Le Papillon

Thank you all for your prayers and support! I can't tell you how much it all means to me... especially the prayers!

My vacation was great!!! I spent the first week in Alsace with my friend from church, Thomas Hodapp. His town, Colmar, is situated just south-west of Strasbourg. The welcome by his family was fantastic! They are a very hospitable bunch who by the way, all play some sort of brass instrument. I saw old Colmar with the typical houses (German looking)- I will include a picture as soon as I get them. The region is also known for the wine so we took a drive down the wine road to a little town that contained a "Marché de Noël" or Christmas Market where I bought my niece Mya her first Christmas ornament. For Christmas we visited Thomas' grandparents and that was a treat as well!Precisely one week after arriving in Colmar I departed by TGV (high speed train) to Zug, Switzerland (near Zurich) where I stayed with Corey and Tanya Best- basically family. That was a very relaxing time as I spoke English the whole time and was around people I know well. But Tanya had to leave early as they recieved a call informing them that the baby they were adopting was going to be born the following day. That was about my third day in Switzerland. The C-section was not due for a couple weeks however it was moved up as the mother was going into labour. As the baby is from South Carolina Corey and Tanya were in a rush to get tickets changed and get her out of there the following mourning in time for the delivery. Thanks to God all went well and they now have a new daughter named Sarah Christiana Best. Praise God!!! Sunday the 4th I left by TGV once again and began the last two weeks of this semester on the 5th.

God was gracious also in giving me many opportunities to serve Him and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ: I sang Christmas carols at an old folks home with the Hodapps, helped distribute invitations for their church's Christmas program and fliers to buy a calander with verses. In Zug I was able to help Corey and Tanya move their kids rooms around in preparation for the baby- even though they had no idea of God's timing :) and I helped their church construct a cry room and nursery. Thank you God for your grace!

Praise God for great things He had done!

Psalm 11:4b says "His (speaking of God) eyelids test the sons of men." I don't understand this completely but it is very profound. His EYELIDS test the sons of men! Wow!