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Swiss Newsletter, September 2006 This summer we saw over 100 students come through for various lengths of time, and it definitely kept us busy! We also had several guest lecturers stop through, including Jamie Smith, Nick Terpstra, Ron Wells and Steve Garber. Each added to our community not only through their teaching, but by spending time with students at meals or in small group discussion. The close of summer term brought with it several changes in Chalet Bellevue. We were sad to say goodbye to several helpers who have been with us a long while – Patrick, Danny and Sterling – as well as to Eden, who has been living and working in Chalet Bellevue for the last year. Eden has moved on to begin her Nurse Practitioner degree at Yale University . Please join us in praying for them as they return to work and school. We are so grateful for the time that they spent with us here. As so often happens in life, the sadness of the goodbyes was tempered with the joy of hellos. Thomas has joined us as a worker after spending two terms as a helper, and we are excited about him joining our team. We also have several new helpers this term – Jason, Jeremy, Julian and Tori – in addition to Adrienne, who is joining us for another term. Please pray for them all as they adjust to their roles in the community. At the moment, we’re grateful to have a diverse and interesting group of students who are grappling with a wide range of significant issues. Some are struggling with loss and strife within their families, seeking healing and restoration. Others are wondering what it means to truly know and love God, or what it looks like in our current climate to follow Christ. Social justice, politics, and the marriage of Christianity and culture are also hot topics, as well as the role of the church. Several of the students are not Christians, and are seeking answers to foundational questions regarding the truth of Scripture, the existence of God, and the person of Christ. We are thankful for each of the unique voices at our tables, for the honest questions, and for being able to provide honest answers. Please pray for wisdom for the workers as well as the students as we seek to embrace God’s truth and love in every area of our lives. George and Eileen, with their daughter Karen, have settled into Chalet les Mélèzes and have quickly adapted to the L’Abri lifestyle, jumping into formal meals, lectures, prayer meetings and the rest without missing a beat. Karen is beginning a French course at University of Lausanne , and also will be volunteering part-time at Med-Air, an international aid organization. We are so thankful for their arrival, and that Chalet les Mélèzes has been re-opened. God has provided so much, sometimes in dramatic ways, for the many repairs that have been needed in the chalet, and there is still work to be done. Please pray that we will receive the needed resources to complete the remaining projects. Kay continues on as the Grand Dame of Chalet Bellevue, overseeing the logistics of shuttling an ever-changing student group through their work, study and meals as well as taking care of all of the unseen things that make life in our chalet flow more easily. We are so appreciative for the work she does, and for the grace with which she does it. Thomas and I join her to round out the team in Chalet Bellevue, preparing meals and doing odd jobs around the chalet, in addition to hosting formal meals and doing tutorials with the students. Karryn and her dog, Jemma, continue welcoming students to Chalet Chesalet for meals and tutorials. Karryn has been lecturing on an array of topics including eating disorders, reality TV, music, and art. She is also preparing a trip for the students to an art exhibition in Martigny this October, and will be presenting an overview of the pieces we will encounter before we go, which will undoubtedly enrich the experience. Richard and Karen, in Chalet Bourdonette, are preparing for a new school year as Alexis enters the fourth grade and Simon the first grade. Richard is lecturing on a wide range of topics, preparing sermons for our Sunday chapel services, and working with students in tutorials and formal meals. John and Prisca are both doing well in Chalet Tzi-No. Prisca enjoys having a student in for a cup of tea from time to time. John continues to work in our office, keeping the finances and student booking in order, to wrestle with trees, hedges, and technology, and to preach occasionally on Sundays. Edith stays with them a couple of days a week, and we've been thrilled to have her with us recently for two chapel services. Greg and Lisby and their sons Vincent, Alexander and Lawrence continue to keep a rapid pace in Chalet Minchületta. Vincent is currently visiting Canada and the States, with a stop at the Southborough L’Abri, before beginning his studies in Philosophy, French and English at the University of Lausanne . Alexander and Lawrence are both starting their final years of their respective schools, with all of the attendant exams next year. In addition to lecturing, tutoring and steering the ship of the Swiss L’Abri branch, Greg is also busily at work on the final edit of his book, Living Spirituality: Illuminating the Path, which will hopefully be on the shelf by November. Some of his other publications, in addition to a large number of additional resources, are available at www.labri.org/swiss/resources.html In addition to resources, our website is updated regularly with lecture information, photos, and the current newsletter. Also, of course, if you would like to join us as a student you can find reservation and contact information there. This year we have begun accepting online donations, and if you would like to support the work financially you can do so from our website, or through the regular channels that you are familiar with. As we advance further into the information age, we now have a blog you can access at www.labri.org/swiss/blog.html with articles and notes from some of our Sunday sermons. Lastly, if you are receiving this newsletter the old fashioned way, via snail mail, and would like to begin receiving it and/or our monthly prayer letter by email, please let us know at swissmailings@labri.org . Doing so enables us to keep our costs down, and would be very much appreciated if it is an option. Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support of the work of L’Abri. We pray that God will continue to bless you. Jasie Peltier |
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