Autumn in Scotland

Hey Y’all!

It’s been a whole two months since my last update from Scotland. For that, I apolise. It’s my goal to update all those supporting and praying for me in Oklahoma at least once a month. October just got away from me though. So this will be my October/November update.

October and November have been busy, humbling, growing months. God’s been giving me an entirely fresh perspective (at least, fresh to me) to see others and what I’m doing here through. In early October, I re-read the passage in John 15 that talks about the vine and branches and learning when to give up stuff so that we can abide even deeper in Christ’s love and purpose. I sensed God asking me to simply hand myself over to Him, to open up to life here more fully, and to allow it to wash over and transform me. Let me tell ya – it is an exhausting yet rich way to live.

As a volunteer missionary, really as a follower of Jesus, I’m discovering it’s important to not only welcome interruptions but to embrace them. They are life. So often, I’m wrapped up in my own thoughts, desires, and comfort. God has been asking me to let go of all that though. He’s been doing cool stuff just in the spontaneous moments of life here. Hearing the story of a stranger on the train coming home from Blend or entering into a friend’s heartbreak – the Holy Spirit works in these small moments, I believe, if I’m faithful to recognize an opportunity and move myself and my agenda out of the way. And I’m getting to know a lot of really interesting people in the process!

I’m not always super stellar at the whole vine/branches lifestyle. Like, sometimes, I’d rather veg out listening to music on the bus than make the effort to get to know the sweet mom with the pram asking about life in America. Often, I say the wrong thing, or worse, say something I think is appropriate when it actually totally isn't. I’m becoming more and more grateful, though, for gracious and patient friends.

Blend is one of those places that I really get to live this out. I've been here long enough now that I’m getting to know staff and customers deeper. Moving beyond just “How’s your day going?” is an exciting step. What I love about working in Blend, among other things, is that it’s my job to be a part of creating just the right space and environment for connections to happen. This may seem like a weird analogy, but Blend is like an incubator for creativity, curiosity, refuge, dreaming, joy, and just a whole bunch of other things that happen naturally. How often do we find places like that here on earth? That idea is changing how I see my role in the relationships around me.

Barista training is going well. At first, I constantly dropped things, forgot things, and made coffees that, when compared to the other baristas’, seemed like child’s play. But I think I just might be getting better. It’ll be so wonderful to finally get to make coffee in the new shop when it opens. The directors are still considering locations and what makes financial sense. In the meantime, we continue to pray and dream of what that second shop will look like. The community that comes from it will be completely different from Perth’s. I get excited, though, when we go to view another potential location and see people walking past the building. Someday, they could be customers, coworkers, friends, and God’s preparing their hearts for something unbelievably wonderful just as He is ours.  

Like the second Blend shop, Jubilee House is another “figure it out as we go” thing. It’s coming along though! Our core team has been meeting to create a plan for the project. We’re getting estimates on the renovations to the house, beginning fundraising, researching, and writing out what this will look like.

Just some statistics: Did you know that in 2013 there were over 60,000 reported cases of domestic abuse in Scotland? According to Scottish Women’s Aid, in a single day in 2012, 41 women and 39 children requested shelter, yet there was no housing for 27 of the women and 26 of the children. Renfrewshire, the council area that Jubilee House is in, currently has only 19 apartments for families needing refuge, and there is a waiting list. Can you imagine what it must be like to be on that waiting list? Jubilee House can’t necessarily solve the problem, but we can be a part of the solution.

I love that my job here takes me into some of the core aspects of life and culture in Scotland and that I work in a church that’s an active presence and light in the community. Every November, Erskine Church of the Nazarene dedicates an entire weekend to celebrating Guy Fawkes Day as well as the church’s anniversary. They host a fireworks display, a ceilidh and potluck, and finish Sunday with a baptism service and induction of new members.  Ceilidhs are probably one of my favourite Scottish things. Look it up on Youtube, and you’ll understand why. Sunday, we brought in 5 new members to the church and baptized 3 new Christians!  It was packed, exhausting, beautiful, meaningful weekend. I remember stopping Saturday night and thinking, this is God’s heart – friends, laughing, freedom, finding a place, and dancing like crazy because life and community are a gift.

God’s work here is exciting! Thanks for sharing in this journey with me!

Love,

Catie

PS: I like sharing pictures with you all just of Scotland being gorgeous. In October, I spent a sunny Saturday with friends trekking around the Falls of Clyde.

I also got to drive up past Loch Lomond to Glencoe for a day and had my first experience of haggis! Glencoe is one of my new favourite places in the world.

Settling In

Oklahoma's farewell sunrise

Greetings from Bonny Scotland!

It feels so surreal saying that. I applied to Mission Corps over a year ago and raised support for six whole months. And now, I’m finally here!

 

I’m still amazed by the humbling journey that was “support raising”. Thanks again to the tremendous group of churches, friends, and family back home who've prayed for and sent me here. As you can see though, I've also been blessed by an incredibly welcoming team here in Scotland!

My stellar welcoming crew met me at 7AM with smiles,
black coffee and this fabulous banner.

The community at Erskine Church of the Nazarene (ECN) is a rare but beautiful thing in the UK. A new friend who is also a new Christian told me, “I just love that I’m free to come here and openly ask questions about faith and celebrate what Jesus is doing in my life and not feel [socially] ashamed.” I've loved becoming a part of that too!

My first evening in Scotland, I attended an Alpha meeting at a local restaurant where people asked questions and sought answers about the Christian faith in a neutral environment. It’s clear that people are searching for meaning and love and acceptance and all the things that Jesus is. We're so excited as people choose, almost every week, to put their faith in Christ while continuing to ask questions. Praise God!

It has been fun getting to know the teenagers and young adults around Erksine. On Thursdays at lunch, the ECN youth staff go to the high school to connect with students. We then host a lunch group and evening Engage time at the church on Fridays. We try to get to know students—chat about their week and play ping pong—but ultimately, let them know through actions and words that we’re on their side through whatever craziness life throws at them.

On my second day in Scotland, I went to Friday lunch club mainly to observe and help where I could. I went up to a girl I'd met the evening before to say hello. Her friends jumped as if I’d just screamed at them through a bull horn. In general, Brits are reserved, so I’m learning to take cues from everyone else and just laugh at my American-ness.

Over and over, I’m reminded that I’m in a culture that’s different from the one I left. It’s like wearing only one contact lens. Things are 
the same in some ways but just different enough to be disorienting. Time is different, and everything is closer. Yet people seem to keep their distance. Accents, sometimes even languages, can change within just a few miles. However, one of the most striking differences for me, girl from the Bible Belt, has been the post-Christian-ness of things. It's all a part of my new reality. I'm learning to be quiet more, to accept that I don't really know, that my impressions of things aren't exactly accurate. But I'm loving and appreciating every bit of it.

One of my absolute favourite things about Scotland is that so much is planned around drinking hot beverages. And cake. Finishing a meal, catching up with friends, relaxing after a long work day, etc. all require a “cuppa”. Sunday morning service begins and ends with coffee or tea and biscuits (cookies). The chance to be a small part of all of that is one of the many reasons why I’m so excited to be a part of Blend.  

The first latte I've ever made!

Blend is incredible! Coming into the shop feels like coming home. You’re no longer a number but a part of a community. It’s a community of discovery—from the smallest accents and details in the décor to the sofas and chairs inviting you to get to know your neighbour. The staff bends over backwards to make your experience there the absolute best. Blend really is less about the coffee and more about the experience. It’s an experience that encourages customers to create other experiences, to crave more of what Blend offers, if that makes sense. It wasn't until I spent time there that I began to understand that. God is using this incredible business to truly transform people’s lives.

Speaking of transformational communities, I got to tour the Jubilee House! I can't wait to share the before and after pictures of this place and all that God is going to do with it. We’re beginning to look into funding for the renovations and establishing a core team. Please continue to pray with me for this as we listen to God’s leading and work to move things along.

This has been a good month for me. I hope it's been good for you too where ever you may be reading this from. God is good no matter where I am or what I'm doing. I'm learning to lean even more into His grace and strength, particularly as I adjust to a new culture and a new job. It can be overwhelming at times. There is so much of this life to soak up, though, and I feel so incredibly grateful to get to witness God's Kingdom coming here and now!

Grace & Peace,

Catie

PS: Below are a few pictures from our staff retreat up in the Highlands a few weeks ago. We camped in a yurt, danced a ceilidh dance around a fire, laughed a lot, planned and dreamed about the future, and were just overwhelmed by the beauty around us.

Camping in this yurt was one of the coolest things ever.

This Highland cow picture is for you, Dad.

Our gorgeous prayer walk

Summertime Support Raising

A big thank you to the 11 churches, 2 zones
and 2 districts that allowed me to share.
PHOTO: Tom Felder

Iced coffees. Google Maps. Road trip music. Listening & looking for God. Meeting new friends. I'm not sure how other volunteer missionaries "do" support raising, but that's how it has looked for me this summer.

Since March, I've been trying to figure this whole support raising thing out. I've visited new and interesting places and heard some incredible stories of what Jesus is doing here in Oklahoma. It's been an exciting time of learning.

Raising $20,000 and a solid prayer network was basically the same thing as climbing Mount Everest to me at first. And it probably would've been impossible IF I'd been alone. I've always considered myself to be self-reliant. I despise asking others to help me. However, when I'm truly surrendering myself to God's plans, it isn't about me so much anymore. When I became a part of the Body of Christ, "self" took on a new meaning.

Over and over, God's brought me back to Paul's writing on the Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12. On our own, we're just random bits and pieces. Without Jesus, we have no forward motion. We need each other. We need Him. And God gives us the great joy and honor of being a part of building His kingdom. As a volunteer missionary, that often means a lot of blanks and unanswered questions. However, as I say yes simply to being the feet that go, others say yes to being the supportive, loving hands that send. God seamlessly orchestrates it all. Truly miraculously, we become one body glorifying Him.

I've seen that happen first hand this summer, traveling to local churches, hearing of others' dreams, sharing my own. And as of today, there is just over $18,000 in my fund for the coming year! Praise Jesus!

So now I'm neck-deep in final preparations. The fine folks at the British Consulate approved my visa, and I have a flight booked for August 27th. Lord, help us! I'm soaking up every moment with family and friends and at my favorite places. (My body seems to sense that I'm leaving the land of good Tex-Mex. I can't get enough of it.) But I'm also so anxious to be in Scotland witnessing all God's incredible work going on and finding my place in all of it. 

If you've given, prayed, encouraged, hosted, or supported me throughout this season of life, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. You are a true blessing!

Scotland is a Mission Field?

When we talk about missions, which places first come to mind? No doubt, we most likely envision tribal peoples of Africa, the ornate, Buddhist culture of Thailand, or secret house churches in countries where it is dangerous to proclaim one’s faith.

Where do Scotland and the United Kingdom fall on your list though? We may remember history classes and discussion of various British monarchs’ use of Christianity. Perhaps we’ve heard of British theologian John Wesley’s 18th century holiness movement. But what has God done there in this century?

According to the 2011 Census from the National Records of Scotland, just over half the population claims Christianity as their religion. Nevertheless, over a third does not claim any religion whatsoever. Christianity is certainly on the decline, but so are other religions.

Statistics also show that socio-economic problems such as depression and other mental illnesses, human trafficking, alcoholism and other chemical dependencies are on the rise. Scotland and the UK are, indeed, a “mission field”.

God, however, is already in the midst of those needs, transforming and redeeming lives. We hear of it in reports from missionaries there. We read of it in the testimonies of people who’ve discovered God’s power and are turning from addictions. We celebrate with our fellow Believers as new, vibrant churches are being planted. Our Redeemer is definitely working!

The purpose of this blog is to share my experiences as I raise support, move to Scotland, and serve as a volunteer for a year with the Church of the Nazarene. The About tab shares more of how God brought this all together for me. Also, please check out the Pray and Support tabs to learn more of how you can be a part of this ministry and step of faith.

This opportunity is exciting for many reasons, one being that I get to connect with family, friends, and even new friends as we glorify God together with the gifts He has given us. I invite you to join me in reading this blog, praying for each other, giving, and opening our hearts to God’s unimaginable plans for His people.