T minus 10 and counting

It's Monday morning and pouring outside. It hasn't rained this hard in awhile here. Have unplugged the computers & am running this one on battery, just in case some big lightning comes. We've done pretty well vs. lightning over the years, although we had a fax machine get fried 11 years ago in Wheaton.

Our flight to Colorado is in 10 days. Over the weekend, we got one major concern straightened out: the use of our apartment while we're away. A woman with YWAM will stay here. It's likely that 1-2 of her female colleagues will also stay here during the course of our year away.

We continue to plug away each day at preparing for our departure from Paris, as well as arrival in the U.S. There is a lot to do on both fronts.

On the Paris side, we've been having a number of events where we're saying goodbye to people. It's encouraging that people generally are sad that we're leaving, but insistent that we come back. They are excited about the opportunity to pass this next year in the U.S. & discover things there.

While I hadn't realized it before, it is a good time for a break away from the field here. Last Wednesday I met with David, a colleague who will take over the communications responsibilities with the arts ministries. He has some excellent ideas that will help move this area beyond where I've taken it. I honestly don't feel threatened by him, but relieved that it will move beyond where I'm able to take it.

It seems like there are regular reminders that none of us are irreplacable. In some ways, we're like chess pieces that God moves around His worldwide chessboard. This doesn't mean that we are to rest passive & indifferent. However, we do need to remember that He is ultimately in charge of our placement.

These days are reminders to me of different strengths & weaknesses that I and my wife have and how we can complement each other in working in our strengths. We're also blessed with offers of help that we've gotten from friends & family in Paris, as well as stateside.

Last night Spain won the World Cup football (soccer) tournament in South Africa. 12 years ago when France won the WC in France, we were preparing to return to the U.S. for 1 year of study at Wheaton. This ended up stretching to 2 years. It didn't seem that complicated back then, as we had a lot less stuff, as well as gracious offers of people to store it in their garages or basement storage areas. This time, we're planning on keeping all of it in our apartment, which in many ways is even simpler.

It's strange to think that we'll be away for a year. In 2 Sundays, we won't be hearing French songs & sermons in church. I'll miss the simplicity of our church & church family here.

In Matthew 6, it says something like "Each day has its own worries." This is in the context of the passage that talks about God's provision for our daily needs as we seek first the Kingdom of God & His righteousness. May we accomplish today what we need to accomplish and turn over the rest for the next day(s).