Fete de la Musique

     France is known for their appreciation of the arts and music.  We saw this first hand when we spent our first year of marriage living in Beauvais.  We discovered that one day every June,  French cities "shut down" and celebrate the "Fete de la Musique," or Music Festival all over town.  Music of all genres and musicians of all backgrounds and ages could be heard on every street corner and in the center of town a main stage was set up in which the "main acts" played throughout the day.  It is definitely a cultural experience ( this video gives you glimpse of what I'm talking about). 

    We thought it would be fun to do a miniature replica of this festival in conjunction with the Bartlett Hills Baptist Church arts and crafts festival on Saturday, Oct. 20th, from 9-3.  We obviously love music and know that many of you do as well and we thought it could also serve as a great venue to spread the word about what God has called us to in France.  We'll have a stage set up outstide, and the pumpkin patch will be open as well so our version of the "Fete de la Musique" will have a "fall festival" feel to it that should be a lot of fun.  We will also have different booths of arts and crafts set up outside that will be donating a portion of their proceeds to our pursuit of the mission field.  We'd love for many of you to be involved.  Here's what we need: 

• A set-up and tear down crew to help with the staging and musical equipment.  (Contact Stephen St. Clair, stephen@bartletthills.net)  
• Different musical performances with hopefully a variety of people and styles of music.  I'm hoping for about 10 different groups prepared to do about a 20 minutes set.  You are also welcome to set up a merch booth outside.  (contact Michelle at chelle374@aol.com)
• We'd also love to have a variety of arts and crafts booths set up outside in which you could display your work and make them available for sale.  You can have the booth for free if you are willing to donate at least 50% of the proceeds towards our pursuit of the mission field in France.  (contact Michelle at chelle374@aol.com or Tessa Harrelson at 901-826-1460)
• Someone that can help develop some promotional stuff, flyers etc... for the non-Facebook crowd.  (Contact Brandon at 901-828-2815)
• A team that can help "decorate" outside.  (Contact Lisa Harrelson at 901-297-9165)

And like always, be in prayer that God will use this event to put us in contact with those He's calling to be a part of our support team.  Please let us know asap if you want to help.  God bless!  

France Friday, 9/14/12

Our "40 Days for France" have come and gone but there's still a ton to be praying for.  Here are some upcoming items for prayer.  We thank God for you! 

Prayer Needs:

• We leave for vacation this Sunday, the 16th!  We're meeting up with John and Donna, Aunt Bev and Uncle Robert, as well as Andrea and the cousins for some time at the beach.  Pray for our travels and that it will be a time of rest, renewal, and great memories made with our family.
• It's actually our anniversary on the 17th as well.  Pray that God will continue to draw us closer to him and to each other.  
• I'm helping to fill a need to lead worship temporarily for about 6 weeks at Fayette Baptist Church in Oakland.  Pray that God will use us there for His glory and that we can build new relationships with families there.  
• I've written a letter to the owner of the company I work for, Top Rx, asking Him to considering sponsoring us.  Pray that God will grant us favor in his eyes.  
• I've also written a letter to the leadership at Bartlett Hills Baptist Church asking them to consider formalizing their partnership with in the near future.  Pray for God's wisdom and direction.  
• Also we're waiting to hear from Love Worth Finding ministries to further discuss how they can be involved in our ministry through World Team.  
• It seems to me that any "faith journey " these days inherently includes finances in some way.  That's true for us not only in our support raising but we are trusting God to provide for our needs while we are still in the states.  He's always been faithful and we know that He always will.  Thanks for praying with us for His providence. 
• On that same note, I've been having trouble with my car for a few months and have not yet found a solution.  Please pray that God will take care of that need. 
• We'll be moving again in January, either towards our pre-field training course in North Carolina or to the missionary apartments at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.  Either way, most of our possessions will not be going with us!  Pray as we prepare for our next move. 
• Also, on Oct. 7th Fayette Baptist is having their "vision night" in which they present their direction for their new church.  Part of their presentation will include their partnership with our church planting efforts in France!  Pray for a unified vision amongst the families there. 

Upcoming Events:

• "Fete de la Musique"- We will have live music and art for sale at Bartlett Hills Baptist Church on Saturday, October 20th.  We are still looking for people to perform and/or provide art.  Please let us know if you are interested and we will get details to you.  Make sure you come by to see us if nothing else!
• We will be having another yard sale in the fall...be looking for more details to come soon.

 Micah takes our love for the beach to a whole new level!  And yes that is Micah when he was Asher's age!  We will see you when we get back.

FRANCE FRIDAY: "No fear!"

This is my crazy son, Micah, who as you can see has no fear.  I should mention that before I stopped to snap a picture, I did frantically run over to make sure that the back wheels would not actually fit down the slide.  He wasn't going anywhere, but he was completely ready to...No Fear!  I am not saying that I want to ride a bike down a slide, but I could learn a little bit about being fearless from him.  God has called us to something that leaves so many areas of our lives out of our control...the biggest and scariest for me being His timing.  Its hard not knowing when we will go or how to plan for the future.  I always thought that missionaries had to be fearless to move to a new culture and language, but I never imagined that they had to be fearless in the process of getting there.  We know that God is preparing us now for all that we will encounter on the mission field.  We thank you for praying for and with us through this growing process.  Here are a few specifics that you can be praying about...

• Brandon met with Cary Vaughn, CEO of Love Worth Finding Ministries.  They are praying about how they can partner with us.
• We have several churches that we are making contact with to see how they might be a part of what God is doing in France.
• We are still doing some follow up from our Soiree dinner as well as beginning the initial planning for our next BIG event, "Fete de La Musique"...stay tuned for details coming soon!
• Continue to pray for the work that is currently going on in France.  The vacation season is winding down and things are getting back to a more regular schedule. 

 "Car je connais les projets que j'ai formés sur vous, dit l'Éternel, projets de paix et non de malheur, afin de vous donner un avenir et de l'espérance."

 Jérémie 29:11

Our "40 Days in Pictures"