Camp Day 1!!!

Today was day 1 I camp for our youth and day 1 of VBS for me and some of the other adults!! It was SUCH a fantastic day!! They were attentive and focused (for the most part);) and really grasped the truths we were teaching!!

During the students free time we cleaned the chapel really good so it would be ready for the next day! Then we too a little visit to the "wal-mart"... Or the equivalent! We were able to pick up some essentials like candy, cookies, and diet coke!! Haha!;) it is always an adventure going to a foreign country and shopping in their stores because they are soooo different!! I love it! Ha!

On our way back to camp we took a little detour through the city of Dinan and saw some of the downtown. It was a true medieval city back in the day so you can see the city walls, cobblestone streets, castles and the port. It is a very neat city full of history!!

We arrived back at camp and since I have had only about 13 hours of sleep since we left... A nap was eminent! How glorious it was... And now it's 1am and I can't sleep! Oh goodness!!;)

We at dinner which everything has been delicious and we waited for the much anticipated games of mufa pufa! Oh my golly! It was so fun to watch!! They ha all sorts of crazy games for the kids to play!! They have really embraced their team colors for the week and are building so many great friendships!!! Plus... Pastor Paul was dressed as a big chicken!! Don't worry we have way to many pictures and some video footage of this endeavor! It was hilarious!!

Fr the late night snack we had the one and only..... FRENCH FRIES! Haha! Why not right??

The weather has been overcast and a little drizzly at times but so cool! It's been a great change for us!!!

Tomorrow is day 2! Who knows what the future holds! Be praying for salvation and God to move in such mighty ways... That only HE can!!

Grace and peace!

Normandy

Bon jour!

Yesterday was mainly our travel day to Dinan but we made a stop in Normandy on the way!

All I have to say is that it was one of the most well done American memorials that I have been to. It was so overwhelming to see not only about 9000 crosses of soldiers that gave up their lives for our freedoms but to see names and dates they died! Some of them were yesterday's date! Some were unidentified! I thought it was a great reminder of how blessed we are as a nation and how we have to protect our rights so that those men who gave up everything would not do it in vain!

We also went to Omaha beach and saw where the thousands of soldiers would have come up! We were able to have a little bit of fun and see all the caters where the bombs were dropped and go into many of the bunkers! It made the events of D-Day and the days following more real!

While at omaha beach... We stuck our feet in the English channel and feel the freezing cold waters!! Brrrr...

Once we arrived in Dinan, we went to word of life's camp and jumped right in! Many of the students were all ready there and getting excited about all that they were going to be able to experience.

I was SOOOO proud of our youth! They jumped right in and were trying to get to know the French students, make conversation through the language barrier and really make connections with them! They have had a blast so far!!! And it's been really neat to see them grow and come out of their shell some!!

We have eaten some homemade crepes that are "shut your mouth" good! Ha!! The camp staff are so fun and so excited to share with students the truth and see lives changed!! And we are too!

Pray that as this week of camp goes on... Deeper relationships will be established between the adults in our team and our students, our students with other students, and ways we can encourage the missionaries here!!

We look forward to all of what God is doing and will continue to do this week!!;)

Danielle

Paris!!!

Well today has been a looooong day!! Hard to believe that it was just this morning (Paris time) that we arrived here in Paris! It feels like we've been here a couple of days!! Our day has been so full of seeing all of the hotspots of Paris! We have walked through Notre Dame and seen all the beauty of this old church. As beautiful as it is... It's sad that this place that was once known for a place to worship is now more of a tourist location to tour.

Our next stop was to head to the Louvre and tour the museum. How overwhelming it was to see all of those artifacts that are centuries old!! It was very surreal to see things from Napoleon's era and paintings such as the Mona Lisa!! The Louvre was so huge and we walked through most of it!! My legs got a WORK OUT!! Which was great since we were in a plane for so long AND due to the amount of French pastries and bread we are consuming. Holy! Moly!! The French know how to make some pastries!! I'm taking pics of all the goodness. So far... 2 crossiants, 1 strawberry tart (ah-mazing), and 1 strawberry and chocolate crepe!! They are slap your momma good!!!

After the Lourve... We headed over to the Effiel tower! Our hope was to be able to tour the tour and go up to the top but the line was at least 3 hours long! As I'm writing this... We would have still been in line if we would have done it!! Although it was unfortunate we couldn't go up it we took that time to do many photo ops and also take a boat ride on the Seine river to view Paris at dusk from the river perspective! It was very relaxing and was a great impromptu activity for us!! Last... We ended the night right with a crepe from a road side stand!! Yummmmmmmo!! I may have to be rolled out of Paris!! Good thing they walk everywhere!!;)

As we close our first night and fun day to bond as a team and just explore. We also recognize how much this city and country needs to hear the gospel! Please join us in praying for us tonight and tomorrow as we prepare for this weeks VBS, the youth get set for camp, Pastor Paul prepares to speak at camp and our day to visit Normandy.

We are so thankful for God's provision so far in safety and health. God is good... All the time! And we look forward to a week of sharing all that he is doing in our lives!!!

Love y'all!

Bonne nuit!! (good night)

Danielle

Isaiah 55:8-13

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord's renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever." (Isaiah 55:8-13 NIV)


This is our prayer Lord! That your Word will water the earth and accomplish what YOU desire!! Go before us Lord!!

Mission France!

Hey Y'all~


Here we go!!! We head out tomorrow for Mission de voyage in France!!! Please be in prayer! I copied and pasted some areas (from my Russia trip) that we need prayer in during our trip starting tomorrow through July 14th! Would you please be praying for all of the specifics!! 


We will be working with Miguel Mendoza at Word of Life Camp in Dinan, France! Please pray as Pastor Paul is the camp pastor this week! Pray that the Word would be spoken clearly into the hearts of those students and that they will hear and know the Truth this week! Our students will be attending this camp and they have such an important job this week! Pray that they would build relationships with those students and be able to share their story of what Christ has done in their lives and as a result... lives will be changed! They have more of an impact than anyone else on this trip... so they need a LOT of prayers!! The rest of the adults will be doing Vacation Bible School for the missionaries children. Pray that we will be a blessing to them this week as we look after their babies and also teach them truths from the Bible!! We cannot wait to see all that God is going to do this week in Dinan, France!! 

Basic needs:

~ Safety in travel: flights to be uneventful, pilots and drivers to be alert, pray we go through customs smoothly, pray for luggage to arrive the same time we do! :) (Deut. 1:30)

~Time zone adjustments- France is 6 hours ahead of us! (Ps 62:5)

~Health- Pray that each member will have strong immune systems and be healthy for the entire trip. Pray specifically that my food allergies won’t be an issue while eating different things. (Jer. 17:14)

~Opportunities to encourage the students there, the missionaries, their families and the Word of Life staff. May we be a blessing to them. (Eph 3:14-21)

~Divine appointments with French students/kids to share the Gospel; Pray for salvation, seeds to be planted and some watered! Pray for revival in the hearts of the French. Pray they see Jesus in us. (Prov 25:11)

~Spiritual Warfare: Satan wants us to not be effective. Pray Eph 6:10-20! For us to put on our armor, and protection of our minds, hearts and relationships amongst each other.

~Events: Our youth and Marisol will be going to youth camp (Pastor Paul will be speaking), the rest of us will be doing VBS with the kids! Pray that each is a sweet time of fellowship. We will also be doing whatever else is needed (construction, etc.) (1 Peter 2:5, 9)

~Pray for other team members: Suzanne Beville, Danielle Bockus, Marisol Clouse, Jemima Germain, CherylAnn Haley, Robin Jackson, David Kretschmar, Vanessa Lockwood, Caleb Purvis, Kimberly Purvis, Luke Purvis, Micah Purvis, Noah Purvis, Paul Purvis, Kayla Schieleit, Jill Shelton, David Twiddy, Kimberly Twiddy, David Allen Twiddy, Sarah Tyner(Col 1:9-12)

Families: Pray for our families back home that they will be safe and all of their needs will be tended to! :)

We cannot thank you enough for being prayer warriors this week!! :)

In Christ Alone,

Danielle

Changes

My goodness! It's been awhile! There is so much to "talk" about that this may need to be in several blog posts!

First off... I have been taking on some new challenges/adventures over the course of the last couple of months! BIG challenges and adventures!! If you haven't heard... I have accepted a 1st grade teaching at First Baptist Academy in Naples, FL! I am oh so excited to have been offered this position with such a fantastic school!

I am a product of being in a Christian school for most of my life and after teaching in the public school system for 5 years... I am SOOOO ready to teach not only life skills and content.... but those things with a Biblical worldview perspective! I would not change anything about the past 5 years... ANYTHING! I have grown as a professional and have learned so many life lessons that are priceless. However... I have been so restless for the past 2 years with what was next! I know I'm called to ministry... and know where my passions and loves are at... and this next phase allows me to do more of that... teaching won't just be a job/mission field anymore... it will be a mission field to help families raise up godly kids who love Jesus with all of their being and want follow HIM with their lives! I am STOKED!!!

So... with that said... it's totally official! My name is on the door!!!;)

Some other areas of change are my address!!! I have officially moved all of my earthly possessions to my new townhouse that is only about 3.5 miles from church/school! It is beautiful and I still am in disbelief at the Lord's provision in this!! I will have plenty of space for visitors... so COME VISIT!!! :) Pictures will come when my decor placement is complete!!! I still have some work to do!! :) But don't worry... they're coming! I'll have to do a blog "home tour"! HA!

So... with that said... please be in prayer as July is my transition month! I'll be split between Tampa and Naples for the month of July with a mission trip to France thrown in the mix too!! :) Life is changing oh so fast!!! But I know that God has a plan... and obedience is a MUST!!!

Oh goodness!!

Ok y'all!! This happened!!! Are you impressed?!?!