Page 18 - Contact Winter 2015

In the story of Ruth we see an unfolding picture Stories & Journeys of generous hospitality and it changed Ruth’s painful story of loss and fear to one of hope. Boaz acknowledged Ruth’s hard work and her integrity in caring for her widowed mother-in- Oxford English Dictionary: law. “It has been fully reported to me, all that you Story – an account of imaginary or real people or events have done for your mother-in-law since the death Immigrant – a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country of her husband and how you have left your father Emigrant – a person who leaves their own country in order to settle and your mother and the land of your birth and permanently in another have come to a people whom you did not know before.” Boaz chose to bless this immigrant called On 14th October we celebrated together; as the Ruth and in doing so he became part of her story: hard work paid off and students were presented It was Scottish settlers (immigrants) who There was a constant fow of people crossing the with the certifcates they greatly prized. Not all founded the trading town of Dunluce, which Atlantic from Ulster; a fow which at frequent “The Lord repay your work and a full reward be of our students choose to study with a focus on once nestled in the shelter of the imposing intervals became a torrent. These people did not given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose certifed success but are happier to aim for Dunluce Castle. Recent excavations discovered emigrate solely of their own free will but rather wings you have come for refuge.” Ruth 2 v 12. confdence in simple spoken English and to a cobbled street stretching through the town for social and economic reasons. For generations Boaz went on to bless Ruth in practical ways: achieve a practical level in conversational skills. towards the castle and uncovered many since then, Irish emigrants have travelled to all with protection from harassment from the work- In either setting, we aim to provide friendly interesting details such as the blacksmith’s parts of the globe and succeeding generations take men; share in the workers food and water supply support so that confdence grows, learning and forge, complete with an anvil and horseshoes pride in their determination and achievements. and an abundance of grain to glean. conversation is relaxed and natural, as amongst and a chisel nearby. The dig uncovered a Scottish friends. It is a pleasant job, for these folks are so merchant’s house, built in the frst two decades On a personal level, the practicalities of We know well the happy ending of this story, as appreciative and friendship is returned. We have of the17th century, fronting onto the emigrating: leaving your own country in order to God in turn blessed Boaz; “Salmon begot Boaz, discovered that kindness, like a smile, is an cobbled streets. A 16th century Polish coin was settle permanently in another is a fearful thought. and Boaz begot Obed; Obed begot Jesse, and international language. found there – evidence that the merchant had Leaving family, friends and all that is familiar to Jesse begot David” (Ruth 4 v21&22), but let this connections with the vibrant trade at that time, follow a dream or hope of a better life takes not minimise the harsh reality of the journey’s In time, the continuing stories of some of our between Scottish wool merchants and Poland. courage. The challenges are bound to be beginning. students will be like the Scots in Poland or the In the 17th century, Poland was described as demanding and the unknown will inevitably be Ulster-Scots in America; their children’s children ‘Scotland’s America’. Contemporaries estimated full of surprises. The biblical story of Ruth is The people who have come to live amongst us will have integrated and become part of the mix that 15,000 – 40,000 Scots were settled in Poland about two women dealing with the blows that life from other parts of the world have various that is the local community. Others may fnd the mainly as merchants, peddlers and craftsmen. has dealt them – bereavement, the threat of practical needs such as learning to speak English challenges too great and will return to the land of This mass migration is largely forgotten in poverty and the hard choices they must make. and maybe more important, the need for their birth. modern Scotland, though is remembered still Naomi is determined to travel back to the land friendship and encouragement to deal with a in Poland. of her birth, this time with a heart broken by the demoralising struggle to fnd work, or the Matthew 25 (v 35 – 40) is a familiar passage death of her son and husband. Ruth, her demands of long shifts or unsociable hours about the practical outworking of faith in the The names of the descendants of Scots daughter-in-law, will not leave Naomi to travel in often unpleasant work and the constant journey of life and the Lord’s estimation of immigrants are still to be found in Polish phone alone but chooses to do the right thing and go challenges of an alien culture. Simple kindness kindness and hospitality. books, such as Ramzy from Ramsay, or Czarmas with her to a land she does not know and its and friendly conversation is a comfort and “for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was from Chalmers. Danzig has many Scottish street unfamiliar people and culture. When we blessing to us all and in our Language Classes thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger names and villages in the hinterland, named after encounter immigrants in our community, how we share those simple elements of hospitality and you welcomed me in….Lord when did we see the Scots – Skotna Gora, Szotniki or Szoty. little we know of their stories. to build relationships. You hungry / thirsty / a stranger / naked / sick / in prison? The story of the Ulster Scots who left these “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, Many of our students are keen to make “Inasmuch as you did it unto the least of these my shores to travel to America is a fascinating topic, and He will reward them for what they have signifcant progress in their English conversation brethren, you did it unto me.” especially for those of us who live in County done.” Proverbs 19 v 17 and work hard to develop their skills. It has been In obedience to Christ, this is our part in His Antrim, where so many of America’s early a privilege for us to host a pilot scheme run by story. Presidents and history makers originated. the University of Ulster which has provided “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so During the years 1717 to 1770, over tutoring through a progressive course of 20 doing some have unwittingly entertained angels!” 250,000 Ulstermen left home with their weeks, followed by assessment with a recognised Hebrews 13 v 2 families to settle in America. certifcate being awarded to successful candidates. Now wouldn’t that make an interesting story! Marie Hamilton