Mopping the Toilets

“The red mop is for the toilets.” I slipped on the floor of language awash in a new culture. What on earth did my boss mean by that? Do people in Scotland really use mops to clean their toilets? Is this an unforeseen aspect of working as a commercial cleaner? It took me several minutes to screw up the courage to ask about this. “So, I’ve mopped before, but I’m not sure what you mean by mopping the toilets. Do I use the red mop to clean out the toilet bowls?” My boss slipped on the wet floor of language. What is wrong with this guy? Clean the toilet bowl with a mop?! Ridiculous. “No, you mop the floors of the toilets.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Ahh, this is a language difference between American English and UK English.”

New cultural experiences can be really fun (and some times embarrassing). When you go into a new culture, you will see different approaches to every day life that may strike you as odd or strange. The different thought patterns and shared life experiences of a community set it apart, making it special and unique. Outsiders to this community wonder at how things are done and find they compare everything to their experiences. As I find myself doing this here in Scotland, I am learning to enjoy these changes and new ways of looking at things. I shot a short video about some of the cultural things I’ve experienced here. Check it out below:

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I am looking for people to partner with me in ministry as a train for the ministry. This year, I am hoping to raise a total of $5,000 to offset tuition. There are two ways you can contribute to this fund.

1.  Tax deductable gifts may be made out to South Dayton Presbyterian Church (SDPC) with “Seminary Expense Fund” in the memo. You can also go to https://e-giving.org/GuestDonation_v5/DonatorPage.asp?id=3400 and write in “Seminary Expense Fund” under the Deacon’s Fund line. These donations will go directly to paying tuition costs and will be regarded as taxable income for me.
2.  Personal Gifts may be made out to Paul Cary. Contact me for my new state-side address if you would like to give this way.

While this year I am able to focus on fund raising for the Seminary Expense Fund, gifts to support South Dayton’s missionaries and the work in the Czech Republic are more than welcome.