Well, it is Thursday, Oct. 15th and I am home! I arrived back to the States yesterday with our plane touching down at Dullas Airport at 1:15 in the afternoon. Then it was through customs and on to baggage pickup. All my luggage was there and that is a great blessing--no standing in line to report missed luggage and filing out a claim. Always, when I pass through customs, there is this little fear that rises up within me--what if my country won't take me back?! But, the attendant always looks at my passport and then smiles and says, "Welcome home." I love that!
A van from Orange Baptist with the pastor driving and John Miller, our association director, with him, welcomed us and took us back to Mineral Baptist Church where my sweet husband, Steve met me and we arrived home around 5pm. It is always so good to walk in your own back door and into your own kitchen. All my animals greeted me this time and I felt good.
The last 2 days in Paris were wonderful but, very tiring. I think we must have walked the whole city from the way my feet and legs felt. My toes hollered at me the whole way!! On Monday, we rode 2 elevators to the very top of the Eiffle Tower. One elevator takes you sideways up to the second floor and then another takes you straight up to the top. What a sight from the top! At the top there is a room you enter that has windows all around the outside of it, with the names of all the countries you are facing above each one. It really looks like you can see forever and ever!! Then you go outside and you look out over a very vast city. I believe it is the largest city I have ever been in, except maybe for New York City.
Before that, we had visited the Arc of the Triump, which Nopoleon had built in honor of those who had served with him. It was very elaborate with carvings and names of those who gave their lives and an eternal flame directly underneath.
Only the five of us from our team went into Paris that day, so we walked more than we needed too, stoping to ask directions with our fearless Ceola, who had been a French teacher for more that 30 years. She loved using her french and talking to the locals we would meet on the street.
The Eiffle Tower was very popular and took more than 2 hours of waiting in line before getting inside to buy tickets, but it was worth it all! Tammy and Ceola had to be talked into going to the top, but, all together, we made it!! I am very proud of Tammy, who suffers from anxiety attacks from elevators and heights--we all held hands and to the top we went!!
We then trekked to the French Armory, getting there too late before they closed. We slowly walked back to the Gen. DeGalle train exit, passing lots of important buildings on the way, such as the legislative and administrative buildings, the Grand Palace and the Petite Palace. I loved the arcitecture of these massive buildings. What a beautiful city!
That evening we arrived back at the church, ate supper at a Chinese restaurant which was next door to the church, and fell into bed!
On Tuesday morning, four of us, minus Mary--for an 82 year old to do all she did the day before, she knew her potential and opted to stay at the church and read and pack for home--headed back on the bus and train for Paris--this time led by Valerie, a French American. We went back to the Armory and enjoyed a long tour through that massive building with all the knights in armor and looking at all the weapons used over at least the last thousand years. How the men were able to wear those massive armour was soon discovered, when we saw knight armour for children as young as 5 years. They were required to wear the armour to get used to its weight and confining stiffness at a very young age. Poor young boys!! It is horrible what we humans put our young through inorder to fight wars--I guess from the song of the movie, South Pacific, "You have to be carefully taught to hate all the people your relatives hate" is very true.
Next we walked to the Englise du Dome- where the ashes of Napoleon are entombed. Again , what a massive, highly decorated place.
We finished up in the Revillie area where there were many shops and stores to buy souviniers, etc. It is a good place to "part with your money fast" and we did just that! It was a long train and bus trip back to Riolle where the church is that we stayed at and we ordered pizza, and packed for home. Brian's chior--which we had heard at the Madeleine Church in Paris on Thursday night--practiced on Tuesday night, so we were able to sit in on the practice and listen to over 50 people use their tallents for singing praises to our Wonderful Lord! I enjoyed that so much! Scott, Brian's accompianiest and director of the band, asked me to critique a song he had just written to see if I liked the ending. I was blown out of the water at the magnificence of the piece! I told him I loved it and he made me feel special to have me critique such a wonderful song.
We awoke on Wednesday morning and packed ourselves-and I do mean PACKED--into a car driven by one of the church members to head for the airport. I have never been to such a place, a huge airport--The Charles deGuall. The driver had to use her navigator to get through Paris and into the terminal we needed!
So, I am back home and enjoyed so much the close friendships I made with the team of 5--Tammy, Alyssa, Ceola, Mary and myself. What a blessing to get to know others in such a way that they become a special part of your life--thank you girls!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Exhaustion
We are back from the retreat and very exhausted! What a joy to work with 18 beautiful children. We had 4 sessions with them, each 1 1/2 hours long. They are very intelligent and most spoke english. Those who didn't, the others would interpert for them. The younger group (5-8 years old) were all girls--8 in all. Very cute and gigglily. They taught me alot about love and patience. The older group was in the 9-10 year olds and were 6 boys and 4 girls. They also taught me love and MORE patience!
Most of the activities I did with the kids seem to go off well, except 1. That was making lion masks for the younger set--girls aren't crazy about making boy lions' manes. But, they decorated them with sparkles and danced around with them over their faces!! I can't believe I was that cute when I was that age.
Now, we are back in Paris at the church. Tonight the church has a monthly gospel service, so that should be a treat. I look forward to that.
Tomorrow is our time! We are going to tour Paris and the first place will be the Eiffle Tower. Three of us are planning to go to the top!! I am excited. Maybe I will blog how the day went. We are going alone--just the 5 of us! But, Tammy, Alyssa, and Ceola have been before so they know where to go and what to take.
My life is in their hands!!
Lesley
Most of the activities I did with the kids seem to go off well, except 1. That was making lion masks for the younger set--girls aren't crazy about making boy lions' manes. But, they decorated them with sparkles and danced around with them over their faces!! I can't believe I was that cute when I was that age.
Now, we are back in Paris at the church. Tonight the church has a monthly gospel service, so that should be a treat. I look forward to that.
Tomorrow is our time! We are going to tour Paris and the first place will be the Eiffle Tower. Three of us are planning to go to the top!! I am excited. Maybe I will blog how the day went. We are going alone--just the 5 of us! But, Tammy, Alyssa, and Ceola have been before so they know where to go and what to take.
My life is in their hands!!
Lesley
Friday, October 9, 2009
Paris, France
Bonjoir from France
After finall getting picked up at the airport(our driver got stuck in traffic for 3 hours!!) we arrived at Pastor Brian's house to a nice dinner of ham and baked potatoes with cheese melted on top, along with a great spinach salad.
Yesterday, we cleaned the church with the help of volunteers from the church. They provided a lunch of sandwiches and chips and a chicken curry that was to die for!!
Then it was off to the laundromat to do some much needed laundry.
After a quick supper, we went to a large, old church in Paris, the Madilynne(sp.) to hear Brian's choir sing. What a blessing!! To hear such beautiful voices singing Southern gospel, spirituals, etc. in english in such a setting was marvelous. I loved watching Brian directing--I got quite a few tips to use on my choir--lookout!!
Today we are finalizing our stories, crafts and music for the retreat and we leave this afternoon. Here is asking God for success and blessings for all of us.
Lesley
After finall getting picked up at the airport(our driver got stuck in traffic for 3 hours!!) we arrived at Pastor Brian's house to a nice dinner of ham and baked potatoes with cheese melted on top, along with a great spinach salad.
Yesterday, we cleaned the church with the help of volunteers from the church. They provided a lunch of sandwiches and chips and a chicken curry that was to die for!!
Then it was off to the laundromat to do some much needed laundry.
After a quick supper, we went to a large, old church in Paris, the Madilynne(sp.) to hear Brian's choir sing. What a blessing!! To hear such beautiful voices singing Southern gospel, spirituals, etc. in english in such a setting was marvelous. I loved watching Brian directing--I got quite a few tips to use on my choir--lookout!!
Today we are finalizing our stories, crafts and music for the retreat and we leave this afternoon. Here is asking God for success and blessings for all of us.
Lesley
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
To My Grandkids
Grace, James, Nathan and Emery
I miss you all so much!!!!!
You all would love Bremen. The most famous thing about Bremen is the story of the animal musicians. I have pictures and the story about them. I will bring them home to you.
Hope you are well and doing good in school. I will send you another message when I am in Paris.
Be sure to see what I wrote as a comment to Grace's questions in the Oct. 1 blog message.
Love you all so much!! No matter where i go, there is no one as cute and sweet as you all.
Grammy
I miss you all so much!!!!!
You all would love Bremen. The most famous thing about Bremen is the story of the animal musicians. I have pictures and the story about them. I will bring them home to you.
Hope you are well and doing good in school. I will send you another message when I am in Paris.
Be sure to see what I wrote as a comment to Grace's questions in the Oct. 1 blog message.
Love you all so much!! No matter where i go, there is no one as cute and sweet as you all.
Grammy
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Good Morning
It is a bright new morning and after arising at 4:15(I couldn't go back to sleep) I decided to get up.
Nunia, my host, is leaving this morning for a holiday in Rome! It is so cool how people go from country to country, I guess just like we do from state to state. She needed some down time to relax after all she did to prepare for the retreat and us. Plus, Nunia works as a cook in a hotel and the holiday season is fast approaching and she will be so busy then. Nunia is a wonderful cook and opens her home to anyone who needs it. She said they are house setters for a couple who is living outside the country. That husband needed to find work elsewhere, but he did not want to sell the house. When Nunia and Ole found out about the house, they prayed hard to get the house, and Nunia promised God that she would open it to anyone who needed a place to stay and also has alot of church meetings and activities here. Nunia and Ole are such fine Christians--it is so evident in everything they do.
This morning a neighbor and church member will be picking Mary and I up and taking us to the church for a biblestudy with the pastor's wife and other ladies of the church. We will have lunch with them and then another couple will take us to the airport to catch our plane for Paris at 2:45. When we arrive in Paris, someone will meet us and take us to the next church we will be working with. Until supper, I will be working with the children/youth choirs, singing songs with them and playing games.
This will prove to be a full day. Mary and I both agree that the church retreat in Paris is going to have to come a long way to compare to the one here is Bremen!!
Hope to update in the next day or two.
Love in Christ!
Lesley
Nunia, my host, is leaving this morning for a holiday in Rome! It is so cool how people go from country to country, I guess just like we do from state to state. She needed some down time to relax after all she did to prepare for the retreat and us. Plus, Nunia works as a cook in a hotel and the holiday season is fast approaching and she will be so busy then. Nunia is a wonderful cook and opens her home to anyone who needs it. She said they are house setters for a couple who is living outside the country. That husband needed to find work elsewhere, but he did not want to sell the house. When Nunia and Ole found out about the house, they prayed hard to get the house, and Nunia promised God that she would open it to anyone who needed a place to stay and also has alot of church meetings and activities here. Nunia and Ole are such fine Christians--it is so evident in everything they do.
This morning a neighbor and church member will be picking Mary and I up and taking us to the church for a biblestudy with the pastor's wife and other ladies of the church. We will have lunch with them and then another couple will take us to the airport to catch our plane for Paris at 2:45. When we arrive in Paris, someone will meet us and take us to the next church we will be working with. Until supper, I will be working with the children/youth choirs, singing songs with them and playing games.
This will prove to be a full day. Mary and I both agree that the church retreat in Paris is going to have to come a long way to compare to the one here is Bremen!!
Hope to update in the next day or two.
Love in Christ!
Lesley
Monday, October 5, 2009
International Baptist Church Retreat
I wasn't able to get to a computer while I was on the retreat, so now I will update.
On friday morning after a much needed sleep, our driver arrived to take us to Nordon, Germany for the retreat of the International Baptist Church of Bremen. Marge, who I had met the day before, and her husband, Michael were to take us by car. Marge, who is from the Philippines, was in charge of taking alot of the food, plus going to the grocery store to buy whatever else was needed. Michael, a German, drove silently so he could concentrate.(we traveled on the autoban, which I am sure you have heard you can travel up to 200mph) We did not go that fast--thank you Lord!--but many flew by us and I thought they were flying!!
After a quick lunch at MACDONALDS!, we arrived in Nordon around 3pm.
When you talk about international and church in the same sentence, you find a church that is made up of at least 15 countries! I met on the retreat, people from Germany, of course, Malasia, Liberia, India, Figi and Denmark(my host family), South Africa(the pastor and wife), Kenya, Scotland, Philippines, Guana, UK, Singapoor, Switzerland, Brazil, US. and a country in the former Soviet Union which I cannot pronounce.
This church is an English speaking church, so at the retreat all could converse with Mary and I.
The children we worked with were few--only four and 2 babies, but, we enjoyed them so much. The oldest was a 10 year old boy, Cameron, his brother, Samuel- 6 , a girl, Angelina-8, a 3 year old-Frances and two precious babies--Pia-1 year and Silas--3 months.
The children were so well behaved--all we had to do was give them a project and they worked hard at it. They did love to play with a pool table and balls, making a lot of noise, so we couldn't let them if the babies were sleeping. We made fish from "Jonah and the Whale". Noah's Ark with animals, pig puppets from "The Prodigal Son", and "Jesus Loves Me" bookmarks.
The afternoons were free, so we were escorted to a Tea Museum on saturday. We learned all about making tea, going through an old factory hearing how tea was made and the proper way to drink it and prepare it. i really enjoyed it.
Yesterday, we went a few miles to the coast of northern Germany just across from the Netherlands. The architechure(sp.) was very reminescent of the Netherlands. I saw 2 windmills and a seaside farmers's market that among it's fare, was an eel sandwich, which I was not about to try!! I did try some deep fried fish that a merchant gave us to taste.
The homes in Nordon were so quaint, sort of a frame with double picture windows in front which held lace curtains pulled back making them look like eyes with their eyelids drooping. Everyone had pots of flowers in the windows that made me think how my grandmother loved to do the same in our home. The countryside looked so much like that of the Shennadoah Valley in Virginia minus the mountains but with rolling hills- If this is the way the rest of Germany looks, then I can see why my ancestors settled in the Valley-
Saturday night, the retreat held a talent night that was so much fun--they act just as crazy as we do at Oakland and our family reunions. Then, last night was a wonderful time of testimonies, praise and worship and the Lord's supper. There were some who were going through difficult times and a few were leaving to go back to their countries. When these were mentioned, many members went to the person and layed on of hands while someone prayed for them. The closeness and love was so evident--God was difinitely in that place!!
Ther is so much more to tell that I will have to tell you to your face. Tomorrow, we will have a free day before leaving here on wednesday. We plan to do some more sightseeing in Bremen and some shopping. God bless all of you!!
Lesley
On friday morning after a much needed sleep, our driver arrived to take us to Nordon, Germany for the retreat of the International Baptist Church of Bremen. Marge, who I had met the day before, and her husband, Michael were to take us by car. Marge, who is from the Philippines, was in charge of taking alot of the food, plus going to the grocery store to buy whatever else was needed. Michael, a German, drove silently so he could concentrate.(we traveled on the autoban, which I am sure you have heard you can travel up to 200mph) We did not go that fast--thank you Lord!--but many flew by us and I thought they were flying!!
After a quick lunch at MACDONALDS!, we arrived in Nordon around 3pm.
When you talk about international and church in the same sentence, you find a church that is made up of at least 15 countries! I met on the retreat, people from Germany, of course, Malasia, Liberia, India, Figi and Denmark(my host family), South Africa(the pastor and wife), Kenya, Scotland, Philippines, Guana, UK, Singapoor, Switzerland, Brazil, US. and a country in the former Soviet Union which I cannot pronounce.
This church is an English speaking church, so at the retreat all could converse with Mary and I.
The children we worked with were few--only four and 2 babies, but, we enjoyed them so much. The oldest was a 10 year old boy, Cameron, his brother, Samuel- 6 , a girl, Angelina-8, a 3 year old-Frances and two precious babies--Pia-1 year and Silas--3 months.
The children were so well behaved--all we had to do was give them a project and they worked hard at it. They did love to play with a pool table and balls, making a lot of noise, so we couldn't let them if the babies were sleeping. We made fish from "Jonah and the Whale". Noah's Ark with animals, pig puppets from "The Prodigal Son", and "Jesus Loves Me" bookmarks.
The afternoons were free, so we were escorted to a Tea Museum on saturday. We learned all about making tea, going through an old factory hearing how tea was made and the proper way to drink it and prepare it. i really enjoyed it.
Yesterday, we went a few miles to the coast of northern Germany just across from the Netherlands. The architechure(sp.) was very reminescent of the Netherlands. I saw 2 windmills and a seaside farmers's market that among it's fare, was an eel sandwich, which I was not about to try!! I did try some deep fried fish that a merchant gave us to taste.
The homes in Nordon were so quaint, sort of a frame with double picture windows in front which held lace curtains pulled back making them look like eyes with their eyelids drooping. Everyone had pots of flowers in the windows that made me think how my grandmother loved to do the same in our home. The countryside looked so much like that of the Shennadoah Valley in Virginia minus the mountains but with rolling hills- If this is the way the rest of Germany looks, then I can see why my ancestors settled in the Valley-
Saturday night, the retreat held a talent night that was so much fun--they act just as crazy as we do at Oakland and our family reunions. Then, last night was a wonderful time of testimonies, praise and worship and the Lord's supper. There were some who were going through difficult times and a few were leaving to go back to their countries. When these were mentioned, many members went to the person and layed on of hands while someone prayed for them. The closeness and love was so evident--God was difinitely in that place!!
Ther is so much more to tell that I will have to tell you to your face. Tomorrow, we will have a free day before leaving here on wednesday. We plan to do some more sightseeing in Bremen and some shopping. God bless all of you!!
Lesley
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Bremen, Germany
Well, we are here. Mary and I arrived at 9am (2am US time) and were met by Miriam and her baby son, Silas. What an adorable 3month old baby!; she brought us to the home where we will stay while in Bremen-- Nunia, from Figi, and her husband, Ola, from Denmark. What a sweet couple to open their home to us.
After a nice nap, Nunia and a friend, Vivian, took us on a walking tour of the old part of the city. Oh, I could never have imagined what old buildings look like! Some were dated back to the 1400s. I took lots of pictures until my batteries ran out. I plan to go back to that area on tuesday.
Tomorrow, we leave around noon for the retreat in Noiden--on the coast of the North Sea- I will write all about it and take lots of pictures.
Until then, please pray for us--that we have a safe trip and that Mary and I will show these children and their parents God's love for them. It is truly a blessing to see how other Christians live around the world--they are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
By the way--all of my luggage arrived with me!! Praise God!!
After a nice nap, Nunia and a friend, Vivian, took us on a walking tour of the old part of the city. Oh, I could never have imagined what old buildings look like! Some were dated back to the 1400s. I took lots of pictures until my batteries ran out. I plan to go back to that area on tuesday.
Tomorrow, we leave around noon for the retreat in Noiden--on the coast of the North Sea- I will write all about it and take lots of pictures.
Until then, please pray for us--that we have a safe trip and that Mary and I will show these children and their parents God's love for them. It is truly a blessing to see how other Christians live around the world--they are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
By the way--all of my luggage arrived with me!! Praise God!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
