Saturday Post -- 07/07/12

A missionary get-together with Malcolm & Liz McGregor

Five rapid-fire years ago today, Amanda and I invited a group of family and friends to Markham Bible Chapel to sit quietly and listen to us say "I do". Quite where those years have gone is beyond me, but I do know that I, for one, have been richly blessed to have been a part of this partnership. Amanda has patiently put up with my many weaknesses, encouraged me when I've doubted myself and taught me a lot about sacrifice. I am a very lucky man.

So excited were we to mark our anniversary, however, that we took a long-weekend trip to Santa Cruz a whole week early! Well, not quite. Our hand was forced by another factor, namely the visit of old family friends Malcolm & Liz McGregor to the city last weekend. Malcolm is International Director of SIM (Serving in Mission), a vast, international Christian missions organisation. However, the McGregors served at the missions coalface for many years before stepping into the boardroom and it was a pleasure to tap into their wealth of experience over dinner on Sunday evening. Many years ago, at a critical juncture in their ministry, Malcolm benefitted immensely from meeting regularly to pray with, and receive spiritual counsel from, my Grandpa Murdoch back in Milngavie. This time a Murdoch offspring and his wife were on the receiving end of the McGregors' own wisdom -- I'm sure Grandpa Murdoch would have been delighted.

Our base for the weekend was Hotel Buganvillas, where we had previously holidayed back in January 2011 with Amanda's sister Jessica. Unashamedly swanky, the hotel offers Fundación Totaí workers a corporate rate, so we always get a great deal. Though it was only our second visit, our routine there is now well established. I'll get up for a jog around 7am (an hour beyond which I'm usually physically incapable of sleeping these days), grab a quick shower, and then, at around 9am, it's downstairs to The Breakfast Buffet. For a Scot on holiday, 'tis very heaven: a cornucopia of just about every kind of breakfast dish under the sun (black pudding aside) and multiple visits are permitted, nay, encouraged. So not only do you get a top breakfast, you can eat enough to do you for the day, thus rendering lunchtime expenditure unnecessary. Told you it was a Scotsman's holiday paradise. 

With Wimbledon on this time (oh, and isn't it just this year!) we would retire to our room and enjoyed a spot of televised tennis while in recovery mode. Around noon, we'd head for the health spa or the pool, with somewhat chillier winter weather requiring a hearty swim just to stay warm in the water. Much reading is caught up on in between and, around 4pm, we're working out what film we want to see at the multiplex that evening.

We were able to attend to a couple of more pressing matters, however. We had an appointment at the clinic on Friday morning, where Amanda had a check-up -- all is well. And on Friday evening, we were able to track down Emilixy and her two younger sisters, Tirza and Wendoly, who are now living with their relatives. For those who've been praying for these children, you'll be pleased to know that they're settled in homes (they're spread across two of them which are in the same neighbourhood) with responsible aunts and uncles -- in fact, probably a lot more responsible than their currently incarcerated parents -- and they're settled in good schools. To give them a bit of a break, we took Tirza and Wendoly out for burgers and a flick (Brave) at the multiplex, the undoubted highlight being 6-year-old Wendoly's panic, followed by intense joy, as she boarded, and rode on, her first escalator. 

We arrived back in Trinidad on Wednesday morning and were straight back to work, with the usual bout of classes to teach and Education administration for me, and Amanda facing a busy time of it in Audiology, while also finding time to prepare for Sunday's young women's Bible study and make a home visit. With the mid-year school holidays beginning on Monday, attention is now turning to next week's 5-Day Club, organised by the Sports workers and based at the local school in the mornings. 

Last night we had the pleasure of a meal with Rogers & Donna Churipuy and their two children, who are in Trinidad for a couple of weeks visiting Rogers' family. Rogers and Donna met here many years ago when Donna, a Canadian, worked in Trinidad as a volunteer nurse, though our paths had never previously crossed. Last summer, while we were in Canada, they got in touch with us asking if we'd like to get together -- it turned out they were dedicated blog followers, coming across our website during Rogers' frequent googling for all things Trinidad. A year on, it was a pleasure to catch up with them.

Before signing off, while we've been away our final 'permission to build' paperwork has been advancing and should be in our hands by Monday, meaning that we are, finally, free to begin work on the house. Our architect popped by yesterday for a chat and he and his workers are happy to get started as early as this coming week. All going to plan, we should be in our very own home come Christmas. Pool and breakfast buffet optional.

Prayer

• For the 5-Day Club this week. Amanda and I will both be leading small-groups, while I have responsibility for music, as usual. Pray that God prepares the hearts of those children who are coming to receive the Good News.
• For the English classes as we begin the final module with the Intermediate class next week. Pray particularly for the impact of the Thursday class, where we have a simple Bible study.

Praise

• For a very relaxing -- and somewhat productive -- few days in Santa Cruz.
• For the insights gained from our evening with the McGregors.
• For our housing project now being at a state of near-readiness.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda