Walks on muddy footpaths:
My mum's delicious Christmas dinner:
And of course stocking presents:
And as for me, I was in church 3 times in 24 hours!!
mercredi 30 décembre 2015
Christmas
We spent Christmas at my parents' house in England, with them, my sister Ali and her family (and yes, Mum and Dad had to leave the house for a couple of nights to make space for us all!). It was just so nice that my kids could experience the kind of Christmas I had as a child.
Walks on muddy footpaths:
My mum's delicious Christmas dinner:
And of course stocking presents:
And as for me, I was in church 3 times in 24 hours!!
Walks on muddy footpaths:
My mum's delicious Christmas dinner:
And of course stocking presents:
And as for me, I was in church 3 times in 24 hours!!
lundi 30 novembre 2015
On tour by train...
Eve and I got back on Thursday from a two and a half week tour around part of England, visiting friends, supporting churches and individual supporters. We travelled over to England by Eurostar, which worked very well (except for them forgetting to give us a window for our window seat on the way over!).
We visited London, Bedford, Westbury, Yeovil and Bath, finishing our tour with a couple of days at my parents' house in Chesterfield. My lovely parents had travelled with us from Bedford onwards to provide chauffeur, baby-sitting and technical services where necessary, and it was great to have their help and to spend time with them!
It was a bit of a whirlwind of a journey, but we had a great time. We were wonderfully welcomed by all those who hosted us, and all the different meetings I spoke at went well. I'd been invited to church services, special meet-the-missionary meetings, a mum-and-toddlers' group, a group for retired people, home groups and meals.
After 4 years working in Benin almost non-stop (obviously we had some holiday during that time, including 5 weeks in Europe in 2013), it was really encouraging to be able to talk to interested people about our work, show photos and answer questions. We know people are praying for us when we're in Benin because they tell us so, but it is really special to be face-to-face with those people, to connect personally again and to pray together in person.
As an extravert, it isn't always easy for me to work in an office for hours on end. So this people-focused part of our work suits me well, and I have found myself able to come back to my desk in France re-fueled and re-enthused for my work on the biblical text.
I didn't manage to get many photos of me speaking, but here I am being projected onto the big screen at St John's church, Yeovil. (Photo credit: Judith Brookes. Video credit: David Matthew.)
And taken out of chronological order, here are Eve and I at the beginning of our tour in London. (Photo credit: random passer-by):
We visited London, Bedford, Westbury, Yeovil and Bath, finishing our tour with a couple of days at my parents' house in Chesterfield. My lovely parents had travelled with us from Bedford onwards to provide chauffeur, baby-sitting and technical services where necessary, and it was great to have their help and to spend time with them!
It was a bit of a whirlwind of a journey, but we had a great time. We were wonderfully welcomed by all those who hosted us, and all the different meetings I spoke at went well. I'd been invited to church services, special meet-the-missionary meetings, a mum-and-toddlers' group, a group for retired people, home groups and meals.
After 4 years working in Benin almost non-stop (obviously we had some holiday during that time, including 5 weeks in Europe in 2013), it was really encouraging to be able to talk to interested people about our work, show photos and answer questions. We know people are praying for us when we're in Benin because they tell us so, but it is really special to be face-to-face with those people, to connect personally again and to pray together in person.
As an extravert, it isn't always easy for me to work in an office for hours on end. So this people-focused part of our work suits me well, and I have found myself able to come back to my desk in France re-fueled and re-enthused for my work on the biblical text.
I didn't manage to get many photos of me speaking, but here I am being projected onto the big screen at St John's church, Yeovil. (Photo credit: Judith Brookes. Video credit: David Matthew.)
And taken out of chronological order, here are Eve and I at the beginning of our tour in London. (Photo credit: random passer-by):
jeudi 5 novembre 2015
On tour...
During the kids' two-week autumn holiday, we had the first of several journeys we'll be making to visit churches and other supporters. We went first to St Etienne, where we stayed with friends and spoke about our work in Benin at their church. Marc also preached there.
We next went down to Orange, to the SIM France HQ, where we had a 2-day conference. We joined the SIM France office staff, missionaries who work in France and missionaries who like us are back in France on Home Assignment. And their kids, which made our own kids very happy! It was great to reflect on God's Word together, hear about other people's ministries, and walk out in the beautiful countryside of Provence. After the conference we had a day of debriefing on our last 4 years in Benin.
We then spent a couple of days in Blois, with friends of ours who are church-planting missionaries there with France Mission. A wonderful time of relaxing and encouraging each other. Again, our kids were very happy to get to know theirs (photo taken at the Château de Chaverny).
We then spent a weekend in Chinon, visiting English friends who retired there who I have known since I was a teenager. We led their church service, Marc preached and we also gave a presentation about our work. There was a shared meal afterwards, giving us the opportunity to talk with people some more.
Simon collecting walnuts in our friends' woods.
We spent our Monday with the friends (Wayne and Margaret, see above) who had welcomed us into their home, and then went on to Marc's parents for a few days before coming home. One of the wonderful things about driving around France at this time of year is seeing the amazing autumn colours. Especially after 6 years without an autumn! (The smudges are on our windscreen!)
This travelling is a tiring business!
We next went down to Orange, to the SIM France HQ, where we had a 2-day conference. We joined the SIM France office staff, missionaries who work in France and missionaries who like us are back in France on Home Assignment. And their kids, which made our own kids very happy! It was great to reflect on God's Word together, hear about other people's ministries, and walk out in the beautiful countryside of Provence. After the conference we had a day of debriefing on our last 4 years in Benin.
We then spent a couple of days in Blois, with friends of ours who are church-planting missionaries there with France Mission. A wonderful time of relaxing and encouraging each other. Again, our kids were very happy to get to know theirs (photo taken at the Château de Chaverny).
We then spent a weekend in Chinon, visiting English friends who retired there who I have known since I was a teenager. We led their church service, Marc preached and we also gave a presentation about our work. There was a shared meal afterwards, giving us the opportunity to talk with people some more.
Simon collecting walnuts in our friends' woods.
We spent our Monday with the friends (Wayne and Margaret, see above) who had welcomed us into their home, and then went on to Marc's parents for a few days before coming home. One of the wonderful things about driving around France at this time of year is seeing the amazing autumn colours. Especially after 6 years without an autumn! (The smudges are on our windscreen!)
This travelling is a tiring business!
jeudi 15 octobre 2015
luxuries...
a washing machine
an electric kettle
a hot shower
a supermarket I can walk to
a supermarket I can drive to in under 3 hours
a fridge where I can store the fresh food I bought at the supermarket
a freezer which actually freezes things and keeps them frozen
good tea
friends who like to drink tea and chat
generous friends who more or less furnished our flat for us
24-hour electricity
a vacuum cleaner
not all that much dust to have to clean in the first place
clean water coming out of the tap
the American Library
a fast internet connection
and did I mention the washing machine?!
an electric kettle
a hot shower
a supermarket I can walk to
a supermarket I can drive to in under 3 hours
a fridge where I can store the fresh food I bought at the supermarket
a freezer which actually freezes things and keeps them frozen
good tea
friends who like to drink tea and chat
generous friends who more or less furnished our flat for us
24-hour electricity
a vacuum cleaner
not all that much dust to have to clean in the first place
clean water coming out of the tap
the American Library
a fast internet connection
and did I mention the washing machine?!
dimanche 11 octobre 2015
Back to blogging...
One of the things you realise when you go through transition is that things you did regularly before - like writing blog posts for example - don't necessarily slot straight back into your new routine! Sorry for the interruption!
I am feeling at home here now. In some ways as if I had never left. I went to a conference in Strasbourg last month, and one of the academics I talked to said, "In another world I'm a mother". I feel a bit like, "In another world I'm a missionary in Benin."
Having said that, I am in regular contact with the team in Benin. Too often it is because they are having problems with the internet connection or printing things, and I would like to feel more in touch with the progress of the work. But they seem to be getting on well, and are looking forward to going to a training course on "Translating the Psalms" in Togo next month.
Back here, our kids only have a week at school before their first holidays, which here in France last a whole two weeks. So we'll be heading off to attend a conference at the SIM France base, combined with our debrief sessions, and will also be visiting some churches to talk about our work. We're very grateful for the car we've been able to buy, which will carry us a good number of miles before the end of the month!
I am feeling at home here now. In some ways as if I had never left. I went to a conference in Strasbourg last month, and one of the academics I talked to said, "In another world I'm a mother". I feel a bit like, "In another world I'm a missionary in Benin."
Having said that, I am in regular contact with the team in Benin. Too often it is because they are having problems with the internet connection or printing things, and I would like to feel more in touch with the progress of the work. But they seem to be getting on well, and are looking forward to going to a training course on "Translating the Psalms" in Togo next month.
Back here, our kids only have a week at school before their first holidays, which here in France last a whole two weeks. So we'll be heading off to attend a conference at the SIM France base, combined with our debrief sessions, and will also be visiting some churches to talk about our work. We're very grateful for the car we've been able to buy, which will carry us a good number of miles before the end of the month!
samedi 12 septembre 2015
Settling
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.
samedi 22 août 2015
And we're off...
The last two weeks have not been easy, though at the same time they could have been a lot harder. God provided for us amazingly in our two weeks' flat-hunting in Nancy. For a start, we were able to leave our kids in the very capable and loving hands of their French grandparents. Half of me was happy to have some time away with Marc, but as the time got longer it did get harder, and at least I knew they were enjoying themselves.
On arrival in Nancy, we had a flat to stay in (some friends who were away) and a car to get us around (another friend who offered us her car). And lots of friends to catch up with, which was great.
The difficult part was the flat-hunting. We soon heard from other people that it has got more difficult to rent because of changes to the law. Agencies don't want to take any risks at all, and we are not ideal candidates. We are used to not fitting into categories, but in some contexts people are willing to listen and to do their best to accommodate us (no pun intended!). Not really in this case. Our last payslips show our pay in Benin, which is a lot lower than our pay here in France. We do have a document from SIM attesting to our higher salary, but it also says we'll be in France for "at least a year", which agencies tended to read as "a year", also not an incentive for renting to us.
Having always had the impression in Benin that "everything would be simpler if we were at home", I was faced with the unpleasant truth that things can be just as difficult at home as elsewhere!
So the first two flats we hoped to rent fell through, and when we went to the third agency, a week after visiting flats, and having spent most of that week just waiting to hear from agencies, I was feeling pretty discouraged. If it had just been us in the equation, I wouldn't have been too bothered about it taking a while, but I knew we needed an address to be able to register the kids at school.
But at this third agency, as she asked us to remind us of our surname, she wrote it out and then said, "Oh, but I already know you! You lived in rue Emile Gebhart ... I used to work for the agency you rented from!" I immediately felt much better knowing that we had a connection with her, and that she knew we'd been good tenants before (and Marc for another 3 years before our marriage). It still took a long time to get everything done, because the agency wanted a guarantor, and so papers had to be sent back and forth to Marc's dad, but at last on Monday we were able to sign for our flat.
Things moved fast after that, as we rented a van to pick up some furniture which is being lent to us, and more which has been given to us, and with help from friends from church got it moved into the flat. It was an odd feeling to only be seeing "our" furniture for the first time as it arrived in the flat! On Tuesday we picked up some furniture we'd bought, and with help from friends got most of the furniture put together again. I was even able to make up the beds before we left for Paris on Tuesday afternoon to go and pick up the kids. And another friend went to the townhall to get our kids signed up for school ... it is such a blessing to move somewhere where we already have friends in place!!
When we arrived at Marc's parents, we had a wonderful reunion with the kids! Lots of smiles and cuddles!
We then drove back to Nancy on Thursday morning, spent the afternoon and evening with friends, slept in our new flat overnight, had a quick forest-then-shopping trip on Friday morning, and came away again for the weekend to stay with Marc's brother and his family in the Vosges.
At some point I expect we'll come down to earth...
On arrival in Nancy, we had a flat to stay in (some friends who were away) and a car to get us around (another friend who offered us her car). And lots of friends to catch up with, which was great.
The difficult part was the flat-hunting. We soon heard from other people that it has got more difficult to rent because of changes to the law. Agencies don't want to take any risks at all, and we are not ideal candidates. We are used to not fitting into categories, but in some contexts people are willing to listen and to do their best to accommodate us (no pun intended!). Not really in this case. Our last payslips show our pay in Benin, which is a lot lower than our pay here in France. We do have a document from SIM attesting to our higher salary, but it also says we'll be in France for "at least a year", which agencies tended to read as "a year", also not an incentive for renting to us.
Having always had the impression in Benin that "everything would be simpler if we were at home", I was faced with the unpleasant truth that things can be just as difficult at home as elsewhere!
So the first two flats we hoped to rent fell through, and when we went to the third agency, a week after visiting flats, and having spent most of that week just waiting to hear from agencies, I was feeling pretty discouraged. If it had just been us in the equation, I wouldn't have been too bothered about it taking a while, but I knew we needed an address to be able to register the kids at school.
But at this third agency, as she asked us to remind us of our surname, she wrote it out and then said, "Oh, but I already know you! You lived in rue Emile Gebhart ... I used to work for the agency you rented from!" I immediately felt much better knowing that we had a connection with her, and that she knew we'd been good tenants before (and Marc for another 3 years before our marriage). It still took a long time to get everything done, because the agency wanted a guarantor, and so papers had to be sent back and forth to Marc's dad, but at last on Monday we were able to sign for our flat.
Things moved fast after that, as we rented a van to pick up some furniture which is being lent to us, and more which has been given to us, and with help from friends from church got it moved into the flat. It was an odd feeling to only be seeing "our" furniture for the first time as it arrived in the flat! On Tuesday we picked up some furniture we'd bought, and with help from friends got most of the furniture put together again. I was even able to make up the beds before we left for Paris on Tuesday afternoon to go and pick up the kids. And another friend went to the townhall to get our kids signed up for school ... it is such a blessing to move somewhere where we already have friends in place!!
When we arrived at Marc's parents, we had a wonderful reunion with the kids! Lots of smiles and cuddles!
We then drove back to Nancy on Thursday morning, spent the afternoon and evening with friends, slept in our new flat overnight, had a quick forest-then-shopping trip on Friday morning, and came away again for the weekend to stay with Marc's brother and his family in the Vosges.
At some point I expect we'll come down to earth...
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