Good afternoon!
I thought today would be a good day to give you an update on our support raising and preparations for our travels to France this summer.
Currently, we have raised just over a third of the necessary support, so we have a bit of a ways to go, but we know that God is faithful and that He will provide. We have been working diligently at preparing what we are able to prepare before leaving.
I (Chelsea) have basically finished my menu for English camp, and will then send it to Brenda so we can tweak it together for family camp. Next, I will be preparing a list of all the orders for the entire time we are there, so that I can be prepared with ingredients on hand for each menu item.
David is currently preparing a layout and plot for the video he will be putting together with the campers in his workshop this summer. He has a couple of ideas for style, but needs a short (15 minute) plot idea that would allow for breaking down into short scenes that each camper can "direct." If you have any ideas, please let us know, we would love for you to be involved in the process! He is currently thinking in the style of "film noir" and would love for the theme to have something to do with Heaven/Hell and/or evangelism.
I would just like to thank all of our amazing supporters so far - the generosity has been astounding, and you all mean so much to us! Additionally, I just wanted to put in here that we were incredibly grateful for the letter written by Marc that we included in the support letters. It humbled us beyond belief, and amazed us that we were thought so highly of - we definitely do not deserve such praise in the least. Hopefully, we can continue to be both humbled and encouraged in the journey. We are so thankful to be heading back to work for the furthering of the gospel of Jesus Christ once again.
Continue to pray for us and for the hearts of both the servers and the French people we will be touching. Pray that God continues to reveal Himself to all of them and all of us.
Also, if you would just say a prayer that we continue to raise support and that our lease situation works itself out.
May you all be enormously blessed this week.
We love you.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
A New Year and a Transition
This July will mark our third year going to France for missions and our third wedding anniversary. Of course, this year will be a little bit different. While in past years we have gone only to serve at Youth Camp, this summer the staff have invited us to spend over seven weeks with them, serving for youth camp, young adult camp, and family camp. They had no one to run the kitchen for family camp and asked Chelsea to do so. It seemed to work out, in God's perfect timing for us to go.
This summer will be a transitional period for us. We have spent the last four years living, attending school, working, and worshiping in Milwaukee. It has been an incredible four years, especially because God brought us to epikos, a church on the east side that we love dearly and will sorely miss. There, we have made quite a few cherished friends, we call them a family, and we have gotten truly plugged in, serving in several capacities. Beyond that, we love to worship there, pray there, and listen to the Word there - it truly is an incredible place and is our favorite part of Milwaukee. However, in the fall both of us have been accepted to graduate school in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Because of school and the fact that both of our entire extended families live there, we have chosen to return. We will be moving our things in June and then we will return from France at the end of August and just live there. That is why it seems as though His timing is perfect for us to fill the need at camp this summer.
So, we will be continuing this blog this summer, starting now, updating you all in our support rairing process and team building process before we leave, and then throughout camp (our goal is nightly or at least every other night). Instead of explaining what we are doing, we would like to share with you then what is going on with the kids (adults, families) at camp and what the camp is doing to help the kids (adults, families) grow in their faith. This year, for English camp, two others from epikos are joining Chelsea in the kitchen, per the needs for a kitchen team. Pray for us as we build a sort of "epikos France" team.
Please join us in prayer as we begin the process of going and support raising once again and as we prepare our hearts, minds, and bodies for service once again.
This summer will be a transitional period for us. We have spent the last four years living, attending school, working, and worshiping in Milwaukee. It has been an incredible four years, especially because God brought us to epikos, a church on the east side that we love dearly and will sorely miss. There, we have made quite a few cherished friends, we call them a family, and we have gotten truly plugged in, serving in several capacities. Beyond that, we love to worship there, pray there, and listen to the Word there - it truly is an incredible place and is our favorite part of Milwaukee. However, in the fall both of us have been accepted to graduate school in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Because of school and the fact that both of our entire extended families live there, we have chosen to return. We will be moving our things in June and then we will return from France at the end of August and just live there. That is why it seems as though His timing is perfect for us to fill the need at camp this summer.
So, we will be continuing this blog this summer, starting now, updating you all in our support rairing process and team building process before we leave, and then throughout camp (our goal is nightly or at least every other night). Instead of explaining what we are doing, we would like to share with you then what is going on with the kids (adults, families) at camp and what the camp is doing to help the kids (adults, families) grow in their faith. This year, for English camp, two others from epikos are joining Chelsea in the kitchen, per the needs for a kitchen team. Pray for us as we build a sort of "epikos France" team.
Please join us in prayer as we begin the process of going and support raising once again and as we prepare our hearts, minds, and bodies for service once again.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Just Two Days Left...
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!
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!
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!
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