Salut!

I did an 20 min interview with the local Catholic radio station today!  I was able to share a bit of my testimony and why I believe that Jesus is important!  I am a bit concerened that I made a billion and one mistakes.  But it’s done now.  I will be broadcast on Thurday afternoon and again on Saturday.

I am still feeling pants and I’m off to bed in order to get a good night’s sleep before my first solo trip on a motorway - EVER!  Please pray, I’m quite nervous.

Please pray for a speedy recovery.  I spent most of Friday and Saturday in bed and then got over keen yesterday.  Today I’m back in bed!  I have lots on the rest of the week so I’m eating lots of oranges and downing the beechams powders!

Can you believe it?!  I have spent most of my adult life either in a school or teaching in one and now I’m going back!  I feel like I’m going home! 

I have enrolled at the University of Orleans to do one module of French Grammar.  It’s only 3 hours a week but I still have to get a student card - so discounts a pleanty for me!!  Hurahh!  I was tested and placed in the highest group…which I was quite happy about, at least my degree has had some benefit!  I’m looking forward to meeting more people my age and particularly people who don’t know Jesus…yet!

Monday is my day off so I start the week very calmly and then everything seems to spiral down hill towards Sunday and by the evening I am 100% exhausted!  Here are some of the highlights of this week:

Saturday we had an inter-church youth day.  We had different workshops during the day and then a worship service in the evening.  I led a workshop on ’giving you testimony’.  I was a bit nervous because holding the attention of teenagers when your grasp of the language isn’t 100% isn’t easy…but I think it went alright.

 

 painting workshop, the tree of life

 

  Lunch the & the obligitory macdonalds!

 

Then Sunday morning we had 2 baptisms at the church.  Do you remember I told you about my Nigerian friends and their son who were threatened with deportation.  Well, they have been given a temporary extension to stay becuase their son is ill.  Yesterday the father was one of the men to be baptised.

  As you can see, he is a big guy and it was a struggle to get him immersed!

 

Sunday evening we celebrated the birthday of Miriam, one of the young adults from the church.  We had a great time and laughed lots - which was good! 

  (for those of you who are concerened…only one bottle of champagne is real!)

 A game where you have to talk without showing your teeth - stange but hilarious!

Today I checked the pressure of Fifi’s tyres!  The pastor had to take me to the petrol station and show me how to do it…I’m an expert now!

 

Redcliffe College (where I studied before I moved to France) publishes a missionary magazine (ezine) on its web site and it is really good!  This month it is all about the image Vs the reality of missions.  I have just read 2 of the articles and they really encouraged me.  Check them out…the link is at the bottom of the page.

The French don’t really send Christmas cards, they go in for New Year’s carrds where they send you their ‘wishes’. Some are very explicit and go on forever wishing everyone including the family pet health, wealth and happiness.  Most people, thankfully, just shorten it down by saying, "Happy New Year, all my wishes"  which renders it quite banale and meaningless but quicker nevertheless.

Yesterday I was invited to the town hall to hear the wishes of the mayor.  Like any man of politics he used 50 billion (boring) words where about 10 would have sufficed.

He then proceeded to sum up the life St Jean de la Ruelle, our little ‘add-on to the big city of Orleans’ during 2006.  Apparently the most exciting thing to happen this year was…THE OPENING OF THE BUTCHER’S SHOP!!!!!  Yeah!!  (sarcasm apart, note the never ceasing theme of food…)  Seconded by the opening of the NEW MARKET!!  Hurah!  (Food)  With these undoubtedly life changing events he then went on to say, and I quote, that St Jean de la Ruelle was a town where ‘we could live our destiny’.  I am concerend, to say the least, that my destiny will include nothing more exciting than the opening of a shop selling animal carcases.

Happy New Year, all my wishes!

Yep, life is full of firsts in a new country.  Tonight I kissed my first person in the gym!!  (How dodgy does that sound?!)  When you enter any of the different gym sections for the first time you have to say ‘bonjour’ either to people in your line of sight or just slighty out-loud so that those near your feel ‘greeted’.  If you are a regular and people know you then they also kiss.  I had never reached this level until…

Tonight I had just got off the tredmill and was a sweaty, out-of-breath mess when a lady that I have done a few classes with came in.  She greeted me with a kiss and we had a little chat.  I wanted to turn around and say to everyone; ‘Did you see that?  I have a friend here!!  Hurahh!!’  But I didn’t…

I dodged the fog and arrived back in Blighty on the 21st for 2 whole weeks of chocolate, mince pies, re-runs and family.  I had a lovely time and did lots of eating and resting.  Both of which are now clearly visible!

I really enjoyed getting stuck back into tasty British food…

  Yum!

I also spent a great time with my family who are really very lovely!  Here is a picture of some of us just before our crazy hat competion…which I am proud to tell you that my sister won! 

Back into the swimg of things here now.  Just had first JEEP of the new year which went well and off to Bourges for an all day meeting tomorrow.