Salut!

I’ve not got round to telling you about how my meal with the muslim family went…many people have asked so here we go.

Imagine a small room, television Algeria blaring out, a 84 year old grandma going a bit potty and talking in Arabic to the TV and waving at the presenters, another lady with her prayer beads doing her daily prayers out loud in Arabic and in between shouting army-like french cooking instructions to the kitchen, a another woman coming in to complain about the instrtuctions and to ease the embarrasement of an argument in front of a guest they argue in Arabic, ’so I won’t understand’.  The husband is trying and failing to get a word in anywhere.  In the midst of all this I am trying to give their son an english lesson when he evidently wants to go and watch the UFA cup match.  Hmmm.  Not the most relaxing scenario.

Anyway, the food arrives - which is yummy!  (But as with all north African food, it does crazy things to my digestion 2 hours later.)

We talked about heaven and what we think it is.

I am invited back and told next time she’ll give me an arab style dress!!   

the campaign ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ seems to be off to a really encouraging start.  After fielding about a million comments like, ‘Jesus never read this book’ I was about to give up all hope.  But things, praise God, have come together.  At least 10 of the youth are reading the book and one girl on Saturday started reeling off all the bible verses she had learnt by heart.  (She was doing this while wearing a metalica hoody and a ‘fake’ axe through the earlobe.)  At the end of the service today the pastor asked if anyone would like to share anything about the first week of the campaign.  6 people stood and shared how they were being encouraged and blessed.  Wow!  Thank you for praying!!

There was an invited speaker all weekend at the Reformed church in the city.  5pm Saturday, a special ‘dabate’ for young people.  Subject: ‘The Micha Challenge.’ 

After learning from painful past experiences I didn’t get my hopes up at all.

I was extreamly surprized to see that about 3/4 of the youth group had turned up at the meeting point…"maybe I am being pessamistic, maybe it will be great, be positive Stace".

We arrived at the church (after a short detour via the boulangerie, mmmmm!), to find that ours was the only group of youth there.  The ‘hip and in touch’, trying-too-hard speaker then went on to ask one of our youth workers, who is 25, which high school he went to.  D’oh!

We started.  A big table.  No projecter, music, videos, games.  Nope, this is France…we must be serious and pump you with information.  I was prepared for this.

But then the debate started.  The collected group of random adults then proceeded to discuss important matters such as: Do cows pollute more than cars?  Is it worse to be a mother or a single women in terms of the job market today?  And the legality of collecting perscription medication.  All of which, as you can imagine, spoke directly to our group of 15-17 year olds as they hung on every word…when they weren’t playing solitere on their iPods or texting.

The trip to the kebab shop afterwards was a huge highlight for everyone…even me.  How much does that explain?!

I spent last week with my family.  It was nice to be with them but of course it was a sad and difficult time.  It still feels very strange to know that I’ll never hold my garandad’s hand again, this side of eternity.

On my way back to Orleans I stopped a couple of hours in Paris and visited the Orsay museum.  I’m not really a museum type, but I thought it might be a nice change!  I saw lots of famous paintings:

I can’t even remember who did this one, but it was my favourite…it’s probably really famous, right?, and I’m showing my ignorance…but at least I’m honest!! 

I want to the universty canteen after my class this morning with another student.  You would not believe it!!  No chips to be seen at all.  Jamie Oliver would be in heaven!  I followed the others round the service area, choosing a desert, a salad from 6 different varieties, a piece of cheese and bread roll, and a hot meal.  I had seafood rice with fish in an olive sauce.  How much did I pay?  Get this…3€, that’s £2.10!!!  Can you imagine?!  A 4 course meal, standard fare in French schools, for just over 2 quid!!  I’m going to eat there as often as possible. 

 

To continue on the cultural differences theme…on the evening news tonight it showed a man fully naked in the shower!!  France!

I travel home very early tomorrow morning.

My grandad passed away early this morning.  He had been suffering from cancer.  He came to know Jesus about 2 years ago so at least we can take comfort in the fact that he’s going to be happy for the rest of eternity!  That is some promise Jesus holds out to us.  However, that doesn’t stop the rest of us mourning his passing.  Please keep us in your prayers.  I will be travelling back to the UK on Thursday and staying for the funeral early the next week.

When you pray things happen!!  Yet another young mother-to-be has arrived at the church ‘out of the blue’ and has already asked for baptism and intergrated into JEEP!  I started baptism preparation with her this morning and it was great to get to know her.

The radio interview that I did was heard by a lady about 30km away and it provoked her to write to the church and ask for the news sheet.  She has promised to be with us on Sunday with her adult son.  Wow!

I am continuing my English lessons with the muslim family.  Today I had the chance to talk about ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ and what my purpose for living was, as a Christian.  It was a fantastic exchange.  Please pray for the seeds of the Gospel that are taking root.

What a good day!!  Hurah! 

I think I’ve already whinged about the huge amount of boring meetings I have to attend…well, add this to the list!  3 days of highly intellectual, theological, airey fairy, talks.  There is a huge cultural difference here that I am beginning to understand.  Anglo-Saxons like little stories, jokes, and practical application.  The French like abstract ideas and huge floating theories that are impossible to pin down.  It inevitably leaves me feeling frustrated.

I also became aware that Christian stereotypes are embarrasingly alive and well.  I witnessed numerous sandal wearers, in FEBRUARY!

One of the most surreal events was Saturday night when a group of about 15 of us went to the pub.  The only room in the bar that could accomodate us all was down stairs in the cellar which is a night club at the weekend.  We sat in almost total darkness and most of the middle aged family men with large waist lines and little hair reverted to teenage boys…playing ’star wars’ with their lightsabers / straws and testing out their mobile phone ring tones.  No matter which country you’re in some things just don’t change.

 

The highlight of the 3 days, however, was a detour on the way home to the sacred IKEA store.  All sins of bordom were forgiven as I filled my arms with colourful place mats and cheap photo frames.

Is there anybody reading this who was in Aberystwyth 1999?  If so you will no doubt have spent billions of hours not studying, but playing the hallowed game of Rummikub.     I have restarted the tradition!  Hurahh I hear you cry! 

  This is Jean-Aime and Miriam and my loosing tiles. 

Today after the service we had another JEEP.  It’s getting more fun as we get to know each other better.  My throat is hurting after laughing so much!

  I listen intently as Edith tells how she drank bleach as a child…?!

  Francis and Nicolas find Bruno’s chicken impression amusing.

Tomorrow I drive little Fifi to Dijon for a national Pastor’s meeting.  Still not quite sussed out why I’m going.  But I’m going to pack as many pink clothes as I can, twirl my hair while listening to talks and put all the toilet seats down.