Flights over were fine, the 8 hour wait at Dubai provided time for some uncomfortable sleeping and the security staff at Karachi Airport seemed to be very interested in the fact that I shave my head!

Once we got out if the airport, we were picked up by Johnson – a driver that the Church World Service (CWS) have provided for us here in Karachi. Who then took us to the CWS offices in Karachi, here we met Jennie, Audrey, Shama and many more, who’s names I have already forgotten :-/ At the offices we were given a brief rundown of what they do here, and worldwide. We were also treated to a gorgeous chicken curry and Dahl lunch, after enjoying some sweet chai tea. CWS gave us a brief security briefing for our trip – where to avoid/ what to avoid doing/ what to do in the unlikely event something does happen. In reality it put us, well, me at the least, at ease and confirmed suspicions that Pakistan isn’t as dangerous and unstable as Western media often makes it out to be (thats not to say that some areas aren’t dangerous and unstable or that there is not an inherent fragility about the country). This security briefing also allowed time for questions and some cultural do’s and don’ts!

The people here are all very friendly, which is good given that, being 3 very white westerners in a sea of Asian faces does mean we stick out a wee bit in a crowd! We went to a market this afternoon to get Fiona some culturally appropriate clothes for visiting various projects over the next few days. That was an experience! Jennie, a CWS staffer, came along to help (with what to buy as well as to make sure Fiona wasn’t fleeced!) was amazing! Guiding Fiona away from what were (apparently) Westernised version of the traditional dress, and making sure it was all done at a good price!

I haven’t taken many photos yet – it’s not a great idea for me to walk around the streets with it, advertising my expensive camera as a tempting target for any opportunists around! I have taken a few in the compound we are staying in, but I won’t really get going with it until we start visiting projects.

We were meant to meet the local Bishop tomorrow, unfortunately the volume of work he is dealing with has meant our meeting has been postponed until Friday, not sure what we’ll be doing yet, possibly some cultural learning!

There is so much here that reminds me of Nepal – the sounds, the smells, some of the sights. Its a very colourful place, the buses have to be seen to be believed! Just driving and walking around reminded me of why I love to travel – the new sights, smells, people to listen to and learn from, the new way of life to watch and learn from. Awesome.

I’m looking forward to what else we’ll see and experience on this trip. It’s guaranteed to be a mind altering trip!

Peace Out! (salam-o-alekum: which means “Peace be with You”)

Peace Out

Challenging statement: “The World Mission Council is a waste of the Church’s time & money. We have more than enough to do in Scotland.”

Responses:
- The Gospel is Global, being insular is not an option.

- Being Involved in the world Church helps us keep things in perspective.

- It is right to utilise our gifts and experience for the benefit of the Worldwide Church.

- It emphasises the relational nature of God and hence the relational nature of the Church.

- It shows obediance to Matthew 28: 19 &20 – The Great Commission.

- Scotland is part of the World….

- God is a God of compassion and justice, we should mirror Him to the whole World.

- It helps the Church to support minority Christians around the World.

- We are a part of the one holy catholic Church (as in the universality and wholeness of the World Church, not necesarily the Roman Catholic Church).

- One God is Worshipped by One Church, which has One Mission to One World.

Peace Out

I expect I’ll be overloaded with information, ideas, questions and challenges over the next 2 days (It’s a 2 day meeting at Scottish Churches house) some of which I look forward to sharing here! All i know so far is that I’ll be serving on the Local Development committee, I’m still not 100% what that particular committee does and what my role will be. I’m sure I’ll find out soon though!

Peace Out!

I’ve been interested in the work of this council since I first became aware of its existence in 2000. I suppose it all boils down to the fact that, when I was younger my mind was captured by adventure, explorers like Marco Polo, Livingstone, Captain Scott, Amundsen, Alexander MacKenzie, James Cook, Shackleton, Edmund Hillary, George Vancouver, to name but a few. When I first heard of World Mission, I still had this romanticised idea of exploration and adventure in my head, and World Mission slotted perfectly into that notion of mine beginning 11 years of interest. I’ve since been able to move past that romanticised notion and recognise the work of World Mission for the great, real, work that it is. The Remit of the council is as follows:

The World Mission Council is the channel through which the Church of Scotland responds to the command of Jesus: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15). We work in countries around the world, usually on the basis of partnership with local churches and institutions, and always with a view to involving church members in Scotland. The cultivation of two-way partnerships between congregations overseas and congregations in Scotland not only creates friendships but expands horizons.

Taking the first steps towards connecting with people in different countries can be the beginning of an exciting and life-changing relationship. Discover challenges people face every day; experience their heart and resilience; share in the joy of giving and receiving.

The Council report is available for download here. I’ll let you read it for yourself, it makes for interesting reading, but I will share with you here the proposed deliverance:

1. Receive the report.
2. Give thanks for the life and witness of Mission Partners who have died, acknowledge with gratitude those who have
completed their period of service overseas, and uphold in prayer all who continue to serve.
3. Urge members of the Church to visit, meet and support the Christian community in the Middle East.
4. Encourage members to pray for the Presbyterian and other churches in Egypt and the work of the Coptic Evangelical
Organisation for Social Services (CEOSS) amongst the least in the society.
5. Encourage members to pray for the witness of the Presbyterian and other Churches in Lebanon and Syria.
6. Commend the Kairos Palestine document to the whole church.
7. Give thanks for Jewish, Christian and Muslim cooperation in upholding the rights of the poor and oppressed in the
Middle East and beyond.
8. Appreciate the work of the Council in developing its Centres to support the Council’s work in the pursuit of justice,
peace and reconciliation.
9. Commend the Council for seeking to engage every member of the Church of Scotland in support of peacemaking
in Israel and Palestine.
10. Give thanks for the renewed co-operation between the Council and congregations of the Church of Scotland with
Christian Aid, and urge all members to support Christian Aid in expressing solidarity with the world church.
11. Thank the Guild for their keen interest and support for the Council’s work around the world.
12. Encourage congregations to join in twinning relationships.
13. Encourage members to offer for service as Mission Partners.
14. Encourage members to volunteer as Ecumenical Accompaniers.
15. Give thanks for the peaceful emergence of South Sudan as a new country and encourage the Council to continue
to support the Christian communities in North and South Sudan.
16. Urge the Government of Pakistan to release and pardon Ms. Asia Bibi and to ensure that she and her family are
protected.
17. Urge the Government of Pakistan to repeal the Blasphemy Law.
18. Urge congregations to be involved in advocacy activities in support of minority Christian communities.
19. Give thanks for the HIV Programme and the work of our partners at home and overseas, and re-commit the Church
of Scotland to playing its part in response to the pandemic.
20. Thank congregations for their enthusiastic support for Souper Sunday and encourage them to continue to support
the HIV Programme in prayer, action and giving.

I don’t want to preempt the debate this afternoon, but I am especially interested to see what might be said on the floor about sections 3, 12, 13 and 17.

My interest in the Council was boosted over the last few years due to 2 trips I was privileged to participate in. In 2008 I was part of a trip to the holy Land with the Mission and Discipleship council, you can read more about it here. Last year I was part of a faithshare visit to Nepal to spend time with the South Asia Christian Youth Network, you can read more about that here. These trips did more than I can vocalise to re-ignite my interest and passion for the work of World Mission. The people I met and the things I saw galvanised something in me, a desire to get more involved and see if I can’t help in someway, to see if i have something worthwhile to offer in this area. I’ve been nominated to join the Council this year, which I’m very excited about, which means I’ll be blogging more about World Mission.

In the meantime, here are 6 blogs from World Mission mission partners around the world:

• Joel Githinji in Nepal http://joelgithinji.blogspot.com
• Colin Johnston in Israel / Palestine http://colinintiberias.blogspot.com
• David & Rebecca Morton in Malawi davidrebeccamorton.wordpress.com
• George Shand in Israel / Palestine http://georgeshand.wordpress.com
• Ida and Keith Waddell in Zambia http://idaandkeith.blogspot.com
• Tabeetha School in Jaffa has a blog at: http://tabeethaschool.blogspot.com

Enjoy the Debate!

Peace Out

The General Assembly has been a big part of my Christian journey, I’ve had the privilege of attending 6 times, representing Falkirk Presbytery, The Church of Scotland National Youth Assembly and Kincardine and Deeside Presbytery twice each. some people hate the event, some people find it incredibly dull, others irrelevant. I love it. I love the feeling of being a part of something that matters, something that is so much bigger than the individual, something so big that is seeking to guide a nationwide community of believers, something seeking to discern God’s will for a nation.

I’ve seen many great things said and done at the assembly, been party to some awesome people doing everything they can to further God’s Kingdom. Sure, I’ve seen and heard some daft things done and said there (I’m sure I’ve been a perpetrator of that!).

I could ramble on and on about the General Assembly and how much I’ve enjoyed being a part of the event, the process, the excitement (hidden as it may be!). But I’d rather focus on what it has taught me. Everytime I’ve attended the Assembly as a Youth representative, we’ve stayed together as a group. Imagine that, 30-40 young, passionate Christians living together as a tight-knit group for a week. Frankly, I’m amazed I’ve seen as few arguments in my 6 General Assemblies as I have (and when I say arguments, I mean minor disagreements). Each year there is a group of Youth Reps who have different backgrounds, different outlooks on life, Theology and God, different perspectives on the happenings of the General Assembly. Imagine that multiplied up to almost 1000 people. Thats one of the beautiful aspects of the General Assembly. So many individuals meeting together, sharing a similar goal, a similar prayer, all with different backgrounds, theological stances, perspectives, ideas. It’s taught me well. As with most people, I firmly believe that my way of seeing things is right, that my interpretation is correct. I’ve been humbled(not humiliated) many times through listening to others and discussing things with those I disagree with. I’m not saying that the General Assembly has taught me to change my mind and be wishy washy, it’s taught me to be open to what others think and believe. It’s taught me that, while I hold fast to my beliefs and interpretations, it’s not absurd to be willing to listen to others, to not dismiss those that I disagree with, to listen to them and when necessary, respectfully disagree.

Why am I saying all this? Partly because I’m a nostalgic fool , partly because I want to say something about the General Assembly and I have nothing more substantial to say! But mostly, it’s because I value the General Assembly and the Church of Scotland, despite their many obvious flaws. Today is going to be a difficult day for this years General Assembly, today is the Report of the Special Commission on Same Sex Relationships and the Ministry. Today a very long, difficult discussion will be held in the assembly rooms, people will have a lot to say, some will be scared to voice their opinions, some will not hold back. The last time this issue came up (2009) the actual debate in the Assembly hall was conducted with graciousness, with sensitivity, with class. I pray it is again today. We also proved two years ago (as a Church) that we are not very good at conducting ourselves civilly in public when it comes to this issue. we proved that, as a Church, we are fallible, we are flawed, we are human. It was painful, it was hard, but I think it was perhaps a lesson we had to learn. I’m praying that we have learned that lesson, that when the opportunity comes this year for that public debate to re-open via blogs, twitter, newspapers and other media, that we will treat each other with respect, dignity, sensitivity and graciousness. Last time, the call came from both extremes of the Theological spectrum that the other end was close-minded. I pray that we don’t have that again. Christians so often get a bad press in this world, no more so than when we are at each others throats. I pray that this does not come again after today. I won’t call for the Church to be perfect, that would be stupid. But we have to show the world that we can follow Jesus’ commands, that we can put aside our differences, our disagreements and love each other as neighbours.

We’re people, we’re fallible, we’re imperfect, we’re Christians. Let’s listen to each other, let’s try and understand each other, let’s not be afraid to disagree. But let’s find a way to disagree whilst still being a good witness for Christ to the world. Let’s remember that the most important thing is not who is right and who is wrong, it’s not who wins and who loses. The most important thing is that God’s will is sought. That God is placed in the centre, that we seek God’s guidance, God’s wisdom. If we don’t do that, whats the point? If we do not focus on God, on His desires, His will, why bother?

Let’s pray for the General Assembly today, for those who will partake in this well publicised, difficult discussion. Let’s also pray for how we deal with the decisions made today.

Peace Out

The trip really opened my eyes to what my brothers and sisters in Christ face in their daily lives in South East Asia. Some of the stories of the people I met were heart rending, inspirational. It changed my outlook on life, help me see things in perspective. Helped me to start a process of thinking that has fundamentally altered my path in life (more on that in another post!).

Over the next 2 weeks I’ll be marking various points on the trip by posting links to my blog archive for the relevant days from the trip on my facebook and twitter accounts. Please keep an eye out for them and follow along if you’re interested!

One thing that I’ve learned a lot about throughout the course of the year and especially through these trips is photography. Photography is one of my big passions and I got my first DSLR, a Canon 50D, last November. It’ been a very educational year photography wise. I’ve learned a lot in general about photography, and these 3 trips have all acted as catalysts for learning new techniques, better techniques, improving my eye, improving my vision and especially forcing me to ask myself why I love photography and what I want to convey through it.

That question cannot be answered in this post! What I want to share with you just now is 3 collections on my flickr page – the photos from Nepal, Canada and France. I want to share with you all a part of me – and every photo I take is very much a part of me. Some of them are just photos of things/ people that I though to be worth capturing, some of the photos are me trying to say something with my craft/ art. If you have any comments/ criticism/ praise about my photos I would love for you to leave comments, either here or on flickr. I want o get better and can only do that if people offer honest opinions about my photos.

so here are the links to the collections:

Nepal
Canada
France

Peace Out

This last weekend was a really exciting weekend for me photography wise. On Saturday night I took part in Scott Kelby’s third annual photowalk. The event is an international one. The basic premise is that groups of photographers come together in various locations (33,483 people took part in 1111 locations) and spend a couple of hours walking around that area looking for photographic opportunities. It was a great experience, and the first time I’ve gone out taking photos with people who are as passionate about photography as I am! I’ve been thinking about trying out Street photography in Scotland for a while now, Saturday was my first taste of it in Scotland, and I loved it.

If you are interested, you can view my whole set here.

My other exciting news is a first for me. Just after I returned from Nepal, I noticed that STA Travel were running a competition titled ‘ Exotic cultures’. I decided to give it a shot, I then received an email on Sunday morning telling me that one of my entries had been selected as a finalist. I was, needless to say, delighted! I’m still buzzing. As of Saturday it will be part of an exhibition in London. Details can be found here. Below is the picture that was chosen.

with all the opportunities there were over there for photography, I was in heaven! I was given many, many chances to push myself in the photography I was doing – trying to capture moods and moments, trying to get the best shots I could with the light available (some of the shots are quite dark because I forgot about my hotshoe flash quite a few times and I’m not a fan of my cameras pop-up flash!

Anyhoo, for the most part, I’m quite chuffed with the shots I got – I’m even more chuffed that I was able to discipline myself to not keep all of them! Over the 2 weeks I (or those who used my camera – Jonny Simpson, Suzi Shortland and Joanna Ramsay) took over 3000 pictures – by cutting out most duplicates and blurred or meaningless shots, I’ve cut that down to around 1200 ‘keepers’.

There is a reason that it has taken almost 2 weeks to get them all online. I shoot pictures on my camera in a format known as ‘RAW’ this means that, instead of uploading my pictures to my computer and puttingt hem online straight away, I take time processing them properly – doing as good a job as I can with them in the digital darkroom. Also, the sheer volume of photos means that it takes a while to get them all up – I’ve been constantly uploading to flickr since Saturday evening – my computer was glad of the rest today!

I’ll be putting a ‘best of’ album on facebook – maybe, and I’ll be adding a page on my website with low-res copies of the ‘best-of’ album. In the meantime, you can view all 1200+ at your leisure by going to my flickr page.

Enjoy!