Hello
Friends and Family,
As we
write this letter to you, we have been serving in Scotland now for just around
8 months, and what an adventure it has been! In the words that follow we will
seek to summarize our time here so far, and lay out some plans for the months
to come.
The
Last 6 Months:
We have laughed, cried, cleaned,
climbed, explored, fought, cooked, folded, ate, traveled, aged, celebrated,
mourned, painted, and experienced every other type of emotion and activity. We
have crossed the Atlantic, ridden the railways, and seen sights like the London
Eye, the Seven Sisters Coastline, the streets of Edinburgh, and the picturesque
rolling hills and lochs of Scotland. These extraordinary adventures were made possible by the ordinary adventures of working at Abernethy Outdoor Centre;
cleaning toilets, “hoovering” (vacuuming) countless hallways, cooking poached
eggs and sausages, and the average amazing every day. 
We have also established so many life-long
relationships. The Kelman’s (Brian, Isabel, Andrew, etc) have blessed us with a
home away from home in Glasgow, a place to get away and a family for the
holidays. And of course, the Abernethy Staff, both at our centre and beyond;
have been such a welcoming community and have continued to show us true
community.
The
Next Steps:
We may be
3/4 way there but we are not done yet! As we approach the summer season,
Abernethy only gets busier. Matthew is now regularly working as an instructor,
and Cynthia is continuing to support the house and kitchen team. In April, we
traveled briefly back to the tates for Cynthia’s sister’s wedding, and this
June Matthew’s parents are coming for a visit.
Unfortunately, as we are 1/2 way
through our contract, we have begun to think about what to do after this
August. We are pursuing an opportunity to spend another year in Scotland, but
we are also applying at some places back in the states. Prayers for wisdom and opportunity would be
appreciated as we try to balance our dreams of exploration with the practical
side of finances and building experience in our fields.
Thanks to You:
Oh, how
wonderful you all are!!! For all those times, when we have forgotten to say
thank you… THANK YOU! ‘Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder’. As we live
the everyday over here, we have found that it is the mundane, simply day-to-day
life that we miss. Sharing with you all the deal you found at the store, the
awesome new restaurant and any other amount of “ordinary”. So thank you for
being … THERE.
Prayers:
1. Future: As we said above, we are starting
the process of figuring out where to go next. Your prayers and recommendations
on places to look is appreciated and welcomed.
2. Health:
It seems to be an
on-going battle, and we are just tired of being ill. Prayers for wisdom on how
to navigate the medical system over here, and for just healing.
3. Finances: We are beginning to save for the
trip home and build a savings for the next step in our lives, but we are
seeking a balance between living in this moment and saving for the future.
For the next steps and to follow along with our
journeys here in Scotland, don’t forget to check out our blog: Sheddsgotoscotland@blogspot.com.
Also, we would love to receive snail mail @
The Shedds
Abernethy Ardeonaig
Near Killin, Perthshire
United Kingdom, FK21 8SY
May The Grace and
Peace of God Bless you as you have blessed us,
Cynthia and
Matthew Shedd
