Holding up the Eifel Tower is a big job!!!!Well, Lauren and I have arrived back home without incident. Even though we did not get to fly back in First Class (as did Nate and I 4 years ago), we had a nice flight home. When I think about our missionaries of yesteryear like Victor Plymire- it took him over 14 weeks to travel to the mission field. It took us 14 hours and we were back in Grand Rapids! We were just happy to be home and thrilled at what God had done!
I have to share this one particular picture with you; standing with Lauren here is Sabine. While I have been to Paris many times to preach revivals, I distinctly remember the meetings well 20 years ago when Henry Linderman invited me to come and minister. Europe was in an uproar- Romania had just barely endured their civil war and their 7th president / dictator, Nicolae Ceauşescu, had just been executed. 1989 was considered a historical turning point for the wave of revolutions that swept the Eastern Bloc, starting in Poland. Collectively known as the Revolutions of 1989, they heralded the end of the Soviet Union just two years later. .But a far greater happening took place that summer. Sabine had been invited to come to a special service at the Vie Nouvelle Eglise (New Life Church) in Paris where I was ministering. One night when I gave the altar call and asked if there were those who wanted to ask Christ to become their Lord and Savior, she responded. Not only her, but then she went and brought her sister and she became a believer, then her mother as well, and others until her entire family had experienced the incredible hope in Jesus Christ.
Today, Sabine is one of the church leaders and very active in many ministries in the church. It has been an awesome delight to see her each time I go to Paris. She is just one of many trophies of God’s incredible hope and grace. I know she would be embarrassed to know I was going on about her as I have- but I just wanted you to meet- Sabine.
Thank you again for all of your prayers, support and encouragement while we were away. It meant a lot to us- especially Brenda and Nate at home. As we were about to land at home in Grand Rapids, I asked Lauren if she felt like she was ready to take on India- she looked at me through her bleary, tired and jet lagged eyes- perked up as if she had just jumped into a cold swimming pool and said, “Oh ya- you better believe it!!!!”
This is a shot of Lo on one of the richest streets in the world- the Avenue des Champs-Élysées! Real estate here rents for $1.5 million per 1,000 sq ft. You can barely see the Arch de Triumph in the background.
Well, God has been growing us and preparing us for a time such as this. We have committed to help plant 1,000 house churches in and around Delhi- an emptied soul neighborhood of over 22 million people in 7 years; we are already in our 2nd year.
So… all I can say to the imps of darkness in India is- look out here we come! Please pray with us as we prepare to go to Inida later this year for a family time of ministry.
Lauren’s Lines: One hour, two hours, three hours, four hours, five hours, six hours, seven hours… it's a long flight home!!!
