It is a bit hard to wrap our minds around the fact that we began the week in Edinburgh, Scotland and are concluding it in Ferrysberg, MI - modern travel is pretty amazing!
We had a lovely few days in Edinburgh, taking in some of the sights and worshipping at St. Giles Cathedral on Sunday. Scottish Reformer John Knox was the pastor of St Giles for many years, and after the service we also went and toured the home where he lived the last years of his life. The house/museum was full of various quotes from or about Knox, including his famous line railing against 'this monstrous regiment of women' and critics' complaints that his preaching was so influential it was like thunder heard for miles around. Quite the interesting and complicated figure God used to lead the church. We visited the National Museum of Scotland and got to see the Lewis Chessmen (mysterious Viking chess pieces found in nothern Scotland), various artifacts from the convent on Iona, and special leather satchels that monks designed especially for carrying sacred texts around Scotland and Ireland. (Being a fan of both books and bags, I was much more impressed with that particular exhibit than Jay and the girls were - they were more into the hands-on build your own small catapult display.)
And then, it was time to fly home. Once again we were so grateful for all of your prayers for our safety and for cheerful daughters, as the flight home was uneventful and the girls did really well on the 9 hour flight back. We had a short visit with my mom and dad on our way back across the state. It was so good to be able to see and talk with them in person. Mom is in good spirits and they (and we) are so grateful for all of your prayers on her behalf!
We're now in Ferrysberg, sorting through mail and trying get day and night straight again, and beginning to process all that we've seen and learned and been reading so far. A few themes are emerging. The first has to do with mission - that as believers individually and together we get to look for and participate in what God is already doing in the world - restoring relationships and reconciling people to God in Christ. The second has to do with context - that each church is unique and that the work of the Spirit in each place is also in many ways in unique. And the third has to do with the Holy Spirit - a growing awareness of the work of the Spirit in our lives and a growing expectancy about what the Spirit has begun at Boston Square.
We'll be spending next week with Jay's parents and siblings and are looking forward to reconnecting with them. It will be a bit before we make another post because we won't have internet access. You all continue to be in our thoughts and prayers - especially the Huizingas, Howards, and Sinkes and Vacation Bible School this week.
peace,
Elizabeth
misadventures - so, we figured out why it was a bit hard to find acommodations in Edinburgh for this week - the end of the British Open! the city was full of avid golf fans - an interesting crowd. And, after travelling around all sorts of corners of the United Kingdom for eleven weeks, we realized somewhat sheepishly the one grave that we intentionally sought out was that of John Gray, the guy whose dog sat by his grave every day for fourteen years after his death. Also, after one phone call in the U.S., our Islamic mobile phones have mysteriously reverted to Arabic, making text messages a challenge.
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