More Visitors!

Mid April we welcomed Sharon's sister, Aletha and Will, her husband. They had to think long and hard about what they wanted to do and see!

The perfect spring weather found them enjoying a Seine cruise, visiting Notre Dame (and having great ice cream at the Berthillon), visiting the Rodin Museum, and spending some time at the Louvre Museum. Another highlight was enjoying a day at Versaille, with it oppulant chalet of Louis XIV, the beautiful grounds, the fountains, and taking a ride in a rowboat on the lake!
Then we took two days, by train, and rental car, to visit Normandy and southward near Mont St. Michel. Our host at our B&B was an Englishman, with whom we had delightful conversations. The morning we planned to visit Mont St. Michel, it was totally fogged in, so we headed up to the Normandy area, finding a newly opened and recently discovered very large German battery at Maisy. Walking around the bunkers , the remains of buildings, and the Howitzer gun platforms, was very sobering. Here it was that the U.S. Rangers drove out the German army further back into France. This discovery at Maisy is very significant since now the history books will have to be rewritten. It was thought that LaHoc was the largest contingent.

Then, driving our hybrid Prius (lots of trouble), we made our way to Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery. Again very sobering to think of the lives lost, and given for their respective countries. We made it back to Caen for our train back to Paris.



Another highlight of lesser importance, was to pick up our Pinocle competition, which again, the women were dominant! Baguettes, Paris pastries, and the sights will always be remembered!

Petals, Parks, and Playgrounds

It is springtime in Paris, and we have been overcome with the beauty of new flowers, trees leafing out, and observing so many people (and tourists) enjoying the out of doors! There is a saying that "the parks are the lungs of Paris", meaning that with so many people in apartment accomodations and small spaces, it is necessary to "get out" and breathe fresh air and open spaces. Baron Haussmann and some others were fore-sighted enough to plan for plenty of "green space" and parks. I hope you enjoy some of the beautiful photos.

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Giverny is the fabled home of Claude Monet, one of our favorite impressionist artists. He lived here for many years, established his home, gardens, and his retreat, the "lily pond". We were able to be there for a wedding early in April. It is about an hour NW of Paris.

These flowers are from an area just east of the Champs de Elysee, near the Concorde.

We have taken two major park outings in the last week: One to the "Bois de Boulogne" to the west, where there is a fabulous playground for children (for Ben and Tessa when they come!), a carnival, small zoo, and lovely walking paths.

Then on 14 April, we went way to the east to the "Bois de Vincennes" (BOIS means "woods") There is also a large carnival there, lots of green space, and a lovely lake , lac daumesnil, featuring two picturesque islands which we walked all around, stopping often to watch people of all kinds, young and old: sunning, boating, bicycling, picnic-ing, reading, and just relaxing.

We took two busses to the Bois de Vincennses,

#42, then #24 all the way, picked up some lunch take out at the local Monoprix. We returned on the #8 and 9 metros. We shook off our dusty shoes when we got back, and a quick shower was most welcome!

Wish you were here!

Spring Weddings

Being a part of the wedding ministry of the American Church in Paris is such a joy!

Most ceremonies are held in our beautiful sanctuary. However, during the month of April there were two "off site" weddings in which we were privileged to participate. The weather was ideal for both weddings , with an infusion of spring flowers, fragrance, and sunshine.

The first one, April 5, 2007, took place at Giverny, the fabled home of Monet, where expansive flower gardens blanket the landscape !

Suzanne and Brett Woellner solemized their vows, April 5, along with members of their families, along with many onlookers, with a string quartette adding to the venue.

It was not only a memorable occasion for them and their families, but also for John and me to enjoy the beauty of this place!

Then just two days later, Kevin Scott and Landa Acevedo were married on "le Quai", a boat/restaurant moored on the Seine very near the Orsay Museum.

They met here in Paris, on April 7, a couple years ago, and so wanted their marriage to be here. Many guests and family members celebrated with them in this unique setting. We had the privilege of meeting with them in London, where they both live, and also enjoyed a light lunch with them here in our apartment when they came to finalize plans.

We pray for these two young couples, along with the many others who come to the American Church in Paris for a wedding blessing, or a renewal of vows!

Visit to Cyprus; 26-30 March, 2007

Early Monday morning, we left for the airport to fly to Larnaka, Cyprus, via Athens. We were picked up about 9 that night by Lew & Nancy Scudder. We arrived at their home in Apaisia
(Ah-pa-sha) Village north of Limossol, and spent a restful night in their guest house. Sunny, warm weather welcomed us the three days we were with Nancy & Lew.

Lew Scudder III, and Nancy, his wife, have long been involved in mission work in Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Turkey-- pastoring, tutoring, writing, supervising, and teaching. In 1998, Lew wrote a comprehensive book, The Arabian Mission's Story, an informative and intensive history of the R.C.A. 's mission work in the Middle East. They have now "retired" in Cyprus, where Lew isa consultant for R.C.A. mission workers in the field and Nancy contributes to their roles in their church and other outside activities.

Cyprus is an ancient land, with a torrid history of different rulers and domains. It is now a prosperous independent republic, but not united, as the Turks rule 37% of the island. (Northern part). Nicosia, the capital, is the only remaining world capital to be under divided rule.



On Tuesday, Lew and Nancy took us to Pafos at the west end of the island. On the way we passed a beautiful area along the Mediterranean, the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite. In ancient times, this goddess of Love was worshiped in Pafos.

It was to this city of Pafos (Acts 13:3-12) that Paul and Barnabas met with the governor, Sergius Paulus. Here, a Jewish wizard tried to divert the governor from becoming a believer. The spirit was expelled from the wizard, and the governor embraced the gospel. Some time later, Barnabas returned to Cyprus with John Mark.

We walked thru the entire ruins and remains of Pafos, with it mosaics, and remains of the temple to Apollos. It was a thrill to remember the lives of Paul & Barnabas in this very place.

Nancy & Lew have a beautiful place they call home in Apesia Village. Their yard abounds flowers and fruit trees--orange, lemon, grapefruit, plum, lime, apricot, peach, in addition to grape vines which produce both seedless, and seeded grapes.

We thank them for the animated conversations, delicious food, and good relaxation, and getting some cat "lovies" from Charlie!

First Visitors March 15-26

How excited we were to receive our first state-side visitors!!

Marta, Kris, and Bill getting off the Air France bus by the Arc de Triomph!

Our two children, Bob, and Kris.
and John's sister Marta & her husband Bill. After being told there was no jet lag allowed, we feasted on "pain chocolat" (a crossaint with chocolate pieces) and coffee. (We did allow a short catch-up nap). Bob and Kris stayed with us in the apartment, and we all packed in to one day, about two days worth of sight-seeing.

Highlights of their visit were: Notre Dame

Musee d'Orsay, Rodin Museum,Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomph & Champs-Elysees, Luxembourg Gardens, Orangerie Museum, the Marmottan (Monet) Museum, (a favorite picture below)Sainte-Chapelle, St. Etienne Church, St. Sulpice Church, Pantheon, Louvre Pyramid, Montemarte (Sacre-Coeur), worshipping in our church, to name a few!!!

And, of course, making time for patissiere treats, ice cream, and relaxing over delicious French fare at LePre Verre, and LeBistrot du 7th eme. --even played a couple exciting rounds of pinocle!

We found time to shop for cheeses on rue Cler, and swoon over the melt-in-your-mouth chocolates at Michel Chaudun (near us) Sharon even served a French (well almost) meal here at the apartment, complete with a menu: entree, plat, salad, cheese, dessert...and of course, some choice wine.

Getting around by bus, metro, and RER was an adventure in and of itself, with our guests enjoying the pulse and beat of Paris life. Marta and Bill, later, took Kris down to Avignon and the Provence area, for a look at southern France, away from the bustling city.

Then it was "au revoir" to everyone using the Air France bus to get back to the airport.



P.S. Just for your information, and our enjoyment----we have more visitors coming in April, May, and June.....Then it's back to Michigan on July 1 !!

Spring Comes to Paris (10 March, 2007)

In an unusally warm spring day, we left our apartment by bus and metro, to find an open market in the Gambetta area on the far side of town. It was more than we expected, with booth after booth of fresh fruit and vegetables, cheeses, meats, fish, clothing, household goods, furniture, chickens on the rotiserrie with the juices dripping to vegetables cooking below.... The aromas and activity were awesome, and as we pulled along our "cart", we filled it with clementines, tomatoes, strawberries, fresh eggs, and oranges. Then we bought some egg rolls and went to the nearby park to have our lunch, surrounded by flowers, children playing in a sandbox, parents walking their toddlers in strollers, people reading, and just enjoying the sunshine. Then we made our way home on the 69 and 63 busses, amazed at the layout of the streets, filled with activity, people eating outside at the cafes, lines at the Louve, etc. , tourist boats on the river. We spent a few minutes sitting on a bench alongside the Seine across the street from our church... John later walked to the Eiffel Tower, and the sunset picture was taken from our kitchen window!

We remembered how we didn't miss winter in Michigan!!

Friday Mission Lunch

Each Friday, a nutritous, full meal is served to 64 people at the American Cathedral on George V Avenue, which is near our church. I usually take the 63 bus, and then walk 5-6 blocks to the cathedral. Four different churches are responsible for planning for the meal each week. Here at the ACP, we have a volunteer coordinator, Mary Beth Goodell, who is here with her husband who is on a year's work assignment in Paris. Mary Beth teaches special ed at the British School here two days a week.People who wish to be here for the meal, must sign up the week previous, due to the limitation of room size, and giving the planners a means to purchase the food and plan the menu. The folks who come for the luncheon/dinner are low income, homeless, street, both women, men, and occasionally children.Around 10 in the morning, several volunteers begin the meal preparation, all done from scratch, and we begin cleaning the lettuce, fixing the meat, cutting up onions, carrots, potatoes, rice, etc., making the coffee, cutting the baguettes, setting up the tables, getting dishes counted out, etc. From 15-20 volunteers throughout the morning crowd in to the small kitchen, and we thoroughly enjoy the work and fellowship, joining in our service together--black, white, Asian,The people sign in, and are seated, and the food is ready to be served at 12:30. A prayer is said by the rector of the parish. In typical French style, the "entree" main meal, is served first along with baguettes, then the salad and brie cheese and more bread, then the dessert, then coffee. The people are served at the tables, and used dishes are cleaned off and sent down with a "dumb waiter". Back in the kitchen, several volunteers are already washing up and sterilizing all the dishes and tableware, pots and pans, that have been used.John and I have been at most of the Friday "feeding" program, and have so enjoyed the work and fellowship of both volunteers and participants. It is so neat to have several of the volunteers (who speak French) mingle with the folk and talk with them. Some of them also stay and help with putting tables away, etc.I am reminded of the words from Isaiah 58, when God says: "What I'm interested in seeing you do is this: sharing your food with the hungry.....if you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, your lives will being to glow in the darkness" (The Message)