November 30, 2004

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This has been a varied and busy month. We spent one week going to Southern Germany to spend a few days with Ursula and her family. She was the first person to come to Bible Study here in Tournefeuille and came very faithfully to Bible studies and services. Last year her husband's job took them back to Germany. While we there, she asked if she could gather her friends and family so that we could have a service. She wanted them to experience what she had experienced. We, of course, were delighted. She gathered in a good group and we had an excellent service and a class for the children. Two weekends this month, I went to Montpellier by train to fill in at the small Baptist church there.

Sometimes, having a different viewpoint is valuable as well as enjoyable. So, I thought you might light to read an excerpt from a letter Amanda, our daughter-in-law, wrote to family and friends about out Thanksgiving dinner. All of our guest were unsaved, as far as we know, and this was a chance to be a witness. Philip and Amanda are sent by Emmanuel Baptist Church and support themselves. It is a delight to us having them work with us.

"Judy and I are gearing up to do some serious cooking this week, as I'm sure most of you are as well. We've invited 4 French families to experience Thanksgiving with us, and I'm really looking forward to it. One friend is bringing their homemade foie gras (paté made from duck liver) - I bet you've never had that for Thanksgiving! Anyway, Judy's doing the turkey and most of the hot dishes and I'm doing the rolls and pies. Cooking an entirely American meal can be a challenge sometimes. Condensed soups? Only available at one store across town. Canned pumpkin? Forget it....chop, cook and blend the pumpkin yourself. Cranberries? Not available here - they're strictly an American fruit - but thankfully, Judy thought ahead and brought some back from the States. Sweet potatoes? Hard to find...the ones we came across this year are a white variety, not orange. So, as you can imagine, I have learned to adapt my cooking, and of course we eat a lot of French cuisine. But for our friends to experience a true Thanksgiving dinner, we're trying to keep it as authentic as possible. At least I know there'll be plenty of pumpkin pie for us....French people usually don't like it. They generally don't like cinnamon, and always eat pumpkin as a savory dish, not sweet. (If you've never had pumpkin soup, try it sometime...it's delicious!) Last year I made a pumpkin pie for Philip to take to work because his colleagues had never tried it. Only 2 people liked it, and one guy said he didn't think it made a very good dessert, but would be better eaten as an appetizer with sardines!"

May the Lord bless each of you as the new year begins. In Christ,

John and Judy

Group at Sunday Morning Service.  John and Judy in back row.