S.E.M. Podcast - Scotland, Edinburgh Mission

Clay Stephens served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from October 1999 through September 2001. Clay shared many experiences serving a mission in Scotland, recounting details such as receiving his call while working a wildland fire in Montana and their pre-mission job earning money for the mission. Clay detailed various mission memories, including the MTC experience, cultural shock in Scotland,...

Jack and Zack provided a health update on President and Sister Vriens from their daughter, Angie, detailing President Vriens' severe health decline since January, including a broken back, hip, and worsening dementia leading to hospice care, while Sister Vriens also experienced significant cognitive decline. Zack proposed an initiative for individuals to send messages, current and missionary ph...

Ian Felton served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from February 2010 through February 2012. He shares his incredible story about being diagnosed with ADHD and Autism early in his life and how his mother was told he would more than likely never serve a mission and more. Ian used that as motivation and had many miracles along his path to his mission. Amazingly, his mission is how he came to meet...

Joe Drewery served in the Scotland, Ireland Mission from September of 2010 through August 2012. His time serving took place shortly after the merger of the two missions and he served half in Ireland and half in Scotland. It was a wonderful conversation. Joe currently lives in Norfolk, England, with his wife and their 4 children. Recorded July 13, 2025

Jamie Rasmussen served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from May of 2009 through April 2011. His journey through the mission included the merger with Ireland and so much more. Recorded March 23, 2025

Jeremy Rehm served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from August of 2008 through August of 2010. Jeremy shares his fun memories of the mission, including using his musical talents on the piano in many areas, cleaning up awful messy flats, and connecting with wonderful members in each of his areas. He also shares a moment of breaking the rules by reading a chemistry book at the library to remember...

Demeron Ashton served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from November of 2006 through November of 2008. Demeron wowed Jack and I throughout our conversation and all the great stories he shared with us. He has so many memories from companions, other missionaries, and the members during his time in Scotland. Demeron is our top fan and we are grateful for his support of our podcast. Demeron currentl...

Trey Jenkins served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from November of 2001 through December of 2003. Trey comes on the podcast and shares how his testimony grew a great deal in the MTC in Preston. His first Scottish meal was beans and toast, and his first winter was a dark one to get through. Trey loved the challenges of serving in Scotland and loved all that he learned during his time in Scotla...

Scott Jump served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from December of 2003 through December of 2005. Scott shares about his tough time adjusting to the cold and wet world of Scotland. He mentions his love of the summer months and his feelings of gloom during the winter. Scott also shares how much his time in Scotland helped him prepare for his life beyond the mission. We had a great time reminisci...

Ian Wilks served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from January of 1987 through February 1989. Our conversation took us through his conversion to the gospel, his experiences in the mission, and his life since. His story of an early morning visit to the toilet in Inverness is a crack up! Ian currently lives in British Columbia, Canada, near Vancouver. He and his wife have 4 children. Recorded Febr...

Chris Pattenden served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from July of 2003 through July of 2005. Chris shares his unique story of how his mission seemed to continue throughout the last 20 years as his role with the Preston MTC allowed him to share much about his mission for those many years. He shares his love of Scotland and all the great times he had with his companions and friends. Chris also...

Kevin Anderson served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from September of 2003 through September of 2005. Kevin comes on and reminisces about his decision to come on the mission in his early 20s and how the mission helped him become more mature. He shares his funny memories of people, how he found balance in the work with the fun times, and his love of the people from Scotland and the U.K. all to...

President Gary Griffiths and his wife, Laura, served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from July of 2009 through June of 2012. Together they share their journey of getting their mission call, being assigned as mission president and wife to Scotland, entering a mission that was very obedient, taking on a merger with the Ireland, Dublin Mission 1 year in, and overseeing a combined mission called th...

Jason Hensley served in the Scotland, Edinburgh from August of 2008 through August of 2010. Jason shares how he bucked the expectations of a "hard mission" by starting out strong in his first area in Kilmarnock. He spoke specifically of an instance where his trainer needed to use the toilet which led to a miracle. Jason also talks about a couple emergency transfers and training a new missionary fo...

Clint Smith served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from August of 2005 through August of 2007. Clint takes us on an epic experience of Scotland, including Gregg's, dental visits, and letting unauthorized companions drive their car. From the Borders to the Isle of Lewis, Clint shares some amazing adventures that helped him grow to love Scotland. Clint currently lives in Rigby, Idaho, with his wi...

Steve Harward served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from April of 2000 through May of 2002. Steve always had a kinship to Scotland from his seminary teacher sharing about serving his mission there and was overwhelmed with joy when the call came. He shares an epic story about using a trash shoot in a council flat as a toilet in an emergency, his budget-friendly mission gear falling apart early...

Chad Wilcoxen served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from January of 2006 through January of 2008. Chad shares how much his experience in Scotland has changed his life. His family has been dealt tough times since coming home, but he loved his companions and also had so many fun times. Chad worked hard and found some amazing people that joined the church and also shared his beef with Hammer Time...

Tyrell Cellan served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from February of 2008 through January of 2010. Tyrell shares how his upbringing on a horse ranch taught him the importance of obedience and hard work as he got into the mission. His time was filled with the Paisley and Glasgow zones, with so many great successes despite many challenges. Tyrell shares some epic stories and had a great time sha...

Chris Rogers served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from March of 1999 through April of 2001. His memories shared included a lot of his time serving in Orkney and his love of serving there. Anna Burton served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from March of 2000 through August of 2001. She shares how her dad served in Scotland and that she actually made a request to her church leaders of her de...

Emily Garnham served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from March of 2006 through September of 2007. Coming from a small village in England, she felt most comfortable in the less busy towns in Scotland, but after serving in Edinburgh she learned to love the city. She loved her companions and all they taught her. Her love of Scotland has continued to grow and she is back often. Emily currently liv...

Dustin Cluff served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from July of 2000 through June of 2002. Dustin's adventures in Scotland included some incredible spiritual experiences, along with run-ins with NEDs, getting trapped by JWs, and bearing witness in a Church of Scotland funeral service. He loved the mission and his ability to bless people's lives. The stories he shares are some of our favorites...

Mauro D'Ottavio served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from October of 2004 through October of 2006. Mauro joins us and shares how his mission changed his life. The stories and memories kept flowing to him throughout and there was a surprise visit to the podcast from his mission Dad (Brandon Osmond)! Mauro loved serving in Scotland! Mauro currently lives in Sydney, Australia, with his wife and...

Chase Crockett served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from January of 2009 through December of 2010. His time in Scotland began with an interrogation from the APs and immediately he knew that this mission would be different. Chase loved his companions and worked his hardest to find some great success on his mission. His stories are epic and the fire one will have your jaw on the floor! Chase cu...

Trevor Chadwick served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from July of 2006 through July of 2008. Trevor shares his unique story of serving in Scotland, which included a 6-week return home to receive surgery on a heart condition. He learned so much from his companions and his love of each is transparent as we spoke. Trevor talks about his spicy chili mistake and also his experience with HammerTime...

Jeff Hofmann served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from June of 1999 through July 2001. Jeff was a member of the first group of missionaries from America that begin their mission in the MTC in Preston. He shares his fun memories of companions' door approaches in his sleep, very indecisive & indecisive companions, and his joy of helping some great people join the church while he was serving...