May is the month of holidays in France: May 1 – European Labor Day, May 8 – Victory in Europe Day (WWII), May 17 – Ascension Day (a holiday in France), and May 27 – Pentecost. On May 1, the church-planting mission in a neighboring town hosted a gathering for all the Evangelical Reformed Churches of our region. About 200 people attended. Then on May 8, we hosted the annual Veteran’s service in our church. We had an unusually high attendance, around 75, and had to set up extra chairs. Bill’s message centered on Christ’s declaration and question in John 11: “I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?”

Pentecost is traditionally confirmation Sunday in our churches. This year we have a class of 4 boys completing their 3-year confirmation training and who are asking to be confirmed (one of them will be baptized). For the first time in several years, they all come from families that are active in the church. All 8 parents have gotten together to prepare a song that they will sing as part of the worship service. In our many years of ministry, this is the first time that we have seen this kind of family support. It is such an encouragement! Do pray for these four 14-year-old fellows who will be giving their testimonies on Sunday.

A week ago last Sunday we were saddened by the death of a 51-year-old American woman married to a Frenchman and living in Montpellier. She had been coming regularly to Bill’s weekday English Bible study class. She had long-term health problems and her condition worsened steadily since the beginning of the year. Bill led the bilingual funeral service last Saturday morning. You can be praying for strength and comfort for her husband, Jean-Michel, who is relatively young in his faith, as well as for her family in the States that could not come for the funeral.

Our Gospel Music Seminar is just a little over a month away. A number of people have already signed up. Please be praying that the Lord will bring those who need to be in touch with His Word through music.

Dan, Dulcia, and Ailish visited us for 12 days at the end of April. In spite of much-less-than-perfect weather, we had a wonderful time. How special to be able to cuddle and love our granddaughter again. She adapted to international travel like a real trouper!

And, what a joy to see her growing and developing so well and so rapidly. After such a fragile beginning, she is now a delightfully chubby and happy baby. Thank you for your prayers for her and her mom.