Mark and Nix in Switzerland: May 2011

Well, what once were weekly updates of our life here in Switzerland are now monthly 'catch ups'!! So let me tell you what went down in May....(hold on to your hats!)
May began with a bout of strep throat for my poor hubby...strep throat (for those who have never had/known anyone who has had it) is AWFUL, it's basically like many illnesses combined into one (tonsillitis/flu/deadly) and Mark came down with it overnight in the first week of May. This resulted in our first visit to the Swiss doctors (My french has been really tested recently!) and Mark being OOA for almost a whole week (much to his despair!) I think its funny how ill people are called 'patients' because I think being ill makes you impatient to get better!! Anyway, he got some much needed rest and it actually slowed things down a bit for me too as I was 'nursing' him back to health. Mark also had his first set of uni exams that week too, he planned to spend the week leading up to them buried in books and doing some serious theology revision... The only thing he was buried in was bedsheets! So with much prayer he sat his exams and only time can tell how he did. Will update on that as soon as we know!

Just as Mark was beginning to show signs of life again we had the annual Church Retreat. It was held in the French Jura (about 1 1/2 hours drive away from here). We had a visiting speaker from Northern Ireland who spoke about key figures from the Old Testament; Joseph, Moses, Ruth and David. There was a lot said that challenged, encouraged, comforted and taught. I was also playing a part in a drama for the kids ministry (the less said about that the better!) which led to some public humiliation in the Sunday family service...Pride is never a good thing anyway right?! We had a great night on the Saturday as one of the guys from church organised a 'family fun' evening. He split the teams up into what season you were born in; Mark and I were rival captains (he was Jan,Feb,March captain and I was April, May, June!) but fortunately Oct,Nov,Dec won so we're still good friends! After that we played more crazy games with the youth until late into the night...those guys have endless energy! I hope the pics will tell of the fun, fellowship and good food that was shared at the weekend. (One of the things I found a genuine relief was to be cooked for and cleaned up after! Its the simple things you learn to appreciate!)

Packing up the van!

Katie and me looking beautiful!

Showing people the way

An intense game of 'Ninja', if you've never played it, you should!

It requires concentration, speedy reactions and agility..."you are young, but you will learn"

L-R; Alan, the visiting speaker; Martin, the Pastor; Mark, the poser!

Rain didn't stop play for the rugby

That t-shirt wont stay white for long!

Rain NEVER stops play for these energetic youth!!

The most important day of the year came around in May, that being the 22nd. "What's the 22nd of May?" you say? Well, my birthday of course!! It happened to fall on a Sunday, our busiest day of the week, but that didn't stop us from celebrating and from me being thoroughly spoiled! Alice (a treasured friend here) took me out on Saturday and we were pampered by having our nails done (I can't stop looking at them and I can feel them against the keyboard as I type, it makes me smile!), we had lunch and a generally wonderful girly time!

Then on Sunday in between church services we had a BBQ at the Slack's with friends.

(this is me opening a birthday card hand made by Martin and Su which had a silly picture of me on the front!)

It was really good fun and the sun shone for us. In fact, as soon as we finished the BBQ and went back to church for the 'Evening service' (that's what we call it, catchy huh?) the heavens opened and it rained buckets! As in, the kind of rain that makes you forget you just turned 24 and you feel as thought you're 10 and you wanna jump around in it and squeal as drops of rain as big as pennies refresh you and the thirsty ground they land on! So that was nice! Oh....and did I mention the cake?! Check it out!

Yes, that's a horse!!

Also in May we booked our summer holiday! We really felt like we just needed some R&R so started looking for holiday opportunities.We were going to do something like a budget camping trip again, which is much fun but still much work. Until a generous heart wanted to give us some money as an 'easter egg'...needless to say we are flying back to the UK for a few days and then flying out to...JAMAICA for a week!! We found an all-inc deal which is outside the school holidays in the UK so it was a steal! We are so blessed by this; a week of complete rest, sunshine and fun followed by some time to catch up with family and friends. I am always overwhelmed by God's goodness in things like this; as if salvation is not enough he delights in the details of our lives and cherishes us so much that he blesses us with stuff like this! What an amazing God we serve!

Psa 37:23

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Psalm 37 has been really ministering to me these past few weeks. I am experiencing what I can only describe as a 'wilderness' at the moment, a time of testing and breaking and moulding. I really feel as though God is asking me to surrender things to Him, things which I am holding too tightly on to. He is asking me to trust Him all over again. To take Him at His Word. It should be easy, right? To give complete control to the God who owns/runs/holds the whole universe!
He is asking me to wade deeper, where the current is stronger. Where I need to rely on Him more for strength instead of always being brave and strong enough on my own. All the while I am reminding myself that, even though it feels like I will drown sometimes, He has the BEST plans for my life and in His hands my life will be the most fulfilling, most exciting, most God-glorifying journey I could never imagine!

Psa 37 v 3-7: Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Commit everything you do to the Lord.Trust him, and he will help you.

He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,

and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.

Other stuff that happened in May...

Bike rides, via ferrata, more via ferrata and barbecues!