If you are lucky you have finished getting the soap off your hands. If not, you have two options. Go for the cold water tap and freeze your hands again. Or endure the hot water for a wee bit longer which is almost a non-option. Because the water is not going to cool down for at least a half-hour. So you freeze your hands only to realise that they only way to dry them is to put them under a cool air dryer because Britain thinks the world is going to melt away if we don't save it.

On to the cinema.

I finally got my passport application sent off today. YAY!!! But I traveled numerous times to the post office to get it done. I took it originally and my photos weren't there, so I had to take a day to go get those done. I went back today and the date was wrong on one of the photos. It started raining on my way back, so I put on my rain coat to take back the corrected photo only to be told that I don't have my American passport with me. I had to trudge back home. It rained harder. I told myself if anything else was wrong, I was going to give up on this country. Encouraged by David's property management staff. I went back out into the cold and the wet. (I thought it was April) It rained even more on the way there as my spirits were dampened. I arrived to a smiling post office person face who said that it looked like I had everything I needed. Just then the sun came out. I wished the man a good evening and walked out into the sunshine and shed my jacket with a grin of accomplishment. Sun washed over me as the rain had just done. I was dry and happy. I loved Scotland. So I planted this garden in memorial to the event. I just checked it and it sprang up quite quickly. I'm rather impressed, you?

So I think I confirmed my ticket back home for the 27th of May, but to tell you the truth, I really don't want to come home. Sure I miss people and I will quote a recent question I was asked.

"If you could be doing anything, what would it be"
"What I would do:
I would be sitting with my buddy Cliff in my old apartment in Florida. It would be late evening with the sun still tickling the tips of the apartments with colors spread all over the clouds and a nice cool breeze coming in through the apartment windows. It would be heaven. I feel high just thinking about it. I know it's not something crazy great, but it's what I want right now. Man, I miss Florida. " I hope you're out there Cliff.

I was actually told today that the church here would love for me to stay. This was far from a job offer, but it was really encouraging to hear that I must be doing something good, and that I must be useful in some sense. Or maybe it's my sense of humour. So I would love to stay, but it seems like I must go home right now. phooey. So that's me for the time being. I'm expecting some great adventures coming up. God sure is great. He's shown himself so much while I've been here. People said Scotland was dead.

No, it's just sleeping.

Cheers

Ian

p.s. Happy Birthday Jesse. (I don't think she reads this so someone tell her.)

Poor Little Doggy and Taps.

I'm sitting next to Jim, who is very sad and you can see why. Jock bloodied his ear and now we have to keep it in a plastic hoop. No good huh? We should make Jock wear it as well for what he did to Jim, but I don't think that he will enjoy that. So today, about today. Well we should probably start with yesterday first. And I only start with yesterday because it came first. Fair enough? I was a busy little bundle of baby burgundy bath towels yesterday. I was running to and fro to get things done for my internship.

I didn't have any actual meetings that I had to be at, but I still had plenty to do. I went by a second language school to offer my services. It was called Regent Language School. I met a nice bloke their named Rupert and between them and the people at BasilPaterson, I should be able to get some experience in a classroom setting as far as languages go. I'm excited about that.

Here is a little wee (redundant) trinket for you. Errands take all day here. I only had like 3 things to do all day long, but it took me all day because of trying to get places. I spent 1.5 hours walking and sometime on the bus as well. I got paid yesterday and had it deposited in the bank, which is exciting. I want to say thanks again to all who have been amazing enough to give to my work here. It really has been great and God is doing a lot here.

I do want to bring your attention to a small creature of certain wonder. I have seen this little dog a few times now and I always see people gawking over it and snapping photos. Even someone standing with the dog. I thought how odd, and chalked it up to European curiosity. There is a little gig near here that I like to hang out in during the day. So you can imagine my surprise when I am waiting patiently in Regent language school and I see a picture of this dog on the wall. I knew immediately that I must photograph it. I figured it must be special so I took the long hike out there to hang out in my spot and read my Bible and decided to take a shot of it. Still don't know what the big deal is. It's a cute dog, but still. It's not even that impressive of a statue. We may never know the mystery behind this little guy. He has a sign, but it makes no sense at all. You know, even there was an answer, sometimes enigmas are better and easier to wrap your head around.

Oh right, I promised you taps, but that will have to wait until after my meeting at Starbucks. Cheers


Ian

Music Winding it's Way Through the Stravers of the Word

Tonight, I miss music, and I like lime.

I'm looking forward to Cinco de Mayo.

I miss my ability to manipulate music at the moment. Like a young child misses a toy that he knows he should've brought along with him. Kicking the back of his parents car seat in his own pure, innocent anger. I miss my guitar. I have no way to play music at the moment. No way to express myself through something other than thought. Except words. So as I try to paint a picture of perpetual perceptions of my trip, I can only use unheard, yet understood utterances.

I have a plan. It must be made by tomorrow, but I cannae tell anyone of my plan. Though most would be upset with it like sunflowers on a cloudy day.

Hari ini, saya kerja di Starbucks semua hari. Setelah saya pergi ke sekolah bahasa, mencoba tolong mereka dengan orang-orang siapa tak bisa bicara di inggris. Sehari dengan banyak tapi di waktu sama, tak apa

(Today, I worked at starbucks for most of the day then afterwards i headed to a language school here in the City Centre to ask if I could help with the students there. They are getting back to me. Today was a day full, yet full with nothing. Truly special)

I love it all the more with the scripture that implores us to live quiet simple lives. and I did today, and it was great.

Back to my main point of expression though, I have discovered great new music here, but I long to sit and make my own. To create masterpieces of audio, but that no one else will ever hear. I miss writing songs for God, that I never write down. That are strictly for Him alone.

I'm not sure what else to say today. I am including a picture for Kelly Gaita. she has been pining for a photograph of the Starbucks where I work, so there it is. (at the top)

Are there any great wisdoms from the British culture to share for today? Ah, Here's one. I'll miss the food greatly when I go home. I just get a strong desire sometimes for a pie. Steak pie that is. I would like to mention my dear Granny at this point and would like to say thank you for all the steak pies she has made me over the years which were more than delicious. (that is her on the left, my papa is in the foreground.)

I also have come to believe that I am a severely adaptable person. This can be good and bad. It is not something of which I wish to boast, for me to boast in anything but Christ would be folly, but here it is. My mind and body are in different spots right now. I'll say it simply. Scotland feels like home to me. I don't think about going home really. My mind has rolled into a state where I now live here, regardless of where it is. My life and friends are here now. (this is not to discount my friends stateside because I miss you dearly)but I feel like I'm here now and this is where I am. When it comes time to board the plane home; I will cry. I will miss Scotland, but they a few days later I will be happy where I am. and that will be home. Cathy used to always say that I had the funniest way of calling wherever I was going to sleep that night, "home." So you'll have to excuse me, but to me, my life now is settled in Edinburgh. I will surely come home, so don't worry, but I don't feel like I'm just on a visit. I hope you can understand what I mean.

I'm learning so much about myself, while I'm here. It's almost scary. I have learned more in these 5 weeks than a good portion of my college career, but then again, Life is a great teacher. I think I'll close it for tonight. I want to hear some comments on my end times post, but do as you will. Sleep good America for I am already in bed.


Cheers.

Ian

The Future inflences the Present just as much as the Past

This statement is written on the sidewalk near my house and fits in perfectly with what I am about to talk about.

I had a chat with one of the pastors here over extremely thin pizza about eschatology (end times study.) And he said that there were about 5 views on the end times. The one that is most predominate in America is the view called

PRE-MILLENIALISM
This is the main view to where Jesus will come back at anytime after the gospel has reached the end of the world and he will sweep the saved away while bringing terrible plagues on those left on earth for seven years. Then Jesus will come back for a second second coming and start a 1,000 year reign. This view has been around for only about 200 years according to Perry. It was started in Britain, but didn't really catch on so it was taken to America where it was adopted. The problem with this view is that it has caused the Church to withdraw from society and wait for Jesus to come back. This is fueled by beliefs that everything will continue to get worse and worse until Jesus comes. This belief was popularized during and around the World Wars. It also leads to a defeatism. I have experienced this with my environmentalism and politics (Ron Paul) it's the whole "why even bother, it's just supposed to get worse" Can you see the negative effect that can have on the Church?

POST-MILLENIALISM
This is the view to wear things keep getting better. People continue to get saved and Christians gain influence in the world until we become so many in number that we usher in a 1,000 year period where the Jesus is in charge because of the Church being so influential. Afterwards, Jesus will appear for the ultimate end. Doesn't this one make you hopeful? My only argument against this is that people could somewhat judge when Jesus would be back. it would just be 1,000 years from when everything started going really great. and Jesus said we wouldn't know.

AMILLENIALISM
This is the view where things continue to get better and better, but Jesus will come back at anytime for only one second coming and institute a 1,000 year reign. In this one, you don't know when Jesus will come.

There are two others, but they are mixtures of the above. I would describe myself as an amillennialist right now. I like to think that things don't have to get worse and that Jesus is a conqueror more than he is a sit back and wait for the right time. The Church has hidden because of a view that is not really that old. What if it's our job to usher in Jesus' kingdom. Doesn't that sound similar to what Jesus told us anyway. I would like to think that Jesus would be happier and better glorified if we were excited about the future and were very active in changing it for the better rather than saying, "it's gotta get worse" and not fighting the enemy. The way we are used to sounds too much like evil wins the thing, at least for now.

Let me hear your feedback

But as for me, I am now very hopeful about the future.

Ian

A Beautiful Crappy Day

Well today was great.

At first it was super cold and rainy and well it stayed like that all day long. I showed up in the office this morning and it was freezing. it stayed that way all day long. It was an awful day outside, but inside of the buildings I was in there was plenty of warm conversation. Good instruction, and laughs. There is not much else to say. I spent the first half of the day with Adam, Tom, and Perry. The latter half of the day I spent with Natasha and her friend from Sweden named Sanna.

Through my conversations with people, I'm learning tons about myself, and who I am. This Scotland trip is really changing me more than anything by letting me know who I really am. Who God made me to be in the first place and teaching me to work in what I am comfortable and fitted to do more than struggling. It's a short post, but today was good. That is all.

Oh, How the Lonely Tumble

Titles come easy. It's the writing that is much more difficult, if you will. Edinburgh is a lairy city. Edinburgh is like a unknown character written in a familiar book.

It snowed this morning, HARD.

More snow came down this morning than I think I've ever seen fall. Of course, it could have been that I was standing in front of a panoramic window that was about 20 yards tall and 50 yards wide. I've never taken in so much snow. There was snow dashing and dancing off of other snowflakes in the presumed attempt to stay in the air for as long as it could, but that's just them showing off, right?

I didn't feel right ending that last sentence in a question mark. Just didn't feel right because most of the sentence was a statement and just that one word tipped the scales at the end.

Sorry.

I did spend the later portion of the day out in the beautiful sunshine with temperatures in the 50's. Don't be shocked though, because that is kind of warm and I was wearing short sleeves.

News on the Language front:

I had a good talk with a man who taught ESL in Italy for 5 years. I told him what my project was and he said that it was a tall order. Not to mention that there are numerous places in the city that offer it for free anyway. So I would basically be fighting against a well ordered system that actually has professionals doing it. So I'm going to go see them tomorrow and see about sitting in on their courses.

So that's what's going on with me.

Ian

More on the HIghlands to come, but for now, Dr. Illbit.

Hiya folks, (they say "hiya" here, and that means "hello, how are you?")

More on the highlands to come, but it's such a pressure to blog everyday and catching up is even tougher. Soooooooo. Today I went around the city and realised that I'm already taking it for granted. The amazing monuments are becoming just something that I see everyday. I hope that changes, or at least that I'm renewed in my respect of such monuments. I once described it as "a sight that no mortal should behold" and they are like that until you see them everyday.

So today was a day of correspondence between someone who has done this teaching English thing. We will have a proper chat time soon enough. I'm excited about learning about how it is actually done by a professional.

Today I did a good missionary work, I sent postcards to those who have sent me money. Don't tell them because I hope that it will be a surprise. I'm excited about all of these people who have said that they will support me in what I want to do. What a gracious thing; to give away money to allow someone to do something that you can't. I can't help but think that these people would love to go to Scotland and do what I'm doing, but simply can't because of business or family or other things. So they send me in the their stead with their money. Which is interesting because not only will they receive an award for the work I'm doing, but also for graciousness in giving. So they are better off (rewards wise) than myself, if you believe in all that jazz.

So I'm very thankful for all of those supporters, not just monetarily, but spiritually and in prayer, if those things are different. I am very thankful to all of those who are in prayer for me at home because sometimes I feel I need every bit of it.

Today was nothing more than a housekeeping day. I found a nice, quiet pub to write my postcards in, sent them to the States, and then headed out to go see Drillbit Taylor. It was a better than okay movie that had a nice and suspenseful time to it. at points. I have been yearning to see a film in a cinema for a long time, so tonight was a very nice payoff. They wouldn't accept my student card though, so I had to pay full price. No Dice. I do wanna hear a shout from my #33 mates. I miss you guys.

that's all for today. I will also be trying to post everyday or more than that. So check back often. Thanks for all the prayers and support from everybody

Cheers mate.


Ian

In The Twinkling of an Eye

So it turns out that the rapture, as we conceive it, is bogus.


Details to come..............

Highlands Day 2 - Thursday

I'm not sure why these are posted as a link, but anyway. This day started much later than it should have, but we were on holiday. Something I might say that you work very hard for in the States that is more or less just handed to you here. A full time employee gets 5 weeks paid holiday right off the bat.

So we swung back by La Sandwicherie for some more rolls and typed in Inverness on the GPS (called a Sat Nav here) and we were off. Took us about 3 hours to get from Glasgow to Inverness. Truth be told we actually drove through Inverness and onto Loch Ness. Here is the picture tour because words aren't good enough.






The photos to the left here are of my father and I at the famous Loch Ness. If you look in the background you can clearly see Nessie in the water. I actually saw her twice. I don't understand why people think she's so scarce. I think the bigger secret than Nessie's existance is really that she's here all the time, and it's how can they keep so many people quiet. So that is for what it's worth. I don't get it though.

We hoped back in the car and took another 3 hour journey up to John O'Groats, the most Northern point of Scotland. I actually got to drive for about an hour when we got near the place. There is absolutely nothing there except the end of the world. The place had some toilets and a chippie (fish and chips shop) all of which was closed down by the time we got there. We arrived just in time to watch the last bit of the sun go down. The entire next blog will be devoted to pictures of John O'Groats. I want to do it without words to create a silence similar to what is was like there. There was NOTHING there. The neat thing about going into the highlands (which aren't really that high, it's more like what "the bush" is to Africa. You really go back in time. You can see farmers tending sheep and farmland. and little light burning in houses made completely of stone. so now, an Ode to St. John O'Groats.

But before I do that let me finish our trip. John O'Groats was the highlight, but from there we drove back down to Inverness and spent the night at Premier Inn, which was anything but. We took the next day to drive around the west coast of the island and swing down through Dundee and Fife and St. Andrews where we stopped to see the Old Course. We continued on past Edinburgh to Glasgow again where we saw another football match and got to see some family. I'm really tired after this whole trip, but it's been super great.