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| I thought about coming up with some elaborate joke since I'm sending this on the eve of April fool's... but honestly I'm just too tired right now! :)
Happy end of March everyone! I feel like it was just yesterday that I wrote my February update. I did after all write it a little ways into March... but still. Tomorrow is already April 1st!!! But I couldn't be more happy. I love spring! The weather has been turning a lot nicer, flowers are growing, old men are out in the parks playing pétanque (like bocce), and there's just a general excitement in the air that maybe winter has passed! Course around here we never know... could turn cold again... but enough about the weather! I feel old.
There are far more exciting things to write about than that! Lately I've been telling you often about new people coming to church. Well I tell ya, somethings in the water cause I'm going to write about it again! Just this Sunday we had a girl, who hasn't been coming for about a year, come back with her boyfriend and his whole family! Plus there was another friend, who had been going to a church in another town but stopped within the last few months (it was bad news this other church anyway), who came to ours this Sunday! Granted, our goal is not just to get people to come to our church - but its a start! Rather we want more to see lives turned over to Christ and the French growing in their faith and reaching their fellow countrymen! It's exciting to see God stirring in hearts and working in ways that are just totally Him - we're simply along for the ride!
Also exciting is the re-launching of our church choir. Right now we're getting ready for our Easter service (April 12th) and we had about 10 or so come to practice on Saturday which went really well. It thrills me to see everyone excited to work and participate and just make beautiful music together for our Lord! At the same time we're getting ready for a wedding in our church in a few weeks. I'm so excited! In France its really a big church effort - everyone gets involved in some way or another. I tell ya, the French know how to party! It will also be a neat opportunity as there will be a good number of unbelievers there! So pray with me for Stacie (the Marshall's daughter) and Paul-Gabriel's wedding on April 18th! We're also building our program for the music festival. That isn't till June, but we've got to get started soon anyway! Takes a lot of work to play in the streets for 3 hours or so!
Amongst all the activities and even gearing up for some fun things this summer with Word of Life camp on the other side of France, our church has been talking lots about prayer lately. We're looking at Nehemiah and how he prayed for something like 3 years before going to rebuild the walls! We realize that there's lots of work to be done and lots of this and that we can spend our time on. But without God's strength... we are nothing. We need desperately to be talking with God, making sure we are aligned with His will, and His plan for the church, and to be asking Him to be glorified in it all. People we have got to pray! Please, as new life springs forth in the flowers and tress, as the breeze blows warmer, and the sun hangs in there a bit longer each day, take some time with me to renew ourselves in our prayer life. Let's allow God to do some spring cleaning and remember that His mercies are new every morning! We don't have to beat our selves up to "work our way back" to a "good standing" with God. Ask, and then believe in faith that He has forgiven and given you the grace to start afresh. Let's rekindle the flame - II Timothy 2:6.
All right, like I said, I'm tired. As always there's much more I'd love to share with you all, but I know its hard to read this much as it as. So congrats to those who've made it even this far. You get a golden star. Aren't you happy? :)
till next time, rejoice in the Lord always, ~Amy | | |
| Has anyone seen February? I think it disappeared right from under my nose.
Hence why my February update is coming to you early March - hey, we all need a little change is our lives anyway, right?
Actually, I'm writing to you all rather emotionally exhausted after this month. So many high highs and low lows.
And ya know what? God was always there, just as strong and faithful and good.
I'll start with the lowest of lows so I can leave you with some highs.
On February 7th, a dear friend and mother of some of my closest friends here committed suicide. She was a believer and of course no one saw it coming.
The shock, pain, and confusion were unbearable at times. Especially seeing her three dear kids deal with it and trying and wanting desperately to take away their pain.
In the face of such grief... such ugliness, the Lord and His church were beautiful. I saw God bind us together as we wept together, prayed together, and looked into His Word together. That first week I had strep but I just wanted to do whatever I could for the family and young adults in our church that pretty much camped out in my apartment (which I am so thankful for!!!). It was amazing the strength and stamina that God gave me! I kept thinking... I should be crashing, but I'm ok! :) It was only of God. He gave me verses via friends like Romans 8:38-39 - not even death can separate us from God's love. And also in Romans 8:28 - God works for the good of those whom He's called and who love Him.
I also had some precious times with my friend, the eldest of the family, as we read in the Psalms and Lamentations. God's Word is so alive! And shame on me for taking it for granted.
Please continue to pray for this family and our church as we heal and try to learn and grow together. God is good!
In much lighter news, this month the Lord has continued to bring new people into the church! There's a new lady from Madagascar with her three kids, another lady who used to come a long time ago who now is coming back and her mother is coming as well(!), and a young married couple with their little boy who out of the blue contacted the Marshalls saying it was time for them to come to church and study God's Word!!! The Marshalls had ministered to him 15 or so years ago! Plus one of our new ladies from a few months back, Renette, who also professed her faith in Christ shortly after joining us, shared her testimony this month to the church counsel and her desire to be baptized!
The Marshalls and I believe that these exciting things are the direct result of prayer. They can attest more than I (as I've only been here a few years) to the fact that the work here is slow and therefore often discouraging. This past year, our church has tried to focus more on praying, especially for unbelievers and this city, and one by one God is penetrating hearts, and we believe, blessing the faithful prayers of His servants - and that includes you!!! Just think, all you have to do is talk to your Maker, and someday in Heaven you may meet a French brother or sister who was saved by faith through grace and the work of the Holy Spirit, prompted by your prayers.
Another happy happening in regards to my family is that my sister-in-law in China just got her visa to be able to visit the states this summer with my bro and their new baby! They've had a good deal of difficulty getting this in the past and this time was quick smooth and easy as can be! Praise the Lord! Now I'm looking into if I can come at the same time so the whole family can be together in the same time zone! :)
There were many more highs, lows, and in-betweens that I could tell you about, but I guess the big picture I want to leave you with is how big and sovereign our God is.
None of these things took Him by surprise. His infinite love has been my source of strength, my rock, and wow I don't deserve it! So let’s worship Him together in just thanking Him for who He is!
I love and miss you my brothers and sisters, till next time, ~Amy | | |
| This is too cute, and I stole the idea from alhsoccer but I had to go for my chances of winning one! :) (Mainly cause there's no way I'm paying 34 bucks for it!)
Anyway - check out these cute and practical little guys at zoobies.com
I've always had a thing for hippos... 
and I really like their website! clean, clear, (and under control) haha... I'm a fan of animation too. Nice job zoobies!
oh and here's the giveaway - http://inevergrewup.net/giveaway-24-zoobies/ | | |
| It snowed! Just a little, but it was beautiful. It's definitely "that time of year" again, and already, opportunities have been abundant!
First of all, gotta update you on our Bible Quizzing day on Nov 1st!
Thanks so much for all your prayers - the weekend was great. It was such a joy to simply be with other believers from surrounding regions. We had eleven teams participate, each comprised of 5 teens who each memorized a chapter in Ephesians. It was a crazy busy weekend, but God really gave us the strength to make it through. I was especially encouraged to see a few friends who don't know Christ yet who came and heard His Word.
Last week presented a few interesting opportunities to share the gospel. On Wednesday I went to a Take 6 concert with some friends from my local choir. The concert was amazing - good for my musical soul you could say. :) Even better, they shared the gospel! It was pretty basic, because they were trying to speak slowly and clearly (there wasn't a translator! I about hopped on the stage to help 'em out!). Afterwards I hung out a little with my choir people and was able to talk about what they said, what some of the gospels meant, and even my testimony. I have to give all the credit to God for giving me the courage and the words... I sometimes have a hard time with this particular group.
Friday we had a Thanksgiving meal with the Marshall's and an English club plus some English assistants from the local schools. Don read Psalm 100 in French and English and explained the origins of Thanksgiving and to whom we are thankful. We each had great occasions during dinner to share with those sitting around us. I tell ya, it can be scary at first, but there is no greater rush than sharing with someone the greatest news of all! I'd encourage you all to take advantage of these holidays to talk to your friends and relatives about what its all about!
There's a few more events coming up for Christmas that I'd really appreciate your prayers for! The next two Saturdays we're having a ladies Christmas party in two different homes. We're hoping our ladies take advantage of these parties to invite their unsaved friends! I have a concert with my choir and a Christmas party where I'll have more opportunity to interact with them. I still need prayer for courage to share!!! We'll also have a special Christmas service on the 21st. Its one of those times that "unchurched" people might be more likely to come.
Then on the 23rd - I'm leaving on a jet plane! Yup, I'll be home for Christmas! I'm so excited!!! I'll be staying then for most of January to do some fund raising. I'd love to catch up with anyone and everyone I can, so let me know and we'll fix a time!
Ok, gotta run..... in about 12 hours I'm headed to Berlin to spend Thanksgiving with some fellow EBMers!!! Can't wait!
bonne semaine et gros bisous! ~Amy | | |
| For those who don't get my emails... here's the update I sent out a little while ago: I don't know where to start.
It's been a little while. I broke my own rule of writing every month. But if it's my own rule, then I should decide the consequence. However, if I never decided what said consequence should be, then does it make it a broken rule? Does a rule demand a consequence?
Anyway! ...
It's been an exciting summer! Did anyone see it go by? I didn't. Whether I was reunioning with my family in Ohio, spending more time with our young adults, hanging out at the police station, or traveling to Austria for our European conference, it all happened so quickly.
Wait a minute… hanging out at the police station? Yeah, I had an educational experience. Someone stole my wallet while I was grocery shopping. So! I learned to be a little more vigilant, and all the steps involved in cancelling cards, reporting to the police etc. I just thank God my residence card and drivers license are too big to fit in my wallet so I didn't lose them! (You should see how big their licenses are here!)
On to more important things. As I mentioned, we had our biannual EBM European Conference this summer in Austria. My parents were able to come to help with child care and tech support. (I'll let you guess who did what). The conference was wonderful. Each day we heard testimonies from different missionaries in our group. There were many tears, and much encouragement. Our speaker, an Irish man who is now a pastor in California, opened the Word and God spoke. It was so encouraging to look at the life and ministry of Elijah. In I Kings 18 we see him on the mountain top throwin down the prophets of Baal. And then in chapter 19 isolated, exhausted, depressed, and suicidal! He thought his ministry and life were over. But then we watch as God patiently and lovingly brings him back to physical, emotional, and spiritual health, and leads him into some of his most important ministry. We learned how to be wary of slipping into the valley after the mountain tops. We must remember that our failures don't cause God to fail. He asks us to just stay in the race and He'll make sure we win.
We could really use your prayer here! The ministry is simply exploding! We have tons of new people coming, over-flowing Sunday school classes and praying meetings, etc. Pray for us and especially the Marshalls as we try to juggle it all. With more people tends to come more problems, or umm, interesting situations. :)
This month we'll be preparing for our annual Bible quizzing event on the 1st of November. This is our 10th anniversary and we'll be making a whole weekend out of it. Pray for all the preparations and especially for the kids memorizing Ephesians 1-5.
Sorry again for the lack of communication there for awhile. I want to keep you all up to date cause I really need you praying!
Thanks so much, much love from Châlons-en-Champagne! ~Amy | | |
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