Robbie Burns Day

Today is Robbie Burns Day, so here's to the haggis and all processed meats - eat some devon if you can't find you're haggis!

ADDRESS TO A HAGGIS – Robbie Burns

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the puddin-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang’s my arm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin was help to mend a mill
In time o’ need,
While thro’ your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An’ cut ye up wi’ ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And the, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!
Then, horn for horn, they stretch an’ strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a’ their weel’d kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
"Bethankit!!" hums.
Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi’ perfect sconner,
Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view
On sic a dinner?
Poor devil! See him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither’d rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash
His nieve a nit;
Thro’ bluidy flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He’ll make it whissle;
An’ legs, an’ arms, an’ heads will sned
Like taps o’ thrissle.
Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o’ fare,
Auld Scotland want nae skining ware,
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!

And tomorrow we must all eat a pie or put a lamb chop on the BBQ as mad Sam Kekovich has been commending us. Hoorah for Jacqui who offically is welcomed into the arms of the sunburnt country tomorrow, eat a pie for Jacqui, you know you want to...

Proposal for short term mission in Spain

Thanks Tanja for your posting and suggestion.

Yes it may sound like an excuse for a holiday in Spain in the guise of a short term mission. I have a dear friend Steph who is at University in Sydney and on their mid year conference we warned not to justify overseas travel by tacking on a short term mission. So I thought it would be good to put spell out my intentions with ECM in Spain. ECM by the way is short for European Christian Mission. They are an international and interdenominational organisation comprising evangelical Christians called by God and commissioned by local churches to serve in partnership in the evangelisation of the peoples of Europe. For more details check out their website on http://www.ecmi.org/.

Now what I propose to do is this:

to take part in a short term mission this year with ECM to Spain working with ECM missionaries primarily in Cabra, with Brett & Ruth Richardson & Abel & Rafi Nuño with secondary scope for experiencing the work of ECM in Córdoba and beyond.

Initially a short period of Spanish phonetic language learning in England with Joanna Bensen in preparation for two month intensive language learning in the province of Cordoba.

During the intensive language study the proposal is to live with a Spanish speaking family (The Nuños) to be fully immersed in the language and culture of Cabra.

Through out this period hopefully opportunities will arise to share the gospel with those around me who are involved in the language studies; teachers and those who can be engaged during the language learning process.

I also would like to investigate wider mission work in Cordoba and the Spanish arm of ECM by visiting and observing the various mission points in the Cordoba area. I hope also to attend the ECM biannual conference which may be in Spain in 2006 (Valencia). While I'm in Cabra I willbe participating in the local evangelical church in Cabra.

Towards the end of the short term mission helping plan and participate in children’s summer outreach program. This may include being involved in English conversational classes, one on one evangelism using English as a bridge, teaching songs and memory verses in English and helping run games, puppetry and drama.

During the time of the short term mission I would like to evaluate opportunity and suitability for future ministry possibilities while being a support and encouragement and point of contact for ECM missionaries and Australia. One area that I will be wanting to find out is how I go with the Spanish language.

I'm being supported by the church in Orange, Orange Evangelical Church by prayer, approval and to a limited extent financial. This time away will be part of long service leave taken at less then full pay. Also will have savings to draw on while away.

This short term mission is fully supported by my church OEC. I propose to use this short term mission to strengthen links between OEC and the church in Cabra. Also propose to set up an evaluation of mission support from my own short term experience to better help us as a church partner those overseas.

Thanks Cat

Thanks Cat for putting in a comment. Look forward to seeing you and Coggo before I go. If ou have any cool ideas of what I could do on this site that would be much appreciated. It would be good to have posted what I'm reading, listening to, playing etc. I'll have to explore the possibilities. At the moment I'm finishing Captain Corelli's Mandolin. About the tragedy of love and war on a Greek Island. Highly recommened.

Another Year Towards Heaven

2006 has begun with a flourish. Mission down at Ye Olde Wairo Van Park went exceptionally well. Now back in Le Orange getting ready to leave on the 1st of Febuary. Good time to catch up with a few people and to tidy things up before heading to Spain, via Israel and England.

Taken by Cat in Cook Park