“In Conversation With Pauline Scott”
(note from Editor – this was an interview compiled for the w2w blog while Pauline was home last year as we prepare to meet tonight to hear about her work, … do read, and pray for our dear sister in Christ, serving overseas in Liberia!!)
Andrea Morris writes…
Our homegroup have had the real encouragement of having Pauline join us in recent months. She (was) home from missionary service in Liberia, West Africa during the Ebola outbreak there. I thought the women of CCC may enjoy hearing her story so far:-
Background and Upbringing
Pauline was born into a Christian home where the whole family was involved in church life. When Pauline was seven, she went to the church’s annual camp where they showed a film about the life of Jesus. This really spoke to her and afterwards she talked and prayed with a teacher at camp and said the children's prayer "Come in to my heart Lord Jesus"
Being saved at a young age meant Pauline still had to navigate the teenage years! She describes this as a time of spiritual ups and downs, yet looking back, describes it as always knowing Jesus was there, keeping her 'on track' more than she ever knew...
Pauline was influenced by various Christian women in her life. Her mum was always someone she could talk with, and friends' mothers at church were an influence in their example and life too. She was particularly aware of two women missionaries from her fellowship and what they shared of their lives and work for God.
Pauline left school and began work in the Scottish Government. She bought her own flat...a new era of independence!
Sometime after, the OM ship - the Doulos - came to Edinburgh and first caught her heart and interest. Pauline visited the ship several times during its stay in Edinburgh, chatting to some of the women volunteering on the ship. This resulted in heading to Denmark in 2004 to help with the extensive refurbishment programme. It was then that Pauline caught a glimpse of the vision of the ship and felt challenged to look into a longer term trip with the Logos Hope, eventually joining in 2007.
Two books which influenced her at this time were:-
"The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren and "If you want to Walk on Water You've got to get out of the Boat" by John Ortberg.
Time on the Logos Hope
Pauline's time on board the ship involved her living alongside 51 nationalities! She found fellowship with all these different believers in Christ a real blessing and encouragement in numerous ways. She also enjoyed the challenge of the variety of ministry opportunities on and off the ship as they travelled the world. Particularly enjoying the interaction in the book shop, personal training, devotion times and women's meetings.
Of course it was not all plain sailing (just had to say that..!). The atmosphere on the ship could be intense....living in close quarters e.g. eating together, working in the on-board office, on-board church, recreation and generally no personal space as sharing small cabins.
She sums it all up by saying it was a time of learning a lot about herself as a Christian woman.
Call to Liberia
In April 2010 Pauline was sent on a team from the ship to Liberia and was struck deeply by the humanitarian needs of the country. She distinctly remembers walking through the slum area of West Point in the capital Monrovia, asking "Is this it Lord?" Pauline went home to Scotland with a view to return.....She returned to Liberia to begin missions work in April 2011.
(Editors note: Pauline works voluntarily for CAFMACP (Christian Alliance for Missions and Church Planting). The team consist of various African pastors, a young American couple and Pauline who handles much of the admin, project management and logistics. They have a site they are developing out in the bush where they hope to build a retreat/development centre. Pauline loves nothing more than helping out with the practical jobs that need done in developing this land, and playing with the many children who will hopefully benefit from the centre once it has finished.)
A Typical Day
On asking Pauline what a typical day for her looks like I realised quite quickly that there isn't one!
Most Mondays she is involved with meetings with Pastor David and the Team members of CAFMACP. The following days she picks up all the administration from the meeting...not as easy as we might think here in the U.K. as life is not smooth when it comes to electricity and Internet connection!! Pauline often organises work teams and trips to the project site... some two hours outside of Monrovia. She says she just has to adapt to "Liberian Time" when it comes to deadlines and admin! Other days she visits Eleanor who runs an orphanage.
Sometimes on a Saturday, Pauline is involved with CAFMACP conferences, women's meetings and prayer days. Sunday morning is church and then some well-earned rest after that.
Cultural Transitions
Pauline and I then discussed the variety of cultural transitions she has been through in the last few years of her life.
From home to ship was a culture shift but at heart she feels there was a certain familiarity with OM being a western organisation and English speaking.
Pauline found the transition from ship to Liberia more permanent and a much bigger change. This time of change required care and careful observation of the culture around her. She also has become aware of how she is viewed as a westerner in Liberia, finding it has led to certain opportunities and allowances because of the differences. She finds a general openness and respectfulness of Christianity in Liberia.
Pauline considers it an ongoing learning process being out of her "culture zone" and is continuing to learn more about the women in Liberia, praying her friendships grow and strengthen in her witness to different women she meets.
Home last year
Pauline had to come home when the Ebola crisis hit Africa. Understandably this was a time of mixed feelings. Happy to be home with family and church family but away from Christian family in Liberia at a very difficult time for them. She was able to raise much needed funds and awareness during the time.
(you can listen to her interview at the Ebola fundraiser event here) or go to carrubbers recodings and search "ebola"
What advice would you pass on...?
Pauline’s would recommend trying short-term missions as this is valuable to inform and guide as to whether or not the Lord is leading you to longer term mission. She found that preparing for missions and ‘hearing’ about missions can be quite different from what one might imagine of the actual experience, which can be challenging.
She also greatly appreciated wise pastoral advice from people in her life, including Wayne and Sarah, recollecting a conversation with Wayne about knowing when a calling is ‘our own desire to do something’ or God’s desire, also appreciating the importance of the accountability of prayer, questions and support. Reading stories of missionaries also inspired her to look at her own heart. Pauline read "Kisses from Katie: A story of relentless Love and Redemption" by Katie Davis.
How can we Support Pauline?
Pauline appreciated touches of home when abroad, e.g. emails, CCC news, whatsapp messages etc. She has also really appreciated the support of the Missions Committee and her home group.
(editors note: perhaps if you don’t support one of our missionaries regularly in pray or financially you might pray about linking up with one of them… you can sign up for newsletters here)
A big thank you to Pauline for sharing her time and for the heart she put in to answering all the questions. Thank you for sharing your journey so far with the women of CCC!
I will leave you with one of her favourite scriptures:
Psalm 121
"I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip-He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm-He will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going
Both now and for evermore."
