Bonjour! 

Its been a while since I posted!  Can’t believe it was so long ago - May 8th!  I think I am one who likes to write less often, though when I do, I write in depth and certainly that is what I feel I could do, at least write expansively in topical breadth. 

I continue to be really enjoying my time out here in Burtigny, the quiet farming town high up north above Lac Leman.  Yes one can say that these are a highly ordered, organised, hard-working people of integrity. However, I feel it true to say that this positive aspect is marred by the general individualistic culture.  One of the speakers for the week here was giving a talk to the whole base on Wednesday evening.  He was just saying how having been brought up in US city life, for him here in Burtigny, it felt as though there was noone here; that he could just go into any house and live there.  It does feel like that a lot.  Reminds me of when I changed over to my culture of living from India (with the world's second largest population and ever-growing) to Worthing and I was like, where are all the people?!  Okay fair do’s, this place is a farming village up a hill, still it is very quiet.  I feel everyone travel in cars a lot and there is very little walking (the opposite for instance as somewhere like Africa).  Of course it is a very rich country and the nearest towns to Burtigny are not so close, but I still think it is a very closed culture.  It is great that the reformation had such a great affect here but there is, I feel, still that need for the natural opening up from the self to other people out of love.  I know this is very general but do feel this to be true in many places.

So lets not spend the whole of this post discussing Swiss culture, though I know I could.  As I always say I do continue to learn loads here.  Having studied a combined psychology and theology degree, I can see for myself how this school, this course of teaching, can be seen as being part applied psychology and part applied theology - the subjective, personal, life-giving stuff.  I like the Hindu way of describing God as the ‘Ultimate Reality’.  God is the truth, the source of all life, is steadfast, is eternal.  I can only write in limited words but it is us ourselves who need to have our own revelation.  Something I continually need to do, to push into him.  The importance of truth in all domains, not to exhaust its meaning - limit it to just the sole purpose of evangelising to people i.e., id est, that is, through words, important though that is, but understanding truth in light of all areas of society.  As has happened previously, so again I am inspired to be further informed in the area of politics, of science, of economics, of the arts etc..  It is amazing learning of the outworking of God’s principles within the different domains of society and of how what good fruit has been shewn forth, bestowed, brought about in accordance from that.  It is a true testimony to how God’s ways are the best.  (I know fellow ywamers will know about all this but I feel it is good to share this). 

Talking about truth, communication is one of my passions and interests, especially that of the third world; I am referring to the medium of media, specifically in the area of documentary, making people aware of developmental issues.  I was excited and inspired by what I saw on BBC4 at last years Grierson Awards (big British Documentary awards ceremony).  Nick Fraser, the series editor of Storyville, (an excellent documentary series on the BBC), won the Grierson Trust trustees award.  He said a highly encouraging speech about the importance of truth from documentaries around the world.  I felt privileged to have been able to attend a debate at the London School of Economics last March about documentary showing truth and using reconstructional fiction to do so.  Nick Fraser spoke out about truth and I was able to briefly meet him afterwards at the reception.  I am still trying to, as he says ‘call by’ and find where BBC 4 actually is!  But indeed, it was just really refreshing to see someone so passionate about truth, world truth.  I believe most documentary-filmmakers have the same pursuit, not for money or fame but to communicate their message, yes there will be biases like such a popular figure as Michael Moore, but it is still truth, it is still a valid viewpoint to be taken.  (By valid I am talking more about those docs around the world than narrow unimportant trashy docs!) 

-Ok, so this is a rather serious post!  I will have to write another one as I have much more to say at this stage in my venture of an, at present, Swiss DTS.   Of course I do not want to seem preachy or too down-to-earth, but I have come to realise that my defensive tendency (from this week looking at relationships) is to comply to the detriment of what I really think, hence now I have to all the more so be frank and honest, and not just with those close to me but to everyone, even if that means I lose friends.  Yes its rather refreshing bearing all, the freedom of it.  Again it is important.  Speaking up, speaking out.  'Not to be a victim or a perpetrator but above all, not to be a passive bystander'.

I learnt for instance also this week, the importance of standing up for justice in our world.  The notion of getting active not sitting on our backsides and being apathetic with injustice.  Oh that does not concern me and my space, my life, as long as people know Christ that is what is important as all the world will pass away anyway.  I used to think like that.  I was not sure about the whole perspective.  An introduction of knocking those wee ponderous beliefs down, was when Nicky G spoke at church about the environment; being aware of it, getting involved.  From what I then learnt from two weeks of previous teaching here, those ponderous beliefs were then really brought down properly.  The whole topic of justice and righteousness - standing up for the truth and even how people can see God in truth itself; for he is the essence of truth. 

Last Wednesday we had a tour round the United Nations and it brought home what a great job they do. 


Of course I know corruption is everywhere, I know we are all infallible human beings and I do not want to be seemingly speaking from an ‘innocent naïve’ person’s view, but I know that they do strive to do good, and do do a great world of good, literally.  Will be interesting who will be replacing Kofi Annan when his second term of leadership ends in December.  Ok, I have hit a few nails here and will end this part but this is really the first part of one long post.  Due to its nature, I thought I would start with a second post for a freshness. ….to be continued >>>