A Note from Elizabeth

Hi. It's Elizabeth here. A very happy New Year to all.
Certainly a roller-coaster of 8 and a half months that we've had on British soil! So grateful to be living near family, yet definitely experiencing the strangeness of a different place, and finding it hard that we don't know anyone well- yet - lots of culture shock to be had all round. The boys are adjusting keenly, finding friends and getting into life. We're praying for a house, preferably before the new baby arrives, but we trust in God's timing.... as much as we can! When we're not trusting, we're worrying! But I know to keep fast to the mission ahead, even if that's just taking it a day at a time and learning about what God wants for this town - or even for this nation.

The calendar is filling up - I have this incredible sense of the speed of life. Little chance to pause for breath. I am trying to clear and tidy after a busy (and fun-filled) Christmas, but this year is not giving me much of a run up, it is flooding in from all sides. Please pray that I can prioritize and not do meaningless tasks that God would rather I left by ......the .........wayside.....

Goodness, I'm having difficulty writing this.....Are you bored of reading this?

I really feel that I've been writing for the sake of an entry, rather than for the sake of those I know and love and for the sake of staying in touch with people I care deeply about. I've been so busy with house and children and family and a weary, sick pregnancy and numerous ministry opportunities, that I'm glad to have left the blog updates up to David. But I had wanted my first entry to be dynamic and encouraging about all that God is doing with the Fraser family's mission to Scotland.

The truth is, I need your prayers as we enter 2008. I am low in this cold wet town. The people we know are warm and welcoming but I am tired of not having a proper place to call home - a nest to feather, as it were.

I'm also tired of leaning on my family for support and advice because, let's face it, it's all new to me too and friends do not abound - solid, trusting relationships take time.

Mostly, I'm tired of misunderstanding my role in this life, and wanting to do it all, but only having the energy (at 5months pregnant) to manage the basics. One minute I am elated and joyful and throwing myself into a new season with the enthusiasm that only God gives. The next I am exhausted, fearful and withdrawing into a tight ball of self preservation, wishing for an easier way, and forcefully making time to call my own.

Please, please pray for balance and peace for me. In ministry, I have heard that one needs boundaries while still being available to people who may show up on your doorstep. Well, when the town is literally on our doorstep, I find it difficult to aptly judge what to say Yes and No to, and it's wearing me out!!! We have some kind of meeting or ministry event going on every night this week. Crazy.

So now I've written that, I'm not in denial any more!! :) Thanks for listening. Please bring it before the Lord if you think of us and have the time.

We miss everyone a lot. We miss California. We still know that we took the path God had for us. Please remember us, and please keep us posted on what is happening with you. We're blessed to have you as friends - thank you for your support.
Lots of love, In Christ. xxxx

(DF) PS we would love comments on these blogs and check all the time.

What a great week!

Thank you to everyone who is praying. Please don't stop!

We are increasingly confident in the Lord regarding the work He has for us in Scotland.

We have turned down one Job offer and declined another opportunity to interview because it has become clear that the Lord is leading us to Alva.

We have placed a deposit on the only three bedroom house for rent in town, in anticipation of serving the community of Alva. Alva Baptist Church may offer me the opportunity to serve as pastor.

Please pray for our participation in a church business meeting this Wednesday at 7:30pm GMT

Here are some details:

Saturday June 2:
We were invited to visit with Peter Kimber, Secretary to the North Berwick Christian Youth Trust. The week before, I had interviewed with representatives of the youth groups for an hour and with the management committee for an hour. Peter on behalf of the Trust management committee offered me a job as their Youth Worker. The job entailed overseeing the youth ministries serving for four separate Churches in the North Berwick community.

Sunday June 3
We attended Calvary Chapel Edinburgh, where I preached the Sunday sermon to a packed house of 9 people (one of which SLEPT through most of the sermon :) Very humbling!). This small group of believers are growing in grace and understanding of the Lord. We had a great time.

On Monday
We received a deadline of Tuesday morning to accept or pass on the opportunity to serve in North Berwick. After praying Monday night, Liz and I agreed we would not accept the Job because of what the Lord was doing in our hearts with regard to relationships with Alva Baptist Church.

Tuesday morning we responded that we were confident that God was calling us to Alva. (though they have not yet officially offered us a job or anything) Peter Kimber accepted our reply and encouraged us that he supported our commitment to obedience to following the Lord's direction. He also said the offer stands if anything changes.

On Thursday
The Frasers went north (without dad) to the town of Carron, near Aberlour in Moray. Liz brought the boys to the house where Daniel & Josiah's great grandmother lived before she went home to be with the Lord. Aberlour is also the location where Liz and I were married.

I received another call from the first church I sent a resume to that is looking for a pastor. They wanted to know if I am still interested in the position. I again declined with Alva in mind.

On Thursday night I drove my friend Jaime from CC Edinburgh to lead a home group which I have become a part of in Linlithgow.

I followed my family to Carron the next day after.

Friday and Saturday were so restful and the summer yielded clear blue skies. My sons love the outdoors! We will definitely be taking up fishing.

This past Sunday, June 10th:
I had the blessing of preaching to the fellowship at Alva Baptist Church in Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland.

** Everyone seems to know that something is going on there. Little kids were asking Liz if we would be there every Sunday and was I going to be the next pastor! That day there were several families that lived in Alva but had been attending other fellowships in outlying areas. Two people specifically mentioned that they were considering worshiping closer to home. There were also other retired ministers present who introduced themselves after the sermon. It really seems like the Lord is drawing people into real community formed around the preaching of His word and the commitment to living it out in Scotland. **

This coming Wednesday evening, June 13th:
At 7:30pm (GMT = 5 hrs. earlier in NY and 8 hrs. earlier in LA) we will attend a Q&A session at the church business meeting. Then we will be invited to leave as they discuss whether they would like to offer me the opportunity to serve as the pastor.

Please pray for wisdom and discernment as we step out into this new territory to serve as the Lord continues to lead us.
~~~

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

Shepherd's Staff Mission Facilitators
PO Box 27220 Albuquerque, NM 87125-7220
("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

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