We had hoped to put our kids in the city's summer kids program. We hoped the kids could casually get to know French kids and pick up some language before school begins in September and the back up plan was to have them in our school's program. Unfortunately on the sliding scale for pricing, we, as foreigners, get to pay the most for a day in the program. It really wasn't unreasonable - 15 Euros per child per day for the whole day (about $20) - but times 3? Hmmm. $60/day is not in the budget! So we chose one day: one day that had something special that all three (they are in different age categories for events) could do. We had to make three trips to the office to get it done. One for paperwork and to choose the event with a translator the day after we arrived in France, once with vaccination records, and one last time after Noah got a shot we didn't know he needed to turn in the records. Thankfully everyone was kind and patient with us!
Thursday they went to a lake near Chambery: Lac du Borget, at Aix-les-Bains. Noah and Kristin seemed excited and Ben was definitely scared. The night before we made lunches, set out clothes and bags, and I put names on bags and wrote our address and phone # on a paper and safety pinned it to the bag. Thursday we got up early, ate breakfast, prayed with them, and drove to the school/community center where we signed them in helped them hang up their bags and make sure they were okay! Poor Ben thought he was going to be all alone because the other two had to hang their bags in a different room. But, when we left, he was riding a bike and smiling.
As we drove away, I thought again, 'This is the first field trip EVER I have not been with them. Ever. And now here they go, I don't know the teachers, the kids, and they don't speak the language.' I had a moment or two of reflection, which Chris promptly broke into with, 'They'll be fine. Stop worrying.' I claimed no worry, just reflection, but I admit they were sobering thoughts!
After class we waited a bit and went to get them. Again the workers were very nice, but the bus hadn't arrived back yet. So, we went to the grocery and when we got back, there they were. Ben said, "We weren't there all day, were we?" Yes Ben, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. is all day. He had a very good day. They all did. They said they were glad we packed a lunch because the French lunches that were served looked yucky. They ate the snack though. Who passes up bread and chocolate? They played UNO with French kids, swam, and played all day. So thankful they could do one day!
Thankful also for Megan, who we didn't know would be here with us when we initially hoped to send them every day to the program. Megan made dinner that night. All by herself with very little instructions except Chris's comment, 'No such thing as too much seasoning!' Excellent pork roast! Thank you Megan, and thank you God for the blessings again and again. And as Ben begins to fear school this fall, we can remind him of his day at the lake and how nice everyone was.
His mercies never end. So thankful to be allowed to serve. So glad He accepts broken clay vessels and makes them whole.
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| This is not the lake they went to - it's lake Annecy, where we went today. No picts of the other- |
I volunteered in Sunday School today at church. There were 26 kids today, from 5 to 11 years old. About half were French and half American. The main teacher is French and her regular helper is American. During the school year there are separate classes, but in summer there is a shortage of teachers and usually less kids! I think it was good I was there! The class is studying Psalm 23 for the summer. They are to memorize the Psalm in French and listen and participate in class. Fortunately for now, there is translation into English.
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Hard to follow God when your eyes are not on him.
Ben has a blindfold on and was to walk towards God's name on the board. |
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| Large class, many ages, 2 languages |
