Returning Home

We woke up too early. Our last bus was this morning at 3am Scotland time. Our bus ride was one hour from the hostel to the airport. We arrived at the airport an hour before take off and got safely to our gate. Our flight went smoothly and was a nice nap time. :) We are now sitting at the airport in Amsterdam waiting for the longest leg of our trip.
We cannot wait to see our families and tell you all about our trip! It has been both long and short. We missed our families and yet, we feel as if we did not have enough time with Scotland. It was beautiful.
We will see you soon...
Grace

Farewell Scotland

Hi everyone!

     The day we dreaded has finally come: our last day in Scotland. It probably wasn't as picturesquely bittersweet as some of us would have wanted. It was cold, with sometimes biting wind chills. Many of us would probably have preferred to stay in the bus, where it was warm (and where our new bus driver unashamedly violated the NO SMOKING plaque on the dashboard). But Jimmy, our faithful guide throughout this entire week, was quick to point out that the Scottish Covenanters of the sixteen hundreds had gathered together in far worse conditions - in chilling rain and freezing snow, with soldiers seeking their demise. And yet they gathered day after day, simply because of their love for the Lord and His Word. I figured that I, bundled in my coat, hat, and scarf, could withstand some low temperatures in order to hear the stories of such brave people.

     Nine o'clock A.M., and we were on the bus for the last time. We headed to both Lanarkshire and Ayrshire, and visited various historical monuments and locations relevant to the history of the Covenanters. Jimmy told us heartbreaking stories of men shot in front of their families, of women executed like common criminals, of young boys shot where they stood for nothing more than carrying a Bible. And he told us uplifting stories of courage in the face of adversity, of living for Christ upon penalty of death. He stressed to us the power of prayer: that Scotland wasn't turned around by acts of men, but by a revolution in prayer to God. And that is the only way to bring about true change, both on a national and personal scale. The power of prayer must never be underestimated, as it often is in both the United Kingdom and America.

     After the tours, we headed to a restaurant on the loch and enjoyed dinners of steak pie, macaroni and cheese, haddock, and chicken. For dessert: a choice of strawberry gateaux, fudge sundae, or Scottish ice cream (which is exactly the same as regular ice cream. Still delicious though 😋). Then it was back on the bus and back to the hostel. We presented Jimmy and his wife Helen with a card, big (some tearful) hugs, and many thanks for their kindness throughout the week. 

     Tomorrow, we have no adventures to look forward to - unless a nine hour plane ride from Amsterdam to Detroit is considered an adventure. However, I am so thankful for the opportunity to travel to this great country, and learn about how God worked in its history. I hope I never forget the rolling green hills peppered with herds of sheep; the fresh mountain air, sweetened by the sounds of birds and rolling water; the wind turbines which seemed to pierce the silver sky; the centuries-old ruins of castles and cathedrals, looming over little villages; the pulsing energy of a thousand footsteps in the city of Edinburgh; and the magical beauty of the Scottish Highlands, cloaked in mist. I am terrified of forgetting these things, but am comforted when I realize that they will never truly be gone. Even if they do eventually slip my mind, like pressed rose petals from the pages of an old book, they won't completely leave me. They will always be with me, adding a soft honey glow to the things I do remember, memories which I will cherish in my heart for years to come.

Farewell Scotland - you will be sorely missed.
Kana Turley
   

     

Goodbyes are always the hardest part...

I don't know how we haven't done this, but somehow we have not introduced you to Jimmy and Helen Fisher, so allow me. 

Jimmy and Helen have been our kind hearted guides throughout this week. I think I speak for all of us here when I say we loved being with them! They were so kind, warm and welcoming. They would go out of their way to serve us and were so willing to explain and explain again what they were saying when we missed it the first time. Jimmy is the one who shared the information with us and told us about the monuments that they took us to. Jimmy is so passionate about history and our Lord and it really shows! Helen coordinated all of our stops and got everything together and because of her, everything ran smoothly. She would always go and grab tickets or tokens and make sure that we were all where we should be. 

I have learned so much from Jimmy and Helen! Jimmy made the history come alive for me and made me become more excited to learn more on my own about the history of Christianity. Helen has been so caring and lovely to be around. Whether we were talking about dogs or the thesis presentations that we are working on, she is genuine through and through. 

I have absolutely loved getting to know Jimmy and Helen! ...I have always hated saying goodbyes, and these were no easier...

Waving goodbye to Jimmy and Helen.

With much love and thanks, 

Grace

Ps. If anyone you know is planning on going to Scotland I would highly recommend going on the Reformation Tours with Jimmy and Helen!

Bittersweet Goodbye

Dear Loved Ones,
Today is bittersweet.
Sadly, it is our last day in Scotland. We are all dreading tomorrow when we have to leave this beautiful country. I have learned so much on this trip, especially about how privileged we are. Today we drove around Lanarkshire and Ayrshire and visited the graves of local Covenanters who died for worshipping God and having a Bible. I am so blessed to be in America because I can worship God and read my Bible in the open freely. On the bright side, I am excited to come back to my family, and share about our adventures to waterfalls, mountains, quaint shops, graves of martyrs, beaches, bridges, and so much more. Therefore I will leave Scotland with tears in my eyes, tears for the martyrs, tears for all the exciting, interesting things, tears for the goodbyes, and tears for the hellos.
Sincerely,
Victoria Taylor

the covenanters

Hello everybody! Today was our last day in Scotland. We toured Lanarkshire and Ayrshire - learning the history of the covenanters, the brave protestant reformers of Scotland. Some of the things that these men and women experienced surpass any persecution we face in the United States. As Christians in the United States we sometimes don't realize how lucky we are here. People in those days were shot for carrying a Bible. Some were sold into slavery for listening to a minister preach the word of God. Many people died for their faith or had a loved one taken from them because of their Christ centered lives. They had it so much worse than we have it here. I am so grateful for these people who sacrificed their lives so that people could worshop God freely. The memories of these valiant people will stay with me forever.

Here is a little haiku I wrote about Scotland:
The hills of Scotland
inspired me much more than
The cities ever could

Hello Tall Oaks Families,

Despite the declining weather today, I have been thankful that it had been dry up until now. We toured the countryside of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire, visiting different graves of the many martyrs who have died for their unwavering faith in Christ. Among those shot was an eighteen-year-old gentleman whose fiancée had been waiting for him at home. Still others were sixteen-year-old boys, and even children, on whom the soldiers had no mercy. However, God used these horrific situations to bring about the reformation of Scotland, and to the Protestant nation it is today.

Today was our last day in Scotland, which is a very bittersweet thought. I have thoroughly enjoyed our week here, especially the thoughtfulness and kindness from our tour guides, Jimmy and Helen. I have had a fulfilling trip that was both educational in learning about Scotland's reformation history, and adventurous in hiking through the Highlands and sheep fields. Although I am excited to return home to my family and bed, I will miss the stunning landscapes and the many dogs and sheep that dotted the country. I sincerely hope to return to this beautiful land!

Sophia Schmiedel

A Note for the Parents....

Hello! Greg and I wanted to take a minute to let you parents know just how delightful these dear young adults have been so far on the trip. Like their chaperones, they are not perfect. But they are genuine and kind and they generally take good care to be thoughtful to one another. They've stepped up in every way. Adults with whom we've come in contact have commented to us about what a nice group of kids they are -- not "typical American teens."

I hope you enjoy the pictures below from the past four days.

Thanks for keeping us in prayer! God is answering and holding us close!

Love,

Janet

The Clyde River behind the hostel where we're staying.

Another view of the Clyde River here in New Lanark from the Wee Row Hostel

Tori at the Glasgow Cathedral

Stirling Castle- statue of Robert the Bruce
and a man with his blue parrot named Divina. ☺

Dr. Who?

Waterfall in the Highlands

Underground tunnel beneath St. Andrews Castle

The square at St. Andrews

Kana at Loch Lomond

Fish 'n chips at a traditional Scottish chip shop

Jimmy sharing reformation history 

at the Grass Market in Edinburgh

Graveyard in Edinburgh

John Knox burial site - in a parking lot behind St.Giles Cathedral and beside Parliament Hall

John Knox burial marker

St. Giles Cathedral crown

 

Panoramic view of Edinburgh from inside the castle wall

 

Edinburgh Castle

 

St. Margaret's Chapel - the oldest structure in Edinburgh castle, 

dating back a thousand years

 A group of young children touring Edinburgh Castle 

wearing their gold paper crowns

 

Edinburgh

 

Edinburgh

This man had his 17 year old pet owl, Hazel, out on the street in Edinburgh

 for some fresh air

 

Victoria Street, Edinburgh

P.S. All the students are truly grateful for this gift to tour Scotland. Jimmy and Helen Fisher have also beenh a genuine gift to us all. They're patient, joyful, kind, and a good brother and a good sister in Christ to us.