It's nearly four weeks since we moved into this flat, and we are already feeling at home here. It is a comfortable size for us, we have the essential furniture and appliances we need, and we're starting to buy other things to make it feel more homey. We are very grateful for our church's help and God's provision.
The children started school last week, and that went well, considering that security measures mean that parents aren't allowed into the boys' school and normally aren't even allowed into the playground (this was relaxed the first morning). The boys seem to be enjoying school, and adjusting to longer hours. Eve has just finished her first full week (just mornings) at pre-school, and came out with a big smile on Friday morning.
Marc and I had a meeting with our pastor, François, last Friday morning. We talked about the work we are continuing to do for SIM, and about how we can be involved in our church here. We are both going to be teaching the 11s-13s group, Marc will be preaching and leading Bible studies, and François has also asked us both to help with some one-to-one pastoral work. We also want to be as hospitable as possible.
My translation team continue their work in Pèdè. Despite connection problems, they have been able to email me once or twice a week, and the last email I received said that they had managed to print out a document I had emailed to them, which is good news. They are going to be attending a 3-week training course on Translating the Psalms at the SIL centre in Kara, Togo, in November and I was emailing them the research project they need to complete before they go. They are looking forward to this opportunity to learn about this specific genre.
I myself will be going to Strasbourg in September (21st-23rd) to attend a conference on Bible translation being held jointly by the Protestant Faculty and Catholic University in Strasbourg.
