Nairn Mission - Day 5 - Friday

We can't believe that Friday arrived so soon!

The consensus among the Nairn leadership and IPC team is that this may have been the best yet. Energized, encouraged, and hopeful are words we would use to describe the current atmosphere. There is a growing sense of unity in the community of Nairn.

Today's emphasis was on the parable of the sheep and the goats. Mud gave an age-appropriate, but at the same time, a very strong talk on this subject clearly pointing out that eternal life is a reality, but also that choosing separation from God leads to Hell. Parents arrived early to witness the children's closing songs as they have all week, then we proceeded to the schoolyard for the annual final day picnic. We enjoyed a beautiful day of sunshine in the Highlands to end our week of Holiday Club.

In the evening Nairn Free Church hosted a ministry known as Ignite at Rosebank Hall which featured music and testimony from a recovering drug addict. It was a very powerful and meaningful way to end our week.

Nairn Mission - Day 4 - Thursday

Today's lesson was the Parable of the Lost Sheep. As an illustration of the lesson, a toy sheep was hidden in the room. The children learned that each one of them is valuable in the Lord's sight and that He rejoices when even one lost sheep returns to the fold. The drama further emphasized that the Lord does not give up on us, even in our disobedience.

The mission team had a most unusual afternoon. Dave Eglinton invited us to meet a fellow believer for teatime at his family-owned lodge in Loch Ness. We spent a couple of hours discussing the role of Christianity in mainstream life in the US. The young man was extremely interested in Young Life, has a heart for youth ministry, and wants to start a Young Life-type organization in under-served areas of Scotland. We strongly encouraged him to use us as a resource for further dialogue.

In the evening, we celebrated Scottish traditional music and dance with a Ceilidh.

Nairn Mission - Day 3 - Wednesday

Greetings from Nairn, UK!

The day started with all leaders and teen helpers meeting in a time of prayer starting with a devotion led by Ali MacDonald. Another great group of Nairn children arrived soon after and were soon participating in their songs, games, crafts, etc. which reinforced the learning of the weeks' memory verse. Ali also gave the talk during Holiday Club which covered the parable of the prodigal son.

The Lord blessed us with one of the most beautiful days we've ever experienced for sports. The kids taught us "rounders" (a sort of UK version of baseball) which seemed to have ever-changing rules and scoring. We also played ultimate frisbee; but having no frisbee, we improvised using the soft baseball. Approximately 80% of the children returned for sports or crafts which was an increase in attendance.

Please pray for these specific requests:
1. For Toni's "Jolly Jumbos" group as they have five special needs children.
2. For effective follow-up by Nairn Free Church with the contacts made this week.
3. For encouragement, hope, and peace for Mud, Maggie, Kirsty, and Angus in God's calling
for Kingdom advancement in Nairn.
4. For inter-congregational relationships to continue to develop and evolve between
Smithton-Culloden and Nairn Free Church.
5. That the current successes of Wednesday evening kids' ministry would continue to
be blessed by the Lord.
6. That the Lord would bless the ongoing renovation of the Nairn Free Church building.

We had the pleasure of attending Wednesday Evening Prayer Meeting at Smithton-Culloden Free Church at which David Meredith spoke on Psalm 88. It was a positive message on a traditionally dark scripture passage. We got to tour their new facilities which include a renovated sanctuary, kitchen, and fellowship hall. It was clearly communicated to us that the prayers and support of friends from "the colonies" were much appreciated.
Till next time...
In Christ.

Nairn - Day 2 - Tuesday

Tuesday's lesson was the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Bryan presented the story. One of the points made to the children was that the Good Samaritan chose to extend mercy to his neighbor. The children seemed to respond well to understanding the concept of mercy and the continued reinforcement of the memory verse: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbour as yourself." Luke 10:27

Tuesday night was the beginning of a new Holiday Club tradition at Rosebank Hall that our Scottish friends referred to as "Quiz and Nibbles." The event was a Scottish version of Trivial Pursuit that included not only holiday club children but also their families. The Rosebank Hall was full and the night was deemed a success - to be repeated next year.

Nairn Mission, Day 1

Greetings from Nairn, Scotland,

Today was the first day of the Nairn Holiday Club. 61 children had preregistered; 49 children actually attended. The theme this year is Jungle Jamboree with lessons being Jesus' parables from the Book of Luke. Today's lesson was the Parable of the Great Feast with Susan Henderson from Nairn teaching after a time of singing about God's creation and a skit (featuring our very own Elaine Edwards). As in the past two years, Rev. Murdo MacLeod and his lovely wife Maggie set the stage for a happy fun-filled day as the emcees, tag-teaming with jokes and story-telling while the children listened intently.

We praise God for the fruit of the mission over the past seven years. Most of the teen helpers are youth who have actively attended the Holiday Club - some from the club's inception. Many of the children we saw today are boys and girls who have attended for several years as well as some new faces. They range in age from 5 to 12. It was particularly encouraging during small group time to have many of the youth answer questions about the message of accepting the invitation to the "great feast" and a life of obedience with the reward of eternal life.

Yesterday after the morning service, the congregation, teachers and teen helpers were treated to a barbeque Scotland style (i.e. cook out) by Ali Paul from Smithton Culloden Church. This was a great opportunity to reconnect with the members of Nairn Free Church and other participating churches as well as a wonderful way to kick off this week's events surrounding Holiday Club.

Sunday night we ate with Mud and Maggie and enjoyed a time catching up on the happenings at Nairn Free Church. We also saw the renovations in progress at the church. Tonight friends from the United Reformed Church fed us and we enjoyed a great time of fellowship.

In your service,

2011 Nairn Mission Team