Blogs from Guebwiller, Alsace, France, Europe

Only two weeks left of school but I don't think it's really sunk in yet. I think my announcement yesterday that I only have one month left here in Alsace quite shocked Laetitia, hitting her (and me) with a realization of how quickly the time has gone. Last Friday I had my last lesson with the 4eme - I allowed them to bring crisps and sweets to snack on during the lesson but I felt a bit sheepish when the President of the school board walked through the class on his way to the office, wishing us a 'Bon Appetit' - I hope he doesn't think we stuff our faces like that every lesson! Sometimes when I stop long enough to think about it, it shocks me to think that this life which I've become so ... read more

It has been another ordinary and pleasant week but I fear that if I go into all the details I will bore you dear readers, so I will do my best to include only the 'interesting' stuff. After holidays and bank holidays (they seem to have a lot in France) I have finally managed to have a full 'working week'; that is to say both my Monday and Friday classes. And life with children is rarely dull, as I have been reminded this week; challenging and amusing, yes but NEVER dull. It is Monday afternoon and I am on sieste duty with the little ones as usual: I have four 4-5 year old boys to manage - Florian, Joas, Elian and Josias. We start by making a trip to the toilet (I tend to leave them ... read more

I had told myself that the Easter holidays would be used for getting out, exploring and actually doing something rather than staying in the rural, dull and secluded world of Rimlishof. It's funny how quickly we forget the Proverbs which says "We can make plans in our mind but it's the Lord who decides what we shall do." God had clearly decided that I would be staying in the rural, dull and secluded world of Rimlishof and on top of that, I would undertake fille-au pair duties. What fun..... As Laetitia was still pregnant when I got back from Switzerland, we waited still for the arrival of the new baby. And we waited.....and waited.....in the meantime Laetitia was back and forwards to the hospital and the midwife. On Friday, I spent a stressful hour or two ... read more

My day of work on Friday involved helping the class of 3eme translate their projects on Persecuted Christians - the information for which, they'd taken from Google and Wikipedia so translating the language wasn't exactly easy. I mean, how am I supposed to be able to translate the population density per km2 of China from French into English? And Northen Korea's mineral rocks? Me and Daniele spent the lesson pouring over her giant-sized dictionary and searching on the internet to help us with the translation, all the time puffing and groaning and rolling our eyes at the task before us. A total of 6-7 projects all to be translated by next week. Not fun. Then there's the sponsored race being held next Thursday in aid of Open Doors. On monitoring duty with Lydie and Daniele at ... read more

Seriously,how amazing IS God?! He promises us victory and you know what? He ALWAYS delivers on that promise! It's not even something we have to worry about because it's a 100% GUARANTEED PROMISE! Ok,I know it can be hard sometimes to get that into our heart when we're facing a problem or a big challenge, the exact position I found myself in tonight before sharing my testimony,in French,in front of the whole church! But I needn't have worried or stressed at all. It was ABSOLUTELY amazing - not only was I able to get up there confidently (wobbling a bit on the inside to begin with),get my words out properly and not faint in front of all the people looking at me, I was actually able to enjoy myself and be at peace - God's peace ... read more