Europe on 5-10 Nervous Breakdowns a Day (35)

DAY 38 – SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 1974 – WORSHIP AND HIGHLAND GAMES

The church of Christ in Glenrothes was only a year old, but they already had twenty-five members with funds to buy property to build their own building. At the moment they were meeting in a hall. Several of their members were out of town, but they still had thirty-six present (eight were non-member visitors). I preached on “Obedience.”

In her journal, Angie wrote, “Went home with Betty & Sherry ([their] POODLE). Took Sherry for a walk!” Walking a poodle was the highlight of our visit to Scotland for Angie.

In the afternoon, our hosts took us to a Highland Games event at nearby MacKinch. We got there at 3:00ish and had to leave about 4:30. I really enjoyed this and would have enjoyed spending the day. (I do not know what became of my slides of this occasion. I include several commercial shots to illustrate the events.)

This was kind of a Scottish track meet with miscellaneous Scottish events thrown in. There was a big oval with several events going on simultaneously. There was always a group of bagpipers playing. The constant whine of bagpipes gave the event an authentic Scottish flavor. On one side were young people in costume competing in Scottish dances. Here and there on the grounds were other bagpipe groups practicing before they entered the oval to compete.

I especially enjoyed the “raw strength” competitions such as tossing the caber (19½ feet long and 175 pounds; think massive telephone pole), . . .

. . . tossing the hammer, . . .

and tossing the weight (45 pounds).

I thought the tug-of-war competition was hilarious, although it was deadly serious to the competitors.

It sprinkled off and on, but I didn’t notice it much as I dashed from one side of the oval to the other. But about 4:15 I suddenly missed our group. I found them back at the church bus. They had been there about thirty minutes out of the cold and the rain.

That evening, I preached “When the Books Were Opened.” The preachers had heard the sermon in Corby and requested that I preach it. About thirty were present, including a number of non-members. One man told me he planned to become a Christian soon.

Afterward we went to the McGregors’ for sandwiches. Debbie and Angie and their daughter (Betty?) went bowling. Cindy didn’t go. She was tired and lonely (she had started crying after the evening service). She was all right until Corby but the fellowship there made her miss her friends at Macquarie. She washed her hair and went to bed.

Eventually Jo, Angie, and I returned to the Strachens’ home. Went to bed at 11:00ish. It was still light outside.