-- DAY 7 --
It's the middle of our week, and our students are energized -- catching up on some of their sleep last night! The students are looking forward to a little relaxation and sight-seeing today. But before we took off for Scotland adventures, we were privileged to share in Word and Song with the children at Blairdardie Primary School.
Here's Jenny with the School Head Master
We left the hotel at 8 am and by the time we arrived at the school, we had 55 minutes before our morning concert. Yikes is right, but I knew that when we all pulled together we would accomplish much and in shorter time. I was right! We finished the set up and sound check in 45 minutes. Incredible, right? Not really -- with our students and adults! Everyone knew what to do and did it carefully and quickly with a great attitude and big smile on their faces! It has been great to see our teenagers work together with a cooperative attitude and sweet spirit.
The guys on the trip have especially been hard workers on the set up and tear down and the girls, for the most part, just try to stay out of their way. (I do have our senior girls and a few others responsible for some of the prep and tear down.)
The children loved the concert and enjoyed meeting our students in their workshops following the concert.
Our teenagers were divided up into two's for each classroom share time. Before their share time each person pulled their weight and tore down. (We actually spent more time setting up and tearing down than we did during the concert today!) During their class time we finished up the loading and were ready with their sack lunches once they were finished.
Once we left our school we headed off to see more of Scotland.
We arrived in Stirling and first visited the William Wallace Monument.
We climbed a steep hill on a windy path and then went up 240+
stairs on a windy one person staircase.
Once up on top we had 70 mile an hour winds --
the teenagers loved getting up there -- great views!
After our time at the monument we took off for Stirling Castle.
We took great pictures outside of the castle and then took our time
checking out every part of this incredible place.
Once on the road again, the students and adults couldn't wait any longer and had to all visit a Scotland "Wal-Mart" (better known as "Asda"). After we finally got everyone out of the store, we headed to the local Mall for all the shoppers on the bus. (We also ate dinner at the mall.) Yes, change of plans, we decided not to go back to Xscape, but to the Mall instead.
Back at the hotel by 8:15 pm tonight. WOW -- what a day. They students got a little free time before heading to the rooms for some shut-eye. A great day had by all!
Thank you for your continued prayers and comments on the blog. We spent time on the bus this morning reading the last two days worth. There were lots of laugher, oohs, and ah's. Thanks for your support.
Tomorrow we get back to our busy schedule including: morning workshops and concert, afternoon workshops and evening concert. Talk to you tomorrow!
Group picture at Sterling Castle
Seeing God's work all around us,
Ken
Praise the Lord! It was so great to see Cara out and about! I am so glad she got to participate today! Please tell her we love and miss her! Love In His Grip, Christy Cox
We are so jealous!!!! Wish we could be there. Keep up the kind sprit and energy. Raven we love and miss you keep having fun! Love Laynette&Rusty Riley {mon&dad]
Yes it sure was nice to see Cara able to join the group and she had a smile on her face!!! Sounds like you all had a partial day of enjoying the outskirts of Scotland today. The walk up to Wallace Monument sounded pretty rough. I bet alot of the parents are going to be feeling that in their legs and abbs tomorrow. You know the works you are doing with the wee ones (that was my mothers saying for lil tots--she was Irish) are very special. Jesus talks about that in Matthew Chapter 18. The disciples basically wanted to know who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And Jesus calls a child to his side and Jesus answered vs. 4 and 5: "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives ME." You are making a huge impact on there lives! SO awesome!!! The hand of God and the move of the Holy Spirit seen in you teens are a testimony to how our GOD works when we fervently and faithfully prayer for our missions.
Hannah M. --you are now a TEEN!!!!! Happy belated Birthday TO YOU!!! I bet your dear mother missed you on your birthday. Ali, lil Michael is looking for your smiling face in the pics on Missionscotland website so be sure to wave at him!
Have a great tomorrow and we love you all!!
I just have to say you all are such an impressive group. I have been watching the videos and looking at the pictures each morning and although I don't know any of you personally except for my niece (Raven) it has been a very uplifting experience to watch each of you perform with such entergy and interact with the children. It has been a pleasure to witness the work that you all are doing. God Bless!
Scarlett McPherson (Raven Riley's Aunt)
I can tell from the blogs and videos, that this mission is making a lasting impression on the hearts of many. You guys are amazing! Im so proud that I also am the aunt of Ms. Raven Riley, and although you all dont know me, you do know Raven, and she is walking in gods light, and Im so very moved by her work in the lord!
Gods Speed Home!
Rachel Lee ( Raven's Aunt)
we love the video! daddy was starting to wonder if stephanie was still on the trip! we finally saw her in a picture! tell her hello for us. god bless
Greetings from Scotland. I just wanted to send a shout out to Jeanie Robbins and Graham and Eva Wills. Just wanted to let you know how much of a privilege it is to be the SME for your sons. They (along with Jacob) are a great group of boys. They are on time to everything. They go to bed when they are supposed to (at least when I come to check, they are in bed) and are just, good young men in general. We have had no problems at all. You would be as proud as I am.
Josh is rooming with Fraser and is picking up quite the Scottish accent. We'd hoped it would go the other way so that we could understand Fraser, but oh well, that's how it goes. I'm sure they'll be back to ya'll very soon.
Joey and Jacob are actually sleeping, much to my amazement. They are bright eyed every morning and showing good leadership to the others.
Better go. We just happen to be eating lunch in the school's computer lab, so I thought I'd hop on and say Hi.
See ya Saturday.
Teresa
WELL, WE WILL BE HOME DAY AFTER TOMORROW! IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND, BUT LOTS OF FUN. WE TRULY HAVE AN AMAZING GROUP OF KIDS. EVEN ON THE BUS AND IN THE HALLS THEY ARE SINGING. JUST THIS MORNING THEY WERE SINGING THE THEME SONG TO "THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR". ATTITUDES ARE GOOD, NOT MUCH DRAMA SO FAR :) JOYCE AND ERIC-KATIE IS DOING WELL, I'M GLAD SHE IS ONE OF MINE. LAYNETTE AND RUSTY- RAVEN IS ALWAYS WHERE SHE'S SUPPOSED TOP BE, DOING WHAT SHE'S SUPPOSED TO DO. CHRISTY AND RANDY-CARA IS DOING BETTER, YOU CAN TELL SHE FEELS BETTER BY HER EXPRESSION. NOT SO MUCH COUGHING NOW. BRYON -BAILEY MISSES YOU AND THE ANIMALS. (ME TOO) SEE YA SAYURDAY NIGHT.
BECKY p.
Wyley and Aubrey I hope you are having a great time with Mimi and O'Daddy. We are having an amazing time in Scotland and will see you both very soon. Love you both! Give Bonnie, Patches and Dora a big kiss for me. I'm going to need some serious fur therapy when I get home! Mamsie
Hey this is Raven, Emily t. and Ali all giving a shout out to our friends and family thanks so much for all the love and support and especially the prayers we LOVE IT HERE and are planning to rent an apartment and stay..haha you guys can come join any time :) We Love you and miss you.
Love, Ali, Emily and Raven
This has truly been an amazing experience.... my accent has definitely been affected. :)I am going to come home (hopefully) sounding different... the hospitality here has been amazing, all the folks are so generous. Mostly what I hear from the natives is "Tea or coffee?" about every fifteen minutes. We will all come home about 2 pants sizes bigger. Everything is alright and i have definitely been changed by this trip i will miss all my new friends (Divendor) :) Katie and i will never forget you. :) And i want all my friends at home to know i love and miss them. Have fun on your spring break....
-Bailey Plunk
Scotland is incredibly beautiful and you have done an amazing job of capturing the essence of the country. I remember how cordial the folks are there(Scotland is the land of my ancestors) I would loved to have been there with you, but thank you so much for sending Scotland back to us. Chetley, you have been on my heart this morning.....put your right hand on your left shoulder and your left hand on your right shoulder and squeeze. That's a hug from me to you. I love seeing the faces of the little ones you all are ministering to, but even more of a blessing is the look on your faces as you are sharing with them. Thank you all so much for allowing Jesus to shine through for all to see.
Looking forward to hearing all about it when you get home. God Bless you, Jody McAnally
All I can say is WOW!!!! How blessed you all are to be on this incredible journey together. I am praying and lifting all of you up in my prayers daily and so thankful for the connection we have through the internet. Dave you are doing an awesome job with the videos!!!! It is a joy to see the smiles on all your faces and I know the people in Scotland have to be blessed by those smiles and love you are showing in your lives. Continue to take in every moment and I know our church will be blessed to have you back and share with us. I love all of you and I am thankful for what God is doing through each and every one of you. I am thankful for the amazing adults that are with you. I know they have to be proud of you as well. See you back soon at Studio 412. Janet Pate
This is my second comment for the day. Are you sure there are adults on this trip other than Ken? I keep seeing all the students and people of Scotland, but where are our adults? Are they sleeping in the hotel while ya'll are out singing your hearts out. (Ha!) They should make at least one video so we know they are alive. I haven't looked at all the pictures so maybe they are in them. Dave you need to put them on video even though they probably would rather not be seen. Peace out! Janet
Ali R~ So glad to see what a wonderful time you are having. Michael really misses you - I am not sure he will be ok with the apartment thing mentioned in your post! Keep having fun - can't wait to see you! Ang
Janet Pate,
Do we even know for sure that the adults made it all the way up to the Wallace monument? Hmm....did we get pics of any adults up there??? Just kidding. I do believe I remember seeing them in a group pic. By the sounds of it, I should not even be teasing about this as it sounded like to me I would not have made it to the top!!! Guess I am getting old....yuck!!
Sheila Robinson
Hey guys!! Met you very briefly at the ceilidh and some at church on Sunday. I had to go home:( so I was unable to see any of your concerts. I promised I would be back on Friday but unfortunatly I can't. I'm proper gutted. You have all left a footprint on my heart forever. I will hopefully be able to come to see you next summer!! I look forward to that very much!!
Lots of love
God Bless
Safe travelling home
Jessica(Alan Gibbon's daughter)
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What can I say that everyone else hasn't already said?? I love looking at the pictures and seeing you all laughing and having the time of your lives. I told Larry tonight that I am ready for Whitney to come home, but I don't want it to end for her! Weird feeling!! I can't wait to hear about it all!
Love you,
Joyce Keithley