Christmas Eve... already?!

So, today is Christmas eve. I was, of course, woken up by the neighbors who live right above us with their loud stomping and constant yelling, but I looked past that with ease and began to work away in the flat. The floors needed to be swept and mopped before we could start anything. I was in the middle of mopping and there was a knock at the door. Melanie signed for the package and yells, "It's for you!" I immediately ask, "Who's it from?" And, she replies, "Bobby Cooper." Hooray! My package that I didn't think I'd receive until after Christmas came on Christmas eve! It was from my Aunt Carol and Uncle Bobby who live in Canyon, Texas!

On with opening the package to find several wrapped gifts that I immediately placed underneath the tree, smiled, and continued mopping until I finally finished. I moved the sofa and the two chairs around to where we could place the top mattresses of our beds beneath a tent we would be building for tonight. Every Christmas, the tradition is to build a huge tent for Hadley, Marcee, Landon, and I to sleep under. And, because I can't be home for the holidays, Melanie and I decided to build one in our living room! We won't be sleeping on the floor, which is a good thing since it's a wood floor. Pretty uncomfortable! Well, it's finally up and taped up pretty well. (Don't worry, pictures will be coming soon!)

To conclude our day, we'll be enjoying veggies with ranch dip and a pizza! We're excited about Christmas and honestly can't believe it's here. It hasn't really hit us yet that it's actually Christmas. It really seems like it's going to be another day except a day with gifts, haha. It could be a really big blessing for the two of us that we don't really realize that we're missing out on family time back home. Otherwise, we'd be two crying girls.

It's been a really huge blessing being here in Scotland. I still can't believe I'm here and I fall in love with it more and more everyday. Melanie and I have received gifts from the elderly off of the ShopMobility bus, some ShopMobility staff, and members of the church as well. We've been really blessed to have a Christmas home away from home and to be so welcomed by everyone. We'll be having Christmas tomorrow with the Phillips' family. They go to church with us and have a son, Robert. He's 16 and in my previous newsletter, I mentioned him and how he was baptized sometime in August. Anyways, they are a fantastic family and have opened their home up to our team, which is another 4 mouths to feed. I'm looking forward to that time with them.

I will also be Skyping my family tomorrow night (afternoon, Texas time). All the family will be there and I'm really looking forward to that! I can't wait to see them again! I was able to chat with them over Thanksgiving and it was really neat to be able to see everyone. Not everyone was there, but they will be this time and I'm overly excited about it!

That's all I have for now... until next time,

Love to you all!

P.S. -- thanks to everyone who have mailed us Christmas cards, Christmas gifts, and for your endless prayers, love, and care. Just know that I love you all very much and you will all be missed during Christmas and New Years!

November Newsletter

THANKSGIVING.AWAY FROM HOME?
Everyone, who knows me well enough, knows that I’m really big on being with the family for the holidays. The thought of spending Thanksgiving away from my family boggled my mind and I was unable to grasp it. But, Thanksgiving came and went and I didn’t find it as hard to be away as I thought it would be. My true test will be when Christmas comes.

As a team, we thought it’d be really neat to get together and cook our own Thanksgiving feast. There wasn’t a “real” turkey involved. Melanie and I didn’t think we’d be too good at carving around the bones and… cleaning out the guts that came along with it (eww). We found a boneless turkey breast and decided that it would be perfect for us. I cooked the usual, mashed potatoes and corn. Because, what’s Thanksgiving without those two things? :)

I was able to Skype with my entire family on Thanksgiving Day. It was so neat being able to see my entire family in one room! Technology is an amazing thing. That day, I counted my blessings and thanked God for each and every one of them. I am so blessed!

The best part about Thanksgiving is really being with family. I was blessed to be a part of a Thanksgiving tradition that a few Scottish-American couples have. Brittney Cameron, a young lady who attends our church every Tuesday evening, invited the team to spend time with her family, as well as several other couples and families. I met a man named, Mitch. He’s from Texas and knew Dean English. And, by having that connection, I already felt somewhat at “home.” Unlike the Thanksgiving we had as a team on Thursday, the Thanksgiving celebration on the Saturday following included pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread, my two favorite things to have over the holidays. Lots of laughter filled the rooms of the house and it will be a memory that will last a lifetime.



WORK, WORK, AND MORE WORK.
I am still busy working with the primary school two days a week, working with ShopMobility, helping with youth nights, going to craft club, going to WRVS (lunch club every Tuesday at an assisted living place), and being with the youth of the church whenever they have free time!

At the primary school, I am still working with the primary ones (5-6 year olds). They all know me by name and have definitely warmed up to me, which is such a blessing. I absolutely love hearing my name being shouted at the end of the hall and having a wee (little) one run up to me and give me a hug. My basic “duties” while being at the school include: helping the children during structured play (learning activities), cutting, gluing, or painting anything the teachers need help with, assisting the children with their class work, and being a monitor during play time. I thoroughly enjoy what I am doing there at the school and can really begin to see that I can and I do make a difference there.



On the ShopMobility bus, I have been on my own for the past three weeks. I rode with Melanie for the first month, while I waited for my disclosure to come in, and was actually taught by a lady named, Ann, on how to make things work on the bus. I took over on Mondays, while she went to Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ann was able to show me and tell me the different disabilities the elderly had that rode the bus on Mondays and also how to “lock-in” a wheelchair in the bus. The elderly have learned my name, which can be hard to remember after only a few weeks and me only being on the bus once a week. I am also blessed to be riding the bus with Alex. He is such a patient and kind man. I really have gotten to know him and he has a great heart.

Tuesday lunch with the elderly is still going really well. One of the elderly ladies had been hospitalized and stuck at home due to a serious injury to her leg. She’s finally back to having lunch with us and it really is a joy to have her back. The people there are wonderful to be around and have a great sense of humor. The best part about the Scottish folks is that when they pick on you, you can pick on them back. :)

Youth club and craft club are going along smoothly as well. It seems like we may be increasing in numbers for youth club, only every once in a while, and we’ll have a few that show up that I haven’t ever seen there before. In the craft club, we’re making Christmas themed decorations. The children are doing wonderfully and sometimes I think their artistic abilities put mine to shame!



GOD IS GOOD.ALL THE TIME
There have been three baptisms in the West Mains Church of Christ since August. Robert Phillips was baptized in the month of August. He is part of the youth. He is a wonderful asset to the Kingdom. Isabel was baptized in the month of September, right before I arrived in East Kilbride. She is such a joy to be around. Merana was baptized in the middle of this month. She has a young and youthful spirit, has the heart of a servant, and an attitude like Christ.




MY FIRST VISITOR
This month was definitely a month full of “firsts.” About one year ago, I met Ashley Fletcher in California. She is currently enrolled at Harding University in Arkansas. She has been in the European area for the past three months and is returning to America on December 6th. She had some time to where she could visit for her last week to two weeks while she is overseas. She decided to come and visit Scotland! I met up with her at the end of this month. It was truly a blessing to see a familiar face at this time of the year when I am missing everyone during the holidays. She’s currently in England. Please pray for her safe journey home.




WEATHER CHANGES.BRR.
We had our first freeze/frosted night on November 29th. It was so cold and honestly, I don’t think it got over thirty degrees. I remember waking up and looking at my computer weather-bug and it said it was twenty-one degrees and this was at 8:30 in the morning. The sun was out that day, but that never phased the frost. It stayed on the sidewalks, trees, grass, and shrubs all day long. It makes walking a challenge! With the icy sidewalks, I have to leave a little earlier and be prepared for about thirty to forty-five minutes worth of walking! Luckily, it hasn’t been too bad so far. :)



THANK YOU.
Thanks again for making this possible for me to be here in East Kilbride, Scotland. I have really found my place here and really starting to get to know new people outside of the church. I’ve been meeting young high school and college students that work and volunteer some of their time at the primary school and I have also met a few people at the gym I go to. I am really enjoying it here and thanks to you, you’re helping me make a difference. I appreciate all you’re doing and all you continue to do. Please continue praying for us while Christmas is approaching and we’re starting to feel a little homesick.


Prayer requests:
* Our families

* Our team and the work being done in East Kilbride

* Michael Todd will be having surgery on December 5

* West Mains Church of Christ

* 2007-2010 AIMers on the field:
-Albania
-New Zealand
-Mexico (3 teams)
-Honduras
-South Africa
-Grass Valley, California