29. Jun 2025

Glasgow - Lochwinnoch

Video: "Home away from home..."
This night was a wild camping night. I was happy to find to this spot. Wild camping is officially permitted in Scotland if there is no sign saying otherwise. It rained most of the night, but stopped in the early morning. The gentle wind was sufficient to mostly dry the tent before I had to pack it up... a blessing from heaven.

Photo 1: "The Clyde River that flows through Glasgow, the most populated city in Scotland"
It was different walking much of the day. I heard more traffic than I did lambs bleeting after their mamas. Still I appreciate walking through urban centers. I see how the people live and pray for their communities.

Photo 2: "Pastor Damilola Aje"
Today and the next days I would be following bike trail Nr. 7. Right away there was a detour where a bridge over the highway no longer existed. I have learned that detours can be used by God to redirect my path. So it was today. The detour brought me by an old church that had stood vacant for eight years. I had actually been praying that these old churches would be filled with new life once again. I saw that the front door was open to this church and felt compelled to go in. There I met Pastor Damiloa from Nigeria. He was waiting for some people from the church to come and do some work on the biilding. That had just purchased the old church a week ago and today was the first day to start the needed renovations. Their first service would be on Sunday. They are a Christ Apostolic Church House of Prayer. We have congregations like this affliliated with our Union of Free Church Pentecostal Congregations in Germany. It was just a God ordained moment. We prayed for each other and I sang my pilgrim song of blessing in the sanctuary. Pray for Pastor Damilola and the House of Prayer congregation and their ministry outreach in Glasgow.

Photo 3: "ACCORD Hospice in Glasgow"
You cannot read it, but on the side of this lion is the motto of hospice services: "While we cannot add days to life, we can add life into days." My wife Astrid is part of a hospice team where we live in Germany, so we have a heart for such points of care that are often the birth departure of the soul into eternity. It just so happened that Dr. John Walley with whom I spent part of the weekend works at this facility. I went in for a brief visit, had a cup of tea with John... and a "wee" talk with the receptionist led to a moment of prayer and a time of blessing for the hospice team.

Photo 4: "Castle Semple Collegiate Church:
This church was founded in 1504 by John 1st Lord Sempill. It is a remarkable example of the latest phase of gothic ecclessiastical architecture in Scottland. It was here that I wanted to put up my tent... but one of those signs was there stating that it was not allowed.

Photo 5: "Ryan and Jackson"
A few hundred meters down the path from the church I met Ryan with his son Jackson. They gave me the tip where I eventually found the place to put up my tent (see video). They were also real interested in my walk from Scotland to Germany. I told them that I cannot walk across the waters of the English Channel, but that I walk with the One who can. That started a God-talk that led to a prayer for the two. So I guess it was good that I did what the sign said...