A tooth and a coin

Andrew (left side) waits for a rebound.

Micah, right, drives in, while I coach in the background.

Tuesday evening where we ready for the people to start showing up for the Bible study when Andrew walked with a scared look on his face.  While laying on his back, he had swallowed the one euro coin he had just gotten from the tooth fairy, just dropped right into his mouth.  What to do ?  A euro coin is about the size of a quarter.  We called the emergency number her to find out what they suggested.  They said we needed to go to the emergency room and  get an x-ray just to make sure it was not in his lungs and that it had made it through his stomach.  Some guests arrived just as they were leaving so one went with Angie and the other stayed with me where we had a good talk.  When Angie got back the news was good that the coin had made it's way through the stomach and was already in the intestines.  They did say we needed to "verify" that the coin came out.  Yeah.  Wednesday, we had basketball practice with the kids, our last one for a while because of the vacations coming up.  We also had a snack together afterwards, the leftovers from the tournament.  I coached the older group (junior high) because their coach was on vacation.  No coin.  Thursday I had my meeting with my language helper, we are working on getting an article written for the local newspapers about AC Green.  I had a good talk with him that evening, about 45 minutes.  No coin.  Friday, it was raining so no market. 

Arianna poses by the flowers.

 The weekend went well.  Angie had met a lady at a scrapbooking store who invited her to a scrapbooking get together.  It was in the same village as the lady we met after the basketball game, so Angie went to the scrapbooking party and then invited the lady out to lunch.  They had a good talk about the difference between christians and muslims.  No coin.

 Sunday, services went well.  Angie taught Sunday school.  I was given a few minutes to share about the explosion in Texas just 15 minutes from where my parents live.  Several spoke to me afterwards and said they would be praying for the situation.  With the bombings in Boston and the fertilizer plant explosion in Texas, the US has had a rough week.  After church, some friends walked by and we invited them to walk to the park with us.  The kids had a good time playing.  (pictured above)  No coin.

 Monday was the start of the kids two week spring vacation.  It started out with beautiful weather.  We kind of just let the kids veg out.  Watched a new movie with them and had pizza for supper.  Tuesday, everyone called saying they were busy or out of town and so the Bible study was cancelled, so we took it tot he back yard, started up a fire and had s'mores. (pictured above) The kids really enjoyed it.  No coin

 Wednesday we went to a local hiking trail called the labyrinth de Nebias.  We had a great time, had a picnic lunch and enjoyed the nature walk.  Arianna was a tropper, following her brothers all over without ever slowing down. Pictures above and below.  It was a great time as a family.  Coin finally arrived. 

Yesterday, Angie took the boys to a friends house to play.  While me and the girls stayed home and had a few guests over, one of which wants to be baptized.  Pray with me while we are teaching him and questioning him further to see if he understands and really desires to be a disciple of Jesus.  Currently Angie is going grocery shopping and I will be going to check out a local car dealership.  We are going to be buying a used 9 passenger van.  This will be used for the upcoming basketball group, for my parents visit, and will help when Lauren arrives to work with us for two years.  I don't plan on purchasing the one I see this afternoon, because it is more expensive than others I have found, but it is the closest and that will give me the chance to check it out up close.  Have a good weekend.  God bless, JASON.

What time is it ? GAMETIME

Arianna and Lilia in the back yard.

Micah drives for the basket.

Micah climbs our cherry tree.

Andrew helps with the yard work.

We have had a good week, highlighted with beautiful spring weather and meeting  new people.  We had a good Bible study Tuesday.  Wednesday's basketball practice went well.  Thursday morning, I meet with my language helper and also with our coach to discuss our basketball projects.   We talked about AC Green and also about the kids tournament being held at Limoux on the following Sunday.  This was the first time Limoux hosted the tournament and so it was a learning experience.  Thursday evenings practice went well.  We planned our final game Friday night.  Friday morning market went good, there were many people out and about.  I left my stand a few times to check out local hotels for AC Green.  That evening, I went early with a teammate to the game to attend a training session on keeping the score and filling out the paperwork.  The game went real well. We won 88 to 46 and I scored a career high 16 points.  Attached video I am seen scoring at the end.  Caleb went along with me and took the video.  The game was an hour away and so I had a good talk with the guys on the way and back, and was even able to speak with one of them about God.  Saturday morning, Angie helped carry one of our friends to the hospital for a foot problem.  Meanwhile, I walked the boys to a birthday party that Caleb was invited to.  The mother ended up inviting all the boys to stay because they knew her other kids.  I went back later to pick them up, and had a good visit while the kids played a few more minutes before coming home to work on homework.  Angie and Lilia meanwhile went to the youth meeting.  I made some phone calls, reservations for AC Green, talked with the man organizing our basketball group, etc.  Sunday services went well.  There were several first time visitors.  That afternoon we had our tournament.  It went smoothly.  The kids played well.  We got everything set up in time, and besides Angie having to get some spoons and change for the concession stand (which was difficult because everything is closed on Sunday) everything went smoothly.  Micah scored once.  Angie was speaking with one of the other mothers there, and ended up that her husband knew one of our friends in Paris.  We invited them over after the tournament, they have five kids as well.  We had a good visit with them.  Today, we got the paperwork to register Arianna in school for next year.  I have worked on emails as well.  And now it is time to get the boys and Lilia for lunch.  With sunny blue skies, and 68 degrees currently, I think I will walk. 

Meeting with the Mayor

One of the heats starts running.

Caleb turns to wave, I'm following behind him.

Andrew looking for Easter eggs.

Our week went well.  We are still feeling Satan's attacks, but God is with us.  The kids had school on Wednesday this past week, unusual, but they were making up for a day they had off back in November.  I worked quite a bit this past week on posters for AC Green's event this summer.  I also went to see the hotel about the rooms, they had wrote down our reservation, but it didn't cover all the days I had asked for, so we won't have the rooms for the time we need.  We are now looking at renting a house for the group, which will actually be cheaper than the hotel. The weather told cold and rainy.  We had some record low temperature for this time of year.  One morning, it was 36.  With the threat of rain, I didn't make it to the market.  I did have a meeting with the mayor of Limoux, about our basketball opportunities this summer, mostly with AC Green coming to give a speech here.  It went real well.  I was able to introduce myself as a pastor, and explain my work in Limoux.  God was present, because, the Mayor introduced me to a man sitting outside his door, who ended up being the man who started the first Basketball Club in Limoux, some 35 years ago.  Saturday, the boys had their cross country race that they do with the school every year.  There are usually over 1000 kids present.  We had a great time, in spite of cold temperatures.  We were able to meet many parents for the kids old school.  Saturday afternoon we met with a some new friends who and had a great visit as well.  Services went well Sunday.  At Carcassonne, the pastor started a new series on the gospel of John, and that evening Dad started a new series on the book of Job.  This is the last week of school for the kids before they get two weeks off for spring break.  Hope to have all the basketball plans laid out by the end of this week.  God bless, JASON 

Easter week

This was our best Easter pic. 

The kids ready to hunt eggs.

And there off . . .

Phone calls, reports and visits filled up last Monday.  I wanted to get my report out early to request special offerings for AC Green's trip over here.  It will cost a large sum of money, but I think it will be worth it.  We are looking forward to it.  Tuesday, Angie had her AVF meeting (french course).  That afternoon she had several ladies over for the second cooking exchange.  They came to our house to learn to make cheesecake.  They had a good time.  I helped clean that morning and got a taste of cheesecake that evening as payment :)  We took the evening off from the Bible Study and Angie and I had a good talk, we evaluated our ministry and saw some areas were we are strong and some that need improvement.  It was a nice evening to talk and it helps me to see how inadequate we are for this calling of God.  Thankfully God equips us and that way He gets all the glory for it.  Basketball practice went good.  I had 12 kids this week.  Honestly it can be difficult at times to keep all their attention.  Wednesday went well, thankfully.  I have enjoyed getting to know all the parents.  I was having a high schooler help out, but he has been in physical therapy for the last month, getting over an old knee injury.  We had a good Easter weekend.  The weather became rainy and cold, but we enjoyed ourselves.  The kids did some indoors Easter egg hunting.  We had several good talks at lunch about Easter and the crucifixion.  I had started asking them Bible questions at lunch.  We have a good time and it seems to always end up in laughter.  God bless, JASON