Thanksgiving

Hello again!

Today is Thanksgiving and all of Pastor David and Carol's family are here - there are 14 people altogether and 1 sheep (that's me!) There is lots and lots of food and we are having so much fun. Ruth and I didn't really know what Thanksgiving is all about, so our new friend Isaac told us (he is Carol and David's grandson. He said that, many years ago when the first people came to live in America, they found it really hard and lots of them died. Some Indians helped them out by bringing them food and teaching them how to survive here. So the people decided to have a day called Thanksgiving to thank God for His help, for their food and for their friends who helped them out so much. It's still going on today after many years and I have to say I've really enjoyed it! It's a lovely sunny day and everyone is outside playing with frisbees. They are working off the huge dinner they just had so there is room for some dessert!

On Tuesday Ruth and I went to visit Pastor Kent and Sandi Reynolds. They have been at the Link lots of times and they asked lots of questions about how everyone is getting on. They loved to hear about all the things that have been going on back home in Dunfermline! It was really good to see them again. Sandi was busy getting ready for Thanksgiving too so Ruth went with her to help her do some shopping!

We've been to St James Church!

Hi everyone!

We had a very busy weekend with our friends Bill and Vivien Arnold and it was loads of fun! On Friday night we went to see a basketball game. Ruth thought it would just be some guys playing basketball but there was a lot more than that going on! There was a band,girls dancing, cheerleaders and two huge bulldogs - well, Ruth said it was just men dressed up in costumes but they still looked a bit scary to me. They were a bit silly at times though. The basketball game was exciting and the Georgia Bulldogs team won which made everyone really happy. One of the players was 7 feet tall! They were all big and I felt even more tiny than usual.

On Saturday we had a pancake breakfast at the church. There were lots of people there because they were having a workday so we met some new friends. I met a lovely girl from Russia - she has been adopted by a family in St James. I had my picture taken with her and I'll tell you more about her when I get home. We were back at St James on Sunday and went to 3 different meetings. We met some more people who have been to our church - Bobby, Chris, LaMurl, Bill and Glen were all there and they were excited to see Ruth in their church! We met lots of new people too and they were all so kind.

We came back to Carol and David's yesterday afternoon. Carol works with the older people in St James Church, helping them in lots of different ways, and she took us to meet three of them on the way home. They were lovely and very interesting to listen to as they told lots of stories about their lives and their families. I think it's not surprising at all that Carol loves to spend so much time with them. They love her very much too.

Stone Mountain was fun!

Hello!

We had a wonderful time at Stone Mountain! We arrived on Wednesday evening and went for a little walk around. It was dark so all the Christmas lights were on - there were lots of quaint little shops and unusual buildings and Christmas music playing in the background. It felt like we were in a film about Santa or something! Then we went out for dinner - yum! We had lots of things to choose from. Sheep don't normally go on diets, but I think I'll need to after this holiday! Our waitress was very kind and friendly. Her name was Nina and she is from Croatia. I've never been there but I would like to go if everyone is as nice as Nina is! We told her about all the places I have been to then I had my picture taken with her. The next morning we went to see the 4D film at Stone Mountain Park. The film was Polar Express and we had to wear funny glasses to watch it. It was a bit scary for me in one bit because it was like we were on a very fast roller coaster. We kept getting splashed with icy water and it somehow seemed a bit windy at times in there, but it was good fun. We did some shopping before we came back.

In the afternoon Ruth and I went to visit Mary Redman - she has been to our church twice before, the last time was just last year, so it was fun to see her again. She has 3 dogs, the two big ones were ok as they weren't interested in me. But the little one kept trying to sniff me out of Ruth's bag! It was a bit scary - after all the amazing places I've been to and survived, I thought I might end up being a snack for an American dog! But then Ruth zipped me into a pocket so I was saved. It was such a warm day we were able to sit outside for a while. It was a lovely time and Ruth and Mary had a great time chatting.

We're off to spend the weekend with Bill and Vivien Arnold - they have been to the Link too but a long time ago now. Ruth told me we will have a wonderful time there because they are so kind!

Madison

Hello!

Yesterday I went with Ruth, Carol and her daughter, Mary, to the town of Madison which is about an hour from here. Madison has some beautiful and really interesting old houses. I think they are called Colonial buildings. Carol and Mary told us that, during the American Civil War, the soldiers were going throughout the South burning all the towns and cities. But the women who lived in Madison begged them not to destroy their town and agreed that the soldiers could stay there when they were passing through this area, and that they would look after their injured soldiers. So Madison wasn't burned to the ground and it's about the only place that has all it's old Colonial style houses! It's a beautiful town and we found some interesting shops there too. We went to a coffee shop - I'm not sure if it was for breakfast or lunch because it was in the middle of the morning - and I got to try some grits. As you know, I'm a mission sheep so I'll try to eat anything I'm given. Grits are not so good as grass though.

Today Ruth and Carol are taking me to a place called Stone Mountain. We are staying all night and it sounds like it's going to be great fun! I'll let you know what I see there later.

We haven't seen Pastor Iain and Norma again but we know they are really really busy all the time. They leave tomorrow for home so please pray that they can have a good safe journey home and that God helps them to have a good rest.

Yesterday was fun!

Hello again!

I just want to tell you about the busy day we had yesterday. Our friend David is Pastor of two small churches here, and we went to one of them with him and Carol yesterday morning. It is called Corinth United Methodist Church. There weren't many people there, maybe about 3o, but they made us feel very special and were so glad we were there. Pastor David introduced me and Ruth and told all the people about my adventures in all the different countries I've been to. We sang some great hymns and Carol played the piano. At the end, all the people there gathered at the front and we had our picture taken with them. Some of them had been to Scotland and told us about the places they had visited.

Guess where we went for lunch after that... KFC! I was surprised they have it here, but Ruth said KFC started out in America then came to Scotland. (Not Kids For Christ, of course.)

Then we went to a service in a retirement home called Iris Place. It was beautiful, a lovely home, and we met some really lovely people who live there too. A few of them came to the service, and Pastor David let me and Ruth get up and introduce ourselves and tell the people about all the things we both do. They loved me, I could just tell! Some of them had been to Scotland too, and one lady said she had ancestors who came from Scotland. That was lots of years ago though, even more years than the grown ups in KFC have been alive!

I'll be back soon...

I'm in America!

Hello everyone!

I'm very happy because I'm now on my retreat! We're staying with our friends, Dave and Carol Staton, in their lovely home. It has trees all around it and sometimes deer come into the backyard! I haven't seen them yet but we'll get a picture if they do that while we're here. There are lots of different birds here too, ones we didn't know the names of, and they come to eat seed and things on the porch.

We had a long journey so we've all been tired since we got here. Ruth and I have had lots of time to rest which is great, but Pastor Iain and Norma are very busy going to lots of places and meeting up with lots of people. They have gone to a place called North Carolina this weekend to speak to some people who are having a weekend retreat there. Remember to pray for them because they need lots of God's strength to do all the things they have to do!

Thats all for now but I'll write more later.

I'm going on holiday!

Hello everyone!

I'm very excited because tommorrow I'm off on my travels again. It's a bit different this time though because I'm not going on a really really busy trip. Ruth is going out to Athens, Georgia (that's in the USA) with Pastor Iain and Norma - they're going to be speaking at a retreat for some friends of mine - and Ruth is going with them to see what's all happening out there, meet up with some friends and have some time to chill. Well, since I've been on sooooo many trips over the past 3 years, Ruth said it was time I had a proper holiday and asked me to come along with her! I'm very pleased because I feel quite tired and would like a nice rest before my next mission trip. I'll write more when we're there and let you know when we do interesting things. But I better finish packing my little suitcase and have an early night - we leave at 3.30 am tommorrow! Yawn...

I've been at the beach!

Hello!

I'm having a great time here with Pastor Iain and Norma. We've just spent a few days at the beach. I got my feet a bit wet which was OK, but my scarf got a bit sandy and I didn't like that much. It scratched my neck a bit. It's all out now though. We're now on our way from Atlanta to Athens, where Pastor Iain will stay for a few days with our friends there. I'm going to a Ladies conference with Norma - since I'm a girl I'm allowed to go even though I'm a sheep. Please pray for Norma, she's speaking at the conference and it would really help her if you were all praying! The conference is at a place called Tocoa Falls.

This is a photo of us with Cindy Soble - do you remember her? She was part of the team who came over to work on the kitchen in our church last year. We've been telling her how great it's been to have that kitchen done!

I'll be back later to let you know how everything goes!

I'm in America!

Hello everyone!

I'm in America at the moment. I came here last Tuesday with Pastor Iain and Norma. My friend Jack and his mum and dad - Doug and Susan - are here too. We're staying with some old friends of the Allan family, they are called Bill and Diana Ambrose. They have been very kind to us. Here is a photo of me with Pastor Iain, Norma and Diana.


This weekend is going to be very busy. Norma is going to speak at a Ladies Retreat from St James Church in Athens, Georgia, and Iain will be speaking at three Sunday services at St James on the Sunday - and at a community group that night! I've already been to St James church before, although not on a Sunday, so I'm looking forward to going back and seeing some of my friends there again. I'll write more later to let you know how it goes!

I'm on an Indian Reservation!

Hello Everyone!

Just wanted to tell you about the fun time I'm having this week! It's Holiday Club week at our church and we are all Indian Braves on Running River Reservation. We've had some great stories from the Bible about a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son, and we're learning how precious we are to God. Our memory verse is Psalm 139: 17 - "God your thoughts are precious to me. They are so many! If I could count them they would be more than all the grains of sand." I've almost learned to say it, but I'm not the best at it, some of the children who are here have brilliant memories!

We've had some great games and I've been learning new songs. My favourite is Fandabidozzie! We have a visit every day from two puppets called Pete and Ailsa who talk about what they've learned on Running River Reservation and then sing a song.

It's very busy at Link Church at the moment because, as well as Holiday Club, we have some friends over from America who are doing all sorts of things in our church. Six of them are helping the Holiday Club team and they've been great fun! There are also people doing painting upstairs in the church, and some have been going to do drama in the High Street and tell people about Jesus! It's been so busy my head is buzzing, but it's exciting too and I've made loads of new friends. It's really nice that these new friends came to visit me and everyone here because it means I get a rest from going on aeroplanes!

Here are a couple of photos:

This is the team on "Tribal Hair Day". There were some very strange hairstyles...

This is me with the team children and Big Chief Misses With Arrows.

Photos from china!

Hello again!

I've been home for a day now and had a nice rest. I've also got some photos ready to show you. I hope you like them!

Our last day...

We got up very early on Tuesday morning to walk along to Tiananmen Square so that we could see Chairman Mao. He used to be the leader of China and after he died they built a big building where his body lies. We queued with hundreds of Chinese people to walk past him. We then walked back to our hotel and after breakfast we got on the bus to the airport.

Our flight took 10 hours to London then we had to catch another flight home to Edinburgh and we got home after midnight - we were very tired as we'd been travelling for 24 hours by that point. We had a lovely trip and we will really miss being in China and all the new friends we made.

Saw some Pandas!

Hello! Today we went back to Beijing on the aeroplane. When we got there we went on the Metro to the Zoo. I loved it there - we saw lots of different animals, but the ones I liked best were the pandas. They were so cute! There was even a little baby one, he looked so cuddly. After that we went out for our last dinner in China - after 11 nights of Chinese food we went to pizza hut! Most of the people were really glad to be eating something they were more used to. I didn't mind the Chinese food too much because I try to eat and enjoy everything I get since I am a missionary sheep. But I have to say the pizza was very nice, and it felt quite like being at home in Pizza Hut!

Tommorrow we will be coming home - I'm really looking forward to seeing you all again and telling you all my news! But right now I think I should get an early night since it's going to be a very long day tommorrow.

See you all soon!

The terracotta army

Today we went to see the Terracotta Army, which Dot said is really famous. She's been looking forward to seeing it and it was amazing. There were soldiers and horses, all made out of terracotta which is a kind of stone. I felt a bit nervous about them even though they are just statues because they all had different faces, just like real soldiers would!

After that we went to a market and everyone got some souvenirs. It was a very hot day and we went for a walk through a park. Lots of people were flying kites and I got really excited because I love kites! They make me want to skip like a little lamb again. Tommorrow is our last full day in China, but I think we'll still be doing lots of fun things.

Another city...

We are now in Xian - we had to get on an aeroplane to come here but it only took a couple of hours. There was still plenty of time to go out and see some more of the sights so we went to look at the city wall and we saw the old part of the city. The city wall is very old, and it was a person called Emperor Hongwu who started to build it a very very long time ago. I've heard some very unusual names since I came to China, and I'm very glad that my friends in KFC decided to call me Mercy! We also went to see a pagoda, it looked amazing and I can't wait to show you the photos Dot took there! While we were there we walked through a very lovely garden. There were all sorts of different plants and flowers which were so bright and colourful. I saw some I've never seen before, I don't think we get them in Scotland. It's been such a busy day and lots of fun, but I need to have an early night tonight because Dot said we're going to see something really amazing tomorrow! I'll write and tell you about it when we get back...

Sightseeing!

We've been doing some sightseeing in Beijing today -- we went to Tienanmen Square. There were thousands of Chinese people there. They thought Dot looked lovely because she is tall and blonde, so lots of them wanted a photo taken with her. No-one wanted their photo taken with me because small yellow sheep aren't so nice to look at, but I don't mind because I've had my photo taken quite a lot already. We also went to see "The Forbidden City". I wondered whether we would be allowed in since it's called the Forbidden City, but it turned out it's actually a very old palace which is a museum now and it was very interesting. We also saw a Tea ceremony which I enjoyed watching, even though I don't like tea much at all!

Stairway to Heaven!

Well, we finished our trek today - by climbing 1000 steps on the Stairway to Heaven! Wow, that was quite a workout, even for a little sheep! It felt like we were just going up and up forever. The views at the top were amazing though, so it was worth all that climbing.
After that we got on another coach and had a trip of about 3 hours to Beijing -that's where we are now, in a really nice hotel. I've just been watching Dot have a foot massage - she said it was very nice after all that walking and climbing, but I'm not having one because sheep aren't really into that sort of thing. I would rather just go and stand in a nice cool stream to cool my feet off a bit. Dot says that, after the foot massage, we're going out to look for a snack. I don't know if she's kidding me or not but she says they sell insects to eat! I think she really means it. Yuck! I know I'm a missionary sheep and all that, but I think I'll just stick to snacking on grass this time!

Watching the fireworks...

Hello again! I've just been sitting watching some fireworks and looking at all the stars in the sky - lovely! We're staying in a mountain lodge and we all love it here. It was a great day too, we trekked in a national park. It was quite steep in places, but we're getting used to that now! It's been another hot and sunny day which is good for seeing the scenery, but we need to have lots of water with us! We're all tired, but tomorrow is our last day of trekking - nearly made it! It's been a lot of walking for a little sheep, but Dot has helped me a lot. After we finish tomorrow we will get on a coach and go to Beijing - I'm really excited about seeing another big city! I'll have to try not to sleep all the way on the coach because there will be lots to see.

4 mountains in a day!

Today has been amazing - we climbed 4 mountains and the last one was the same height as Ben Nevis (that's Scotland's highest mountain for anyone who doesn't know). Some sheep like hills and things, but I have quite an easy life really so it was very tiring. I was glad of Dot's help today, let me tell you! We trekked for 9 hours so everyone is tired and we were all glad to get our feet up tonight. The weather was a bit misty, but that didn't spoil the views for us - the mountains were spectacular! Dot's been taking photos so we'll let you see some when we get back. Now I think it's time for bed - it's another exciting day tomorrow!

Met some children today!

As part of our trek today we walked to a village and visited a school there. We met some of the children and played games with them. Dot and the others had brought some little presents with them and they gave them out to the children - they were so happy to get their gifts! That was a lot of fun, I love meeting children. It was lovely and sunny today, everyone had to remember their suncream. But not me because my lovely yellow fur doesn't burn in the sun. We saw some farmers and farm animals, but no sheep unfortunately!

A great day!

We've had a great day trekking today. It was quite tough walking in places because the steps were uneven and some of them were quite broken, but Dot helped me and we both managed it fine. People have been asking about me - I suppose it is quite unusual to see a little yellow sheep trekking on the Great Wall! - and Dot has told them all about me. The weather has been much better today, I almost didn't need my scarf, but I'll keep it with me just in case. We saw some amazing views and all of us agreed that today was fantastic. We're all quite tired now, though, and I found it hard to keep my eyes open during the team briefing after dinner!

Sore feet!

Hello everyone!

My feet are a bit sore tonight because we had our first day of trekking today. The bit of the wall we walked on is 500 years old! It looked quite broken and worn down, but that's not very surprising for such an old wall. I look a bit grubby myself and I'm only 2 years old! It was quite a steep climb in places, but I was ok because Dot carried me when it was too hard for me to climb. It's still freezing cold, and I'm really glad I brought my scarf! The people are all really nice to us, I've made some great new friends. Dot and I both like the food - Dot's a bit like me, she's used to travelling to all sorts of places and trying different kinds of food. That's quite important because we need to have lots of energy for all this walking!

I'll write more soon...

We're here!

Hi! We arrived safely today in China. It was a very long flight, we were on the plane all night. But I managed to sleep ok, sheep can sleep anywhere really. We are staying at a lodge, we will be at a few of these during our time in China. Its wet and cold, but they think it's to be better tomorrow. Let's hope so..

You should see the Great Wall, it's amazing! Really really high, especially for a short little sheep like me. We went for a walk to the first watchtower today, we start the really challenging trekking tomorrow though! Dot said it's OK though because she'll carry me if my little legs get too tired.

More soon...

A new adventure!

Hello! I've had a good long rest since I went to Tanzania with Angela, Pastor Iain and Norma, but I've had a good rest and I'm ready for another adventure. So I'm really excited today, because tomorrow I'm setting off with Dot to China so we can do a trek on the Great Wall of China! Dot has been in training for ages - I've been too busy resting so I hope Dot will carry me if it's too much walking for me.





Dot is doing the trek to raise funds for Classic FMs charity, which is called "Music Makers". They raise money to pay for music therapy and education projects to help children and adults who are disadvantaged. The sort of places they have music projects in are prisons and young offenders institutions, care homes for adults with memory problems, primary schools, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs in areas where families don't have much to live on. They also pay for children with special needs and other problems to have music therapy, which they all love. I'm quite happy to be part of this because I'm a very musical sheep.





During the trek we'll also walk to some villages and meet people who live there. Dot has some things like colouring books and pencils to give to the children. I'm really excited about getting to meet some Chinese children - as you know, I love children and they love me too! I've got friends in all sorts of different countries now.

Well, I hope you'll keep coming back to my blog to find out how our trek is going - I'll write as often as possible! Now I need to go and finish packing.

This is a picture of part of the Great Wall. Looks like it might be a long way...