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March 14, 2010

St Montan and Ray Charles

Our day off yesterday, Lynne and I continued our exploration of the area. We went first to a lovely little village called St Montan. These photos do not do it justice:
st montan2 200.jpg st montan4 200.jpg

st montan5 200.jpg st montan 200.jpg ray charles1 200.jpg

ray charles2 200.jpgAnd down an alleyway, la Rue de la Poterie (see above), we found there the Ray Charles Salon de Thé (tea-rooms).

Actually nothing to do with the singer, this delightful little place has just been open a month. it is run by a very friendly lady called Corinne in memory of her grandparents Raymonde and Charles.

If you are visiting the Ardeche this year, St Montan and the Ray Charles tea rooms are well worth a visit.

And afterwards, we continued on for a drive through the Ardeche, passing St Peter's Church in Lamas:
st pierre1 160.jpg st pierre 160.jpg

And then some magnificent scenery along the river:
ardeche view 200.jpg ardeche again 200.jpg

Posted by Keith at 03:45 PM

March 09, 2010

Evangelism in Songhai Villages

pierre 200.jpgThis week, Pascal, Seydou, and Pierre will be receiving a team from America to join with them in a week of evangelism in the Songhai villages where they have been working around Gorom-Gorom.

Pierre (right), Pascal, and Seydou are regularly visiting a number of Songhai villages, where people are wanting to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Please pray for this week of evangelism. Thank you.

Read more about this week of evangelism at the Acacia Partnership Trust website.

If you wish to support our church-planting work, click on the image below:
donate church planting.jpg

Posted by Keith at 03:16 PM

March 08, 2010

What a difference a day makes

Saturday Afternoon
sunny.jpg

Monday morning.
snowy.jpg

Posted by Keith at 04:57 PM

March 07, 2010

More France photos

In keeping with our decision to take one day a week away from studies and work, and explore the area, here are a few more photos from France from the last couple of weeks:

Avignon
avignon palais 200.jpg avignon pont 200.jpg

Keith and Lynne (and Lynne's co-student Maja)
keith lynne 200.jpg lynne 200.jpg uzes tree 200.jpg

La Forteresse de Mornas
mornas 200.jpg mornas1 200.jpg

Nimes
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nimes arena 200.jpg keith nimes 200.jpg

Uzes
uzes 200.jpg uzes market 200.jpg

uzes street 200.jpg uzes tour fenestrelle 200.jpg uzes cathedral 200.jpg

Posted by Keith at 08:55 PM

March 02, 2010

Go north young man...

church 450.jpg

Two new pastor-missionaries are heading up to join us in the work in the north of Burkina Faso. One will be moving into a Tamacheq village and one to a Songhai village.

Please pray for these men and their families as they prepare to take this challenging step

Read more at the Acacia Partnership Trust website.

If you wish to support our church-planting work, click on the image below:
donate church planting.jpg

Posted by Keith at 04:29 PM

February 22, 2010

A Grand Day Out

Lynne and I had a lovely day off on Saturday - a day away from French studies and computers, to go for a drive up the Ardeche Gorge:
ardeche st martin 200.jpg ardeche lynne 200.jpg

ardeche 200.jpg ardeche3 200.jpg

Gorge-ous!
ardeche1 200.jpg pont d'arc 200.jpg

ardeche st martin1 200.jpg ardeche lynne2 200.jpg ardeche st martin3 200.jpg

Posted by Keith at 11:12 AM

February 20, 2010

New Creations

While in Avignon for Lynne's studies, we sometimes stay with Eric and Joanna, who have very kindly opened their home to us. We are so grateful for their hospitality, and it is a great help for Lynne to be able to begin to talk French in a family setting.

Eric is a sculptor, who is trying to express the life-transforming impact of Christ through his work. You can see (and buy) his work at his website: www.ericdemaret-christianart.com. Here are some of his pieces:

1.Appointed. 2. Thirst
eric1 appointed.jpg eric2 thirst.jpg

3. Enlightened. 4. Soul and Spirit
eric3 enlightened.jpg eric4 soulandspirit.jpg

Posted by Keith at 10:45 AM

Newsletter February 2010

Continue reading "Newsletter February 2010"

Posted by Keith at 09:03 AM

February 19, 2010

Military Coup in Niger

Burkina Faso's neighbour Niger had a military coup yesterday.

The BBC reports that France and the AU have condemned the coup:

    'The junta, which has called itself the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy, imposed a curfew and closed the country's borders... The plotters said their aim was to restore democracy and save the population from "poverty, deception and corruption"

    (President) Mr Tandja provoked a political crisis last August when he changed the constitution of the uranium-rich country to allow him to remain in power indefinitely.'

Our friends in the capital Niamey say that the city appears calm, but that they will be staying at home today! They ask for prayer:

  • Pray that there will be no further loss of life
  • Pray that democracy will soon be returned
  • Pray that the door for the gospel will remain open.

    Posted by Keith at 02:32 PM

    February 16, 2010

    Pope City

    Avignon 3 450.jpg
    Avignon, where Lynne is studying at university, is known as "Cité des Papes" (City of the Popes), because for much of the 14th century it became the seat of the Papacy instead of Rome. In the photo above, you can also see to the far right the bridge - from the French children's song "sur le pont d'Avignon", which tells of dancing on the bridge. Only four arches of the bridge now remain, and you can no longer dance on it without first paying to gain access...

    Avignon university, and the "Palais des Papes"
    Avignon Uni 200.jpg Avignon Palais 200.jpg

    The Palais des Papes, and a street shot.
    Avignon (3).jpg Avignon Palais 1 200.jpg Avignon 4 200.jpg


    Posted by Keith at 08:58 AM

    February 13, 2010

    New Cell Church Starting

    A new cell church is starting in Fulani village "Y", where we have been visiting and sharing the message of Christ for many years!

    To read more, go to the APT website here:
    New Cell Church Starting

    Posted by Keith at 01:23 PM

    Bourg St Andeol

    Bourg 400.jpg
    This is Bourg St Andeol, where Lynne and I are living in France for these 5 months.

    Bourg is a small old town on the very edge of the Ardeche, about 50 mins drive from Avignon university, where Lynne is studying. The weather since we have been here has generally been very clear and quite sunny, but unbelievably cold.

    The air temperature is only about 1C, but the Mistral wind is blowing at the moment, which makes it feel about -10C.

    Posted by Keith at 10:52 AM

    February 11, 2010

    Back to School...

    avignon student 300.jpg avignon lynne 300.jpg

    Posted by Keith at 04:42 PM

    February 05, 2010

    Bloggity Blog

    Under the Acacias has just been named one of the top 50 Evangelical Blogs by the Biblical Learning Blog!

    I am under no illusions about the subjectivity of such lists, but I am honoured (if somewhat bemused) that James considers my blog to be so good. And thanks too to both of my faithful readers for faithfully persevering with my ramblings!

    However, there are some excellent blogs out there, and James does link to some other really good ones. Go and have a browse.

    You can also see some of my own favourite reads from across the spectrum of blogworld in my side-bar. Two friends' blogs that I like to visit often are:
    * Voice in the Desert - by my colleague Steve, fellow missionary in Burkina Faso, and
    * Distinctly Welcoming - by my friend Richard, reflecting on Christian engagement with our multifaith society.

    Posted by Keith at 09:19 AM