Clarion Call

Starting with a BANG

2012-01-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

Well...it's an understatement to say that I haven't kept up with my blog. I have sent some emails however over the holidays to keep people informed about my dad and that was the biggest thing going on in my life. So I'm gonna call it a fair trade. ;)

2012 has started out with a bang for me. Fortunately, it's a good bang. My dad had surgery to repair an aneurysm in his aorta on December 30th. He has had a good recovery so far. This week the doctor told him that he is healing well and that he can drive again. Thank you for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray for his complete recovery.

My family really benefited from your prayers. We noticed that everywhere we went that people were really nice and helpful: in the hospital, at the hotel, the restaurants, stores. The day we checked out of the hotel the lady who serves the breakfast told us she had been and would continue praying for our dad and even the manager of the hotel came out of her office to say the same!! I was almost in tears at the goodness of God.

Then the 2nd week of January a dear friend of mine, Carolyn Gore, who has been on dialysis for several years received a call about a kidney!! She was able to get a flight that day to Dallas to go to Baylor for a kidney transplant. I can't express the joy that I feel for my friend who has been given new life. She is recovering well and the kidney is happy in her body. She still has several weeks at Baylor and months of recovery but the outlook is good. Please continue to pray for her complete recovery and that there is no sign of rejection of the new kidney. God is faithful! His love endures forever.

The 3rd week of January I moved out of my room in the chateau and into a nice apartment with my good friend Nadine. The chateau was really the provision of God for me and was the perfect place for me to get grounded and established in my new home in France. This next step is again a step of faith. God spoke separately to Nadine and me about becoming roommates. She's been looking for a roommate since September. We talked about the possibility of me moving it with her then but we both agreed that it wasn't the time. God had given me a prophetic word from a friend, Fabrice Klein, about me hanging a star in a kitchen window around Christmas time and that God was going to give me a home with a family. In December I was house-sitting for Nadine and I noticed that there was a post it in the form of a star in the kitchen window that I had placed there a week or two earlier. So I asked myself if this was what Fabrice had seen. During the holidays God spoke to Nadine and when I came back from Arkansas we realized what God was saying to us. So it was clear that God was giving me a new home but I didn't know where money for rent or furniture would come from. However, I've seen time and again that when God speaks He provides. So I have moved in and have all of my stuff in my room that is waiting on furniture and I am sleeping on the sofa/futon in the meantime. It is really good to be in a home and to be en famille (in family).

It seems that my involvement in music at the Christian school will increase and good connections are being made with teachers, students and parents at the music school. I feel like my world is expanding.

SO, 2012 has started off with a big bang for me. I can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds.

I wish you all a year full of God's blessing, power, joy and peace. Thank you for being in my life and following what is happening. Again, I can't express my thanks for all of the prayers for my dad and my family. My whole family was blown away with the grace and peace that we had during a difficult time.

BONNE ANNEE !!

prayer requests:

~Please continue for the complete recovery of my dad and good health and encouragement for his wife, Melba.

~Please continue to pray for Carolyn's complete recovery and acceptance of her new kidney.

~Please pray for God's abundant provision for my new home.

~Please pray for the connections that God wants to make at the Christian school and in the public music school.

**My wonderful family. Thank God for them!
James(brother-in-law), Melba(step-mom),Dad, Carissa(sister), Erica(niece), Clayton(nephew)

Hope and Hopes

2011-10-17T03:10:00.000-07:00

First of all thanks to all of you who prayed for my health after receiving the last newsletter and blog! I was feeling better by the evening and never really got sick. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:16

I was so encouraged by the message shared at chapel this morning and by the prayers of the students that I was inspired to write my blog. That's sayin' something! God has been speaking to me through Ephesians 1 and 2 for several weeks. You know how something you've read suddenly comes to life and starts to transform you? That kind of God speaking through His word... Well, this morning Christine Barasino, one of the teachers at Collège Daniel, taught on Eph 1:15-19. It takes the Spirit of revelation for us to know God. We can't do it on our own. But Paul doesn't stop there in his prayer. He asks that we will have our hearts enlightened to understand the RICH inheritance that is available to us NOW, that we not just know God but know Him BETTER, that we experience the same power that created the heavens and the earth and the power that raised Christ from the dead living IN us. We are so covered up and blinded by all the negative that we hear and feel to really understand. We are prone to believe the lies and the negative before the truth. That's why we need the Spirit of Revelation to come and give us the power to see and believe what is our inheritance and our destiny. I pray this prayer with Paul for all of you and for me. I need more revelation to know Him better! Yes, God, I want to know you better!

Second thing I was reminded of through the prayers of the students was how beautiful their hearts are. The father of 3 former students and uncle of one of the students died suddenly from a heart attack last Friday at the age of 42. Many of the prayers were for the family who is grieving. When you get into the daily and are dealing with the human, imperfect part of people it's easy to forget the beauty that is within. The truth is we are all precious and full of God's goodness and beauty. God deals lovingly with us even when we've messed up. God give me eyes to see what you see even when it's time to correct a student's behavior. Thank you for always being kind and gentle with me when you correct me. Thank you that our value doesn't change even when we screw up.

Do you remember from the last blog that I talked about Nadine speaking at an Aglow meeting and that many received healing after? Well, she has been invited to speak at the regional meeting this Saturday the 22nd! They also asked if they could broadcast her teaching on the radio! God's favor is on her and she has some key teachings for France. She has invited me and 2 other ladies to work in team with her this Saturday. Nadine always like to go in team. Please pray for her and for us that God would prepare us for what He wants to do and what He wants to say. Please also pray for health and protection for our team this week leading up to this meeting.

Most of you know that I am a trumpet player as well as a music teacher. My trumpet's valves have been sticking since last spring and progressively getting worse. I finally took it to a repair shop last week and was told that the valves were basically disintegrating and that they could do something but with a little time I would be in the same predicament. My horn is not a well known brand but the man said it's funny because this looks exactly like what happens to a Getzen when it is about 15-20 years old. I'm pretty sure my trumpet was made by Getzen even though it's called a Canadian Brass and it is around 19 years old. Conclusion, I need a new trumpet. Surprisingly, this news did not stress me. I feel like God's been telling me for a month or so that it's a new season. This seems to be in line with that. Finding a new trumpet is a process. It's like buying a car. Musicians are particular about their instruments and it's a big investment. This afternoon I start trying new trumpets to see what is a good fit for me. After finding the one I like there is the little thing called the expense. It will probably be around $2000 for the level of instrument I need. So, it's a new season and God's giving me peace about a new trumpet and I trust He will provide. I'm letting you all know the need. Please pray I can easily find the right trumpet for me and that God sends the provision for it.

There has been a lot of sickness in the church and people needing operations. Now one of our ladies has lost her son to a sudden heart attack. (the same man mentioned above) People are having nightmares. There are many things that suggest that witchcraft is very active right now in this area. That's not too surprising considering Halloween is approaching. We have a team of 20 people who are going to Israel for two weeks leaving this Sunday the 23rd. They are going to bless Israel and pray in the land. I am telling you all of this to ask for prayer for the church, the body of Christ at Joshua Church. Please pray into the needs and for the protection of Father God.

Please pray for the school, Collège Daniel. My hope for Christian education in France and for the future of France was elevated this morning while I listened to the fruit pouring from the mouths of the students as they prayed. It is making a difference but there remains a great challenge for all Christian schools in France. Some of our students recently went to a conference in Budapest for Christian schools in Europe. They were the FIRST French students to ever attend that conference...the first ever from France... Christian education in Europe has its challenges but it is very difficult in France.

Thanks to all of you who read this blog, follow my life, support me in many ways and most of all to those who pray. I hope that you can take some encouragement and some hope away from what you've just read.

This whole blog is a prayer request but here they are again in summary:

~Please pray for the Albiser family who have lost a son, a husband, a father, a brother, and uncle tragically at a young age.

~Please pray for protection and health for the body of Christ at Eglise Josué. Specifically, please also pray for the team that is going to Israel next week.

~Please pray for Collège Daniel, its students and Christian education in France.

~Please pray that God will speak through Nadine and her team and that He release what's in His heart for the people at the regional Aglow meeting in Troyes this Saturday the 22nd. Please pray health and protection for this team too and for God connections to be made for the future.

~Please pray that God shows me the right trumpet for me and for the provision for that new trumpet for a new season.

Pic at the top:

**New wine anyone?? I have been running again and the vineyard during autumn are the best place I've ever had to run. It's so beautiful. Thanks, God.

Summer 2011

2011-09-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

So how does one catch people up on 3 months...highlights. So sorry to all the really good and faithful bloggers out there for not keeping up like I should. Or let's just say I want to make good bloggers look even better. ;)

I don't know if any of you recall the last blog where I talked about the March for Jesus but I will tell a little anyway. It was great. There was a big crowd and participating in 2 nations was great! They had several trucks with worship groups, some French and some German, leading the crowd in song as we walked. I think it was a significant day for unity in the body of Christ and across national borders.

In June I went with Nadine Adriano and some of the healing room team to an Aglow meeting where Nadine taught on healing. She gave a really clear and encouraging teaching and at the end many people responded. In teams of 2 and 3 we prayed for healing for the people there and I think we had feedback of between 20 and 25 people healed that day!! God is a God who loves to show His love through healing.

July and August...where do I start!? These two months were spent in Arkansas and were packed. Thanks to everyone who hosted me and our French and American friends by having us in your homes or feeding us or letting us shoot or ride horses or photo shoots or just spending time with us! As always a big thanks to Carl and Becky Hudson for housing a non-stop invasion of people in their home! God's blessing, peace and provision for you all!

A highlight for me this summer was getting know Carla McDonough and her horses. She treated me and several of my friends, French and Arkansan, to horseback riding. It really is a ministry and a calling for her and David. She is a great lady and a lot of fun. Being a horse lover I was treated to some good horse therapy and some of my friends were reconciled with horses after having some bad experiences in the past. Thanks for everything, Carla!

I mentioned Aurélie's visit in my last blog. My visit overlapped the end of her stay so we got to enjoy a few days together. Then a couple weeks later four more young French women arrived, Elisabeth, Claire, Séphora and Stella. Many of you got to hear them sing and lead worship. We were blessed to be asked by two churches to sing a song that was written by a man in our church, Cedric Fau, during their Sunday morning services. It was great to see the anointing of this French song being released in the US.

Then we had Rusty and Janet Richards that came with Nadine and Nathanaël for a week. During that time Janet and Nadine taught a Sozo seminar. The feedback was very positive and I think a lot of people have gained some good tools for living.

In between all the visits and touring I got to see my family and friends. I am so thankful for the precious relationships that God has given me and for the chance to get to see people so often. I know a lot of missionaries don't get to go 'home' and see their families as much as I do. I am blessed.

Now September back in France... I didn't tell you that in June just before I went to Arkansas I got a job 'band directing' in the public music school in Guebwiller, the town where I live! This is a huge gift and blessing from God. I started last week. I just have 3 classes, one theory class and 2 orchestras (wind bands), but it is a beginning. The first classes went really well and just reminded me that I love band directing. One little boy was asked by his grandmother after the theory class how it was and he told her it was great. And that was the theory class! God is good.

I will still be volunteering at Collège Daniel, the private Christian school, doing a couple music groups and a little English. I will also continue with my two youth worship bands at the church, Eglise Josué.

Well, that is a big overview of a busy few months but you now have the essentials. Thanks for continuing to read this blog and support me. I am looking forward to a new school year and all that God wants to do in and through me and His body. I will leave you with a few prayer requests and a wish for a blessed new season for you.

Prayer requests:

~good health; It's a new school year and it has started at the Collège with a respiratory virus that is going around and yes I am fighting it.
~provision; My new job will bring in some euros but not many. Please pray for continued faithful giving.
~the church; Many good things are happening at Eglise Josué with that there are challenges. Please pray God's protection, direction and provision for the vision He has given the church and it's leaders.

Photos at the top:
**Did I mention that I turned 40? =)
**Danville meets France! Precious people who look out for me.
l to r Jasmine, Johnna, me, Nadine, Bill and Darlene

2011-05-18T02:28:00.000-07:00

I have discovered that people I've never met are reading my blog! And God is using it to connect people and bring encouragement. God does work in mysterious ways...but His ways are oh so amazing.

DTA was a real success. It was the best of the 3 that we have had in my opinion. One of the highlights for me was the Treasure Hunt we did with the youth. Our team found 13 'treasures' from the clues that God gave us and we were able to pray with 10 of the 13!! Just amazing for 2 hours on a Saturday afternoon in Guebwiller. (A Treasure Hunt is when we pray and ask God to give us clues such as appearance and needs then you go out and look for those people.) I am sure there were people healed. The only thing is we didn't have any info to give to people so they could find us later if they had questions.

Just a reminder please be praying about this Saturday's march for Jesus in Strasbourg! It's really a historic moment. Here's the info from my last blog:
There will be a March for Jesus that starts in Strasbourg, France and ends in Germany on May 21st. Prayer walks are already good things but the fact that this will connect France and Germany is huge! There have already been administrative miracles for the governments of both cities to agree to this march. Also, Strasbourg is the capital of the European Union. Please be praying with us as this day approaches that God's purposes with be accomplished and released as we walk and pray together for France, Germany and Europe!

We had a big party to celebrate my 'carte de sejour.' It was a great time and I was really honored by all of the people who came. I had David Leigh pop the first bottle of champagne because the Leigh family really opened the way for us Americans. Then David said to me while pointing out all the people who were there, "Did you imagine this a few years ago when you started the process to be here? Look at the fruit." Yes, I did tear up. God is so good.

I'm really proud of both of my youth worship groups, The Beans and JTDR. They have both made great progress in the last couple years both musically and in releasing the presence of God in worship. What an honor to work with such amazing young people! I am always thanking God for letting me work with my passions, youth and music!

Speaking of youth, one of the young women from the older group, the Beans, is currently in Russellville. Aurélie is staying with Carl and Becky and improving her English as well as helping out with a little Spanish translation and other bits and bobs. If you go to FOC you will probably see her. Feel free to say hi and show her good ole southern hospitality.

May and June are really busy and full of good stuff. I was looking at my calendar and realizing that I don't have a single weekend free between now and the end of June. phew! Here we go! It's going to be fun but I would appreciate prayers for strength and stamina.

I'm sure you've seen the leader of the IMF in the news recently. It's really shaken the French people I think. Please pray that God's will in this situation will be done and that only His fruit will last from this situation.

OK, a quick recap of prayer requests and that will be it for this blog.

~March for Jesus in Strasbourg this Saturday, May 21.
~strength and stamina for the next 2 months
~that God will have His way in the French peoples' hearts and minds through the situation with Strauss-Kahn

**some pics from the celebration...

~the men and Patricia and me
~Genviève, Jeanine, me and Manuela
~the limbo, conga style..it was a party after all ;)

Good News

2011-04-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

The good news is that I now have my real 'carte de sejour' (visa) that will last for 3 years!!! It is an ID card like the cards that French citizens have. This has been a long time coming. I can't express the joy and relief that came Friday afternoon when I picked it up at the Mairie (Mayor's office). Nadine said to me, "this is an important moment." We had been waiting so long it was kind of normal to be there again but it was good to remember what a miracle it is. AND I didn't have to pay the additional $500 that had been listed in an official letter!! WOO HOO!!

As I am writing this I am listening to Kool & the Gang sing "Celebration." I thought it was appropriate blog-writing music today. There has been and there will be celebrating! Now we are praying for Rusty and Janet Richards to find there way forward in the visa process!! Do it again, Lord, more visa miracles!!

The 2 weeks with Carl and Becky Hudson were fantastic!! We saw a lot of France but more importantly they made some really good contacts and relationships with French friends. Wherever we went we enjoyed the favor of God. We prayed for friends in Paris and saw God release more destiny for two Korean young women. It was amazing to feel the presence of God in an Indian restaurant as we were surrounded by Buddhas and other gods and prayed for these two women. We heard a couple days later that there was already fruit from the prayer time! That is just one example of what God did during their time here. I was so blessed to share my new home with them and to see God strengthen the connections between Arkansas and France!!

On April 22-24th we will once again have the youth conference DTA (Deploie tes Ailes, 'Spread Your Wings'). We will have older youth who will be a part of the leadership team helping us to work with the younger youth. The conference is for ages 9-15 and always has a great impact on the young people. Please pray health, protection and the release of life and destiny for the youth. We want to see more young people set free to be who they are in Christ!

There will be a March for Jesus that starts in Strasbourg, France and ends in Germany on May 21st. Prayer walks are already good things but the fact that this will connect France and Germany is huge! There have already been administrative miracles for the governments of both cities to agree to this march. Also, Strasbourg is the capital of the European Union. Please be praying with us as this day approaches that God's purposes with be accomplished and released as we walk and pray together for France, Germany and Europe!

This is not as long as some blogs but the content is worth celebrating!! God is good and faithful! I pray that you are celebrating the big and little gifts and events that God brings to you.

**Pics at the top:
The fabulous four at the Eiffel Tower: me,Carl, Becky and Nadine
Carl and Becky sharing their testimonies at Joshua Church (Eglise Josué)

Gifts

2011-03-01T11:24:00.000-08:00

I don't know...maybe we should call this blog 'procrastination' because I am finding everything to do before I prepare my teaching for THIS Friday for a worship conference. I'm really good at procrastinating...but I wouldn't call it a 'gift.' ;)

Gifts...

The thing I'm procrastinating preparing for is a gift. We are doing a youth worship conference this weekend with the 2 youth worship groups that I coach. We have a wonderful team of experienced worship team members and even better they are people who ARE worshipers 24/7. The youth that range in age from 14 to 18 are a gift. It is a joy and an honor to work with them, to be a part of their lives. We are looking to impart the benefit of our experience and more of God's heart of what worship is and who worshipers are as well as biblical foundation of worship.

I'm almost at the end of my visa journey. I went to the government appointed doctors visit a couple weeks ago. All checked out well and instead of being complicated and annoying it turned out to be a pleasant 2 days in Strasbourg with Géraldine and Nadine. Thanks, Father, for making this a fun experience. I wasn't expecting that!

The stamps to pay for the visa are purchased ($500 worth, yikes) and now I'm just waiting for the rest of the process to finish with the letter from the doctor going to the 'proper authorities' and then the final 'carte de sejour' to arrive. I take the stamps and I trade them for the carte. It won't be long now. It's been a couple years of inquiries and knocking on doors but it's almost done. Merci, Papa.

Still no hot water in my room or on my floor. It's been 2 months now. One gets creative. Thanks to my dear friends who have let me come and shower at will!! Another gift. And soon I will be saying thanks for hot water in MY room. Soon...

My dad had fairly good news from his doctor's visits at least no bad news. For this I am thankful, Jesus.

My relationships here in France are growing and really enriching my life. It really helps to make here my home. Thank you for Holy Spirit connections.

Carl and Becky Hudson are coming this Saturday to see me in France!!! They will be here for 2 weeks. I can't tell you how happy I am about this. They have been with me in this journey to France from the beginning when I wasn't even sure what God was calling me to do. And it will be SO good to have someone from home who is like family to come and see what my life is like in France. AND it will be fun to share new places, experiences and adventures with them. I know God will do another Spirit exchange between them and my French friends, each 'side' gaining something more of God. This is a HUGE gift in my life.

Thanks to all of you who support me and pray for me. I see the faithfulness of God through you, the body.

What are the gifts in your life? Is it people, places, things, the transformational power of God at work in your life? I would love to hear about the gifts in your life. Take a second and post a comment here.

And there I will stop and give a few prayer requests but I hope you remember the thankfulness as much as the requests!

Prayer requests:

~hot water! haha
~safe travel, health, God appointments and FUN for Carl and Becky on their trip!
~no hitches in the final process of the visa
~this weekend's youth worship conference. Please pray God has His way in and through all of us and that He release more of His Spirit in the youth (and the team).

**photos:
*My soeur(sister), Nadine and me, can't have a blog about gifts without including her!
*L to R Olivia, Angela and David Leigh, an American missionary family, the gift of people to speak American with, eat popcorn and watch movies in English and more !!

2011 Inaugural Blog

2011-01-27T04:47:00.000-08:00

I'm not much for New Year's resolutions. I figure if I need a change in my life why wait for the beginning of a year to get started. I can't say that I seek God to tell me about the coming year either. I just try to stay plugged in to Him and I know He will let me know what I need to know. I may be missing some stuff just by not asking but that leaves the adventure of surprises. haha. So you won't find any deep insight from me on what I think the Lord is saying for 2011. I can, however, share what I sense and see is happening now.

Actually, the title of my last blog, 'A New Season,' sums it up for me. I think we have entered into a new season of what God is doing in the earth. It is a season of deep healing and deliverance. God is preparing His bride so that when the harvest is reaped we will be able to point them to the same healing and deliverance. It seems that things that once took a long time are now accomplished in a relatively short time. There is an acceleration. This season began in the autumn of 2010 in my opinion but my friend Nadine says she has noticed that since the beginning of the year there is an even greater acceleration in the Spirit and in the things of God. I know this: it is an exciting time to be alive and be a part of the history God is making.

Now on to the more newsy part of the blog. This Christmas was the best Christmas since my mom died in 1992. It was a great time on any scale. After a healing work God has done in me, I can say it's the first Christmas I've experienced without any sadness or sense of loss! It's a miracle! And it was better for my whole family. My sister said she was different this holiday season and her husband and family noticed. We sang and played guitars together and just really enjoyed being together. This is one of the best gifts ever for me and my family. I am so thankful for what God has done. I couldn't imagine it was possible to be healed and free at this level. God is good and faithful!

My three weeks in Arkansas were BUSY! It was a change from my other visits. It was the shortest return since I've been in France and I found trying to manage seeing people and getting personal business done in that time very challenging. I realized after returning to France that my expectations have to change and that my home base has truly changed. Russellville, AR will always be home in the sense that it's were I'm from and my roots but Guebwiller, France is now my home.

It was good to see many of you and to stay connected. We had the best turn out ever for the informational evening. We had the joy of praying for people for healing and that God release His call to the nations for many. Thanks so much for coming!!

That night we had a great team of Europeans and Americans. It's really more and more a representation of the Kingdom with many nations working together and it's no longer a one man/woman show. Working in team is the only way to go! That night we had 6 Swiss guests and 5 French. I was so blessed to have so many Europeans visiting us at FOC and it was obvious that God was making connections with many people in Russellville with the Europeans.

I just want to once again say a thanks to Rick and Terri George and Carl and Becky Hudson for opening up their homes and especially their LIVES to host the nations, the family of God.

Things are going well on the school and church level here. We are putting together a youth worship seminar for the 4th and 5th of March. I would really appreciate your prayers for this. This is an idea that came to me from our worship conferences that we had years ago at FOC. That period in my life really gave me a firm foundation of worship both biblically and practically. We want to instill a firm foundation in the youth here too. This time we are looking to target the youth that I work with on a regular basis in the worship bands. However, in the future the idea is to open it up to more people. We know that it's not just the musicians who are worshipers but we His children are called to be worshipers. Worship is a lifestyle. We have a wonderful team working together to really impart into, train and release the youth. Please pray that we find the right mix of teaching and doing, that the youth's hearts will be ready to receive and most of all the heart of God for this two day seminar.

Visa news: I shared this at the meeting and I think by email but just in case you haven't heard the latest I will share the progress on my visa which is called at this point a 'carte de sejour.' I have a temporary 'carte de sejour.' The permanent one should arrive in February! It will last for 3 years! All good news. However, upon receiving the temporary carte I discovered that it is very specific in what area I can work. I was expecting simply permission to work in France. This does give me the right to work BUT only with the school, Collège Daniel, where I am now a volunteer. The school can not afford to pay me. So I am still very much dependent on the gifts and regular giving of my friends who support me. I am still praying about ways to make money in France. Please pray with me. It is obvious that God has given me this 'carte de sejour' and this status. It is nothing short of a miracle. I know He will give us creative ideas on how to earn money.

This brings me to another new development that I think most of you are aware of. FOC has changed their missions giving policy. They choose how to disperse the funds given in the missions offering at FOC. So if you have given each month in the offering at FOC for me it is no longer going to come directly to me. They have a set amount they will give me and after that the rest will be divided amongst the other missions groups. I simply cannot live on the amount they have allocated for me. Please make plans to send your gifts to Becky or Carl Hudson or you can hand it to them at church. You can make the checks payable to Alana Smith. We are also looking into getting a non-profit status for me but an accountant told me that might be difficult for me. So, I'm sorry to say your gifts will not be tax-deductible unless I can get this status.
If you need more information please email me or leave a comment here and I'll get in touch with you.

GOOD NEWS! Carl and Becky are making plans to come and see me for 2 weeks in March! I am so excited! They have been walking with me, supporting me, pastoring me since before I even left for France the first time. It is such a God thing that they should be the first to come and visit me in Guebwiller. They are not just coming to visit me however. They will get to see Emilie and her family. We will make a trip to Nadine's hometown so they can meet her family and see Arnaud, the young man who has been staying with them for the month of January. We will also visit our Swiss friends that they met in Russellville. They have already sown into the French and Swiss even before setting foot on the continent! They too live by faith and God has provided for their plane tickets and passports. Now we are trusting Him to provide for the rest of the trip. Pray that God divinely organizes and has His way during their visit here and that more 'God-connections' will be made.

Man, now that I've talked your ears off...haha. Well, that's what happens when you go 2 months without writing. I want to wish you all a wonderful year full of GOD and Kingdom stuff. I will bullet point the prayer requests at the bottom and tell you about the pics at the top.

Until the next blog...may your hearts be full of the peace and riches of our Jesus.

prayer requests:

~for the youth worship seminar March 4-5: Please pray that we find the right mix of teaching and doing, that the youth's hearts will be ready to receive and most of all the heart of God for this two day seminar.

~Finances: that my regular supporters will be able to pick up the new habit of giving by sending it to the Hudsons and that God will make it clear what can be done here in France to earn money.

~Carl and Becky's trip in March: Pray that God divinely organizes, provides and has His way during their visit here and that more 'God-connections' will be made.

**Pictured above:

~Playing guitar with my nephew, Clayton, and my dad. It was so much fun.

~The crew of Swiss and French in Russellville. We had a blast too!

A New Season

2010-11-09T05:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I miss-named the last blog with the incorrect date and I noticed that the date is given above the title anyway, so how about real titles? A new season...It really is a new season in my life. God has just done some major healing and adjustments in my heart and soul. I am so thankful the process is over but I'm even more thankful for the fruit of peace and righteousness. God is so good to us that He doesn't leave us at I'm ok or even I'm good but He wants to bring us to a place of more freedom and life. Thank you, God, for your faithfulness!

The heat is back on in the chateau!! Thanks to all of you who prayed. It's been back on on my floor for about 2 weeks now. They started at the bottom and worked their way up.

I have no news on my 'carte de Sejour' since the last blog. It is in process and I am still waiting on a letter so I can make a doctor's appointment to move on to the next step. Please continue to pray that the process doesn't get bogged down or blocked. I'm not worried. Apparently, these things always take time but it would be nice to have a word to know that things are moving and all is well. Please also continue to pray for provision to pay the $300-$400 doctor's fee.

We had a prophetic youth conference the first weekend in November at Joshua Church for ages 9-15 called Deploie tes ailes (spread your wings). The first DTA was in April 2010 and was powerful and exciting. This DTA was also powerful but with a much different flavor. It was a quieter, deeper time with God. I think many of the young people were able to make a real connection with God and several dedicated there lives to Jesus for the first time or rededicated their lives. It is such an honor to be a part of what God is doing to raise up a generation for His Kingdom and because of His love.

There are some new Americans in town, Rusty and Janet Richards. The Americanization of Guebwiller has begun! Even my French friend, Nadine, is becoming more and more American! I'm finding it more difficult to find people to speak French with. OK, so I'm kidding, mostly... It is true, however, that the link with the States is being strengthened. Rusty and Janet bring a real maturity and new dimension in the spirit with them. They have a call not just to France but to Europe. I'm looking forward to knowing them better and watching what God is up to.

Just a little personal note: I've taken up the guitar. Who'd have ever thought!? Not me. Anyway, it's been fun and I've even got the callouses to prove I've been practicing. I wanted a way to have personal worship time in my room without having to hunt down a keyboard, etc, and it's difficult to sing and play the trumpet at the same time as you can imagine. It really has been a helpful way to worship whenever I want and it's just fun to learn something new.

My music groups and English lessons at the school are going well. I have added two more hours of English tutoring to my schedule and I will add one more music group. It is always rewarding as a teacher to be able to help students 'get it.'

It has been a season to be around home and sow here and now the next several weeks will be a time to go out and invest. In early 2010 God dropped it into my spirit one day out of the blue that when an opportunity to go to Greece presented itself to take it. Well, an opportunity has presented itself and I'm gonna take it. The opportunity is coming through the connection that the Richards have in Europe. They were invited with Emilie Pierre-Elien to go for a conference in Greece and now that team also includes Nadine and me. That will be the first weekend in December. Needless to say, I'm a little excited. What could be waiting that God would give me a heads-up several months in advance?

In a couple days I will be headed to Toulouse to visit one of my friends from language school, Katie. I am looking forward to time with her as always and it looks like I will have opportunity to meet and spend time with some of her friends that are hungry for more of the things of the Spirit. Then I will spend several days in Nîme, Nadine's hometown. Nadine has already arranged one meeting with a group of intercessors and she expects God has plans for more. I am so excited to get into France and see more of the country and what God is doing in other places. I feel this week is about relationship and sharing 'the normal Christian life' of an open Heaven with others. Not to mention that it will be warmer in the south...

Then I am hoping to get away to see my dear Korean friend, Deborah, in Paris for a few days. Again in sharing life I hope to be an encouragement to Deborah who is a young Asian woman tackling a western culture and going to university in French and English. She is reaching out to the Parisians who are not known to be warm and welcoming. I admire her courage and persistence. Please pray for God to open doors and hearts to Deborah. And please pray that God strengthens her daily and the other missionaries who pour out daily in spiritually difficult Paris. They need all the air support they can get.

And then it will be time to head to Arkansas for Christmas!! I'm already excited about seeing family and friends and welcoming French AND Swiss friends over the holidays!! That's right, folks, Russellville will be welcoming several Europeans for the holidays!!!!!! I'm so excited for the connections God is making!!

OK, let's rap this up with the prayer requests. Thanks as always for reading and praying. May the riches of Our Heavenly Father pour out in every area of your lives!!

The requests:

~Provision for: -the docotor's appointment and carte de sejour -travel expenses over the next month

~continued good health in the busy weeks to come

~That God's will be done through relationships and times of sharing, praying, and "ministry"

~God is on the move in France. Please continue to pray into the spiritual atmosphere that it will open more and more and that society and culture will be transformed by the love, presence and power of God!!!

Really I want to end with PRAISE. God has healed and transformed me, given me a home and a family in a strange land and has sent me from a home that is a firm foundation. He's given me a life full of adventure and Kingdom life. I am truly one of the most blessed people on earth because of Him.

**Just a few members of my French family.
Left: Maman Huguette and me. Please continue to pray for her complete healing!!
Right: The sisters Pierre-Elien, my little sisters, L to R Elisabeth and Emilie

12 October

2010-10-12T01:42:00.000-07:00

The trees are beginning to turn here and it is really beautiful. I love autumn! I have to admit though I REALLY miss football games and MARCHING BAND!! When the air turns cool and crisp I want to head out to the game.

One of the recent highlights for me is that my friend Ruth came to visit from England. We had a great time and got to explore Alsace together. The picture is of Ruth and me when we visited Riquewihr. We saw some wonderful little villages and ate a lot of Alsatian food. Ruth and Ralph were my hosts when I lived in England in 97-98 and have been good friends since that time. It was such a blessing to have Ruth come and see where I am and what I'm doing. We spent time praying for Ruth and Ralph as well and she was encouraged I think. Ralph is not able to travel anymore because of a serious health condition. Please pray for Ralph's healing and the continued strength and grace of God for them both.

I am happy to report that I have now filled out all the paperwork to get my 'carte de sejour' in process. Now I am waiting to hear from the prefecture that it is all ok and that I need to make an appointment for my medical exam (which will cost between $300-$400, this is a financial need). I am thankful that the lady at the Mairie here was very friendly and helpful. Hopefully, the other offices that I visit will have people who are as helpful as she was. So, it will still be a while before I have my 'carte de sejour' but at least the process has begun!

Unfortunately, the heat is still not working in the chateau. However, I have learned that a part has been ordered and they are waiting for it to come in. Then they will have to run water through all of the radiators and see if it works. Please keep praying that it all gets up and running soon.

Most of my classes and music groups are in place now. Things are starting to take shape. I am still asking God how to use my time and where to invest as well as for Him to bring me the English or music lessons I can teach and earn money with. I find there is always something to do and I don't have a lot of free time. However, I want to be intentional with my time and energy.

It is really a challenging season here in the church. God is pouring out more of Himself and in that it brings our humanness to the surface. Please pray for the leaders and the people of Joshua Church that we can press into God and prepare ourselves for the fullness of what God wants to do in us and through us in our region at this time.

Please continue to pray for the Hufschmitt family, especially the parents who have lost their son.

We are seeing more healing in the church and people praying for others outside of church and seeing them healed and touched. Aslan is on the move!! I am so encouraged to hear testimonies of people living the 'normal Christian life' everyday and affecting the world around them. Our corporate hunger and expectation is growing! These are exciting times.

It is really a good season for me. I feel truly at home here. God has given me good relationships that feed and encourage me. I am able to use the tools God has put in my hands and see fruit. And I am full of expectation for what God is doing here and for what is coming from Heaven for France and Europe. It is a good time to be alive and a part of the Kingdom of God!!

It seems this blog has been mostly newsy but you see a little of my heart in it too I hope. I will leave you guys by just summing up once more the prayer requests. Thanks as always for reading and praying! You guys are the essential support group that every missionary needs!

Prayer requests:

~God's will be done in love and grace in the leaders and people of Joshua church.

~Heat for the chateau!

~the Hufschmitt family in their time of grief.

~Healing and favor for Ralph and Ruth

~That God show me clearly where to invest my time and energy.

~That the 'carte de sejour' process continue without problems and in a timely manner and provision for the doctors visit.

~For more of God's presence and transforming power to be poured out here and in France!!

11 September

2010-09-11T03:06:00.000-07:00

I'm looking at the calendar and wondering how it's possible that I've already been here 3 weeks. Then again, in some ways, it feels longer. The passing of time is a strange thing isn't it...

It's a beautiful September day in Alsace. I'm enjoying sitting by the open window while writing. I just need to get this done and get out into the sunshine!

I wish all of my news was as happy as the weather report. Many of you have heard about the suicide of a young man, 20, from the church here. I don't need to tell you that it was a tragic event that has greatly effected the church family here. Please remember the Hufschmitt family in this time of grief. Luc Bussière, the pastor, gave a truthful, hopeful and encouraging message at the funeral. Choose life was the message the parents shared. As only God can do, life will come from death.
I am close to the oldest daughter of this family, Aurélie. She has been in one of my worship groups. She is now in Mexico doing a 3 month Christian training course, receiving more of the life of God. The mom has asked me to spend time with their twin daughters to give them an opportunity to talk and share. I am honored. Please pray that I can be a help to this family in whatever way God wants to use me.

On the visa front...Yes, that's right folks the visa journey is not over yet. Well, technically, the visa part is over. Now I will use my visa to ask for a 'carte de sejour' which is the name of the French document that will give me the right to live and work in France. The visa was the hardest part but I am not finished until I have the carte de sejour. I went yesterday to the local government office, the 'Mairie', to ask for my papers. The lady was very nice but needed to ask more questions before we proceed. I will go back Monday afternoon and see where to go for the next step. There will be another government office to go to the 'sous-prefecture' and then a doctors visit, more money to pay and then when it's all in process it could be up to 4-6 months before I actually receive my carte de sejour. However, I will have a paper saying it's in process that will allow me to stay in the country until I get the official carte de sejour. It also means that it will be a while longer before I can earn money in France. Oh yes, I will possibly have to have documents, like my birth certificate, translated or updated. All doable. Just lots to do. Fortunately, my friend Nadine has been here to help me through all of these steps, making sure I don't miss any details and getting me where I need to go. Luc has also been great to get me the documents I need from here. Thank God for His provision in all things.

I have been slowly getting my groups started again and talking to the school administration about what my role will be at College Daniel this year. Some things are in the air until I get my carte de sejour in process and have a better idea of how I can arrange my schedule. I am excited about a new school year and what it will bring.

A major prayer request for the school and inhabitants of the chateau is that the boiler that provides the heat and hot water is broken. It is ancient and probably has breathed its last. Over the summer one of the family's had work done on their plumbing and because of a mistake in hooking the pipes back up the rest of the chateau has hot water. This is good for the others but sharing hot water with a school and several other inhabitants is, well you get the idea. They quickly run out of hot water. Cool autumn weather will be quickly on us. Attempts by the handy man have failed to get the heating going again. We definitely need the provision of God in this area.

I spent my first birthday here in Guebwiller. I was the recipient of a large steak (Emilie remembered my American love for beef!), beautiful flowers, and a lovely surprise party with friends. I felt known and loved. It's a good feeling as I start my third year in France and my second in Guebwiller.

Tomorrow, Sunday, Nadine will share a message and then Emilie and I will add testimonies about our time together in Arkansas and all that we saw God do. Then we will have a time to pray for anyone who wants prayer. I'm excited to see what God wants to do and how He wants to love His people.

Prayer requests: Please pray that...

~The Hufschmitt family as they grieve the loss of their son, Pierre Daniel.
~That I and our church family can be an encouragement to the Hufschmitt family.

~That the process for the carte de sejour go smoothly and quickly.

~That God will provide for a unit to heat and provide hot water for the chateau. (BEFORE THE COLD WEATHER GETS HERE!)

~That God will show up tomorrow as we share and pray for people. We want to see more miracles and people experiencing the love of God. We want to see more of the normal Christian life!

Photos of summer 2010

2010-08-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos to go with the August 28th post. Enjoy!

I will try to make some sense of these pics. I never know how they will look when it post, so bear with me... (sorry,don't know why the words are hidden. you haven't missed anything important)

Nadine at Brown's Catfish. It doesn't get anymore southern than a fried buffet extravaganza.

It's always good to see my dad and his wife, Melba.

The biggest gang was the night we had crêpe night at the Graces house. It was a great group of people who love me and support me. Thanks for coming!

Jeff and Maureen Grace were more than gracious hosts! Thanks again for your amazing hospitality!!

Emilie with a .22. This one is obvious. "Annie get your gun." haha

I went back and forth this summer between the Graces' and the Hudsons'. This is me with Carl and Becky. They take care of me. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing without their help. I can't thank you both enough.

The five women together was the night we celebrated the visa. My besties. haha yes, I do work with youth.

Keep going to the next entry "28 August" to get a full summary of my miraculous summer.

28 August

2010-08-28T05:13:00.001-07:00

THE MIRACULOUS SUMMER OF 2010

Wow, how am I going to sum up the summer I've had!? It's been an amazing ride. So if you are committed to reading this blog (maybe more than I am to writing it regularly, hehe) settle in for a longish but great story of the wonders and love of God.

The summer started with a trip home with Olivia Leigh. We had a good time together even though we were delayed out of Frankfort and missed her connecting flight leaving us to catch flights the next day. We both made it to our destinations in good shape and with all of our stuff even though it was a day later.

A few days after my arrival in Arkansas my French friends Nadine Adriano and Emilie Pierre-Elien came for 16 days. We had such a good time together. They are crazy. That's all I can say. But of course it's the good kind of crazy. Let's just say there was never a dull moment. I did my best to share my southern culture with them: fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, fried catfish, canoeing, shooting (yes, I do mean guns), listening to the cicadas singing, and of course wonderful people and southern hospitality. They liked it so much they considered coming back for a bit after their trip to California and before returning to France but they decided another time would be better.

While Nadine and Emilie were with me we had the opportunity to pray and minister to a few groups of people. This is were this gets really interesting because I'm going to talk about how God touched peoples' lives. The three of us experienced a new dimension of God's presence and power as we prayed for people. We were amazed at the impact of the prophetic in the lives of some young people we prayed with. Nadine had a word of knowledge for a man in a blue shirt before we got to the group. When we prayed for this man he ended up on the floor soaking up the love of God and Emilie spoke 'man of peace' over him. I later learned that he dealt with anger. Shortly after that evening someone he was helping stole his car and wrecked it and he was able to deal with the man in love and forgiveness. His friends were amazed at his reaction because they expected him to be angry and take it out on the man. God transforms, sometimes slowly, sometimes in one encounter. Amazing.

We took a little trip to Searcy to meet with the folks at the Exchange. Wow. These people are hungry for God and He is answering that hunger! Again, Nadine had words of knowledge for healing and all three of the people were there. One man had pain in his forearm. As we prayed for him I noticed his eyes become wide. He looked a little freaked out honestly. When Nadine stopped praying I asked him if something was happening and he said it felt like electricity was going through his arm! His arm was different after that. Two weeks later another man visiting from Bethel Church in Redding prayed for him and God completed the healing! His arm is completely restored and without pain!! Yes, God! That evening we had the privilege to pray for most of the people that had come and God gave us very clear prophetic words. It was a new level for us and yet completely normal.

Thanks again to all of you who were able to make the informational meeting at FOC. It was much more than just info though. Emilie lead worship and Emily Knox sang with her. They really ushered in the presence of God. I shared and then Nadine and Emilie shared. I think this helped everyone to get a clearer picture of my role here. I was encouraged by what they had to say. I didn't realize how they view me. Thanks, ladies. That night we prayed for people as well. And yet again Nadine had a word of knowledge about someone in a red shirt that had digestive problems. She was there and we prayed for her. The lady told me several weeks later that before she had had to eat medicine like candy for her stomach problems but she hadn't taken any since we prayed for her and she hasn't had any more problems!!!! Yes, God!!

Then there are the stories of provision. Many of you have read about this in my emails but I'm going to give a summary of what God has provided for me.

Let's start with the trip to Houston. All total the trip, visa, hotel, plane, everything cost about $700. People gave generously, down to the morning that I left when I was handed the last $100 that I needed. The trip was all payed for when I got on the plane.

Then there was the $1200 insurance bill that was due. I was handed a check for $1100 just in time to make the payment without penalty.

Then there was the plane ticket...this still gets me... I was talking with friends a couple weeks before my desired date to leave and mentioned that I still didn't have my ticket. One of the people there said he could take care of that... and all of my plane tickets to and from France from now on!!! His company makes a habit of helping missionaries. He also told me they would support me financially!! I was in shock. In one moment I was assured that whenever I needed to return to see friends and family it would be provided for. wow.

My new insurance covers yearly check-ups for women. That's great. Except I have to wait a year to use it. When my doctor, who is a Christian, asked about my insurance I explained the situation. He didn't charge me!! When I thanked him he said, "you can't out give God."

Then there is the visa. THE VISA. You've all heard so much about it and know it has been A LONG, LONG process. Well, when I had my interview for the visa the lady told me it would be about 2 weeks to process. That was no problem because I was hoping to leave in 3 almost 4 weeks. She did tell me at the interview that she didn't think I was asking for the right visa and I didn't have what I needed. I told her I did the best I could with what I read online, etc. Two weeks passed, no visa. I waited 3 weeks and called her. She had not touched my visa and she told me again she didn't think what I had would work but she would take it to her boss and call me the next day. That was a long 24 hours, folks. God gave me a dream that night of the lady handing me the visa with a smile and I was really happy. When I tried to imagine what I would do if I didn't get to come back to France I couldn't see anything, and I have a good imagination. But let's be honest, I was worried. Not knowing is hard. I got tired of waiting and decided to try and call the boss and plead my case. While the automated directory was playing on the phone an important call interrupted and I took it. After talking with my friend I asked God if I should try the embassy again and he told me to keep my hands off. At that point I had peace. A few hours later I got the call from the lady saying she was finishing my visa. "Does that mean I HAVE a visa," I asked. She told me she would finish it up and put it in the mail that afternoon so I would get it Saturday. When I finished the call I put the phone down and ran out into the yard where Carl was working yelling at the top of my lungs and waving my arms like a mad-woman, "CARLLLLLLL, I HAVE A VISAAAAAAAAAA!!!!" What a wonderful moment of relief and joy!! I could return to France where I knew God wanted me and this time I have the right to stay and work. Thank you, Jesus. Where I had been told 'no', God said 'yes.' Robb had told me before I went to Houston that, "It doesn't matter what man says, it only matter what God says." Wise words that carried me through.
I checked the mail Saturday. No visa, but I knew it was coming. Monday my dad found it by the door. So the day before I flew out I had the visa in my hands. The day before... Why does God like to wait to the last minute? Anyone else see this pattern in your lives? lol I guess He has His reasons.

A HUGE thank you to all of you who have prayed and prayed and prayed about this visa. You see the miracle your prayers encouraged!?

Now I am back in France. I was able to keep my scheduled flight. I am back in time for the beginning of school which is Monday. It is so good to be here. I was met by big hugs and loving people happy to see me. It is good to be home. It is good to have two homes. Although, it is always a little disorienting to change places this has been the easiest transition so far.

Prayer requests:

**I need to organize my music groups and my schedule for this school year. I always need God's grace for organization.
Please pray that God makes it clear what to take on and when and where.

**Yes, I have my visa but there is one more step. I have to have a 'carte de séjour' from the prefecture in France in order to have the right to work and for the visa (which is actually the carte de séjour) to last for 3 years. This should be a much easier process since the biggest hurdle has been passed. However, without the ok of the prefecture the visa will be null and void. This will be done in the next 2 months. I will start the process next week. PLEASE PRAY!

I will do better at writing my blog. Thanks for your support and prayers!!

And thus ends my summary of the SUMMER OF MIRACLES...

but this is just the beginning, we will see more

THIS IS NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE!!

15 June

2010-06-15T01:52:00.000-07:00

Two weeks from today I head back to Arkansas for the summer! I am ready to see my family and friends!

There are several things to share so I'm going to keep it more succinct if that's possible.

This time when I fly home I get to have a travel buddy part of the way. Olivia Leigh, the daughter of David and Angela, will be flying to the States with me and then I will put her on her final flight and then catch my flight to Arkansas. I am looking forward to time with Olivia and having a someone to travel with.

The two weeks that are left are packed. You all know how busy the end of the school year is, in addition I am preparing to leave for the summer and working on paperwork for my visa. whew! It's all moving though so I can't complain.

My computer hard drive died suddenly a couple weeks ago. That was not fun to say the least. Fortunately, David Leigh is a computer guy and he took good care of me, as their family always does. Thanks to David I am writing to you once again from my laptop. I have been less communicative in the last few weeks as a result of the laptop and the busyness, so I apologize if I have somehow missed an email or been slow to reply!

The end of the school year here at Collège Daniel is always topped off with a big party. I have a couple groups who are preparing to perform at the party. It is a day of food, games, music and relationship. I am looking forward to experiencing my first 'fête.'

If you've gotten my newsletter you know that we are having are getting together on Friday, July 9 at 6:30 PM at FOC with my two French friends who are coming to visit in Arkansas for a couple weeks. I hope you are planning to come! I want to take a little space and tell you a little about each of them.

Nadine Adriano is one of the elders of the church, Eglise Josué. She has had training in the Sozo technique from Bethel Church in Redding, CA and she is one of the leaders of a healing room that is regularly available to the people of the community. She is from the south of France and is looking forward to the heat of Arkansas. (I honestly don't think she knows what kind of heat that really is.) She is a lot of fun and is a good friend and buddy to me.

Emilie Pierre-Elien is an anointed worship leader. She spent 3 months in Mexico last fall doing a Christian training course called Foundations in Monterrey. She spends her mornings in worship and prayer and the fruit is obvious. In the fall 2010 she will be doing an internship with a government office involving helping communities become more 'green.' She is also a lot of fun and always entertaining. Her family has basically adopted me and Beckie, the young English lady who live in the chateau.

Needless to say when the three of us are together we laugh a lot. I feel this will be an important time of connecting my two worlds when Arkansas meets France. I am excited to see what God is going to release and the exchange of life that will happen. They have something to give and my FOC family also has something to give. This is gonna be GOOD! haha

OK, gotta rap up and get going.

This summer I will make a trip to Houston to apply for the work visa. I will have to have all the paperwork done and an appointment made. I will have to get a plane ticket and a hotel room for at least two nights I think. This is definitely a financial need for this summer.

Then I will have to purchase a ticket to get back to France at the end of August for the beginning of school. This time I hope to return without time restrictions and with a visa in hand! Yes God, do it!

Next fall we are hoping to start a small orchestra/music program at Collège Daniel. Please pray that all of the pieces fall into place for this. This will be an opportunity to continue to use teaching and music to reach young people.

I will add the prayer requests from the newsletter. Thank you for your faithful prayer support. It is essential. If not for the grace of God I could not do this. He is faithful!

~I have 2 weeks left before I return to Arkansas for the summer. Please pray that I use this time effectively and invest myself where God is leading.
~Supernatural help on getting the visa paperwork done. (If you know me well, you know I need the supernatural help! haha)
~Financial support for travel this summer to Houston to get my visa.
~Money for a return flight to France at the end of the summer.
~That God will orchestrate my time in the States this summer.
~That the time with Emilie and Nadine in Arkansas will build bridges and that all God wants to do in that time will be accomplished. (And that they will have a lot of fun!!)
~Safe travels and good health for all of us.

**top left: This is a the majority of the Tendon family, a Swiss family I met this spring. I have a lot in common with them and I'm grateful for new friends with similar hearts and calls. L to R Emmanuelle, Joy, Dan, Zoe, Mike. Not pictured are the dad, Eric, and the oldest son, Yannick.

**top right: I also got to see my dear friend Simone and her family during my few days in Switzerland. This is Simone with the youngest of her two daughters.

16 May

2010-05-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

How did we get to the middle of May!? The weather here would suggest it is still March or early April. However, it is green and beautiful and I am thankful to live in such a beautiful place.

I have sent out a letter with updated visa news. I will leave it to the letter to explain.

I spent several days in England resting and enjoying my friends. I am thankful for the time I get to spend in England as it is one of my 'homes.'

It is the end of the school year and we all know what that means, it's gonna be busy from here on out. I am thankful to have had a quiet week with this last week having a few days of school holiday. I will be continuing with my music groups and looking at finishing one year and looking ahead to the next. Please pray God make His plans for next year clear.

It has been a challenging week for me. God is systematically putting His finger on things in my heart and saying, "OK, now let's work on this." This is not a comfortable process but I know that there will be fruit. I am thankful to be well supported by people who love me and pray for me. Some of it has just been a part of the natural process of having a new home and missing out on a lot of life that is happening in Arkansas with my family and friends. God is faithful to strengthen and encourage me.

This is just a short addition to go with the last blog in April. Thanks to those of you who continue to read and support me. I would love to hear from you if you get a chance to drop a quick note here, by email or on facebook.

Amazing love, oh, what sacrifice, the Son of God given for me...

**The pic was taken by my friend Katie when she came to visit. This gives you just a little taste of spring in Alsace.

26 April

2010-04-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

So much has happened this month. I will do my best to remember all the highlights.

I have enjoyed teaching English. Beckie returns this week and will take her classes back. It has been interesting to communicate in English with the students after I've worked so hard to be able to communicate in French. It was a little odd at first but a lot of fun. I also got to work with Olivia Leigh, the daughter of American missionaries here. She is completely bilingual. We explored American literature in reading 'To Kill A Mockingbird,' one of my favorite books. We have also looked at just a little poetry and I've had the pleasure of getting some good writing assignments out of her. She is talented. Keep an eye out for her stories in the future.

One of the highlights of the year was 'Deploie tes ailes' (spread your wings), the youth seminar we had over a the weekend of the 9-11th of April. During the treasure hunt over 20 people were prayed for within an hour, one man received Jesus as savior, one woman was the treasure of two different teams, one man was found and God had given us his name. The kids were pumped at the joy of hearing and obeying God and then seeing what happened. The youth were prophesied over during the weekend and all had the opportunity to prophesy over others. It was amazing. Four of the older youth ended up praying and prophesying over the team of adults for 3 hours straight! It was like rapid fire prophesy in team. I've never seen anything quite like it. They were red hot and right on! The most amazing thing from the weekend was the lives that were transformed, TRANSFORMED. I could see the difference the second day in a couple of young ladies. I see them at school and church now and they are still new creations, delivered, healed and released! PRAISE GOD, our loving Father!! Thank you to all of you who prayed for us during that seminar. The power and presence of God came and changed us all!

Did you hear about the volcano in Iceland and the ash cloud that disrupted air travel in Europe? Well, I haven't made it to England yet for a visit. That should happen next week. I am looking forward to seeing my friends and getting some rest. Things are getting back to normal as far as travel goes, however, I'm sure it will be a while before the back-log and financial difficulties are overcome in Europe.

My friend Katie Berry came for a visit for a few days. We had perfect spring weather and took advantage of it. She also came to my English classes as an added point of interest in English conversation.

The music groups are coming right along and I have more students asking for lessons. It is always rewarding to see progress and enthusiasm in the students.

Pierre-Daniel Martin, a French prophet, came and did a seminar last week with the school and church. He had encouraging words for the spiritual future of France. France has a strong prophetic call as a nation. I am excited to see what God is about to do in this nation and in Europe. He also had many clear and encouraging words for the people here. I had never met him and he said to me that he saw that I had closed a door and made a turn in my life and that it was right, which was confirmation for me. He is a man full of grace, love and humility. It is a joy to see ministers of Christ who care for the body like that.

I am happy to report that my dad was able to sell our family home quickly and at a price that was more than he had asked for it! God is so faithful! This is just another blessing for my family and more proof for me that my place is in France.

I want to end this blog with praise. God has added to me good friends, given me the opportunity to teach and work with young people, given me a beautiful place to live, given me a church were I can worship, grow and serve, and He continually loves on me. I am a blessed woman.

Thanks to all of you who are a part of my life. Knowing you makes my life richer.

**The pic at the top is from the making of the short film that I talked about in my last blog. It is finished and I look forward to seeing it.

April 2

2010-04-02T02:41:00.001-07:00

I have good news to report. It's taken me a week to get to this...but we're not really surprised are we.

I want to start by reporting the good news from a friend. The lady who leads our intercession group, Huguette, has suffered for years with pain in her back and hip. She has walked with a cane for a long time and many times has been stuck at home because of the pain and danger of falling. She is in Mexico with 10 others from Eglise Josué doing the Master Builders training. We had news from her 2 days ago that God had started working in her hip and she was walking without the cane!!!!! PRAISE GOD!! I can't express the joy I feel knowing this wonderful lady is being healed.

Last Saturday night I shared my testimony at church in French. It was the first time I had shared my testimony in French to an all French crowd. Thanks so much to those of you who prayed. The Holy Spirit helped me and it went well. It wasn't a struggle at all. I shared about how God delivered me from depression and afterward asked for people to come forward for prayer if they needed deliverance from something. Many responded and we had a long time of ministry that followed.

That same church service was packed with the presence of God. My part was at the end and we had already seen God move powerfully. The worship time was anointed and many responded to drawing closer to God. Then the youth shared about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, followed by praying for the youth to receive the baptism. There were many youth who came forward and I hear they were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues!! What a night! We started at 7 and we were leaving there at 11:15! I love it when God shows up!

The school is making a short film for a festival here in Guebwiller and I've been asked to help with the music or soundtrack for the project. I asked one of my youth band leaders who writes songs to compose a song for it. Mattias got right to it and created a great rock type song. We spent Wednesday afternoon and David and Emilie continued on Thursday evening recording it. David Leigh is putting his knowledge and creativity to bringing it all together. I'm excited to hear the finished project and see how it works with the film. I also gave some more classically styled music composed by Stephan Haffner, one of the men in our church, to the man who is doing the film. It's great to be surrounded by such talent. Basically, I've just asked my resources to donate their time and talent and I'm watching it unfold. It's great that the music can also be a part of the school. Thanks to all who have given of themselves to put music to this project!

We have Easter break for 2 weeks now. The English classes I have been teaching are going really well. I enjoy the time with the students and being in the classroom. We had a prayer time with the oldest class yesterday because it was my last day with them. It was a rich time and at the end they prayed for me. I am blessed, what amazing young people. Their hearts are true and their testimonies are powerful!

prayer requests :
~College Daniel and Eglise Josué are still in need of God's provision!! Please keep praying that the blockages will be removed and God's generosity will flow.
~The safe return of our team from Mexico next week.
~There are no new developments with the visa. I do know my next step will be talking to the nearby prefecture. Please continue to pray I know God's perfect timing to talk to the right person at the right time and that the visa will come miraculously.

I am full of hope and joy!! Thanks for your continued prayers, support and love.

**The pic at the top is of me working with my youngest music group the 5eme (7th grade). We have a pianist, 2 flutes, a violin, a recorder and several singers.

5 March

2010-03-05T05:54:00.000-08:00

Ummm....where to begin? Well, I think I will begin with the practical and prayer requests. We all know it will roll into one anyway...

Things are starting to be clearer on the visa front. I said clearer, not faster. I have talked about this in detail in my newsletter. Maybe I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep praying!

I have mentioned the school that I am a volunteer with, College-Daniel. It is one of the few Christian schools in Europe. They rely largely on donations to function. Right now there is a need for donations to cover salaries as well as to prepare for work teams that will come this summer to finish the new classrooms. Please pray God's abundant provision to be poured out so that Christian education can continue in France. As American's we don't realize the value of having Christian thought as a foundation in our nation. It is essential to raising up Christian's in France that will transform their society for God. Here is the school's website if you would like to have a look around.
http://www.college-daniel.org/

There is a group of leaders from Eglise Josué, my church here, that will be going to Mexico to do a training course called Master Builders. They will be gone for 3 weeks. One of the English teachers here, Beckie, will be going with them and I will be taking her English classes. Please pray for these leaders that God will fill them with everything He has planned for them in this time. Also, please pray for safety for them and God's protection for their families and the church family while they are away. You can pray for me that God just gives me grace in taking the English classes in addition to my music groups. I have to say I'm looking forward to more classroom time.

Saturday the 27th of February, we had a 12 hour Tabernacle, which is a worship event. My youngest group, the 8th and 9th graders, lead worship for the first time with me as their coach. It went really well. We made a lot of progress in our 9 hours of practice over the school holidays. My older group also led worship that day and did a great job. Then on Monday I started a new group with 7th graders taking them for half of their general music class. There are 12 in that group. I am excited to have so many young people interested in WORSHIP as well as music. It is such a blessing for me to be able to teach music and worship together. Please pray for these groups that God continues to grow them in technique, but most of all that He leads them in His ways and that I have wisdom in how to instruct them and lead them into His presence.

One of the highlights for me at the Tabernacle was a time when a worship group from Germany was leading worship. They had the French and German youth join hands and sing together (in German) "Father, Father, thine is the kingdom." OK, now think about the history of France and Germany and read that again. Two nations, once at each others throats singing that it's God's Kingdom reigns, not the kingdom of France or Germany. Powerful.
**This is the pic at the top.**

For me personally, I am rediscovering music as worship. OK, I know you're thinking, but you're a music teacher...Music has been my job and my passion. I am a worshiper. Somewhere along the way I've forgotten the freedom of expressing my heart without words. God has lovingly reminded me. I have had some sweet times just playing for God and me the last couple of days. I feel something is reawakening and something new is being birthed. This is for life, but I also see the value as I am imparting into these amazing young people a heart for worship. Please pray God has His way in me and through me.

And to top off all this activity I have had 3 special guests in the last few weeks, dear friends that I met during my year of language school. What a blessing to get to spend time with them and to share my new home with them.

17 February

2010-02-17T02:42:00.000-08:00

Sorry it has been so long since I've written. It's just been a period of time when I couldn't get to writing or had no motivation. I was sick with a fairly strong cold for a while, but we all know tis the season. And life has been offering it's challenges.

I could definitely use prayer for my spirit and emotions as well as physical health. I had a few days of feeling off balance. It's a natural occurrence I'm sure when one moves to a new culture and attempts to build a new life. Now I am feeling more at ease. Then this week I experienced intense feelings of loneliness. Everyone has a bad day from time to time and I wasn't too worried. However, when day 3 of the intense emotions came around I finally clued in that this was more than just a normal cycle of loneliness. I asked a friend to pray for me and she discerned a spirit of loneliness and a lying spirit. I was buying old lies. Amazing how after all the freedom God has given me I can still listen to the old lies. The good news is the prayer worked. The spirit is gone and I am back to myself. It did leave me physically exhausted however and I am getting my strength back, grâce à Dieu. I would really appreciate prayer for spiritual protection and discernment as well as physical strength. Also, could you continue to pray that God help me adjust to a new home, new culture, and new relationships.

I have no new news on the visa. Things seem to point back to Houston to get the ball rolling. I will check into going to a French embassy in London as my last option before pursuing having to return to the States. I still need guidance and wisdom on God's timing and when I should be in the States and when to make sure I'm in France.

The picture of the group above is the younger worship group I am working with. They are 8th and 9th graders. The name of the group is 'JTDR' which is texting lingo in French for Je t'adore, I adore (love) you in English and is aimed at God. As you can see they are a lot of fun to work with. They have a lot of talent and great hearts for God. One of the great joys and honors I have the pleasure of being a part of. L to R Mattias, Benjamin, Noémie, Barbara, Me, Olivia
There are a couple people missing too: Pauline, Victoria

Also, this is a picture of a Celtic monastery at Murbach. I love that the Celtic missionaries created a school and center of learning and worship in the 1100's. What a heritage!

26 January

2010-01-25T23:38:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest, folks. The job that was so promising has not come through because of the visa issue. My hope was that the company would help me with the process, but they replied that I needed my papers first in order to work for them. So, I'm in the same place. The next step is to find another way to go at this. I will have a visa. It is clear God wants me here. It's just a matter of figuring out how to go about it. Please keep praying.

I was sick a few days last week and have found it difficult to get my strength and energy back. The good news is that I was never very sick and I'm functioning ok. I would really like to be back to top form. I think it's the combo of readjusting to French time and the virus. I'm definitely doing better and getting stronger. Please just pray that God renews my strength and my body gets completely sorted out.

There has been a situation here at the school this week that has caused a lot of emotional pain for students and teachers. God seems to be bringing about a change, but as pouring new wine into old wineskins causes problems, there seems to be resistance in the 'structure' of the school. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to comfort the students and teachers and that God's will and purpose be done in this situation.

I am getting back into life in the school and teaching music groups as well as working with the church. While I know that God has me in these things and it is fulfilling, I was looking forward to working with non-Christians in the workplace. I'm sure that will still happen someday. So, I am waiting on the timing of God and still seeking His face about timing and direction. Please pray God continues to reveal Himself and make the way clear before me.

If you haven't heard, my suitcase came back to me at the end of last week! Everything was in it. It is so nice to have my things and new clothes too. God is so generous!

Thanks to all of you for your prayers. I am always so grateful to know you are thinking of me and lifting me up to the Father.

**Pics above are:
My lovely English friend, Beckie, who lives on the same floor as me. We are English speaking buddies. She is a great singer and worship leader and is a big part of the oldest worship group I work with...and a great personal shopper, I might add. This pic was taken at the Pierre-Elien's home. You can see a little of the kitchen in the background. This is significant because we are in their home daily eating their food. =)

The A-team! This is the intercession team for Eglise Josué. These ladies get it done in the Spirit and prayer. This pic was taken at Huguette's home where we meet to pray each Thursday morning. l to r: Anne, Genvieve, Huguette, Marie-Christine

January 13

2010-01-13T01:16:00.000-08:00

I have returned to a winter wonderland. I had a safe and uneventful trip back to Guebwiller. The only problem is a bag that didn't make it with me. The biggest issue with that is that I have an interview Friday and my clothes for the interview are in that bag. I called today and the airport is closed because of the snow. So it looks like I will need to go shopping to get interview clothes unless the airport reopens later today. The good news is that I made it back before the snow closed the airport! Thanks, God.

Please be praying for me for this Friday as I go to interview for a job to teach English. I am feeling well, but it always takes several days to get over jet lag. I am giving myself grace as I get back into speaking French, but I need to be up to speed, my speed anyway, for Friday.

I had a great visit in Arkansas with family and friends. Thanks to all of you who took time for me. My informational night was a wonderful time. I am always encouraged by the support and interest you show. It is always a good time of worship and prayer together. A young man from church saw the announcement in the bulletin at church and just showed up and God spoke some amazing things to him! He is looking to go to the nations and God planted some seeds in him that evening.

It is good to be back in France. I feel at home here. God has really transformed my heart. It is always difficult to say goodbye. I always remember just how rich in relationship I am after being at home in Arkansas. It is never easy to leave such precious people. But in God's graciousness I returned to people in France who love me and took me right back in to share life with me. God is so faithful.

**The pic at the top is a view from my window of snowy Guebwiller.

29 December

2009-12-29T09:44:00.000-08:00

It's the end of 2009. It's been a year of difficult challenges and great joy for me. It started with the wedding of a dear friend and a lot of language study. The spring was a season of dying to self...not easy. The summer was a time of rest and restoration. September brought more schooling only in English this time. The fall was a time to find direction and get connected to France. I am amazed as always to see how God has transformed me and prepared me for this season in my life. He is faithful.

I want to start out by saying thanks. I will repeat what I said in my newsletter:
I want to say a HUGE thank you to all of you who pray for me and have supported me financially this year. It has been a fruitful year and it is only possible because the body of Christ has been working together. I also want to say a big thank you to those of you who have given of yourself by: laughing with me, crying with me, keeping me in your home, feeding me (this is no small task ;), taking me to the airport and/or train station...and back again, teaching me a new language/culture, helping me prepare a CV in French, answering all my questions (again no small task), helping me organize my new life in France, sending me out with love and purpose, receiving and adopting me in a strange land so that it is no longer foreign but home. You know who you are. You know what you've done. I am grateful to God for all of you reading this email. Thanks to God for His people, His family, and His Kingdom.

I will have my first job interview in France on January the 15th in Colmar, which is about a 20 minute drive from Guebwiller where I live. It is with a company that teaches English both in their offices and they give classes at different businesses. Please pray that if this is the job God has for me that I will have favor with the employer. Also, please pray that I will be at my best with French. It will be just a few short days after returning to France and jet lag could be an issue. Also, if I get this job I will need a car to get to and from work. I don't know if they will hire me without already having working papers (a work visa). All of these are also prayer requests and questions that need to be answered. I am full of faith, however, that if this is what God wants for me He will provide these things.

If God does provide this job or one like it, I will need to have wisdom on what to do with the youth that I have been working with. I really feel that the music groups and projects we have started are important and I don't want to have to abandon them completely. I just need God's wisdom on where to invest and what His priorities are.

Please continue to pray that God will bring the right connections and direction on obtaining the right kind of visa, whether it's through a job with a language school or some way the Christian school I am working with could help me get one, or another solution I have not seen yet.

It is time to do taxes. I know...happy thought. I am going to get them filed while I am here. I will have to pay taxes. Please pray that what I owe will be manageable and that God will provide, as He always does.

We will be having an informational night on Saturday, January 2, at FOC in Russellville. If you are in the area and free that evening I hope you can stop by. There will be goodies to eat as well as the usual photos and stories and worship led by Andy Moore.

Here's what I see for 2010:

God has begun rooting me to France. I see 2010 as a year to continue to be established in the French language as well as culture. I am very happy in Guebwiller volunteering with Eglise Josué and with College Daniel. It is with joy that I see how God is taking my teaching and music experience and putting them to use with the church and school in Guebwiller. I plan on staying in Guebwiller for at least the next year. God has given me a French family and good friends. All of this just confirms to me that I am in God's will and following His plan for me. Oh what a feeling !!

I will continue to seek God's face and look for ways to get a visa and a job. I now have a resume in French and feel prepared to continue looking for jobs if my first interview doesn't work out. My goal is still to look to make a living in France so that I won't always be supported by friends and family in the States.

I leave for France on January 11. It has been good to see many of you while I've been in Arkansas. I look forward to more time with you before I return.

Happy New Year to you all! May God richly bless you now and always.

**The pic at the top is from my sister's house in Oklahoma. We had 14" of snow! It was a beautiful white Christmas. Only the 2nd white Christmas I ever remember having.

5 December

2009-12-05T01:56:00.000-08:00

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!

29 November

2009-11-29T05:30:00.000-08:00

This week has been packed with great stuff...

Monday night I had dinner with two women, one from Germany, the other from England. Beckie is a young English woman who lives across the hall from me in the chateau and she teaches English at College Daniel. Astrid is a young German woman who teaches German and art at College Daniel. Astrid shared with Beckie and I what life was like in East Germany and her memories of when the Berlin wall came down. Astrid is a gifted teacher and I can see the purpose of God bringing her to France.

Wednesday Beckie and I went for a walk with Katya, a young Russian woman who is married to one of the French men in the church. Katya is warm and lovely. She has pointed out that we come from countries that at one time didn't like each other. It is such a God thing how we instantly have gotten along with each other, God's redemption story and the beauty of the family of God that knows no borders. Katya shared with Beckie and me about life behind the Iron Curtain and how life changed in Moscow after communism. She pointed out that the older people knew nothing else and it was normal. The change was the most difficult for them. Can you imagine having your future, until you die, decided for you by the government?

You've noticed that Beckie is mentioned twice. We do a lot together given that we live in the same place. She is in France as a part of her language studies at university in England. She had her birthday on Wednesday and a visit from parents for half of the week. She is also naturally equipped to teach as she is friendly and outgoing as well as just having a knack for dealing with students. She also sings and helps lead worship with the group of young people that I'm coaching. We are often in the home of the Pierre-Elien's and I'm sure we will have many adventures together by the end of the school year.

Thursday night after having tea at the Pierre-Elien's with Beckie and her parents, Roland, the father of famille Pierre-Elien, took his daughter, Elisabeth, and me out to eat at an Italian restaurant. We had a great time and it just seemed a happy and fitting way to observe Thanksgiving. Father and daughter both were in good form and it was fun to be with them. Roland is an evangelist with a story that would probably make a good movie. Elisabeth is also in the group of young people who lead worship. She is such a solid young lady and a delight to be around. I have learned from her peaceful and easy going nature. The future of France is bright in the hands of young people like her.

Friday night brought the anglophone celebration of Thanksgiving. There were at least 20 of us from various countries such as: England, Scotland, South Africa, and the USA. I met many new great people and we ate traditional Thanksgiving food. And of course we ate too much of it. There was a woman from South Africa there named Helen. She has been in France for 17 years. Her story greatly encouraged me and I look forward to hearing more. With her story she was reminding me that God is bigger than any government or visa red tape. She also shared with me about life in South Africa during Apartheid. She would go with a small group of friends and look at the island where Nelson Mandela was being held and pray for him.

Saturday night was the monthly Saturday meeting that takes the place of the Sunday morning service. My group of youth lead worship. (I'm going to call them my group, but really the group is theirs and I belong to them.) Worship was great. God showed up. We've been working on songs and music skills, but how do you teach anointing and deep worship. Well, how to worship in spirit and truth can be taught. But these young people come with hearts ready to worship and draw the presence of God. They were able to handle a time of extended worship both at the beginning and again at the end during a time of prayer and ministering for people. Can you tell I'm proud of them!?

Today I am staying with the Beck girls. I got to go bowling and to eat at McDonald's with the family and now the parents are gone for the evening. Tonight will be pizza for dinner. I'm having an American day in France.

In light of Thanksgiving week and learning about several different cultures I reflect upon where I am from and where I am. I am thankful for where I come from and the freedoms I know. I am thankful for where I am and the sense of destiny and purpose I have here. In short, I am content to be an American in France at this point in history.

God is on the move in the earth. Are you listening to what He's saying? Are you watching where He's going? What is your part in bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth? Will you pray for someone who will rise up and be a world leader and change the face of a nation or nations? Will you be the one who changes history? Will you teach the next generation about the goodness of God and impart His love so they can change their society? Will you worship God in spirit and truth and bring the presence of God? Will you welcome the nations into your home and make the foreigner feel welcome or will you go to the nations and be the stranger?

God has given us all a part to play. It will take the whole body to get it done. I am glad that you are a part of that body and that together we move forward.

Prayer requests:
I simply ask that you let the Spirit lead you to whom in this blog you might pray for. Each person or group of people are a blessing and are in need of more of God.

Please refer also to the previous blog where the requests are outlined.

God's peace and abundance in all things to you all.

*These are pics from the anglophone Thanksgiving. I'm afraid I won't get all the names correct so I will just let you enjoy the crew.

20 November

2009-11-20T05:35:00.000-08:00

Ok, so much for shorter and more frequent blogs. My intentions were good. But hey it is absolutely perfect outside and I'm inside writing this. Do I get brownie points for that?

There is a lot going on and I am busy. However, I don't have a lot of new to add to my last blog. My time in Germany was good. The best part of it for me was getting to know the people I went with better. I was also even more aware that I am called to France. I came back loving French, the French people, and France more than ever. That's not to say I don't like Germany...but it's not France. It was a stretching weekend for me with all of the different languages being spoken. But God is in the stretching business, might as well get used to it.

Here are some important prayer needs for the school and church I'm working with:
~The school is private and while the students are charged a fee the school depends largely on the donations of others. Please pray God's financial provision for this Christian school that is imparting the goodness of God along with knowledge.
**There is a very strong spiritual battle going on in the class that is the equivalent of 6th graders in the States. The teachers are feeling the strain and are discouraged. Please pray God breakthrough for this class in their home lives as well as at school and that God encourage and give strength to the teachers.
~There is a building project to renovate rooms that were donated. Money and work teams are needed to finish the project and get students in the classrooms.
~Workers for the projects of the church. The leadership is full of vision and there are resources but laborers are needed!

Personal prayer needs:
~The right connections and understanding on the visa process and staying in France.
~God continue to sharpen and strengthen me as He sees fit.
~Continued provision. God is SO faithful! This is also a praise.
~Safe and healthy travels as I come home for the holidays.
~Wisdom on when to return to France and the provision to do so.

Thanks for keeping up with me and these requests. Would love to hear from you when you can take a minute to write a note.

**left pic: The long flat building near the middle of the picture is the part of the school that is in need of work. The four or five rooms on the left are working classrooms. The rest of the building is in the process of being finished.

**right pic: God is making a clear path for me in France. (This is from one of my walks in the vineyard on the hill close to the chateau.)

4 November

2009-11-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

Hello, all. I am going to try and do shorter updates more often to keep people up on prayer requests and what's happening here in Guebwiller.

I just want to say again that I am loving working with the youth worship band here. It is my sweet spot: youth, worship, music, discipleship. You can definitely pray that God moves in us all to release and train up these young people. It's not just about having a good worship band. It's about finding who they are in Christ and seeing them set free into that.

God has been speaking to me as well as I walk in the center of the town about the youth there who have nothing to do and just hang around. One of the youth went with me the other day and we prayed in the place where students congregate. We are praying God will give us strategies on how to reach the lost in Guebwiller. Tomorrow, Thursday the 5th, the intercession team will make a tour of the town and pray at all of the schools. I am expecting God to really move. Please pray with us for the youth and the future of France.

I feel strongly that I need to be here in Guebwiller for at least the next year. So the next step is figuring out how to do that with visas, etc. I will begin sending out resumes soon. Please pray that God helps me make the right connections there and even more that I get some clear answers on how to get the proper visa I need. The best situation would be if I could remain in France while the visa is in process. I am going to be checking into this in the next weeks with the authorities here.

This weekend I will be going with some of the leaders to a conference in Germany. It will be with a network of churches from Germany, Switzerland, and France. They come together to share ideas and information and to support one another in reaching Europe. I hope to learn more about what God is doing in Europe and see if there might be any important connections for me. You can be praying for safe travels, health, and the will of God to be accomplished during this time. Praying into this conference is a way you can have an impact on Europe!

A HUGE praise report is that this month's support was for the funds that were missing last month plus the full amount for November!! Thanks so much for giving of your hard earned money to support what is happening here in France. I am grateful and encouraged once again that God has me right where He wants me and with your help we will make a difference in French lives and ultimately in the nation of France.

Ok, maybe not so short, but a lot of positive things are happening.

**The photo was taken from my room window this morning. There was a perfect rainbow that stretched from one hill to the other over Guebwiller. I was reminded of the promises and the faithfulness of God.

31 October

2009-10-31T02:29:00.000-07:00

The last 2 1/2 weeks since I last wrote have brought new adventures. I have observed a few different classes, had rehearsals with two different music groups, prayed at the gates of the city, taken a quick trip to Paris to see school friends, been on a hike and walks, and have just generally settled in and gotten to know people better.

I have found from observing classes that French young people are not unlike American young people. That's not to say that there is no difference, but at the core we are all human. We want and need to be loved and respected. We receive better if the giver of information also listens, really listens. We respond well to people who are enthusiastic and passionate.

There is a group of young people that I am working with who are beginning to lead worship from time to time at Eglise Josué. They range in age from around 15 to 21. They are packed with talent and very motivated. Best of all, they have great hearts and are fun to be with. They call me their coach. Where's my whistle... Just kidding! They already know how to play and sing, so we are working to function as a team and I'm just helping to give some structure and stretch them when I can. It's great fun.

My visit with friends in Paris was great. It was so good to see people and to deepen some key relationships. I also got to see some new places in Paris. It was nice to come 'home' to the country though. For me, Paris is a great place to visit but I guess I'm just a country girl at heart.

After talking to a friend at Les Cèdres, the language school I attended last year, I realized even more the importance of what they are doing in equipping the saints to reach the francophone world. I also was reminded of the spiritual warfare that goes on there. It is a light surrounded by darkness. Those of you that are praying with me and for me please remember Les Cèdres in your prayers. Specifically pray for God to protect the school from the enemy's attacks that affect the administration, the teachers, and the students. It is an important call that they are all answering and it is being strongly contested. The French speaking world is in desperate need of the good news of Jesus and our Father's love.

There is much dreaming and scheming going on here. I will give more detail as things develop. I feel I could really be a part of the vision here in Guebwiller. My heart and skill set complement what is needed. Will you pray with me that God will make it clear where I am to go or stay next and how to accomplish that? I still need strategy on finding a job and even more so on getting a visa so I don't have to keep leaving the country frequently.

Thanks to you all for keeping up with me. I will give a list of prayer requests below. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave a comment here or send me and email!

summary of prayer requests:
~*my time in Guebwiller to be effective
-including organizing and preparing music groups
-interceding for the church and school here
~*improving my French skills
~*strategies for finding a job and getting a visa*~
~*financial support
-monthly giving was down this month

**Pictures at the top:
Anne Pierre-Elien, my guide on our hike and a powerful intercessor, in general, a real fireball. I challenge anybody to keep up with her. :)
Anne's family and the Bussiere family live on the floor below me. They have all been very warm and welcoming. Thanks for making me feel at home. Last night I got to have crepes with both families. It was loud and lively and a lot of people packed in a small kitchen. I loved EVERY minute of it.

The chateau from the vineyards on the hill. It's the brown building with pointed eaves at bottom center. The place the pic was taken is a good place to go and pray over the valley.

14 October

2009-10-14T07:03:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Guebwiller, France.
It is so good to be back in France. I have many good things to report. I am sure I'm going to forget something, but at least this will help give you and idea of what has been happening and what will be happening. I will start with the more practical and then share my heart towards the end. (You might want to get a cup of tea or coffee for this one. :)

My first four days were spent with the Leigh family until my room became available at the chateau. I am grateful for their hospitality and time with them. I was able to take walks in the vineyards and enjoy the beauty. If you are a facebook friend check out my photos of the area and the chateau where I am living. I was told by another lady who lives in the chateau that I am now a châtelaine (lady of the manor). so fun...

Monday started with two chapel services at the Christian school that is located here at the chateau. There was a guest speaker from Honduras. He brought an inspiring message and many of the students from the youngest who are preschool age to the oldest who are about 15. He spoke in Spanish and Manuela, one of the leaders here, translated. Whew! After the whole day passed in French, the first one for me in a long time, my mind was spinning. The first day was frustrating. I began to understand what was being said fairly quickly but I felt helpless to speak.

Tuesday was better for getting things out of my mouth. I had lunch with a French family Monday and then with another French family on Tuesday. Being surrounded by the language is helping it to come back. I know I am still making a lot of mistakes but at least I'm talking!

The leaders here are keen to get me involved with intercession, which was the first thing I did on Thursday morning. The church leaders came together to welcome me and pray for me. It was a great time. They encouraged me in prayer and I felt loved and welcomed. Then I stayed to pray with the intercession team during their weekly meeting. God is really on the move here and many things are being started. There is a real need to cover this and the people here in prayer. I plan on taking many walks to explore and pray over the area too. There is also daily prayer before school for the school and the students. They really have a heart not just to educate kids but give them a chance to live a healthy life full of God.

Just a quick clarification: There is the church Eglise Josué and there is the school Ecole Daniel. Many leaders of the church are also leaders or teachers in the school. However, the church does not run the school and many of the teachers are not a part of the church. The school is a French Christian school, the largest one in France, and it is not very big. It is a very important work for the future generations of France.

With the school I hope to be involved with music. There are a couple young groups who are interested in leading worship during the Monday chapel services. The leaders have asked if I could help train them in music and playing as a group. There is also talk of other lessons or maybe a small choir. Things are still developing. I would also like to observe some classes to improve my French and to see how the French classroom operates.

I can already see that there are many things to be done and I am here for only 9 weeks total, the first one is already gone. I want to be effective and help in supporting in prayer what is happening and teaching and training where I can. Also during this time I will be sending out resumes and looking for a job teaching English so I can get a visa to work and live in France. These are all things that you could definitely pray for me and with me about.

summary of prayer requests:
~my time in Guebwiller to be effective
-including organizing and preparing music groups
-interceding for the church and school here
-looking for a job
~improving my French skills
~interceding for friends and family in other places
-the more I pray into this place, God puts others on my heart
I need to learn to balance this or learn what God is teaching me through this.
~financial support
-monthly giving was down this month and it's a bit tight right now

Now I want to share some of my heart.
I am a relational person. I am motivated most by knowing people, not projects. With just a few weeks here I've wondered how that would work. In May, God connected me with several people at the France en Feu conference and then a visit to Guebwiller. I knew I had found my French family. It is so odd to feel you instantly have a family but you don't really know them. It's a Spirit thing. That connection was quickly reaffirmed. I feel loved and accepted here. I am a part of what is happening. I haven't had much time with students here but I can already feel a tug in my heart towards them. I think God will do what He does and allow us to get to know one another quickly and work together well, not that that there won't be challenges.

I feel a closer connection to God or maybe greater freedom of access to Him than ever before. While praying in a classroom before school yesterday I was drawn to a particular desk and spent some time praying there. After the time, I asked one of the teachers, who is also one of the intercessors, who sat there. I shared what God had given me and she said it fit that student's situation. God is so cool.

I am at peace and ready to run at the same time. I am grateful for the time of preparation God has brought me through. The struggles, difficulties, and plain old hard work are paying off. I am again reminded of the scripture in Hebrews 12: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. We all face the challenges of life. How will we respond to them? I want to be trained by them so I don't have to repeat them!

I pray you are finding God in your present situation, whether it be in the valley, on the mountain top, or on the way up. May God's richness fill you today and give you all you need and more.

**Pics at the top are of my new home.
the château
the view from my room

3 October

2009-10-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

I'm finished!!! One more step closer to...

The month TEFL course was a lot to do in a short time, but overall a positive experience. I did well on my tests and have a feeling of accomplishment. I am now certified to teach English as a foreign language! God has been gracious to me over this month.

Another positive aspect has been getting to stay with my friends Ruth and Ralph. Their home once again has been a refuge. I have seen them a few times in the last year, but it has been a treat to get a block of time to deepen a good friendship.

I move on to Guebwiller, France on Wednesday the 7th of October. I am really looking forward to seeing friends there and getting plugged in with what God is doing there. It will be so good to be back in France. However, I know my French is rusty and it will take a little time to get it back. Then the goal is to improve for years to come. I will let you know what I am involved in after I am plugged in and know exactly what to report.

I am ready for another stage of this adventure. It has been over a year of preparation and I feel I am close to being able to be a part of what God is doing in France, however that will look.

I read this quote on the side of a church in London. I like it. It offers a bit of a challenge. Maybe it will mean something to you.

"All may have, if they dare try, a glorious life or grave."

27 September

2009-09-27T04:40:00.000-07:00

I am looking at the last week of my TEFL course. I have A LOT of homework. However, with just one week to go and having a tough teacher for French last year in Paris (thanks, Régine) I know I can handle it. I did really well on my method test. I actually pulled an A! That's thanks to teaching experience and all of those years of teacher in-service. Now we are on to grammar. It's one thing to know what is right and a whole other thing to know why it's right and then be able to teach it to someone else. Let's just say there will be even more study and preparation for the next big test on Wednesday.

I have thought quite a bit about the love of God this week. After talking to a friend one night, I could feel God's care for me through her. Then the next day on the train I was once again aware of God's love for me. I just relaxed and enjoyed the goodness of it for a moment (taking a break from homework). Then I looked around and realized these people don't know that He loves them like this... how sad. Isn't that what we really want people to know? Don't we want to share Jesus because we want people to know that they are really and genuinely loved by the Great Lover? We all want and need to be loved. And God is the only one who gets it right 100% of the time. What a good message.

Also, I was talking with some friends from school on the topic of marriage. They had the typical view going these days. "Yes, it would be nice if marriage would last forever but people change and I don't know if my marriage would last or not." "Can you really blame someone for leaving if the other person changes or cheats?" All of us were single. Two of them have long time boyfriends. I was quiet for most of the conversation, but when I did share my opinion I was thankful for the good and godly marriages that I knew. The marriages that have survived depression and even infidelity. I could tell it was impressive to them to hear of people choosing to stay together through very difficult circumstances. So thank you to those of you who may not have a perfect marriage (does such a thing exist?) but you have chosen with God's help to be faithful.

Prayer requests:
-a good finish to this last week of TEFL training
-continued provision for the next stage
-continued good health and rest
-a safe journey to France on Oct 7
-a good transition into life in Alsace

**the picture is Waterloo Station taken from my classroom window

17 September

2009-09-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

I am almost half way through my TEFL course and so far so good. I have taught two lessons this week and they both went well. I had forgotten how much I like to teach. I seem to forget when I haven't taught in a while. It only takes one lesson to remind me though. There is a lot of lecture, prep and work to be done but I have managed to stay on top of it all. It is a lot of teaching method, which I've had, both as a teacher and as a language student last year. God has prepared me for this course and I am grateful for it. Otherwise, it would be a little overwhelming.

My class is made up of 17 people from several different countries. The reasons they are there are as varied as the people. Our teacher is Polish. She is a ball of energy and really knows her stuff. It's been enjoyable for me to be a part of such a diverse group.

Commuting has been good. I'm definitely getting my exercise. I had a chance last Friday to check out the National Gallery. I love free museums. I realized that when I lived here 11 years ago, I always took the Tubes (subway). I missed so much of the city by being underground for my travels. So, I am hoping to walk around the central part of the city and rediscover London.

Prayer requests:

I am home sick today. (Taking this opportunity to blog.) Please pray for good health to finish this course and throughout the fall.
I will have major tests on the next two Wednesdays. Please pray I do well on my tests and the remaining 4 lessons I have to teach.
Please pray blessings, healing, and grace for Ruth and Ralph who are such kind and generous hosts to me.

**This is a picture of my school in London near Waterloo Station, Schiller International University. However, my certification will come from TEFL International.

6 September

2009-09-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

I have safely made it to my English home. I will be here for a month. Tomorrow I start my TEFL course which will train me to teach English as a second language. I will then take my certificate and move on to Alsace, France to volunteer with a church there helping with the youth.
That's the fall in a nutshell if you hadn't heard the plan before.

So starting tomorrow, I become a London commuter. AND I'm actually looking forward to it. Crazy. I'm not much of a city girl, but the idea of catching a train each day and continuing to learn and be equipped for the next stage is exciting to me.

I am ready for a new adventure. I am starting this season of life in fullness and hope. (2 Peter 1:3) I am very grateful to God for all that He has done. The most amazing thing He has done in my life is not paying for stuff, it's not the travel, although these things are great! The most mind-blowing thing God has done in my life is that He is transforming me. He has healed me, grown me, taken me apart and put me back together. I am on more solid footing than ever before. Even when the terrain constantly shifts, I keep my balance. This is a huge change and improvement for me. This is the power of God to save. This is the power of love. This is the power of the Gospel. This is what we must share with a hurting, dying, lost world. We all need this precious Jesus that can set us free and transform us.

**This is the first buddy pic of Liviyah and me. Isn't she sweet!?

20 August

2009-08-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

T minus 2 weeks and counting....

I can't believe it's almost time to get to the skies again. It is transition time but I am glad to say that I am more at peace during this transition than I have been in the past. That is testimony to the goodness and faithfulness of God.

It has been a wonderful summer. There have been weddings and births and lots of time with great people.

Last Friday night we had a gathering for me to share about what is going on with me. I was so blessed by the people who came. It is so encouraging to see people come together because they want to hear what's happening with you and be a part of it. The theme for the night seemed to be "we got your back." This is definitely a team effort and I'm on a great team. We're gonna win.

I am pleased to report that much of the money needed to get me back to Europe has been given. Now I just need the $1650 to pay for the rest of my TESOL course. Thanks everyone. And isn't this testimony to the faithfulness of God!

We have a newborn in our home now. Liviyah Grace Knox came to us this past weekend. And will wonders never cease, I am actually enjoying living with a baby! Those of you who know me well know this is a miracle. I am so grateful for how God puts us in family.

Kids went back to school yesterday. It was really odd to be here and not to return with them. But I know my day is quickly coming. And this time my school will be in English! I have a little better grasp on that language so maybe it won't be quite as challenging as French language school was.

As you can probably tell, things are going well with me. God has filled me with His peace. Now I can feel my spirit stirring at the thought of another adventure. There is nothing like life in Jesus. To quote Steven Curtis Chapman, "This is life like no other. This is the great adventure."

**Pictured above are my dear friends and housemates: Liviyah Grace Knox, Danny Knox, and Emily Knox.

July 31 -What's coming up...

2009-07-31T11:05:00.000-07:00

I am home in Arkansas for July and August. This time home has been a time of rest and refreshing. It seems the personal trial of the spring has brought about the fruit of peace. It feels like going back and forth between continents will be less difficult than before thanks to the grace of God. I am reminded of Hebrews 12:11, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Here's the latest on what's coming up for me. I just registered for a TESOL (ESL) course in London, England. It is an intensive 4 week course. I will finish with a TESOL certification which will make me eligible to teach English as a second language anywhere. Of course, my goal will be France. This certification should help me in obtaining a job and a work visa.

I will then move on to a region in France called Alsace. God has connected me with wonderful believers in Alsace. I introduced you to them in my blog in May. I will be volunteering with them and will serve with the youth in their church Église Josué and in their French Christian school École et Collège Privé Daniel. I will simply aide the youth in worship and prayer and be involved in a 24/7 prayer initiative. While serving the visions of Josué and Daniel (the church and school), I will also be improving my French, deepening and making connections, and looking for job opportunities.

I am very excited about what is coming up this autumn. God has been so faithful to make things clear and provide the way.

Thanks to all of you for keeping up with me and supporting me.

Here are the websites for the church and school if you are curious and want to see where I will be going. The sites are in French.
http://eglisejosue.free.fr/
http://www.college-daniel.org/

Please pray for:
~strength and success for the intensive TESOL course in September
~continued provision
~guidance on how to find a job and get a work visa (this is a big one!)
~safe travels and good health

**The photo above is from a recent visit from a young woman I met at language school last fall. Katie (second from the right) was able to come for a couple days. On the right is Emily a long time friend who is expecting her first baby. (I am praying the baby comes before I have to leave.) Carl and Becky Hudson are on the left. All of these folks are special to me and examples of the importance of the family of God.

27 June

2009-06-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

I made it. I finished my year at language school. I am so relieved and happy to be done. Please understand this does not mean I am fluent or I am finished learning. This is just a good place to start and really learn the language. It usually takes 2 to 3 years to really learn a new language. I am happy to say that on my final tests I scored the highest on the oral expression part. This is a complete turn around from past tests. In the past I have scored higher on the written and grammar parts of the tests and was always frustrated by the oral section or just speaking in general. This is good news because most communication with people is just talking with them. Praise God!

In the past week I had a couple other victories in speaking French. The French like to debate. We've had a few lessons on the vocabulary for this. I had dinner with some friends this week that ended up in a debate. I was able to express my opinion and even counter a couple things that were said. That was a good feeling. The other encounter was on the train on the way to the airport to leave France. Deborah was with me and we had a run-in with the porter. We did our best to argue our point but in the end we didn't win. However, we both laughed about it later and said it was good French practice and a good experience. So, now for the day I can argue my point and win...

I am happy to be on my way home. I will be in Arkansas for July and August. As of right now I still do not have concrete plans for the autumn. However, I do have ideas and I am confident that God will have me back in France in the autumn. I will share what the next step is as soon as I know it. Thank you to all of you who are praying for God to make my future clear. I continue to rest in the peace and confidence that God is preparing the way for me.

I have become aware of a work that God has done in my heart. My heart belongs to God and He is knitting it to France. The longer I stay in France the more I want to be a part of what God wants to do there. I met some missionaries in the north of France this week who have been planting a church for the last 3 years. The church now has 17 adults...3years, 17 adults. But they are not discouraged they see the mission field and even though it is slow tough work they are in it for the duration. He talked to me about how God had given them specific words for a man and he was still suspicious after it was clear that what the missionary knew was beyond what a human could just observe. I admire them. Pray for them and for God to send more workers for the harvest in the north of France. It will take dedication of the people of God but in the end I believe it will be the outpouring of the Spirit of God in France that will change a nation that has walked away and closed the door on it's spiritual roots.

**Pic #1, celebrating the end of exams with a BBQ, French style:
L to R: Règine, Saraly, Sabrina, Deborah, Cècile, Angie
**Pic #2, at the BBQ:
L to R: me, Elizabeth, Sabrina

17 June

2009-06-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

The countdown to the end of school has begun. I am more than ready to be finished. I am so thankful for this time at language school. It has taught me so much in addition to learning French. But I am ready to be home for a time and see family and friends and have a time to rest.

The past few weeks have been interesting (don't you just love that word? it can mean so many things...). I have been exploring options for the future and each door has closed firmly. So this is where I take my own advice from the last blog and not worry about the future because God is at work. I am confident in this, God loves me and His plans for me are good. I am full of hope. So I wait...

I ask that you would pray for me in the next couple weeks for the following:
~final exams
~safe travels
~the provision to finish paying school fees and US taxes (I need about $1000 more)
~health and rest
~to be in tune to God's voice to know when to seek and when to simply wait
~grace to once again change homes, lifestyle, and leave friends

I want to brag on my FOC family and those who support me financially. I recently met an American missionary who was surprised to learn that ONE church was providing for my school costs as well as living expenses. Most missionaries have support from several churches. I was very proud of my church family and your generosity!

Thanks to all of you for your part in my adventure. God bless you for your time, resources, support, and prayers.

God is faithful!

PS A very Happy 40th Birthday to my dear friend Michelle Henry who gets more beautiful each year!!

**Les belles fille des Cèdres, mes amies et moi: L to R, Elizabeth, Lauren, Deborah, me

28 May

2009-05-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

I just want to take a moment to share how God works behind the scenes and then "bam!" we see what He's been doing. And then, if we take the time and look, we can see how we have changed in the process of waiting.

This isn't my story, but I have a few like it. This is the story of my dear Korean friend, Deborah, who has a heart for France and ultimately the nations. She has been searching for a long time to find a university to study at and stay in France. Nothing with regards to paperwork is easy in France. The process has been difficult and discouraging. Then a couple weeks ago I just happened to go into Paris with her to check out a couple universities. The first one was inhospitable and difficult to navigate. The second however was easy to get around and the people were helpful. AND the office for exchange students was still open, unlike at the first place. I prayed she would come out of the office with specific answers to her questions. She came out of the office knowing exactly what she needed to do to apply. We both felt a weight lifted. There remains however an entrance exam to test her proficiency in French. She returned last week to turn in the necessary paperwork. There was a long line and they were all told the office was closed for lunch to leave and come back later. She waited. A man stuck his head out and repeated that she needed to leave. She waited. Two minutes later a woman came out and told her to come in. When Deborah left the office she had turned in all the papers AND after asking how to prepare for the test, the woman gave her a copy of an old test to help her study!! Let me reiterate it is unusual for people to go out of their way to help you in public settings in France. Now she is studying like crazy. Pray for her. God is in this. How has Deborah changed? I have seen her go from stressed out, worried, and fearful to full of peace and confidence. God has been speaking to her about being full of faith. She is listening.

What is your story of nothing, nothing, nothing....BOOM? How has God transformed you in the waiting time? As Manuela, a friend in Alsace, said to me this weekend, "So many times we worry, but God is working and we just don't see it yet because it's not time." So, take heart. If you aren't seeing anything yet, it's because it's not time yet. But rest assured God is at work.

8 May ~France en Feu report~

2009-05-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had an experience with God that left you...transformed, healed, full of peace and rest? Well, that sums up last weekend for me at France en Feu. God was there. It's no surprise considering there were around 300 (I'm not a good judge of crowd numbers) people who worshiped for around 24 hours total throughout the weekend. There is no way I can report everything that went on in this blog. But I will give a few highlights. And thank you to all of you who prayed about France en Feu!

The speakers were American Jim Goll and Française Fabienne Pons. I was encouraged by both speakers. Fabienne is from Toulouse and shared about taking God to the streets. (I was pleased to find I understood about 90% of what she said. This is a big improvement in my French listening comprehension.) She was a great speaker who I think people can really relate to and be inspired to think, "Yes, we can live this out in daily life."

Jim talked about steps to and characteristics of revival, generations working together, and the importance of reconciliation with the Jewish people. There was a powerful time of repentance for what had happened on French soil to the Jews. Jim also shared prophetic words, visions, and dreams which were for the encouragement of the French people as a group and for individuals there. The two things that struck me the most were:

He saw major moves of God coming in Marseilles, Morocco, Tunisia and other francophone countries. He also saw major moves of God on university campuses in France with tens of thousands coming to Christ. All of this being accomplished through generations of God's people working together.

There is an involved story for the second I would like to share. I'm going to skip the long story which will lessen the impact I'm sure, but it is necessary for sake of time and space. Through a series of events Jim came to find two stamps in his bag he travels with in which he keeps his effects for preaching. He has no idea how they got there, but the Holy Spirit told him there was a surprise for him in his bag two separate times. The first time he found a framed stamp of Winston Churchill which was a reference to Churchill's quote, "Never, never, never give up!" The second time the Holy Spirit told him to look for a surprise it was the following day. He was sure he knew everything in that bag because he had to search to find the first stamp. He did however find another stamp. It was just 2 weeks before Jim would be in France. This one was of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on September 28, 1945, "Liberation Day." As he described the stamp I began to cry. I knew where God was going with this. It's what I want to see. Jim explained God has 2 things to say to France: Never, never, never give up and a day is coming when there will be celebrating in the streets!
YES, LORD! So be it!

There is so much more to tell about what happened at France en Feu. The presence of God was thick and the people were hungry for the things of God. But it really is something you have to experience to fully understand. So I won't go on and on...

However, I do want to share something that God did for me personally. My American friends David and Angela Leigh picked me up from the airport and made the arrangements for the weekend. (Thanks again!) I can't tell you what a help this was to me. In addition I got to spend the weekend with the amazing French ladies who are a part of and lead their church. I all ready knew the Leigh's were God connections. I quickly learned that wasn't where the Alsace connection stopped. I was prayed for and welcomed into France and their hearts and lives by these wonderful women. They prayed for my destiny in France to be released. I cannot explain in words the difference this had made in my spirit and in my feeling of purpose and destiny in France. Thank you, Jesus, that you place us in family. Thank you, family of God, for opening your hearts to me.

I will post a pic of this wonderful group. They are from left to right:
Caroline, me, Hugette, Emilie, Nadia, Angela, David, Anne, and Manuela

29 April

2009-04-29T05:44:00.000-07:00

The final trimester for me aux Cèdres has begun. It's off to a good start so far, all two days of it. I will be here until the end of June and then back to Arkansas to work on visas and details like that.

Thank you to all of you who were praying for my travels, etc. over my spring break. All went well and I had safe travels. I did end up really tired at the end, however. I just can't seem to get any real strength back. I am doing my best to take care of my physical needs while strengthening my spirit hoping it will pull my body along with it. I would really appreciate continued prayer in this area.

This weekend, May 1-3, I will be in Lyon at the France en Feu (France on Fire) conference. It is a gathering for worship and prayer for France. Pray with us this weekend that God will have His way in France. It would be great to have believers around the world in agreement with us!

This season in my life is a true mixture of trial and hope. I've never experienced this exact mix of being broken and being confident that God will have His way despite my weakness. I don't know what else to say except to ask your continued prayers for God's grace and rest in my life.

I had a couple friends say they would like to see more of photos of daily life. So I'm going to add a few photos from Massy to this blog.

top left: sunset over one of the major roadways We have to cross this bridge to get to the park where I like to walk/run.

bottom left: a photo of the sunset from that same park

top right: dans la salle de la téle (in the tv room) Each Tuesday night we like to watch Nouvelle Star, the French version of American Idol. Let's just say this show proves that music needs to remain part of the education system in the States. The French don't have music in their public schools and it shows. Watching has helped my language listening comprehension though. :)

April 17

2009-04-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

First of all let me say I am sorry it's been almost a month since my last blog. I had the flu which took me out for a couple weeks and I have been gone. I will try to do better!

Thank you to all of you who support me financially!!! I am happy to report that April's support is enough for me to pay off the trimester I have just completed! Praise God and thank you for your faithfulness. That just leaves one more semester of school and housing to pay for which will be about $2500. That is above the monthly living costs that is all ready pledged and being giving. I am so grateful for your generosity.

Let me give you a brief summary of what's happening. I am happy to say I have recovered from the flu. It always takes so long to get over. Because of the flu I missed 1 1/2 weeks of class and the final grammar test. We are now on a 2 week spring break. I have to study and take my test before school starts again on April 27. I am also using my break to see friends and explore future possibilities.

I got some much needed sleep and rest with Ruth and Ralph in England. Ruth also introduced me to two English people who have been faithfully going to France to pray monthly for the last 3 years. It was very encouraging and I think they are important new contacts. We will see what God does there.

Tomorrow morning I go to Toulouse to visit friends, the Berrys, that I met here at Les Cèdres. Again I will be looking to see if God is pointing to Toulouse as a place to pursue living and working there.

The first weekend in May I will be going to the France en Feu (France on Fire) conference in Lyon. My friends David and Angela Leigh who live in Alsace will help me find my way around and meet new people. This is a time of prophetic prayer and worship for France. Needless to say, I am really excited to meet more of the people of God in France and see and here what God is up to around the nation.

I am doing really well in general. I would ask you to pray for me to be able to rest at school. The dorms are so noisy that I find it difficult to get the proper amount of rest.

Please pray also for the events and contacts listed above that God will make it very clear to me where and with whom to pursue my future in France.

God's peace and blessings to you all!

**The picture above is of my classmates. It is taken in the garden in front of the dorms at Les Cèdres.

25 March

2009-03-25T01:36:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm feeling pretty good about being called to France. I was talking to a couple here who are called to an African country which they cannot name for safety's sake and anonymity. It's a great story. But if you get squeamish when God gets in our stuff and messes it all up, then maybe you don't want to finish this paragraph. The husband had a pediatric practice for 9 years. They had a nice house and were happy with their lives. The American dream... Then they went on a short term mission trip to South America. That's when God started meddling. A few trips later and after seeking and getting confirmation they are now here learning French so they can join a team in Africa that meets the practical needs of their neighbors. Living conditions are radically different from the home in the States with the dogs, etc. For example, she said that "shower" is a hole in the ground you stand over and pour your bucket water over you. And this is a communal shower shared by a few neighbors. The potty is the same sort of thing.

These people are not super heroes or even super Christians. They are ordinary believers, ordinary humans like you and me. However, they are amazing in their response to the call of God. I have so much respect for them and many others here. And it is another example of how God strengthens us and provides what we need when He calls. One must depend on Him fully when walk into the dreams of God. They are too big for us. BUT all things are possible with God. He is LIMITLESS. He is ABLE. He is our SOURCE.

Has God put a vision in your heart? Does it seem too big? Is it more than you can do? Of course it is! If it's from God, it's more than you can do. But it is not more than He can do! Submit. Surrender and watch what happens. You'll never be the same and neither will the world around you. And that my friends is what we are called to be and do, lovers of God, Kingdom builders. And on the note of you'll never be the same, that's both beautiful and terrifying. There is a cost to following God with all you are and all you have. Jesus paid the greatest price. Can we follow Him on that part of the path too? He chose the Father's will when it hurt and He didn't really want to do it. Just read the passage in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26 36-45). But He did it and it is our life.

So, maybe it sounds like I have it figured out. HA! These are things God has been speaking to me through what I read, who I talk to, the movies I watch. In other words, I need a lot of teaching and reinforcement.

Onto another note: Margaret and Becky are working on some cool fundraisers for me. Those of you at FOC and the Russellville area might keep an eye out for them and/or talk to these ladies and see if you might want to help. The money raised will go toward my tuition and housing costs.

Thanks to all of you who read this and pray and support me. I need all you do!

Please pray for:

~encouragement daily from the Holy Spirit. I must have the presence of God with me and in me! (Don't we all need this?)

~guidance on what to do after school in June. -where I am to go in France -what I am to do there -who I am to do it with (I am starting to look into a couple things, but nothing to really speak about yet.)

~grace to handle the work load and not burn out physically and mentally.

~provision.

March 13

2009-03-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

You know when a song stirs something in you the first time you hear it? "Where You Go, I Go" by Brian and Jenn Johnson is the most recent song to do that for me. It simply talks about the fact that Jesus did and said only what He saw and heard the Father doing and saying. And the song declares to God, "Where you go, I go. What you say, I say. And what you pray, I pray." I'm letting this work itself into my spirit. It's what I want to do. Now to get on with it...

I've been back at school for two weeks now. I'm back into the rhythm of it. I am still adjusting, fine tuning if you will. It is so tiring to be immersed in a foreign language. I am doing well in my class. I am just where I need to be with grammar but find listening a struggle still at times. This is natural I think. But that doesn't stop me from getting frustrated. Perfectionism is not my friend.

This semester is very different from the last one. The school and dorm are very full. This is a good thing. It means more people with a heart to reach the French speaking world. For me, it means a lot of new people, less personal space and a noisier dorm. I suppose that is part of the reason I am still adjusting, the familiar mixed with the unfamiliar.

I would ask all of you to pray for encouragement for me and the students here. I talked and prayed with a precious friend the other night who also feels the strain. Here are some of the thoughts we share: ~This is hard. Can I really learn this language well enough to then live and work or study at university in France? ~How do I do my school work and do what's needed to prepare for the future at the same time? ~Am I crazy to think God really wants me to reach a people/the nations? ~Why can't I just be normal? (The last one makes me smile. We would never be content with 'normal.' Nothing but Jesus will satisfy.)

As with believers anywhere doing anything that know who they are and what God wants them to do, the enemy doesn't want us to fulfill that which God has called us to do. So he sends discouragement in many forms. I have been told that people have been so discouraged learning the language that they have given up their calling completely and gone home to do something else. I am not at that point. Grâce à Dieu. But I am fighting discouragement. And a student shared about that discouragement at chapel today. So, we the students of Les Cèdres, could use your prayers.

I would also ask you to scroll down to the bottom of the last post and continue to pray for the things listed there.

Thank you for taking your time to read this and pray for me. Prayer changes things. Your prayers are a source of great strength and encouragement for me!

**The picture above is me with Becky and Carl Hudson. These wonderful people take care of me. I couldn't do what I'm doing without them. Thanks to you both!!

March 3

2009-03-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

The music swells, the tempo quickens and my feet shuffle to the beat. The continental dance continues...

I'm back at Les Cèdres. I have been to two days of class. I am happy to report that I was able to return to my old class. I turned in my tests and was taken in by Régine. So far so good. Mme. Freeman has me prepared for the grammar, and with a little time my ears and mouth will get used to French immersion again. Thanks to all of you who have been praying for me to do well on my tests and return to my class!

I was so happy to be in Paris again. It's just...right. That's not to say that it's not an adjustment or without it's challenges. I am far away from many special people. But God is faithful. It helps so much that I have good friends here. And God keeps reminding me to take it one step at a time and make time for Him. Isn't it funny how easily we forget the value of time with Him, being still, partaking of the Word. It centers me, strengthens me, fills me...

Christie and Andy's wedding was beautiful, moving and meaningful. It was a joy to be able to spend time with her preparing for the day and then being a part of it. I am so grateful for having been able to be there for such a special time in her life. **above is a picture of the happy couple and one of me with the bride.

I was also able to spend a couple days with my dear friends Ruth and Ralph Somerville on my way to France. They are the dear people who housed me for 9 months years ago when I lived in England. I can't imagine what life would be like if they hadn't agreed to let me stay with them while I was on DNA. They are a wonderful life relationship and a valuable connection to Europe. God bless them generously for all they've given to so many who have found respite in their home!

I am sorry it has been so long since my last post. Hopefully, I will get into a routine now and be back to a weekly basis. Thanks as always to those of you who take your time to read this and keep up with me. It is encouraging to know you are thinking of and praying for me.

Please pray for:

~encouragement daily from the Holy Spirit. I must have the presence of God with me and in me! (Don't we all need this?)

~guidance on what to do after school in June. -where I am to go in France -what I am to do there -who I am to do it with

~grace to handle the work load and not burn out physically and mentally.

~provision. I am ok for living expenses from monthly giving, but it is going to be a challenge to get tuition and housing paid off by June.

February 10

2009-02-10T20:15:00.000-08:00

T minus two weeks and counting....

My two France sharing nights went really well. Thanks to everyone who made it and made it special. I was really encouraged by the support and the prayer times. It has helped to prepare me to return full and full of faith to France.

It's crunch time. I am still keeping up with my studies while getting last minute things done to return (like taxes, oh joy) as well as last minute prep for the wedding. It's busy.

I am so thankful for the time I have had at home. God has been good. And now I begin to turn toward France once again while keeping my head in the game here.

I am reading a couple books that are inspiring and challenging me. "Living as a People of Hope" by Jeff Fountain. It's a look at the people of God getting a vision and hope for Europe in the new millennium. I was moved to tears by the realization that the church, the people of God, are irrelevant to those looking to shape the future of Europe. This must change!

The other book is "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claibourne. He issues a challenge by the life he lives to be followers of Jesus on a daily, real, and gut level. Good stuff. I recommend both books.

Please pray that God will raise up His people in Europe/France and give them a strategy to reach the lost and help shape society.

And pray that God will add to the people of God by sending believers who will go but especially by multiplying those that are becoming believers and being discipled in France and Europe.

Please pray for me that God will keep me healthy and help me get prepared to return to France in two weeks.

Please pray for continued provision, especially with tuition and housing costs coming due this spring.

Thanks so much for your support and prayers!!

**The picture above is Mme. Freeman, my wonderful tutor.

January 27

2009-01-27T14:04:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's just 4 short weeks until I get to return to Paris. As always the time is just flying by.

This past weekend I spent time with my dear friends as we celebrated with my friend Christie who is soon to be wed. I have known these young women since they were 16 and now there is a baby on the way and an upcoming marriage. It is good to see how God grows and matures us. They are beautiful and faithful women of God.

This Saturday, January 31st and the following Saturday, February 7 at 6:30 at FOC we will be having times for people to come and hear about what God has been doing with me in France and what is coming up. I hope those of you who are in the area and available will come. I will share pictures as well as stories and we will have refreshments. I am looking forward to seeing those who can make it and sharing my heart. We will also have a time of worship led by Allie and CJ. I am really looking forward to that. We want God to show up and be with us. Come ready!

My studies are coming along. I think with some work I will be able to catch up with my class when I get back to Les Cèdres. The biggest draw back to being here is being surrounded by English all the time. But Mme. Freeman and I seem to be keeping up with my class assignments from France.

God is filling me up and stretching me out. It is a good season. I ask you, like I am asking myself, how big do we dare to dream...

All things are possible with God.

January 18

2009-01-18T16:06:00.000-08:00

Get ready, folks. I usually shield you from my circular thinking by planning out what I'm going to say before I start... Well, not today. So here are my random thoughts. Hope they come out somewhat understandable... :)

Do you play on a team? Work on a team? Have a team in place to help you live life? Well, as for the last one, if you don't have a team in place to help you live life, GET ONE! They may be your family. It may be your friends. It may be your classmates or workmates. Odds are it's a combination of all of these. They are the people who get through daily life with you. They see you at your best and worst...and still love you. They are the encouragement that made everything better. They are the truth that stung but lead to freedom. They teach you, care for you, play with you, pray for you, sharpen you, cheer for you, correct you, and always love you even when they don't necessarily like you at a particular moment. This is the core team. There are always those wonderful people who enter out lives for a season or a particular purpose and move on. They are valuable. God brings them into our lives to accomplish His purpose in our lives. There are always the team members who are the support team or enjoy playing the game with us and we love them. They are valuable. God enriches our lives with them. But it's the core team who shapes us, motivates us, and keeps us going. Who is speaking into your life? Who is helping to knock off the rough edges? Who is there to pick you up when you fall? Who believes in you and helps you believe? Who is it? Who are they? Because that core team doesn't need to be big, but it does need to be more than one person. We are made for community. I am blessed to have a wonderful team. Thank you, God.

Part II:

This past week I went to Danville High School to visit all my former students and friends. It was a wonderful time to see everyone and reconnect. While I was there I got to speak to the Jr. High FCA (a student Christian organization). It is made up of 7th and 8th graders. I issued a call to be available to God like Isaiah was when he said, "Here am I. Send me." I was really encouraged by the response. One student raised their hand to receive salvation for the first time! And all but 2 or 3 raised their hands in response to the call to be available to God for whatever He would ask them to do. So I prayed for them. I was so encouraged by their response and I really could feel the presence of God with us. One of the students has since emailed me and told me how he and his friend had been encouraged and gave me examples of how he had all ready reached out to others to help them! God is so faithful.

In this season I am feeling lead to issue a call, especially to young people, but to all people to understand that God has a plan and a destiny for them. Now the fact that Carl came up with the name "Clarion Call" for me is making even more sense. It is my heart to see people overcome the things that hold them back and be released into freedom. If we can understand how much God loves us and that He chooses to use His people, we will begin to believe He can use us and we will want to make ourselves available to Him for whatever He dreams up.

January 11

2009-01-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

Hello from beautiful Arkansas. It is nice to be home. I didn't realize how much I missed the sun and stars! So being home in the "Natural" state has been a treat. Of course the best part is being with family and friends. God has been filling my 'tank' with good fellowship and people pouring into me. I am blessed.

I have been home for three weeks now. I spent most of the first two weeks sleeping! It was much needed and appreciated. My time started out with a bang with my dad having chest pains and going to the emergency room the day after I arrived. He ended up at the Heart Hospital in Little Rock and had a stint put in an artery that was 95% blocked the next day. We had him home in time for Christmas Eve dinner. I am so thankful for God's grace and the medical technology we enjoy. I quickly understood why God changed my plans to have me home for the holidays. And I am happy to report that my dad has been feeling stronger each day since then. Praise God! And thanks to all of you who were praying for him.

I have a lot to process. It was really intense the first two weeks home, especially since I was so exhausted. I have begun a dance between two continents that was prophesied to me ten years ago by my pastor, Wayne Drain. He said he saw me with a foot on each continent and I was dancing back and forth like I had a dual citizenship for a time. Sounds cool, exciting, and romantic, huh? Well, one doesn't anticipate the stretching and tug of war that goes on in one's heart. I now have two places, and even more emotionally attaching, people in both places that I love. And I am confident as I spend more time in France the attachments will grow.

I began French lessons with Mme. Freeman this week. She is so generous with her time. I am so grateful to have such a good teacher available to me as I would fall behind with my studies otherwise. My other 'duty' while in Arkansas is to help and support a dear friend as she prepares to marry a wonderful godly man. I am staying busy between the two.

I will return to school at Les Cèdres in France at the end of February. I plan to attend the final two trimesters and will be there until the end of June. I look forward to returning to France. I am still confident that God has called me to France and I am doing my best to lean into this time of training. After language school I am uncertain of where God will send me and how He wants me to serve. But I am certain that He will make it clear in time.

Please pray for me that:

this time at home will continue to be a time to rest and be restored.

my French studies will be productive.

God will help me process and prepare for what He is calling me to do.

provision for tuition and living costs.

God will make clear the next steps after June.

**The picture above is my lovely family on Christmas Eve.**

December 20

2008-12-20T03:20:00.000-08:00

This weekend another chapter of life closes. It's been an amazing experience. You will all be glad to know that I've passed my course and been moved up a level to B1, which I'm sure means nothing to you unless you know the rating system. But it is an accomplishment I am proud of. More importantly though, God has added to me precious people, shown me more of Himself, and deepened a call that He is still revealing to me. It is an odd feeling to be drawn to a people and a place and so natural all at the same time. I have so many questions still and am so confident of God's leading.

Please pray for me:

that during my time at home I will be able to effectively continue my French studies.

for God's continued provision through people's generous support.

that God will reveal more of His plan for me. In particular, what I should do at the end of my school term in June.

that I will know my Father better each day.

So, this is it for a while from France. The blogs for the next 2 months will be from good ole Russellville, AR.

Merry Christmas, everyone!!
Joyeux Noel!!

**The pic is of me and Hannah at her fancy birthday dinner at Le Ciel de Paris. It's at the top of a 50 story building overlooking beautiful Paris. She got us all dressed up and we had a great time. Thanks to her dad for providing for such a wonderful experience.

December 2

2008-12-02T05:54:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving, a little late. We had a great Thanksgiving feast here the Wednesday before. Here are a couple pics from that day. I hope everyone enjoyed family and friends. We did the traditional giving of thanks around the table, international style. It was wonderful.

(Pics: Lauren and me; Deborah, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Katie; table decorations by Katie)

The big news, if you haven't gotten the newsletter, is that I will be home for Christmas. I am very excited about this. It will be good to be home. I love it in France. I know this is where God has me. I also see my need to be restored. So, I will be home for 2 months and return to France at the end of February and attend Les Cédres until the end of June. I will continue to study while at home with the help of books and friends to keep me up on assignments and the ever generous help of Mme. Freeman.

My friend, Amy Coonagh, came to visit this past weekend. We know each other from when we did our DNA year in England 10 years ago. We had a great time. It's always so encouraging for me to see the ease and goodness of the God-connection. We had a time of worship on Friday night. It was so refreshing. Something I really needed.

It was my day to give the meditation or devotion for our class chapel yesterday. It was my first "message" in French. I shared about our complete dependence on God. So many times we know what to do and we just move along without really paying attention, and then... God is faithful to remind us of our need for Him. I mean isn't it nice to just get on and do what needs doing. Isn't it nice to be strong and independent. hmm... But the truth is He is our source in all things. And we will always run out of strength, energy, resources at some point. The good news is "ma grâce te suffit," "my grace is sufficient for you." Isn't it good to know that we have an unlimited source to plug into!? It's not always fun or comfortable, but God is dependable and life giving. Merci, Dieu. So, I encourage you, if like me you're at the end of you and all your resources, trust in God for He loves you. He is faithful. And His grace is sufficient. And then there's the whole life abundant thing, but that's another topic...

November 23

2008-11-23T06:52:00.000-08:00

This blog is going to be an attempt at giving a little perspective on the French people. Please keep in mind that these blogs are simply that, blogs, made up almost entirely of my opinions. However, I will add a few historical facts to give what I say a little backing.

The French Revolution began in 1789. The monarchy had bankrupted the country, in part by funding the Americans in our revolution. The people were starving. And "the philosophes of the Enlightenment had provoked hope for the improvement of people's lot and provided the philosophical template for a new political order."* The result was a bloody and violent revolution. The guillotine was invented and anyone who had an enemy with any kind of influence lost their head along with their family.

Protestant Chritians had been severely persecuted and massacred. The idea of separation of church and state was born in France. I think this was the removal of God from society. Not that there are not always believers and lovers of God in France, just that as a society I think this was a major turning point.

Something maybe more familiar to all of us are the two World Wars. Just think, these wars were fought on French soil. They were pounded again and again on their home soil. Two generations of men were lost. Americans can't understand this, not on a gut level. So, if a stereotype of the French is that they are cynical, one can begin to understand why. If I don't see a lot of hope, one can begin to understand why. If the French think we are too happy and not based in reality, one can begin to understand why. We need to be ever thankful for the hopeful culture we have. Don't misunderstand me, we have plenty of problems, but as a nation we can usually have hope for a better day. We even have a holiday for giving thanks!

++Pray that God will bring hope, healing, peace, joy, and true freedom to France. Pray that God will raise up laborers for working the soil and bringing in the harvest. Pray that God will visit France with the power of His Spirit.++

*quoted from "Instant European History" by Robert P. Libbon

just for fun:

Please understand that I don't associate the following with what I've said above.

Elizabeth and I visited the catacombs under Paris. There are the bones of around 6 million Parisians from several centuries decoratively arranged there. One must descend 20 meters below Paris and then wind your way through the catacombs. Being the nerds and generally odd people we are, we loved ever minute of it. I'm going to add a couple of pics from the catacombs with this blog. Enjoy...

November 17

2008-11-17T07:16:00.001-08:00

This blog is in honor of my friends Greg and Day Burns who took a very active role in educating their friends for the election. Day, you said you were interested to know what the election looked like in France. So here is an Arkansas girl's take on the French view of the U.S. election.

Obama is a rock star! He is a savior to right all that is wrong in all the world. (according to the French) There was a spirit of celebration when Obama was elected. The French are passionate about what is happening with our politics. If people assumed I was English I didn't correct them because I didn't want to talk about the election. They always wanted to know who I voted for. And then would cheer Obama. I'm talking about random people you meet in the shops. I asked one guy if he could actually vote. He wouldn't drop it. People here are sick of Bush, the war, and the struggling economy. The European economy is suffering as well as in the States.

I told my teacher that Americans think the world revolves around them. I always thought that was an arrogant assumption. But she pointed out that we are a strong power in the world and what we do effects everyone. An English lady studying here put it this way, "We have to keep an eye on what Bush (the US) is doing." In other words we can't let you screw things up too much. (my interpretation)

So, there it is in a nutshell folks. My observation of the US presidential election in France. It's been eyeopening for me.

November 11

2008-11-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

Armistice Day, Veteran's Day... We remember and are thankful to those who have given everything for the freedom and peace we now enjoy.

In the past weeks I have been struck by the costs involved with what I am doing. I knew it would sink in, and it has. It's difficult to be away from friends and family when they go through life's joys and difficulties. Community is nice, but so are a cozy couch and a bath. Being in France but realizing you'll never be French. Knowing God is big enough to reach these people and feeling way to insignificant to think I can do anything to help.

Fear not! I'm not discouraged, at the end of my rope, or ready to give up. I'm just sobered a bit. There are months of language learning ahead. I know I'm supposed to be here and God can use even me mightily. But I still have no idea what that will look like practically after school.

In the meantime, I study and love and try to be a help to the beautiful people He has put here with me. I seek God and marvel at His generosity, goodness, kindness, and grace. Our God is faithful. I want to be like Him.

November 3

2008-11-03T03:40:00.000-08:00

So another 2 weeks between updates... Couldn't be helped. I was on holiday...Here's what happened.

Hannah and I spent the weekend of October 24th with the Leighs. We had a great time. David showed us around the area. It's very beautiful in Alsace and the Fall colors just enhanced the experience. We were able to tour the French Christian School and attend the Sunday service of their church. God is really at work in Alsace. I was struck by the presence of God in the prayer time before the Sunday service. Then we had an extended time of prophetic worship during the service. It was very powerful.

Somehow I got out of Alsace without a Leigh family pic! But here is a pic of David and Hannah in a WWI battle trench.)

Thanks again David and Angela for your hospitality. They are great people!

Then we moved on to Switzerland to visit my friend Simone and her family. Naomi, Simone's daughter, was 2 yesterday! Bonne anniversaire, Naomi! It was so good to see Simone. God started our friendship 10 years ago in England and it is still a blessing today. It rained most of the time we were there but it's still beautiful. And the last night we were there it snowed! I was like a little kid out in the street playing in the snow in the dark. It was also a great opportunity to practice speaking French with Simone's parents. It was a time of peace and rest and amazing Swiss food! Thanks Simone. You and your family are always so generous.

Swiss pics are: Simone and Naomi; Simone's parents, Ursula and Willie, Naomi, Hannah and me.)
**As always there are a lot of pics on my Facebook page. Check them out! Lots of scenery.**

We had a bit of an adventure getting out of Switzerland because we booked our train tickets online with a French company and the tickets wouldn't print. So we thought, we'll just do it at the station.... Well, Swiss stations can't print from the French system. So after trying all we knew to do, we just got on the train and prayed. Shortly after the trip began, the porter came by to take our tickets. We handed him the printout from the internet showing our reservation and did our best to explain. He was not happy. All he wanted was tickets, this meant nothing to him. We stayed calm and polite and when Hannah finally said ok how do we buy more tickets, he said to check at the main station! Then the next porter, because they changed during the trip, was completely cool with it and didn't mind. And we didn't see anyone on the last leg of our journey into France. God gave us favor that day. We thought at one point we would have to pay twice for our tickets back to France.

I had been longing for the country after being in the city for two months. This was the perfect break. So imagine my surprise as I thought to myself as the train pulled back into Paris, "I'm so glad to be back. Wait, did I really just think that?" I guess this is home for now. God is good to keep that settled in my heart.

Classes start again this Thursday. Then it will be December 19th before Christmas break. For those of you who may not have heard, I will not be home for Christmas. That had been my original plan. Now I am planning on finishing the school year at Les Cédres at the end of June. So I will return for two weeks in February for Christie and Andy's wedding. (What a great thing to come home for!!) But I can't really do 2 trips so close together. So I should be stateside for about two weeks starting around February 14th. Then I think I will be around for a while this summer after school is out working on getting a visa to return. This is what I know now. Everything is subject to change! So just stay tuned in folks....

October 18

2008-10-18T02:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry I missed a week to update all of you. And I had sent a prayer request with no follow up for you to know what has happened. So now I can fill you in.

All is well. I had asked for prayer because several of us were experiencing sleeping problems, sickness, and general malaise that we couldn't shake. We (five ladies) got together to pray and felt we discerned there was a spiritual element involved. So we prayed for each other and our school. Then a few of us wrote home for prayer support as well. Within 24-48 hours everyone was sleeping better, feeling better, and one of the ladies had some direction come through for her time coming up. It was so exciting to see the power of God and the prayers of the saints at work in our lives. Thank you to all of you who took the time to pray! It made a big difference in our lives and the atmosphere here. Please don't stop praying!

Last weekend I was blessed with a visit from Jeff and Maureen Grace. They are friends from home. It's always good to see people from home when you're in a strange land. I spent the afternoon with them. It was a great visit. They filled me in on their trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro. They were on their way home from two weeks in Tanzania. What a fantastic couple! You see them pictured here with the Eiffel Tower in the background. (The other pic is of the clock that is in the building of the Musée d'Orsay. Hannah and I enjoyed the impressionist paintings there.)

This Friday, October 24, Hannah and I are going to visit David Leigh and family in Alsace, an eastern region in France. I am so excited about this trip. David has been helping me since last December and is the reason I found Les Cèdres. I think this will be a significant time for me this semester. Please pray that God will bless this time with the Leigh's and that He will bless the Leigh's for their hospitality and generosity. This is their website if you'd like to check it out: www.leighweb.com

We will move on to Switzerland to visit my friend Simone. Simone is a dear friend from my DNA year in England. I get to meet her two year old daughter, Naomi, for the first time. I really enjoy Simone and her family. Another reason I am really looking forward to this trip. And fortunately Alsace and Switzerland are next to each other.

In the midst of the language learning, the growing friendships, and planning trips, God has been working in my heart. I'm sorry I can't really put it into words what He's doing or what I'm feeling. My teacher has caught me daydreaming in class and asked if I was ok because I had been so quiet. I assured her I was good and that God was doing something in my heart. The morning before that conversation I suddenly became aware that people were praying for me. It was an amazing feeling. Thank you. I can feel your prayers and I covet them.

October 5

2008-10-05T03:29:00.000-07:00

It's October!! How did that happen? Time is flying by. I'm sure you find it the same with work, school, and activities.

I'm going to post some pics from last weekend in Paris with the girls. We went to Sacre Coeur and Montmarte. And for the evening we had a picnic on a lawn by the Tour Eiffel. It was a great day, the weather was perfect. But what makes such a day wonderful is the company. I cannot express how rich I am in relationships here. God has been so good to bring good friends, each with their own gifts, beauty, and treasures to share. Three of these special people, pictured here, are Hannah Glover, Elizabeth Bricken, and Katie Berry.

I mentioned time flying by. Well, the days are so full and I realized I hadn't taken time to pray. I missed God. I mean He's the reason I'm here in the first place. Don't get me wrong, my days are spent in communion with Him. It was some quality one on one I was needing. So, yesterday I went to the park for a walk and talk. On the way home, the face of a teenage girl in the back of a car struck me. Again, I was aware of how people need hope. People everywhere in every country need hope. Who's going to share it with them? Will it be you or me? In the States the odds of someone who knows Jesus being around to share Him are so much greater than in France.

I learned Friday about laicite. The idea is basically "separation of church and state." But it runs much deeper in France than in the States. Our politicians will still affiliate themselves with religion. Religion is not even mentioned or talked about in schools, government, etc. Religious symbols such as a cross, star of David, or Muslim head covering are forbidden in schools. If one is not raised in a religious family how will they learn about faith of any kind? Can you begin to see the odds? Where are the workers for the harvest? God prepare the soil.

Ok, so there is so much more I could go on and on about, but I won't. If anyone is interested in knowing more about the culture here just let me know and I will share as much as I know, which at this point is still not a lot.

So, I was sobered by the need for Jesus in France. But I know that it is God who will reach the people of France. And for some reason He has historically chosen to use His people, as frail as we are. So, I'm going to end this blog with a word of hope. (Which is fitting, don't you think?) I received an email from missionaries in Italy that I've kept up with since my YWAM summer there. They shared about two ten year olds, a boy and a girl, who had had God visit them in dreams. After the girl shared her dream she said, "Something big is going to happen!" These kids have no agenda for making these things up. God is up to something, something BIG! HA! I can't wait!

May God fill you with His hope and visit you with dreams and visions.

September 27

2008-09-27T02:19:00.000-07:00

Hola, amigos! Wait. That's not French. Yes, well, we had a Mexican food day on Wednesday this week. We had two birthday girls and lots of food. It was a lot of fun. The pictures are from that day. The four ladies are: l to r, Anette and Helena from Norway and Katie and Lauren from the US. Aren't they beautiful! The other picture is Clemmon (German), Saraly (French and our director), and Lauren.

Well, I'm not sure what to report. It was a good week overall. My teacher made me cry and I had to leave class yesterday. Don't worry. It was just one of those moments. I don't blame my teacher. The ironic thing is I've made students cry before. I always felt bad about it. Now I know what it's like on the other side of the fence. I went back to class after about ten minutes and finished my test. I think I did ok. After that the day was fine, good even. Sometimes you just have to let off a little steam.

This will be a short post for now. Overall, I would say that I am finding a better balance with school, homework, and life. There are lots of things rolling around in my head. I just don't think I can put them into writing yet. Maybe soon....

September 20

2008-09-20T02:05:00.000-07:00

I am looking down the barrel of another weekend filled with hours of homework. Ugh! The week has been better, but this weekend is promising to be tough. I had a stomach bug on Tuesday, but was back to normal by Thursday.

Friday night four of us went into Paris to attend a Hillsong church. The service was in English and French which was great for learning. We were in the Pompidou area and also walked by St. Eustace church. We only had time to go to the service and then had a late dinner before catching the train home. That was my fun for the weekend. It was an enjoyable evening. These outings are helpful in building friendships. God has blessed me with some great people here.

I had a fun, informative, and inspiring conversation Thursday night with a group of people that represented these nations: Norway, Colombia, England, and USA. The mix of people is enough to make it interesting. We really provoked one another on some 'controversial' topics. (Depends on who you are if they are controversial or not.) And then I was told by a young woman who has live in France 8 years and works with the church that the French people have no concept of accountability..... Ok, let that sink in. It's still working into my head. The French are very private. I knew that. But apparently even with close loved ones, one tends not to share everything. I'm investigating this a little more. As you can see from the list none of the people present were French. However, I did ask a French woman, one of our teachers, this morning. As I was describing what accountability is I could see on her face that this was a new concept. And she told me that this would be a strange concept to most French people because they are very independent. hmm....

Ok, mes devoirs (homework) awaits me!

*The picture was taken from my window at sunset. Of course, the picture doesn't even come close to capturing the real thing.*

September 15

2008-09-15T03:17:00.000-07:00

Monday morning of week 3 at Les Cedres....

I am better rested. Thank you to everyone who is praying for sleep and rest. We definitely still need prayer about that, but it is better. Class is not so overwhelming and my teacher has had mercy on us concerning homework. There is still plenty of work. It's just not the overload like before. So I would say I am starting to get my feet back under me. Life is so much more enjoyable and digestible when your sense of humor is intact, especially when you're constantly making mistakes.

Becky said that $450 was given at FOC this month. That is the amount we knew had been promised in monthly donations. This leaves about $550 per month still needed in donations. Please pray for God's provision. Thank you to everyone who is supporting me financially as well as in prayer. I couldn't do this without all of you!

I find myself focused on learning the language. That's good! That's why I am here. However, I must not forget why I am learning the language. I was reminded of this very clearly Saturday night on the crowded train home from Paris. A young man sat in the corner of the train car looking forlorn. I wanted to go to him and offer to pray for any need he might have. I just don't have the vocabulary to do that yet. And so I prayed for him quietly and this morning went to class with a little more purpose...

I am posting some pictures of our Saturday outing. Hannah needed books for class. Getting books for class has never been so fun. We also visited Notre Dame and had a cafe at a cafe in a nice quarter of the city called Marie. Then we had dinner at a restaurant that had all kinds of Mediterranean decor. And when we walked out into the Parisian night, wow. I like Paris, but I love Paris at night! I now understand why it is called the 'City of Lights.' There are people everywhere, lots of street performers with various skills, and the city itself is beautiful. Our Korean friend Debora was with us as well as Katie, a girl from Ohio who now lives in Toulouse.

I hope you enjoy these pictures. I will post more on my Facebook so you can check them out.

September 11

2008-09-11T02:40:00.000-07:00

Hello to all. I can't say that I have anything interesting to report. I thought I would just say that I was able to get some rest yesterday and today is going better. It is so much easier to deal with mistakes when one is rested. The work load has been a little more bearable this week. We will see what our teacher, Regine, gives us for the weekend!

Thank you to everyone who is praying. The dollar is getting stronger to the euro as well. You guys are doing well. Keep it up!

My English friend said to me first thing this morning, "It's September 11th." It is a day the world remembers, not just Americans. Let's remember those whose lives were so dramatically changed that day.

September 8

2008-09-08T02:37:00.000-07:00

Ok, it took me 6 hours to do my homework this weekend. Needless to say I am tired today. It will get better, but I am yawning in class all the time. I need to be able to think! Please continue to pray. These first few weeks are going to be intense.

September 6

2008-09-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

Hannah's luggage has FINALLY arrived. That's the big news of the day. Please continue to pray that our sleep patterns will settle in so we can rest better. Also, we need God's help with our studies. We need discipline mixed with a divine ability to absorb everything we are learning. And it is time to pay tuition. The Euro is much stronger than the dollar right now. Please pray for the exchange rate to improve when we go to pay our bill.

I thought I would take a minute for this blog and give you some impressions and ask for prayer...

I mentioned before that I was pleasantly surprised at how polite the French people are. This was based on my one brief experience in Paris ten years ago. The Parisians I encountered then where not so nice. I have found that the French people are a very respectful people in daily life. If you are rude, they can return the sentiment, but as a rule they are polite. For example, I was checking out at a local supermarket when a man walks in front of me and puts items in front of mine. I was puzzled. When I looked around there was a pregnant lady with a small child. So I moved out of the way, content to give up my place in line. What started as a "what do you think you're doing" moment turned into me having a lot of respect for that man. He happily kept his place in line behind me. Have you ever seen that in the States, or anywhere else? Another thing that has impressed me is that cars will stop in order to let you cross the road. People always greet you with "Bon jour, madame" when you enter a shop and "au revoir" when you leave. We were told yesterday that you can say "merci" or "thank you" several times and it will be appreciated every time. I found that if I showed a lot of appreciation to English friends it seemed to embarrass them. I love the English! But I do feel more at home here in many ways.

On a different note, I have seen another side as well. In just observing people in the shops, walking down the street, and on the train, there seems to be a deep fatigue. Life is hard everywhere. But a word I would use to describe many of these faces is worn. Where is the hope? I want so much to tell these people there is hope and I am stopped instantly by the fact that I can't speak their language...yet. I am often reminded of why God would bring Christians here. The French need hope.

A young French man who lives at Les Cedres told us today that less than 1% of the French are Christian. (This is not including nominal Catholics.) He said that outside of his church he doesn't know any Christians at school, etc. It is so different to the living in the Bible Belt.

I hope this gives you an idea of how you can pray for the French people. Many of the missionaries here are going to African countries after they learn the language. Just a few of us feel a call to stay in France. Please pray for God to send workers for the harvest. There is such a need here. Please pray the Holy Spirit will begin to draw the French people to Him and give them hope. When I think of all the people who need to hear about Jesus, I am overwhelmed. How will they ever get the message!? It will take a supernatural move of God. Please pray with me for France and the nations! Our prayers together will effect and change our world.

September 5

2008-09-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have completed my first two days of class and a work week at Les Cedres. It is A LOT of work and very challenging. The first 3 weeks are supposed to be the most difficult. So I should have this licked in a couple more weeks, not... I have 12 pages of homework and an essay to write this weekend. See, I wasn't kidding about A LOT of work. Ce n'est pas grave! It's ok. This is what I signed up for.

On Wednesday, a group of about 30 people from our school took a boat tour of Paris by bateaux-mouche. It is a great way to see many of the historic places in Paris. As you can see, the Eiffel Tower was one of the landmarks we passed. Did you know the French people hated the Eiffel Tower when it was built because they thought it was ugly. Now anytime one thinks of Paris they think of the famous tower. This Sunday we hope to return to the city and check out a museum or two because all museums have free admission on the first Sunday of the month. Free is always good.

Tonight the students have been invited to the home of some of the staff for cake. Everyone is very friendly here. I am pleasantly surprised at how helpful and polite the French people are. And God has so generously given me instant friends to enjoy. Merci, Dieu.

The weather report: currently it is 68 and raining. Most of the days have been cloudy and rainy since we have arrived. It's very refreshing though, especially since there is no air conditioning here.

The update on Hannah's luggage: still MIA! Yes, can you believe it. Her luggage has still not made it here. I don't even think it's in Paris yet. She has had to break down and buy some things to get by. It's not good, but again she has handled it very gracefully.

I'm going to wrap it up for now. I don't know how often I will get to blog now with 2 hours of homework each night. But I will keep it up. If you would like to see more pictures of Paris check my Facebook. A bientot!

September 2, my b-day!

2008-09-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful birthday I've had!! I've had so many good wishes from people on Facebook and by email. Thank all of you for taking the time to wish me happy birthday.

I didn't even remember it was my birthday until I got to breakfast and my new South Korean friend, Deborah, wished me happy birthday. I said, "Oh yeah, it's my birthday." That's never happened to me before. I guess the first day of orientation took over my brain. Or I could just say jet lag. It hasn't been a month yet...

Orientation was ok. I am now more orientated. That part of the day didn't feel very birthday-like. My first class was all in French all ready! My brain was hurting. It takes so much concentration. And the first class was just information and getting to know one another. I was the only one who asked for clarification when I got lost. Then after class a classmate approached me and said, "By the way, we were all lost too. We just didn't say anything." That made me feel a little better. I will always be that kid that asks lots of questions.

Now the fun part!

Hannah asked what I wanted to do to celebrate. I wanted a real French meal at a French style restaurant. So we asked Saraly, the school director, to recommend a place. She printed off directions. We invited some new friends, arranged a time to meet, and off we went to Chez Papa's. It was perfect! The cuisine is from the southwest part of France. It was small and cozy. We were at a long table surrounded by strangers, yet strangely we felt at home. When we left it was a beautiful walk to the train station. The Paris streets glistened from the rain and there was a peaceful calm.

God is so good.

I will write more soon. I want you to know a little about the amazing people I am meeting. And yes there will be pictures! My friends took some great ones. Tomorrow we will go as a school group to tour the city on the bateaux-mouche (boats). I am sure there will be more pictures and stories from that too.

And yes, I tried escargot (snails). I really liked them! Who knew.

September 1

2008-09-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

Bon jour de Paris! This is my first blog from France. I am so excited to be here! And technically I'm in a suburb of Pairs called Massy. It's an interesting mix of urban apartment buildings and traditional French shops. The school, Les Cedres, is a nice oasis in between the two.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. I have a little from England left to report. Although most of you read the email about our prayer time. It was a very encouraging time with Martin Scott, Jenny Moore, Judith Scott, Naomi Moore, and of course our Steph. (I'm including a photo of Steph Carr and me.) It was a great send off for Hannah and me.

Our flight was delayed an hour on Sunday, but otherwise there were no problems. Hannah has still not received her luggage. She's a trooper, but it is frustrating. Pray they come first thing tomorrow.

The first people we met when we stepped out of the taxi were from Texas and wait for it.... Arkansas, North Little Rock to be exact! Hannah and I couldn't believe it. The people from Texas are students here and the Arkansans were just visiting. Since then I have met people from South Korea, Norway, England, and lots of Americans.

We have orientation tomorrow which is Tuesday and classes start on Thursday. I am ready to go. So far I've only had to dip my toe into French. Soon they will expect me to speak French all the time. Whew! I get tired just thinking about it. But I am so excited to really learn the language so I can use it effectively in most situations. So, roll up the sleeves and tuck in.

I will give you more detail on the school and what we have been up in a later blog. It's late and I need to get some sleep. (We are 7 hours ahead of Central Standard Time.) Bon Nuit.

August 29th

2008-08-29T14:51:00.000-07:00

Another day closes in England. Ralph and Ruth left this morning for a much needed holiday. They are such inspirational people. Through difficult life circumstances they radiate hope and faith. If you want to know what it is to be a human 'being' and not a human 'doing', these are the people to watch.

I am reading "The Shack". It is fantastic. It is stirring me and I'm actually making notes on what God is showing me through it. I was apprehensive to read it at first, but I am very glad I overcame that. If you haven't read it yet, pick up a copy.

Steph Carr took us for a curry (Indian food) tonight. It was great to see her, as always. She is full of God's Spirit and seeing miraculous things happen at work. Isn't that where we should be seeing God stuff is in the work place or really wherever the people of God are?

Hannah Glover made it here, lost luggage and all. It should arrive sometime tomorrow. I was impressed at how well she handled the stress of her trip!
We are on to Paris Monday!

I am feeling good. I still get a little foggy from time to time because of jet lag, but that is minor. Do you think I can use jet lag for an excuse at school? Just how long does jet lag effect one? I might could get a good months worth out of this one.

Being in Europe seems to strip away clutter from my mind so that I can focus on hearing God. It is a gift to be able to walk or sit and meditate on what God is saying without distraction. I guess it's part of what God is working in me for the continent. It's been that way anytime I have visited. Or maybe it's being away from a daily grind and routine that makes it easier. Either way I am grateful for the time to be quiet with Him. We will see if it is the same when I have 20 hours of class and 10 hours of homework a week.

August 28th

2008-08-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

This entry is coming to you from Cobham, England. I am so glad to be here visiting my dear friends Ralph and Ruth. It is a good way to recover from jet-lag before moving on to Paris. It is good to be back in Europe.

I had a great journey. On the flight from Cleveland to London I had a great chat with a young man on his way to an art school in Ireland. He was very friendly and easy to get along with. I was grateful to have someone fun to sit by on such a long flight. We had a great talk about God and I got to share the Gospel with him. He is a very spiritual person and seemed to enjoy hearing the Gospel for the first time. It was obvious God had orchestrated our meeting. I pray he finds God and His peace.

I had a wonderful walk and talk with Ruth this morning. Friendship with the people of God is a special thing, a lasting bond through the years. We walked up to an old church on a hill. Ruth said it was a Norman church probably built in the 1100's. We simply don't have the history Europe does. Columbus hadn't even been born to think about discovering a new world when that church was built. Cool, huh.

I plan on rediscovering Cobham today or tomorrow. (I lived here ten years ago.) They have a Starbucks now. Which will mean nothing to most of you and something to a few of you. Starbucks seems really out of place on such a quaint English high street. But the English do love their Starbucks just like Americans. (Isn't that right Greg and Brandon?)

I have had my first comment. (Thanks, David.) Keep them coming. It's good to know people are actually checking these out.

Until next time...

August 24th

2008-08-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

In my last blog I asked for comments but did not have it enabled. My apologies. I think I have that resolved now.

Two days and counting... I started packing today. I must say not my favorite thing to do. I will be glad when that part is done. It's always a good feeling when you're on the plane and all the prep is finished.

I am really looking forward to seeing my English host family from my DNA year. I will be in the UK for a few days before moving on to Paris.

Some of you may not know that Hannah Glover is going with me to study at Les Cedres. She attended FOC during her time a ATU. Now she has sold her house in North Little Rock and is setting off to learn French too.

I don't know how often I will be able to blog or email in the next week. Once I'm in Paris I will have more consistent access to internet.

That's all for now. Wish me a bon voyage!

Just for fun.

2008-08-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

Margaret told me to add fun factoids, so here goes....

I lived in England for a year. England is known for rain. Mme. Freeman tells me it rains a lot in France. So, it seems to me that God is preparing me to return with the Noah-like rain we've had today. :) I waded through the Wal-Mart parking lot today with four months worth of survival supplies for dorm life in Paris. I needed some wellies (rain boots). One step closer.....

Please let me know by email or by comments on this blog what sort of factoids you would like to know about the people and places I will be visiting.

Entry 1

2008-08-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, All. This is my first blog. (Hopefully, many will follow.) My departure date is coming quickly. I leave Tuesday, August 26th. I am very excited. I have details to take care of yet, however, I am ready to go. I want to thank everyone who has shown your support and encouraged me. You are making this possible.

The next four months will be spent learning French at a language school in Paris, Les Cedres. (Check our their website: www.lescedres.com ) I will return to Arkansas on December 22. After that is a big '?'. My heart is to get back to France to live and work in some capacity. I don't know what shape that will take. I'm sure that the next months at school and visiting American missionaries in Alsace will help answer some of these questions.

God has shown his faithfulness and generosity through this process. I am once again humbled and in awe of the love of God. It is wonderful to finally be walking into something God called me to years ago. I don't know what's going to happen in the next months. I don't know what God is really up to, but I know it's gonna be good! This is the great adventure.