Saturday, July 3 (evening)

The very critical first day has gone well (more below). I realized as I sat down tonight that I have not given you a sense of the leadership here at Champfleuri. I am always struck by the incredible diversity of the leadership team. Check this out:

1. Damien. Camp director, and overall top dog (and Texan of all things), along with ...

2. Joe Mellon (Camp TED interim director, Joe is actually a long term Philadelphia guy … anyone heard the name?) ... actually these two share many responsibilities for Camp TED (Totally English Days). For instance, Damien leads the long and short-term planning for camp TED, while Joe is helping administer every detail, including the difficult task of doing any necessary discipline work with the French students (surely there wouldn’t be any with the American students … Dana or I will be handling that ;-). This duo makes quite a team, and maintains a very pleasant, upbeat, loving demeanor in the midst of a ton of details.

3. Buan (pronounced Boone). Buan is a Wheaton undergrad and grad student from a few years ago. He spent some of his youth in France, and has always had a hankering to return as a missionary. He met Theresa while at Wheaton, and they formed their plan to be involved with youth camping ministries in France, so I'd say Champfleuri is a direct hit. Buan brings all kinds of things to the table (music leader, very relational, small group leader, etc.).

4. Thomas ... I don't know his last name (these things take time)! Thomas is now responsible for the upkeep of the facilities, but also helps with language translation and small group leading. Seems like a good hard worker.

6. Craig Davis … pastor in California who heads up student ministries in general and is hands on with the college ministry. Craig learned of Champfleuri from John Pavey (John is a pastor in Grenoble). Craig has been bringing college students for 3 years now to help lead TED. He brought 6 this year and they are very relational and pleasant. The younger set is larger! ...

7. and 8. You know Dana and I. Dana simply does a great job, leading a wide variety of responsibilities, while also filling gaps as needed (for instance, he ran tonight’s game set because of an impromptu request to do so. Dana brought two leaders with him, Mary and Monica. Great leadership team, with a group of five well prepared students.

9. and 10. Wendy and Christina! What a great blessing these two are. Wendy and Christina simply perfectly fit the model of being intentional with our lives for God’s glory … and loving our kids and the French kids. They are leading small groups, helping with a wide variety of logistics, and are constantly on the move. With the large group of students we have, we are all blessed to have this leadership team.

9., 10., 11., 12., 13, et al. Add a support staff that hails people from Canada, Germany, France (etc.), and this becomes one of the finest melting pots I've ever interacted with! Just a taste of the diversity God designs into his kingdom, now and into eternity. He is the common bond to bring together a team that loves the Lord, and shows love to a variety of kids that may or may not have heard the gospel message before.

(By the way, no lost luggage this year! A first! I did get a kick when I saw that they had inspected the suitcase in which we had all of our game equipment (balls , Frisbees, cones, etc.). First of all, it was locked … second I have no idea how they got it re-closed. But they did it.)

Please pray for the many French students that came today (it is really quite a day for them as well ... being tossed into an English speaking environment) where they don't know many ... and for God's blessing in allowing relationships to take shape in a hurry.

Our students are proving that they got the message of all of our preparation ... and it applies to all our lives. Intentional service to God and others.

Also, please pray for these first few days. The French are not used to speaking English, so we are often left out of conversations at the meal table (do you know that we have a rule that only 2 of the Philly team are allowed at any one table?) or in the dorm room (each GV High Schooler is in a room with 3 or 4 French campers). In the past, God has always been faithful that this naturally comes around, but it is always an awkward couple of days. There is also a joy in meeting new people and having such opportunity to serve.

Through your prayers and by God's grace we are working our way into the French teens lives, even at this early stage. Please continue to pray that hearts would be open and that the Holy Spirit would speak and work through us. First full day of camp tomorrow!

Bon Nuit, Jim