Leigh Family Prayer Bulletin - January 2010

Just a bit of a 2009 reflection...

We see ourselves simply as a family with a geographic call. God said, "Go to Europe", so we did. Our desire is simply to be facilitators of the growth of the Kingdom of God in the region that God has put on our hearts. As a "general call" on our lives, I doubt that that will change. We've lived that call out as "missionaries" so far. Who knows whether that will always be the case.

Since we didn't have a call to "do" something specific, nor a time limitation on our call, our ability to be effective in what God calls us to do, can depend upon how connected and established we are here where God has placed our heart. As visitors we can only do so much, but as those who are at home here, our ability to sow long-term into others' lives is greatly enhanced.

As I've mentioned before, we've had prophetic words spoken over us as a family about being like an oak tree...an image I really like. An oak is established slowly...it will probably take some years of growth before one is sure that it's staying put. An oak grows slowly too...it's wood is dense and hard. Acorns don't come before an oak is at least 20 years old! At some point, though, we can say that an oak tree is there to stay. At some point we can appreciate its shade, climb it, put in a tree house, hang swings on its branches, etc. I've often included requests for prayer for our "establishing" in the last several years. Well, 2009 saw the biggest move forward in establishing this oak tree here than I think we've yet experienced. Every step has been important in the last 10 years, but in 2009 we saw:

• A 10-year residence permit
• The right to work
• Entry into the French social system

Make no mistake, there are more steps ahead of us, and these particular changes don't make life a bowl of cherries all the time. In fact, they can certainly add different challenges to life. But when you want to see long-term changes, long-term stability does help! Additionally, our challenges are more closely aligned to those with whom we live on a daily basis. That's important for connecting at a heart-level; for being able to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).

2009 is notable as well for other things (in no particular order):

• Olivia's Blessing Ceremony for her 13th birthday to kick off the year...a real occasion to speak about the power of blessing to numerous families in our community...believers and unbelievers alike.
• The Richards and Alana Smith, both for whom I've requested prayer, have spent significant time with significant impact in our community this year and both seek to move here on a long-term basis.
• A very rich and valuable trip home to visit family and see Rachel's "new life" in Indianapolis.
• This trip, and Rachel's relationships at her church, Bread of Life, paved the way for an important transition in our State-side church connection as New Hope in Denver hands off to Bread of Life in Indianapolis.
• Angela taking training for teaching English as a second language
• Angela participating in group training for the Sozo inner healing ministry
• David starting to earn a little money on the side with computers
• A few long-overdue home improvement projects getting completed to make our home more livable.
• The beginning of consistent weekly worship times that we see as the seeds for a house of prayer in our midst
• The beginning of only the 2nd Christian high school in all of France at our Christian school
• 4 weeks of short-term missionaries here for construction work on newly acquired property at our Christian school

You've been instrumental in all of this as you've prayed for these things. Thank you so much for praying for things so far away, and perhaps confusing. You have made a difference and have helped set stage for the exciting ways in which God wants to demonstrate His goodness and spread His Kingdom here in 2010.

May you see breakthrough from the living God into every area of your life in 2010!

Bonne Année!
David