Good 'ol family time

(At the Flower Carpet: Right to left, top row, Me, Françoise, Joëlle, Patricia; bottom row (friends from church) Jota and Daniel.) Here in Brussels, my family is my sisters (now all of my natural family memebers might be wondering when I had a sister, not to mention SISTERS...). My sisters have all recently moved in, Françoise (from Cameroon), Joëlle (from Congo), Sandrine (currently at home in France, but will return soon--from France), Vanessa (from Ecuador) and Noemie (from Belgium). All five of us live together, none of us are from the same country, and together we represent four continents.

(The Flower carpet durring the light show.) Our recent family activities (besides watching movies, cooking, laughing, cleaning, talking, sharing, and praying) have been some time at the Grand Place to see the flower carpet and then to catch a movie (The Lake House, chick flick, but pretty good) and going on walks (a favorite destination is the Italian Ice Cream Parlor).

How does "purpose" fit in with SFC?

Purpose is the big word this year in SFC. For the 2006 - 2007 School year, the "vision explosion," our vision is two-fold. First it is to "Live Life on Purpose" and "To Expect Great things from God." We as the members of SFC are no longer wanting to waste opportunities. We want to be purposeful in all we do, knowing that God is in the process of doing great things here in Belgium. This means, being purposfull in our relationships, putting the value not on any sort of goal, but on the person--showing them the love that Christ has given us. Purpose can also be found in our time and finances.

Will you pray with us this year that:
(1) we might live purposeful lives;
(2) that our faith will continue to grow in everything we do knowing that God can and WILL do great things--even if unseen!;
(3) that we will be able to effectively reach out to and invite true Belgian students and Arabic students;
(4) development in student leadership, that each student will step up into service and really "run" with the vision of SFC;
(5) continued prayer for the leadership transition as our the Turley's (whom I came here to assist) who have been the "Leaders/Overseers" of the group are in the states. Thank you!! I am excited about all the great things (the God things) that will happen this year!

CSM

(My CSM small group, clockwise from me: Martha, Julie, Ewa, and Deborah.) CSM was amazing! There were over 100 participants from all over Europe for one reason-- to be trained, sent out, and used to reach their fellow students and teachers come to know Jesus! It happened from August 1 through the 12th here in Brussels. There was a great time of teaching, training, worship, fellowship, and prayer. (I took PAGES of notes and then finished up the journal I was using and started another!)

Here are some testimonies:
Françoise: I feel a greater burden on me to pray and see people come to know Jesus. Also I no longer want to work God into my schedulel, but I want to work my schedule around Him.

Ewa: I came to CSM wanting specific questions to be answered, but instead God started to work a miraculous healing process in me that I didn't even know was possible.

Martha: When I first came to CSM, if someone were to ask me if I was a Christian, I don't know what I'd say. After these two weeks, I know that God is real and that I am one of His children. After these two weeks, I'd say "yes, I am a Christian."

Isn't God amazing! I had the priveledge to lead a small group with Ewa and Martha and see there growth as well as I now live with Françoise and I see how she is starting to live out that which God has put in her life. So exciting to see people come closer to Jesus!