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!

Photos of summer 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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.