Week-end Église 2017

This past weekend was our annual church retreat - and our last commitment - with Le Rivage.

With a house full of moving boxes in various stages of completion surrounding me, a needy 16 month old climbing on top of me, and a precarious emotional state, I'll keep this post to mostly photos.

We started the weekend with a picnic.  Thankfully the weather was nice and we didn't need to adjust our outside plans for the rain.

After lunch we played a large group game.  Each part of the game represented something different and tied back to the overall theme of the weekend:  Growth and Service.  Even "prison" gave us the opportunity to hear stories of people persecuted for their faith and write them letters through Open Doors International. 

Throughout the game, each team received giant puzzle pieces.  At the end, each person brought their piece and constructed the puzzle (created and built by Jordan with the help of our teammate, Steve).  The image of the puzzle - and everyone having their place - was revisited several times throughout the rest of the weekend, and each family went home with their own puzzle of Le Rivage.  

A team from a supporting church in Rochester, England came to serve us through serving our kids.  During all of the group gatherings, including the games, the team was available to keep the smallest kids (like Judah), and they even did "hall duty" on Saturday night when many of the kids were sleeping so that the parents could participate in the evening activity without worrying if anyone was crying.  We were so thankful!

On Saturday evening we had a "Family Celebration" where the service was intentionally geared towards all ages.  Our teammates Nicolas and Sabrina did a great job of leading this service - which they hope to do regularly in the coming years with Le Rivage.

After dinner on Saturday night we had more games - excellently led by the teens - followed by a sweet time of sharing memories from the last 4 1/2 years of Le Rivage's existence.  It was fun to hear what people think of first when they hear "Le Rivage" and to see photos of God's faithfulness and answered prayers.

On Sunday morning Thierry and Nicolas did a great job of leading us in the Word and tying together all that we'd seen and done throughout the weekend.  Then Jordan led Le Rivage for the final time in worship and to the communion table.

Before lunch, Thierry asked the group to gather again to meet his neighbors who were joining us for the afternoon.  Jordan and I found it strange, but...

In the end, it wasn't actually to meet his neighbors.  Instead, he wanted his neighbor to present a beautiful painting of our house and street that she'd done for us.  Jordan and I cried upon receiving this beautiful, thoughtful, personal gift.

We knew we'd have a time on Sunday to say an official goodbye to Le Rivage, but receiving the gift and hearing words of affirmation and encouragement from our team, church and friends was so special.  (If I write any more I'll start crying again, and I don't have time to cry - there are too many boxes left to pack!)

The Week-end Église was such a great way to end our time with Le Rivage.  We don't have the words to express our feelings, but as we stood there on Sunday, surrounded by those who have become our family over the last nearly 5 years in France, Judah crawling around on the floor, kids playing with him, I prayed that God would never let me forget the scene before me.  We are so thankful!