The last evening we had a wonderful dinner together.  We are so glad to partner with ICCM to work in the churches in France. Dan Painter is retiring from VBS but will continue to be involved with the pastors in the churches.

After dinner in Cassis, some of the students jumped in the Med with their clothes on. Sunday they return home. What a trip! Thanks be to God and Au revoir!

Crazy end to the week!

Friday morning we arrived at the church and began our activities. There were 3 toilets in this old building for 80 of us. One blocked up and there  was a leak. We called a plumber who began ripping up tiles. Soon the building smelled like a sewer and it became a health hazard. We evacuated the children to l 'Ecole Radio Biblique where we continued activities in the courtyard. It was a 10 minute walk and I am so proud of my students for how they kept the kids safe and then continued the program to the end. We texted the parents to meet us there for the final spectacle. The children  sang the songs they learned and recited their verses.We served American Brownies and celebrated the end!

Notre Dame de la Garde - Wednesday

   After VBS today we took an excursion to the huge church on the hill overlooking the city of Marseilles. Our Lady of the Guard watches over the sailors and fishermen since the 1800s. There are many plaques of thanksgiving in the church as prayers for safety and rescue were answered.

FOOD!!

  Speaking of French food, we are eating well! Cyril, one of the dads, is preparing all our meals. He is taking some of the teens with him to the market each day and then teaches them how to cook in the afternoon.He provides breakfast, lunch and supper for us. However, we are not gaining weight because the meals are so spread out with no snacking in between. Breakfast is at 8 am, lunch is at 1:30 and dinner is at 8 pm.  ( I just about die waiting for dinner). Plus we are running around after kids all day!

Today's lunch was hamburgers with eggplant.

Peach melba!

His son Marc( age 9) works with him in the kitchen and made a dessert cake for us.

Some familiar faces

Ruthie joined us for a day to  translate and hang out. She is headed to England for Bible school and ministry.

Julia was a senior in French this past year and has been here in France as an intern. She prepared a lot for us in advance, printing bulletin and advertising at the schools. During the program, she is my assistant to run & fetch  what I need.

Richard and Carol Chenette are here with the church  St.Just. They have an apartment at l' Ecole Radio Biblique and that's where we eat each night.

VBS at Marseilles with Eglise Evangélique de St. Just

This is more of an inner city ministry. We are on the outskirts of Marseilles and safety is a concern.

This is a game like Duck, Duck,  Goose.  It goes Tomate, Tomate, Ketchup! If you are caught, you have to go à la soupe  ( in the middle).

Eli is saying his Bible verse. We spend a lot of time on Bible memory activities.

The kids love decorating bags for their first day of Arts & Crafts.

New week in Marseilles

As we drove to Marseilles, we stopped at a Macdo. Some students went inside for a taste of home.Most of us had our French picnic in the parking lot.

Liz is a driver and in charge of food, snacks and keeping the gang fed. Albert is one of our drivers and translators. He also has amazing penmanship to make the name tags for the kids. 

We stopped by Aix en Provence to tour the town. This protestant church received commendation during times of persecution from Jean Calvin. Dan & Nancy Painter planted a church in the building and worship goes on today. Aix is a university town so there is an outreach to college students.

We are staying at Ft. St. Nicolas in Marseilles. Diana is our science teacher and Melissa does crafts. We could not do this bilingual club without the moms!

Keegan and Kelly Reilly join us for this week. Here is Nancy Painter with Raphael Reilly.