Thank you for praying for these last few weeks. It has really helped us in our work. I've finished my doctrinal statement for the mission; Luc has finished his final exams and is now waiting for the results in order to see which institute he gets into; Pascal's medical treatment went well and we are hoping for an improvement; Claire has one more day of school left and she and I head to England; Pascal is working until 8th July, and Marc (our no.2 son) is the last one to finish school with 2 days of exams Thurs and Fri.
I've been winding up the year's activities and already preparing for next September's school year start. I find leaving the area is a good way of encouraging other women to develop their organisational and coordinating skills ! but many don't like to rise to the challenge. In the past, I was able to do it through maternity leave! If I can't encourage another 4 women to take over organising a combined women's group day early October, then Pascal will be named honorary female in order to do the coordinating until I get back!!
So, Claire and I are off to England to stay with the friends who were in this house before us, and to hear my parents' wonderful amateur choir sing in the high spots of England and Wales. We will see them singing at St Paul's Cathedral, at St Martins-in-the-field and then they go to Brighton, and Wales for the international eisteddford. They continue their tour to Belgium and into France - and the 5 Girards meet up in Paris to hear them sing at La Madeleine cathedral and at St Merri's church. So we turn into groupies!! The bonus is being in Paris for the 14th July Bastille Day celebrations. The 'unbonus' is that Luc won't see the Tour de France pass through our region or arrive on the Champs Elysée. Sorry, Luc, you can't have it all!!
This could be our last family holiday as our eldest reaches adult status and may decide to see the world differently! It's a golden opportunity for us to show them Paris and stay at the Bible Institute where we met.
My parents return to our quiet country town for a well-deserved 2 week rest before I join them on the flight back to Australia.
And so, maybe we'll catch up in Australia.
