Praise and Prayer for April 4, 2012

The dust is beginning to settle around here as we adjust to our new surroundings and get more involved in the ministries.  There are quite a number of boxes of books to unpack and there has not been time to organize the office yet, but we are enjoying the organization that has come to other areas in our house and lives.  We were very surprised when our new sofa arrived at the house in umpteen pieces waiting for us to put it together (thanks to IKEA’s we make it, you assemble it furniture!).

The Lord has continued to give us good contacts with neighbors.  Last Friday, one neighbor took me to meet another couple down the street who had honey to sell.  They kindly invited us in for a visit and were interested in what we are doing here.  The children who have been working hard on school enjoyed an annual Carnaval parade in downtown Saint Medard en Jalles where we saw many other families taking part in the festivities.  On Saturday, our family worked together to plant flowers in window boxes and in the back yard. 

God is blessing the work at the church downtown.  On Friday evening, there was a special speaker for prayer meeting.  Audrey, a senior at the Bible Institute in Algrange who is from this church, shared her heart as she presented the mission work in Congo (DRC) that she and her soon-to-be husband will be involved in.  

Our family took the bus and tramway to get to church to avoid driving in traffic and it still took 2.5 hours total to get to and from church.  Sunday, I preached in the morning service on the errors Pilate made in his response to Jesus.  There were two visitors in attendance.  This Sunday there will be a special Easter service followed by a fellowship dinner.   

 
Praise for:

- continued progress in settling in to our new home and ministries.

- the opportunity to have our teammates over for dinner (our first guests) and a time of prayer.

- the opportunity I had to lead the Bible study in Merignac this evening and for the 8 people present. 

- God’s help as we learn the best ways of transportation to get around this large, busy city.  Praise for God’s protection.

- the Easter cards we sent out today to a number of our friends.

Pray for:

- the Easter program and fellowship dinner this Sunday.  Pray for a small group of us that have been practicing a special number to share.

- hearts to be touched with the message of Easter.

- continued contacts and the building of relationships that the Lord can use.

- the preparations for our France team conference (April 23-26) and for our speaker coming from Germany this year.