All these people complaining about the changes in the law concerning retirement are giving me headaches. And now, Universities and High schools are joining the party and demonstrating as well. It is becoming laughable. Welcome back to France…
Category: France
Braderie St Michel
A braderie is a kind of car boot sale. But most of the spaces were taken by professionals, selling all sorts of things, from underwear to kitchen ustensils.
The Librarian
The conversation I had with a Librarian this afternoon is typical.
We went to register to the local Library in the center of town. And when the lady saw on the form that I was on minister, she asked if I was going to be working in a church here. I replied positively and explained I was working alongside the pastor of the local Evangelical church. She did not know there was a church here, so I started explaining to her where the church was located. But she almost immediately interrupted me, saying forcefully she was an atheist, and was only interested in religions from a cultural point of view. I wasn’t even trying to witness or anything, just explaining the location.
People here are very uncomfortable with the subject of religion. As soon as it is mentioned, they react in the same way as this lady. It is sad. I am often taken a back by this and I am thinking about the best way to challenge these people.
It reminds me of Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman. When she tried to evade his questions, he had an answer and brought the conversation back to where He wanted it to go. And she was saved. Pray for wisdom and discernment in these conversations.
Sunday guest
Our guest this Sunday lunch time was Pastor Claude Broux. This gentleman started in the ministry in 1949. He has ministered in various places in Brittany before settling down in Guingamp in the early seventies where he planted the church we are now in. He is now 86 and lost his wife last June, after over 60 years of marriage. She was 19 when they met, and he was probably about the same age, or a little older. He is also one of the founding members of France mission in the fifties, and he knew Caradoc Jones who was still in Paimpol when he came to Brittany. He described him as very old school Englishman. Probably true although Caradoc Jones was a Welshman.
It was humbling to talk with this elderly brother who has got so much experience. We talked about many different things: his youth, the beginnings of the church, his children (he has got 8), his Grandchildren (33 of them), and great-grandchildren (8 altogether). He shared about his conversion, his time in a children home in Ferney-Voltaire (we lived there)… He doesn’t preach anymore, but attends faithfully the meetings of the church, seating on the front row every Sunday. He was glad of Esther’s arrival as until we came he was the only person who could play the piano, and did not feel very confident about it.
It is a great privilege to have him as an Elder in our church.
Living on rue Yves Guyader
The part of the estate we live on is quite recent, about 5 years old. The street is quiet, with little traffic. There are a lot of families, with young children from our children’s age to 12-13, and a few teenagers. The children often cycle around together, the older include the younger quite easily in their group. They’ve accepted Jean-Baptiste quite quickly, some of them practicing their English with him. We wonder sometimes if he is not too young, but we keep an eye on what is going on, and they usually hang around in front of our house, or on a nearby car park, which mean we can easily see them.
As I am writing, our children and a few others are making the most of the dry weather to play football on the street in front of the house. We pray that somehow we will have the opportunity to witness to these kids and their families. The house is ideally situated since they often gather right in front of it.
Overall, the street is quiet. people work long hours, and keep to themselves. But they are getting used to see us around.
Our Irish visitors
Today, two Irish missionaries came to visit us. Malcom has been working in Nantes for over 20 years. We met a few years ago in the “colloque biblique”, a French speaking ministers conference. Andrew is still training in Belfast and, God willing, will join Malcom in a year. It was good to catch up, and to discuss about our various situations, and the situation of the church in France. We were joined for coffee by Emmanuel Hartiel who had met Malcom 24 years ago (or maybe more) when Malcom was learning French in Massy, and Emmanuel working in the Language school there.