Dear Friends,

"Though now ascended up on high,
He bends on earth a brother's eye;
Partaker of the human name,
He knows the frailty of our frame,
Our fellow-suff'rer yet retains,
A fellow-feeling of our pains;
And still remembers in the skies,
His tears, His agonies and cries.
In ev'ry pang that rends the heart,
The man of Sorrows had a part;
He sympathises with our grief,
And to the suff'rer sends relief,
With boldness, therefore at the throne,
Let us make all our sorrows known;
And ask the aids of heav'nly pow'r,
To help us in the evil hour."

Ezzy Reflects

Our Careforce Volunteer, Ezra Okoti will shortly be moving on—here he reflects on his time in Tillydrone.

It's amazing how time flies. It has been nine months now since my arrival at Tillydrone. My time here has really be good and I thank each one of you for making my stay here extra special. To be honest, I never found what I'd expected. Coming from a third world nation, I thought everyone in Britain was either middle class or rich. Secondly, Kenya having been a British colony, missionaries introduced Christianity to my people. I assumed this was a God-fearing nation. My eyes were quickly opened when I arrived at Alexander Terrace for the first time, to live at the famous 2C church flat.

The first few weeks of my stay were hard because I was homesick, I was trying to adjust to the new culture as well as trying to fit in as a part of St.George's. I remember looking for the co-op super store for almost two hours on foot. That's just a small example of the adventures I had trying to find my way around Aberdeen. With the help of Shirley, the Junior Church teaching team and basically everyone in St.George's, I settled down and got on with my work. I met new people in schools, community centres and other places, who were wonderful and friendly. With time, the children knew who I was, for they had seen me at their school assembly, or at the junior church. It really encouraged me when one of them saw me on the road one day and said, "Hi Ezzy". From then on, I felt free to talk and joke around with the young people on the streets.

It wasn't long before the winter came. That was Ezzy's first experience of snow. The snow was so beautiful to look at ... and a stress TO LOOK AT! It was cold for me. Something I'll always remember was the day at the Friendship Hour, a certain gentleman was sharing with folks some poetry in Doric. I could not understand a word that man said. The folks at the Friendship Hour had a good laugh about that. These are some of the special moments I'll carry with me every where I go for the rest of my life. The Lord has also taught me many things these past nine months. The most important of them all is to give thanks in all circumstances.

I'd like to say thanks to each and every one of you for the prayers and the support you've given me. God willing I'll finish my time in Tillydrone towards the end of July 2000. I hope to join Christ for the Nations Bible College in Surrey, B.C. Canada. I'll be praying for you all and for the Church here in Tillydrone. I'll miss this place and maybe one day I might just come and visit. Thank-you very much for having me. I've learnt a lot from you, and I'll pray a special blessing for you as a congregation.

Answers will be published in the next issue. If you can't wait or would like to impress the webmaster with your solution then please e-mail George. You might like to make suggestions for a suitable prize!

The challenge of Scripture Union holidays begins even before you get there! There is wide range of different locations with many different activities for all ages. There is the brand new centre at Lendrick Muir in the Perthshire hills, or you can take to the seas off the West Coast for a cruising holiday. Camps offer a chance to hone skills in horse riding, or football, or event to study for exams. Locations range from the all-canvas site at Ballater, through wooden chalets at Whithauih Park, to the small but exclusive cottage at Blairvaich, near Loch Ard.

SU is an interdominational Christian organisation with many years of experience in providing holidays for young people from Primary 5 through to Secondary 6. They also offer a range of all-age and family holidays. The camps offer a wide range of activities, but also time each day to explore the Christian faith - through drama, music and discussion. Whether you want a relaxing break, or an energetic holiday, you will find a camp to suit you, to make new friends and find out more about God.

 If you don’t need the holiday, but would like to be part of SU camps, and are aged 17 or over, then you could join a holiday team. Cooks and team members are always required - no special experience is necessary. All you need is a willingness to serve God - and to have fun, because that invariably happens too! If you can’t come, please pray for the work of SU, both for campers and for team members.

Happy holidays!

www.suscotland.org.uk/holidays/

an abridged version of the article above appeared in the paper edition of the magazine

Points for Prayer

Pray for Shirley and Ezzy as they minister to us so faithfully in the church, and for all the folk who work weekly, giving their time to the Lord.

Pray for those parts of the world in dire straits through natural causes (such as Sudan) and internal conflict (such as Sierra Leone). Pray too for those persecuted because of their origins.

Pray for all our friends in hospital, or at home and not too well. Pray for strength and healing, and peace in their loneliness.

Pray for the children in our area, that they may find useful and pleasurable pastimes through the summer.

Brief news of people and events