Evendays

We stuffed ourselves on desserts last Wednesday afternoon. I normally hate mingling, but there was the promise of sweets and we gave it a shot and came out winners. Big time.

There was fruit of all kinds. There were three different kinds of mousse (raspberry, chocolate and white chocolate) and two or three cakes that had three layers of chocolate in them. There was mille feuilles and cookies and cakes and wafers and, well, everything but ice-cream and cherry cobbler. (European desserts are small, but very rich.)

So we mingled. Our Pepperdine student buddies gave some speeches. Really excellent, informative and short, and then we got to mingle again, meet some of the nicest people in the world (who were not just there for desert), many on the Board of Regents who came to see Pepperdine’s Lausanne facility, meet the students and the staff, and mingle.

I learned all kinds of things about my sisters and brother (a later post) who are all Pepperdine alumnae. I met some of their neighbors, some of their teachers, some of their spiritual family, one of their ex-bosses. A great time.

We waddled home, glad to have mingled. It gave us the chance to catch up, and to receive encouragement from unexpected places.

I would love to be part of a big local church. Especially a faithful church that sings with all their heart. But, there is an advantage in being small: We are mobile. Last week we cancelled services and went to the Geneva church retreat that took place here in Lausanne. Not a logistical problem. Everyone made it. Next Sunday, we’ll meet with several members of Pepperdine’s Board of Regents for a bi-lingual worship at their campus facility. Then on Easter Sunday, we will worship with Bethanie, the local retirement home just up the street, with about 40 residents, tripling our numbers. (They call us “the people with the good voices” because of the acappella singing.)

We met some new friends last night… Wonderful Christians with a godly and intelligent daughter in Pepperdine Lausanne. Their church is so big they have 2 days of worship services and a “north” and a “south” campus. The pastor is “videoed” for one of the campuses and teaches “live” at the other, without revealing where he’ll be in advance.

Big is not necessarily better. Small is not necessarily good. Each have their own pluses and minuses, growing together as they faithfully follow the Head.

The College church will meet its mission budget this next Sunday. Almost $50,000.00 was given for evangelism work in Kenya, China and here in Europe. That’s very good news.

If you want to see my short message to the church in Fresno, and you have a very fast connection (a must) you can check out this high-quality video (the video, not the content—or the face!!!) that I’ll leave online for a week or so. You may have to pause at the beginning in order to allow some buffer in order to watch it without interruption.)

Last Friday morning, Wife and I accompanied 11 of the students from Pepperdine’s Lausanne program to the nearby retirement home (Bethanie) for a morning of singing and talk. The students, all women, did a remarkable job and the home can’t wait to have them back.

There are some 40 students who are participating in this years Pepperdine program here in Lausanne. 4 or 5 come to church on Sunday mornings, a brave crew who sings along in French, praying and listening to a worship which is indeed foreign to them.

About 2 months ago, Wife started inviting students over on Monday evenings for a meal. They’ve always been between 6 and 9, but tonight they were 15. It has been such a joy for me (and even for Wife, though it is a lot of work) just to sit at the table, ask them questions about their lives, studies, and recent travel experiences. I think they enjoy it too. They keep coming back. Of course, free food is a great draw.

We always have a “question” for the evening (favorite film, dessert, one person they’d like to meet… They always ask: What’s tonight’s question? Such excitement!) Tonight two of them brought their homework and another 3 hung out till late. I don’t know how much they got done, but it felt like home. Not just for them, but they represent a part of America that I miss.

We were blessed by Andy and Adam and their families who came from Geneva to preach on Sunday and then to eat with everyone. Afterwards, we played ping pong and they set up a big table out under the walnut tree and played NERTZ. (No idea how it’s spelled.) 8 young ladies from the Pepperdine program were here for worship and 4 stayed for the AGAPE meal (that’s “potluck”, in Greek). And there were three from Bern with us and a couple of visitors from the neighborhood and most of the members.

A good morning, though few of the members stayed for the AGAPE. Wife and I, and I think the kids too, hunger for fellowship. Except for a few notable exceptions, and praise God for those people, our local church does not always express that same hunger.

How do we, without ignoring the work of God, stimulate the Body’s members to greater fellowship? Any ideas? I ask, because for me fellowship has always been a natural thing… A part of being a Christian.

But now I’m stumped…

 

A couple of weeks ago, my mountaineering buddy Philippe and I took a group of 5 Pepperdine students (picture) snow-shoeing in the Valais Alps in the region above Sierre called Vercorin.

Unfortunately, I told the students they needed to be in good shape to do the 10 to 12 kilometers we’d planned.

They finished the hike without any problem and enjoyed their tea and hot chocolate at the lodge while they waited for me to finish…

But, I DID finish…

Check out Biblos for Theobloggers for ch. 10 of Yancey’s book. And please, share your thoughts.

..

About 35 Pepperdine students arrived in Lausanne all through Wednesday evening. Thursday night there was a reception and Wife was able to meet many of the young women and men who will spend a semester “studying” in Lausanne. We hope to be of some spiritual help and will be spending as much time as possible with them. Mary, a good friend and ex-neighbor is directing the first year. Carolyn Hunter is the visiting faculty member. She and Wife became good friends in 2006 during Carolyn’s three-month stay preparing the terrain for the newest city in Pepperdine’s International program. There are already campuses in London, Heidelberg, Florence and Buenos Aires. I heard next year for Lausanne is already filled up.

Many of the students are skiers, so the big question was: Where’s the snow? Temps are way up since last week’s storm. We are averaging 10 degrees above normal. The snowline is now around 6,000 feet. Although it’s not unusual to get a warm day from time to time, so long and so warm IS unusual.

Four days of study, three days a week for traveling, some individual sporting activity for PE credit… Makes me wish I were a student again. Oh, forgot: student loans…