holding the ropes...

After hearing an account of the spiritual needs of India, the secretary of the meeting remarked: "There is a gold mine in India, but it seems almost as deep as the center of the earth. Who will venture to explore it?" "I will venture to go down," said (William) Carey, "but remember that you must hold the ropes."

I have to confess that I wasn't intending to write in my BLOG during our transition from Glasgow to San Diego BUT I have woke up thinking about this so many times I think I need to get it "out of my head" and on to "paper".

I have amazing supporters.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G... amazing!

Family, friends, acquaintance's... churches and companies. They are all such gift's to Britany, the kids and I. I am not sure if anyone who is not a missionary understands exactly how incredible it is to place yourself and your family in the hands of God and His people... and then to see them show up! Thank you Lord. Thank you friends. You have held the rope with courage and faith... with compassion and love. May our Father in heaven bless you for your faithfulness and extend your blessings around the globe.

For the sake of our King.

Support a friend AND a church!

Sooo... just before we left Scotland I had the pleasure (and honor) to be involved in the production of a FANTASTIC EP by Andy Ashworth. I would consider it a personal favor if any of you who read this BLOG would click HERE and purchase a copy (or 2) of his EP. Andy is the worship pastor at RE:hope AND a great friend. By buying these great tunes you will not only support him and his music BUT you will also support RE:hope and it's work that it is doing in the West End of Glasgow... not a bad deal!

BTW - I am the hi pitched fella you hear singing in the background...

Goodbye our friends...

How do you say goodbye to 5 years of ministry, friendship, love and life?

Words fail me.

As we pulled away from the curb of our house at 70 Lauderdale Gardens in Glasgow for the last time AND said goodbye to some of our closest friends and family the lump in my throat and stomach felt like led weights. I found myself thinking... maybe it isn't too late... maybe this is all wrong... maybe we can undo everything... but then a still (but firm) small (but large) voice in my heart and mind said, "no... follow Me." What else can we do. As God leads SO we follow.

If a picture is worth a thousand words maybe these pictures (all taken within a couple weeks of our move) will say it better than I can write...




































We love you all and will miss you... a part of our heart is now with you.

Grace and peace our Scottish friends.

Lead on Lord.

big move a big deal...

Here is our most recent email to our prayer team... BTW, we shipped everything out yesterday... whew!

Dear prayer team,

We need your prayers now more than ever as we shut down life here at home. I took a few minutes to stop from packing our things to bring back to America (which leaves in the morning) and I was flooded with so many different emotions. For those of you who have been praying... thank you so much. Our family is truly doing amazing, I know this is only through the prayers of His people!

We could sure use some prayers in these areas:

1. For our shipping day tomorrow - that it would go as planned and that the cost would not go up from what we were quoted. We truly don't have much but what we are bring back is our most treasured possessions. It does feel weird to put all you have on a boat and hope to see it on the other side!

2. For the kids (especially Duncan) as they say good bye in their own ways to the only home they have known in their little life. This might be the hardest part, watching them wade through the emotions of how to understand the why.

3. For our furlough - in the midst of leaving Scotland we are trying to do a proper furlough. With so many details on our minds and on paper it has been all to much on our brains. Pray that GOD would help us focus as we fund raise, meet with people, host Open Houses, BBQ's and chatting with people about the direction of the McDonald Clan.

The emotions are running high in our house today and I'm sure tomorrow, so thank you for all your prayers they are felt!!!

Much love, McDonald clan

simpler

Mark 10:21

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

It is AMAZING how much stuff we have.

I mean, I consider us a pretty simple family (especially in light of having 4 kids) AND STILL we have given away, thrown away and donated trucks full of stuff. It is remarkable. We moved to Scotland with very little and have bought almost nothing since we have lived here these past 5 years BUT we have accumulated so much stuff... and not all of it is junk! We have given away some really great things that have served us very well for these past 1847 days. And we have recycled and donated loads of toys, dishes, toys, electronics, toys, linens, toys, decorations, toys, clothes and, oh yeah, toys! Till... all we are left with is a single mound (which is currently sitting in our kids room). It's the most precious stuff. Britany's tea set. A couple antique dressers. My bike (which I will definitely start riding when I get to San Diego). Our emac. Pictures, papers, cards and cloth. And, of course, some toys. All of which fits into a 11x5x7 space... still feels like a lot though. And, depending on which of my friends is reading this right now (those in India or those in North America) it may seem like a lot or a little. BUT, one thing I WILL say is that it feels freeing.

I love giving stuff away.

Every time a little more space is created in our household I feel a little more space in our life. Everything just seems simpler. I wonder how often we read verses like the one above and ask oursleves why it is that Jesus puts so many limitations on following Him. I mean, come on... sell everything?!? Surely He is exagerating for effect. Surely He must know how much I need this stuff... Or maybe He knows how much we don't... hmm... makes you wonder.

13 years of love...

Proverbs 5:18-19

...rejoice in the wife of your youth... be intoxicated always in her love.

Yes, it is true... I am deeply and madly in love with my wife.

I know that there are many out there who will have stopped reading after that first sentence but that's ok... I am a romantic and that's just the way it is. But, for those of you who care (and have read this far) on the 22nd of this month Britany and I celebrated 13 years of marriage (good thing I don't believe in luck) to our best friends... each other in case you hadn't guessed. I won't lie to you... it hasn't always been easy... nor has it always been full of passion... but it has been love. Real love. The kind that weathers storms. The kind that carries you when you are hurting. That bears burdens. That changes you... on the inside.

Recently I wrote a Mothers Day poem for my bride while she was away at a womens retreat. It seems to fit well here as I celebrate the bride of my youth and 13 amazing years of marriage.

...this is for you babe.

For my wife…

For my wife, my lover and my friend this little poem I pen
to let you know how much you mean to me, to us and then
to bless you as you are away on this latest mothers day
I think you’ll find the five of us have a lot to say!

First let me say how much your missed by this time I am sure
There is so much your hugs and cuddles can only truly cure
Oh there’s dishes, diapers (and cereal) round every little bend
But truly it is only you whose love our hearts can mend

Your mother’s hand, your careful touch is very quickly missed
But we will make due through the days until our cheeks are kissed
By your beautiful lips and wondrous eyes and smile (that’s all my own)
And soon you’ll be here back with us together in our home

We bless you mum for all you do and all you say and pray
We bless you for the heart you bring the kind words you always say
We bless you love for believing things that are deep and wide and true
We bless you for the way you stand and always see us through

So from Duncan, Celtin, McKenzie Grace and Hallie Taylor too
We offer up our deep hearts love and say that we love you!

timothy mark mcdonald

roots

Recently my wife wrote a note to a friend of ours and she included a little experience that recently happed with our son Duncan.

The kids are struggling right now to understand why we have to move, mostly Duncan. He asked me the other day as we were talking about moving, why his heart didn't tell him the same thing mine and Daddy's told us. So last night he prayed that God would tell his heart that it was time to move. WOW that was a hard and wonderful mummy moment all wrapped into one…

Someone just described what is before all of us as "Us pulling out the roots that are so bedded into where we are" and that was big for me because it feels just like that. Some are easy to pull and others feel like if we pull them, we might never get them to root again. Funny how simple things make sense to us…

This is the reality of a move away from what we have called our home these past five years. The reality of making roots.

Give us strength Lord… give us strength.