La Lumière: June 2019
Early last month May spent a week in Spain at La Fuente del Peregrino, Cru's hostel for pilgrims on their way to Santiago. Part of her job description is to get out from behind the desk and onto the field at least once a year. This time her team included Robyn, a longtime friend and fellow staff member, plus a team of 6 involved with the Jesus Film. They had very long days, working early to welcome pilgrims with coffee and tea, cleaning the hostel and preparing it for new overnight guests, and hosting them for an evening meal. People from all over the world walk the Camino: Koreans, Russians, French, Spanish, Czechs… Each walking for their own reasons, but many are open and seeking. Guests were thrilled when given blankets and popcorn as they sat down to watch the Jesus Film before dinner, and the team had many great discussions with them. Two visitors were truly homeless, with no money or food, living off of whatever people gave them. One young man from Rome had spent a year with Buddhist monks and returned unsatisfied, still searching for meaning in life. There was one very intelligent and self aware pilgrim who wouldn't say where he was from but was clearly in crisis. He was very touched by how well May listened to him, making this poignant observation, "Most hostels feed and rest your body, but this hostel feeds and rests your soul." We pray he will find the rest he is looking for in Christ, giving his soul the peace only Jesus provides!
Please pray
- for May and Dan as they work on their strategic plans for the coming year.
- that we find a suitable apartment in Paris that we can settle into before school starts in September.
- for Silas and Efrem as they take important end of year tests, the BAC and the Brevet.
May checking in a pilgrim.
Pilgrims like to rest in front of the hostel throughout the day.
One last moment to bless this guest before he starts his day walking.
Both Silas and Efrem have reached major milestones. Silas recently passed his final test to receive his DEM, a professional music diploma from the Rennes Conservatory. This opens the door for him to play or teach professionally. Each year only one or two students graduate at that level, and Silas had the unanimous vote of the jury. Bravo Silas!
Efrem also had quite an achievement, passing the test to enter the conservatory in Paris. Of the 25 flutists of all ages competing to enter the special section, only three were taken. This means Efrem's high school (which lasts 3 years in France) will have specially arranged classes to facilitate his music studies - in Paris. This is a wonderful opportunity, bravo Efrem!
You might be wondering what this means for us, Efrem attending high school in Paris. There will be a transition to Paris for us too. Fortunately, Cru is flexible enough for us to work in any city where teams exist, and our roles aren't tied to a specific location. So, as crazy as it might be, we're looking at apartments in Paris. Prayerfully we will find one that suits our family and be settled in by September.
