Hello Home Team! -
Well, our Champfleuri 2012 trip has now ended in terms of physical location ... we're home! But there is much in the way of processing going on ... for French campers (Facebook friend requests are flying!) and American campers all the same. This year, I would say that I saw as much growth in our team as I did in some French campers ... all in the direction of becoming disciples/apprentices of Christ Jesus.
I have asked that each member of the Champfleuri Team blog in the next few days about:
1. One relationship that was formed (they will only be using first initials for safety purposes) and the worth of that relationship.
2. One piece of learning that they came away with.
As always, we will be presenting snapshots from the trip on a Sunday night in September (I believe Sunday night, September 30th) ... so mark your calendars!
I will be back in about 2 weeks with a wrap up blog as well ... much to reflect on and gain perspective (where could I/we see God at work).
Thank you for tremendous prayer and financial support. May our students and our many French friends be considering God's work in their lives!
Blessings,
Jim Shack
Friday, July 20, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
10 minutes to blog (graham)
Well we don't like it, but the end has come.
All the French campers are gone and, as always, the Philly team is the awkward stragglers.
To give a quick overview of the next couple days, we will be leaving Champfleuri for Grenoble. Then from Grenoble, we catch a train for Lyon. Tonight we will be staying at a church in Lyon and grabbing dinner with Cecile (a counselor and good friend to the group, who also blogged). Then tomorrow morning we will be grabbing a train from Lyon to Annecy (thank you Marie for spell-check). In Annecy we will be touring the town and lake with Emily, Tibo, and Juliette (other counselors of Champfleuri) and Elodie's brother. We are super-excited for this not only because it will be our last day in France but Annecy is also one of the most beautiful lake-areas in Europe. After the day has come to a close, we will be taking the train back to Lyon and staying at the church again. Then at 4:30 AM Thursday morning, we will be waking up and going to Lyon's airport to catch a flight to Heathrow in London. The group will have a 4-hour layover there before we catch our next flight back to Philly. We estimate that our arrival time at the church will be about 6 pm.
To all that miss us, we will be home soon. This will most likely be our last blog post as we aren't sure if we will have wifi-access in Lyon or Annecy.
This is Graham Davis signing off..
Good night, and good luck.
All the French campers are gone and, as always, the Philly team is the awkward stragglers.
To give a quick overview of the next couple days, we will be leaving Champfleuri for Grenoble. Then from Grenoble, we catch a train for Lyon. Tonight we will be staying at a church in Lyon and grabbing dinner with Cecile (a counselor and good friend to the group, who also blogged). Then tomorrow morning we will be grabbing a train from Lyon to Annecy (thank you Marie for spell-check). In Annecy we will be touring the town and lake with Emily, Tibo, and Juliette (other counselors of Champfleuri) and Elodie's brother. We are super-excited for this not only because it will be our last day in France but Annecy is also one of the most beautiful lake-areas in Europe. After the day has come to a close, we will be taking the train back to Lyon and staying at the church again. Then at 4:30 AM Thursday morning, we will be waking up and going to Lyon's airport to catch a flight to Heathrow in London. The group will have a 4-hour layover there before we catch our next flight back to Philly. We estimate that our arrival time at the church will be about 6 pm.
To all that miss us, we will be home soon. This will most likely be our last blog post as we aren't sure if we will have wifi-access in Lyon or Annecy.
This is Graham Davis signing off..
Good night, and good luck.
Non-musical Night of Worship - Camp is over :(
Two nights ago, we had a non-musical night of worship. We realized that no one had even talked about it so I suppose that's exactly what I will do. So after watching the movie, the counselors set up several stations throughout Le Grange (kind of our meeting place). Overall, the activity was a calm, yet powerful, night of prayer and meditation. The stations allowed us to connect with God in different ways. For example: there was a basket that was filled with different verses. We picked a random verse and then meditated on it. My verse was Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight." Not only was this about the third time I had heard that passage this week but it was also the verse I was given when I was baptized. I have always had some problems with anxiety. Through this verse, God has been constantly hammering away at me to understand to just trust in him and he will make my path straight. Throughout the night, you could feel God's spirit at work throughout the room. Many tears of joy were shed during this activity. In summary, the non-musical night of worship was definitely a game-changer for a lot of people. Thank you all for your constant prayers, they truly have made a difference. Camp is officially over at this time so all the French campers have left for their homes. I think someone else is going to fill you in with extra details about the next two days. Please keep the prayers coming; we're not home yet!
- Andrew
- Andrew
Monday, July 16, 2012
The final day
July 16th
From Jon
Today was the final day of camp. What an amazing time it has been! I look back on the past couple of weeks and I'm amazed at all that God has done. He has provided each of us with opportunities to be intentional with the French campers and to share our faith with them. I have truly seen God working here in France.
Being on the worship team has given me a special opportunity to minister through music. Worshiping with music is hands down my favorite way to praise God and I feel closest to him when I play and sing. I've had the unique opportunity to be able to see every single camper during the worship time. I've been able to witness subtle changes in the campers that not many others have. These change are evident through the faces and actions of the French during worship. At the beginning of camp there were many blank faces in the crowd during worship. However, I now have a hard time spotting someone without a tear in their eye or a smile on their face. Seeing this change in the campers has been an amazing encouragement to me and its definitely left an impact on me.
Tonight we are preparing for the traditional talent show. This is the last big event of camp and it promises to be a good time. However, many of us are preparing our acts with mixed feelings. We know that tomorrow it will be time to say good bye to each other and head back to the different parts of the world we each call home. The good byes may be painful but I am confident that God has done what he wanted to be done here through all of us. I will definitely miss the view that I wake up to every morning, and the people, and the coffee in bowls, but I will be able to leave it all behind knowing I've done His will. I'm confident that God will continue to work in the lives of the French campers. I know we are all willing to pass the baton on to the next people who God has chosen to help these campers grow.
July 16th
From Jon
Today was the final day of camp. What an amazing time it has been! I look back on the past couple of weeks and I'm amazed at all that God has done. He has provided each of us with opportunities to be intentional with the French campers and to share our faith with them. I have truly seen God working here in France.
Being on the worship team has given me a special opportunity to minister through music. Worshiping with music is hands down my favorite way to praise God and I feel closest to him when I play and sing. I've had the unique opportunity to be able to see every single camper during the worship time. I've been able to witness subtle changes in the campers that not many others have. These change are evident through the faces and actions of the French during worship. At the beginning of camp there were many blank faces in the crowd during worship. However, I now have a hard time spotting someone without a tear in their eye or a smile on their face. Seeing this change in the campers has been an amazing encouragement to me and its definitely left an impact on me.
Tonight we are preparing for the traditional talent show. This is the last big event of camp and it promises to be a good time. However, many of us are preparing our acts with mixed feelings. We know that tomorrow it will be time to say good bye to each other and head back to the different parts of the world we each call home. The good byes may be painful but I am confident that God has done what he wanted to be done here through all of us. I will definitely miss the view that I wake up to every morning, and the people, and the coffee in bowls, but I will be able to leave it all behind knowing I've done His will. I'm confident that God will continue to work in the lives of the French campers. I know we are all willing to pass the baton on to the next people who God has chosen to help these campers grow.
See you all soon,
Jon
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Chill day
Tim Thibault here [Pronounced Tim Tebow (Thibault is one of the counselors and is cutting paper right behind me)]
Anyway, hello all. Today has been thoroughly relaxing. We started with breakfast, moved into small groups and then a large group as usual. But then things got switched up. Workshops were moved up in the day and shortened so that we could watch the movie "To Save a Life". If that sounds familiar than your child may have told you that it was viewed during the senior high fall retreat. Than we discussed it for a bit and now have shower time before dinner. It was a much needed chill day after the whacktacular last couple days. I personally got a great night's sleep last night and am very excited to finish out camp.
Anyway, hello all. Today has been thoroughly relaxing. We started with breakfast, moved into small groups and then a large group as usual. But then things got switched up. Workshops were moved up in the day and shortened so that we could watch the movie "To Save a Life". If that sounds familiar than your child may have told you that it was viewed during the senior high fall retreat. Than we discussed it for a bit and now have shower time before dinner. It was a much needed chill day after the whacktacular last couple days. I personally got a great night's sleep last night and am very excited to finish out camp.
Thank you all for your prayers,
Tim Shack
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