(insert voice of "joey" from old TV show "blossom", here) : WOAH

Woah indeed.  What an amazing time this is for the youth and families in Lausanne, and merci, mon Pere for blessing me with this experience!

Things have been trucking along with the church communities here.  A group of 17 leaves in exactly 17 days for a service trip to Casa Mia in Ponticelli, Italy.  We have had two bake sales, a Breakfast Bash, a Talent Night, and we have an upcoming Pasta "Dinner and a Movie" night...all for fundraising.  And all in the span of three months...can you say INTENSE.  But it has also been awesome. 

Our talent night was this past Saturday.  Some of the highlights, in my opinion, were watching four of my 'tweens do a mime to "The Coloring Song" by Petra (any of the older youth from FGPC might remember this from the good ole days of Kirkwood...and if Debee reads my blog she might shed a tear...we also did the heart skit...PS-I miss you), about 10 kids singing "Lord I Lift Your Name On High", hearing the beautiful voice of one of my teen girls, and watching my teen boys have a blast as the backstage crew.  It was an amazing experience for everyone- so much bonding, laughter, and of course good wine from the Bouvin family.

Putting together this service trip has been like no other experience in my life.  I wouldn't dare try to put it into words.

As part of a general update for my time in ministry here...

Things that I love: Sitting by the Lake and listening to wisdom that only 84 years on this earth can grant, watching my kids take hold of their gifts and name them, making and eating fondue with new friends, catching up with old ones, being reminded of God's grace, patience and brilliance, French Bibles, and moms with video cameras.

Things that are beautiful: Lazy mist that blankets the mountains and lake, fairies that clean church kitchens late at night, 8 teenagers holding hands in prayer, tear-filled phone conversations, the combination of cheap food and budding faith, dark chocolate, wrinkles, and graphic designers named Jayni.

Things that are/were hard: Learning how to open drinks in a box without using scissors (okay not "hard" per say, but I did spill iced tea all over my kitchen and shoe today), practicing patience, wednesday nights without the doylestown starbucks and someone i love dearly, drinking coffee without my mom, March 10th and 11th, trying to transport 17 people to another country, walking around in others' souls, and balancing relationships. 

Look for more updates just before and after our service project, and please hold our group in your prayers!  We will be gone from April 7th-15th.  Much Love to all!

Comments

[Missi is awesome]

You are going to have an amazing trip. I can't wait to hear about it. I miss you tons!! And I love you even more.

[-drm-]

Thanks for the update.

[Els]

Abby, dearest, I miss you so so much! Wednesday rolls around and things just don't quite feel the same. I absolutely cannot wait to hear all about your trip, and I'm praying everything works out swimmingly. I love you so much! I also love these lists; your writing is so compelling!

I'm compiling a list of coffee shops to hit on our Coffee-Themed Road Trip. And I cannot wait. Is it a sign that I, too, have a purple car? I think so.

Love times 213846982735649998236487253,
els

[nick]

Living the life dude. Living the life.

[Krissy]

Abby dear,
i miss you so much. i hope you have fun on your trip. You have to tell me all about it when you get back... my blogspot is www.school32.blogspot.com leave me commnets some time. So i saw your picture on the FGPC web page and it made me cry... i love you so much. I hope to talk to you soon. ooo i have to tell you something and ask you something of my life asap.. im really upset about it. please comment me soon. Love you tons. Krissy

ps sami says hi too!

[Krissy]

Abby i miss you so much...

[sami]

hey abby
i miss u soooo much! cant wait until u come visit
~sami

[James]

hey aunt abby!! whats up?! WE ARE GOING TO ITALY TOMMOROW AND THEN IN A WEEK, GUESS WHAT?! SWITZERLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)
cya
-james

[Els]

you=awesome.

[krissie]

hey i hope you had fun on your trip i can wait to hear how it was... love you 10 billon times 775438975262... wow thats intense!!!

kristina.. im writing your letter now as i speak....

ps im getting my tonsils out tomorrow.. pray for me ill let you know how it is!!!

[Krissy]

thansk a lot for the comment perfect timing too.. i was feeling like crap that last couple of day and you aways know what to say and you know how to make me smile just like in the old day!!! haha not saying your old haha

i hope to talk to you soon!!!! i love you so much

KRISSIE

[eddie]

You mentioned a mime to the "coloring song." Do you know where I might get a copy of the mime script? Or perhaps a video of the presentation?

[eddie]

You mentioned a mime to the "coloring song." Do you know where I might get a copy of the mime script? Or perhaps a video of the presentation?