Day 4: Happiness and Struggles

This morning we went with Andy (Our host brother) and we taught the small Scottish kids in the tennis camp. The kids get about a ten minute break in the middle of their two hour clinic so Corinne was able to share with them about friendship and how Jesus wants to be there friend. Immediately after the tennis camp we all drove to Stevenston. Each one of us gave a radio address about God and his different attributes. We also had the opportunity to pick one Christian song for them to play after our address which is going to air next week. Following the radio address, our team went and served at the High Kirk by sweeping and a little bit of weeding. After serving at the High Kirk, Helen (the Head Honcho) had scheduled a doubles tournament at the tennis club in Kilmarnock. She had invited all of the parents of all the teenage boys to the tournament as well. This was a fantastic opportunity for all of us to meet the parents of the boys as well as grow our relationships with them. -Josh

Trey, Josh and I swept the road of the High Kirk and had a blast doing it. It didn’t even feel like work it was so fun and we just laughed and laughed and laughed. Service projects always bring people together and it was great being able to do it with them and get to know them better. We recorded our radio addresses which was a cool experience. That night we had the American tennis night. I was really discouraged because I did horrible playing tennis. I wondered why I was on a tennis mission trip if I could’t even play tennis without hurting my knee. It wasn’t just that night, but also when all the Scottish boys were playing and during the tennis camp. I hated being limited by something and having to hold back. God then began to reveal to me that tennis wasn’t going to be my outlet to shine for Him. He began showing me other ways that He wanted to use me. -Emma

First day at tennis. The courts are Astro-turf so they are quite slick and bounces totally different from American hard courts. That definitely took some getting used to. There was a certain level of discomfort for me the first several days of the trip. I was thrown into an unknown home in an unknown place in a different country, completely out of my comfort zone. Our team did not get a whole lot of time to really build up one another initially. Even on the tennis courts, I was uncomfortable, not sure how to move or time the ball. I felt totally out of sorts. Eating with Tom, Sue, Venetia, Ian, and Elaine was certainly good for the soul. Tom has the most brilliant sense of humor supported by his Glasgow accent, and Venetia is such a godly lady with such an immaculate British accent. Much laughter and fellowship was helpful for me and the entire team to be built up and prepare for the coming days. The tennis tournament that night was a great bonding time as well for us to finally start interacting with the Scotland Boys. -Trey