Le Papillon

I'm back home in Paris। However leaving Grenoble and the mountains behind was very hard. I wouldn't complain at all if God lead me to the Alpes full-time !

Family camp was great despite several worries! My biggest worry for the camp was that my ankle injury would make me useless to the service team. Thankfully Tom, the director, worked with me and gave me jobs requiring little movement so that the team was affected little or not at all. My second concern was that building relationships at family camp would be harder. However God in His grace gave me some great friends and I was able to visit one family, Seb and Jess Brandt, in Grenoble before I came back to Paris.

I especially loved their two daughters, Charlene and Amie, who are so cute ! I can't wait till Mya, my niece, is their age ! During some of the free days at camp where families could do what they please, I tagged along to the pool. First thing I had to do before entrance would be permitted... buy a speedo. Mine isn't exactly that but anything that's tight and high is considered a speedo in the States, haha. On a less miniscule note, the pool was great for exercise on my ankle and by the end of camp it was well enough to walk on enabling me to be of use at work camp.

During my last week at Camp des Cimes (Camp of the Peaks) there were three major projects we undertook: refinishing the siding on the southern face of the main building, constructing and reinforcing a wall on the north side of the building and rebuilding some stone stairs.

Me, I worked on the scaffolding refinishing the siding and got a pretty good tan :) With 18-20 workers everyone had something to do and we were able to complete all projects save the wall which was nearly complete by the final day. What is more, no one was seriously hurt. Thank you God !

This time of year is called "la rentrée." It's when everyone returns home from vacation and to life as we know it. Kids go back to school, adultes to work and the tan is lost. My "rentrée" began Monday afternoon when I took the TGV (high speed train) back here to Paris. Tuesday night I had a meeting with the leaders of the church plant to plan and discuss the various projects involved therein. This is what I discovered my week will look like: Sundays we have church at Val d'Europe and once a month I, along with my new roommate Andrew, will do the kids program. Mondays Andrew and I have a meeting with the pastor of the mother church and then go to Val d'Europe to pray, witness, strategize etc. Every other Tuesday we help with a ministry involving handicapped kids. Wednesdays we will help with a Christian kids club and Thursdays is the weekly Bible study. On top of that, I am going to be involved with starting a new group for a college ministry I attended in Paris last year during classes, GBU (Groupe Biblique Universitaire). I'm not yet sure when that will be held. I have much on my plate and it is going to be very taxing I imagine so please be praying for me ! As Dr. A.J. Gordon said, "There's more you can do after you've prayed but there's no more you can do than pray until you've prayed."

One additional item which is more personal: my Opa (grandfather) had a major heart attack several weeks ago and while he is doing much better after two stints in his heart there is nonetheless concern. Please pray for his health and my family. THANKS !!!

Prayer Requests: 1. Soft and pliable hearts for us and of those we are reaching 2. Patience, energy, passion and wisdom 3. Full recovery from my ankle injury (I'm going to try running next week) 4. A closer walk with God 5. Open eyes and heart for the next step in my journey (next year)

Praises: 1. A great summer at camp !!! 2. Friends made at camp 3. Those reached with the Gospel 4. A well healing ankle and God's timing 5. Safety in travels 6. My internship 7. Opportunity to live and minister in France... my favorite place on earth !!! 8. God's everlasting and unconditional love