Another Country Heard From . . . .
This past week was a good mail week! New pictures of my adorable niece Sydney arrived on Tuesday; a bunch of ladies from my church sent a card; I got a surprise packet of sermon notes from my brother’s church plant “launch service”; a missionary friend emailed to ask if she could visit France for Christmas; and a comment on my blog made my day on Sunday!
Christy’s email was la cerise sur le gâteau! (the cherry on the cake) for me. We met in 2002 in Springfield, Missouri interviewing with the Foreign Missions board. Both hip, young singles, we hung out a lot that week and later served as emotional support for each other during the stressful months of fund-raising. We chose to be roommates at School of Missions in 2003 for five weeks, before heading our separate missionary ways—Christy to St. Peterburg, Russia to work with Teen Challenge, a ministry for drug and alcohol addicts, and me to France to work with Muslims. I haven’t seen her since that School of Missions; its kind of amazing to me that it’s been over three years already. In that time, we each raised our missions budgets, learned second languages, and have each nearly completed our first missionary terms! She needs to renew her visa for Russia, which can be done in Paris, and since her birthday is just before Christmas, it’s the perfect excuse for a Parisian Christmas adventure, with me as tour guide and translator.
Topping off my “mail call” (and quite possibly the biggest surprise of all!) was a comment on my previous blog from my former English teacher and family friend, Mary Howard Davis—“Miss Howard” forever in my mind. She taught me English, speech, and drama from 9th-12th grades. She also served as inspiration, encouragement, and at times, the voice of correction. She was definitely one of the formative influences of my teenage years. Even though she eventually married and moved “down South” I’ve kept her on my newsletter/Christmas card list. It really blessed me on Sunday morning when I saw her comment. Thank you, Mary (it’s so weird to call you that!).
I have no idea how many people read this blog, regularly or not. In the card from the church ladies, several noted that they read the blog, and Christy mentioned in her email how much she enjoyed reading it, as well. It is a bénédiction (blessing) to know that people are reading the posts. I hope it serves as a reminder to pray for me and for France.
In other news . . . . Just before coming home to America for my vacation, I attended the National Convention of the French Assemblies of God. One of the many sessions I attended included a report of Action Missionnaire the French AG missions program. The director presented their financial report for the year, mentioning that they were in such need of funds that they were to the point of bringing a missionary family off the field. They had already repeatedly limited the budgets of their entire missionary staff, but unless the giving of the churches increased, an entire family would have to return to France. This shocked the pastors, naturally, and there was quite a bit of discussion about the low giving in 2005 and 2006. I found the whole presentation and resulting discussion very depressing, imagining myself in the place of the poor French missionaries having their budgets cut time and time again, until barely livable. I finally left the session, ostensibly for a restroom break, but I just didn’t want to hear anymore.
Today it all came back to my mind because I went to a regional pastor’s meeting, where it was announced that the giving had jumped dramatically in June, July, and even in August (typically the lowest month of the year due to vacations). Glory to God for His provision!
Christy’s email was la cerise sur le gâteau! (the cherry on the cake) for me. We met in 2002 in Springfield, Missouri interviewing with the Foreign Missions board. Both hip, young singles, we hung out a lot that week and later served as emotional support for each other during the stressful months of fund-raising. We chose to be roommates at School of Missions in 2003 for five weeks, before heading our separate missionary ways—Christy to St. Peterburg, Russia to work with Teen Challenge, a ministry for drug and alcohol addicts, and me to France to work with Muslims. I haven’t seen her since that School of Missions; its kind of amazing to me that it’s been over three years already. In that time, we each raised our missions budgets, learned second languages, and have each nearly completed our first missionary terms! She needs to renew her visa for Russia, which can be done in Paris, and since her birthday is just before Christmas, it’s the perfect excuse for a Parisian Christmas adventure, with me as tour guide and translator.
Topping off my “mail call” (and quite possibly the biggest surprise of all!) was a comment on my previous blog from my former English teacher and family friend, Mary Howard Davis—“Miss Howard” forever in my mind. She taught me English, speech, and drama from 9th-12th grades. She also served as inspiration, encouragement, and at times, the voice of correction. She was definitely one of the formative influences of my teenage years. Even though she eventually married and moved “down South” I’ve kept her on my newsletter/Christmas card list. It really blessed me on Sunday morning when I saw her comment. Thank you, Mary (it’s so weird to call you that!).
I have no idea how many people read this blog, regularly or not. In the card from the church ladies, several noted that they read the blog, and Christy mentioned in her email how much she enjoyed reading it, as well. It is a bénédiction (blessing) to know that people are reading the posts. I hope it serves as a reminder to pray for me and for France.
In other news . . . . Just before coming home to America for my vacation, I attended the National Convention of the French Assemblies of God. One of the many sessions I attended included a report of Action Missionnaire the French AG missions program. The director presented their financial report for the year, mentioning that they were in such need of funds that they were to the point of bringing a missionary family off the field. They had already repeatedly limited the budgets of their entire missionary staff, but unless the giving of the churches increased, an entire family would have to return to France. This shocked the pastors, naturally, and there was quite a bit of discussion about the low giving in 2005 and 2006. I found the whole presentation and resulting discussion very depressing, imagining myself in the place of the poor French missionaries having their budgets cut time and time again, until barely livable. I finally left the session, ostensibly for a restroom break, but I just didn’t want to hear anymore.
Today it all came back to my mind because I went to a regional pastor’s meeting, where it was announced that the giving had jumped dramatically in June, July, and even in August (typically the lowest month of the year due to vacations). Glory to God for His provision!