Rainey Days

I always feel bad if I don't update this site, but to be honest, there is nothing to regale you with. I'm currently consumed with working on "the move." This is the biggest move I've done thus far in my life, and boy, when you move, you realize how much junk you've collected! It's mind-boggling that I arrived here in December 2005 with two carloads of boxes. Yesterday I reserved a small truck to move my furniture and mes affaires (my stuff) next Saturday to the storage facility across town. In order to facilitate the big move, I spend my days collecting boxes in grocery stores, pinching extra copies of the local newspaper (for wrapping dishes), eating the food still in my freezer before I have to defrost it for good, and advertising the few pieces of furniture I'm not going to store. In fact, I'm starting to get worried about what I'll do with them if they don't sell! I've still got more packing to do, and plastering up all the ...

When I was a child, I was fascinated by my pastor's home, because it was filled with decor from all over the world. My pastor had been the missions director for our district, and having a real missions heart, he had received gifts from many missionaries. I used to love looking at the objects in their home, because they represented faraway, exotic lands, which I imagined to be full of romance and mystery. I've since wondered if this wasn't the start of my missions interest. I've started my own collection of knick-knacks from other countries, and actually, I've spread that habit to the rest of my family as well. I enjoy having unique things that provide both interest artistically and a memory of certain place I've visited. I don't pretend to be an art snob, but I like what I like. I saw this painting in Barcelona, and what I loved about it was that it reminded me of Jerusalem's Old City. Immediately I fell in love with it. Most of the pictures I have alre...

I just got back from seeing Pirates of the Caribbean: End of the World in an avant-premiere showing (sneak preview). It opens in France tomorrow officially and in the US on Friday, I believe. So, now I've seen it, and I can tell you every teensy detail. Or not. I hold all the power, ha ha. Seriously, if you liked the first two, you'll like this one. In my opinion, its better than the second and well worth the money for the tickets. In other news . . . today I went to the dentist for the first time in France. No cavities, and no small talk with the dentist. Good thing, too, because I was a little worried about trying to speak French with my mouth propped wide open.

This weekend, I drove six hours south to a town outside of Marseille to speak at an "Aglow International" group. (You may remember that a young man at the Lyon Easter retreat put my in contact with his mother's women's group.) Since I had some business to take care of in this area of France, I wanted to take advantage of my time there and do some ministry as well. I had heard of Aglow before, but to be honest, I wasn't much informed about their work. One of their core beliefs is to mobilize women to evangelize, including an emphasis on Muslims. To that end, the ladies of Aglow Marseille meet each week to pray with women in an impoverished ghetto, and host a "tea"/Bible study once a month in the same ghetto, inviting women to share their testimonies around a table full of desserts. I chose to share something from Eccelesiastes, because I've been discussing that in the English-speakers Bible study I'm doing at my apartmen...

As promised, pictures! Above, we had a baptism for MKs at the retreat. This picture shows both our spiritual emphasis, as well as the very attractive resort facilities that I enjoyed during our free time. Here, I was touring Barcelona on Sunday after the retreat. I had been traveling all day on an open-air tour bus and its pretty obvious that I'm windblown and worn out, but I was enjoying myself. This is just one picture of many from the party last night in my apartment. We managed to cram in about thirty people in my living room. People were everywhere, and there was food galore. I have some leftovers, but fortunately, not too much. I got compliments on the food, my taste in decor, and how attractive my family is in all my pictures (especially Syd and Liv). It was like the realization of a dream, having all those young people in my usually empty apartment.

After a delightful weekend in Spain, I'm now home attacking the ever-growing "To Do" list. First up: calling the bank and sorting out all the fraud charges on my credit card that was stolen on Sunday in Barcelona! The thief also stole my driver's license, but I have a second one (long story why . . . ). So that's not as bad as it could have been, praise the Lord. Second: doctor's appointments. I have to get certain tests run for my health insurance, based on my age, family history, gender, etc. So in the next few weeks, I have several appointments, but the most important one was this morning with the dermatologist. I have a little bump that has been on my leg for about two years now, and I decided I'd better have it checked out, but it's NOT skin cancer. It's just a bump with a French name, ha ha. Seriously, I didn't understand the word "fibrous----whatever" but I clearly understood "It's nothing to worry about." Okay, g...

Hello from sunny Spain! I'm here with all the five hundred missionary folks from all of Europe, here for a three day retreat at a resort/amusement park south of Barcelona, on the southern coast. It's gorgeous! I know some of you would love to be here with me! It's been great to see old friends and join together with my missionary family for a time of prayer and encouragement from the Word of God. We've seen some powerful moves of God's Spirit so far, and I'm enjoying the free time by the pool, too. These folks are sort of beat-down by the circumstances and ministry frustrations in their varioues countries, so they need a break for the most part. We've all spent a lot of time so far listening to each other and encouraging one another, too. I wish I could show you pictures--I will when I get back. For now, the hotel charges over 20 bucks a day for internet connection, so I'm taking a chance with an internet cafe to post this, because I just wanted to...

Yesterday was an important day in France, as 84% of French adults turned out to vote for their new President. 84% is a pretty staggering number, and I can attest to the crowds at the polling places, because I live across the street from an elementary school that was used as a voting station. I overheard one woman say it was the first time in her memory that she had to stand in line to vote! A few weeks ago, the Presidential choice was narrowed down to two candidates: Nicolas Sarkozy (right-wing) and Segolene Royal (left-wing), and the voters made their final decision yesterday, electing Nicolas Sarkozy with 53% of the vote. I don't follow French politics that much. For the most part, I don't understand it. I don't feel as invested in it as I do American politics (which I still sometimes don't understand!). I do know that Sarkozy is very tough on immigration--he was partially responsible for the violence in the 2005 "suburb riots" in Paris, calling the Arab...

Okay, gang, I'll be home in just 50 days. I've counted them out on my calendar so I can track my return. Wow, I have so much to do between now and then! AUGHHHH.

During the past week, I've received news from my network of missionary friends in France that one of our colleagues has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is a 29 year old mother of 15 month old twin boys; needless to say, she lives an active life! She has been diagnosed within the past two weeks and is pursuing aggressive treatment. I hope that you will join me in prayer for Becky and her family as she goes through this difficult moment. She and her husband Micah were just wrapping up their furlough, hoping to head back to the south of France this summer, but now, their plans are contingent on the cancer treatment, surgeries, etc. God is faithful!