Time has literally flown by. Although certainly some days in the kitchen or cleaning bathrooms seem to drag as we are in them, every night it seems like we are blown away by the fact that we have two days left… This is probably because we are working from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep.
Yesterday was July 14th, as in Bastille Day, the day the French celebrate their independence. Naturally, the day was filled with festivities – from the relentless singing of the national anthem over and over to a mock beheading of Marie Antoinette (played by a lovely American counselor named Katy). It was fun, and the campers certainly enjoyed the day, but it was a ton of work to put together and do.
Missions in France are so difficult, like in the States. We often cannot see the fruits of our labor until many years down the road. Students aren’t necessarily receptive, although I know that God is sovereign. Additionally, we can definitely see that the students are really encouraging one another and just being accepting of one another, which is so opposite of the critical culture they live in.
As far as what we are doing specifically… David is still working on the video workshop, and is a little bit stressed out about it as the software is something neither him or Chance have ever used and many students do not come as prepared as they would like. Service team is always a ton of work, although we have been blessed with much encouragement from many of the service team members and it isn’t nearly as emotionally trying or frustrating as we perceived last year.
The kitchen is crazy as always, although leading isn’t as stressful as I anticipated – lots of work, but the control is good, and I continue to feel very good about the products I am putting out (with the help of my lovely ladies with me). Yesterday, I even got a standing ovation at lunch! It was a little embarrassing and I blushed. It’s crazy to think I only have four meals and some odds and ends of snacks/treats left to cook…
We continue to fall in love with this place and the people who work and live here. Please pray for us as we prepare to return home. May we trust in God for the fruits of this labor and may He be glorified through our work here.
We love you all!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
A Break
Hello all, I (Chelsea) am currently sitting in the “BAFA” room – the meeting room for all the French camp counselors. It is about 10:45 AM here and I’m not cooking, which is a first so far.
From yesterday afternoon to tomorrow early morning we will have a break from the campers as they are on a hike. It is much needed, as we have been incredibly busy and without any time to rest since the very first day. And while it is nice because we have gotten the chance to go to a ski resort town and a historic fort, we have been still busy preparing for the return – taking in food orders and cooking for the service team here for Chelsea, and David will be working on getting things together for the video he and Chance are making as well as doing laundry and cleaning up a little.
David’s message on Thursday went really well – thank you for the prayers! It was a tough topic, but he was honest and presented a lot of Scripture. It obviously may have gone over the heads of some of the campers, but he presented three main points that were easy enough to understand. I was so blessed because that morning meal was easy so I gave it so my fantastic kitchen helpers and was able to watch the message and be there for David. It is so important to me (and him!) that I support him in these endeavors, and I know he feels respected and supported as a result.
Additionally, I made Thanksgiving dinner for 100 on Thursday night – salad, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, turkey, gravy, and apple crisp for everyone. They loved it. I knew it would be a hit when I told some of the BAFA, and one said it was his first and he’d always wanted to have a Thanksgiving dinner! Anyways, I have been getting compliments all around for all the meals and it has been a joy and a blessing to cook.
As the campers come back tomorrow, please continue to pray for opportunities to build relationships with campers and for open hearts for Christ in everyone.
We love you!
From yesterday afternoon to tomorrow early morning we will have a break from the campers as they are on a hike. It is much needed, as we have been incredibly busy and without any time to rest since the very first day. And while it is nice because we have gotten the chance to go to a ski resort town and a historic fort, we have been still busy preparing for the return – taking in food orders and cooking for the service team here for Chelsea, and David will be working on getting things together for the video he and Chance are making as well as doing laundry and cleaning up a little.
David’s message on Thursday went really well – thank you for the prayers! It was a tough topic, but he was honest and presented a lot of Scripture. It obviously may have gone over the heads of some of the campers, but he presented three main points that were easy enough to understand. I was so blessed because that morning meal was easy so I gave it so my fantastic kitchen helpers and was able to watch the message and be there for David. It is so important to me (and him!) that I support him in these endeavors, and I know he feels respected and supported as a result.
Additionally, I made Thanksgiving dinner for 100 on Thursday night – salad, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, turkey, gravy, and apple crisp for everyone. They loved it. I knew it would be a hit when I told some of the BAFA, and one said it was his first and he’d always wanted to have a Thanksgiving dinner! Anyways, I have been getting compliments all around for all the meals and it has been a joy and a blessing to cook.
As the campers come back tomorrow, please continue to pray for opportunities to build relationships with campers and for open hearts for Christ in everyone.
We love you!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The First Few Days...
Because David is spending so much time doing so many different things, you will now get to hear from me, Chelsea about what is going on here in France.
David is serving on service team – doing the dishes, cleaning bathrooms, cleaning floors, etc. He is co-leading a video workshop, which is fun, but a lot of work and takes up over half of what would be considered his “break.” Also, he has been asked to do a few things with the program – he will be at one of four stations this morning answering one of the questions that has been asked by the campers in a question box; the question is “Why did God require a perfect sacrifice?” Finally, he was asked yesterday to speak on Thursday for the morning service, so he had two days to prepare about a twenty minute sermon on the problem of evil. He has spent much time studying this issue, so he is well-equipped, but it is still tough and a lot of work for such short notice. Please pray for him as he prepares this talk for Thursday morning. It will be between 10 and 11:30 AM Thursday, so 3-4:30 AM Wednesday night/Thursday morning in the Midwest. So, if you are up and think of him, please pray for God’s Wisdom, His Words, and His Spirit.
Now, I am cooking, as you know, and I feel like it is going super well. I am exhausted, and I am exhausting my ladies in the kitchen, but I can stick my feet in the fountain with cold water and heal them up. We all feel really good about the food and the environment and the service, and I know that the staff is feeling the same way. We got our final order in today, so that was awesome, and such a load off Rose’s and my shoulders. (Rose is camp staff here and the woman I have been working on the menu and order with – she is awesome and encouraging and helpful.) Our first night, I served boeuf bourguinon, and it was a hit, and still my favorite thusfar, but everything else is going over really well too. I am just so incredibly happy that there is a place where God can use my passion for cooking and hospitality for His glory.
Anyways, once again, please pray for us. Once tomorrow is over, we will have a day off, so that will be much needed after everything that has happened.
We love you all!
David is serving on service team – doing the dishes, cleaning bathrooms, cleaning floors, etc. He is co-leading a video workshop, which is fun, but a lot of work and takes up over half of what would be considered his “break.” Also, he has been asked to do a few things with the program – he will be at one of four stations this morning answering one of the questions that has been asked by the campers in a question box; the question is “Why did God require a perfect sacrifice?” Finally, he was asked yesterday to speak on Thursday for the morning service, so he had two days to prepare about a twenty minute sermon on the problem of evil. He has spent much time studying this issue, so he is well-equipped, but it is still tough and a lot of work for such short notice. Please pray for him as he prepares this talk for Thursday morning. It will be between 10 and 11:30 AM Thursday, so 3-4:30 AM Wednesday night/Thursday morning in the Midwest. So, if you are up and think of him, please pray for God’s Wisdom, His Words, and His Spirit.
Now, I am cooking, as you know, and I feel like it is going super well. I am exhausted, and I am exhausting my ladies in the kitchen, but I can stick my feet in the fountain with cold water and heal them up. We all feel really good about the food and the environment and the service, and I know that the staff is feeling the same way. We got our final order in today, so that was awesome, and such a load off Rose’s and my shoulders. (Rose is camp staff here and the woman I have been working on the menu and order with – she is awesome and encouraging and helpful.) Our first night, I served boeuf bourguinon, and it was a hit, and still my favorite thusfar, but everything else is going over really well too. I am just so incredibly happy that there is a place where God can use my passion for cooking and hospitality for His glory.
Anyways, once again, please pray for us. Once tomorrow is over, we will have a day off, so that will be much needed after everything that has happened.
We love you all!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The Calm Before the Storm
For a day of preparation awaiting the arrival of the campers, we surprisingly accomplished a lot today. Chelsea is in the kitchen already cooking meals for the staff and volunteers, and she is already sore from standing on the concrete kitchen floor for twelve hours or so. Both meals she prepared today were hits – lots of compliments for her cooking all around.
David not only served by cleaning dishes, the kitchen floors, and setting/clearing tables, but he also took part in orientation, developed an idea for the video workshop (praise God!), and even had enough time to finish preparing a lecture he had been working on. Also, David was presented with the possibility of giving a message one morning to the campers. Pray for God’s leading in all aspects of this endeavor.
We have been consistently encouraged by the people here running and serving the camp. Chance, the other leader of the video workshop, has been a truly calming force – I don’t think anything can phase this guy. The service team has also been an encouragement, as all members seem to be excited to give all they have to make this camp run smoothly and have fun at the same time. It also seems that the women Chelsea is going to work with in the kitchen for the camp are full of energy and willingness to jump in to work. There are many volunteers returning to this camp for the second, third, or more times, and reuniting with these people has been a great reminder of how wonderful this camp is, and how amazing Christ’s church can be.
The staff is a true blessing and example of Christ to both volunteers and campers. We were reminded of this today as Tom Guffey, the director of the camp, and Marc Neddo, this year’s camp leader, led us in orientation. They spoke frankly about where this camp’s heart lies – in the saving grace of Christ. Tom reminded us all that the two weeks of this camp may be the only opportunity many of these campers will ever have to experience Christ personally. The French culture is very secular and reserved – it takes a long time to get to know someone well enough to share the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. This is truly humbling, as it pushes us to trust in God’s work at the camp instead of attempting to achieve anything on our own. If it is the only opportunity to share truth with these campers, we must pray continually for their hearts, for nothing we do alone can open their hearts.
Marc ended today’s orientation by reading comment cards from previous campers responding to the question of what they learned at camp. Among comments that reflected that this camp was the first opportunity many campers ever had to know Christ, truth, or grow in fellowship and humility, Marc also read a comment from a camper who come to the camp two years ago. This camper wrote that despite the positive influences of the camp, as a Muslim, he knew there was only one true God, and his name is Allah. Over the past two years, the camp had been praying for God to open the heart of this student to see and seek truth. This camper is returning this year.
Please pray for this camper and all the other campers, as we know that our work here is not simply to provide a good time for these young men and women, but to work for an eternal purpose – the salvation of their souls in the saving love of Christ.
God bless.
David not only served by cleaning dishes, the kitchen floors, and setting/clearing tables, but he also took part in orientation, developed an idea for the video workshop (praise God!), and even had enough time to finish preparing a lecture he had been working on. Also, David was presented with the possibility of giving a message one morning to the campers. Pray for God’s leading in all aspects of this endeavor.
We have been consistently encouraged by the people here running and serving the camp. Chance, the other leader of the video workshop, has been a truly calming force – I don’t think anything can phase this guy. The service team has also been an encouragement, as all members seem to be excited to give all they have to make this camp run smoothly and have fun at the same time. It also seems that the women Chelsea is going to work with in the kitchen for the camp are full of energy and willingness to jump in to work. There are many volunteers returning to this camp for the second, third, or more times, and reuniting with these people has been a great reminder of how wonderful this camp is, and how amazing Christ’s church can be.
The staff is a true blessing and example of Christ to both volunteers and campers. We were reminded of this today as Tom Guffey, the director of the camp, and Marc Neddo, this year’s camp leader, led us in orientation. They spoke frankly about where this camp’s heart lies – in the saving grace of Christ. Tom reminded us all that the two weeks of this camp may be the only opportunity many of these campers will ever have to experience Christ personally. The French culture is very secular and reserved – it takes a long time to get to know someone well enough to share the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. This is truly humbling, as it pushes us to trust in God’s work at the camp instead of attempting to achieve anything on our own. If it is the only opportunity to share truth with these campers, we must pray continually for their hearts, for nothing we do alone can open their hearts.
Marc ended today’s orientation by reading comment cards from previous campers responding to the question of what they learned at camp. Among comments that reflected that this camp was the first opportunity many campers ever had to know Christ, truth, or grow in fellowship and humility, Marc also read a comment from a camper who come to the camp two years ago. This camper wrote that despite the positive influences of the camp, as a Muslim, he knew there was only one true God, and his name is Allah. Over the past two years, the camp had been praying for God to open the heart of this student to see and seek truth. This camper is returning this year.
Please pray for this camper and all the other campers, as we know that our work here is not simply to provide a good time for these young men and women, but to work for an eternal purpose – the salvation of their souls in the saving love of Christ.
God bless.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
We made it!
Just a quick update to let everyone know that we made it to camp safely! Our travels went surprisingly well – no hiccups in three flights and a long bus ride. Also, unlike last year, in which cans of chipotle peppers exploded and sunscreen leaked in our suitcase (mixing to create an unbelievable stench), all the food we packed for Chelsea’s cooking made it unscathed this year. To be honest, the whole trip seems like a blur and it hasn’t quite set in that we are halfway across the world yet.
One thing is certain – we are ready to get to work. Tomorrow is going to be an anxious day as we wait for the other volunteers to arrive. Pray that our hearts would be fully devoted to bringing God glory in all things, and that God would bless the kitchen team, service team, counselors, full-time staff, and everyone else involved with loving fellowship and encouragement.
God bless.
One thing is certain – we are ready to get to work. Tomorrow is going to be an anxious day as we wait for the other volunteers to arrive. Pray that our hearts would be fully devoted to bringing God glory in all things, and that God would bless the kitchen team, service team, counselors, full-time staff, and everyone else involved with loving fellowship and encouragement.
God bless.
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