Isle of Arran

Isle of Arran

We caught the ferry across the water to visit the Isle of Arran. We could see it across the water most days from the house but it was in the habit of hiding behind clouds when it was misty/rainy.

There is a road around the island and one that crosses the middle and that is about it. Many different villages around the track and some beautiful things to see. 

The first is a Scottish castle- Lochranza. The Scottish castles were basically stone square towers. Doors and windows were all pretty high to discourage unwanted visitors. In later years (after construction) new owners would add on if they wanted or had the means.

We hiked to Glenashdale Falls through beautiful forests with ferns and heather and mosses--looked like a great place for fairies! The falls were very tall and the hike was worth it though there was quite an incline to the too and around.

There are many stone circles. At Machrie Moor there are the remains of circles and a lovely walk across pastures at a working sheep farm.

Connie and Clive

Week 2-Maidens

In our second week in Scotland, the Andersons flew home and we moved to Maidens with Connie and Clive. They have spent considerable time at the Open Door in Atlanta where Emma lived and had offered to host us for the rest of our stay. We jumped on the opportunity and absolutely loved our visit! They showed us so much of Scotland!

They live just down the beach from Culzean (pronounced cull-ain?!?) Castle with a view of the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig (after which their home is named) just over the back garden. We took many walks to Culzean and wandered the grounds, had tea and visited the caves that are underneath in the cliff face. Along the beach, through forests, the paths lined with heather and black berries, gorgeous ocean views and a castle. We could have been happy exploring there for most of our trip but there was so much more to see!!!

One of our outings was to Galloway where the poet Robert Burns is commemorated. He lived there and spent time in Maidens, too. There was a wonderful museum that had a video rendition of the poem about Tom O'Shanter as well as many interactive displays. A walk along a path with statues of things from his poems leads to the house where he grew up. He was one if the leads in using Scots in literature.

Isle of Arran

Culzean Castle

Ailsa Craig

Tom O'Shanter fleeing the witches from Robert Burns's poem

More from the first week

We visited Loch Lomond and the village of Luss. Climbed up one of the mountains overlooking the loch. They looked like hills to us being from the mountains of North Carolina until we started climbing...we thought we were getting close and we would come to another rise with more to go. We didn't make it to the top--our parking meter time was up--but we did make it to some great views both over the village and up the loch.

That afternoon we went to watch the Badminton World Championships! 5 courts all going at the same time, games ending and starting as they go...always something to watch. It doesn't seem to matter about body type in this game though a long reach is helpful, the birdie (shuttle cock) slows enough on the way down...at least I think that is what happens.

On Sunday I (we) got to meet Rhona's parents! (I lived with Rhona my first year in Malawi.) Alan and Allison came to pick us up and took us for coffee and then to their home for lunch- a wonderful prawn paella (thanks Alan!) Then we went for a great walk around Helensburgh. So much fun to meet them!

Other highlights of the week:
  the hedge maze at Scone Place in Perth (the scones were OK)

  a demo of hunting birds such as falcons and owls at Scone Palace

  a visit to the Auchentoshan Distillery where we had a very enthusiastic tour guide and a tasty sample of one of their whiskeys.

First week

Emma and I spent the first week with the Andersons, family friends who came over for a month. We were outside of Glasgow in the small village of Bishopton.

We visited the Kelvingarde Museum which is an art museum in a wonderful building and the Riverside Museum (Transportation) that has all kinds of transport (planes, trains and automobiles as well as bikes and boats). There is a ship to tour out in the River Clyde and a ferry across the river. The museums are very family friendly with lots of interactive exhibits and the information is easy to read (both informative and not too much!)

 We spent a day in Edinburgh. We parked the car in Bolerno where Mama Jane and Papa Eade stayed during their year in Scotland and visited the site where their apartment was. Then we bused into the city which was full of people there for the festival...many street performances and fliers for later shows.

Ivy and I climbed the memorial to Sir Walter Scott and took in the views. We walked down the Royal Mile.

Emma and I found a photo exhibition in the Parliament building that we really enjoyed. Then we separated from our crowd...Emma and I thought we would walk to the Royal Infirmary (where Mama Jane had given birth to her first child) and meet the others there (they were in a taxi)...but the infirmary had been moved...They taxied to the new one and Emma and I walked to the old site (now apartments). Not having a phone or another place to meet up, Emma and I returned to the car in Bolerno...some hours later Scotty came to check as they had been waiting at the new infirmary...but all was well and we made our trip back to Bishopton.

Scotland!!!

My sister and I are exploring Scotland for about 3 weeks. We've come over and for the first week we stayed with our family friends the Andersons just outside of Glasgow. They have been here for a month and we swooped in for the last week of their stay.

The accents are difficult to understand -- they speak so quickly with different vocabulary and lilt to what we are used to -- but the spirit if being helpful (and repeating themselves) is always there. One woman walked outside into the rain to better point where we should continue!

The weather has been amazing! So much talk of the terrible rains (right before we arrived I guess). It is cloudy and often drizzles but we've seen some sun and the weather hasn't kept us from anything. I've only pulled out and worn my poncho once! (Though I carry it almost everywhere)

Public transport is very good though we don't have to use it much.  The house is a block from the Bishopton rail station and when we have more than 5 people for an activity we meet them at the other end and it worked wonderfully most of the time.

Minute for Mission

In our church especially during Mission season (which is February for us) we often do a couple minutes to spotlight a mission that we are involved in. I was asked to speak about my last trip with Marion Medical Mission. Here is what I said as a quick overview of our trip...I've also gotten to speak to a PEO group and might be speaking to another Sunday School class soon.

As most of you know, I’ve been on many mission trips both locally and internationally. I am often asked “Did it change your life” and “How did it change your life?” The answer is “Yes, it did”, but “how” is harder to articulate. When I go on mission trips I am reminded of what is really important: Relationships are more important than “stuff”. One thing I do know is that Marion Medical Mission changes lives!

This is the organization I’ve gone to Africa with for the past 3 years to install shallow wells. MMM is an ecumenical organization out of Marion, Illinois, that tangibly, immediately and permanently changes lives.

When we install a well and clean water comes pouring out of the spout , in that village, at that moment lives have been changed! No more drinking dirty water and getting sick. Money doesn’t have to be spent on medicines and clinic visits. Did you know that 50% of hospital beds in 3rd world countries are filled by people with preventable water-related diseases? Healthy kids can go to school and healthy parents can go to work. Another way a well changes lives is all the time that is saved since mothers and young girls who had to get up at 3 a.m. and walk miles to get water, now can get water close by. 40 billion hours per year are spent in Africa walking for water (and it wasn’t even clean water). Now girls can go to school and the mothers can work or take care of their families.

So when we install a well, the villagers know this. Their eyes are bright with joy. Some sing. Some dance. Some clap and some just bounce. Their joy is contagious and it is their joy that has changed my life.

In 2016 Marion Medical Mission worked in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia and installed 2,173 wells – that was just one year! At an estimated 150 people per well, that is almost 407,000 people whose lives changed. My partner and I were assigned to Tanzania and we helped install 83 of those wells in the 3 weeks we spent there. We arrived at a village in a truck (we drive) with the PVC pipes, the pump and installers. The villagers had already dug the well deep enough to hit water – anywhere from 8-30 feet deep- lined it with bricks, and covered it with concrete so that it is a safe, closed source of water. Our Tanzanian field officers install the pipes, and then we show the villagers how to use the pump correctly and how to take care of their well, say prayers and give thanks to God and to all who helped make their well possible.

I thank you for your prayers and support that has made it possible for me to go with Marion Medical Mission to do this important work for the past 3 years. Thank you for sharing the gift of clean, safe water with those who have never had it before. Asante sana and Mungu awa bariki which is Swahili is Thank you very much and God bless you!

Pics

More coming, but this is what I have right now!

The Tanzanian program... Door of our truck

At a well...one of the few kids who let me hold her

MMM African staff--field officers from Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia