We Made It.
Well friends and family, we did it, we moved to Scotland. The journey to get here was difficult and filled with spiritual warfare, but God is eternally faithful in all things.
After arriving in Scotland we were placed in a ten day quarantine in which we were not allowed to leave our home for any reason due to Covid restrictions. Those ten days felt like forever but we made it through. Once out, we were finally able to go into town, get some house materials, and purchase a car. Though shortly before our release it was announced that Scotland would be undergoing a full lockdown starting the day after Christmas. In total we had all of ten days before going back into a full lockdown. As you can imagine this came as a blow to the “honeymoon phase” of our move. From the 26th of December to the 26th of April, we were in a strict lockdown here in Scotland.
However during those four months we were able to acclimate to life here. After a while we established some normalcy and a routine for our family, tried some of the best Indian takeaway here in Stirling, and spent time working through the emotions of our move. To be honest, it was a struggle and mixture of emotions; a combination of depression, and elation. The depression was mostly due to the fact that leaving everything and everyone you love is hard; it was painful for Karissa and I, and it was painful for our boys. It continues to be. We are elated that God did an amazing work and moved mountains by bringing us here in the midst of so much uncertainty. We’re grateful because we are finally here in this country that we have been praying and striving to move to for over a year and a half. Yet, it was a rollercoaster of very high highs and low lows, all experienced while in isolation. However, despite the challenges, we knew that God was going to use it for our good, and now on the other side of lockdown we can see the areas where He was at work. We are grateful that nothing is wasted with our God.
Also during lockdown we were able to get Theo and Mateas both enrolled in school here, which has helped them adjust. They’ve been able to interact with peers and teachers and it has helped lessen the sting of leaving all of their friends and family in Colorado. They have enjoyed going to the various parks, adventure walks, and forest explorations that we did during lockdown; they are amazed by this country and its beauty, as are we! Mostly though, they were happy that we have a park right outside our flat, and play there as regularly as the rain allows.
As some of the restrictions began to loosen, Karissa was able to start making a few friends. She met a very sweet girl college student while walking in town one day, they recognized one another as being Mexican and bonded immediately! She has also become friends with Chante, who serves at the church and is dating the Pastors son. It was an answer to prayer for Karissa, as she was struggling with the limited social interactions, and felt the void of relationships and community. Throughout all the emotions, challenges, and loneliness, God was in it with us. His faithfulness was on display for us every day that we woke and turned our eyes upon him. We truly were blessed to stay in the flat we have with our healthy children, and our lovely views of Scotland.
Of course We were thrilled when lockdown lifted at the end of April and we were looking forward to a new kind of life in Scotland. Yet we know that the enemy desires to cause frustration and distraction, and oh has he tried. When we first arrived, we had purchased a car we thought would be reliable and unfortunately, that has been the practical area where we have been attacked in the most. Since it’s first week of purchase, it’s been a problem. We took it back to the dealership for repairs multiple times and we were assured that all issues had been resolved.
Once travel restrictions were lifted, Karissa and I planned a trip to Inverness, excited to visit the place that we had moved across the world for. On an unusually sunny morning, we hopped in the car and drove up for the day to look at a few properties and check out the city. During our drive we talked through our dreams and aspirations for the coming year and season ahead. We made it about twenty minutes outside of Inverness (a three hour drive), when our car died. There we sat on an off ramp for three hours waiting for a recovery vehicle to tow us. Although this was an obvious attack from the enemy, Karissa and I sat along side of that rode and just laughed and prayed. We were not dejected or bickering with one another, we had a great time. We met a sweet couple who offered to help, then realized there was nothing they could do. Once we had been towed to a mechanic shop in Inverness, it took about thirty minutes to realize the car would not be fixable that same day. Fortunately the mechanic offered to drop us off at the train station and we made it on the last train back to Stirling. On the day we thought we were finally going to visit the city that we have been praying for, a city we have been preparing to move to for two years… we couldn’t make it twenty more minutes. Honestly, you just gotta laugh.
As for the car, the engine is totaled and costs for repair would outweigh it’s worth. Essentially we were sold a broken car. We bought it, hoping only for a safe and reliable vehicle, nothing new, fancy or particular; the exchange rate made it a cheap car here but almost double it's price in US dollars. So, we are out 4,500 USD. We will get 200 pounds for it as scrap and 140 of that will cover the cost of taking it into the shop initially. It's very disappointing and discouraging but we trust that everything we own including the car, ultimately belongs to God. He is in control. We covet your prayers for provision, guidance, and wisdom in the coming weeks as we navigate going forward.
Prayer Requests
For the continued health of our family
For Calvary Fellowship Stirling to continue to grow and flourish
For Dan and Angela (Pastor and Wife of CFS)
For our boys to continue to enjoy school and make friends
For our coming move to Inverness. To find a good place to live with enough space to do home church in. To get the boys into good schools and some sort of community sport.
For our support financially to increase as our move will increase our expenses
That God would provide us with a reliable car.
For Karissa and I to build relationships and friendships with peers and other churches in Inverness.
We are grateful for everyone’s love, support, and prayers throughout the move and these last months. We are excited for the season ahead and can’t wait to see what God will do; we plan to stay here in Stirling until the boys finish their school year, which will be wrapping up at the end of July. As international travel begins to open to up, we hope to host visitors and share this lovely country with you! We covet your prayers as we continue in this venture of faith.
Grace and Peace