Back in the Mother Land!

The last few weeks have been among the most challenging yet in our time with MAF, without a doubt. We packed up our belongings and said many emotional goodbyes to our dear friends in Coshocton and other parts of the states. We moved out of our house on Sunday the 24th of November.  The children were passed around various willing people as we juggled all that's involved with packing and cleaning a rental house and moving across the world without your immediate family around to help especially with childcare.  The Wednesday before we moved out of the house I found out my dad had passed away suddenly after being admitted to hospital for only 24 hours.  I had never experienced the loss of an immediate family member before and lets just say,along with my dad passing, moving house and saying goodbye's all around -it has been the most emotionally draining time of my life.  YET..... I have been carried through by the arms of my Father God.  I have felt a great sense of peace and joy that I was able to spend a few weeks with my dad in August in Scotland and made many great memories.

The day after we arrived back it was my dad's funeral.  I stand in awe of God at His amazing Grace and the timing of it all. My dad had cirrhosis and cancer of the liver,  yet was preaching and doing pretty great right up until the day before he died.  He was not in pain and did not have to suffer for long at all.  His pastor David Gordon was able to be by his side reading with him and he tells of how dad started singing a hymn and he joined in with him right at his hospital bed minutes before he died.  We were coming home from the USA anyway and did not have to make any further trips back and forward as a result. Now we can be near my mum for the next few months to help and support her in all that she needs to deal with in these next few months.  I can't tell you how much we have appreciated your prayers, cards, and email messages over this difficult time.  I have not had a chance to reply yet but thank you!

There have been many changes to previous plans we have had to make recently and I appreciate how understanding people have been.   With us no longer going up north in Scotland and remaining more central to Glasgow we have had to put the kids into a bigger school.  They started last Tuesday and have been loving it! Some may wonder why on earth we would start our kids in a new school just for a few months but with all that has been going on around them over the last few weeks they are in need of a focus shift and are benefiting greatly from being in a routine again.  Andy and I have re-planned our travel around the UK over the next few months and are now able to let everyone know where we will be in the hope that you can join us in at least one of the places below.  We have decided to incorporate some rest time in December which I am so glad for as I had forgotten how much stuff there is to do when moving countries - especially near Christmas.  Changing mailing address, hunting for school uniforms, organizing banking, mobile phones,  dentist, doctor,optician visits as well as just unpacking and setting up 'home' again  - just a little flavor of what our week has been like!  This week we will be in Edinburgh twice for medical check ups and some vaccinations, and due to an apparent shortage in Scotland right now for the Yellow Fever Vaccine (which we were meant to get this week) we will have to attend the clinic later in our time in Scotland for this.

Below is how our schedule is looking at present:

December

14/15th - Peebles, visiting with supporters and attending Holyrood Abbey Church in Edinburgh on Sunday.
17th - Sharing at Harper Memorial Baptist Church, Glasgow in the evening.
We are heading up to the North of Scotland for Christmas with Andy's parents and visiting supporters.
29th - Sharing at Alexandria Baptist Church (I believe we are taking the morning service! :0)

January

8th - Sharing at Plains Evangelical Church (7.30pm)

12th - Sharing at Pitlochry Baptist Church (Morning service)

19th - Sharing at Kirkintilloch Baptist Church (Morning service)
26th - Sharing at Crown Terrace Baptist Church, Aberdeen (Morning service)

February

Cross Cultural Course in south England
16th - Sharing at Dunoon Baptist Church

 - And then hopefully.......Uganda!!!

With regard to moving to Uganda.  We are still awaiting news of Andy's work permit and whether it has been approved or not.  We were hoping to have heard about this long before now.  We still do not have a house in Uganda and ask for your prayers for the above.

We are both looking forward to seeing as many of you as we can.  We are based in North Lanarkshire and you can email/text us for our address if you would prefer to visit with us here.  There is a lovely coffee shop nearby that we can meet and chat.  We are often asked to go for a cuppa at many people's homes. Being only human and with three children, we may at times have to decline invitations but please know that we really appreciate the offers and will try to accommodate as much as humanly possible.

Our new mobile numbers are:

Andy - 07745 097 613
Heather - 07745 097 624

God bless x