The Beginnings of an Update

So, you can tell that I wasn't able to gain access to the internet in Antibes as easily as hoped. However, the place was incredible!! A highly recommended vacation stop and stay!! I will write more tomorrow. For now, I'll just say that we are safely back in Nigeria and quite happy to be back in our home and with our routines. Our time in the Mediteranean region was fantastic -- resting and sunbathing, walking and walking, shopping and eating, eating and shopping, and more walking and walking. I plan to load photos beginning tomorrow. Oh, my goodness ... photo ops abounding!

Jim was never fully able to take a break from work but it still felt like a vacation for him. So, we returned rested and ready to jump in again to life here in Nigeria. While we were gone there was an election on the camp and I am now the new coordinator for the wives on the camp and actually all employee wives in this area. The responsibilities of this position hit me fully upon return with nonstop discussions with women who are disgruntled, angry, frustrated, disturbed, ... The needs are huge, to say the least!! Please pray that God will grant me the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job, the boldness of Esther and the communication skills of Paul!! Grace and truth must reign as this is a tough situation with many small cliques, some racial issues and discrimination one race against another in a setting with about 25 nationalities represented, huge cultural misunderstandings, selfishness, distrust, and unrest. We will be transitioning leadership teams in the next month. The new team has great potential. I have great hope and great concerns. I must remain friendly to all but not be close friends with anyone -- neutrality is crucial.

Tomorrow, we head back to a church we visited one other time. We really are getting ready to plant our feet in a church home. Speaking of churches --- what a great experience we had at Hillsong Paris -- a church plant from Hillsong Australia (the original) and Hillsong London. Imagine 300ish 20-somethings packed into a rented space totally celebrating Jesus!!! It's a fairly new church and already has 2 services. Pretty amazing for such a secular country. What an impact in the area!!!! Awesome worship, awesome preaching and the best interpreter we've ever heard. The speakers spoke English and this amazing gal walked along with them, gesturing, filled with life, translating everything into French. She not only translated the words, she did an amazing job translating the MEANING and HEART of each thought. Wow! I'm sure the world will hear more about this incredible ministry in this amazing city. What a privilege to be a part of it. God is so ... well, .... He's so very BIG!