Just over a month

David, Elizabeth, Daniel & Josiah Fraser
Scotland Mission:

a response to the call of God on our lives.

May 28, 2007

Just over a month since we left Metro in Los Angeles for Edinburgh, Scotland. We are beginning to look like people who will live here and not merely visitors on vacation.

We are making incremental progress as we get used to life in a new country. We purchased a car, auto insurance, have a bank, and a post office, and found a local grocery store, etc.

We have spent over $10,000 to get here and get settled. Shipping, airfare, auto purchase and miscellaneous expenses all add up. The exchange rate $2=1 pound) cuts our dollars in half. Gas costs $8 a gallon! We don't drive too much.

The missionary facilitator service receives 10% for processing the banking and taxation and keeping track of our expenses and Uncle Sam also gets 15% of your tax deductible contributions (since I receive it as taxable salary, we pay 100% of SSDI). Good grief!

Since leaving, we have received $600/month support from Metro and some more from those of you who are helping this work to continue. That money has really helped us over this time.

I have been asking, seeking and knocking all around the area to find work. We have sought ministry employment prior to secular work, but it gets difficult to determine whether we can be missionaries with eyes toward church planting and be in fellowship with ministries that approach discipleship and worship very differently (organizationally and sometimes theologically).

I almost can't believe I turned turn down a position as a Youth Worker for a Youth Trust which oversees 4 churches' youth ministries. It is primarily to serve as an evangelist and coordinator with campus youth ministries. You will see why below.

We are enjoying fellowship with our friends at CC Edinburgh.
I preached my first sermon in Scotland on Sunday June 3.

I also have been invited to teach on June 10 at a tiny Baptist church in Alva, Clackmannanshire (Near Stirling) . The current pastor at Alva Baptist has asked me to consider pastoring the church, because he has family matters that are calling him home to the US.

It's a challenge; 12 people, many over 70 (set in their ways), congregational leadership, one voting member that may be a freemason. I know this would need to change, but am not sure how to manage that kind of change. God's problems, not mine, but there I am in the crosshairs, desperate to be sure of His will for us in the situation.

The neat thing is that this small church has history and is attempting to stand on its own, independent from other more liberal churches in the area. Lots of divine appointments led to this opportunity and we are seriously considering it.

Alva Baptist Church, is this tiny church in the heart of Scotland. It sits in in view of the William Wallace Monument, in Stirling, the former capital of Scotland. Geographically it is the heart of Scotland. Stirlingshire is a strategic location and overlooks the sites of defining battles for the freedom of the people of Scotland. Perhaps it will also have a prophetic significance.
I came out with the notion of a ministry called 'first love ministries' and this is all so poetically fit to the theme.

We are committed to living out the gospel here among the people we meet. And God has confirmed in so many ways that his hand is upon us.

Thanks to everyone who is praying for us and please don't stop!

David, Elizabeth, Daniel & Josiah Fraser


If you would like to help support us with a tax-deductible contribution toward the Lord's work here in Scotland, please send it to:

Shepherd's Staff Mission Facilitators
PO Box 27220
Albuquerque, NM 87125-7220
"account:#1015 Fraser" in the memo

Or to do so online, click below:

Shepherd's Staff
Chose donation type: “missionary’s name” and type in Frasers # 1015