Weekend Retreat

A couple of weeks ago our church, [iccp], went on a weekend retreat to a castle about 2 1/2 hours away. We got to spend time getting to know one another and it was a lot of fun. A highlight for me was visiting the Musée du Désert. It is a museum that tells the history of the Huguenots (protestants in France) during a time called the ‘Desert’ period (1685-1789). This was a time of great persecution of the protestants in France: from the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes to the French Revolution. During this time period, protestants in France were not allowed to worship, hold jobs, own Bibles or have a recognized marriage. The King was proud to say that he had killed or jailed all protestants in France. Those who escaped fled to countries like America to find refuge. It was a horrible, horrible time in church history. In this museum, I walked through a home where pastors hid under floorboards. I saw a display of the tinest of Bibles that were sown into the hem of women's dresses, thinking how lucky I am to be alive today with the freedom to worship and to read a Bible in my own home. These same people would hike up mountains and hide in caves so they could have a worship service together. I have it so good!

Another very cool memory from the weekend came during our Sunday morning worship at the castle. After a time of singing, we had an opportunity to share about how the weekend had impacted us in some way. A french guy that was there with us said, to the American pastors, "Thank you for coming here and doing what you do, so that I could feel at home in a church in my own country". It was a powerful moment. There is history in this country that I cannot even fathom. Unfortunately, this history includes a misrepresentation of who God is and who Jesus taught us to be. I hope our family can be a light here and bring hope to this place.

History of Our Faith

A friend sent this devotional to Bill last week. Let me express to you before you read it that there has been fighting on both sides of the Christian table and neither is without fault. I believe France is a post-Christian, secular country (having nothing to do with God) because their people have watched Christians do horrible, horrible things to other Christians throughout history in the name of religion. I believe France is a mission field today because people of faith throughout history misused their power.

Our church here, ICCP, is going on a retreat this weekend where we will visit a museum dedicated to telling the history of the protestant church in France. I'm sure it will be a sobering experience as I read about the terrible things people endured for their faith. I am grateful for the time and the place to which I was born. May I never forget how lucky I am.

"Friday October 09
This week's promise: God is a refuge for the oppressed

Religious strife
"I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things."
Isaiah 45:7 NLT

Extinguishing Protestantism in France
"The Wars of Religion began in France in 1562 between the Roman Catholics and the French Protestants called Huguenots. Though he had to convert to Catholicism to ascend to the throne, Henry IV did not forget his Huguenot roots, and in 1598 issued the Edict of Nantes, which gave the Huguenots freedom of religion, civil equality, and fair administration of justice—the first time freedom was granted to two religions to coexist in a nation. Louis XIV shared none of his grandfather's empathy for the Huguenots, and on October 18, 1685, he revoked the Edict of Nantes. All Huguenot worship and education were forbidden, and all Huguenot churches were either destroyed or turned into Catholic churches. Mounted soldiers were housed in the homes of Huguenots. The troops were given license to do anything they pleased, short of murder, leading to horrendous acts of torture and humiliation. Of the 1.5 million Huguenots living in France in 1660, over the next decades 400,000 risked their lives by escaping across the guarded borders into countries across Europe. Many also fled to the American colonies. At the height of the Reformation nearly half of the population of France was Huguenot. But as a result of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and the intense persecution that followed, today less than one percent of the French share the faith of the Huguenots, making France a mission field for the gospel."

adapted from The One Year® Book of Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten (Tyndale) pp 584-5
Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

Fall has begun...

Sorry its been awhile since I've posted. Things haven't been easy and its hard to know what to write in those times. I don't want to seem ungrateful for the opportunity to be here and do all this. Transitioning into a new culture, new language, new way of life comes with some beautiful, wonderful things and some very hard things to walk through. We have learned so much about ourselves - both good and bad. We knew this would be tough but couldn't understand it until we went through it ourselves- and this is in a first world country. I can't imagine the challenges with moving to a third world country. I have friends who must be saints!

We did turn a corner recently. Natalie made friends at school this week! Yep, french friends. I was hoping for something by January so this blew my mind. It changes everything when your kids are happy. She is beginning to understand french too. I can't wait until she can speak in complete sentences. She is so smart, it will happen in no time. There's still hurdles with some things but I feel like this was an answer to prayer.

Will is doing really well. He loves his teachers and his class. He is in the equivalent of preschool in the states so it's lots of playing, coloring, gluing, painting, etc. He loves it!

Bill & I started our official school year this week. This is a picture of us in front of our school. Our french classes with Paul Cezanne University will go from Oct through May. The schedule worked out pretty well with our kids school schedule. We both really like classes and our professors. Its weird being the oldest student in class though.

Bill's parents just left on Wednesday after a 10 day visit with us. We had such a good time with them. They brought suitcases of goodies for us!!

We are very blessed to have such good parents. It was fun showing them around. The visit was too short and it was sad to have them leave. My mom will be coming in December so that gives us something new to look forward to.

We also had a quick visit with some friends from Community's Shorewood Campus- Jed & Lisa K. They were in Europe on vacation and stopped by to have lunch with us. It was great to see friends from home!!

Things I love about France...

It's been a hard week. School started on Monday and it has not been easy. I hurt for my kids and the road they have to travel. They are much stronger than I ever was. I am so proud of them and how they are adjusting.
With all the pain we are experiencing this week, I thought I would think on the things I love about France. (cause there are moments I question what in the world we are doing here!)

I love...
the fruit and vegetable market in the square every day
-little things about their language that are beautiful. In just one change from vous to tu, you're shown a new level of your relationship with someone, a closeness or fondness that is expressed in just one little word.
-there are hundreds and hundreds of different kinds of cheeses (and wines)
-they make food beautiful and use the best ingrediants
-the french live outside-cafes, bars, restuarants- these are their living rooms.
-the french take time to greet a friend they see on the street- bisous and all. They don't rush past them with a "hey, how are you?" without even waiting for a response.
-they walk everywhere they can and use a lot of public transportation, even in smaller towns.
-they are more focused on experiences, art, travel, relationships than with stuff.
-boutiques
-fountains
-architecture
-history, thousands of years of history
-cafes
-the food- LOVE the food
-we're not far from so many things- roman ruins, beaches, mountains, chateaux, other countries
-the pace of life- they work hard during their workday and then they take time for family & friends and things they enjoy.

Video of our first month in France

Our First Staff Conference

We just returned from our first Christian Associates staff conference. This year CA did regional "Connects" instead of one giant one with all of the staff. Ours was the Southern Europe Connect and was held at a camp north of Lisbon, Portugal, but there were others around the globe- Northern Europe Connect, Eastern Europe Connect, North American Connect, South American Connect. We had teams at our conference from Spain, Portugal, France & the Czech Republic.
It was a great week. We got to hear updates on what other teams are doing, we heard talks from CA leadership and spent time getting to know our collegues from all over Europe.

We were very blessed by a group from a church in California who came over to do childcare for the kids all week. They basically put together a kids camp of crafts, games and bible stories for our children to keep busy while we were in sessions. I'm so grateful for these men & women who paid their own way, took time off work and brought a boat load of supplies with them to make a very memorable week for my kids.

We chose to drive to Portugal because we couldn't find any reasonably priced flights. It was 16 hours each way but we made it fun by stopping at cool places along the way. We drove 10 hours the first day and spent the night in Madrid, Spain.

We drove into the city center for dinner and then our GPS stopped working and we got lost on our way back to our hotel. It's always an adventure! Then we finished the last 6 hours of the drive to Portugal the next day.

Portugal was beautiful. Our camp was right next to a gorgeous beach but after a week of public restrooms/showers, bunk beds, ants and sand, I was ready for home.

On our drive home we left very early and drove 12 hours to Barcelona.

We had a great time exploring this city, and we had a little taste of home. Barcelona is home to a Hard Rock Cafe. I know, I know, we're in Spain, we should be trying tapas or something but when my chicken fajitas came out, I almost cried. Literally. Our kids got mac & cheese and COLD milk - at a restaurant!! That never happens here. It was wonderful to have a bit of home for our meal that day.

Now we are back home and getting ready for school. Bill is taking an intensive month-long french course that starts Monday. Our kids start school next Thursday. With the schedule of the intensive course, we both weren't able to take it because of the times being longer than the Will's school time. Both Bill & I will be starting 2 semester-long french classes Oct. 1. These classes are built more like our kids' school schedules so it will work out much better for us to both be involved.

We've had a great month in France - birthday parties with new friends, starting to serve at church with worship and kids, getting to see this new area that we call home. We miss our U.S. home but we are thankful to be here.

More Paperwork...

Marseille:

Yesterday we went to Marseille to complete the next step to legally living here in France. It is a very humbling process to go through. We have no rights here and we are praying for the grace of the officials to continue to stamp our documents. I realized as an American, I am brought up with so much pride. Sitting in a building with hundreds of people from other countries, mostly North Africian, you realize how small you are, and your American citizenship doesn't save you, doesn't make you special. There is a much bigger world out there. I think I've always know that intellectually but never had to know it in my soul or experience it firsthand.

The process to get to France started with months of work in the states to recieve our visas there, then we registered here in Aix, got paperwork for what to get together to see a regional office in Marseille, now we have to see the people in Aix again. I don't even know all the steps we have left. Our french is very basic and it is hard to ask questions or to even think of how I would plead my case if I had to.

We are fortunate. I believe God has gone before us in so many things and made the process smooth for us. The smoothness doesn't remove how this process continues to mold me and develop me. I have a new respect for immigrants to the U.S. When I return to the states, I will notice their trials more and help however I can- I understand now that even going to the grocery store has to be so hard for them. I don't think I thought that much about them before. Shame on me.

Here are some pictures from our day:

Our number, waiting to be called. We waited for a little over 1 1/2 hours to be called, then we were in the office for about 30 minutes to get all our paperwork entered and stamped.

The kids did ok. They played cars & dinosaurs for awhile while waiting. It was a long time to wait.

a beautiful fountain in Marseille

The harbor area, taken from our car. We were tired and drove around a little bit to see the town before we headed home.