Good afternoon,

and welcome to a third edition of Charlie G's web log.  Its been a while, been rather busy I guess.

So to continue with where I left off, there was something amazing when during our week at Lausanne, we worshipped together, video-linking live with Taiwan and Kiev, all singing together, and I knew all the songs very well except just one.  (When Taiwan were leading worship and started singing that one song I didn't know, the Koreans we were with in Lausanne started to belt it out - they knew it all right!).  So yes a great sense, well when I say that in this situation I don't just mean sense but a reality, fact of being in unity as well as a sense of that - sensation of that more like. 

Yes for the last two weeks, I have been particularly touched and challenged by the teaching.  Looking at God for who he is, our sin, repentance, and last week, we had talks on hearing God; the aspect of using your heart and your head.  I know most of the time, I'm certainly a thinker and know I have to teach myself to use my heart more. 

Two Sundays ago, others and myself, were able to go across the lake to France, to the sweet medieval village of Yvoire.  It was good to explore somewhere new off-base, especially as it was a quarter of the usual price. 

The day before that escapade, a cow-competition took place in the field next to us.  Cows from all the local farms pitched up.  It reminded me of a small version of my local village's/Findon's annual sheep farm.  

A few days later, a fully dressed soldier turned up to our worship session with his machine gun.   As someone was encouragingly talking about us wearing spiritual armour, my sight of himself standing in the doorway at the back came at perfect timing.  Then a tank followed by two army trucks arrived and took over our neighbouring barn.  I realised after a while, that there was an army exercise going on and they were simply using Burtigny as a model town to defend.  At the first sight of the soldier, I was wondering if he was wondering what on earth we were doing, as we worshipped God, and whether he should stop us!  Though actually he's a Christian.

Unfortunately no photos this week.  I may download them later.  Its raining right now, we need more sun.  I heard it was 26oC back down south.  Oh and more about the food, yah its just very good and there is a great variety from around the world too!  Finally 'Oh dear' with some people has now like become my jokey catchphrase, its said in my presence, whether or not something bad or 'Oh dear-like' has happened.

Until next time,

Arrivederci

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