La Lumière: September 2023

Do you know what percentage of internet traffic is from video? 82%. Video is the main method of communication today. In August I went to a youth camp of Cru's sports ministry, Sport et Foi. Over a hundred participants ages 9-17 were there to exercise their skills in soccer, basketball, handball, mountain biking, archery, dance, … I went with my teammate Alexis and a friend from our church in Paris, Nasia, who recently finished her masters in 3D animation. Nasia is skilled in most things creative, and wanted to experience what it's like to use her talents in ministry. Together we gathered as many photos and as much video footage as possible, all of which will serve future brochures, banners and teaser videos. It was a technical and creative challenge, but fun as well. How to best capture the action as a bike pedals by on the trail, the arrow flies, or the basketball swishes through the hoop? What's the best camera angle to film dancers in a room where an entire wall is a mirror?
Another huge project I have is creating a video which highlights 50 years of ministry for Cru in France. In three different locations I filmed 17 different testimonies of how God has impacted lives through the ministry in France. A variety of people, time periods and ministries are represented, along with the different ways we endeavor to encourage everyone in their walk with Christ. 50 years is a lot to cover! Now I have 5 hours of footage to wade through and piece together into just three or four minutes. What we hope to communicate is how God uses faithful people to change lives, for his glory. It is so exciting to hear everyone's stories!

He's actually behind me, not above me

Coach Dan talking baseball

Ghostbusters or Mission Impossible?
Praises
- our organization was granted religious status for another 5 years, thanks for praying!
- I found the source of our car's electrical problems.
Please pray
- for wisdom editing the 50 year celebration video.
- that Silas and Efrem continue to do well in their studies and progressing spiritually too.
We were blessed to have both of the boys together with us for 12 days. We seized that time to do some hiking in the Swiss Alps. Silas organized all of our excursions, catching as many eye popping vistas as possible. The turquoise water is unbelievable! With the help of hiking sticks, my knees held out, thankfully. We also braved the highest zipline in the world starting on Mont Fort at 10,925 ft soaring above Tortin glacier at 80 mph. Right now Silas is in Uppsala Sweden doing an exchange for the first semester of his masters in computer science. Efrem is back in London for his second year studying flute. One last fun activity is that I was invited to do a baseball workshop at a sports ministry camp for young adults. It gave me a chance to put on baseball pants once again and play the "coach Dan" role. In order to give them practical baseball experience, we played kickball since it uses skills the French are more familiar with.
