Unprecedented amounts of rain have fallen across much of France over the past two months meaning that as I drive between cities, there are fields of corn and sunflower crops that are unable to be harvested. The ground is too wet for heavy farm equipment to work it. Sunflower heads are so wet, that the seeds are germinating right in the head.

I suppose it is yet another way that all of creation is groaning… weary of the weight and impact of mankind’s largely having distanced itself from its creator. I’m amazed, when I look around, at the uneasiness that characterizes not any one society in particular… but all of them. Never in my life to date has it been on such a wide scale.

I’m glad to know that there is a rock that is greater than I, to which I can cling and find a measure of peace in the storm. We continue to try to be examples of that peace here in our little part of western France.

What’s New?

In the time since I last wrote you, there’ve been one or two things happen so I’ll try to bring you up to speed on a few of them.

Sophie: We now have a second licensed driver amongst out kid-trio. Soph got her licence back in August and has been enjoying an extra measure of freedom since then. She’s currently working for France Travail, the equivalent of the Unemployment Office, welcoming clients and helping them with basic administrative functions. It’s been good for her to get her feet wet in the working world and she’s highly appreciated by her colleagues – no surprise there.

Timo Is in the 2nd year of his work-learning apprenticeship with a local optician. He too is well appreciated by his boss and adds a lot to the store. He enjoyed attending the Paris Eyeware Expo last month… you can imagine the styles! He is part of the multi-media team that will be organizing photography and videography for the National Youth Convention coming up in a couple of weeks.

Dominic & Melanie have moved to Poitiers (about 30km from Châtellerault) as they both work there so it means less travel time, and less wear & tear on their vehicle. They are definitely a “power couple” in our local church – both formally as youth leaders, but also just by who they are.

Liz was able to make a quick solo-trip back to Belgium at the beginning of the month to celebrate her dad’s 70th birthday celebrations. She went solo because work schedules for the rest of us wouldn’t allow us to go. She took a few extra days and just spent some quality time – which doesn’t happen often.

Me… well a good lot of teaching since the school year has started up again. Somehow it feels busier this year, but it could be age creeping up on me.

Prayer Walks

We have continued prayer walks through the various communities in our department: Of 266, we have now held prayer walks in 111, adding another 27 communities since July.

During the summer, we took one Sunday per month and with those who were able, we prayer walked, then had a pic-nic lunch, as we did last year.

Alternatively, individual church members also included prayer walks during their own comings & goings in the area.

Little by little, we are covering this part of France with prayer.

Not Without Struggle

There are many good things happening, but that doesn’t negate the fact there is a sense of near-constant struggle as well. Individual challenges and challenges to the group as a whole. We remain a home-missions church, even after nearly 10 years here on site. That’s not always easy, but the we get strength from the Bible:

• Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4.2
• The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
  1 Thessalonians 5.24

We are called to be faithful… so faithful we will be, because faithful He will be.

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Thank you for checking in, and for your prayers.
God bless you & yours!