Why – pray tell – is Timo standing in a big empty space, holding the Albanian flag you might ask?

If you promise to keep reading…
I promise to tell you…
😉

First things First…
26 years!

Since the last time I wrote, Liz and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary.

I remember hearing elders say how much they appreciated their spouse and how, as time went on, that person became even bigger in their eyes. I’m increasingly able to relate.

I’m a bit in amazement.

Our family wouldn’t be where were are, in the state that we are, without the influence of the God-fearing lady that she is. I married up!

How’d we celebrate? … let’s just say it was a simple day and I was speaking her primary love-language: Acts of Service. We spent the better part of the day tackling the biggest item on her honey-do list. 😉

Vision Vienne

One of the things we’ve begun this year, as a church, is that we’ve encouraged church members to capitalize on their daily travel and spend some time praying in and over the various communities that they drive through.

There are 266 communities in our Department – La Vienne (Departments are equivalent to “provinces” or “states”) and our goal is to pray in each one of them. Two weeks ago, we took advantage of the reasonable weather, came together and spent a few hours praying through 4 communities.

We have an elderly couple in Archigny and we began by praying at their house. Little did we know that they’d have company. Two neighbours had joined them and allowing us to have a short time of singing, praying and Bible study all together. It was wonderful as they are constantly witnessing to those around them.

NAYC 2023

Back to Timo and his Albanian flag…

All of our kids were involved in NHC, an initiative of the Bordeaux church, consisting of a week of meetings, workshops, and evangelism. It was incredible… Timo was lead photographer, Dominic was involved in Spanish-French translation for one of the main speakers – the Spanish Youth President and Sophie was (not unlike her mom) worth her weight in gold … helping out wherever was needed.

No sooner had they gotten home but that they were making plans to head out to NAYC in St. Louis, only a few days later. It was an unplanned trip, and the kids were taken care of by MK Ministries (a team dedicated to looking after UPCI Missionary Kids)… Amazing.

Not only did they get to spend time with other MKs, but they were able to reconnect with friends from our home church in Canada, as well as the Kahozi boys from Montreal (one of whom referred to our kids as his favourite EX-Canadians 😂).

Angles-sur-l’Anglin

Let me end today’s post with a few pics from yesterday.

Pastor & Mrs Paul Majdling (the pastors from Bordeaux and Dominic’s in-laws) were in town for a couple of days and we spent a few hours visiting the nearby village of Angles-sur-l’Anglin (longtime readers will know this spot… it’s a family favourite and only about 30mins away).

Classified as one of the Plus beaux villages de France (France’s most picturesque villages), it never disappoints.

A friend of Sophie’s, from the hispanic church in Paris, was visiting and was as enchanted with Angles as the Majdlings were.

A few light sunshowers sent us into art galleries and little shops before settling for an ice cream in one of the villages two remaining restaurants. We ended our time praying beside the Mairie (city hall) for 15-20mins as this village is in our Department.

It was a lovely day with wonderful people that we were initially fortunate to consider friends, and who we are now “officially” able to consider family as well, thanks to Dominic & Melanie.

---

Thank you for partnering with us either in prayer or financial giving.
You are part of the work here!