Salut!

too much chocolate…

Chistmas with the family in Preston and then down to Hereford with my sister on Friday.  Back to France the 4th.  No internet access, so don’t email me!!

 

Today I gave out cookies and evangelistic calendars to some of my neighbours…I had some unexpected reactions…

Really?  We’re not like you in France, it’s everyman for himself here.

No, it’s not true.  You’re giving them to me?  You can’t.  (accepts them and starts crying!)

That’s too many for me, I’ll just take one.

Wait there, I have a little present for you too.  (came back with box of chocolates!)

It was a bit embarrasing but nice to shock people in a good way.  I have 2 boxes left becuase they aren’t in.  I’ll leave them by the door with a little note.

So I’m off back to blighty.  Maybe see you there!

This morning it was the church’s Fete de Noel.  The church was absolutly packed!  It was a great sign.

The funniest moment was when the Pastor fell off his chair backwards, off the stage and rolled under the Christams tree!!  (He emerged unscathed but had to have the pine needles removed from his hair!)

The Children complained that it was always them that did the drama…so this year the adults did one and it was really good.

  (The famous tree and pastor on right!)

I thought I would include the next to pictures to show that no matter what country you’re in…

  There will always be a child who picks her nose in an inoppertune moment, and…

 The youth always seem to make it to the food table first. 

Tonight it was the turn of the youth…

We played silly games involving water and flour…

Also one that invloved throwing as much paper as possible at the girls…

We ate together, which included a lot of pizza…

And then the youth leader did a kind of improvised debate (in true French style!) with them where one was Father Christmas and the other was Jesus.  They had to debate who was the best!  It was really encouraging to hear what they had to say and at times hilarous!  At the end Jean-Aime, the youth leader, asked them to take a stand, ie which side were they going to choose.  6 of them chose Jesus!!  We talked together afterwards and 2 of the girls want to be baptised!!!  HURAH!!!!!!!  Praise God! 

I’ve told you about the cooking classes in the church once a month…well there is also sewing, crochet and flower arranging on the other 3 Fridays!  (We all wear sandals, have long hair and eat quiche too.)  They were doing christmas wreaths this week so I thought I’d have a go!  It was really quite fun and I was very proud of what I did. 

You might remember I asked you to pray for Claire to find a job.  She has been unemployed for 2 years nd the labour market is not like in the UK, you can’t just work anywhere until you find something better.  Anyway, Thank God becuase she has got a job!  It’s in another town, so unfortunatly we will be losing her, but God has answered our prayers!

I also asked you to pray for a Nigerian family who have been refused aslyum here.  They received a letter yesterday to say that they could stay another 6 months becuase of their ill baby and this visa would probably be renewed!  Hurahh!  Prayer really works!

One of the African ladies lost her father last week.  His body was repatriated to Togo but a wake was also held here.  The pastor invited me to go with him and learn more about the african culture.

We were told 6pm.  We arrived at 6.10pm and there was nobody in.  Went back to the car as it was freezing cold.  From there Jean-Marc rang her mobile…which we now know she has given to her brother…a long conversation ensues and then we get hold of her number and manage to contact her. 

When we eventaully get into the appartment building at 6.20pm there is another African lady sat in the stair well in obvious pain.  We help her up 3 flights of stairs and she is put in a child’s bed.  By this time it is 6.45pm.  There are lots of children and a television blaring out a nigerian christian music video which is the same continous tune, seemingly forever, and for reasons known only to them they sing a lot about Elijah and his tortoise…   

By 7.30pm I have been clambered on, scribbled on, and sneezed on by about a million children.  Jean Marc, in his most serious ‘pastor’ clothes, has been reduced to a press-up competiontion with a 5 year old boy.  It was descending into pure comedy.

Eventually people start to arrive, no mention of the time.  By 8.10pm her husband arrives and we start.  Over 2 hours late!

Much loud praying and singing.  A video camera seemed to be focused on me all the time while I ’sweetly’ told the children to SHHHH!

All in all it was an interesting evening!

This time it was the turn of the monthly English Serivice to hold its annual Christmas Carol service.  The church was packed and we sang all the traditionals!  I was in charge of pressing the space bar on the computer for the power point - and it didn’t go wrong!  Hurahh!  We even had a little video clip from the Jesus Film, which worked - double Hurah!

There was tea and mince pies afterwards and lots of chatting with all the guests.  Thanks to Brixworth Christian Fellowship who joined with us and provided the tracts, there was an information stall which  Hilary and I manned.  It was a challenge to expalin the Gospel without spraying people with mince pies!!  Ha ha!

It has really taken me by surprize, I suppose it shouldn’t have really, but when you work in a church you are a part of everything!  This is especially evident at Christmas with all the parties!  Fun when you go to them, a lot of work if you’re organising them…

So, the first party of the season was the young adults group.

We decorated the tables and put up (another!) Christmas tree.  We did a present swap (of course!).  We reflected on the past year and shared prayer points for the one coming.  We did the planning until Easter!!  Get that for organisation! 

I’ve never had my own Christmas tree!!!  I was so excited to put it up.  I bought it on a flea market in August for 3 Euros!!  I hope all the fleas have died…