Swiss Newsletter, April 2007
 

April 2007

Dear Friends of L’Abri,

There’s a path that wanders past our chapel and along the cow fields and then on a bit more, until you pass the only chalet on the left which sits propped up on the side of the hill enjoying the panoramic views of the Swiss mountains and the valley below. Most weekends, its owners are here from the valley and ‘bonjours’ are exchanged as I walk past them on my way into the forest with my dog. The other day, their garden was blooming with red and white tulips and sunny daffodils and I also noticed that the first crickets were demanding attention with their loud insistence. Spring is dancing on the mountainside.

As spring joins us, we enter this last week of our winter term. Typically, we will finish the week with a final meal together up in the student Chalet, Bellevue, where the students usually grace us with their various talents during a student performance following a delicious lunch prepared by everyone. At the moment, however, we continue as usual, with discussions, lectures, tutorials, gardening, cooking, and cleaning among other activities. Different people come and go as we make new friends and say goodbye to people we have shared some time with during this term. This term we have had students stay with us from Australia, Korea, Italy, Germany, England, The US and Canada. Next week, they mostly all leave to go home, or to travel a bit more through Europe. The helpers, Gwen, Tori, Stephen, Julian and Jason, are staying on for one more week to help us out, because this year the Swiss branch of L’Abri is hosting our annual Member’s Meeting. Next week, Bellevue will continue to be very busy, but this time with over 22 workers representing all the L’Abri branches from Korea, Sweden, the US, England, Holland, Australia, Germany and or course Switzerland coming to stay and meeting together for a time.

Over the past term, we have enjoyed many different lectures and teaching topics. Greg began a series of lectures about the imagination and gave two lectures titled: ‘Christianity Going Global: A World Theology? George continued his lectures on Science and the environment. Richard’s topics included Mormonism, and evil, and Thomas gave a series of lectures about the problem of evil. I presented a couple of lectures on Postmodern Art, a lecture on Picasso, and gave a lecture titled ‘A Spirituality of Embodiment’. Eileen presented a lecture about Seinfeld and Jasie finished the term with a film discussion. We were also thankful to have with us Matt Bonzo, who offered his time and came for a couple of days to lecture on Wendell Berry, the environment, and globalisation. Usually the lectures prompt lively discussions amongst the students and themes are quite often brought up again around our lunchtime formal discussions. Even though these discussions can be quite intense at times, it is a terrific opportunity to hear different perspectives on a number of issues and students are encouraged to think through ideas, and listen to each other. Other formal lunch questions that I facilitated this term included questions about hospitality, Art and the artist, the relevance of the church in our communities and, what does it mean to be ‘spiritual’. During the term, many students were confronted with their own ideas about God and the bible, and their own living practices which needed to some extent transforming, such as perfectionism and a better understanding of the gospel and the meaning of grace. Some students we spent time with realized that they weren't actually Christians and began working towards a real faith in Christ. Others came here very suspicious and cynical for various reasons and moved in the direction of trusting God, while others started to understand and appreciate the importance of the Arts in their lives and God's global mission and their place in that.

Greg and Lisby and their family are well. Vincent (19) has settled into the University of Lausanne and is enjoying his French and Philosophy studies. Alexander (18) will be doing his final exams - written and oral – for graduating. He just got an offer for a job that will give him the opportunity to go into the University with some work experience. Lawrence (15) has his final exams - written and oral - for graduating. The latter two boys especially, are really having to work hard. Pray that God would give them strength and wisdom at this important time in their lives. Lisby spent several weeks this winter teaching Swiss and local children Sunday school. She was appreciated by all. This was a wonderful contact with the children, who were able to ask questions and get into the content of the Bible. Greg did a seminar this term on his new book, ‘ Living Spirituality: Illuminating the Path’, and through this several students came to a deeper understanding of Biblical spirituality.

Mrs. Schaeffer continues to be well cared for by her family. She needs our prayers, especially at this time of her advancing age and her diminished eyesight.

Jasie, Thomas and Kay continue to work very hard in Bellevue. There is usually a constant stream of students arriving and leaving, which keeps them all on their toes as they extend their hospitality. George and Eileen continue their work in Melezes as do Karen and Richard in Bourdonnette. Gian continues his work in our office organizing student reservations, book-keeping and many other behind the scene jobs. Prisca is well, and is being helpful to some of us as we struggle to learn French. She’s a wonderful French teacher! This term we enjoyed another visit from Juanita who has returned from the US to continue her work in France. I enjoyed having her stay with me in Chesalet for a couple of days, and the students always enjoy meeting her and asking her questions about ‘the old days’ when she worked here at L’Abri.

And of course, we have just marked Easter as we celebrate spring, but more importantly, as we remember the redeeming work of Christ when he died and rose again over two thousand years ago and the ongoing work of the Spirit given to us as we represent Christ here on earth until his coming again. We remember that we are a body or a community of believers, who share together our knowledge of Christ’s grace, and who learn how to daily live this out within our families, communities, cultures and the global world. Thank you to all of you who are thinking of us and the work which goes on here in Switzerland as we continue to interact with many many different people with their many many different questions, struggles and concerns. It’s a wonderful place. But as a student so rightly said at one of our formal lunches, God is not just present at L’Abri, but is with us where ever we are.

Yours in Christ,
Karryn Goldsworthy

 
 
  
 
***All address changes and requests for the Swiss Newsletter and Prayerletter should be sent to our Swiss address or to by email to swissmailings@labri.org. 

***Tax-free receipts for gifts meant specifically for the work of the Swiss branch are available from Switzerland when the gifts are sent either to Huémoz or to the Rochester address with a note specifying its designation for Swiss L’Abri.

*** Swiss Address: L'Abri Fellowship, Chalet Bellevue, 1884 Huémoz, Canton de Vaud, Switzerland.


*** U.S. Address: L'Abri Fellowship, 1465 12th Avenue N.E., Rochester, MN. 55906, USA.