If have been reading my other blog you will know that last Thursday I had a rather interesting encounter with a bat!! It has been the talking point for the last few days and has given me the excuse to stay somewherelse for the night and be fed by someone else as well! I was happy to stay put but Stella was insistant that I didn't stay in the flat and came to stay at her house for the night which was lovely!
Please pray that he bat has gone for good, that it was just a one off and that it has refound it's family and doesn't want to come and visit me any more!!!
Last Thursday and Friday were Bank Holidays in France (Ascension) and therefore none of the kids had school. They also have this clever thing in France of when the bank holiday falls on a Thursday or a Monday they make a "bridge" to the weekend so effectifly getting a 4 day weekend! They are not as silly as they all look...... So I had Thelma (the 9 year old that I look after) for both days whilst her mum, who must have been one of the only people in the town, went to work.
Thursday we played monopoly (the new one with credit cards) most of the morning, then went shopping for extra bit for my flat; like a dustbin, drying rack, draining rack and chopping borad - all VERY extiting!! Got to spend more time with Stella though which was lovely. I get a lot of time on my own, especially in the evenings and I do get quite lonely! Most of the people at church are in couples of families and I don't want to disturb them or invite myself round. I am getting used to the time on my own but it is still really weird.
Please pray for people to make contact with me and invite me round for dinner. To take time getting to know me and help me. please pray for someone to pray for me; no one has yet prayed for me or over me here.
Friday I went to look after Thelma and Kirya, the pastor's daughter, and I took them to McDonald's. We played on the trampoline most of the afternoon and played Uno indoors when it started to rain. Diane, the pastor's wife said a very observant thing to me on Friday. As you may know I have almost always wanted to be a teacher, but I have always imagined myself as a Primary school teacher, until last summer when God very bluntly told me I was looking in the wrong place and that my fear of teenagers was unfounded and that I should gof or it! I was a little disapointed thinking that I ahve a lifetime of arguing, fighting and disiplining ahead of me.... but as Diane said, having kids little kids around, children rather than teens, makes you realise whether you are cut out for it or not. Small children/Primary is definatley not the easy option or the soft option in teaching - and I now thank God for what He said last summer, becasue I would never have stood the constant screaching, running around, attention seeking, mess and temper tantrums (although this is ounding remarkably like Bullers Wood Girls!!!!)
Friday night I helped out with the Youth Group. We played games, talked about the significance and value of putting our hands up as a christain - in suplication, repentance, sacrifice. I learnt loads! the word was brough by Helen, a member of the youth, but as a missionary kid and 17 years old she is one of the most mature of the group. Her insight was brilliant and the rest of the group listened really well... Bless you Helen.
Psalms 134:2
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.
Lamentations 3:4
Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven
Chris Tomlin
"Unchanging"
Great is Your faithfulness
Great is Your faithfulness
You never change
You never fail, O God
True are Your promises
True are Your promises
You never change
You never fail, O God
So we raise up holy hands
To praise the Holy One
Who was and is and is to come
Wide is Your love and grace
Wide is Your love and grace
You never change
You never fail, O God
You were, You are
You will always be
Saturday - I looked after Thelma again: you can see the pictures of our visit to Saint Pierre Sur Dives on the right http://www.mairie-saint-pierre-sur-dives.fr/pageLibre00010009.html I decided however that as I haven't had a day off this week, that I was going to take the afternoon off and drop Thelma at her Dad's. Her mum and Dad are divorced and have a strained relationship. I learnt yeasterday that poor Thelma spent the whole of Saturday afernoon and evening, until 22.30 in a smoky bar with her dad!!!
Please pray for Thelma - for changes in her relationship with her dad, for God to powerfully breakthough in, Lydia, her mum's life, for the establishment of solid rules and boundaries that she has not had for years, for God to protect and encourage her.
I spent Saturday reading, calling my little sister (who finally has a phone) and watching random stuff on youtube, becasue I didn't want to go out in the rain!!!
Sunday is always the highlight of the week when you work at a church!!! I had lunch with the new members group, and all the kids, then I watched them on the bouncy castle and taught them how to make paper airpanes!!! We had 2 visiting preachers this sunday Derick Savage and Jonathan Jankowski, from Maidstone, but unfortunatley I didn't get to listen to them as I helped instead with the youth (see other blog for photos of our "Bridge Challenge")
I then helped the Dognons again but "babysitting" their 4 kids so that they could take the pastors out for dinner and relax. The evening went well and I enjoyed myself!!
Can you please pray for me that Francis, or anyone else in the church, can find other things for me to do; especially with adults and the french section of the church. Maybe leading a cell group, or running something in the church.... I leave that up to God!!
P.S. Only my Nana has now joined the lists of people who have sent me post!!! It's looking like an easy competition so far!! Although I'd much rather have a fair few names to pick out of the hat!!
P.P.S I've also decided that your name will go in the hat the same number of times that you write to me! If Prague was anything to go by my Nana is going to be heading up the list!!!!!
