Thursday, March 11, 2010

Coffee and more

This morning we left our cozy home on the hill. We met with frozen pipes again this morning, which made showering more of a challenge, but all made it out the door on time. Thank you Lord for cooperative folks. We will miss their hospitality, the children and the beautiful views from this lovely home.
At 9:30, we met with a group of women from the French church on prayer. Adventure was added to our trip, as we got slightly off track looking for our hostess's home. Streets are not well marked, it you call it being marked 1/2 block off the street, marked. Ultimately, we reached our destination. Susan's lovely home has a huge picture window that faces the Alps. Unfortunately, the clouds obscurded our views, but it was easy to see that she had a million dollar view.
Terri shared her faith walk in prayer, and challenged the women to seek a relationship of prayer with our Lord. I don't have time to relay all that she had to say, but the women held on to her everyword. One thing though, which was very new to me, was thinking of grace as God's Riches at Christ's Expense. So very true.
Since most ladies needed to fetch children from school for their 2 hour lunch (they stay in school until almost 5) our morning ended quickly. We then set off for Champflueri. The three of us finally felt at home,as this has been our home away from home for almost a year. This afternoon ladies will be arriving for a soul care day on Friday and then School on Saturday. I am putting the final touches on my teaching- just reading it through, wanting to keep it fresh and note rote.
I'll tell you about our day tomorrow, but until then,
Ou Rivour,
Danielle

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Tourist Day

Ah, to be a tourist in France! It is great fun! Today we ran around the Grenoble area taking in some of the sights. Usually while here, we are busy preparing for the school. With this trip, it was determined that we would stay in the area and meet with the women here that are involved with Lifesprings and with the International Church of Grenoble, which is an English speaking church. Tomorrow we will meet with the French church which meets in the same ware house as the English church. Just before Christmas one of their members lost a child to the "aphyxiation game" A game? As you can imagine, the church family has been devistated, so Terri will be sharing with their women a session on praying for your children. We pray that much healing will take place.

Back to our touring... This morning we headed out to Voiron, a community about 4o minutes away from Grenoble. This is where the Chartreuse liquear is made. The recipe goes back with the monks of the Chartreuse order located in the Chartreuse mountains. The monks considered this a health elixure The recipe it top secret with only 2 monks at a time knowing the exact ingredients. All used to be done by and in copper pots and oak barrels, but now they run the operation via computer and stainless steal drums. Time marches on.
We ate lunch at a local favorite hangout which provides only three choices per meal. I chose the lamb and a caramel creme dessert. Yummy!
After lunch we went to the Musee de la Revolution of France. The French Revolution was actually planned at this stately chateau in Grenoble. We prayer walked that gardens which were beatiful, even in the bitter cold wind of wind. We all laughed at the idea that we certainly looked "approachable" as we struggled with dripping noses, teary eyes, and fozen hands and feet. Later we entered the musee which had many artifacts and artwork from the revolutionary period. I found it most interesting that the rebellion was planned on the chateaus tennis court. Hmm, such a genteel sport being associated with a revolution? I even found tennis balls and rackets hidden in corners of some of the artwork depicting the meeting held under the noses of the kings heirarchy. Facinating stuff. I looked for a book on the subject, but alas, they only had books in french. Imagine that!
Well, I don't want to be a rude guest. My hostess is busy making dinner, a traditional ratoule, which is a special cheesed poured over veggies and meat. Another delicous meal coming my way, I do believe.

Until tomorrow, Ou Revoir
Danielle

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Back in Grenoble

I'm back in Grenoble! Our team has all arrived after two days of travel. Janice and I left on Sunday at 2 pm and arrived in Grenoble at 5pm on Monday. Yes, we missed a day. We managed well on our travels and slept through the night at our hostesses house, MR.

MEs house is FRENCH. Thick walls, large curved windows with multiple glass panes, dark woodwork and iron hardware. Though the snow is still falling, the garden is beautiful. The house sits down off the road surrounded by shrubs, trees, and rock walls. In the spring, the walls will be covered with ivy and louvored windows. Let's just, say, I'm very comfortable here. ME's three children are charming and have tried to correct our French, much to their great joy. It's been fun interacting with them.
Today was our first full day of ministry, so we hit the ground, running. Well, running after 9:30. ME had invited ladies from her neighborhood, many are not churched. Ladies began to arrive around 1:30. We chatted and drank tea and cakes as we stood around the blazing fireplace. Janice imparted her wisdom, challenging the ladies with the story of Mary and Martha. Her challenge to them was to "stay on course" after the Olympian speed ice skater lost his gold medal due to racing in the wrong lane. The ladies left around 4, all chatting merrily. I'd call it a huge success.
Tomorrow will be our tourist day. We 're going to check out the chartreuse factory locally, visit a chataeu, and hit a local restaurant for lunch. It will still be snowing, but that won't dampen our day.
I'll report bck later!

Ou Revoir,
Danielle

Saturday, January 16, 2010

School Day!

Oh, how I love this school! It was a fabulous day of God, teaching, friends, and of course, french food. Last October, the tension in the classroom was palitable. Nerves were a little frayed as the students realized that there was homework. A real shock to some of them. Homework can be very intimidating when you live in France. I'm sure they were all certain that the expectation was a theological disertation on a topic that was studied in class for only 21/2 hours. Imagine!
I could almost hear the corporate sigh of relief after one of our directors wrote a letter reinterating that all of the homework did not have to be done by class day. Many took this to heart.
Today was filled with joy in the reunion of new and old freinds. Many of the students are from France, with a large group coming from the Grenoble area. Switzerland is just over the Alps (I can't believe that I said Just) so there is a a group of approximately 25 women coming to the school. We also have gals from England, Wales, and Italy. In total, there are 60 women enrolled, plus those of us from the US.
School almost feels like a retreat since about twenty women come to stay at Chamflueri for a night or two. We are all bunked in a common lodge, eat in the common dining hall, and are taught all together in the french rock barn. It is wonderful. Women being women, we are chatting constantly, enjoying each others company, learning more about their families and why their families are living in Europe.It is a cross-cultural exchange as there are many women living in Switerland, but from the African continent. I love worshipping with them is song, as they begin to move with the music. Fabulous!
Tomorrow Erin will be singing at two church services and then doing a concert at the local English speaking church. Then we'll head back to Paris in the afternoon to celebrate two birthdays that happened this week away. On Monday, we head home. We have had a great time, but I look forward to coming home. I miss you, honey.
I plan to add pictures when I get home. I hope to add one more entry to close out this chapter. The next will be in March. Keep in touch!
Au Revior!
Danielle

Friday, January 15, 2010

The Day Before School

One would think that putting on a school such as this would become easier. But with each school comes a new kind of obstacle to jump over. This month it is the weather. We all expected it to be cold, but not this cold, and not this kind of snow. It is beautiful, but it brings obstacles for travel and comfort. The roads become icy with the freezing temps at night and early morning. Most of our women will be coming in by car this time and will experience these icy roads. Then there is the physical warmth, or lack of it in the French barn where we will be holding school on Saturday. The walls are rock. Need a say more? Though they windows have been covered, and the heaters have been running non-stop for a few days, there is a chill in the air. Perhaps the bodies of 66 women will help.

Sixty-six women! What a praise! Eleven women have added since October. Space and setting comes into play now. Space for feeding all of these women including staff and whomever else might be on the campus. Amy, the great admin person from CA is overseeing all of this today. Eating in shifts might be the answer, but all must be cleared with the cook who has been out sick. Seating in the rock room will be a challenge. It is a roomy space, but tables, which are preferable for a full day of class, could prove to be interesting. These are not insurmountable. Our God knows what our needs are, how and where everyone will sit. Who knows, maybe the chill in the air will help everyone to stay focused after our 2 hour, yummy Champflueri lunch. By the way, Champflueri has been mis-spelled the last few days. Pardon me.

Tonight we will have a worship and praise time after dinner. Many women are coming in tonight because of the distances that they are traveling. It’s almost like a mini-retreat. Community is very important here. Since there are so few evangelical Christians here (.5% of the pop) any chance they get to be together is very important. It has been interesting as I’ve spoken to people on this trip. I have heard several refere to France as being “post Catholic” and the prodigal daughter of the Catholic church. From what I understand this comes from the inter-twining of the monarchy and the Catholic church before the Revolution. I think I need to do more reading on the subject. At the Revolution, the people put a prostitute on the throne of the leader of the Catholic church of France. I’ll let you make your own assumptions on this move.

I pray that I can give you a report tomorrow after things quiet down here. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. They are much needed and appreciated. Until then,
Au Revoir,
Danielle


.

The Day Before School

One would think that putting on a school such as this would become easier. But with each school comes a new kind of obstacle to jump over. This month it is the weather. We all expected it to be cold, but not this cold, and not this kind of snow. It is beautiful, but it brings obstacles for travel and comfort. The roads become icy with the freezing temps at night and early morning. Most of our women will be coming in by car this time and will experience these icy roads. Then there is the physical warmth, or lack of it in the French barn where we will be holding school on Saturday. The walls are rock. Need a say more? Though they windows have been covered, and the heaters have been running non-stop for a few days, there is a chill in the air. Perhaps the bodies of 66 women will help.

Sixty-six women! What a praise! Eleven women have added since October. Space and setting comes into play now. Space for feeding all of these women including staff and whomever else might be on the campus. Amy, the great admin person from CA is overseeing all of this today. Eating in shifts might be the answer, but all must be cleared with the cook who has been out sick. Seating in the rock room will be a challenge. It is a roomy space, but tables, which are preferable for a full day of class, could prove to be interesting. These are not insurmountable. Our God knows what our needs are, how and where everyone will sit. Who knows, maybe the chill in the air will help everyone to stay focused after our 2 hour, yummy Champflueri lunch. By the way, Champflueri has been mis-spelled the last few days. Pardon me.

Tonight we will have a worship and praise time after dinner. Many women are coming in tonight because of the distances that they are traveling. It’s almost like a mini-retreat. Community is very important here. Since there are so few evangelical Christians here (.5% of the pop) any chance they get to be together is very important. It has been interesting as I’ve spoken to people on this trip. I have heard several refere to France as being “post Catholic” and the prodigal daughter of the Catholic church. From what I understand this comes from the inter-twining of the monarchy and the Catholic church before the Revolution. I think I need to do more reading on the subject. At the Revolution, the people put a prostitute on the throne of the leader of the Catholic church of France. I’ll let you make your own assumptions on this move.

I pray that I can give you a report tomorrow after things quiet down here. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. They are much needed and appreciated. Until then,
Au Revoir,
Danielle


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Thursday, January 14, 2010

A Day of Rest?

Today is Thursday? I am beginning to feel disconnected from time, but I know that school is only a few days away. We are all getting excited here at Champfluere.

This morning we spent some time with Jan Johnson on meditation. She led us through some exercises in which we meditated on the scriptures,Ps 23 and in Mark 9:14-28. We used "lectio divina," which is reading, reflecting, responding, and resting in God's word. The second exercise was called Ignation Meditation. With this exercise we imagined we were a part of the action in the Mark verses. Give it a try. I am looking forward to sharing some of what have learned from Jan.

We have had some exciting news! One of our school students from China asked for prayer regarding her parent's salvation. Just recently her parents visited from China. Both are communist party members working for the government. During the visit, the parents tried to argue against Christianity with their daughter. Her father began reading the the Bible in order to argue his case. Our God has a sense of humor indeed. Mom and Dad are now believers, baptized, and studying scripture through course work provided by their daughter. What a thrilling answer to prayer!

This afternoon we've had some time to unwind and rest in preparation to our busy days ahead. Thank you for your prayers regarding the school and this trip.

Correction from yesterday- Erin Agenjo's band website is "Ivory Owl," not white. At least I'm in the same color hue.

Love to you all,
Au Revoir
Danielle