As school has let out for the summer, our plans have changed a little bit. Instead of see the kids everyday at school and even after school we are having to go out and find them, which is somewhat of an adventure. This past Friday our team along with Mark went out and did "Street Work." We walked around the streets of Calderwood searching for kids hanging about on the streets. While we were out searching, Marks family was back at his flat in prayer. There was so much comfort knowing that we were looking for kids to share the love of Jesus with that there was a family sitting at home praying over us and the "Street Work" operation. This is a rather new form of outreach for Mark, and Calderwood, but it is definitely something that they are passionate about and feeling a calling to pursue. So please be in prayer for the team as the continue to walk to streets looking and praying for any opportunity to share the love of Christ with those who don't know him. Also be in prayer for their safety and that they would be bold and confident in the fact the God is in control.

We also got the opportunity this week to go and visit The Faith Mission in Edinburgh. The Faith Mission has many different centers all over Great Britain and Ireland. This mission is financed on the "faith principle" and has no guarantee from churches or other means. Its motto is, "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Faith Mission is also a bible college that has equipping men and women in different areas of Christian ministries for over 110 years and have graduated students serving in places all over Britain and Ireland. Faith Mission also puts on four different conferences each year in different cities. It is for ages 14 and up. The day would begin in the morning with a scripture reading and then have different seminars throughout the day and end with a worship service at night. This was such a great opportunity for us to be rejuvenated and to be just filled with the Holy Spirit as we heard from some very passionate speakers. It was so refreshing after weeks of pouring out to kids of the community to just be fed in this way. During this weekend we got to set in with John as he taught lessons to a group of about 25-30 youth aged kids teaching the book of Hebrews. Just pray for this organization that they would continue to grow and that there financial needs would continue to be provided as they are educating people to spread the word of God throughout.

I am aware that this week the church family has been praying for this team and I am so thankful, because your prayers could not have came at a better time. There are battles that are being fought amongst us daily, and I have found the only way to win is to be disciplined in prayer and to lean on the truth of the word. It seems to me that the devil is well aware of what is going on here in Scotland and the harvest that is being planted and he is fearful. He knows that God is going to prevail and that His name is going to be glorified in the end and church the devil does not want us here doing the Lords work. So thank you for your prayers and be joyful in the fact that it is evident that we are here making a difference and being used as tools in Gods work. I also must say that you church have been on my heart this week as well. I have found that since I am over here I am beginning to view the cross in a very different light. I have grown up knowing that the when Jesus was crucified on the cross that it was my sins that were forgiven. However, not only was it my sins that were forgiven that day but it was also my sins that drove the nails into the hands of feet into my Savior. I think that we so often look the cross as a point of rescue, which it very much is, but the cross is also somewhat of a murder site as it was Christ who took the blame in our place.It was His blood that bought us and it was also His blood that bought the cross. Once we have made a commitment to follow Christ everyday of our life we have also joined a different church. The Church of Jesus Christ. As I am studying more and more of the cross I have also developed an even deeper feeling of mourning of those who have not experienced the rescue side of the cross. However, my heart is not only mourning for those here who do not know him, but for those sitting at home knowing who Christ is and do nothing about it. For those who sit in the pews of the church being perfectly comfortable in the life that they live, but the thing is dear friends we are not called to be comfortable because this is a foreign land that we live in. So my heart mourns also for those who sit and proclaim to know Christ and are doing nothing about it. Who choose to remain in the comfort of their own homes where nothing can touch them and their faith cannot be tested. Where is our sense of urgency brothers and sisters and our eagerness to return home. We are not a perfect people, which means that we do not make up a perfect church but the beauty is that in Christ alone we reach perfection. In Christ alone we make up a perfect church. So church as you continue your day please don't forget that you have been placed here for a propose and when the day comes that you stand before our Lord, I pray that your life will not be considered a safe life, but a life in which you have taking risk and hung on by faith to our Savior who is in ultimate control. Don't go on wasting your life. Please pray for those amongst you who do not know Christ because the fact of the matter is that there are plenty of people sitting beside you in church, school, and work that don't know Him. Be on mission every day for Christ and pray to be made uncomfortable.

God Bless,
   Alex Jane

A Wee Update...

Here is a wee update for the interns:

AJ, Rosie and Taylor have been busy over the last three weeks working in Calderglen High and the Friday Night youth club at Calderwood Community Centre. They have been with the kids at breaks, lunch and in many of their classes including PE, Study Skills and RMPS. One of the ways in which they have been a real benefit to RMPS is through taking two classes called 'Who is Jesus'. This looked at who Jesus was within history and examined what he claimed to say about himself. This has been really helpful in giving the kids a more accurate picture of who Jesus is as many have a caricatured understanding of Jesus. In particular the second class gave the kids an open time to respond to what was discussed in the first class, and the three interns found this to be a really helpful space to engage with the kids. We also had the opportunity to take 2nd 3rd and 4th year assemblies. This again was another great opportunity to share their faith and why they have came to Scotland.

On Friday nights they have been working in Nu-Fri the youth club at Calderwood Community Centre. Last week we had a competition night called Nu-Ulympics, depsite the cheesy name it went really well, we had six different competitions, including Table Tennis, Pool, Wii, PS3 and Table Football. Karen gave a clear gospel message at the end, tying in to the fact that we are all in a race and whatever we are running for will determine what we will get at the end of our lives. Please pray that this message will impact the kids as we break for summer.

Next week 2nd -9th July AJ Rosie and Taylor will be involved in the Tent Mission at the Heritage Loch. Another great opportunity to reach out to the community with the Good News of the Gospel. Pray that the whole team is empowered to reach out to the community in both word and deed. 

Our week in review

Rosie:
The end of the school year has come. Today is Calderglen's last day of school, and therefore our last day in the schools. This week we have tried to branch out more in the classes we attend in order to try and meet even more kids, and thus make more connections that will hopefully carry over into the summer. On Monday we had an assembly and all got to share a bit of our testimonies about how we came to Christ, and why we are in Scotland this summer. Thursday was the school's official fun day; there were inflatables and karaoke, and it was fun to get to talk to the kids outside of their classes for longer bits of time. Today of course is the last day, and we watched some of the students in a student vs. teacher football (soccer) match, and then went to a local bakery and got lunch and just hung out with the kids. Pray that the relationships we have forged these past three weeks will continue to form and grow now that school is out and we might not see them as much, and pray for us as we help lead a couple of events at Calderwood Baptist this coming week.

Taylor:

Hello! We are still here! It's just that we've been really quite busy this past week with school and such. But enough of that... This week has been a bit of a blur--having seemed to breeze right by. Sunday was church in the morning and evening at Calderwood Baptist Church (CBC). Monday through this morning/afternoon was the last week of school for the kids. That said, this week has been rather entertaining for me. Last week, I began just hoping into classes instead of taking breaks--curiosity compelled me to sit in on other year groups and subjects. For this week, I continued the trend--finding myself in classes ranging from second to sixth year students. Monday was my PE day this week. I played rounders--kind of like softball--with all three PE classes that day. In all three cases, the classes were quite good fun. Tuesday and Wednesday, I was in my RMPS class for second years where we completed the section in the class that focuses on Christianity and the character and teachings of Jesus. Yesterday, I managed to get into an advanced maths class for some of the upper-classmen. That class was really quite fun. Kareoke and inflatables followed for the rest of the day. Yes, AJ and I got up and rocked some Achey Breaky Heart in front of the high schoolers...Epic! That's pretty much it for this week from me...

I really must say though that: being in Calderglen HS has been a real treat for me (and I would wager all of us) in the sense that I have been able to share with so many students the reason for our being in Scotland--that reason being: to get to know the high schoolers, to inform them of our internship with CBC, to invite them to the church, and--should they allow us to do so--to share our faiths--our personal relationships with Jesus Christ--with them. Paraphrasing George Whitfield, far be it from me to deny my God His glory by holding my toungue silent on matters of the Kingdom from anyone to whom I am near for any longer than 15 minutes.

And so, I would ask continued prayer for these high schoolers that we have been meeting--for the continued openness of their hearts and minds. Also, please pray for strength for the team as we continue our missions into East Kilbride. Thank you for your prayers!

Over The Last Few Days Cont...

So this week has been an amazing week... and God is at work. I also got the privilege to teach an RMPS class this week, and I could not have asked for a better class. During this lesson I got to teach about who Jesus was as well as give different reasons to why Jesus is real and not just a good man or completely crazy.You would be surprised with how many kids do believe that Jesus is just a complete lunatic. I taught on the Crucifixion was well as the Resurrection and had a series of questions that went a long with each heading. The questions were a really good tool to get the students to talk and to give me a better insight of what it is that they believe in. As I went around answer the kids questions there were some answers that really surprised me. One kid even compared the life of Christ to the development of aliens. It seemed to me that these kids were just very confused about what it means to really have a faith, and even more confused about the life of Christ. At the end of the class I asked how many of the students had never been to a church service, all except three kids raised their hands. Meaning that there were only 3 kids in a class of about 22 that had been to church. The good thing is that they were more then willing to listen and they raised some great questions about how Jesus got arrested and put on the cross! So all I can do and ask you all to do is just pray that the seed that was planted will continue to be fed. These kids are so pure of heart.. just wish they could know and understand that they have a Savior seeking them with arms wide open, waiting for them to come home. All they have to do is ask!
Also I must mention and ask for prayer for some of the girls that I am getting very close too. Their are some girls that are facing struggles, just like other teenage girls, but I can just see so much hurt in some of their eyes. I remember what it was like being in high school and desiring to fit in and look a certain way. I just ask that you all could pray for me to be strengthened. Some of the issues that these girls are dealing with are taking me back to the time in my life where I was dealing with the same issues and feeling some of the same emotions that I felt. However, I praise God for the trials that he has brought me through. Each one has been a blessing and in the beginning he knew that I would be were surrounded with girls searching for the same answers that I was searching for almost 7 years ago. Just pray that Gods words will be on my lips and that his love will just radiantly shine through me. I just pray that God will be done and if that means that I have to be uncomfortable, then let it be. Pray for these girls so that they may see their beauty that is seen through the eyes of their creator.

Over The Last Few Days

Taylor

The last few days have been quite interesting. I got to share my knowledge and personal beliefs about the character of Jesus with my RMPS class for second year students. The class has seemed to enjoy the lessons so I suppose that's good. The past two days, I have gone through the parable of the Good Samaritan with the RMPS class. They seem to understand the message of the parable. The last couple days--outside of the RMPS classes--I have tried to get into other classes to get involved with a different group of students. God is incredible--and He continues to bless with opportunities to glorify Him. That said, please continue to pray for open hearts and minds as we continue our ministries. God bless and thank you for the prayers!

Rosie:

This week was again spent in the school. I have really enjoyed being there and getting to know the students better, which has led to some deeper discussions involving their lives and their faith. On Monday, I had the opportunity to lead a second year RMPS class in a discussion of who Jesus is; the powerpoint and the worksheets with questions I hope really made the students consider Jesus and his life and sacrifice, and what that all means to them. For some of them, I think it was perhaps the first time they had really thought about what they believe. They asked some really good questions as well. We did learn from one student that they have been taught about all of the world's major religions since they were in primary, it was an everyday class which was probably not taught by a believer of any faith, so Jesus and Christianity could have been represented in any light. On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of attending the schools band concert. The kids were so good, and one girl who Alex Jane and I are close with,told me that she was so glad we were able to come, it just made it better. Wednesday we had a couple girls over to our flat for a bit, and just talked to them, and then this afternoon Alex Jane and I went to coffee with a girl and just talked about faith and life. Thank you for your prayers over us and the people we meet this summer.

Day 5

Alex Jane:
   What a great day today was! It was our considered day off but so much fun! Rosie and I took a trip to the Town Centre with some of the girls that we have been connecting with and it was such a good time. I got to experience for the fist time an Argos :) It was like a drive through amazon! You simply walked in and there were catalogs placed everywhere, you grabbed one, found what you were looking for. You then got the code typed into this giant calculator looking thing to see how many were in stock. It they had what you were looking for you filled out a piece of paper and wrote down the product code, took it to the cash register and paid. Then you waited. With in the next 5 min the item that you want slides down this shoot like thing, you pick in up and leave! How cool is that? I was definitely a tourist today. I was just so amazed of this store and the variety of things that you could purchase while there.
  We also stopped by the little store that we worked in while we were there in 2008. Wow... what a transformation that has taken place there. While we were there in 08 it was simply just an empty room that had a couple of Wii's, a play station, face painting and a hang out place. Today there is like a whole Gospel presentation. Right now it shares with you the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ as though it was a crime scene. It was so neat to see how this empty room has changed. It also warmed my heart to the the fact that it was still there and improved, but that there were kids running around all over. One of my favorite parts was the room with the Cross and hundreds of kids prayer or even problems that they had written on a piece of paper and nailed onto the Cross. How cool is that? The fact that kids are walking in there and giving things to Christ and symbolically nail it to the cross. I would like to just pray that this little shop would just continue to grow and that more and more kids would stumble upon it will walking around the Centre, that the Holy Spirit would just pull them into that story so that they can hear the wonderful story of what our Savior did for us.
   Please just continue to be in prayer for our team as we continue to work in the schools this next week. The kids are starting to know who we are as we walk up and down the halls with a some what lost look on our face. I just pray that they would feel comfortable enough to ask us the tough questions. Also please just pray that we will be given the words and that the hearts of the children that we will be teaching this week will be opened and soften to the teaching of "Who is Jesus?" This is a great opportunity to explain who Christ is and what He has done in our life as well as what he as also done for all that believe. This trip just keeps getting better and better with more and more opportunities to show the love of Christ with all who surround us! :)
Until Next Time

Day 3

Taylor:

I got to sleep in today as I was not due to the school until the SU Group (bible study) that met during lunch period. After getting ready for the day, I walked to the school and got into the flow of things. After the SU group, I went to my first class of the day--the second-year RMPS (religious models and philosophical studies) class. This was my second day interacting with the students of this class. For this class, we continued to look in Matthew 21 in which Jesus cleansed the temple. The teacher asked that I give a brief interpretation of the point of this passage. I began with my own words, but by the end of my talk, I felt that no longer were my words coming out; rather, God was placing words in my mouth that He wanted spoken to these students.

After the discussion of Matthew 21: 12 through 14, the class was separated into four groups and each group was tasked to look at the cases of four famous Christians. Again, I was able to interact with the students and speak with them about the meaning of "being Christian" as well as why I believed what it is I believe. Evolving from this discussion came me moving to the head of the classroom and fielding questions from the students. Imagine 20 twelve/thirteen year olds simultaneously asking questions ranging from "Where are you from?" to "What's your favorite sport?" to "Have you met/do you like Justin Bieber?" It. Was. Chaos! It was quite enjoyable though. My favorite question of the day was "Why are you here in East Kilbride?" These kids are hungry! That said, I would ask for continued prayer for openness of the minds and hearts of the students we are interacting with at in the high school as well as wisdom for the three of us as we continue sharing ourselves and our relationships with Christ with these students.

Rosie:

Some of my classes ended up not meeting today, so I was only in one class. However, I enjoyed the time off, and was able to spend some time reading Crazy Love. SU (scripture union) went well, we spent time meditating on the helmet of salvation in Ephesians 6 and talking about what it might/we should protect our minds against. Tonight we helped out a Champions, Calderwood's program for 5-8 year olds. Those kids had so much energy! We played "dodgey" ball, duck-duck-goose, and ships and sailors, then we had snack, and we concluded with me having a chat with the kids about why we are here in Scotland.

Alex Jane:
    Today has been another wonderful day in beautiful Scotland! :) Today I got to go and sit in the RMPS classes where they watched a clip of "Jesus as Superstar" which is like Taylor had mentioned a somewhat Opera/ musical of the story of Jesus cleansing the temple. it was actually rather different but the students seemed to have gotten the point very well! They have so many questions about American which I absolutely love because it then gives myself an opportunity to ask questions about themselves as well.
   We also got the opportunity to lead the SU group today which dealt with the "Helmet of Salvation" when getting dressed with the full armour of God. After talking to the students and getting to dive a little deeper in their lives and what trials they are faced with I am so excited to see what transformations God has planned. :) I just love that His plan is so much greater then mine and I must say that I mine is rather large!
  Later on tonight we got to play with the little kids in the Champions bible study... there is just something about being around these kids that can just put a smile on your face. These children shared with us their few of the crucifixion and the a presentation of the Gospel. I just love being around Children that are so pure of heart and it is a great reminder that there is something so pure in having a childlike faith.
  We were greeted by Karen for dinner tonight and she served us faijitas :) We sat around and had a wonderful chat just about anything and everything. Fellowship is so wonderful and has its way to re-energize and get you ready for the next day. New day...new task... more glory :)
Untill next time...

Day 2

We have made it through our first full day.. Yay! Today we got the chance to sit in classes and begin to really get to know students.The first class that I sat in on today was an RMPS, which is some what like a religious studies class, where they are learning and discussing who Jesus is/was and what it means to lead by example. This teacher did a great job of stressing the Jesus wasn't just a man, myth, or a has been. He allowed the students to answer a series of questions but pulled them back to truth while they dissected scripture such as the story of the Feeding of the 5000 found in Matthew and the story of Jesus bringing Jairus' daughter back to life in Mark. I found this class very interesting as did the students. They were very interested into what their teacher was going to say next. Please be praying for the team as we will cover who Jesus really is to these classes next week. Relationships are already beginning to be built as kids are inviting us to go to the Town Center and come to their Musical Concerts. What a praise that we are accepted and welcomed like we are and a praise that Christ has given us this opportunity. Please just continue to be in prayer for this team and those who in which we come in contact with.
     I would also like to share that Karen yesterday told us that before she started this job where she is building relationships and sharing class with students that she had a dream. A dream of just an empty harvest field. She then quoted Mathhew 9:37, "Then he said to His disciples, "the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." She told us that she believes that we are an anwsered prayer to help plant and help grow this beautiful harvest. Man, God is good!!! :)
                Untill next time....


Rosie:
Like Alex Jane, I spent my day at the high school. The first class I sat in on was Higher Politics, which is a class for six years (the highest grade at the school), and discusses political structure, theory, and examines scottish, british, and americans politics. Being a political science minor, I really enjoyed this class. My next class was an RMPS class, but it was for fours years, so their theme is crime and punishment instead of religion. Lunch was a great opportunity to get to talk to the students and find out about them, what they enjoy, and to invite them to the biblestudies and church events we are involved in. I also got to talk to a couple of the girls more indepth this afternoon during the interhouse games. Please pray that we will continue to forge relationships and connect with the youth, and that God would give us wisdom and the words we need to answer questions and lead some of the studies that are going on. 

Taylor:

I, too, spent the day in the school, where I sat in on a number of classes. I began the day with the RMPS class for the second-year students. In this class, we discussed bits from last week's lesson looking at some of the miracles performed by Jesus--in particular the feeding of the five-thousand, the expulsion of demons into the pigs, and the healing of the blind man. From there, we got into looking at the people that Jesus angered. We read Matthew 21:12 and 13 and then watched a video clip from the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar." Discussion came next where we talked about the meaning of the passage and the similarities/dissimilarities between those two verses in Matthew and the video clip.

From there, I had a break--where I used that time to familiarize myself with the high school. I ended that break in the Social Studies base (teacher's lounge) where I enjoyed some tea and carrot cake (both were really quite splendid!). I next went to the RMPS class for fourth-year students where we discussed crime and punishments for those crimes. I stayed in that room for the next period which was geography for the 'freshly-moved to' second year students. The students were working on reports for an upcoming field trip to the local park. I finished the day in the gym helping with the inter-house games--basketball in particular.

In every case, I was able to meet students and faculty, and begin to build relationships with the students. That said, I would like to ask for prayer that relationships with these students and faculty can continue, and that the hearts and minds of the students and faculty be opened and willing to hear what the three of us are here to offer. Thank you for the continuing prayers! God bless!!

Day 1

We are here!! :) We have finally made it to the lovely Scotland and it just wouldn't be the right if we were not greeted with the typical Scottish weather. (In which we have already experienced three out of the four seasons with a little bit of hail, some sweet sunshine with a slight breeze, and then of course the chilly drizzly of a spring rain.) Our flights went very well and we even got sometime, while we waited in Newark, to get too know each other a little more before we started this amazing adventure as a team together. As we arrived in Glasgow this morning at around 7:35 am we wasted no time. We got to the Mackinnon's with about an hour and a half of down time and then went straight to the local high school (Calderglen High School). I always love walking into that school because I see so many familiar faces. Faces of ones that have accepted Christ just this past October and then even some from the years before. Karen gave us a quick run around the school and showed us the classes that we would be teaching/helping in for the next two and a half to three weeks. We met many new faces, and of course, all were very welcoming and helpful. So tomorrow we will dive right in to many different ministry opportunities and start to build relationships with not only the students but also the teachers. Karen also shared with me some very good news this afternoon... Out of the 60 that stood up and made a profession of Faith this past October, she believes that 12 of them have taken then next step of obedience by being baptized and another six or seven are becoming more and more involved with in the church of Calderwood. What a Praise!! Walter had even said to me that even though they may not be over flowing in numbers... the youth that they have are growing spiritually and that alone is a praise. So please continue to pray for the hearts of all of those that we are going to be coming in contact with over the duration of this trip as well as those who have already accepted Christ. Please be in prayer that the Holy Spirit will open their hearts to what we have been sent to say, and in the same that we will dive in eagerly with obedience to share the Good News every opportunity that presents itself. We want to have no regrets and no "what ifs" because lets be honest... we do not have time for it. God is going to do amazing things and what a blessing it is to be apart of it :)
   Until next time...

Scotland Bound:)

As some of you may know I am about to leave the comfort of my home here in Kentucky and travel across the world to spend 7 weeks in Glasgow, Scotland and I cannot wait. Since I have been home I have been anxiously awaiting for June 6th and it is finally just right around the corner :) I have started this blog so that anyone one who wants to follow me via Internet has the access to. I hope to get to keep everyone here at home updated with what is going on and the great things that God is doing in Scotland and in return I can hear about the things that are going on at home and in the lives of you all. Please just keep my self and the team in your prayers as well as the lives of those that we will be coming in contact with! Prayer and support is always needed and appreciated! :) Scotland... here we come :)