Day 8

"Today we split our group up half and half again. The half I was in was the half who went to Gracemount to see Andy Prime and his ministry in 20 schemes. He met us and from there we walked to his house with him and his wife Sarah. At his house, he explain to us about his ministry and we examined the word "poverty" and the biblical definition of it as compared to how society and the government define it.  Through the discussion we were able to come to the conclusion that everybody experiences poverty because of sin, whether it is financial, social, physical, or spiritual.  Andy showed us how that understanding is what helps them to think about their ministry in the best way.

 After this we went to the house where the after-school activities that him and his wife host for the children in the town take place. There we we spent time hanging out and getting to know the children. I worked in the kitchen with a few other students. It was so cool to see the ministry that they are working in and really was inspiring to get involved not only here but back in the US. Afterwards both groups as well as the others in the church youth met at Myles house to watch films they had made during the day. Which I'm sure you will hear shot from Emily. Overall the day was great and it's been such a blessing getting to know all the wonderful people here."

-Brenna 

"Just like Brenna mentioned, the group split in two the moment we got off the bus - half headed off to Gracemount and the other half trekking up the Royal Mile. There we met with a guy named Tom Breimaier.  Tom used to go to Parkside, but now he's getting his PHD in Church History in Edinburgh!  He guided us through a tour of his divinity school and also took us to visit Charlotte Chapel, where Pastor Begg used to work!

After lunch, we shopped for a few hours until Myles dropped by, gathered us up, and led us to the bottom of Arthur's Seat, a small hill ("More like a bump really, it's only about seven hundred feet high") that actually stood around six hundred feet high. I spent the whole climb wheezing and sweating and when my iPod died halfway up the hill I looked at it for a moment then said: "Me too." But it was an amazing opportunity and, while I don't think I'll do it again, I wouldn't have missed it for the world." - Emily B.

Brenna and Emily