Have A Wonderful Christmas!

To all our dearest, most precious friends and family. Wishing you a very happy Christmas. Lorna and I are far away- Sydney Australia to be exact- but tonight as we wrap the few gifts we have for each other our thoughts are with you all more than ever. It’s Christmas eve…with a difference. There is no tinsel in sight and the shops are surprisingly (and refeshingly) quiet. We've spent a lot of our time here at church, for several reasons. Firstly the stunning spirit filled worship and teaching; secondly beautiful Caroline (Lorna's sister) and many of her friends are students at Hillsong College and so they are completely involved in everything and lastly we are here to serve. Although Australia is by no means a developing country (however they haven't developed enough to know that mullets went out in the eighties!) people here, like everywhere in the world, have needs and poverty and injustice does exsist. So over the past few weeks we've absolutely loved being involved in the ministry of the street teams, led by Camokazi (Caroline's nick name ala Soul Touch!). We’ve been wrapping pressies, generously donated by members of the congregation. It’s one of the many outreach community care projects that Hillsong bless their neighbours with every year. It's similar to the Shoe box appeal that we all get excited about at this time of year at home. I am picturing you all now stuffing goodies into carefully wrapped boxes for children less fortunate than yourselves, goodies which have been hand picked and bought with love! The concept is is similar in that the gifts are given out to children and families who are in need. However the practicality of it all is something we discovered to be very surreal. Instead of sleep socks and cosy slippers being packed into stockings we carefully wrapped beach cricket sets and volleyballs as we sat toasting in the sun outside on the church lawn. I know “outside” may be a foreign concept to you all at the moment. You will (or should) be curled up on couches watching star spangled episodes of Dancing with the Stars and X Factor, oh how we miss it!


…but not that much. More than turkey, snow and our favourite shows we miss you, each individually, personally and an incredible amount! Christmas is a celebration, a time for family and for most a time of reflection and so despite the physical ditance between us you are still the ones in our thoughts and prayers. We pray this Christmas you will be abudantly blessed and God will continue to enable you to bless others as you have blessed and enriched our lives! We love you all so dearly and being away from you simply reminds us of how fortunate we are to have all of you in our lives.

Enjoy every second of Chirstmas! We will be in touch before the new year to let you know more about our adventures so far and the ones we are looking forward to in 2008!
Love and many, many blessings to you all!
Erica and Lorna xxx

"Together We Are Better"

In Africa (sorry to drag you all back there. Don't worry you didn't imagine all of our escapades since leaving that place. As Lorna has pointed out we are infact in Oz although there have been no sightings of the Wizard as yet. A lot of time has passed and a lot of miles have been flown since then but since arriving here in the Oz it's made me think heaps about the friends we've left and the things we saw there.

In Uganda we spent time with the King Alfred team on a building site constructing a boarding house at Butagya Primary School. (Scroll back there's lots more info about it earlier.) Although some of us tried to boss on site there was only one real boss: John. John was a Ugandan with a chubby tummy, a huge smile and a lot of responsibility. It was John's job to oversee all of the work on the site. He had to ensure each brick was put perfectly in place in order to support the ones being placed on top.
Now at the time I thought John was a ultra pernickety. To me the building of the boarding house was a matter of urgency for two reasons. Firstly the children needed somewhere to sleep and secondly our time there was limited. As I looked around the school (which we had now turned into a building site) and assessed the situation it looked like we needed to work fast.

At least forty school girls, between the ages of 5-14, were now scattered amongst the human chain that had been formed to transport the bricks from one end of the site to the other. Dressed in sunshine yellow dresses which matched their smiles, the girls giggled and laughed at the mazoongos (turning pink beneath the hot African sun) who were struggling to keep up passing the hundred ton bricks (they told us they were made of mud but I think they lied!) to the children who effortlessly tossed them onto the site to be used. Some carried them on their heads, cushioned with leaves to protect their scalps. The mazonngos even had a go but the less said about that the better eh Pastie!? The girls in line were currently sleeping in their classroom, huddled together like animals but with poorer sanitation.

My eyes could only see the immediate situation. These beautiful girls needed a boarding house (somewhere to sleep) and fast. So you can imagine my frustration and confusion when John (site manager) insisted on checking each individual brick put in place and then proceeded to adjust any that were placed incorrectly or were "rubbished" as he would say. John was an expert bricky and an awesome teacher. He was even patient with me when I couldn't get the hang of the tools (I know now that string is an extremely important tool in every brickies toolkit). This string thing had a weight on the end and I am told it measured something. I was also told the name of it, which I've momentarily forgotten but know doubt my brothers will remind me of it once they've read this. Anyway, it was used to make sure the bricks were straight, which most of mine weren't :(

For a week John and the team laid the bricks....slowly. They used the process of laying one, checking it with the special string and so on...and on ...and on! And so we left that site with the boarding house unfinished. It did leave me slightly dissatisfied as I would've loved to see the girls in it and the roof on but I was content with John's promise that the job "would get done". Looking back I'm so glad John was there. I'm thankful that he corrected my bricks and that the men finishing the build know how to use the string thing correctly. You see I know that when that building is complete it will be magnificent. It will be a beautiful home for the girls and they don't deserve anything less than magnificent. So imagine that is one small group of dedicated people building a boarding house for school children- imagine the church (think global, think massive!) rebuilding the temple for Christ coming. (Nehemiah 6)

Since arriving here at Hillsong Church Australia we've been receiving amazing (although challenging) teaching and we've met some beautiful (ridiculously stunning) men and women who love God. People who believe they are like the bricks. No not square and made of mud (although I'm sure some smart theologian could come up with a sermon out of that n prove me wrong what with the murry clay n all that!) but they believe they are people placed perfectly where God wants them to be.
More so they believe that the brick that follows- the next generation of believers- will be seriously effected by whether or not they are in line. I know you guys back in Scotland are imagining the same thing. I know that you are fighting hard to get into line with God and to position yourself in a great place so that you can bless future generations. So I want to thank you first of all for your example and your vision, that you are trusting God and believing his promises (Isaiah 43: 5-7, Jeremiah 29:11-14)) but also to challenge you. Remember we are not the foundations: we are part of the build.

For centuries Christains have been spreading the gospel to all nations so we can trust that we have some amazing foundations. Some of the greatest people who ever lived have laid them- the most obvious and strongest rock ever Jesus- and that's just the start. Since his death (and resurection) his disciples have been building: Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Billy Graham to name a few and that's only who my wee brain knows about.

I want to encourage you that wherever you are in the wall make sure your contribution counts cos it will most definately effect those that follow. It is up to you whether or not it effects them in a positive way or a negative one. What's more it doesn't matter if you are not the cornerstone, someone taking extra weight and responsibilty, (although well done if you are) without you and your contribution the cornerstones would fall too.

That's a huge lesson I'm learning here: "Together we are better!" (Brian Houston)
The church (and I'm talking globally) is one team and like the bricks we can all support each other. If you look around the church and you're squirming in the position you're in maybe you need to think about repositioning yourself. If you see everyone else and wish you were where they are or doing the job they are doing, or worse still you don't want their job but you don't want them to be blessed by it either well I suggest you find a John. Find someone who will help you get in line (or how to use the tools we've got on our site- trust me the bibles a whole lot easier to use than the string thing 'n' it makes more sense, well to me at least!) Like John they will be patient and take time with you. Remember they are overseeing the job- they don't want you to fall cos that only holds up progress. We want a church that is constantly progressing! We have no time for "regressors"! (Ephesians 5:16)

If you feel, wait a minute I'm not even a brick yet. I'm still in the mould 'n' I'm not sure I'll be able to fit. Remeber the one who made you, made you perfectly just how you're supposed to be. He made you to be part of the build. (Phillippians 1:6)

In Africa materials are expensive so they waste NOTHING. A couple of time a few of the mazoongos (not naming any names) would spoil a brick, dropping it from the cushion on their heads. Others were damaged when the human chain started laughing hysterically! Nobody cast them aside. Never once did John say "Oh well that one's damaged we can't use it." No! He simply sanded off the rough edges and made it fit. He even went to the trouble of adding a lil extra mud to a couple and reshaping them so they could be used. Most often these "damaged" bricks were used as the cornerstones cos he said they were the strongest. How much more does God love it when he can reshape us and use us to make something magnificant!? (Math 18: 10-14)

When we first arrived at Hillsong we were immediately challenged by a vision they have here. They call it The I heart Revolution: (www.iheartrevolution.com)

"Imagine a global church and the impact it could have on the world!"

I thank God that you guys are imagining a global church and together we are witnessing how it is changing the world. Although we are not the foundations we are part of the build and we're progressing. We are building on what's gone before and preparing something better for the future.

God is building a global church and we need each other. If we unite we are stronger. The world is watching and like me on the building site they are becoming impatient. They can see (and feel) the immediate needs. They want an answer like the girls wanted somewhere to sleep. I believe we have the answer- Jesus!

Are you committed to the build?

Aussie Barbie?..Na Pass Me the Waterproof Poncho Please!

G'day! Howz it ga'in dudes?! Yes o yes we have arrived down under! That whole ' we at the bottom of the earth' thing makes me feel dizzy when i think about it too much. The weather out here is scortchio...na im joking, its actually been rain storms everyday since we arrived, which is actually making it feel a little more like Christmas for us!

We met up with my sister Caroline on arrival at the airport, its been 5 months since i seen her so the skies reverberated with high squeals and laughter when she found us lying on the benches sleeping our tierd little heads since we had decided not to go to sleep on the plane but do an 8 hour movie marathon. Can you believe that they show 'The Neverending Story'?! AND 'High School Musical'?! Im not ashamed of my film taste at all..cough cough! But we turned Malaysian Airways into broadway as we watched 'Hairspray' and 'High School Musical 2'! Yeah we got an encore, but our dancing had to calm down as the pilot thought the plane was going through turbulance.

So we have been in Oz for just over a week now and our days consist of, church, church, church, a day in the city and more church but when your local church is Hillsongs you start to cry when the services are over! To be honest with you guys, when Caroline was taking us to our first service which was last Saturday night i was nervus...yes i admit...i was nervus about going to church! I had seen Hillsong on TV and it looked massive, everybody uber confident and i just felt like it was my first day in school.

The first thing that i noticed about the church is that it was so welcoming for first time visitors. Outside the church they have proper coffee wagons, table and chairs and a burger stall where you can meet church members or just chill out before for what will undoubtably be a powerful sermon. When i entered into the main church it actually looked more inviting and homely than what i had imagined it to be, yes there is an overall congregation of 10,000 people per sermon - 4 sermons a day, but there was a seat for everyone and we weren't stuck right at the back at the fire exist doors but we comfortably founds seats 4 rows from the front, where we pearched on our seats eager for the worship to start! They have massive wall screens that boom on powerful versus in the bible that prepare your heart, mind and soul for hearing God.

So im standing there all hyped up, and then......( everybody get your air guitars ready) Hillsong United come on stage and bring you further into God's presence with their powerful worship! The legend that is Darlene Zschech was leading it also, i felt so blessed to be there. I looked around and saw that most of the congregation are youths. This church had done it, this church had made God more attractive than the world for young people and it was awesome.

We have plans made up for Christmas, we are going to Annette's Mum ( the lady that owns the house that Caroline is staying at) is taking us in for Christmas dinner and then we have been invited to Terry Scott's who is one of the worship lecturers at Hillsong College for a gathering! It looks all good!

Hope to update you with more later!

Lorna xx

Thaierd!

Imagine a piano played so sensitively that the notes create a melody gentle enough to still a crying child (and silence the Soul Touchers). Imagine a voice, which once sounded foreign in both tone and language, now singing to you a song your ears understand. Under the melody a gentle humming starts and although it is a language you have not studied each word meditates on your heart.

Hard to imagine I know. Infact perhaps it is impossible to recreate the atmosphere of the prayer meeting we attended the first evening we arrived at Fah Muang Thai Church, the church we are visiting now. Situated in the outskirts of Bangkok this little house is home to us and has been for the past week. It is home also to a congregation of about fifty Thai people, although they do not sleep on the Sunday School Floor alongside us.

Conducted entirely in Thai one might think it would be impossible to participate however my experience is quite the contrary. And so with eyes closed I listened. For a moment I stopped straining to hear, to join in or to understand I just sat quietly (even more impossible to imagine now I know).

Over the past few days it has become more and more obvious that we have been called here for a reason. We have learned so much from the hospitality of the people here; their kindness knows no bounds. They show what it is to love in a very practical way. Nothing is an inconvenience to them and so morning, noon and night we are well looked after (and fed!)

Since picking us up off the “Venga Bus” (Thai buses are a whole other story but basically they are colourful -I’m talking pink floral designs on the outside, green Thai Silk curtains and red velvet seats on the inside, full of backpackers and can be very comfortable, or so we’re told. Unless however, you have the unfortunate experience of sitting at the very back, awkwardly perched between red velvet seats unable to get into a position in which you can sleep and to make things worse the hyperactive Israeli gentlemen sharing the red velvet sofa with you talks incessantly for every second of every minute of every hour you are on the bus. Yes all 14 of them! Of course if you chose to visit Thailand I can not guarantee that you will have this privilege, they may charge you extra for the ticket but I would certainly suggest you enquire about it…or not!) the members of the congregation here have done everything in thier power to make us feel at home. And we do!

Before I go any further actually I should introduce a new wee addition to our team. She’s limited edition and so for three weeks and three weeks only we’ve had (and are still having) the most amazing time with Laura (aka Drumzo, Laura Drummond). I’m sure she’ll have her own interpretation of events but hey she doesn’t have her own website so here goes!

Back to the church. Apart from being one of the friendliest communities I’ve ever been in the congregation here at Fah Muang Thai are living examples of how God does not only exist inside the church building and so neither should his people. The fact the building itself is a rented house (and therefore can not accommodate a huge congregation) does not limit the huge impact that this small congregation is having on the Thai community (and now the Soul Touchers plus Laura). Fah Muang Thai church goes out into schools, colleges and other churches teaching. Not only the gospel but it is a training centre for teachers. Today we visited one of the many communities they minister to: The Christian Foundation for the Blind with Multiple Disabilities. Meeting with these children really was like a little taste of heaven. To see them smile and to hear them laugh made my heart ache, in a good way. To watch two of my closest friends embrace, play and communicate with children who could not see (and in some cases neither hear) them and to see their beaming smiles just filled me with joy in abundance.

Now close your eyes and go back to the prayer meeting ‘cause there’s some things I still have to share with you. Some of you are starting to feel comfortable at the mere thought of a prayer meeting never mind one with soft music and people actually praying; bare with me for a second. Others of you will be imagining it quite well having experienced similar meetings either at home or abroad. And then there will be those of you who did actually shut your eyes for a wee second (dummies!) and then remembered you couldn’t read the screen like that. There’s always one.

Go back to imagining that Lorna and I were quiet (I know that will be meditation to your ears) and there is music playing. Sometimes we are not required to talk, to do anything or to be upfront. God requires us to simply listen and enjoy his presence. On Sunday we sang the verse “Be still for the presence of the Lord is moving in this place”. Some people were so shocked that God was there that they actually cried. So often we sing these words but when God actually shows up it terrifies us. I took this time to reflect and ask God the reason for the events that have occurred so far in Thailand. Trust me there’s been a few.

Last week we were in paradise (here in Thailand they call it Phi Phi Don, it’s a small island in the south very close to the beaches where they shot the film "The Beach" with Leonado DiCaprio). Our day’s activities consisted of swimming in crystal clear blue waters, lazing on white sands, eating fruits freshly picked from the surrounding trees and listening to Bob Marley. In our defense we we’re recovering from the fiasco in which I ended up in hospital in India but yes I know we’re bloomin’ fortunate! The weirdest thing was that despite the idyllic surroundings I could not relax; I’ve actually never felt more uncomfortable. Yes, I had my two best buds with me who made me laugh till my belly ached. We ate nice food, talked about men and even sang along to Chesney Hawks (who I mistakingly thought was the same person as Keith Chegwin for some reason. Has anyone else ever made that mistake?) in full voice. It was about as good as girly time gets but still I felt numb, sick and lost. “Maybe I just need to get back on track with the mission and I’ll feel more settled. Once we get to the orphanage I’ll feel fine.” I convinced myself. What I’ve learned since is that I got that totally wrong. I needed to get back on track with God.

Some people are completely disillusioned, living with the idea that Christians are all in the light. Infact many of these disillusioned people call themselves Christians (I include myself in every dumb mistake ever made, said or thought by any Christian) After all surely we are no longer in darkness if we have accepted Jesus as our personal Saviour: “I am the way the truth and the light”. On that Island I saw very little light and a whole lot of darkness; people searching, some more desperately than others, for something or someone to make them happy. Don’t get me wrong I am glad that God exposed me to both.

A dear friend and inspiring christain challenged me once. He told me: “the world is dark”. Well that’s kinda obvious we can see that; there are not very nice people and bad things happen all the time. And: “then there is light” he continued. "Those living and walking the way God intended us to live." He described things assosiated with the darkness. Things such as secular music with offensive lyrics, clubs and alcohol. When he spoke to me I could see where he was coming from, almost. “But he is African," I told myself "and they have a different culture”. WRONG. He is Christian and they have a different culture. Or at least we should have. On that island I experienced all of the things he associated with darkness.

Often, in lame attempts to fit in or when struggling not to be seen as “Jesus Freaks” we try to have one foot in the dark and the other in the light. I allowed the world to pull me one way, to think it was ok to have a cocktail, or to listen to bob Marley for a while. Thankfully God was holding my other hand and his love always overcomes evil. Now I really don’t want to create the impression we were the walking wounded, hanging out with the Rastas on the beach till the wee small hours. Not by any means. I’m not here to give you a lecture on alcoholism (I really am not qualified for that). You can drink whatever and whenever you like whilst listening to whatever music you like, I merely chose those as examples. But whilst doing these things you should consider how these things affect your relationship with God? Do they strengthen it? If the answer is no then get rid of them!

There were times on that island when I even convinced myself it was ok to fit in. “But I want to be able to communicate with the world”. Surely I have to be like them in some ways.” I questioned myself. “How can I minister to people if they don’t relate to me”. Jesus managed just fine and after all is he not our example. He ministered to the tax collector, murderers and prostitutes but he didn’t become like any of them so that they could relate to him!

When Lorna wrote about Israel she wrote about the armor of God. Ephesians 6 verse 11- 18. Well I believe this time here in Fah Muang Thai is preparing us with the armor we need for the rest of our mission. We are surrounded by Christians who are showing us how to love others. We have the bible of course and we should really know this already being missionaries and all but sometimes God gives everyone a wee helping hand (and personally I needed it). God never tests us beyond what we can cope with, this I know. He has a time for everything a time to work and a time to rest, this I know. And so I am not suggesting that we hibernate within the safe cocoon created by this wonderful Christian community for the rest of our lives, or even trip. That is not at all what God wants. He requires us to be salt and light: “Let your light shine before men, that they will see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.” (Mathew 5 16) That is all we desire to be. Unfortunately you can not shine that light if you are living in the darkness. If there are things in your life that are holding you back, giving you that numb uncomfortable lost feeling, the feeling I had only last week, guaranteed they do not come from God. He came to give you life in abundance not a horrible lost feeling. The bad news is for all you peeps who are already believers is that now is the time to give those “dark” things up. Stop kidding yourselves that you can have one foot in each camp, you will always feel torn.

So we are at the last stage of our Thailand experience. It has been three of the most exhausting weeks of my life. The place we went to rest turned out to be a total challenge and mission field and now the place we came to work is providing us with rest (despite the fact we’re sleeping on the Sunday school floor- I’m told the hard wood is as good as any Thai massage). God certainly does work in mysterious ways…his wonders to perform!

It’s those wonders that keep us going! And so on the 29th we’re off again. This time to Hillsongs Church Australia! We will be so sad to leave the friends (family) we have made here but like you guys at home they will be on this journey with us: on the blog and in our prayers.
Love you long time Erica x

Get In Touch Soul Touch

Hi peeps,
Just to let you know that it's now even easier to contact Soul Touch. We were a lil bit slow off the mark (well it only took us 5months to set up) but we now have our own email!

soul_touch @ yahoo.com

Original as ever as you can see! Looking forward to hearing from you all soon! Sending you all our love and blessings from the land that is Thai.
Erica and Lorna xxx

Back in Business! (Well Thailand Actually!)

Last night I sat for about two hours trying to describe what life has been like for Lorna and I over the past few weeks. I attempted to describe the pain in my booty when the nurse in India mistakenly thought it was a pin cushion; how by day and by night my bed in hospital was literally guarded by angels (Rob, Lorna, Raj and Phil- well from a distance) who sang, prayed and looked after me until they eventually released me (no it wasn’t a metal institution I was in but the hospital did drive us all a bit doolally). I think I even took on the relentless task of describing my symptoms incase any of you medics out there could diagnose the unknown fever I contracted; contrary to what I was told in India I refuse to believe there is such a thing as “chickentitus”. To be honest what I was writing probably wasn’t all that funny but in short it was a summary of events. So you can imagine my frustration this morning when, in an attempt to escape the soaring hot sun toasting the holiday makers outside, I came in only to find that they’ve “leeset the comp-pooters sowee”!

Let’s just say this particular soul toucher’s pink skin (I forgot to tell you mum I got a wee bity sun burnt but nothing to worry about.) went a brighter shade of pink…but only for a sec! “Leeseting” the “comp-pooter” has actually been a godsend.

First and foremost it’s saved you all reading the gorey details of my “chickentitus” (for those of you who don’t know about my hospital saga I was ill in India but I’m all better now thanks to Lorna, Robert, Phil, Raj, Vani, Captain Thacker ‘n’ a whole host of other angels who looked after me and prayed for me during that horrible time). It also reminded me that there is no need to focus on the tedious details of my illness or the fact we were deported on our first arrival to India; although these events seem to have boosted the profile of Soul Touch somewhat. It would appear that everybody loves a drama! Well you’ve come to the right place because God has well and truly created to Drama Queens n the best thing about it is that he’s in the business of sending them around the world “right about now”!

The truth is India was a whole lot more than Visa offices and dull hospital wards. India was a place of discovery. We spent time discovering lots about ourselves; our capabilities (and disabilities). About the world of religion and how when Jesus said we would be persecuted for our faith he really did mean it. The first morning we arrived we read a psalm in church (Raj perhaps you could enlighten me I can’t remember the exact verse but I think it was Psalm 14) It spoke about how men have turned away from God. They worship false God and idols. It was at this point that we first discovered the strength and courage of Raj, Vani, Sebastian, Caption Thacker and all the others who are so determined to live for Jesus despite the fact they are literally surrounded by men who do worship idols. They offer people hope in a place where today people are still sacrificing children and idolizing cows.

Whilst visiting a local hospital in the jungle area of Dindigal we discovered what to do when placed a room of one hundred female nursing staff in the final stages of their training. No we didn’t run out! We did what we did best. We talked…and talked…and talked. About the most exciting topic we could think of…yes you guessed it: the gospel! Really it is amazing how God sustains you and gives you the recourses you need even in the most surreal an unexpected situations.

Dindigal was also a place of discovery for another two (much more inspirational) women whom we had the privileged of meeting. When we were told we were being sent to the jungle Lorna and I prayed. Well that’s not entirely true the first thing we did was scream (yes we’ve not changed that much) then we packed (all the essentials: bug spray, bug spray, more bug spray and mosquito repellant). Then we prayed. As you know we have been to some of the most remote and desperate places in the world yet it has not been fully revealed to us exactly why we are being sent to them and we pray daily (hourly, minutely) about what God wants us to do with the information we are gathering, the stories we are hearing and the desperate situations we are witnessing. We know that on our own there is very little we can do but we are trusting that this blog is powerful (yeah you know it is or you wouldn’t keep reading it. Not because of what we are writing or who we are but because of what God is doing) and that with your involvement and God’s guidance we can change things for these children.

So let me tell you a little bit about what we discovered. The children come from the jungle and live in tribes, amongst the animals. When we interviewed them they told us of how they are “friends” with the animals and there is no need to fear them. Their parents have grown to trust the women and are eager to send more of their children however at the moment there is no room and they cannot financially afford to look after anymore than the eighty they already have. The best bit of the day for me was listening to the children talk about their futures. How they want to become doctors; teachers; missionaries. They can imagine a future now they no longer suffer the disease they were susceptible to in the jungle, or at least they have access to medical are and an education.

Do you know I’m actually struggling to even articulate how exciting it was for us to be there. First of all to be in such a beautiful place and secondly to express the gratitude we felt towards all those who continue daily to love these children, serve them and care for them.

This is something I scribbled in my journal on the way down the mountain! I think it says exactly what I discovered that particular day!

I saw Jesus today.
I’ve been searching, asking to see his face.
I met him in the mountains
His awesomeness filled the place.
He suspended a cloud, hung it gracefully over the sun.
His face reflected in the water
Reminding me of the victory he’s won.

I tried to capture it in a photo; pen a verse
Desperate for you to see it too
But nothing can contain the wonder of what he’s done for me and you.
God is at work in India he’s called you to be part
To listen to the children’s stories
Of how they’re living in the dark.

Between braches they rest their sleepy heads and the leaves are their nutrition.
Yes we’re talking in the 21st century.
God knows you’re in a position
To help or at least to continue the work that God’s already begun
He loves these children too
For him he sent his son.

He took us to the children there.
He has heard their prayers!
In the darkness of their hiding places
He’s shown them that he cares.
That people all around the world will hear that they exist
He’s sending messengers to tell their story
Making sure they are not missed.

“Show me God what we can do”
I pondered for a while
And there I saw the answer
Written in her smile.

He is written on their faces
In the testimonies they give,
As they whisper revealing to this stranger
about where they used to live.

Of how their hair grew long
Teeth plaqued; their bodies unclean
For these were forgotten children
The world had never seen.

Until our sisters braved to go there, sent by God above
To give them hope and a future to show them (practically) God’s love.
They ventured in to territory unknown to civilization
They carried no spear to protect them,
Only the revelation:
That God has a plan for each and every child
He listens when we cry
So maybe we can’t change the world but I now that we can try.
That God’s raising a generation
Of people who will acknowledge him.
Every tongue in every nation.
Will confess he is Goodness. He is love. He is King.

That without him we live in darkness
Like wild animals we continue to roam
He’s called the children from the jungle.
Listen he’s calling you home.

Ask to see his face
To be a part, to make a difference.
You no longer need to read this or watch only form a distance.
Get involved is what I’m trying to say
I should have penned that at the start
So we’ll continue to pray that you
In this discovery you will always be a part.

So know we’re in Thailand. Recovering! Not only from my hospital trip but also from everything we have been discovering over the past five months. It’s been amazing. We hope you are enjoying it too although our suntans are bound to be slightly better than yours!

We love you all…and then some! The Soul Touchers in Thailand

5 Bo´nessians, 1 Fifer and Thailand

Good day and how is your sea view looking this morning?!
Today i am so happy because with everyday that passes i can see that Erica's strength is getting better, praise God!
So i don't think anyone could really have prepared me with the company of half of Bo'ness! You guys are more exciting than an episode of River City. I now know that there was 5 primary schools, i hear that Kinnean ( or something like that) is the best primary school (don't pie the messanger!) and that there was one lucky High School, (Bo'ness Academy?) that you all attended. The family that live in No.32 have got a new dog, all dogs in Bo'ness seem to be Boxers for some reason. And to be honest all i could hear is 'shes my cousin' or 'he's my cousin too' etc...
And as i swim at the pool, inhaling and exhaling the beauty of Thailand if i squeeze my eyes, so i can just see a little water, and hear Erica, Laura, Ritchie, Tommy and Kev speak i can almost imagine that i am in Bo'ness looking at the River Forth ( not Bo'ness Loch that i used to call it). Obviously with the heat here i have to imagine that i am standing next to a bonfire aswell.
Its so amazing having everyone here and i haven't stopped laughing since the gang arrived! I am a big fan of Bo'ness and i feel like i know you all so much more and i can't wait to put faces to the names!
I want to thank you all for your continuing prayers, they have helped us so much. We can't wait until Soul Touch is back in full recovery after India and ready to run again.
Take Care
Big God Hugs
Lorna xxxx

Arrival In Thailand

[NOTE: Some of you may know that Erica wasn't so well for a little while in India, but she has recovered well and this recent e-mail to the church office encourages us that she and Lorna are continuing their epic trip undaunted...]

Dear All,Its Erica here!

I'm out of hospital and just wanted to thank you all so much for your prayers! They are powerful and they are being answered daily! I am getting stronger each day! The seizures have all stopped and my skin is not nearly as itchy! SO thank you and love you all in abundance! We are now in Thailand and Laura (Drummond) was here waiting for us at the airport! It is so nice to have my (other) best bud here with us and she'll be getting her soul touched no doubt!!! We did have so many plans here in Thailand, working with SU but we are just taking each day as it comes as I'm still building my strength. Lastly we were so excited to see the Soul Touch link that is on the standonline web page.

Love you all n then some,

ERICA XXX

Live Link with St Andrews

Here is a short clip of the live link with Bo'ness and Chennai on Sunday the 28th of October.

Click here.

Worldly Wise...Not!

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding”
Proverbs 3: 13

Two young ladies sat relaxing in the cobbled square of Old Jaffa (Israel) Having just completed the coastal walk from the centre of Tel Aviv to the historic city gates the girls enjoyed their ice coffees and remarked on their beautiful surroundings.
Lorna: The architecture here reminds me of Italy or Rome?
Erica: But you’ve never been to Italy Lorna.
Lorna: No I’ve never been to Rome either.

Later that evening, having returned from their days adventure (and hike) they dined by the sea. Looking up, expecting to see some familiar constellations Erica remarked on how dark the sky looked. It was lit up only by one beaming light. Lorna: What’s that over there?
Erica: It’s a star. It’s the Star of David; you know like the one on their flag ‘n' it’s hovering over Bethlehem.
Lorna: Are you sure that’s the star?
Erica: Yeah sure. It’s the brightest star; that’s how the wise men knew how to follow it. Suddenly the diamond in the sky turned red and started to move.
Lorna: Look Bethlehem’s moving!

Accents can often complicate things and so many times we misunderstand or misinterpret what people say. Whilst being driven to the next school, where they were going to teach, the girls absorbed some of their cultural surroundings. Being of an inquisitive nature Lorna enquired about the huge animals that were now parallel to the car, dwarfing it’s exterior.
Lorna: Oh my goodness what are they? I’ve never seen animals with horns as big as that before” Lorna screeched, pointing excitedly to the beasts.
“Dat is a Pull a Cart,” The girls were told.
“Ah a pulacart” Lorna repeated what the Indian gentleman had said, or at least what she thought he had said. “A Pulacart! I’ve never heard of that animal before.”
"It’s a bull," said Erica
“Yes dit is a bull. It is pulling dee cart.”
The girls giggles realising that the “pulacart” he was referring to was the vehicle not the animal.

“Entertain dem!” Was the instruction we were given by the pastor and so the Soul Touchers humbly obliged. So having finished their hundredth rendition of “Making a Melody” Erica and Lorna conferred about what game to play next.
“What game will we do next?" Lorna muttered through grinning teeth, still humming the melody song and straining to dance, despite every limb aching from a day of singing and dancing with enthusiastic Indian children.
"I think my trousers have ripped!" Erica paniced.
"What game?" Lorna repeated, thinking she had never heard of that particular one.
"My trousers! I think there’s a wee tear in the crotch but its ok finish the song I don’t think you can see it," Erica replied turning discreetly for Lorna to check the damaged garment.
"Eh, Erica I can see your bum." Lorna nervously hovered behind, trying to protect her friend’s modesty.
"Where?" Erica asked inspecting her trousers. But Lorna’s hand pointed to a completely different area: the backside, the seem of which was disintegrating as Erica moved. Gesturing to one of the many Indian women in the church Erica asked for a needle ‘n’ thread. The woman immediately removed the trousers and proceeded to wrap the, now hysterical, Erica in a sari! Lorna got one too but she didn’t have to burst her pants to get one!

It rained and poured for 40 days. India

“The animals went in two by two. Harrah, hurrah!” Sound familiar? Yes to Lorna and I, and anybody else who attended church holiday clubs or SU camps from a young age, this song will probably bring back fond memories of your childhood. For us however it is a reminder of our lives over the past few days. As I’ve described in the previous entry, for most of our day on Thursday we were standing in front of hundreds of children imitating elephants, birds, crocodiles and all sorts of other weird and wonderful creatures. We were telling the children of Kennedy school about Noah and how he had to take the animals into the ark. Little did we know that the poor children may be traumatised because literally days later we are enjoying our very own flood. Today is Sunday and all festivities have been momentarily put on hold because of the monsoon that is currently flooding Chennai. So we are imprisoned in our wee hotel until it stops, although judging from the weather forecast it doesn’t look set to stop until the 14th of Dec when indeed the monsoon period ends! So I thought I’d take this opportunity to say hi and let you know what we’ve been up to the past few days.

Before the rain interfered with our schedule (yes we have a timetable and we have to stick to it. Can you believe it! Those of you who know Captain Thacker will be able to imagine what our timetable may be like) Lorna and I had the opportunity to visit some of the homes in a slum area here in Chennai. We are being very well looked after by two churches: Christ the Rock and Mount Zion. Both churches do a lot of ministry in the slums and most members of their small congregations come from there.

So after a hectic day with the children in the schools we were told that we were going to visit these homes. Although a little nervous, having been to these areas in daylight and slightly tired we were excited to visit the homes of the women we had had been sharing and praying with; the women who had been looking after us so well. They too were equally as excited about showing us where they live and us meeting their families.

So we left the church (Mount Zion) and set out. Weaving in and out of the dusty stalls and homes we saw rats, children, men and women sitting. Yes just sitting. Some of them in silence, some talking to the children flung on the road in front of them, playing with old pots and pans or twigs. Some of the women lit fires, presumably to cook and men huddled in shop doorways chatting and smoking. All eyes were on us. Two large white girls. I say large, no not because we’re bigger than you but because we are definitely bigger than the average Indian. The women are very petite and dressed in the most beautiful saris. They actually add colour and a little life to the darkness that dampens the streets. As we pass, the hustle and bustle of the stalls stops. People stare. Some rush towards us gesturing to their mouths hoping that we can feed them. They groan in a language we don’t understand (Tamil) but their actions are crystal clear and we are left in no doubt of what they mean. They are hungry and we are obviously well fed. They need something to eat now. Discreetly both Lorna and I try to give the little money we have on us but our chaperones discourage us and whisk us into one of the little stone houses. The houses are like flats: stacked up high and between them ropes, laden with clothes being hung out to dry, are strung. I was actually concentrating so much on where I was putting my feet that I hadn’t looked up until pastor Sebastian joked that they had put the flags out for us coming!

Inside the homes we are met by large families. All desperate to meet us and most importantly pray with us. It was such an enriching experience to talk to these people. To hear of how God is at work in their lives. Yes I’m talking about now as you read this he is changing their homes and communities. To them God is real. He is someone they talk to, not just on a daily basis but all day everyday. They rely on him for things. We have learned that when they pray to him, like we discovered in Africa, they actually pray with confidence. They pray expecting things to happen. One family told us of how the mother had been in bondage for seven years; she had been "possessed by evil spirits". By this I presume she was in some sort of depression. At home she may have been prescribed a drug or worse still told to get on with things but here they prayed to God and he provided, as he always does. During that time her family home was a horrible place to be. The children told us about how it was always dark and no one was every happy. They said that now God is in their home they are happy and have joy. Who wouldn’t want that for their family!

Another home we visited consisted of only one room. This was home for the family of six. In it they all live by day and sleep by night, yes in that one room. They huddled between four cold stone walls on a stone floor. In one corner was a small water bucket and another empty one. Another part of the small room was partitioned as a kitchen from where they produced some fizzy juice for us. Time and time again we are overwhelmed by little they have and how willing they are to give. In the first home I mentioned they actually gave us money as a blessing for our ministry. It was probably their monthly salary. Yes we did take it! I know it sounds awful but they found it terribly offensive when we refused. And yes we will make a donation to their church so they get it back!

Finally we visited Solomon’s home. Solomon is a young man (25) who is hugely excited about God. He lives there with his mother (a stunningly beautiful woman) and his brother Moses. Solomon told us about how they, along with another younger brother whom we didn’t meet, used to live in “platforms”. When talking about that time in his life he was visibly distressed and so naturally we asked what “platforms” were. “They are the gutters or I think you call them pavements,” he answered.
“Yes I think we do.” I replied embarrassed. And so he went on to tell us of how God had provided them with a home and how he and his brothers are now all in fulltime employment. He then proceeded to show us round his home. It had a small kitchen, a prayer room (cupboard) and one bedroom. Awkwardly edging my way round the one double bed squeezed into the room, I asked, “Who sleeps here?”
“We all do. It’s a big bed isn’t it?” He replied looking at me as if I had asked a stupid question, which of course I had!

These are just some of the homes we have visited in the few days we have been here. Over the next few weeks we will no doubt visit many more. And so please continue to pray, not for us or even our safety here but pray for these people. Pray that our visits would be fruitful and that what we see would lead us (as in you and me) into action; into doing something for justice because this is simply unjust! To have two grown men sharing a bed with their mother is unjust. To be given money from a family who have barely enough to feed themselves is unjust and to see all of this and do nothing unthinkable. I say this every time. You can do something. Even if you can’t come to India you can do something. Everything starts with prayer. Whether it is prayer for wisdom, prayer for energy, prayer for motivation, prayer for finances. You can’t do anything but God can do everything through you!

School Visit India

“These are our very special guests. Welcome them with thunderous applause.” Was the instruction they were given and so the some six hundred students assembled in front of us complied with their headmaster. Some screamed, others cheered, their applause filling the courtyard where we had gathered. Next we were thoroughly entertained. The sound of traditional Indian music was played through loud speakers that, we were told, were purchased especially for our visit. For the next ten or so minutes we were enthralled by the intricacy of the carefully choreographed steps performed by the young girls on the stage. None of them seemed to be as daunted by their audience as we were. The foot of the stage marked the boundary for dozens of regimented rows of smartly dressed pupils. Each boy sat straight with his legs crossed, looking handsome in bright blue trousers and matching gingham shirts; each with their hair swept smartly into a side parting. The girl’s attire was equally as efficient. Dressed in pretty pinafores of the same bright blue they giggled and nodded nervously, clamouring over the boys at the end of assembly to shake our hands.

Although their school uniforms are a stark change from the saris they wear outside of the school gates the Indian influence is still president: long black pigtails are tied up with ribbon framing their smiling faces; as they dance they carefully clasp their first and second finger on the thumbs, twisting their wrists in time with the veena, the traditional Indian instrument accompanying them. Such delicate gestures draw attention to the henna art on their palms; almost every child is dotted with the signature of this area: the Hindu dot (pottu) painted between their eyebrows. Yet at the end of this beautiful welcoming ceremony the children all rise from their squatted positions and in chorus they recite the Lord’s Prayer.

This is Kennedy’s school where we have been teaching for the past two days. It is a Christian school and although many of the students come from Hindu families the Head teacher, Francis, informed us that parents prefer to send their children here because they install discipline and hope into their young students.

The discipline, or rather lack of indiscipline, is immediately obvious and the children appear for our classes eager to learn and they all participate enthusiastically. My initial reaction to this “royal” welcome was one of panic. It is totally overwhelming and extremely humbling being presented with gifts from a school where the children attend classes with little more than a notebook and the teachers teach with only a single piece of chalk. No interactive whiteboards assist them in their quests to educate this future generation. Similarly the children suffer from the lack of technology. Although they belong to the 21st century generation they are do not know what it is to benefit from 21st century technology. I am not implying that ones education is determined by what technology is available to them, not at all, but I am simply using it as one very obvious examples of difference between facilities we (in the west) have and the schools here don’t. Or let me use another. I was told, and actually experienced during my short period of teaching in Scotland, how children are affected by the weather. It’s true they, like us, become easily distracted by the elements. If it’s raining outside they become a little more excitable (completely mental and hyperactive) and if it’s sunny (on the rare occasion it is in Scotland) they complain of the heat. Well here the elements really do predict the atmosphere in the classrooms. Some of them have no walls or they have holes in the tin roofs, so when it rains they get wet. Some are however fortunate enough to have fans cooling the students from the unbearable humidity here, or at least the one student sitting directly underneath it; there is no air conditioning. Or we could even use the example of shoes. Kennedy school and St Mary’s, which we have also enjoyed visiting, is one of the more affluent schools yet many students do not have shoes and during monsoon season (Sept-Dec) this can cause fevers and illness, which we have witnessed. Today we saw many children actually wade through deep puddles, making their way to school. Now that’s ‘willingness to succeed’ don’t you think!

Visiting these schools has been a real education to me but I trust they also learned something from our visit. I mentioned earlier that initially we were overwhelmed by their hospitality and generosity of our hosts. It made me question the justice and purpose of our visit. “What can we give them? How can we repay them for their kindness towards us?” The answer was obvious and so over the next two days we put our everything into giving them the best gift we have: the gospel.

We spent our mornings dressings up, using props made out of bits and bobs gathered from different hostel rooms and our larger than large rucksacks; it’s amazing what you can make with some tinfoil and a few wire coat hangers. The children loved Lorna’s impression of a 600-year-old Noah and they didn’t even flinch when we splashed (soaked) them with water during the forty days of rain! Our afternoon was blessed by a session of questioning and discussion with the senior students from St Mary’s school. They were keen to learn of our culture and what the real ingredients of haggis were. Many asked questions about our faith, our families and why we had chosen the name ‘Soul Touch’. We answered them all as best we could but I hope the answer to the latter is obvious. That is our greatest desire: that these children would see beyond our white skin and big smiles and they learn something of God’s love for them.

Our time at Kennedy school was a complete joy as well as being completely exhausting and we loved every second of it. We know that some of you peeps in St Andrew’s also fell in love with the pupils and staff there and so we pray that this is the start of a connection and a friendship that will continue and will bless all the children in both India and Scotland.

Arriving In India

So we finally arrived in India and were met with yet another “royal” welcome. Captain Thacker (aye aye captain), Raj (pastor of Christ the Rock Church in Chennai) and his stunning daughter, Sharon, met us at the airport. If you’ve read about the fiasco that was Sri Lanka you’ll know that our time there was short (thankfully) and that we left there on a whim of excitement, delirious from our two day trauma at the Indian Embassy. Amidst the excitement we managed only to email Raj and upload the blog, failing (polite way of saying forgetting) to phone them to check they even got the email…doh! Later they told us of how they found out we had managed to get the visas and that we were on our way: they read the blog! Not only that, they read it at 10am on the Friday morning and our flight arrived at 10.40…talk about perfect timing! So they met us with beautiful smiles and open arms. For a minute we weren’t sure if Raj was the pastor we were supposed to meet or he was a member or the Indian paparazzi, as he furiously scurried infront of us flashing his camera shouting “cheese” and “Praise God”; from the latter we assumed he was indeed the pastor.

So we have been here only a day and already we feel very much at home, Not only are the people unbelievably hospitable (and Jackie you are so right, they are full to overflowing with grace) but their church is so active that one days activities feels like one weeks.

We started our day with the drive from our hostel to the church; we are hoping that tomorrow we can move somewhere a wee bity closer but we’ll wait and see. Taking in the mirage of colourful saris, acclimatising to the heat and working out why the men were wearing mini skirts (sorry the dhotis) were just some of the things that occupied our journey. We have not even seen the Taj Mahal yet but I am already convinced that India itself is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Although in the past we have seen people similar, the familiar littering of bodies huddled under rags, scattered along filthy streets bothers me. It disturbs my conscience and I ask God to break my heart. Strange thing to ask you may think but what I mean is that I asked him never allow me to become immune to such tragedy. The poverty here is obvious immediately and yet I am told that we wont visit the slums until Wednesday; I am incapable of imagining what hell the people there must be living in.

And so we reach the church. By now pastor Raj is sitting quietly (his camera safely charging after it’s frenzied outing to the airport) talking to an elderly gentlemen in a room that appears to be a church lounge or vestibule; over the course of the day it is occupied but people, young and old. Some come in to rest, some to drink water, some to use the bathroom and others to greet their new Scottish friends (measuring them for Saris). Later on a tour of these humble dwellings we discover that this is not the church it is Pastor Raj’s home…and well yes it is also the church. Let me explain.

Raj and his wife Vanitha have ministered to the people in Chennai for the past twenty years and during that time they have lived (with their daughter of 17 years) basically in the church. They have two small bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen (it may be humble but my goodness they manage to rustle up some delicious –non spicy- grub in there) and a sitting room, also known as the church community area. Now this feeling of humility is becoming all too well known. It is how we have been made to feel in every home we visited in Africa and now in India. They have very little (in comparison to our increasingly sickening wealth) yet they are so, so hospitable! In short…we love them to pieces! Our day of singing, dancing, acting and sweating (profusely) with the youth was concluded with an evening bible study in which we met some of the congregation. Lorna gave her testimony beautifully (it’s all on candid camera Helen so you’ll be able to watch, greet ‘n’ be wonderfully proud…I was ‘n’ I’m no even her mammy!).

Finally I can’t go to bed without at least one miracle of the day. I got my voice back. I know for many of you, you may have thought it a blessing that Little Miss Chatterbox was made to be quiet for a little while but in actual fact it was quite a frightening and depressing experience. You see it wasn’t my speaking voice that was affected, it just sounded huskier and sexier than usual. It was my singing voice! For anyone who knows me even remotely well you will know I love to sing. Nothing uplifts me more than singing in church; singing to God. So to have that taken away from me was horrible. It made me fear God.

Lots of people think of God as a God of love, solely a God of love. It’s easier to believe and makes us feel better. We convince he is a God that only protects nurtures and tends to his precious flock. Yes well so do I but what father loves without disciplining their children? What father nurtures without encouraging and at times forcing their children to grow? Exactly not a very good one. And so I have a wonderful father (yes as well as Bob Bonnar). I have a father in heaven whom I love dearly but whom I fear. I recognise that God has the power to give and to take away. Tonight he restored my voice and I was able to sing in church and minister to our friends there. I felt so happy but it was more than a temporary fuzzy feeling. I still have that feeling within me. I relied on God throughout my “no voice trauma”. ‘N’ no I’m not being a diva it was really that bad. One evening I tried to sing as we were walking. It so happened it was raining that evening and the roads were wet Lorna actually thought it was a frog making crude noises. I have never experienced that sort of pain in my throat before that no medicine seemed to cure. I was embarrassed and worried that I would never be able to sing again. Infact several times I thought about writing on the blog and asking you all to pray but it seems someone somewhere was. I know we were. We prayed…and prayed…and prayed and tonight I sang for the first time! Praise God.

N guess what, Kermit’s been booked for another gig tomorrow morning at Christ the Rock church! I’m off to rest my voice n pray that they’ll be blessed!

Love you all…n then some Erica x

Gate-crashing India

Since leaving home at the end of June and jet setting off to the land of Moz, with a crew of eleven other crazy Scots, life has been...interesting, blessed and a constant rollercoaster of emotions. Facing and overcoming a multitude of challenges including the authorities in Moz, running on the beach with Tim in Moz (trust me that was a challenge, the man is fast and mean!). Then, the possibility of being homeless (or hostel-less) in South Africa, arriving in Uganda in the middle of the night and having to persuade a taxi driver to take us on a road deemed "too dangerous" to drive on. Then as if that hadn't knackered us out enough we had to endure a week of Englishmen/women, our tent flooding, crossing Lake Victoria on a fishing boat with no life jackets and they even made us jump off a crane. All of this before we even reached Dwelling places where the "Peace Child" extravaganza was set to take over our lives, our dreams, our speech and our thoughts; talk about Drama! Then at the end of all that we went to Kenya...Baaa! Yeah you all know the story. It was a whirlwind romance to say the least; we painted, sung, danced, laughed and ultimately cried when we had to leave.

So we headed for Israel- the Miami of the Middle East. There we were spiritually challenged, if not physically and we learned a lot. So back on the plane we waddled (seriously they have got food in Africa they just give it all to the Mazoongos).
We were warned of how thorough the Israeli securities were but nothing had prepared us for this. They emptied both our rucksacks. Lorna managed to escape with a brisk search but for some reason they seemed convinced I was hiding something...they even checked the under wires of my bras, all one of them! Eventually (after convincing them to repack it for me- they may have guns but hey we are cute) we landed in Cairo, where we dashed around seeing pyramids, camels and sphinx, smelling exotic perfumes -forced on us by Egyptian men- and at the end of it all we came out with very sore feet but hey at least they smelled sweet.

So this is where I think we are up to. And now we are in India...no wait a minute no we're not we're in Sri Lanka. We got our pretty little butts swiftly deported from India as we didn't have "party invitations",as Lorna would call them. Seemingly in India they call them Visas and you need them to enter the country.

So it would appear Soul Touch was ready to jump, crawl (at some points in the past two days we've even had to climb) over our first major hurdle; and what a blessing it has been getting over it. Before I continue breath out; it's fine we are safe and feeling wonderfully blessed right now. After what has been probably the most exhausting forty eight hours of our mission so far we can proudly say we have lived to tell the tale. So here goes:

We left Cairo early after discovering (on our way to the airport) that in actually fact it was not Wednesday (the day our tickets were booked for) but it was still Tuesday. In our defense we were traveling in so many different time zones that really it was easy not get mixed up with what day we were on, or at least that's our story and we're sticking to it. Anyway Muhammad, our tour guide, new friend and a complete gentleman, spoke to Emirates on our behalf and changed the flights with no additional costs. However, it did mean that we had no time in Dubai and we literally rushed through the airport, flashing our UK passports (which it would appear nobody ever questions) and before we knew it we were in Chennai, India.

Now for the remainder of the story you must imagine a wonderfully Bollywood accent every time an Indian or Sri Lankan person is talking. It really is much more amusing and yes they do wiggle their heads when they talk; we are yet to discover why but it's hilarious never the less and long may it continue!

So first Hoddit (Erica) approached the desk.
"Wer iz ur veesa," an Indian gentleman seated behind a desk, masked by a computer screen asked as he shook my pink passport infront of me (thanks for that 3L2).
"I'm here to get one!" Hoddit replied, equally as confused as the irrate Indian. This had never happened before; when you arrive in a country you get a stamp..no? Then very calmly and quietly the gentleman gestured for me to stand to the side, beckoning Dottit (Lorna) to come forward.
"Eh excuse me. She is with me." I stuttered, suddenly embarrassed, as Lorna was shooed over next to me. I was standing in the dunce’s corner! We stood for a while wondering why we were getting "special treatment" and then a man with a walkie talkie came and we learned why.

By this time the immigration office was completely empty and the hundreds of Indians who had once filled it had dispersed along with the few Mazoongos who had obviously planned for the party beforehand. We were led into a small room which was occupied by about ten men speaking, either English very fast, or another language. In either case their heads were bobbing ten to the dozen and the awkward glances they were making in our direction indicated we were in trouble.

The next voice to speak to us was all a bit bizarre and to be honest we are still waiting for a punch line. The way he delivered it, it sounded like a joke.
"Yoo can nut bee her." He commanded, without so much as a glance in our direction.
Looking up for candid cameras I turned to Doddit. "What...eh? Is he being serious?" Both Lorna and I felt that this could not be happening to us. We were doing God's work. How could we have messed up so badly? What would our families think? These thoughts plagued us but only for a short while. Within minutes we were escorted "out of India"!
"You can nut evan stand her," we were told. So we didn't; we came to Sri Lanka.

And so that is where we are now. Over the last forty eight hours we have tackled the monumental task of applying and eventually recieving an Indian Visa. It has been a long, slow, slow process but as always God has reigned supreme and proven more powerful than all authorities and fears. Not only has he done that but he has done it in a spectacular way. Lorna and I have been told at least one hundred times that there is no way you can obtain an Indian Visa in less than five working days. Infact it is "imposs-bubble", "unherd of", "it simpee cannut happun". Oh but it has!

After being told to go away for the hundredth time and (literally) having doors shut in our faces we phoned the British High Commission. Yes it's amazing how much strength, confidence and wisdom God gives you in these situations. Wisdom I certainly didn't think I had. They in turn got in touch with the Indian High commission and within the hour we were sitting in the head office, with the main man: the deputy to the High Commissioner himself and our visas were being processed.

So we have another stamp in our little books and we have flights booked to go to Chennai tomorrow morning. There we will continue God's work and meet with our dear friends who have been waiting patiently for us.

Finally thank you for all your prayers. They are powerful and today is a testimony that they re being answered!

Much love Hoddit and Doddit, the soul touchers.

Where´s Jesus At?!...

Hey Soul Touch groupies! Now that Israel is back in the sunset and that India is on the horizan i would like to let you in on some of the experiences that i had in Israel. I knew that God had called me and Erica to go to Israel, it was the big one that God had boomed on our confused but willing hearts.

Everytime i thought of Israel I just saw the images of tanks, bombs, angry and terrified people! It seemed when we booked the trip to Israel, these images seemed to appear more and more in my face, nice one! I cry when i hear a balloon burst so i was asking God for that armour he asks us to wear, but to give me a double, double plated one!

First experience in Israel was the airport. My first thoughts were - 'Quick, Lorna, take off your shoes - your going to make the floor dirty.' It was a grand sparkling, shiny, shiny, shiny airport. When we went to the toilets i spent about 30 seconds just admiring the toilet seat and wait for it...there was a flush! It was such a difference to the whole in the ground, infested with big fat African flies that I'm sure have a laugh at landing on your face in such private moments. It almost brought a tear to my eye to know that it was just me and the toilet, the prettiest toilet i had ever seen. I really feel that this is going to break into a love story. I knew that Erica had felt the same way when she came out the toilet with a smile so big i could see her back molars.

Moving on from the toilet chat, I loved everything about Israel. There was no war, no rubble, yeah we seen soldiers with guns but my 2 day unbrushed hair looked scarier than them!. I thanked God for everything there which included the beach, the bathroom next to my hotel bed, my new shower towel every day and my morning ice coffee x 100.

But really, me and Erica felt weird. It's kinda daunting when you know that you have been called to a place, yet there wasn't a mission set out for us. I caught myself looking up into the skies or looking out to the sea to see if God was going to bring a miracle sign to me! But no angels or walking on water Jesus in sight I realised that i should just exhale and know that God just wanted us to relax in His glory...with an ice coffee in my hand.

" Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and i will give you rest" ( Matt:11:28)

It was exactly what we needed straight after our work that we had done in Africa. Erica couldn't even sleep her pretty head down at nights because she was so excited at the rest on the beach the next day!

God did reveal himself in a big way when we were in Israel. During our stay we booked a couple of biblical tours. On our tour to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher our bus parked on the side of Mount Zion. I don't know why i was expecting it to look like a volcano, but it was just a ordinary hill! I knew then that this visit was going to bring me into the bible's realism. I was standing on the hill where Moses met God, i was at the Hill of Calvary where Jesus was crucified and buried and i was at the wailing wall saying my prayers. There was no dancing angels or holy lights flashing but God reminded me that Jesus was put on the same earth as me, living a life just like mine. He didn't get any special treatment - he was persecuted, treated worse because he loved us more.

I saw many people at these places crying and mourning for Jesus. At the entrance of the tomb where Jesus was buried, Dave - our tour guide, came over to us and pointed to the sky. He said, " This was where Jesus was lifted up into the Heavens!"

I looked up and felt my knees go weak. Its hard to describe how a ceiling painting made me feel but one of the emotions I felt was joy! I went into the tomb with a smile on my face and came out with a bigger smile! Nope i definately didn't find him in the tomb, I didn't find him on the cross and I didn't find him in the courtyard. I found him in my heart.

John 14v18
"When I go, you will not be left alone; i will come back to you 19, In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; and because i live you also will live. 20 When that day comes, you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me, just as i am in you."

It doesn't matter where you go in the earth, whether it be the slums in Africa, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher or even your cosy bed, if you search for Jesus in your heart you will find him with you. He's asking you to ask, seek and knock and all things will be given to you that you need (Luke 11: 9-13) It may have been the 112th time that you read that passage or the 1st time but i think it is important to highlight that there is no limitation of what God can do for your life...note that he says 'For everyone who asks'. Thats you he is talking to. And if your not knocking at his door then he's knocking at your's!

Rev3v20
"Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, i will come in and eat with them and they will eat with me."

God is never far away from us, infact he's never away from us. You don't have to go Jesus hunting in Israel, he comes to visit you! But i am glad i visited Jesus' hometown, met his neighbours and visited his local breadshop. It really did step me into the bible.

You will be reading soon about our experience of being deported from India to Sri Lanka! me and Erica gatecrashed India without a party pass also know as a little thing called a Visa. It is one of my biggest testimonies by far and i hope that you enjoy reading Erica's story on what happened.

Now we are waiting for our flight to India tomorrow. We will be entering their country!There's no stopping the Soul Touchers....except when we don't have Visa's.

Big hugs and another Lorna xx

Holocust Museum

What's New?
So what's different?
Have we moved on?

I really don't want to appear a typically hysterical, or heaven forbid, soppy female. I don't even want to write my emotions; my feelings on this subject are really irrelevant. In fact they're so muddled at the moment that they would only confuse you anyway.
What I want to write is something of what I have just seen and heard: images; words and feelings of people being persecuted; tortured; displaced; humiliated.
Although I cried and yes my heart broke the sensation of hopelessness and pain I felt as I walked around the museum is not a new one for me. These images were in black and white because the atrocities against the Jews happened in the past, many years ago. But the images really reflected what is going on right now.
You see the starving children on the streets of Europe may look different: the faces of the Jews were not black; their noses are long and straight, not flat, and their lips thin. But really the colour of their skin is not relevant either. The pictures in the museum are not unlike the ones we took only weeks ago in Africa. They are all displaced. People are still being humiliated under cruel dictatorship. What struck me most in the museum was that there was a section dedicated to a particular ship. A ship that was once full of Jewish refugees. They tried to enter several countries, including America and Britain, but nobody wanted them. So they just floated not knowing their fate. These people were completed displaced and rejected while the rest of the world refused to take any responsibility for them. So what's new? Nothing?
A different place maybe: Gulu? The children have different coloured skin. The torture instruments being used are different.
But...is our generation, the one you and I belong to; the one reading this now, are we going to refuse responsibility? Are we going to be displayed in a museum in fifty years time, described as neglectful? I don't want to be. I don't want my name displayed there; do you?

Start right now by praying that you can used to help the people in Gulu.

God bless, the Soul Touchers

Fun In Israel

Ha if we're never famous for anything else we will be for causing chaos in Israel I'm sure. Few wee memories we want to share with ya! We love Israel! It's stunning, peaceful and safe, contrary to what we are told at home! I think they do that so no-one comes here and they have all this to themselves!
First night here and Lorna and I decided to go for something to eat. While we were innocently enjoying the tranquillity of the sea front, the sound of the waves and lack of mosquito's (although we have found that the men can be just as irritating!) suddenly the restaurant burst into song; it was obviously someones birthday. It looked so much fun, sparklers and all.
"Ah it's my birthday too!" I joked (no I didn't lie dad it was supposed to be a joke. A very obvious one I thought).
Next thing I knew I was in the air! Seriously I was surrounded by waiters, equipped with tambourines and sparklers who proceeded to bounce me up and down (and up and down and wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwup again) in the air, despite my screaming; if anything it seemed to encourage them. As for Miss Main the excitement was all too much for her; she was speechless. Ahh well I guess it's true what they say: God brings good out of every situation!


Fame? Yes Lorna and I were seemingly on Israeli television yesterday. We were filmed on the beach. 'N' no it wasn't a whale sighting documentary Roy before you ask! We were just walking but they didn't ask permission. I'm sure we can sue for Royalties or something though. Do they not know who we are!?

Leadership?

By the year 2010 there will be fifty million children in the world orphaned because of aids and conflict.
Sometimes when I speak to people over here I write down what they say; we photograph them and video their stories. This is one statistic I didn't write down. It shocked me so much it is ingrained in my head and plays over and over. Similarly the picture of the starving and homeless children we saw in Africa is one I don't need to show you or even recreate; you have seen it before and you know it exists.
What I hadn't thought of before is the global and economic impact that this poverty will have, not only on Africa but on the rest of the world. You've heard how the police in Peru deal with this increasing problem: they sweep it up. They perform mass "sweep up" operations whereby they gas the children out of the sewers or worse still they feed them rat poisoning so they die slowly and painfully like vermin, because after all that is how they are viewed there, and all around the world. Orphans, street children, child soldiers, invisible children, abandoned children, they have been given all sorts of different names but ultimately they are seen as nuisances.


I don't believe that any one of your reading this blog now is of the same opinion as the police in Peru. In fact I know that many of you already support children all over the world. The fact that you are reading this right now is a support to us, two people striving to help these children and make their stories heard.

Dwelling Places, The Vine Trust and Watoto are three amazing organisations all doing wonderful things to save these children from the streets and the hands of cruel, ineffective governments. So if you are not involved already we urge you to get involved.

Don't turn off the computer and think it doesn't effect you. Have you children? Are you planning to have children in the future? Will you be here in the year 2010! Yes, exactly it is incredibly soon. We're talking about three years time. What age will you be? There will be fifty million children homeless or worse still dead around the world. Don't think they will all just suddenly appear either. They are already here. You've seen their pictures on our blog. You know that there are things that we can do to start changing this process so that stops.

The Vine Trust works in partnership with Scripture Union Peru building homes for street children and educating them; they teach them the gospel. Dwelling Places is the home we just left in Uganda. They rescue street children and try to re-establish contact with their parents, rehabilitating them in the process; they teach them the gospel. Watoto is a village in Uganda which houses abandoned children. They place them in homes, each home has a mother and a maximum of 8 children. They educate them, care for all of their needs and teach them the gospel.

Teaching the gospel is a priority for all of these organisations as you can see. But how do they do it? They teach them it by living it! They are feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and rescuing the orphans. Have you ever asked how you can be Christan's in this world and how we can start making a difference. Well now's your chance. Each time you do it for "one of the least of my children you do it for me" says the Lord.

"What difference does it make if it's a Christian organisation or not? Lots of people do good things!" I've heard this many times. Yes. but if you're not teaching them the gospel and you're simply educating them well think about this. You could be educating the next Saddam Hussein or Adolf Hitler and how much more dangerous are they with an education! Think about it. Surely Jesus' philosophy of "loving one another" is better then any of theirs. I know who I want to follow. We saw the news recently and people in Britain were moaning about Gordon Brown. We constantly moan about leadership but we could be doing something huge to change the future of leadership. God's raising a generation of children in Uganda and Peru (so far that's all we've seen) that love him and want to serve him. Leaders in the making. Leaders we're not scared of!

'N' here's the exciting bit. Remember that sickening feeling you got in your stomach approximately two minutes ago when you read the statistic about orphaned children? Imagine the feeling you would get if you knew that the figure had dropped to 49, 999, 000 and that the one less was the one you were supporting.
Imagine the feeling you could have if you read this blog in three years time and the statistic at the top of the page was shocking...shockingly good. That 50,000, 000 children in the world were growing up loving God 'n' serving him. Now there's a dream. The Vine Trust, Dwelling Places and Watoto are three organisations have started making it a reality. Be part of it!

www.vinetrust.org
www.dwellingplaces.org
www.watoto.com

Kenya

Now we are fully, well getting there, recovered from our whirlwind tour of Kenya we will tell you a little bit about what we actually did with our time there and why we have such fond memories of the country and the people!
Firstly we arrived to a kings (well princess's) welcome. It was amazing. After spending some 15 hours on the worst road in the Africa, or make that the world, we arrived in sunny Kenya.

The bus screeched to an emergency stop and all of a sudden armed police men entered shouting "Mzoongo, Mzoongo". Of course I immediately elbowed Lorna, who was obliviously picking dead cockroaches off herself, and told her that the police had pulled us over because white people were on the bus. Doh! In actual fact the police had stopped us because Nancy and her crew had asked them too. Next thing we knew beautiful Nancy was calling to us to get our bags and get off the bus.
So we did. The first thing we noticed were their beaming smiles and the number of people who were waiting for us. It really was a warm and totally unexpected welcome. Although still slightly sleepy eyed and whip-lashed from the bus we learned our hosts names relatively quickly:
"Hi nice to meet you," the mzoongos chorused.
"Hi I'm Julius"
"I'm John."
"I'm Jamilick"
"I'm Geoffry," they replied, arms outstretched to hug us.
'N' just when we thought we were all J'd out another voice piped up, "I'm Betty, but you can call me Joyce!" At this point Main had a moment. Giggle tastic!

Ok so we'd met the team, well some of them, and we were taken to Nancy's stunning home where we met her husband...James!!!
Oh how we chuckled.

The first thing we noticed was the volume of chairs in the sitting room. The room was full of beautifully patterned couches and it was very welcoming. Aswell as the couches I noticed some other chairs stacked in the corner. Later we discovered that all of the homes we visited had several chairs in them, crammed around the walls in their living areas. We questioned Nancy about this and she told us that they were for visitors and that they often held church meetings and groups in their homes. We can certainly testify that these people expect visitors. The prepare themselves to have them and they make entertaining them and being hospitable to them part of their lives. Yes I know we all love to do that but you'll see that there's a slgiht differnce to the way we entertain and the way they do it: Kenya style!

While I was talking to Nancy I realised why we had received such a warm, "princess's" welcome. I explained to her that we had never experienced anything like this and that we were actually very humbled and slightly embarrassed to be so joyfully received. "It was like you were receiving royalty," I explained.
As soon as I said it I realised why they had acted this way. "You are God's daughters," she remined me. (Of course we are daughters of the King.) "And so when we welcome you we are welcoming him into our homes and we would only give him the best!"
Of course. It all made sense. For those of you who know us well you will know that we, well I at least, are in no way a princesses (far from it) and we are still not quite sure that we deserved the hospitality we received. However, we are sure that God did and they were right: each time we entered one of their homes we prayed together, we shared together and in everything God was at the centre of it all. So thank you to all our friends in Kenya. We know you will be bountifully blessed because you blessed us so much.

Then, after eating some goat (yes we did a lot of that), we visited the church on Sunday morning. The minister (Robert) wasn't preaching that morning but Lorna and I soon made up for that. Nancy asked us to say a few words, little did she know we like to talk....and talk...and talk. Anyway everyone seemed to enjoy it and even understand our funny accents. We later learned that the reason for Robert's absence was that he is the minster for the parish. Yes, most ministers are you may be wondering what's my point. Well the point is that the parish is so full and so vast that there are actually six congregations and and they are spread over many miles. Wow can you imagine the church in Scotland having so many members and lovers of God that there aren't enough ministers to accommodate them. I can!

That Sunday afternoon we met the youth group, whom we would be sharing and teaching for the rest of the week. We absolutely adore this group of young people. We say young but in actual fact some of them were older than us (ages between 16-30). We spent the rest of the day singing, dancing and doing drama with them. That week we got to know them a lot better. Nancy kept saying you must spend time with the youth and I see why. They are so passionate about God and he is really real to them. They rely on him for everything. I could see why us spending time with them was so important for the church, the same reason that everywhere we have gone people have asked us to focus on the children and young people: they are the future of the church. They are the next generation and as Marylin Skinner recently pointed out they are the next leaders of the country.

Having taught in Scotland (although only for a baby amount of time in comparison to some) I appreciate the importance and emphasise we place on education and exam results. I know that you already understand how important it is to be educated, because you are. But what I have seen in each place I visited in Africa, including Kenya, is that yes it is important to educate children but I saw how important educating them about God is too. How much more confident these children are when they know that they have someone that loves them unconditionally and that God has a plan for their lives. We may think at home that our children don't need this hope, they have other things to distract them, computers, alcohol, fashion. Yeah these things may be satisfying...for a little while but ultimately they want something long term. Something that relates to them, someone who understands them (the way their parents and peers don't') eh... try the gospel!!! So that's a little (only a tiny part) of what we learned from the youth there, as well as how not to paint! If we're ever invited back I guarantee we will not be asked to paint the church again although we had lots of fun doing it!



The youth group then took on the monumental task of taking out my braids and before we knew it, it was time to leave Kenya. We cannot express how much we loved every second of our time there, how much we learned and how much fun we had. We laughed...and laughed...and laughed! We know that our partnership and friendship with them is just at the beginning and it will be lifelong. We pray that you too will get involved in the work of their parish. One of the many things they do in their community is pay for local children to go to school. We had the privilege of meeting some of the children (young people) whose education is paid for by the congregation and they are not necessarily children who attend the church or are even associated with it. It terrifies me to think that there are so many other children, even some of the youth we met, that can not go to school simply because their parents can't afford the fees. I know that it seems we are always asking for you to support our brothers and sisters abroad, well we are visiting them for the next year so perhaps we should get used to it, but we would not ask if we did not see that it was doing some good. Infact a huge amount of good. Giving someone food for the day is keeping them alive, giving them an education is giving them a life and a future. Please get involved. Contact World Without Walls to get in tocvh with Nancy and the J team tehy are waiting and would love to hear from you!
God Bless and much love, the Soul Touchers

Shalom

Good morning peeps! We just wanted to say a huge thank you for your continued support and encouragement to us on our mission. God has been so faithful to us every step of the way and your writing is just another testimony of how he is good to us. We are here in Israel, as many of you know.


It is almost impossible not to feel close to God here and so we are enjoying really relaxing, spending time in prayer and reading as well as visiting many of the biblical sites which dominate this country; the history and wonder of it all is breathtaking.


So we are getting ourselves ready for the next project in India. We are so insipred by all the stories we have heard (and read) about the success of the St Andrew's trip visit there and we really pray we can continue the friendship and work you guys have started. So we pray a blessing on you all this morning. Have a wonderful day!

ps We're going to visit The Pavilion prayer tower this evening where the Watoto Children's choir from Kampala, Uganda are performing. The fact they are here at the same time as us is very exciting as we saw them perform while we were there!

Lots of love n hugs Erica and Lorna: The Soul Touchers!

More Main Moments!

1. Classic:
While boarding the plane for Israel Lorna boasted, "Ah one country down!"
"One? I've been in four where have you been Lorna?"
"Eh isn't Africa a country?"

You gotta love it!

Baa

Good Morning everyone. It's a b e a utiful day here in Israel and I'm loving having a little more time to write to you all than we did in Africa. Seriously that place was hectic, not that we're complaining we loved every second but we apologise for not having written as much as we would have liked. Over the next two weeks here in Israel we will try our best to fill you in on the best, and not so best, bits of our trip so far. Miss Main is resting (and deservedly so) her pretty lil head right now but I thought I'd give you a lil insight into the world of Soul Touch and why the journey so far has been a constant giggle for me, living with the legend that is known as Lorna Main. On a typical day in Africa the following comments were made...try to imagine as bizarre as they may sound:

Scenario Number one:
We were both totally overwhelmed by the hospitality of our hosts in Kenya. During our short stay there we were invited to many people's homes and shared meals with them. (Seriously lots of meals, Africans can eat!) So one day we were out in the car to be shown the sights by Nancy (our host whom many of you know)

and Jamlik (another elder at the church and the sweetest man ever!). Anyway, after a morning of visiting coffee and tea plantations (that was a fab experience in itself, to see people picking tea leaves and the skill that is involved; we'll never take Tetley for granted again) we started to question Nancy as to where we were going next. The sun was going down and the thunder and lightening sounding overhead was lighting the sky.
"Nancy where are we going?" A sheepish Scottish girl, Lona Main, enquired.
"What?" Nancy boomed over the scraping noise, turning her head 180 degrees so she was no longer watching the mud track ahead of us. 'N' that noise for those of you who haven't experienced African roads is very common, it's known as the bottom of your car getting wrecked off the potholes and mountains you're forcing it to drive over.
"Where...are...we....going?" Now a louder, slower (though slightly panicky) drone came from the back seat. You know the type, when talking to someone of a different nationality we assume that by shouting at them in a bizarre, insanely loud voice they will immediately understand our weird Scottish accents. Anyway it seemed to work.
"I can't tell you," she giggled.
Ok so at this point alarm bless start ringing. "Seriously Lorna where are we going? This is mental and I need the toilet," I nagged. I need the toilet was my catch phrase for most of our time in Africa; lets just say the food there did not agree with me.
After another 2 hours driving in the same direction, heading to the middle of nowhere, Nancy left the car and opened an old rusty gate which entered a field. Excuse me I forgot, before she did this she "shoooooed" the bulls that were guarding it out of the way; they have lions and elephants in their country we learned that bulls to them are like mice to us.
"Come girls!" She beckoned.
Hesitantly, still recovering from the whiplash we had just received form the drive, we tried to dodge bulls, cows, sheep and goats and we followed Nancy and Jamlik across the field. By this time it was raining and cold (Yes stay with me we're still in Africa).
Situated in the middle of the field were four buildings...derelict! Yes nothing, noone...the place was deserted.
"Eh...excuse me Nancy. Eh...where are we? Are we visiting someone here?"
"Choose a sheep," Nancy smiled, pointing at the animals.
"Sorry? Pardon? Where...are...we?" The voice for the deaf resurrected itself again.

What happened next is still a bit vague and a bit scary but they went something like this:
Jesting towards us (we were somewhere between bulls trying to avoid the African rain which is bloomin painful) Nancy handed, or should I say, tried to hand us each a knife. I mean machete style! "Have you ever slaughtered a sheep?" Again Nancy's booming smile did not seem to fit the question she was asking.
Looking at each other now both totally bemused in unison we stuttered "Eh...no"
Then the realisation of what we were going to do hit us. I immediately screamed "slaughtered a sheep," before entering into those annoying hysterics I go into a lot when nervous or in a totally surreal situation. Looking to Lorna I was wondering how we would get out of this one. Only Lorna was not there. Suddenly a vision of pink flashed between cows. Lorna was running for the car, where she locked herself until the deed was done.

Needless to say I did not slaughter the sheep, a kind African man did that for us, but I did watch (and film for you guys back home. Yes we had to endure it so I think in the name of support you should too!) which was disturbing enough!
I hope I've managed to give you an idea of just how bizarre a day in the life of the Soul Touch girls is. And that was just the day. Oh by the way the sheep was a thanksgiving gift from Nancy's mum to thank all you peeps in Scotland for your hospitality to her while she was staying over there. Lorna and I enjoyed eating it on your behalf!

So that evening we were invited to the ministers house for some goat. After sharing a delicious meal Lorna was asked to lead us in prayer. Still recovering from the days escapades and suffering from sleep deprivation (in a week we saw the whole of Kenya) Lorna started:
"Thank you father for the meal we have shared and thank you for the hostility the people here have shown us..."
Oaft that was the end of me. Giggle, giggle, giggle! And now you know just one of the reasons I call her a legend and why, since I stepped on the plane, I have never stopped smiling!