The last few nights have been very difficult for the team. Transitioning to our nine hour difference has proven to be a challenge. Please pray that we'll be able to get a good nights rest for the school start-up tomorrow.
Yesterday was spent getting to know each other. Of our 6 team members from the US, only 3 of us have worked together for Lifesprings. Our team members are Janice Gutierrez, Terri LaBrie (from our first trip), along with the newbies, Amy Clossen, Sabrina Gillian, Caron Hofer, and myself. Rather than visiting the monestary, which was cold, cold, cold, we decided to go into Grenoble to to take in the sights. It was pretty cold too, since a cold front swung through the area yesterday. During our time out, we had several opportunities to walk and talk with eachother. We have been taking every opportunity to catch little snippets of new friends history. Our first lecturer and his wife, Nate Feldmeth and his wife, Joanne, joined us. We have had a blasting getting to know Nate, a professor from Fuller Seminary. Seminary professors are people too! What a treat to hang with out with the prof.
Grenoble, the sight of the '68 Olympics, has an old city core which is very beautiful. Surrounded by mountain ranges, one being the Alps, the vistas are amazing!. We took the bubble gondola up to the bastille, an old army fortification. From the top of the site, we were able to get sweeping views of the city and valley below. It was beautiful.
Women begin to arrive this evening. This afternoon we will complete setting up the room, putting together binders, and making final prepartations. At 9:00 this evening we're meeting all together for a prayer and worship time. Nine is a little late for us US citizens, especially with jet lag to deal with, but the timing is very European. We begin early on Saturday, with an 8 am coaches meeting for myself and the start up of the school beginning at 9. As we will begin our meeting while you're all sleeping this evening, please pray for us this afternoon.
if you can. We really appreciate all of our praying friends and family back home.
All of our supplies have arrived, so I need to sign off. There's work to be done. Most likely I will not be able to add to my blog tomorrow, but will make every effort to catch you up on Sunday. Until then, Au Revoir, mis ami!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Travel Day, Oct 13, 2009
As expected, travel day was full of surprises. After arriving at the airport in Santa Barbara, in a windy rain, my flight was changed. At first I was not phased, the new departure time was within a comfortable window, but soon it changed to 4:30 and then quickly to 6:50. This was not going to work as my flight from SFO was due to leave at 7:08!
Carl quickly jumped into action. The couple seated next to us join us as well, as we were booked on the same flights. The agent booked us into San Jose with a cab to SFO, with a very limited window. We began to pray. Carl assured me that I was going to make this fight, I had work to do in France, and I was not going to be delayed. He then made arrangements with Mr. Sullivan to be my escort, placed me in his care, and off we went to catch our new flight. Our goodbye was short and sweet.
The wind and rain swept our plane and I quietly prayed. "Lord," I prayed, " I know that you can stop time, speed up our plane supernatuarally and even hold our international flight on the ground. This I know you can do, so I'm trusting that if you want me on this flight, it will be done."
I chatted frequently with my new companions about my praying friends, the school here in France, and our common bond of tennis. All the while, the rain and wind pounded our small plane. I tried to keep the conversation light and postive, but the Sullivan's were not as sure about making our connection. All that changed very quickly. After we landed in San Jose, our luggage arrived on the gondola at break neck speed, a cab was immediately available, the rain had stopped, And to top it all off, the cap driver informed us that we could make it to the airport in 32 minutes In fact, he stated that we'd be there at 6:02, giving us more that enough time to make our flight. The mood in our little cab brightened immediately as we quickly made our way down the busy freeway. Our lane cruise briskly along. Only once did we slow down. In keeping with God's extra-ordinary answer to my prayer, we indeed pulled up to the international terminal at 6:02 exactly.
I soon learned that my friends who were traveling to France with me, were experiencing similar trivals. Theirs in the form of slowed traffice due to accidents on the freeway and rainy BART terminals. Our plane? Even though international flights are given first priority for take-off, our flight was delayed by 50 minutes.
We are all safe and sound at beautiful Champflueri. We're off today to a monastary. The weather is brisk today. Much different from our California weather. So today is a layers days. Anna has arrived so we're off soon. Au Revoir my friends. We'll talk soon!
Carl quickly jumped into action. The couple seated next to us join us as well, as we were booked on the same flights. The agent booked us into San Jose with a cab to SFO, with a very limited window. We began to pray. Carl assured me that I was going to make this fight, I had work to do in France, and I was not going to be delayed. He then made arrangements with Mr. Sullivan to be my escort, placed me in his care, and off we went to catch our new flight. Our goodbye was short and sweet.
The wind and rain swept our plane and I quietly prayed. "Lord," I prayed, " I know that you can stop time, speed up our plane supernatuarally and even hold our international flight on the ground. This I know you can do, so I'm trusting that if you want me on this flight, it will be done."
I chatted frequently with my new companions about my praying friends, the school here in France, and our common bond of tennis. All the while, the rain and wind pounded our small plane. I tried to keep the conversation light and postive, but the Sullivan's were not as sure about making our connection. All that changed very quickly. After we landed in San Jose, our luggage arrived on the gondola at break neck speed, a cab was immediately available, the rain had stopped, And to top it all off, the cap driver informed us that we could make it to the airport in 32 minutes In fact, he stated that we'd be there at 6:02, giving us more that enough time to make our flight. The mood in our little cab brightened immediately as we quickly made our way down the busy freeway. Our lane cruise briskly along. Only once did we slow down. In keeping with God's extra-ordinary answer to my prayer, we indeed pulled up to the international terminal at 6:02 exactly.
I soon learned that my friends who were traveling to France with me, were experiencing similar trivals. Theirs in the form of slowed traffice due to accidents on the freeway and rainy BART terminals. Our plane? Even though international flights are given first priority for take-off, our flight was delayed by 50 minutes.
We are all safe and sound at beautiful Champflueri. We're off today to a monastary. The weather is brisk today. Much different from our California weather. So today is a layers days. Anna has arrived so we're off soon. Au Revoir my friends. We'll talk soon!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness. Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hands hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
What a great chorus to a wonderful hymn of faith. Indeed, great is God's faithfulness! I have definately seen God's faithfulness these last few weeks. As I have prepared to leave for this next trip to France; life continued to happen. With life came the start up of fall ministries at church, training and participating in a half marathon (walking) and planning for an event that happens one day after my return. Did I get frazzled at times. Yes! But thanks to the faithful prayers of friends and family, I can say that "It is well with my soul, " and I'm ready to go.
There are currently 50 women registered for the Lifesprings School of Ministry in Grenoble, France. Women are coming from France, Switzerland, Italy, and the UK. Many sacrifices are being made by the participants and their families emotionally, through time spent away at school and studying, as well as financially.
This school is a big deal. Lifesprings Ministries is breaking ground with the start-up of this school on Saturday, October 17, 2009. Women are being prepared for extended ministry in their homes, communities, and church families. I see it as preparing 50 more missionaries already out on the field. And that is awesome!
Our team leaves California this evening even amongest the first big storm of the season. We are not detered. God has a mission for us, and we will set out to see it fulfilled, Lord willing. Please continue to pray as we start out on our journey.
Since we start our traveling this evening, it may be a while before I can post again. I am hopeful that it will be sometime on Thursday. I might even have a picture of the weary travelers. Until then, thanks for your prayers!
What a great chorus to a wonderful hymn of faith. Indeed, great is God's faithfulness! I have definately seen God's faithfulness these last few weeks. As I have prepared to leave for this next trip to France; life continued to happen. With life came the start up of fall ministries at church, training and participating in a half marathon (walking) and planning for an event that happens one day after my return. Did I get frazzled at times. Yes! But thanks to the faithful prayers of friends and family, I can say that "It is well with my soul, " and I'm ready to go.
There are currently 50 women registered for the Lifesprings School of Ministry in Grenoble, France. Women are coming from France, Switzerland, Italy, and the UK. Many sacrifices are being made by the participants and their families emotionally, through time spent away at school and studying, as well as financially.
This school is a big deal. Lifesprings Ministries is breaking ground with the start-up of this school on Saturday, October 17, 2009. Women are being prepared for extended ministry in their homes, communities, and church families. I see it as preparing 50 more missionaries already out on the field. And that is awesome!
Our team leaves California this evening even amongest the first big storm of the season. We are not detered. God has a mission for us, and we will set out to see it fulfilled, Lord willing. Please continue to pray as we start out on our journey.
Since we start our traveling this evening, it may be a while before I can post again. I am hopeful that it will be sometime on Thursday. I might even have a picture of the weary travelers. Until then, thanks for your prayers!
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