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La Lumière: May 2022

Newsletters
15 May 2022
La Lumiere
May, 2022
click for printable pdf
Dan & May in Florence
UN
BEING WELCOMING

You can do what you love, use your talents and serve God at the same time. Really. Most students' experience with Cru is the campus ministry, so why would we expect them to know they could serve the mission computer programming or doing accounting or creating content?! Campus ministry requires a specific skill set and personality, but there is space here for everyone. The digital creations team has the pleasure of welcoming their second intern. His name is Varick, a student in Rennes studying graphics design. While he is motivated for student ministry, when he heard he could use his design skills in Christian work he was thrilled. Varick is very talented, and has already created digital and print posters for our events as well as creating animations for videos. Varick is from the country of Vanuatu. Do you know where that is? If you give your globe a spin and search east of Australia you'll see a group of islands between New Caledonia and Fiji, that's Vanuatu, a country with an estimated 300k inhabitants. Being in France has been a new experience for Varick, discovering new culture, food, and weather. We're happy to add using his God given talents and working for a Christian association to the list. It is also fascinating to hear about Ni-Vanuatu culture, especially how hospitality is so integral. For example, they regularly prepare extra food in case someone might show up, which people often do! Think about that, being open to and even prepared for an unannounced guest who might need a meal or a bed. Isn't that beautiful?

Fixing the tower of Pisa?

Bea is doing the heavy lifting, while May keeps her dry!

Gelato anyone?

Bea and May with their daily dose of gelato.

Dan & May with Varick

Dan and May with Varick

 

Please pray

  • for the preparation for moving to Rennes.
  • that we stay focused on what is most important in our work and in our relationships.
  • for the major transition of leadership teams happening within Agapé France next month.
Resting in Florence
DEUX
GELATO MOMENTS

This month both of our boys participated in a music camp in Italy. We had the chance to do a home exchange with a colleague in Florence, who in turn stayed in our apartment in Paris. Our family had a week of vacation together, including May's mom, Bea, who is visiting us. It was fun to discover the Tuscan region, taste pizza with a super thin crust, and see a myriad of replicas of Michelangelo's sculptural masterpiece, David. Of course, May had to enjoy a daily gelato moment, not that anyone complained. We also visited Pisa which was relatively near, shamelessly joining the zillions of people who have posed pushing on the leaning tower. Interestingly, it was already leaning when only the third story was up, and subsequent floors were built higher on one side to try to compensate. The big bonus was seeing the two concerts for the music camp, where Silas and Efrem played along with other violinists, flutists and pianists of an outstanding level. Now we're back in Paris and earnestly preparing to move at the end of June, which is approaching with surprising speed.

Our Signatures

La Lumière: April 2022

Newsletters
15 April 2022
La Lumiere
April, 2022
click for printable pdf
La defense
UN
Gold training

"Do not give yourself to that which others can and will do, but to that which others cannot or will not do." is a quote from Jim Elliot that was shared on the first day of GOLD training. May recently completed the 12 month intensive program for Global Operations Leader Development. To have enough time for this, May had to set aside eight hours per week, honing and meticulously planning her schedule and delegating as many tasks as possible. This requirement was also one of the big benefits, in that someone who was already super organized became even more so. The training gave May the opportunity to meet leaders from all around the world, doing what others cannot or will not do. She also comes away with a larger perspective on all aspects of operations: finance, legal, human resources, crisis management, data security, event planning, technology… May also learned important coaching skills, how to approach difficult conversations, and navigating cultural differences with a global team. She is very enthusiastic about the quality and content of the training. If you're interested, here are May's best reads from the GOLD reading list:
The Culture Map, by Erin Meyer, an essential for working with people from different cultures.
Crucial Conversations, by Joseph Grenny, about having productive dialogue when the stakes are high, opinions vary, or emotions run strong.
The Rest of God, by Marc Buchanan, about sabbath and restoring our souls through a rhythm of work and rest set by God.

Enjoying some sun

Please pray

  • for the details and planning for all the moves.
  • that we finish our time in Paris well.
  • for the 80 Cru staff still in Ukraine (44 have evacuated), for protection and an end to the war.
Sunset in Paris

Sunset from the rooftop of Galleries Lafayette.

Ensemble music

Silas playing a concert with his ensemble.

DEUX
MOVING

Last time we shared the news that Efrem will be in London studying at the Royal Academy of Music starting in September. The primary reason we're in Paris is for Efrem's studies at the conservatory while he finishes high school. With him moving to London, it makes sense for us to move back to our apartment in Rennes this summer. At the same time, we're looking for a smaller apartment for Silas in Paris while he finishes his bachelor's degree, and likely continues with a master's. Yes, that's three moves if you're counting, which means a lot of transitions and administrative details in a short period of time. Our heads are swimming a little, but we're staying afloat. The Lord answered a big prayer by providing a buyer for our sound room, which is a very specific and cumbersome item (it took three days to install) that must leave the apartment before we do. That relieves a degree of stress. Living in Paris has been an … experience. When we review this chapter we will do our best to focus on the beauty of this grand city instead of the challenges.

Our Signatures
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