And another Saturday of WANDERINGS

After a busy two weeks in the office and no Saturday travel, we got up early Saturday morning, did our chores and located our GPS postal codes and off we went. About 20 minutes from Edinburgh we found a beautiful small (on the scale of castes) castle that people still live in part of the time (Lauriston Castle). Located right on the banks of the North Sea--it is beautiful. The grounds/gardens were really amazing. We walked several of the trails then left in a hurry to catch our ferry in a village named Queens Ferry to visit Inchcalm Island. It took about 30 min to reach the island. Inchcalm Island is famous for 3 reasons. 1st of all it has the ruins of a monastery dated back to the 1200's. 2nd it has become a natural habitat for several rare birds, including the Puffin (which we didn't get to see because they are only there between April & July.) The other birds we were careful to avoid because they were nesting and will attack--and they are pretty big birds!! The ruins of the monastery are some of my favorite ruins we've seen. I opted not to go to the top of these ruins when I heard them say we would have to climb on hands & knees through dark tunnels! Sister Call did it and was exhausted the rest of the trip! The 3rd reason is that the island was a fortress during WW1. There is a picture below of a tunnel that was used to transport ammunition. It was dark and scary, but I climbed the stairs to it and walked the tunnel through and then back again. The island is surrounded by the Forth River and was heavily used during the war. There are several islands in the Forth River and they are all call Inch . . . something. The pictures below are labeled so you will know castle from monastery ruins, which I guess is pretty obvious. 

On the missionary side of things: We attended baptisms for three people on Wednesday evening. Two young men from Mainland China and a man in his 70's. The ward is growing!! We took sister missionaries out to eat on Thursday. Friday we had a big to-do in my official duties. One of the flats that the Elders live in had their boiler explode! The boilers are what holds and heats water to provide both hot water and water for the heating system. The water gushed into the flat below them and then to the flat below that. Of course, the Elders had flooding too, but not nearly as much damage as the other flats. Anyway, the fire department was called and they turned off the water in the building and the electricity. I had to evacuate the Elders and protect them from really irate landlords from the apartments below!! They were not happy campers and were just looking for someone to blame. Come to find out this had happened before with the previous elders, so I made the decision that it is time to close this flat and look for something new. It was a pretty hectic day, but we handled ourselves well if I do say so myself and fortunately, no one was injured. 

NOTE: My sister, Kay, has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will have surgery this Thursday. It is early-stage and they are very hopeful that everything will work out. I'm asking for my family and friends to join Kay's family in prayers for her. She is a wonderful person who has been service oriented all her life. I wish her the very best of care and a bright, hopeful future. Love you, Kay

Inchcalm Monastery

Inchcalm Monastery

Sister Gifford at Lauriston Castle

 

Unusual tree!

New Queens Bridge spanning the Forth River - Queen
was here about a month ago for the opening.

All Steel Bridge over the Forth River

Our ferry "Maid of the Forth" to go to Inchcalm Island

Inchcalm monastery 

Part of the ruins of the Monastery

Busy days--catch-up bloggingI

Another 6 weeks have gone by and we have just finished transfer week. I think I explained that we have missionaries leaving their missions to go home and new missionaries coming in. This time it was 9 leaving and 15 new ones coming in. So then the fun begins! missionaries are transferred here and there and are assigned new companions. That means finding new flats and closing others. I love the excitement of this part of my calling. I continue to be blessed for my efforts and hope my family will look for the blessings in their own lives because of my service--they will be there I promise.

Last week two of the people we have been teaching with the missionaries were baptized,  Nikki and Bahadir. Both single & about the same age. So I'm thinking a little match-making may be in my future plans. They both have strong testimonies and have really been studying the Book of Mormon. It's wonderful to see peoples lives so enriched by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I gave the opening prayer and stumbled through the whole thing--bless my heart for trying LOL. One of the talks was done completely in French (Bahadir is French). Such a beautiful language & I wish I could understand French.

My companion, Sister Call, had family visiting for a week so she was traveling with them for a few days. It was very strange to be alone for the weekend. I walked everywhere I went because she had the car. It was kind of nice as I felt like a real authentic Scottish person (everyone walks here). The streets are much safer here than in the US. People walk the streets at all hours of the night. I think one big difference is that guns are not allowed in the United Kingdom. Everybody walks, carry a backpack and always have a bag of groceries. Lots of small neighborhood stores and plenty of bus lines to take you anywhere you want to go. Parking is really nonexistent in Edinburgh (which, by-the-way has an "ah" sound at the end--Edinburgh(ah). So if you want to go somewhere & you don't know if there is parking for sure you take a bus. Colored hair seems to be really big here; like yellow, blue, red, pink. Women of all ages. Is that the case now in the US? I'm having technical problems again trying to place my pictures on my blog so this lone picture is it for this time. More pictures next time. Love to all, Sister Gifford, mom, grams & ggma

Some rugged Scottish shoreline

NOTE: Well lHi their mom--sure missing you. As it gets closer to the holidays I think of you and all the fun stuff (like candy making) you used to do at Christmas. I remember when you were going through the "craft" stage of your life and we all got Christmas decorated pringle cans with cutouts in the front for a panorama scene. I don't look at Pringles in the grocery stores without remembering that you and Dad ate a lot of Pringles just so you would have the cans LOL! So many memories and speaking of memories, have I ever told you how much I appreciate your "Life Story"? What a treasure it is for all of us. I hope you have a cheerful sweatshirt to wear for the holidays! Kay just might have to buy one for you. A cheerful sweatshirt to match the smile on your face. Bye for now--love you with all my heart. 

NOTE:  Hi Zach! What's happening? I've been thinking about you and your college adventure. I hope you are settling in and feeling confident that you can do it all!! I know how capable you are and completely able to all that is required of you. Have you been back home for a weekend yet? I'll bet the two siblings are really missing you. Did they save your room for you or did Michael take it over LOL!!? So what is your favorite class this semester? Do you have a car? Wow, I can't believe I'm writing to Zach the college student. Boy the years sure do go by fast. I'm having a wonderful time here in Scotland. The people are wonderful and I am making more friends at church and getting more involved in the community. We are encouraged to do as much service for others as we can fit into our busy schedules. Right now I am helping the youth to put together hygiene kits for children in Africa.

So text me or send me an email. Your mom can provide you with the details. Give the family my love and consider yourself hugged! Love, grams