real life

Hi. This is the view from our window.

So this week has been intense. The topic was Identity in Christ, and it was basically a process of going even deeper into how God feels about people. Tears were enthusiastically shed. And yes, Dan the speaker did have specific stuff God wanted to say to both of us. Twice.

The teaching went so deep that we were all feeling fairly raw all week - superficial conversations were obliterated in a tide of sharing and caring.

So, that was cool.

It was also exhausting and by Friday none of us wanted to talk about our feelings, our emotions or our pasts. We wanted to go to sleep.

Poor broken armed hubby was actually pretty pleased to not be hitting the slopes on Saturday - he got some good alone time and lots of work done. I hit the slopes. With my face. Learning to snowboard is hard and it hurts a lot because compacted snow is not your fluffy friend, it is a concrete impersonator. Learning to snowboard is also some of the most fun i've had in years and years. There's something about that moment when you and your board and the mountain click that can only be described as...epic.

Obviously i've felt that feeling, um, twice. The rest of the time I was just hitting the mountain with my face. John says he's very proud of wifey. After such a feelingsy week it was so good to just pound everything out on the mountain. Sport is good.

This morning was a treat - we went to church in Lausanne. We will definately be going back. The worship was stunning, even though their rendition of Revelation Song was quite frankly not a patch on Ali and Emilie. But hey ho, it was very good to just belt out some songs to God after such a navel gazing week. The sermon was also one of the best on submission that i've ever heard. If you want the podcast I guess google C3 Church Lausanne. It's French into English and that was fun cos I think our bilingual status in increasing.

Next week is Holy Spirit week - we're both well up for this week. Not sure what to expect and we like that.

Other interesting things include:
I'm going to be getting some tuition on photoshop and illustrator plus the normal teaching cos a friend is letting me use her laptop. They run the comms and design school out of Lausanne so i'm gleaning the skills....

God keeps hinting more things about the future. Can't say specifics yet but it's kind of cool.

We may not be going to Egypt, but if we do it's going to be very interesting. We want to go. Pray.

John's back is not healing as fast as we'd like but he's had the stitches out of his arm and they are impressive. Please pray for him to heal quickly and well.

K, dinner's ready, so bye
J and F xxxxxxxxxx

Yeah

Howdy Y'all.

Not sure what to say really - don't want to spew Christian drivel at you but I feel honesty is the best policy. Think the Bible says some stuff about that.

The last two weeks have seen us get kicked about and chucked around, and we've come out a little black and blue. Literally but also on the inside. John's hospital jaunt took precedence over my tooth for a week or so but this week the tooth decided to implode, taking a couple of other teeth and some of my face with it. Non melodramatic translation: wisdom teeth suck and i've had one out, one pending and i'm on four kinds of medicine to combat the infection that likes to pound on my nerves... and all this costs money. But through some bizarre hook up (prayer) it's not costing anything like as much as it should and this is good.

So the last couple of weeks have been heavy - pain isn't fun and neither of us are in a state to look after the other. If we were living by ourselves we'd be screwed but we're not, we're surrounded by beautiful people full of God's spirit. Lifts to hospitals, shedding tears with and for us, cups of tea, hugs on sofas and offering anything they've got have been the responses of our family here.

And it's this that bouys us up, that lifts us up to where we couldn't get before. It's this kindness that flows against our culture that shows me who my God is. People haven't offered what they've got to spare, they've offered what they need themselves. No strings attached. And I don't know how to thank them so i'm writing it here and praying that God will give us chances to bless them back, and the humility to just sit back and accept what's been given.

So what's going on? Darkness likes to show it's teeth and then light punches it in the face. Bye bye, teeth. (A dental theme has emerged.) We're not backing down from this thing. Yes it would be easy to flee home and get free healthcare and look after ourselves and see dearly missed friends and family. But we didn't sign up to a life of easy options, we signed up to a life that looks the dark in the face and laughs, clenched fists at the ready. Want to be a force for goodness, want to show with our whole lives who this beautiful, loving GOD truly is.

So yes, it's been hard. But it's beautiful being here and the future is an exciting place. Let's go there.
Also, I like this song:

Next week's teaching is about Identity In Christ, by someone called Dan Sneed who apparently is given to random personal prophecies for people in the class. Pick me! Pick me! This week's teaching has been phenomenal, it was on evangelism and I think we've both remembered who we are. The teaching here often feels like a sunrise.

What an amazingly poncy thing I just typed. Oh well, have got to get the laundry into the dryer. Have a fun day.

bye xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Happy Sad

Hello one and all,

so now the dust from John's epic fall has settled I can sit down and let everyone know what happened.

On Monday we arrived in Champery and it was beautiful, sunny and up in the mountains, and just a perfect getaway spot for us to learn more about God. But before the learning came the snowboarding so we piled into gondolas and swooshed up to the bit deemed good for skiing. Myself and the other beginners went to the bunny hill (sad lack of actual rabbits) while the advanced group - including John - went off to the scary bits.

I had a lovely day and was very excited to come home and tell John that now his wife could, potentially, maybe, get herself down a slight incline on a snowboard. But then I got a phone call saying that 'John's arm is broken, they're not sure about his spine and they're helicoptering him to the hospital'.

I freaked out a little bit. There may have been some swearing. I also did not finish my Mars Bar, which is a sure sign of catastrophe.

This was followed by much wrangling with insurance and Swiss hospitals. Insurance companies assume you're lying and Swiss hospitals assume you're too poor to afford to pay. So by the time I was allowed to see John they'd taken him into surgery. And handed me his wedding ring in a bag and his clothes that they cut off of him. I freaked out again. But then they told me that his back was ok, they just needed to sort his arm out. So I calmed down. But did not yet have a Mars Bar.

We blagged our way into the hospital at about 10pm, and were relived to find a beaten up but alive hubby. Slightly bewildered because of all the french speaking doctors and painkillers, but happy to be alive. Quote: 'now I can sing Blessed be your name cos I have something hard to praise him in!' I think they were strong painkillers. Apparently on the mountain he was quite giggly.

So he was in hospital for a couple of days and that was, well, rubbish. Boring, scary and sad because he was in lots of pain. He's got plates on both bones in his right forearm, as it was quite an exciting break. I'd show you a picture of the scars on his arm but you wouldn't like it as they are a bit frankensteiny.

But he came home to the chalet on Wednesday and that was lovely - still beaten up and sad but we had time to just hang out and get him better. Everyone was so lovely to us, much chocolate was sent John's way but ended up in my belly. He felt poorly. Mmmmmm, Mars Bars.

So now we're back in the base and life is returning to normal. Sad for John because no more snowboarding for a year, plus, you know, it's rubbish being brokened. But he's doing really well and is happy that he doesn't have to write any book reports! We are so glad to have him home and functioning, it could have been so much worse. Hooray for doctors. And God.

So next week: we're having teaching on evangelism by a guy from Australia. We haven't really stopped to think about teaching etc this week as it's been somewhat intense, but it'll be good to properly get back into the routine.

Please pray that:

- the insurance will pay up. We have a two grand excess so financially this is not great, but it'll be so much worse if this doesn't go smoothly. It should do, but I am intimidated by admin.

- John will keep getting better and that he won't be sad. His body is a little traumatised.

- We'll be able to keep pushing in to God stuff and won't be too distracted.

Ok so the whole time i've been writing this Cat has been stroking my hair but she's going now so i'm going too.

Lots of love,

F and J xxx

Week three. Or four?

Hello one and all. So we have been so busy that it feels like we've been here a few months but apparently it's only just three weeks, which is confusing. What to tell you?

Well we've all settled into the routine now. This is actually great because it makes the days a bit more peaceful! So the regular things are:
6am workouts Tues and Thurs and running through the forest on Tuesdays.
Breakfast at 6.45am
Bible reading every other day at 7.40am
Lectures every day from 8.30am onwards
Practical ministry from 1.30 til when it's finished
And then more learning/ small groups/ time with our mentors etc until dinner at 6pm.
On Wednesdays we do local outreach in Lausanne in the evening. On thursdays we have Community meeting which is basically a church service for people on the base. The other evenings are meant for studying and assignments but we tend to do fun things like go into town for ice cream. Team bonding is important.

This week's teaching was a three day Bible overview and two days on worship. We especially loved the Bible teaching - our school leader Jordan did it and he gets so excited about it that you get excited too. I couldn't believe how much more there is to the Old Testament than I knew before, it's probably been my favorite week of teaching so far. Plus, we got to do timelines like in school and draw fun pictures.

Ok so there are two bits of news:
1) We're going to Egypt on outreach. Must confess initial anger and sadness, as we both really don't like Egypt or want to be called to North Africa. But we've all been praying about it as a group as well as looking at what's going on there at them moment, and that has been really helpful. It's nice because the other students are so very very excited because for most of them this is their first overseas mission trip, so we get to be a part of that journey with them. Plus, we think God's got stuff for us up his sleeve as well... Will keep you posted on plans. Obviously cannot write too much about our proposed activities out there!
2) Next week we're going up to the mountains to live in a chalet. There's been no snow so we're going higher up - we'll be snowboarding every day. Our teacher for the week will, I think, be living with us and the topic is 'the Father heart of God'. We're both so excited, it's like a mini DTS within a DTS! I'm nervous about chucking myself down a hill on a plank of wood so please pray...

OK so we love you and miss you, but we're also learning more than I thought I could and growing up a lot as well. And having fun!
Will leave you with some cool pictures John's taken:

This is Roman sitting on a lamp post...and this is Allie in a fleamarket...



ok love you bye xxxxxxxx

Blog a Doodle Do.

Hi friends,

so as we don't have a lot of spare time around here (but many spare tyres as Swiss chocolate and cheese are plentiful and tempting), I shall keep this one brief.

Today we went to Bern - fun because it's fun but sad because it means no slopes again. The town is stunning, especially covered in snow. Things here are so expensive that shopping in town is liberating as we couldn't buy things anyway!  The highlight of the day for John was the Bear Pit, containing a real life bear to whom John preached the gospel and everyone agreed the bear responded.

On a more serious note, this week's teaching was even more epic than the week before. Officially it was all about 'The nature and character of God' which i'd love to sum up for you, but it turns out one of the main things about God is that he can't be boxed. Our brains went a bit melty halfway through the first session...the speaker was a guy called Paul Hawkins who is actually kind of a legend.

In other news, this Wednesday we did our first local outreach. We got to give out hot chocolate to random people while trying to explain in french that God loves them. We do not speak french. I think God likes that we tried! We also got to look after some homeless people a little bit, and there are quite a few in Lausanne. Switzerland is very wealthy in itself but I don't think it always that easy for the less fortunate people here.

We also spent a lot of time praying for Sudan, and a lot of time praying for each other and practising recognising God's voice. It's been an intense week. And tomorrow we have to write book reports and journals about the week.

Right i'm late for dinner so i'll leave you. Please pray that we'll be able to keep up with all the new info, and that we can be a blessing to our staff and fellow students.

Love J and F xxxxxxx

YWAM Lausanne

Greetings from sunny Switzerland, and from my husband too who is currently up in the roof. Which is the prayer room.

We have ever so much to tell everyone so i'll start, Southover style, with a visual aid:

This is the YWAM base where we're staying - it's an old hotel they've had for about forty years. Our view is the french Alps across lake Geneva, and we're in the middle of a forest. Some trivia for you - the 'U of N' stands for 'University of the Nations' and I am not yet convinced it's a proper university. But don't tell anyone.

Where to start? I'll find it easier if I put things into categories, but i'm not a preacher so they won't all start with the same letter and may not lead to a rousing altar call...

People: Everyone here is actually amazing, particularly our leaders and fellow students. John and I spent the first few days mourning our friends in England - we left in such a busy way that we didn't stop to realise quite how hard life would feel without the homes and hearts of people who know us well. But then we heard testimonies and have realised that it is a priviledge to share this time with these people - all so different and all so inspiring.

God's image is throughout these people and it's beautiful to be part of this.

Teaching: This first week of teaching has been on 'How to hear God's voice'. Our initial thoughts of smugness on this subject have been blown out of the water - older than the others we may be but wiser we are not. Next week is 'The nature and character of God', which I think may reduce us to gibbering, wide eyed wrecks. Looking forward to it!

Our home for the next 3 months: It's not snowing! We managed one day of snowboarding but this week all the resorts had to shut due to the worst conditions our leaders have ever seen - I had my first every snowboarding session on sheer ice. It was difficult. I did not evangelise effectively. Hopefully this DTS won't lack the snowboarding element John was so excited about...

That aside, this place is just gorgeous - the base is lovely, the people are kind, there's a lot to do *including 6am workouts*, the city of Lausanne is the prettiest place i've ever been to and there's still so much to see.

Must go now so much love and keep in touch. xxxx

Four sleeps to go

First things first: Hi there 2011, nice to meet you.

As the title suggests, its four sleeps until we go. Suitcases are packed, John is happy on his iphone ('i alone') and the evening lends itself to reflection, at least until Come Fly With Me is on telly...
The last month or so has been more fun than I thought would be allowed this side of heaven. We got to hang out with some YWAM types in the run up to Christmas - they all seem to have hairy beards and a horizontally laid back approach to life. But they'll roar like lions to give the voiceless a voice. We'd love to be like that (but i'm a girl and I don't want a hairy beard).

We're only going for a five month DTS but as everyone knows we hope this to be the first step of a lifelong road trip for Jesus ("people write their addresses in pencil and wonder at their strange existence"), the farewells are getting pretty teary. I love this town. We love our church and our friends and the lessons we've learnt here. If it wasn't for the way the internet makes distances tiny I don't think i'd handle leaving people at all.

At the same time, I know we're created for something different than this 9-5 (not that we've ever done 9-5 but I think we're a bit odd like that) (I like it). It's time to get out into that big wide world and start shaking the dead awake...

Things to nag God about:
- Our rest, especially John who keeps waking in the early hours to think about what to pack and how to get everything done etc etc.
- Getting all the thank yous and goodbyes done as well as possible
- Getting on the plane etc
- Not scaring our new friends in Switzerland and that they'll like us
- um, that my suitcase will miraculously float above the scales and they won't notice i've completely exceeded the weight limit through my obsession with garments.

To end, here's a quote from the song i'm listening to as I type:
'He'll break open the skies to save those who cry out his name'

Oh yeah, and we got all the money! God is a funny Father who likes us lots. :-)
xxxxxxxxxxxxx