So this year is a leap year. Cool right?
anyways,
this week has been...interesting. we've been chilling with some dutch kids. the group here currently has a ton of young adults our age that we've been having fun hanging out with. There is a difference between the dutch and the french and we're learning that firsthand. We also got to taste the exceptional cooking of our resident dutch baker. he made us some really yummy cakey thing thats is very dutch and ive never seen before. other than that we found the christian bookstore in Grenoble this week and bought ourselves some good ol christian french worship music. we also had a baby shower for Theresa (buan's wife, our secretary). Her baby is due right before I leave for America. That's right. Before I leave. Kristin will be staying here for another month to help out Verena. We had been discussing this for a while and we feel this is the right decsion. It's going to be strange returning to America without her, but this seems to be where God wants her right now. So I will be heading home on the 1st of April by myself. Pray for a safe and easy flight as well as travel to the airport which in France can at times get confusing!
other than that we bid farewell to another equipier this week and she headed back to Germany. So now it's Thoman, Mike, Kristin, Verena and me here until the end. We are all pretty tight at this point and Mike has extended his stay here to hang out with us for longer. Verena will be here until August and Thomas lives down the hill and comes and goes. It's been a crazy and good past couple of weeks, but we are looking forward to this coming week. There will be a group about our age here for skiing and we are going with them EVERYDAY! That's a lot of ski time for us after such a long time of working! Hope everyone is enjoying their leap year!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Music--how we roll...
so my little sister is basically my hero and the most amazing person on this planet. besides jesus of course hehe. so she sends me lists of A-M-A-Z-I-N-G music. i mean she searches for days and weeks to come up with these lists. they are incredible! i have a slight (cough) obsession with music. all my friends have learned this sad fact first hand and those of them that have spent a good deal of time with me have learned the types that tend to make me the happiest. i am wicked amped for concerts in LA this coming fall! i have a list. for seriouse though i do. so anyways i am on break today and going through these lists of music. i also read all of Samuel. I liked it. I have been reading through my entire bible. I'm on Acts and now 2 Samuel. It's taken me a long long time, but it's been one of the most benefitting experiences of France so far.
Life has been hard here lately. We have the Dutch here. I know that sounds so neat, but in reality they are loud and demanding! Classy right? So we are dealing with their "needs". This means getting up wayyyy wayyy too early in the morning and having two seperate dinners because they want to eat at ungodly hours! Either way they are here for a week with one other group and then we have a nice easy group to finish the winter season! The time is just going to fly by until we come home. After these next 2 camps we then have a week with Dana Smith's group in Albertville and then Joshua Expeditions (think Bob Jones Uni) is sending a work group here for the rest of our time. Then HOME to you all!
So this past week we have had stunning weather! Think sunny skies and warm weather. We've been tanning and reading outside every afternoon before dinner. I have been enjoying listening to the french teens learn about Mark. It's neat to understand them and the discussions they have each afternoon!
Have I mentioned we have a new secretary for a bit. His name is Thomas and I know him from the youth center in Grenoble. He has really bad stress fractures and has to use special crutches for a while completly taking him out of the ski season and army for a bit. So yea keep his recovery in your prayers.
Pray that these next few months will be amazing here. That we will finish strong. That we will touch the hearts of all those we talk and interact with. That they will find people to replace us at AWANA's. That the camp will find workers for when we leave!
I hope everyone loves snow because i heard a rumor that New England is getting pummled right now! Hope all is well with all of you. stay safe.
Life has been hard here lately. We have the Dutch here. I know that sounds so neat, but in reality they are loud and demanding! Classy right? So we are dealing with their "needs". This means getting up wayyyy wayyy too early in the morning and having two seperate dinners because they want to eat at ungodly hours! Either way they are here for a week with one other group and then we have a nice easy group to finish the winter season! The time is just going to fly by until we come home. After these next 2 camps we then have a week with Dana Smith's group in Albertville and then Joshua Expeditions (think Bob Jones Uni) is sending a work group here for the rest of our time. Then HOME to you all!
So this past week we have had stunning weather! Think sunny skies and warm weather. We've been tanning and reading outside every afternoon before dinner. I have been enjoying listening to the french teens learn about Mark. It's neat to understand them and the discussions they have each afternoon!
Have I mentioned we have a new secretary for a bit. His name is Thomas and I know him from the youth center in Grenoble. He has really bad stress fractures and has to use special crutches for a while completly taking him out of the ski season and army for a bit. So yea keep his recovery in your prayers.
Pray that these next few months will be amazing here. That we will finish strong. That we will touch the hearts of all those we talk and interact with. That they will find people to replace us at AWANA's. That the camp will find workers for when we leave!
I hope everyone loves snow because i heard a rumor that New England is getting pummled right now! Hope all is well with all of you. stay safe.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
I love my friends <3
i love my friends. tonight cedric our recent friend from the ski station stopped in to visit. we played some card games and talked for a long time. its been amazing getting to know and share our faith with him these past few weeks. tonight was amazing as he stopped in on his own this evening just to hang with us! please add him to your prayers. we have such a chance to minister to he and his friends from the ski shop here. pray that God gives us the right words and chances to present the message of the Father's love to him! And more than that just to be there for him as a friend and support of a different world than the one he finds in France usually!
just wanted to add that to those prayer lists. we did a bit of skiing today. then took naps wohooo. then worked a bunch.
just wanted to add that to those prayer lists. we did a bit of skiing today. then took naps wohooo. then worked a bunch.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
week one down...here we go again...
well we just finished up with some worship time with the American Seattle group that just arrived here! There are two famous in champfleuri land people Lyndsey and Dan. They brought with them a bunch of other english speakers!
Yesterday I went skiing with the group that was here from an international church in aix. We worked with a bunch of the young teenage girls on their turning and speed skills. We got in a bunch of skiing last week. Then I skied with Allan's middle school boys group and we did some off piste and blacks. Worked on my non existant mogul skills. i would love to come home able to ski moguls and i totally think its a feasible goal. tomorrow sam and jonathan two old equipe are arriving here to work. then we get some americans and the other group the Grande famille is heading out to ski. life has been hectic here, but one week of winter season is down!
Yesterday I went skiing with the group that was here from an international church in aix. We worked with a bunch of the young teenage girls on their turning and speed skills. We got in a bunch of skiing last week. Then I skied with Allan's middle school boys group and we did some off piste and blacks. Worked on my non existant mogul skills. i would love to come home able to ski moguls and i totally think its a feasible goal. tomorrow sam and jonathan two old equipe are arriving here to work. then we get some americans and the other group the Grande famille is heading out to ski. life has been hectic here, but one week of winter season is down!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
*cue drumroll*...THE WINTER SEASON HAS BEGUN!!!
yup, that's right. Today was the beginning of the winter season here at camp. Funny really as for all of us it's been the "winter season" for a few months here and to be truthful our's is better as it last a little longer than just one month!
So today was the arrival of our first Swiss group. From here on out it's up early every morning between breakfast and picnic duties. Then we have one day off a week and two afternoons off for free ski. Other than that it's work work work! ahhhhh.
Please continue praying for camp as once again we are in the midst of changing and readapting here. Today our permeneant staffer Lorraine headed back home to the US of good ol'A to take care of her ailing parents for no ones quite knows how long. She really doesnt know what's ahead if this could be a long or short stay and is actually once again going to live with her parents. She has to find work and also reknew her nursing liscense. Here this means we have one less staffer for the hectic winter season. It also means Blain (our director) has that much added work. Please pray for hands of service and not just until we leave. After Kristin and I depart in March/Aprilish there will only be one equipier here for the whole of the spring. That's crazy with the groups and work that will need to get done!
and....back to here today. We got up early and did devos then cleaned and got ready for the group. This group is small, but another group will be added to them tomorrow morning. So then we will have two groups at once. Monday we have a new staffer Sonja (German) joining us for the months of Feburary. Pray for her smooth transition into the equipier team.
Yesterday Kristin and I followed a bunch of the guys up to the mtn for a day off of wonderful skiing. Sadly the snow was kinda non existant and we were both exhausted from off pisting after about the second run! So in the coming weeks there will be many oppertunities to get up into the mtns and get in some powder. Hoping for snow here in the alps. I could see green. That is NEVER a good thing for skiing! haha.
Junior and Gaelle have moved into their new apartment and seem to be settling into married life wonderfully. We also have a french man named Cedric staying here for the week. He's not a Christian. but works for the ski shop we rent our stuff from. Throughout this past year we have all on staff here made a huge effort to get to know the staff there hoping to have a chance to talk with some of them about what we believe. It's been amazing thus far. They are even letting their staff members live here for a bit when they can't find another place for them. That's saying a whole lot as most of the town assumes we are a cult hidden away up here. hmmm...not cool. :(
anyways I'm on dinner duty and Emmy and I are going to be cooking up some o so yummy food for the group!
God Bless you all and thank you for your continued support and prayers.
P.S.--Dana Smith (our old youth leader or whatever he was/is) is heading here with a missions group the 9th of March. Happens to coincide with out end of season and we will be joining up with his group for about 4 days. This is such a blessing. One as many old friends are coming and will get to see camp and also as we will get some away from camp time to do some missions work around Albertiville ( where our old director is currently working and residing). This should be an exciting time and we can hardly wait!
I have also submitted all my scholarships and papers to BIOLA and God willing am certain I will be heading there this coming fall! I can't wait! Kind of exciting to know where I'm heading in that regard!
So today was the arrival of our first Swiss group. From here on out it's up early every morning between breakfast and picnic duties. Then we have one day off a week and two afternoons off for free ski. Other than that it's work work work! ahhhhh.
Please continue praying for camp as once again we are in the midst of changing and readapting here. Today our permeneant staffer Lorraine headed back home to the US of good ol'A to take care of her ailing parents for no ones quite knows how long. She really doesnt know what's ahead if this could be a long or short stay and is actually once again going to live with her parents. She has to find work and also reknew her nursing liscense. Here this means we have one less staffer for the hectic winter season. It also means Blain (our director) has that much added work. Please pray for hands of service and not just until we leave. After Kristin and I depart in March/Aprilish there will only be one equipier here for the whole of the spring. That's crazy with the groups and work that will need to get done!
and....back to here today. We got up early and did devos then cleaned and got ready for the group. This group is small, but another group will be added to them tomorrow morning. So then we will have two groups at once. Monday we have a new staffer Sonja (German) joining us for the months of Feburary. Pray for her smooth transition into the equipier team.
Yesterday Kristin and I followed a bunch of the guys up to the mtn for a day off of wonderful skiing. Sadly the snow was kinda non existant and we were both exhausted from off pisting after about the second run! So in the coming weeks there will be many oppertunities to get up into the mtns and get in some powder. Hoping for snow here in the alps. I could see green. That is NEVER a good thing for skiing! haha.
Junior and Gaelle have moved into their new apartment and seem to be settling into married life wonderfully. We also have a french man named Cedric staying here for the week. He's not a Christian. but works for the ski shop we rent our stuff from. Throughout this past year we have all on staff here made a huge effort to get to know the staff there hoping to have a chance to talk with some of them about what we believe. It's been amazing thus far. They are even letting their staff members live here for a bit when they can't find another place for them. That's saying a whole lot as most of the town assumes we are a cult hidden away up here. hmmm...not cool. :(
anyways I'm on dinner duty and Emmy and I are going to be cooking up some o so yummy food for the group!
God Bless you all and thank you for your continued support and prayers.
P.S.--Dana Smith (our old youth leader or whatever he was/is) is heading here with a missions group the 9th of March. Happens to coincide with out end of season and we will be joining up with his group for about 4 days. This is such a blessing. One as many old friends are coming and will get to see camp and also as we will get some away from camp time to do some missions work around Albertiville ( where our old director is currently working and residing). This should be an exciting time and we can hardly wait!
I have also submitted all my scholarships and papers to BIOLA and God willing am certain I will be heading there this coming fall! I can't wait! Kind of exciting to know where I'm heading in that regard!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Junior's Wedding!
Friday evening the guests got here for the wedding. We had a crepe soiree for 17 people. Kristin, Andrais, and I ended up in the HEATED grange singing worship songs till about 2 am. finally bed before the big day.
THEN THE WEDDING!!!!!!
we got up and had breakfast then changed and all headed to the mairie for the official ceremony. Junior of course told us all the wrong time so we would be on time for the ceremony, but we were all standing in the hallway waiting for him thinking we were going to get the groom there late for his own wedding! In France when you get married the procedure is that you are officially married here in front of this official from the country and town. It's kinda weird and they read off all these legal papers of things you must do as citizens of this country (as a couple). Basically we got a big kick out of it as they told Junior and Gaelle their goal is to have tons of little french children...yea for france haha! Either way we had this ceremony with the close friends and family. It was very official, but everything was of course translated into portugese for the brazilian clan. Gaelle looked sooo pretty and Junior was soooo happy! We paused for a bunch of pictures and then headed back to camp for lunch.
After lunch we headed to the unofficial wedding ceremony in Grenoble at Sam's church. The ceremony was beautiful and very different than any other I have seen. It fit both of their personalities really well. Especially as we sang all the favorite worship songs in french and some in english too. I loved this part even if it was very different than in american weddings! Afterwards they did a bunch of stuff and some talking and translating. Then vows, rings, kissing the bride, lighting candles, and the whole regular show. Kristin and I choose the music for the wedding so they used I can only Imagine for the bride's song and a Casting Crowns song for their finish. It was such a nice wedding. My favorite part was when the ring boy was scared and was led up the aisle and Gaelle had to ask her dad (who was at the back of the church) to bring her the wedding vows she had written and she couldn't get his attention!!!! It was slightly comical and yet made everyone relax and enjoy the day. We then toasted and had snacks before heading back to camp again! One of my favorite portions of the ceremony was one the worship and two looking around and realizing that all of my friends I've met here where in the room. Or at least most of them. It was neat to see how everyone was connected and just to share the special day all together!
We spent the whole afternoon cooking a typical french wedding dinner of shrimp, eggrolls, tomatoes, tomatoe salad, potatoe thingy, duck, mushrooms, cheese, wine wine wine, cake, and oranges. It took about 3 hours to eat! But it was totally worth all the decorating and cooking. Everything was sooo good! The cakes were all on this plater that circled and we have 6 of them! That's a LOT of cake.
After dinner we had dishes and then a video with snapshots from their childhood. It was funny to see pictures of all the people I know from when they were sooo little. Then the rest of the evening was a dance party. At this point everything started to get really really funny because it was about 1 in the morning. We all danced till about 4 am. It was amazing. The equipe (andrais, mike, me, kristin and verena) and of course buan had quite a good time making up crazy dances. I think the best would be the time buan got a broom and began to use it as a prop ( it was very early haha). So yea we all danced and danced. Kristin, Mike, Andrais, and I invented a couple hopping dance and we practiced our congo line skills. It was also awesome getting to hang out with all our friends for the whole night!
So as you can imagine sleep is in order now. We're all off for dinner and then bed early tonight. Everyone is heading home and the wedding party is about to leave for the new apartment! It's been an exciting weekend and we even managed to make today a ski day! Alrighty good night!
THEN THE WEDDING!!!!!!
we got up and had breakfast then changed and all headed to the mairie for the official ceremony. Junior of course told us all the wrong time so we would be on time for the ceremony, but we were all standing in the hallway waiting for him thinking we were going to get the groom there late for his own wedding! In France when you get married the procedure is that you are officially married here in front of this official from the country and town. It's kinda weird and they read off all these legal papers of things you must do as citizens of this country (as a couple). Basically we got a big kick out of it as they told Junior and Gaelle their goal is to have tons of little french children...yea for france haha! Either way we had this ceremony with the close friends and family. It was very official, but everything was of course translated into portugese for the brazilian clan. Gaelle looked sooo pretty and Junior was soooo happy! We paused for a bunch of pictures and then headed back to camp for lunch.
After lunch we headed to the unofficial wedding ceremony in Grenoble at Sam's church. The ceremony was beautiful and very different than any other I have seen. It fit both of their personalities really well. Especially as we sang all the favorite worship songs in french and some in english too. I loved this part even if it was very different than in american weddings! Afterwards they did a bunch of stuff and some talking and translating. Then vows, rings, kissing the bride, lighting candles, and the whole regular show. Kristin and I choose the music for the wedding so they used I can only Imagine for the bride's song and a Casting Crowns song for their finish. It was such a nice wedding. My favorite part was when the ring boy was scared and was led up the aisle and Gaelle had to ask her dad (who was at the back of the church) to bring her the wedding vows she had written and she couldn't get his attention!!!! It was slightly comical and yet made everyone relax and enjoy the day. We then toasted and had snacks before heading back to camp again! One of my favorite portions of the ceremony was one the worship and two looking around and realizing that all of my friends I've met here where in the room. Or at least most of them. It was neat to see how everyone was connected and just to share the special day all together!
We spent the whole afternoon cooking a typical french wedding dinner of shrimp, eggrolls, tomatoes, tomatoe salad, potatoe thingy, duck, mushrooms, cheese, wine wine wine, cake, and oranges. It took about 3 hours to eat! But it was totally worth all the decorating and cooking. Everything was sooo good! The cakes were all on this plater that circled and we have 6 of them! That's a LOT of cake.
After dinner we had dishes and then a video with snapshots from their childhood. It was funny to see pictures of all the people I know from when they were sooo little. Then the rest of the evening was a dance party. At this point everything started to get really really funny because it was about 1 in the morning. We all danced till about 4 am. It was amazing. The equipe (andrais, mike, me, kristin and verena) and of course buan had quite a good time making up crazy dances. I think the best would be the time buan got a broom and began to use it as a prop ( it was very early haha). So yea we all danced and danced. Kristin, Mike, Andrais, and I invented a couple hopping dance and we practiced our congo line skills. It was also awesome getting to hang out with all our friends for the whole night!
So as you can imagine sleep is in order now. We're all off for dinner and then bed early tonight. Everyone is heading home and the wedding party is about to leave for the new apartment! It's been an exciting weekend and we even managed to make today a ski day! Alrighty good night!
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