Women's Golf | 8/5/2025 3:04:00 PM

We are thankful to have made it to Edinburgh with smooth travels and settled into our lodging on Sunday afternoon. We were quite tired from the redeye flight and the 6-hour time change. We powered through the day and got to spend the early evening with our hosts Jill & Andrew. We walked and talked and got to know one another more before turning in early to settle our jet lag. 
 
Monday we had planned to begin our junior golf camp service, but Storm Florence had other plans. We woke to spotty showers and gale force winds steadily blowing and increasing through the afternoon to 60-90mph, causing all golf camps on Monday to be canceled in the area. It was quite a 'blustery' day, as they might say here in Scotland. 
 
Gratefully, the storm actually created space for a pause on our jam-packed itinerary, to instead take some time to be still and connect with God and our hosts in conversation.
 
We started this morning with a semi-silent retreat where we met first as a team to go over the theme of "smallness" and considered how often in our world and in sport, small can seem limited, but when we consider smallness in God's Kingdom, it actually has a place of greatness. Coach Shannon shared with us a reflective soul-care guide that invited each of us to take some quiet time on our own to reflect and spend time with God and ourselves. Some of us journaled indoors, others took prayer walks and sat in the meadow. 
 
"He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches." He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."" Matthew 13:31-33 NIV
 
These verses are what we've been focusing on today and for the entirety of our trip.
 
"Something as small as a smile or a wave can sprout into the biggest impact. We just want to have an open mind and heart to all the people we come in contact with so they can see the goodness of God." - Savannah Goodman
 
"The retreat space allowed me to do something that I really have not done before- quieting my mind and body to fully give God the space to communicate with me. I left all of my worries and allowed myself to focus on Him. Those two hours were extremely peaceful." - Christina Surcey 
 
 "I spent this time mostly journaling and going through the questions Coach had for us to think about. I really enjoyed this time and it was very eye opening for me. It caused me to reflect on past things in my life that weren't even on my mind anymore. I found this really helpful to tie in to things I've been struggling with in my life now. God has helped me get through things in the past and He will help me get through everything now as well." - Savannah Howell
 
"I was able to reflect and reaffirm the concept of our role in the world. How we are the small mustard seed in creation, meant to grow and be a light. We contemplated the idea of smallness and I found that I only ever truly feel small amongst nature (mountains, oceans, forests) but not a demeaning manner—in humility and admiration." - Tzunami Polito
 
"One of the prompts this morning was to write out the worries we have been repeatedly coming back to. This was very helpful in being able to physically see the worries written down and surrender them each to God. The time of silence and reflection was incredibly beneficial, whereas, sometimes back home, we get so caught up in being "productive" that we never let ourselves sit in silence, pray, think, and enjoy God's creation.
 
We then spent the afternoon and early evening with our hosts at their home. This was a really great time for us to just get to know them better and have some really good conversations and quality time." - Savannah Goodman
 
"The time with our hosts was very refreshing as well. I love their little family and how welcoming they were to us. It was really helpful to also hear them talk about the importance of our identity not being in our sport. I feel like this is something all athletes struggle with at some point. It was a great reminder that our relationship with God is the most important thing in our lives." - Savannah Howell
 
"Our hosts, Jill and Andrew, were so kind to have us over for afternoon tea and dinner. Jill reflected on how sometimes Christians get so caught up with being in church every Sunday that it becomes a checked-off box of religion instead of a relationship with our Father. Andrew also reminded us how wins are fleeting, but who we represent is not! Both were very timely reminders, and we are so grateful for their impact on our trip and on our lives." - Savannah Goodman
 
"The hospitality and joy of our hosts stood out to me. They were so welcoming and it truly felt like a home. Jill had also mentioned that our time together was church—how church goes beyond and can be anything, anywhere with anyone—its community. Andrew also mentioned how God is a God of relationship, not religion. This resonated with me and the understanding I've developed." - Tzunami Polito
 
"The Mitchells are now two of my favorite humans. The way they speak to us and to each other, is filled with so much love and kindness. I am thankful they are our hosts and I am excited for the rest of the week with them."
-Christina Surcey
 
We ended the night with a very nice walk around the grounds of a castle property. This was a great time of fellowship for us to prepare our hearts and minds to pour into all the kids we will get to interact with tomorrow and all throughout the week.