Happy New Year!

Our new years eve group. Back row Matt Crane, David Bacon, Jonathan Bacon, Levi & AndyNelson. Second Row: Nancy Crane, Emily Nelson, Sarah Card, Liz Crane. Front: Me and Michelle Bacon

Our Raclette Dinner, a holiday favorite.

For our entertainment we formed a whistle choir

Come fly with me!

Well here I am the 20th of December and instead of wrapping up the the last of my Christmas shopping I am wrapping up the last details for my flight leaving for France on January 2nd.

I was so relieved to hear about my visas approval so I could finally make some definite plans. Everything has been hypothetical so long that it is strange to think that I can proceed with so many things I have talked about. Thankfully we have been keeping up on purchasing things I needed to take and the details of my housing and transportation .

So to all those who read this you are invited to attend a farewell coffee open house on New Years Day from 1-3 pm at my home. Hope to see you all before I take off.

Over the centuries and years

Christmas has stayed the same

A celebration of God's love

And of the babe that came.

While the rest of the world takes cake and
punch

and marches on the mall

It is only a very few

Remembering the stall.

If only there were Shepard's here

So full of awe and fear

Then maybe more'd remember

That God's Son was here

Thanksgiving

It is time to once again remember all my blessing and give thanks to God for his innumerable gifts. As I think of all the blessing in this past year I am most of you thankfull for you my friends who have sacrificed to provide for my needs for the upcoming years and have given your time to remember me in prayer. This past year you have been my greatest blessings.

Thanks to God

Thank you for the sunrise

Rising in the east,

Thank you for each loaf of bread

Risen with fresh yeast,

Thank you for the clothing

I have upon my back

Thank you for filling me

When often I lack,

Thank you for your great gift

Given in your word

Thank you that as a child

Of your death I heard

Thank you for the daily gifts

That I do not see

Make me truly thankful

For all you've given me.

There and back again a travelers tale

My trip to New York began at 5:00 am. My father, Sal Maiorana and myself left with cups of coffee a bleary smile. The traffic ( for all those who are concerned or not) went along very well considering the time of day we were entering the city.
I arrived in front of the consulate with a large bag full of paperwork at 10:00 for my 10:45 appointment. I was glad to be there early and was able to get a little interaction with the other applicants standing in front of the consulate waiting for their appointment slots. Most of the people were applying for much less complicated short term visas or transit visas.
It was a very confusing situation about every 10 minutes the security guard would come out and softly announce what time slot they were now taking applicants for. I along with 2 other ladies apparently were not outspoken enough and he came out and announced he was taking 11:00 appointments. Oh no we missed the boat was my first thought. The other 2 ladies were flight crew and were fairly bold, so after some apparent aggravation to the guard we were able to get in (I could tell it was the prayers).
After I got in you pay your fee and have your first checkpoint before there real deal. No problems there. Then I got to sit on the group W bench if you know what I mean until they called my #. I got up there and got going and it was looking like it was going pretty well, had everything i needed and pleanty of it, then we hit a slight snag the gentleman asked for some additonal paperwork that I didn't have but wasn't listed in the requirements on the websight. He asked how far the drive was when I said 4 hours he had pity and said I could mail it him and that he would call me to let me know that he received it and it was all good.

Downtown NYC driving, oh the fun!
After I finished up there and I knew exactly what I needed and he had everything he needed I headed out. Dad and Sal had found a parking spot down the street so they were right there when I was done. We then headed to Sals old stomping ground in LoLo (for the layman lower Manhattan). We went to the 17th street pier for lunch and a walk around Maiorana tour. We had some of the world famous Nathan's hot dogs for lunch and after a little walk we hit the road again. The traffic on the return was smooth as glass and we were back home by 5 pm.
On the 17th street Pier

So there and back again I have been. Thanks to all you who prayed for all to go smoothly.
Prayer Requests: ~ I will be able to quickly get together the rest of the documents and that the gentlemen will be able to send it in then for approval.
~ The remaining 20% of my support will come in soon
~God will raise up team mates to help with the next term in France

Prayer and Paperwork

Busy /bi-ze/ adj. 1: Engaged in action: not idle 2: being in use 3: full of activity.
The definition is a good definition of my life the last few weeks. Between catering dinners and preparing all the paperwork for my visa my head is in a constant spin but hopefully in a week when my catering engagements and my visa application appointment are over with life will return to a more normal pace.
I have been hearing a lot from various people interested in going with our team to the Chateau and also of several European couples looking into becoming full-time staff at the Chateau in the upcoming year. Pray that God will continue to move in hearts to raise up staff to continue the ministry at the Chateau.
If you would please pray for me as I am waiting for the last of my letters to arrive from France for my application and that as I go next Tuesday, October 7th, I would have everything I need and everything would go smoothly.
Please also pray as I am still lacking about 20% of my support needed to return in January. Please pray that I will have boldness to continue to share my ministry with partners here in the U. S. and that God continue to raise up more partners.

So has passed another day
Wandering along life's way
In my wanderings I have learned
Many things which my path turned
The road's not straight as I had thought
But it has many lessons taught
No longer do I plan my day
For often bumps come my way
So I will daily climb the roads
With no worries of what the future bodes.

Summers almost over

Yes, so the summer is over. It passed rather quickly for me. In the photo as you can see, my coworkers from France, Jay and Debbie came to visit on their way through from Pennsylvania to Indiana. We had a great time together and I am looking forward to working with them again when I return this term. Please pray for them as they continue to raise support and they have a long way to go before January.
As for me, I am still progressing well in this area, I am also still receiving more and more people partnering with the ministry in prayer. I am really now beginning to work on getting all the paper work I will need to apply for my visa which I will be applying for before too long.
Please Pray: That I will have clarity of word and thought as I prepare all the necessary paperwork for my visa
Please pray that God will raise up partners to provide the remaining support I will need to return to France
Please pray as well for other to join our transitional team serving at the chateau.

The summer has passed so quickly. I have been enjoying the time with friends who have been away at school and having a little more free time. As a part of that I along with my friends have begun a weekly Bible Study to encourage each other to grow deeper in the word. What a great opportunity is has been to spend this year in the States again before returning to the mission field.
I have also been seeing progress in how God is raising up the funds for me to return to the Chateau. I have about 70% of the funds needed pledged toward my return.
I am also begining to work on that good old time of applying for a visa to return. Hopefully I will be able to get it all together and have the right words to express my desire to return to France and gather all the paperwork I will need.
Pray:
That the Lord will continue to work in the heart of individuals to support the ministry of the Chateau.
That I will have wisdom as I prepare for the application for my visa.
That I will continue to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Christ