It's a Small World

We had a full table at the 8:15 prayer meeting this morning.  There are normally 5 of us, but this morning there were 12!  This is a blessing in itself because the additional people are volunteers, which is a huge answer to prayer.  (Thank you for praying and please keep them coming!)

It was on my heart to pray for the couple I've mentioned in previous blogs who run the ministry called Espoir et Vie in Alsace, so I prayed for them by name.  It was my only prayer this morning.  One of the visiting men sitting all the way across the table asked the name of the young woman in the red coat (me).  He asked about the couple I had prayed for and told me he is Jérémie's father!  We were all silent with surprise.  

"How do you know them?"  I explained how I'd met them in November the week after I'd left here.  He was visibly touched and encouraged to hear us praying for them, and I was full of thanks to the Holy Spirit for having prompted me to the same morning that his father was present without me even knowing it.  We all agreed what a small world it is!

Ze Rencontre

Sometimes I wonder what I've gotten myself into.  I had that thought/feeling as Friday approached last week, the day Ze Rencontre would begin.  It's a play on words (Ze="the" with a French pronunciation 😂 encounter).  A nonstop weekend with 2,000 French youth is a major stretch already, but following 8 days of conferences in Holland and the extras in between?  

But what a weekend it was!  I actually missed Friday's service because of a mixup in the transportation, which I counted as a blessing in disguise since it got me to bed much earlier than I would've otherwise.  I met the group who was staying in the same town as me early Saturday morning, and we rode in, not returning till 11:30 or so.  That was a long day.  I took a break Sunday afternoon to celebrate Easter with my friend's family after the morning service, but participated that evening.  

So much I could write, but I was so honoured to be among this group of French youth praising God, being fed the Word in a direct, powerful way.  I was thankful to join the prayers of those who were being moved and worked on to go deeper, to be set free, to step into the life that Jesus offers them.

I was impressed with the organization.  Both afternoons offered a variety of activities: 7 or so sports, 4-5 outreach opportunities, and about 20 workshops on everything from the occult to science and faith to authority and submission and so on.

As I rode back to Lux in one of two full cars, we talked for the entire 2.5-3 hours of how everyone was encouraged or inspired and of possible ways to take action.  The first fruit, at least as a group, has already happened: a small group of us met to pray and fast last night.  It was a rich time.  Thank you, Lord!!!!

Please pray for the 2,000 youth/leaders who attended Ze Rencontre to continue to encounter the Lord and to walk in His Spirit and for us at the P.O. de Lux to continue to do the same as we seek His heart for the community here.

TGIF?

Note: This post is a bit delayed.

I was quite exhausted after I returned to France.  I had to be very disciplined to protect Wednesday as my Sabbath as I hadn't had one since before I'd left France.  I did meet a French couple I'd met in November who has a ministry called Espoir et Vie.  It was relaxing, though, as we walked down the street to a nearby park.  Otherwise, it was praying, a walk, some nice meals, rest, and a movie with my friend.

Please, please pray for this family as they need more resources (people, finances, and a
 building) to advance in the vision they have. 

It was a good move because Thursday was full.  The plan was to meet some of the Swiss team in Basel which is just over the border.  I'd remembered how easy it was to take the train into Basel from the town I was staying.  What I didn't realise is that the church where we were meeting was next to the German rail station, not the Swiss one.  

To make matters worse, the tram is under construction.  I found the bus, but the wrong direction, so I returned to the station to buy a train ticket.  The machine wouldn't take my credit cards, which was a blessing because I heard over the loud speaker that it had been canceled!  Back outside, I asked around and had to walk a few blocks to find another tram.  They wouldn't take Euros, and I no longer have Swiss francs, but thankfully the machine did take some Euros.  Finally, I arrived a few minutes later than planned, but in tact!  

It was nice to catch up with a couple of colleagues and to get caught up on some work!  It's been years since I was in Basel, so that was nice too...until time to go home.  Almost a repeat of failed attempts to purchase tickets.  As time ticked away, my stress level increased as I had agreed to lead a French Bible Study that evening and had a little more preparing to do as well as eat.  Thankfully my colleague agreed to drive me, which I was so grateful for!

That evening I used one of the passages that had really spoken to me during the Weavers training the week before: John 11.  Actually, if you follow my blog, this isn't the first time I've been touched by this story; but this time for a different reason.

The evening was more of a "partage" (me sharing) than teaching.  I had everyone listen to me re-tell the story and then asked a few questions before I gave everyone some time with the Lord as I posed some questions, with an instrumental song playing in the background.  We had to consider who/what is our Lazare (Lazarus)?  The thing where we may feel like the Lord didn't listen or care when we brought our deepest need to him because he was away/distant while we were in Bethany (so to speak)?  And what is our stone if there is one, something that the Lord wants us to do so that any obstacles blocking his desire to meet our needs even miraculously, would be removed?  And what are our arguments or hold-ups that could cause us to question our obedience?  Finally Jesus' question: Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?

I think a couple of people would've preferred the regular dialogue (the French love to discuss!), but one young man expressed how much he appreciated the time with the Lord to bring the questions to Him.  The pastor also was very affirming and encouraging and even open to share with the others what he received.  We ended in prayer.

To be honest, I left relieved that it was over; and the next day would begin the youth weekend!  Not exactly TGIF, ha ha!

To Holland and Back

Tuesday I returned back to France after spending over a week in Holland at a conference.  There were over 600 people from 78 countries and 210 organisations represented!  For someone who doesn't like the nonstop flood of information and activities inherent to conferences, this stretched me.  I wish I had had time to write posts throughout the week as there were many stories to share, but I was just thankful to make it through the intensity in good health, praise God!

I didn't get to sightsee or visit any of the renowned Keukenhof,
but here are some tulips from the flowerbed where we stayed. :)

I was also thankful to just be there.  I had been dealing with fatigue as I left France and arrived in Holland, but that felt like nothing when I heard the stories of other attendees who never made it to the conference.  There were many whose Visas were denied, and the two plenary speakers had to cancel at the last minute, one because of the loss of his wife the week before; the other diagnosed with a fatal disease about the same time.  Wow.  It made me consider how special it was to be there.

The hilight for me was all the people I met and connections I made.  The Weavers training (an EE tool that focuses on weaving Gospel conversations into normal conversations) was the reason I went and very valuable.  It was so rich to have a variety of languages and cultures represented as we learned from each other.

Group who completed the Weavers Training

That's all I can really share about the conference on this platform, but it was a rich time, not just by the diversity of cultures and languages represented, but also the gifts and talents that each one brought.  The man who put it together left us with a very powerful challenge: "No one is able to do as well as you are at what God has asked you to do.  Do it."  

Provision and Progress

This week has been one of my busiest with lots of meetings--online, over the phone, and in person.  There’s one in particular I want to share with you as it is a huge answer to the prayers of many over the past few months!  Tuesday I asked a simple question which led to a discussion about possible people who could help revise the Canadian materials into French.  Sara who works as the communications director at the P.O. thought of someone from our church.  How convenient, but more importantly, she’s qualified.  And just like that after weeks of knocking on some different doors.  

After a simple text, we had scheduled a meeting before Wednesday night’s church service.  As I explained more about what I do and what I am looking for, she scanned the material and noticed a word or phrase here and there that sound strange or not very French (at least to the French).  She agreed to meet with me when I return after Easter!  (I’m on a train now en route to Alsace before I attend a couple of conferences over the next couple of weeks.).

In the meantime, as I reached out to my Canadian colleague, I was incredibly thankful to discover that we have another material already translated into French: the dvd script.  Wow!  I still have a lot of digging to do, but I’m so thankful for the Lord’s goodness to provide this lady as well as the additional helpful conversations that have given direction this week.  A huge thank you to all who have been praying for this!  I greatly value your prayers as we move forward, especially the communication with others, for wisdom, efficiency, and accuracy in the entire revision process.   Merci!

Breakfast at La P.O.

It's taken me almost a week to write!  The weekends have been super busy here, and Mondays come quickly.  I wanted to share about last Saturday morning's women's breakfast.  The church here has started having women's events.  Not only has there been a great response, but the men are wanting to start something now!  :)

Okay, not from our breakfast, but I needed a pick. :) (iu)

A group of ladies gathered around a table with all types of breads and pastries to discuss a book they've been reading on our new identity in Christ.  I loved hearing the different women share how God has been speaking into their lives, particularly who they are in Christ.

My favourite part of the morning was when we divided into four groups of 4-5 to pray.  The lady who had sat next to me had been invited by a colleague.  It was her first time like mine.  Her questions revealed that she was uncomfortable to pray out loud.  Even though she's Catholic, she doesn't have a Bible and had some questions.  She decided she'd go last and follow our lead on the prayer.

She ended up praying for me, and it was very pertinent and touching.  I was impressed with how a couple of the younger women were able to clearly and accurately share their faith.  

After we all said our goodbyes, she started asking me about my own conversion, and I was able to share how I started to have a hunger to read the Bible.  That even though I'd always known that Jesus was the Savior of the world, I didn't really understand my own personal need for a Savior because I was pretty good, though of course not perfect.  When I understood that God was holy and no matter how good I was, I couldn't be in His presence, that communicated my own need for a Savior.

She said she was going to think more about that.  We exchanged numbers, and I do hope to get together with her soon "to explore the region" as she put it.  Please pray for this beautiful woman with many questions, that they would lead her to the One who Himself is the answer.  Please continue to pray for all of these women--and the men--to encourage one another in their faith.

Note: la P.O. stands for la Porte Ouverte, the name of the centre here.

Discipleship Class in Lyon

Last Saturday I was invited to a day trip to the Lyon area  for a discipleship class.  I gladly accepted and joined 6 others from la Porte Ouverte.  The theme was on children and youth and to my advantage, the speakers were Swiss German!  One spoke French, but the other had his brother translate.  The reason it was an advantage is because I got to hear the messages twice, which is helpful when it's not your native language.  Side note: I was amazed that I could understand so much Swiss German since I didn't understand very much when I lived in Switzerland, and then found out he had been speaking high German (from Germany)!  ☺️

Benjamin and Emmanuel sharing practical ideas with the group

Anyway, it was wonderful to be amongst French and Swiss believers wanting to be better equipped to make disciples.  We had times of worship, prayer, and teaching.  The first speaker, Benjamin, shared very practical ways to relate to and teach our children who God is and how to live according to His Word in this world.  He emphasised that our children are not just the church of the future, but they are part of the present church!  

His brother, Emmanuel, focused on 1 Timothy 1:18-19, particularly how Paul addressed Timothy as "mon enfant" or "my child."  While servant or disciple are both Biblical words, he was intentional to speak as a father to a son.  According to Emmanuel, children have enough "maitres" (French for master, but also like a classroom teacher) telling them what to do and what not to do.  What they need is spiritual mothers and fathers who have a long-term vision for their life and help them develop into who God wants them to be.

Thankful for the gorgeous weather since we grilled out for lunch!

I left very grateful and encouraged to have been able to join them.  I also was thinking how this could be a potential future site for an EE intro, though I'm not positive what that would look like.  That seems very far away as I still need to find people to revise the materials, much less start training others.  I was encouraged in this week's Bible Study when David acknowledged that God "enabled him to understand all the details of the plan."  This has become my prayer as I seek to serve God's plans, not my own, and need His help to both form a plan and then carry it out.  Thank you for praying with me!