Our First Week in Scotland – One Step at a Time

It was a week ago yesterday that we departed for Inverness, Scotland.

I’d love to say it felt like a short week—but the truth is, the trip and the settling in have definitely taken their toll. Not in a bad way at all. Just in a “moving to a new country is a really big deal” kind of way.

Looking back now, we can clearly see how all those years of moving across the United States were preparing us for a moment like this. Every relocation, every adjustment, every unknown was a training ground for what God was calling us to do next.

Being obedient to God’s plan has given us a peace that truly surpasses understanding.

For the first time in our 31 years of marriage, Lisa and I are technically homeless, carless, and jobless. That sounds scary when you say it out loud—but the reality is, we are completely reliant on God’s provision. And He has surrounded us with phenomenal supporters.

Not just financial supporters—but prayer supporters. Funds can accomplish a lot, but I’ve never heard anyone say, “My finances bring me peace.”  That peace only comes from the Lord and from knowing people are lifting us up in prayer.

So here we are—one week in. Let me share a little summary from my point of view. I’m sure Lisa will have plenty to add in her upcoming blog post!

How It All Began

This journey actually started over a year ago.

On January 7th, 2025, God gave Lisa and me the same vision—separately. We didn’t even talk about it until we were on a plane from Heathrow to New York. Neither of us had planned on this. Neither of us felt ready for what God was revealing.

But over the months that followed, He kept confirming His call.

And now… here we are.

I’m sitting in a coffee shop in the Crown area of Inverness writing this blog, and it still feels surreal.

The Journey Over

Just a week ago, we were flying from Orlando to Dublin.

When we arrived, we had every intention of exploring the city. Instead, exhaustion won. After the stress of travel, we checked into our hotel early, showered, and crashed for a three-hour nap!

The next morning, we met our pre-scheduled taxi driver, John O’Connor—about as Irish a name as you can get—and he took us to the ferry.

As we arrived, we heard over the loudspeaker: “Last call for Irish Ferries to Holyhead departing at…”

Our response? “Holy crap! Let’s go!”

Thankfully, we made it with time to spare.

I had watched a YouTuber named Steve Marsh talk about reserving a stateroom on Irish Ferries, so I booked one for us—and it was worth every penny. For about €30, we had a private room where we could rest, watch TV, nap, and let the dogs relax. Best decision of the trip!

When we arrived in Holyhead, Wales, Beth from Enterprise picked us up. She explained that the van we rented wasn’t available due to a cracked windshield, so we’d need to wait about an hour for a replacement.

No problem—we found a brilliant little coffee shop, grabbed lunch, and before long our van was ready.

From there we drove from Holyhead to Glasgow, spent the night, and then made our way up to Inverness on Saturday.

Settling In

Sunday, we attended church—something we desperately needed—and then spent the rest of the day organizing the flat.

This past week has been all about getting settled: trips to storage, unpacking, organizing, and trying to make a 640 sq ft flat work after living in a 1,800 sq ft house.

Let’s just say creativity has become our new spiritual gift!

We are praying that the sale of our Florida home will happen in the next few weeks so we can purchase a flat here. If not, we’ll need to rent, which is much more expensive. So prayers are definitely welcomed and appreciated.

A New Chapter Online Too

One more update—we’ve decided to consolidate Journey with the Weavers into Coffee with Russ & Lisa.

And tomorrow we’re releasing our first episode of the year!

It may not be the most polished episode since everything is still a bit chaotic, but we got it done—and that’s a win.

You can check it out here:👉 www.YouTube.com/@CoffeewithRussandLisa

Thank you to everyone who has prayed, encouraged, and supported us along the way. We are only here because of God’s faithfulness and your partnership.

Here’s to week two in Scotland!

— Russ (and Lisa) Weaver