Commissioning

What a weekend.
Fraser finished at Highland Theological College on Friday after working there for ten years.  Ruth finished at Dingwall Primary School after studying there for six years.  We all got swept away by love and support from many people from many different denominations at our leaving/commissioning service in the evening. 

It was quite amazing to see our Cafe Church transformed into a more traditional look by putting the chairs in rows but it meant that a lot more people could fit in.  The music was awesome (we're really going to miss the band) and we were humbled and uplifted by the whole experience.  It's something we'll carry with us (along with our special edition DEC t-shirts and saltire) to Nigeria.  If you're on Facebook and want to see more photos of this service and our final Sunday there are plenty on the Dingwall Evangelical Church page.  Anyone can be our church's friend there! 

Friday was great.  Life became somewhat more emotionally harrowing as the weekend progressed.  On Saturday Fraser said good-bye to his mother who lives alone in Dingwall.  He's an only child so although she's very supportive of what we're doing it is hard.  On Sunday at church we had the ordination of two new elders followed by communion and then farewell to those who wouldn't be there in the evening.  In between services it was farewell to our good friend Richard who'd returned from holiday to reclaim his house from the squatters with tons of luggage who'd occupied it for the previous two weeks.  We really appreciated the couple of days we were able to coincide there with him and Fiona but had to drive off quickly back into Dingwall before we were all sobbing away.  That evening service was one that you hope will not come to an end as the prospect of parting hangs over it but it did and we had to face it.  I'm developing a technique - hug everyone, say goodbye and go.  However much I want to spend more time with people it only prolongs the agony so when it's your turn please don't feel insulted if that's what happens.

It wasn't raining on our last morning in the Highlands (so much for the pathetic fallacy).  Ruth and I left Richard and Fiona's beautiful house just after breakfast, yet again amazed at the amount of luggage that can fit inside a Fiat Panda. (Fraser and James picked up a hired van later in the morning to follow us down.)  Our journey to Lincolnshire seemed to last forever, lots of roadworks, lots of red traffic lights and lots of slow lorries just where the dual carriageway came to an end.  It really only took eight and a half hours.  In the olden days when missionaries sailed to their new homes that long journey provided a time to reflect, recover and start to adjust to the new stage in their life.  The journey to my parents' house was a little like that.  I don't know if it helped that tears and driving are not a recommended combination as there had to be a good bit of British reserve going on at times but the adjustment to the next stage has started.  You can be sure you're doing God's will, convinced that he has many blessings planned for you and has everything worked out, but when it comes to actually leaving it is very hard.  We miss our Dingwall family so much already but are comforted by the knowledge that God's family are never parted forever and that He is worth it.

Now for a while we have a respite from partings as we're living with my parents in Lincolnshire until our visas are granted and the final bits of financial support are made.  Once we reach our target (it's approaching but we're not quite there yet) we'll get our definite departure date.  At the moment it looks as if the middle of July is the most likely.  We do pray that it won't be any later as school starts on August 8th and we really want James and Ruth to have a chance to settle in to Nigerian life as well as be there for the start of term.

The sun welcomed us to England.  Soon I hope there'll be photos to prove it.

Busy week

For me so far this week hasn't been too frantic but for Fraser working hard and late to get things in order before he finishes at HTC on Friday and for Ruth who's been giving her Powerpoint presentation about moving to Nigeria to most of the junior classes in the school, not just her own, it has already been rather busy.  James and I took advantage of a longed for day of fine weather on Monday and went for a hike. (Cue opportunity for more photos showing the beauties of the Highlands and no, I'm not on commission from the Scottish Tourist Board.)

Things are going to speed up for our final six days in Scotland.  Tonight Fraser and I get to talk at Inverness East Church of Scotland.  I'm hoping I'll be awake as poor James started with a sickness bug at 11:30 last night.  A tent at the far end of a very large garden is not the best place to be ill as Fraser discovered when he was cleaning things up.  It was my turn to do the cleaning at 4am.  Not much point in going back to bed after that, especially as James is still feeling unwell.  We're praying that he keeps his bug to himself as it would certainly complicate matters if it started spreading through the family.

Friday is the day when many things happen.  Ruth has her last day at Dingwall Primary School, Fraser finishes at HTC after nearly 10 years and our leaving/commissioning service starts at 7:30pm at our new church premises in Dingwall.  It's an exciting prospect for us and DEC and we hope it'll be a lively and God-honouring time.  Anybody who's able is very welcome to come.

On Saturday morning  Fraser has his last meeting of the Scottish Northern Convention committee whilst James (if he's up to it) has a Kempo grading session in the morning and a church youth group barbeque in the evening.  On Sunday it's another special service at DEC as two new elders will be ordained.  It's a lovely thing to happen at our final Sunday morning service.  On Monday we load up our little car for Ruth and I to set off early to travel down to Lincolnshire.  Fraser and James pick up a hired van later that morning, try to fit everything else into it and follow us down the A9.  A husband who enjoys 3D puzzles can sometimes be rather useful.  Sorry about the list of activities but it's going to be quite a week.

 A gratuitous final photo: there have been some amazing cloudscapes recently.

A beautiful place

 A short sunny spell at 6 o'clock this morning enticed me out of bed to take some photos.  It's a good job I did it then as it's been raining on and off for most of the rest of the day.  I'm really appreciating being able to stay in this beautiful place for a couple of weeks

...and breathe

What is a relaxing weekend? Friday was nonstop busy as I frantically did the last things to move out of our house.  Big black binbags are the essential accessory when moving house.  Great for all those things that you find once the other bags are full.
We collapsed in relief at our friends' house by 6 o'clock and devoured the pizzas we'd grabbed in Dingwall before we left.  James' tent was put up (he prefers to camp) and we all just stopped.
On Saturday I felt as I do when I've done the 8 hour drive to my parents' through the night.  It's probably physical and mental exhaustion combined with relief.  Going into Dingwall for shopping that morning felt very strange, as if I no longer belonged but was just a visitor.  The uprooting process has well and truly begun.
Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest.  In the morning we had a short time to speak at the service in the APC in Inverness.  That evening we gave our presentation to the 20s & 30s group after attending the service at Greyfriars Free Church, also in Inverness.  It's always great to go to different fellowships to enthuse over what God's doing but perhaps Monday, for me if not Fraser who still has to go to work, will be a day finally to take it easy.

Our temporary home on the Black Isle has the most amazing grounds and view.  I was hoping to post some photos today but the weather has been so grey and misty that the view has disappeared.  Hopefully the weather will get better and I'll be able to take some later.

Moving Day

Today we move out of the house we've lived in for 15 years and nobody slept in their own room on our final night.  Perhaps that'll help break the ties but it felt like musical beds.
It's 5:45am and I've just finished what will probably be the first of many cups of coffee today.  At 3am I was hanging out the washing; now the rain's coming down so whatever good that did is undone.  At 4am I was cleaning the bathroom, cupboard and all.  Now I'm at a loose end as I don't think I'd be very popular if I went to strip the beds whilst the rest of the family were still sleeping in them.  I can't even do any last bits of packing as the places I need to be are occupied by children who seem to think it's OK to sleep beyond 4 o'clock in the morning (yes, I remember their younger days when that wasn't a problem and usually I'm very grateful for it).  I don't really know what sleep is at the moment - there've been too many things to do whizzing around my mind but I hope that'll end tonight as it'll all be done.  Our friends will be on their well-deserved holiday in Harris and Fraser, James, Ruth and I will be installed with so many boxes and pieces of luggage in their lovely house on the Black Isle.  Roll on our celebratory pizzas.

People on our newsletter e-mailing list will already have heard about our idea for a prayer group that meets via a Skype non-video call.  It would be much more flexible than a traditional meeting as regards timing and geographical position of participants although I appreciate it'll take a bit of getting used to. If anyone else is interested do let us know and if possible give a rough idea of what time of day would suit.  It need only be a monthly commitment but would provide us with much needed prayer support.

Can time speed up?

Can time speed up?  I've got lots of theories about the nature of time which I won't bore you with here but one thing seems certain; time is not a definite quantity.  Every schoolchild knows how time slows down during a maths lesson (sorry Fraser) but for me at the moment it's decidedly speeding up.  Less than a week to go before we have to move out of our house for our tenants to move in and we're not only surrounded by boxes but also by a selection of huge suitcases.  Thank you very much to everyone who responded to my appeal for cases - you've been a big help and if health and safety allowed obstacle races at school sports days then my children would win.  I am now fairly hopeful that everything will fit into our allocation of cases and weight limits, even most of James' books, but what's frustrating at the moment is my desire to get everything packed up and ready now.  Unfortunately my family is rather inconsiderate and actually still want to use a few of their things but thankfully my stock of patience has grown considerably during this mission process so I shall just glide serenely on (like a swan, paddling furiously underneath the water).

This time next week the worst of the sorting out and packing will be over and we'll be staying in our friends' beautiful house on the Black Isle.  That's going to be my holiday as once we're there there won't be much for me to arrange.  I'm really hoping for good weather for our last two weeks in Scotland.  That could well make it harder to leave but it's a risk I'm willing to take.

Thinking of accommodation, we would really appreciate it if people would pray about where we should live in Nigeria.  We had thought we'd just get a house on the TCNN compound and drive James and Ruth in and out of school (not a journey I was looking forward to) but recently there's been the possibility of a place in Jos itself, just a few minutes away from Hillcrest School.  That would make life a lot easier regarding the school run and getting in to afterschool activities but there are advantages to living out of the city at the college.  It's not a decision we can make so we ask for wisdom and discernment for those who will make it.

You know things are getting real when you have to send off yet more hideous photos for a visa application.  Our package of passports and certificates has arrived safely at the Mission Africa office in Belfast ready to be taken to the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin.  We're praying that all the relevant information, signed by the appropriate people, will soon arrive from Nigeria and all will go smoothly in the granting of our visa.  Actually, it's Fraser's visa, James, Ruth and I are just attachments.  Despite howls from feminists, I'm quite happy with that arrangement.  It means he has to do the specific job on his visa whilst I have more freedom which suits me fine.

We are moving ahead rapidly with our thoughts on the future but we still have to be here now.  There are churches that we're going to speak at in the next couple of weeks and it's still a privilege to be able to invite them to be a part of the exciting things God is doing.  We haven't yet reached the support target which will give us the green light for going overseas but from the evidence of the many and diverse people who have already started supporting us financially we trust that we will get there soon.