Baptisms and the mighty Matterhorn...~

Well, four weeks have gone by already in Switzerland! Can you believe it?! Here's some great things that happened this week: Six people got baptised in the lake on Sunday. We did our first food shop to fill our empty cupboards. We hiked in Zermatt and stood in the shadows of the Matterhorn. We got internet in the appartment!

They were the headlines! So, as I said, the service on sunday was a little shorter than usual and then we walked down to the lakeside for some baptisms. Three members of the youth, one mum and one Sunday School kid got dunked as a symbol of their dedication to leave behind their old lives and follow Jesus. Thankfully the weather was beautiful. We had a 'bring and share' lunch afterwards which was yummy!

Martin with Jeff and his wife Nathalie

Nathalie and Jeff's son, Joshua

Ashleigh, Jeff's daughter (yes, there were 3 from the same family!)



Elizabeth, the youngest baptee (!?) at 10 yrs old



Jeanne-Catherine, one of our youth

Lydia, Martin's 2nd daughter

Church crowds, just as I imagine it would have been in John-the-Baptist's time!

More spectators

Of course...a quick swim afterwards!

We are so excited that God has brought us to a church which is growing, not only in numbers but in terms of the peoples' faith. We are so privelaged to watch Him at work here.


Wednesday was a treat; the Slack girls had a teacher training day so we thought we'd join the family on an outing to Zermatt and a hike to see the Matterhorn, it was breathtaking (or was that just the hike?!) see for yourself...

That's the Matterhorn, right there!

Time for a picnic

It was a pretty tough walk, Katie did so well and has the blisters as proof of  her bravery 

The Slack girls (from L-R) Hannah, Lydia, Katie, Naomi

Something to make you giggle, pay extra attention to Mark! hehe!

Naomi's fab photography

You can't really tell but I'm having a back massage here; starting to feel the hike a bit! (Must be my age!)

Mountain-top huddle in the wind

Mark's impression of the Matterhorn

cable car down-too tired to walk!

Back through the village of Zermatt

Shattered on the train back to the car!

As you can see we had a beautiful day, I haven't got any pictures of this, but as a treat for our sore muscles we stopped off at a natural thermal baths on the way home exactly what our aching bodies needed!

Here's a prayer update;

Please pray for the upcoming youth retreat in November
Please pray for health as I'm feeling a bit under the weather today-I think 4 crazy weeks are taking their toll on my body now as I begin to relax.
Please pray for Refuel tonight-youth meeting
Please pray for Mark as he teaches tonight and on Sunday morning with the youth

Praying people, please be encouraged by this psalm:


Psalm 65
 What mighty praise, O God,
belongs to you in Zion.

We will fulfill our vows to you,
 for you answer our prayers.
All of us must come to you.
Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,
you forgive them all.
What joy for those you choose to bring near,
those who live in your holy courts.
What festivities await us
inside your holy Temple.

 You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,
O God our savior.
You are the hope of everyone on earth,
even those who sail on distant seas.
You formed the mountains by your power
and armed yourself with mighty strength.
You quieted the raging oceans
with their pounding waves
and silenced the shouting of the nations.
 Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy.

 You take care of the earth and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
The river of God has plenty of water;
it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
for you have ordered it so.
You drench the plowed ground with rain,
melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
and bless its abundant crops.
 You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
 The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.
The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain,
They all shout and sing for joy!

 Coming up next...appartment photos!