Sunday - June 10

Today was the first full day of the conference and I will underscore it was a FULL day. We were off to breakfast at about 7:30am. At 8:30am, I left to take the Metro to join Jerry and Carolyn for their church service in their house. I took videos so that at some point you will be able to see and hear their work.

I had time to have lunch with the Moyers and Batiste and his wife Emily. Jerry then took me to meet Dave Riddell, another BFC missionary, who is serving as the director for World Team in France. Dave took me to the town of Epiais-Rhus. The others were late so Dave and I had an hour or so to talk about what he is doing and thinking.

Epiais-Rhus is one of the new developments which Paris is building. It is an attempt to add to Paris while avoiding the “sprawl” with which we are so familiar. These developments tend to draw the wealthy who can afford new homes and who are willing to make the 1 to 1 ½ hour commute to Paris where they work.

In these new communities, serious family problems are beginning to show since children have no parental control or input. Many of them are home alone for 3 to 4 hours each day. Many parents are willing to suffer what they do in order to become successful at their work.

Epiais-Rhus is in a larger area called Vixen Park. Another development, Cergy Le Haut is near by. Christians tend to be spread out and have little contact with each other.

The work in Epiais-Rhus began as a prayer meeting of 3 men. They begin at 6:30am and finish at 7:15am. After a year of praying, an interesting thing began to happen. Others, even a couple of unbelievers began to join the prayer meeting. They tried to do a Bible study but it did not work. They have returned to the prayer meeting.

Our meeting in Epiais-Rhus was held at the home of Christian and Florence (these names must be given their French pronunciation which I cannot give in print). Christian is a contractor who build the beautiful home in which they live. Florence is a nurse.

Florence expressed great appreciation for our coming. She said she has been discouraged recently but was encouraged by us and reminded that they are not alone. I was struck by her words.

In my earlier conversations with Jerry and Carolyn, they expressed some frustration that people tend not to see Paris as a mission field. For many, Paris is a place to visit. They see the great work and opportunities that exist in the new developments.

After we left Epiais-Rhus, we returned to Paris at 7:00pm but decided to get off the Metro at the Grand Arch. We viewed it and then took a train to the Arc of Triumph. Our walking, eating, and riding took us 4 hours so we were not back to our rooms until 11:00pm. It was truly a full day.

I had a good night’s sleep last night. I have concluded that the delicious coffee Jerry was serving me was loaded with caffeine. I gave it up and did some serious sleeping.