We have two kiddos traveling with our church’s youth group. This was the year for an overseas trip for the high schoolers. Eight teens and six chaperones left Iowa on Saturday, June 6 by van for a Sunday afternoon flight out of Chicago. That became an adventure when a flat tire stop was lengthened by a dead battery. Sometime after midnight they arrived at their hotel. And that is why they left on Saturday afternoon instead of Sunday morning – Wisdom achieved by previous experience with transportation issues!
There was yet another delay with departure from Chicago which made Monday a longer day for the teens as their first tour had to be rescheduled for the afternoon. They arrived in Paris about 8:30am I think. They also found one of their rented vans had a smaller engine that wouldn’t allow them to travel at normal highway speed. So after some touring along the way, they arrived at their evening destination about 10:30pm. (Information shared by the hosting missionaries’ daughter – thank you, Michelle!)
After a few days Tim did get a brief text from our Cowgirl reporting safe arrival and that the Cattleman had a sore throat. Oh dear. He must have recovered quickly (looks alive in above photo from Pastor B anyway – front row center).
The following is the first email update from Pastor B we received on Saturday {which also happened to be the Cowgirl’s 17th birthday – looking forward to seeing pictures from her little party!}
Greetings from Corsica!
The team arrived last night at the Barnes. We have a had a good trip traveling through the main land of France and crossing the Mediterranean sea via ferry yesterday. Our days have been long, full of traveling, eating, site seeing, and learning about France, the Reformation & the Huguenots, and missions. It has been a fast-paced adventure. Thankfully we have not had any sickness or major injuries (a few scratches and bumps). We have been traveling in two 9 passenger vans that have work well (with a few glitches here and there). For the most part, we are following the itinerary Andrew provided for us. Today is a rest day.
Continue to pray for safety and good health. Pray for evangelism as we will be evangelizing in various cities through singing and preaching. Pray for Wanda as her sciatic nerve is causing a lot of discomfort. Attitudes and spirits have been great even though we are tired out. Pray for continued team unity.
…
Thank you for your prayers.
Pastor Doug
And the second received on Monday:
Corsican Trip Followers and Prayers,
We went to a church in Ajaccio yesterday. We had very nice service. The teens sang, Andrew preached, the teens sang again, the Augsburgers sang. We had a 4-4.5 hour fellowship afterwards with several courses. It was great to interact with the French people, the fellowship was sweet. Today we are trying to go to Bastia and see the Barnes old church cite and hopefully get into the public schools to use English with the students. Pray for that to happen!
Everyone is doing great (as far as I know).
Pastor Doug
Today’s update:
Corsica Trip Followers:
Yesterday and today we were able to meet in the French school and meet with English classes. The students were from 5th grade to 7th grade. Yesterday we went to Bastia and saw the meeting place the Barnes have chosen to start meetings in the fall. We had a prayer meeting outside the doors. We then went to their old meeting place and toured the city some. It is a beautiful harbor with shops, ice cream shops, and cafes. We went further north to an old light house for a picnic supper. While walking to the point, Mr. Barnes helped an older woman with groceries; she then invited our entire group in for a drink; we enjoyed a refreshing drink of flavored water on her porch overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We sang songs and Mr. Barnes was able to share some words of grace.
Today we spent two hours at the school and then after lunch took a drive up the mountain to a cascade (a waterfall). The sites were spectacular.
Please pray for Emily; she went to the doctor today to get some meds for strep. She has been taking meds all trip, but it has reoccurred. She is actually feeling OK, just a bad sore/swollen throat. Pray for more opportunities to share the gospel through song and preaching. Pray for continued safety and that the vehicles work well. We need to install a water heater for the Barnes so pray that we can make all the French connections. ;)
Thanks,
Pastor Doug
