In a week I will be leaving France to return home for the holidays. I will be in Arkansas from mid-December to mid-January. It will be so good to see family and friends. I will also have the joy of getting my taxes in order and other fun administrative tasks like that. I would really appreciate your prayers during this time for good health, safe travels, effective use of administrative time, and just being able to enjoy my friends and family.
My time here since the beginning of October has been rich. I feel like I've truly found a French home. It's been so fulfilling to be able to use my teaching and music experience to help the youth here as well as plug into what is happening with the church. I was warmly welcomed and included in daily life here. While I am ready to see family and friends in Arkansas, I am looking forward to returning to Guebwiller soon to continue life and the projects we have started.
The next step... My plan at this point is to return to France in mid-January. I still do not have a visa beyond the 3 month tourist visa. I will be sending out resumes and see what God might have planned in that direction. I feel my focus for now should remain here in Guebwiller with the school and church. I'm not sure how that will play out practically. So for now I am simply doing what I know to do and trusting God will make the next step clear. Please continue to pray that God will make a way through the visa red tape and give me/us the strategy on how to continue. (For example, if the school wanted to hire me it would be a long process where any possible French candidates would have to be eliminated before they could hire me and sponsor me for a visa.) I also need clarity or confirmation that for the time God wants me to focus on what I am currently doing. If He has another plan or something to add, I need to know. I simply want to be obedient.
The past week has brought me new friends and developed other friendships. I am seeing progress with the youngest music groups I am working with. And I have once again seen the efficiency of music as a tool to reach students at a deeper level. It's simply the tool that opens the door to being able to impart life.
The coming week is going to be BUSY. A guest speaker will be here from Mexico. He will be speaking at the school and there will be evening services on Monday and Tuesday at Eglise Josué. Our youth band will be leading worship on the Tuesday night. We are also having extra practices to prepare for the monthly worship gathering called the Tabernacle which is this Friday night. Please pray God have His way in all of these meetings and that the students will have all the strength they need for school, homework and all of the extra rehearsals and meetings.
Tomorrow I get to go to a Christmas market with the Chaubet family. I am really excited to spend time with them and see a French Christmas market with all of the lights and things that go along with it.
That's all for now. Thank you all for checking in and praying!
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