TRÉSOR

Hello, everyone!  Welcome back to my blog!  For now until my website is up and running this is where you can pre-order the new album 'Trésor' which is due out in the middle of May.  I'm so excited about releasing my first album of French and English worship songs!  Keep your eyes out for the new website which will give you all the information.
The blue button will work if you are in the USA. (There is more info just under the blue donate button.)  If you want to use PayPal just click on the yellow donate button.  (Again there is more info just under the button.)  I'm asking just $10 for the album if you pay through NCL and $11 to cover the fees if you order through Paypal.  Thank you for buying 'Trésor' and for you financial gifts!!  All donations will help me finish this project and make Trésor a reality!

Bonjour !  Bienvenus !  Voici pour maintenat le meilleur moyen de faire un pré-commande de l'album 'Trésor.'   Bientôt je vous donnerai le nouveau site web.  J'ai hâte de partager cette collection de chants de louanges françaises.  Pour faire un commande avec PayPal merci de cliquer sur le button jaune à votre drote.  Le prix de l'album et que 11 euros.  Merci pour votre commande et vos dons !!  Vos dons m'aideront à finir ce projet de coeur !!

New seasons

Hi, everyone.
As you can see I no longer post on my blog really.  I have am now sending out regular newsletters that serve the same purpose.  If you are someone who reads my blog but is not receiving the newsletter and you would like to have the newsletter just let me know and I will sign you up!

Something new on the blog is located to the right.  It is now possible to donate online to help support me.  If you are in the USA then you can click on the blue "donate" button.  This will take you to the NCL website.  There you go to the "Fund" field and click on my name.  All donations made through NCL are tax deductible.

If you live outside of the USA you can give using PayPal.  Just click on the YELLOW "donate" button and that will take you to that PayPal link.

Si vous voudriez faire un don pour me soutenir avec PayPal, cliquez sur le buton JAUNE "donate."

Sorry about all the money talk.  Not my favorite thing to do but oh so necessary for a missionary.

In the newsletter that I wrote just today I talked about rest in God.  After 6 days of work, He rested on the 7th day.  But it's not just about a day off, which is really important, it is also about a way of living where even when we are active we are at rest.  This is something I'm learning about.  What a gift to be able to rest in the middle of our busy lives.  There is also value in just stopping everything from time to time.  Often we feel the need to keep moving so we don't seem lazy.  Maybe that is why God gave us the example of stopping to rest from the very beginning.

This photo is a way to represent rest in an image for me.

Just a little something for the blogger faithful.
Thanks for reading!

The Wave ~~

There are so many good things to catch y'all up on. (letting my southern show) So I'd better get busy...

So in April there was the LAM conference. Thanks so much for your prayers it was a great success! There was a lot of fruit and healed relationships during this week, even testimonies of marriages being saved from ending completely. The Sunday after the conference I remember there was such a sweet presence of God unlike any other time I had experienced. I am sure it was fruit from the hard work the couples had done that week. Now a couples group is being put in place for the autumn to continue the process of healing and freedom.

In May the Alsace-Arkansas connection continues and continues and continues... Andy and Christie Moore came to visit and have ended up staying to help out! Yes, I know. I have awesome friends.

In May, the Moores got to know folks here the first weekend when we had a conference with Martin Scott and his wife Gayle. What Martin shared was very encouraging. He talked about needing a Peter conversion. It took God showing him 3 times the vision of the sheet descending with all types of animals and telling Peter, "rise up and eat," before Peter would agree to it. Peter had to have a conversion to be able to line up with God's will. Interesting. I had never seen it like that. The other thing that really sticks with me from that weekend was Martin saying that there will be a movement in the arts that will change society and the culture. I hope Christians will be the instigators and not imitators.

OK, back to Andy and Christie... Nadine, Andy, Christie and I were able to stay with one of Nadine's friends in Brittany and see some of western France. We had a great time. We visited the Normandy beaches and we were really touched by the history there and the sacrifice that was made to free a continent. There is nothing like being on the land where such history was made. I was proud of what my country gave to set men free. Thank you to the veterans and their families. Words can't express... Even just this week we ate with an Alsatian family and the mother thanked us for the part our country had in liberating Alsace. It's humbling. Our country is not perfect, no country is, but there are moments where the USA has really shone brightly.

During this time I mentioned to Andy and Christie that there were some camps in July to work at Daniel School doing lots of fixing up to get classrooms ready and a need to cook for the teams. It didn't take long before they decided to change their tickets (which was expensive) so they could stay and help. They have been working hard for three weeks, Christie in the kitchen and Andy painting,etc. Everyone tells me how wonderful they are to which I whole-heartedly agree. This is the last work week and we will get to chill and see some more sights next week before they head home. It's been so great to have a piece of Arkansas here this summer. I forgot to mention that in May they also did a songwriting workshop and 2 dance workshops and Andy has been adopted by several of our worship bands as you can imagine. They have fit right in and WE, not just me, will miss them when they leave.

Another benefit of their visit is a stronger FOC connection with the school and church here. Greg Burns and Andy have been in touch and I have the impression that Andy has been spying things out and continuing what Greg started on his brief visit here. Thanks guys for looking for God's heart in this connection on how to serve Daniel School!

DON'T MISS THIS BIT!:
OK, so here's one of the most exciting bits of news! Christie had been gluten free for 5 years because of a gluten allergy. Well, we had dinner with some friends one evening and Roland told her that God was going to heal her and that she would feel heat in her stomach when God healed her. One night during our trip to Brittany, Christie woke up in the middle of the night and she said she felt like she was on fire so she threw back the covers and eventually cooled back down enough to go to sleep. Andy said "maybe God's healing you" but Christie didn't think any more about it until later. So a week or so later there were the Healing Rooms here in Guebwiller. The Healing Rooms are made up of believers from several different churches in the area and Nadine leads the team. I went with Christie to translate and a team of 3 people prayed for her for maybe 20 minutes. It was peaceful and the team never even laid a hand on Christie but they were certain that she was healed. Andy and Christie were full of faith and that morning they had bought some lovely French pastries called 'pain au chocolat' before she even came to the Healing Rooms. That evening Christie ate 2 pains au chocolat!! And she's been eating bread, pastries, pizza, pasta, tartes flambées and all types of gluten rich products since without ANY side effects! SHE IS HEALED!! Praise be to God for this gift and the timing of it so that she can fully enjoy being in France with its wonderful cuisine!

That's not the end of the good news. Haha. I'm having fun writing this!

We have had a 'House of Prayer' or 'Prayer Room' at Joshua Church of a couple years now. The Leighs, Emilie Pierre-Elien and Rusty Richards have set the stage with faithful 'watches' over the years. In May, the 'Tente de la Rencontre' (the Tent of Meeting) got an infusion of the Swiss variety. The Tendon family have moved to Guebwiller and we are happy to have them. They have spent 2 years at IHOP in Kansas City soaking in all that God had for them and now they are Swiss missionaries in France. Of course their heart is for the house of prayer. I have also decided to take a watch and there are others who have watches that are not musicians but they bring their color to the prayer and intercession times. My watch is from 7-9 a.m. on Thursday mornings! (Yes, all of you that know me well can now pick yourselves up off of the floor.) It's been really encouraging to see what the Holy Spirit wants to do during each of these times. I'm also getting some great calluses from playing guitar for 2 hours straight. So the expanded hours have made the watch times accessible to more people and has made us get more organized in general. Growth, gotta love it!

On July 6th, a team of French, Germans, Alsatians, Swiss and Americans lead by Rusty Richards participated in a prayer initiative to repent for an act of treachery of the Louis the Pious' sons. The sons, grandsons of Charlemagne, decided to publicly humiliate their father and take his power. This lead to many iniquities that still effect Europe and countries that come from Europe. We prayed and prepared prayers of repentance and blessing beforehand and then spent a whole day repenting and cleansing history and releasing blessing over Europe. We expect big changes to come in Europe because of the repentance that has been done! Jesus blood even redeems history!

The image that I've had for this season is of a wave of God that has come ashore in our community here in Guebwiller. There is a lot of power in a wave and at the same time in churns things up. Since the wave is from God, it's all good. That's the reason for the picture of the wave that goes with this blog.

I will not be in the States this summer. I am saving my trip to go to my niece's wedding in Oklahoma in October! It's my first full summer in France. I am coming up on my fifth anniversary in France and fourth in Guebwiller. Where does the time go? It's been a great adventure. I thank all of you for being a part of this adventure with me through praying, encouraging and all types of support! It wouldn't happen without you. "We are family...all my brother, sisters and me..."

Here are some prayer requests:

~Even though a lot of work and progress has been done this summer at Daniel School there is still a lot to do and the need for the finances is always there. Thanks to all the teams and individuals who have helped out this summer!
~Continued growth and development of the 'Tente de la rencontre' (house of prayer) at Joshua Church.
~Blessings and safe travels for Andy and Christie as they finish working and prepare to travel home to Arkansas.

Where's spring?

So, I knew it had been a long time since I last wrote a blog...but I was a little surprised that it has been since October! Oh well, at least I've sent out a few e-mails to keep folks up on what's going on.

In the last post I listed my activities and jobs so I won't repeat that here. I will just say that things are going well. In the music schools most of my students are from 7-9 years old. This is a big change for me. I'm used to starting students around 11 years old. So it has been a bit of an adjustment but I like it. I am thankful for my 3 groups at church where the youth are from 15 to 21 years old. And then at Daniel School I have the ages in between. It balances out nicely. Doing a variety of groups and types of music keeps things interesting.

At the end of February we had 3 friends from FOC come to visit. It was a great time of discovery, building connections and releasing God's goodness for one another. Greg, Bobby and Amanda came ready to give and receive. There has already been a lot of fruit from what they released during their time here and from the relationships that were started. It was clear from the beginning of the trip that God had great things prepared because they had a lot of trouble getting here! Chris Abington, who had organized the trip, was unable to come because his daughter broke her arm the day of the trip. Then the three missed every flight because of delays, etc. But they got here and they were in a good mood when they arrived after all of that. Thanks guys, for going the extra mile! I am very grateful to see my two homes becoming more and more connected. I think we will see relationships grow from here on out as the bridge from Arkansas to Alsace gets bigger and wider. One of the people that will be continuing that connection is Deborah Beck. She is a young French woman who will be doing an internship in webdesign in Russellville starting sometime in April. You folks in Arkansas be sure and give her a warm southern welcome and help her feel at home. I know you will. That's who you are and what you do! Deborah is great and she's going to fit right in and have a blast discovering Arkansas and it's culture.

I am happy to say that we are seeing progression in the areas of the school that I asked you to pray about. There have been several financial gifts to the school. It is amazing to see God's provision and His timing. Please continue to pray for a steady stream of financial blessing for Daniel School. Also, we see God's order coming in the leadership and organization of the school. It is a process but things are moving forward. Please keep praying for the school and for Christian education in France and French speaking countries.

Another important event coming up in April is the Love After Marriage (LAM) seminar that our church will be hosting. LAM is a ministry of Bethel Church in Redding. The couple that leads it is coming to teach and two couples from our church are helping to organize and lead. The Leighs and the Becks have both already done the seminar and will be counted on for translation and leading small groups. Thanks for all of you who have already been praying because of my e-mails. Please continue to pray for these couples and for all of the couples that will attend the seminar. This is the first time this seminar will be held in France. It is a powerful tool to heal and equip couples for strong, happy marriages and families.

Personally, I've been feeling the urge to get 'out of the four walls' a bit. After talking with others I think there might be several of us who would like to do Treasure Hunts or just get out and pray for people and see God speak and heal people. I'm not looking to start a program. We just want to see the Kingdom grow and the miraculous in our town.

Like many of you, we are waiting on spring to reveal itself. Winter doesn't want to let go. It may be a little slow in coming but when spring hits it's going to be splendid. I have this same hope to see the presence of God manifested in my church, in my town, in my country and on my continent. Let's go, people of God, let's love God and release heaven on earth!



Prayer requests recap:

~That God continue to grow the Alsace-Arkansas connection according to His desire and plans.
~Prayer covering for Daniel School in all areas and for French Christian education.
~The Love After Marriage seminar the week of April 22nd and the Leigh and Beck families.
~God's Kingdom come, His will be done in our lives and that we can take it to the streets.

A call

It's autumn time once again. The colors are changing slowly here but it is beautiful. The vineyards are gold and green and the trees are like fire. I love this time of year.

I will give you a quick update on Carolyn. The last post she was in the hospital but she has been out for a while and is doing much better. In fact, she is doing a bit of traveling and visiting friends in Russellville. God is good. She still needs complete healing and mobility in her legs. Thanks for all of your prayers for her.

This school year has at least doubled my work load from last year. I am now teaching at the music school in Guebwiller (like last year) and I've added classes in a nearby town called Meyenheim. In addition, we have started an 'orchestra' at the Collège Daniel the Christian school where I volunteer. We are continuing to build with the choir as well and I have a worship group of 'high school' students. I am continuing English with the missionaries' daughter, Olivia, as well. I have also added another worship group at church. That makes 3 youth worship groups at our small church! Needless to say, I am staying busy and enjoying it.

I would like to take just a minute to share my heart and vision with you once again for why I am in France. My heart is to see revival in France and in Europe. I am definitely not alone in this. I want to be a part of what God is doing and is going to do here. Teaching is one of the ways that I can share God's love and hope with people. I know there is more to do and be a part of. I am also involved in teams that go and worship and intercede in different places. It's all about expanding the Kingdom of God.

Another thing I can do is be a connection between France and the States. For example I would like to send out a call to prayer to all my American/anglophone friends for the Christian school Etablishment Scolaire Daniel. I have talked about the importance of Christian education in the francophone world. Daniel School is a flagship for Christian schools in French speaking countries. Currently, there is a lot of pressure spiritually, practically and financially. The school has been operating from a financial deficit for months now. This means that several teachers are not receiving any salary as well as the fact that bills don't get paid. Can you imagine continuing to work in a job if they can't pay you!? The teachers and staff are dedicated to the students and the vision of Christian education. Also, prayer is needed for the order of God to come in the organization and leadership of the school and the association the governs it. In the midst of the difficulties God is doing great things in the lives of the students, teachers and staff of the school. God is at work! We just need to partner together in prayer for this school to push back the enemy and see the provision of God in all of these situations.

I pray that the Holy Spirit speaks to many of you to pray for Daniel School so that we can stand together to see the school fulfill it's destiny for the Kingdom in the midst of the darkness!

May God's joy and peace flow in your lives in abundance!!

Prayer requests:

~COMPLETE healing for Carolyn!
~God's provision in all things for Daniel School (Etablissement Scolaire Daniel)

**The pics are from a fun time with Olya (our sweet Russian friend who takes great pics). I thought they went along well with the Clarion Call name. And they're just fun.

Plenty

Have you noticed that God's economy is not the same as the world's economy? I hope you have all had the chance to experience God's economy and His generosity from two angles, the side of the giver and the side of the receiver. It's so important to be active from both sides. We all have SOMETHING we can give no matter how little we have. Often the giving releases God's provision. Then to the often more difficult part...receiving. As Americans, and I think as French as well, we have been taught to be independent and self-sufficient. It is often hard to receive and it's even harder to ask for help. It is humbling. When we begin to understand how God has created us to live in community and to be interdependent giving and receiving becomes normal life. It is honoring and it brings freedom. Acts 2:44-47. This is a stark contrast to the world system of acquiring things to gain happiness and power and then to rule and sometimes oppress those who have not. Who is really happy? Who is really free?

I thank God that He has blessed me with an Acts 2 kind of life. Even though I may not always have plenty in the bank, I live a life of plenty and I lack nothing I need. I have the joy of being able to bless others and the family of God blesses me. Thanks to all of you who are a part of this family and God's economy. What a great model of God's Kingdom come on earth!

Before I launch into my news I just want to ask again for prayer for Carolyn and her kidney. She went for a check up on her kidney and was admitted to the hospital for further tests because they suspect that the kidney is rejecting her body. Please pray for complete healing from the inside out for Carolyn and for complete kidney function.

The May elections brought a new president for France, François Hollande. This brings a big change from Sarkosy. I've heard a few people say they have felt a difference in the atmosphere since Hollande took office. What is certain is that it is time for the church to rise up and take its place by praying for the president and the government. The people of God always need to see that we can shape our world and our society through prayer and action. We need to hear the Father's heart for our nations and then imitate that heart and release it in prayer and declaration. We heard very clearly that we needed to release peace and joy over France. This is God's heart which is completely opposite of the reaction of fear and worry that was produced in many. Martin Scott also wrote in his blog that peace and joy needed to be released over France. God is speaking the same thing to His people in different places.

The legislative elections are coming up this Sunday. I have heard many say that 2012 is a year of shifting and changes. There are big changes already. Please pray for France and the elections this coming Sunday. Please release joy and peace over France when you pray.

A group of 9 youth from Joshua Church is planning a mission trip to the Philippines this July. A project like this is much more complicated than in the U.S. They have been working hard to raise funds and to get all of the paperwork in order. I think most of you understand the difference a trip like this can make in their lives and in the lives of the people they will go to help. Some of you from FOC will know several of these youth which includes a young lady from Moscow who will join the group when they pass through the Moscow airport. Please pray for Vincent, Elisabeth, Claire, Séphora, Jérémie, Benjamin, Uriel and Olya and their intercessor Timothée. Feel free to contact me if you would like to support them. You can check out a short presentation of their trip by watching this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFsk3oxIHKw&feature=youtu.be

June is the last month of school in France so we still have a few weeks of class left. I get to play trumpet with a group (rock band) from the music school on July 21st as a part of the Music Festival that is held all over France every year. I am really looking forward to it!

I think that's it for this entry. Thank you all for reading along and for praying along. I discovered that people from several countries are reading and that is encouraging. However, I don't know anyone from several of the countries and that makes me think they were searching something and came on my blog by accident. So, whether you be a friend or whether you are here by a happy accident, be blessed into the fullness of all that God has for your life!!

Prayer requests:

~Continued prayer for Carolyn Gore who is currently in the hospital waiting for tests results to see the condition of her kidney. Pray for complete healing!

~Pray for the youth who are going to the Philippines on mission this summer. Pray that all the paperwork and finances will come in as well as good health, protection and divine appointments.

~Pray for France as another round of elections approach. The legislative elections are next Sunday. Please pray and release peace and joy over the country during this time of change.

**A picture of one of the many poppies in bloom in the vineyards. One of the symbolic meanings of the poppy is 'resurrection.' Yes, Jesus, your resurrection power for France!!

Joy

The Holy Spirit is doing a new thing in me...and I like it. He is at work in our church body...I like that too. I am looking forward to the fruit. His touch is releasing joy, singing and strange sounds! More, Holy Spirit!

Last week I went with a team to Labeshuus near Thun, Switzerland. We took a few days to just pray and worship and enjoy the presence of God. It was a rich time and God birthed something and touched us deeply and brought refreshing. We also spent time praying for several European nations, some individuals and some people groups. Labehuus is beautifully situated and gives a spectacular view of the Swiss Alps. The view in itself inspires worship of the Creator!

I am very happy to report that the government aide that I was waiting on came through in a timely matter. Thanks for all of your prayers! God is good and faithful!

Carolyn is at home and doing good and getting better, especially concerning her kidney. She still has a lot of pain with her leg and has been told it could be months before it returns to normal. Please continue to pray for her.

Nadine has been named the Director of Sozo Ministry for France by Bethel Church in Redding!! She has been working hard training a team here in Guebwiller and traveling to do trainings with Janet Richards all over France. This is a big step toward God spreading inner-healing in France. It is much needed. Of course, new titles come with more authority, responsibility and pressure. She has already experienced some spiritual resistance. Nadine is definitely the woman for the job but she could use all of your prayers for provision and spiritual protection as she walks in this new dimension. She and Janet have two trainings coming up quickly in May. You can keep these in mind when you are praying for her.

I am thoroughly settled into my new home and thoroughly enjoying it. I am reminded daily of God's goodness.

I am happy to say that my dad is still doing well and enjoying life.

French elections are May 6th. As in the States, this will be a very important election during a difficult and pivotal time in France and in Europe. Please pray that God's choice to lead France is elected. A disturbing trend that has been seen is that because of the difficult times people are voting more for the extreme right, the fascists. The good news is that they didn't make it past the first round but they had way more votes than they should have. Now there is the current president, Sarkozy, who is the most moderate who is facing the socialist Hollande. It is a very important moment for France. Please be praying this week for France and the upcoming elections this Sunday!

Thanks again for reading along and taking this journey with me!!

Prayer requests recap:

~France and the upcoming elections this Sunday, May 6th!
~Spiritual protection, traveling safety and provision for Nadine in her new role as Sozo Director for France.
~Complete healing of Carolyn's leg.
~That the Holy Spirit continue to pour Himself out on us and accomplish His purposes in this time.

**This picture was taken from Labeshuus near Thun, Switzerland. It's beautiful isn't it!?

New Life

I'm writing to you from a sunny spot in the south of France. It seems that Spring is starting a little early this year for many of us. The new life is getting an early start. May we all benefit from the abundant life of God in this season!

I have a lot of good news to pass on...

I will start with my dad. He is doing REALLY well. He looks even better than he did before his operation and he is feeling well and getting his strength back. His wife, Melba, is also feeling good and looking good. I am so happy and thankful for God's goodness to heal and take care of my family. Thanks for your prayers for my family!! I see A LOT of fruit!

My friend, Carolyn, is doing well too. Her journey is still just getting started. She had some set backs with blood clots in her leg and lungs so she is back in the hospital recovering. The clot in her lung has cleared up but she still has trouble with her right leg and foot. Her incision is healing well and best of all her kidney is happy in its new home! Please continue to pray for a complete recovery and no more complications as well as hope and good spirits to finish the journey.

In the past few weeks I have had dinner with one of my music school student's family. The mother approached me and asked if I was a person of faith. She had seen me going to the Christian school and made the connection. When I told her that yes, I was, she said that was obvious to her. Then she invited me to dinner with their family. It is great to make connections. I also met many musicians who are students or teachers at a concert where I worked the snack bar. I didn't know anyone at the beginning so it was a bit challenging but I was happy to be out 'of the 4 walls' and make new contacts and hopefully eventually new friends.

I am now well settled in my new home complete with a bedroom that I have decorated, my first in France. It is a joy and a blessing. I made known the need for help with the new costs and several of you responded. Thank you! I am blown away by your generosity and the provision of Our Daddy! I have also filled out all of the papers (until they ask for something else!) to get government aide for the rent. I have a number and I'm in the system so hopefully it won't be too long before I can receive the aide.

I had two good moments as a teacher/coach this past week. From the past I received a tag from a former student from Danville on Facebook. He had written a paper about something that had influenced his life. He wrote about our band trip to Washington, D.C. to march in the Memorial Day Parade in 2005. He said it was challenging but was an event that changed his life. He realized the importance of music in his life and he was proud of himself for what he had accomplished. I tear up just writing about it. That's what every teacher wants, to provide an opportunity for a young person to discover what he's made of and to take pride in himself. Wow. In the present, just this last Sunday my oldest worship group, The Beans, led worship for a conference with about 250 teachers attending. It was the biggest group they've ever played for and well they ROCKED. The most powerful moment for me was watching a lady near me who remained seated during the worship time. She was bent over and looked like she was in a dark cloud. During the last song, "In Your Eyes", written by someone in our church (it's the song the girls played this summer in Arkansas) the lady stood up and began to sing. I was almost in tears. The Beans are good musicians but the best part is the presence of God that they release. I am so proud of them. Thank you, Father, for the joy and the privilege of working with young people.

There are a lot of good things coming up this Spring too. In April I will go with a team to a 24/7 House of Prayer in Switzerland. We will take 2 hour slots to worship and pray. A few of the youth will go with us and be a part of our team. Then in May there is a week long celebration of 100 years of non-stop prayer and worship that took place in Herrnhut, Germany and was a part of the Moravian church that birthed a missionary movement. Again we will take a team to participate in 24/7 worship and prayer during that week. We hope one day to have a house of prayer "maison de prière" at Joshua Church too!

I will leave you with that thought. Thanks to all of you who keep up with what's happening in my life and pray into it. You are a huge blessing to me!

Prayer requests:

~Continued good health and recovery for my family and for Carolyn.

~For the paperwork for the government to be processed in a timely manner to help pay the rent.

~Holy Spirit inspired times of prayer and worship that help shift that spiritual atmosphere in Europe!


**The Danville High School Marching Band in Washington, D.C. in 2005. The age range was much more like a JR high group but they did a fantastic job and we had a blast. Needless to say, we've all changed a bit since then. The guy standing beside me is the one who wrote the paper, John Cerna. He now stands a full head (at least) taller than me. =) Thanks for sharing your paper with me, John!

**The Beans. Un super groupe de louange qui déchire !! A super worship band that rocks!!

Starting with a BANG

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!