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It feels like there is much to update you on (at least from my perspective!) Sorry it's so long! So, on with the show:
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Health - As for my health issues, the prevailing thought and treatment is still an inflammation of the esophagus triggered by acid reflux. The cause being that the valve separating my stomach and esophagus has ceased to function properly. Until the Lord heals this, it is treated as a chronic condition. Right now we're on a treatment program with lots of Maalox. Personally I'm getting tired of the pain and the hassle!
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School Year - Noah spends every day in the same classroom with the same students for every subject. (It's the teachers who move from class to class.) This has been a huge frustration for him because there are so many extroverted boys in his class that are difficult for the teachers to manage. He hates being in a class with a difficult reputation, and we've been asking him to start praying for those kids instead of complaining.
Olivia is proud to be starting her 4th year of piano at the music school where Rachel attended. Perhaps because she is now in 5th grade, she is acting in more mature ways and choosing to let go of her "baby in the family" reactions! She is struggling with church though, (no girls her age) and we would love to see her eager to join our "family worship team" in some capacity when we lead worship at church once a month.
Angela and I are enjoying a new rhythm this year with Rachel being absent from the house and us both spending more time at school. She is organizing/re-decorating neglected community areas in the chateau along with teaching. I'm there teaching a computer class to the 4th graders one day, running a computer maintenance workshop for the Jr. High students another day, and the biggest reason for being there is because I've just taken over the coordination of all the computers at the school, which leads me to the next point:
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Establishing/Finances - You all graciously prayed for some direction for me this year as many things were wrapping up, but subsequent direction was not yet there. In the last two years at Collège-Daniel the computer environment has evolved, largely due to the efforts of others, to the point where it needed some oversight. The person who evolved it the farthest, moved during the summer, and as the school year started, it became obvious that someone needed to maintain, manage, and direct it.
As usual God's timing is perfect...
As you may remember, for some time, I've been chewing on the question of a "ministry" vs. "working" life and what is God calling us to and how do our finances and immigration status play into all of that. I had been various potential positions at the school with our pastor...none of which was an exact fit. I've been looking at computer jobs in Alsace via the Internet...always with the question of how could that allow us to continue to focus on the things that God called us here for...and never with an excitement about returning to the work force.
Well, with this responsibility, I have a "working" life (IT Systems Administration) in a "ministry" context (in a Christian school in France). It's also a position that allows me to engage with the kids and teach them as well as support the work of the school for teachers and administrators, etc. It's very satisfying for me as well as it marries a level of experience that I already have with many new things to learn which I enjoy. Finally, it's with many of the same co-laborers with which we are involved in intercession and worship ministry.
This would be enough reason for me to rejoice as a blessed response to prayer for me. On top of that, this position, which is currently unpaid, has the ability to develop into a position which could give us the right to work in France and enter the social system here. This touches our immigration and financial situation here...both of which are perhaps the most pressing burdens that I regularly carry. Even if it were paid it would be the minimum amount so that France would recognize it as a real job.
More details as they come...but I wanted you all to understand this as the significant step for us that it really is...
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- Worship - This year our church is going to host monthly worship gatherings for our region. It has been on our heart for a long time to increase and deepen the worship that happens in Alsace. This joins with an initiative in France called "France en Feu" (France on Fire) that is facilitating and coordinating the multiplication of worship in France so that worship is happening 24/7 in France. We've a long way to go, but it's part of the process. Please pray for these monthly gatherings to spark a passionate heart of worship of Jesus in Alsace. Noah loves drumming with us - pray that God will show Olivia what He wants from her during worship times!
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Rachel - Rachel is slowly adjusting to boarding school life, and doing a good job of taking her frustrations to God. She travels to Zurich Oct. 4th to attend a college fair - pray for discernment if there is a divine connection for her future at that gathering. She also travels to Normandy and Paris for the annual Junior Class Trip Oct. 6-9: Pray for traveling safety for her and her classmates, as well as open hearts to hear what God wants to convey to them. She comes home the following weekend, and we can't wait to see her!!
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School Year - At school we're also changing our approach to the worship during chapel. This year we're trying to go deeper, and at the same time, work with one of the 4 Jr. High classes each week to get them more involved in the worship. We all sense that it's time to grab for more, but we're still trying to really see just how to do it with so many levels of spiritual maturity. Pray for a unity between Angela and me and the hearts of these kids!
Pray for my new position of Computer Coordinator that it really becomes an instrument of blessing for the school. Information Technology is one of the parts of this world which God was thinking of when he instructed us in Genesis 1:28 to take dominion in this world and to offer every part of this world back to Him as a gift. In my former IT career in the States, I didn't really do a good job of making my work an instrument to glorify God. I feel very thankful to have a 2nd chance to bring a Kingdom perspective to my efforts.
Right now our IT equipment is 99% donated, but there are expenses involved. I'd like to start raising funds for the continuing maintenance and evolution of the computing environment. Pray for wisdom and favor in these efforts. If any of you know of people or organizations who would be interested in being involved in the sponsoring of the Information Technology Infrastructure at Collège-Daniel, please let me know. There will be a way to do this in a tax-deductible way through an American organization that deals with Christian Schools.
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Establishing - Please pray for the continuing efforts see if this new position of Computer Coordinator at Collège-Daniel could turn into a "real job" that solidifies our immigration status here in France.
Until next month!
David
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