Ummm....where to begin? Well, I think I will begin with the practical and prayer requests. We all know it will roll into one anyway...
Things are starting to be clearer on the visa front. I said clearer, not faster. I have talked about this in detail in my newsletter. Maybe I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep praying!
I have mentioned the school that I am a volunteer with, College-Daniel. It is one of the few Christian schools in Europe. They rely largely on donations to function. Right now there is a need for donations to cover salaries as well as to prepare for work teams that will come this summer to finish the new classrooms. Please pray God's abundant provision to be poured out so that Christian education can continue in France. As American's we don't realize the value of having Christian thought as a foundation in our nation. It is essential to raising up Christian's in France that will transform their society for God. Here is the school's website if you would like to have a look around.
http://www.college-daniel.org/
There is a group of leaders from Eglise Josué, my church here, that will be going to Mexico to do a training course called Master Builders. They will be gone for 3 weeks. One of the English teachers here, Beckie, will be going with them and I will be taking her English classes. Please pray for these leaders that God will fill them with everything He has planned for them in this time. Also, please pray for safety for them and God's protection for their families and the church family while they are away. You can pray for me that God just gives me grace in taking the English classes in addition to my music groups. I have to say I'm looking forward to more classroom time.
Saturday the 27th of February, we had a 12 hour Tabernacle, which is a worship event. My youngest group, the 8th and 9th graders, lead worship for the first time with me as their coach. It went really well. We made a lot of progress in our 9 hours of practice over the school holidays. My older group also led worship that day and did a great job. Then on Monday I started a new group with 7th graders taking them for half of their general music class. There are 12 in that group. I am excited to have so many young people interested in WORSHIP as well as music. It is such a blessing for me to be able to teach music and worship together. Please pray for these groups that God continues to grow them in technique, but most of all that He leads them in His ways and that I have wisdom in how to instruct them and lead them into His presence.
One of the highlights for me at the Tabernacle was a time when a worship group from Germany was leading worship. They had the French and German youth join hands and sing together (in German) "Father, Father, thine is the kingdom." OK, now think about the history of France and Germany and read that again. Two nations, once at each others throats singing that it's God's Kingdom reigns, not the kingdom of France or Germany. Powerful.
**This is the pic at the top.**
For me personally, I am rediscovering music as worship. OK, I know you're thinking, but you're a music teacher...Music has been my job and my passion. I am a worshiper. Somewhere along the way I've forgotten the freedom of expressing my heart without words. God has lovingly reminded me. I have had some sweet times just playing for God and me the last couple of days. I feel something is reawakening and something new is being birthed. This is for life, but I also see the value as I am imparting into these amazing young people a heart for worship. Please pray God has His way in me and through me.
And to top off all this activity I have had 3 special guests in the last few weeks, dear friends that I met during my year of language school. What a blessing to get to spend time with them and to share my new home with them.
