OUTREACH EUROPE
News Update - July 2015
Les Terreaux 2 - 1345 Le Lieu - Switzerland
TEL: +41(0)21 843 39 83 - GSM: +41(0)78 620 57 95 - E-MAIL: kenjo@sunrise.ch
Dear Prayer Partners,
'Bonjour and Hello' - from 'la Vallée de Joux' where we are ‘enjoying’ a mixture of sunshine and thunderstorms..!
Our wee break in bonnie Scotland passed all too quickly and we never managed to do many of the things that we had planned on doing. Both of us needed a rest and a spell away from the pulpit. We weren’t on an itinerary and it did us a world of good to sit in the pews and enjoy some inspirational preaching. It was a time of spiritual refreshment - and we were delighted to catch up with many of our local church friends..!
The weather in May was really boisterous - rain and wind nearly every day so we didn't travel very far. However, on my birthday we made a trip to the romantic banks of Loch Lomond. We also visited Aberfoyle, Inversnaid and the Trossachs..! Scotland is very dear to our hearts and in these troubled times our beloved land desperately needs Christ.
Whilst in Scotland our niece Laura very kindly loaned us her flat. Sister Eileen had a bad fall at home in December shortly after her knee replacement operation, severely damaging a tendon in the process. More surgery was required and she spent another 6 weeks in hospital. Laura has moved in with her mum to help at this difficult time. The surgeon warned Eileen that because of the torn tendon the healing process would be painstakingly slow. Every day we were able to spend some time with her. At times she is frustrated, but she’s persevering - with God’s help.
Since returning from Scotland on 10 June - (the 17-hour crossing from Newcastle to Amsterdam was smooth, like the proverbial ‘mill-pond’) - services have been held in churches not too far from home. This month and August we have a full preaching programme arranged in the Swiss cantons of Vaux and Neuchâtel. For three weeks in September, we've been invited toPoland for ministry. In October, further ministry has been organised in Switzerland. Mid-November and part of December will - (DV) - find us preaching in Spain. We have also been invited to speak at a 3-day seminary for young married couples which will be held in a 4-star hotel beside the blue Mediterranean..! Should be a very interesting experience..!
Philippe - the owner of our flat here in the village of 'Le Lieu' - had asked us to bring him a tin of 'Butterscotch' from Scotland..! Jocelyne took the tin of delicious sweets to his home, rang the bell, banged the door, phoned from her mobile - but no answer. He was a retired widower and very often he would go away for the day with friends so we weren't unduly alarmed. Next morning, we had to leave our base very early as Jocelyne had an appointment for a gastrointestinal endoscope at a Medical Centre in Lausanne.
Towards the end of the afternoon, when we returned to the village, the two of us tried yet again to contact Philippe. We rang the bell, but no reply. As the door to his apartment wasn't locked, we opened it slightly and then we saw him lying in the corridor - dead..! It gave us quite a shock. The doctor who issued the death certificate reckoned he’d been dead for 24 hours. The funeral service took place in the village Parish Church a few days later. As far as we know Philippe had never accepted God's free gift of Salvation. However, God is the just judge. We had witnessed to him on a number of occasions, so maybe he had time to call upon the Lord in his dying moments.
On Thursday 9th July, Jocelyne's mother had a nasty fall at home. She was taken by ambulance to the village hospital for a check-up. Later in the afternoon she was transferred to a regional hospital where a scan revealed that she had a fractured hip-bone. The following morning an orthopaedic surgeon decided that it would be necessary to operate as soon as possible. The operation took place early on Friday afternoon. Around 4 o'clock the hospital 'phoned to give us the distressing news that she had passed away on the operating table.
The two of us jumped into the car and drove to the hospital. A foreign doctor with a limited knowledge of French took us to the room where she was lying. Imagine our surprise when he opened the door and said…"Madame Guignard, you have visitors"..! We were really shocked. She was still alive..!
Before leaving the hospital, an anaesthetist explained to us that on rare occasions some people that are thought to be dead can have a brief unexpected return to consciousness..!
For 20 unforgettable minutes we were alone with Jocelyne's mum. Although she had an oxygen mask because of breathing difficulties, we were able to communicate. We had the privilege of praying with her and we sang one of her favourite hymns…'Voir mon Sauveur face à face.' ('Face to face with Christ my Saviour') She smiled and said a very faint 'Amen'..!
Then Jocelyne's sisters Jacqueline and Myriam arrived. They hugged and kissed their mother after which our beloved 'Mamy' closed her eyes and passed peacefully from this scene of time into the presence of her Lord and Saviour.
More than 150 attended the funeral service which was held on Tuesday 14th July. On a beautiful sunny afternoon she was laid to rest in the village cemetery.
It was a very moving ceremony. In Psalm 116/15 David reassures us, that…"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints..!"
Yours in God's Great Love,
Ken and Jocelyne.
News Update - July 2015
Les Terreaux 2 - 1345 Le Lieu - Switzerland
TEL: +41(0)21 843 39 83 - GSM: +41(0)78 620 57 95 - E-MAIL: kenjo@sunrise.ch
Dear Prayer Partners,
'Bonjour and Hello' - from 'la Vallée de Joux' where we are ‘enjoying’ a mixture of sunshine and thunderstorms..!
Our wee break in bonnie Scotland passed all too quickly and we never managed to do many of the things that we had planned on doing. Both of us needed a rest and a spell away from the pulpit. We weren’t on an itinerary and it did us a world of good to sit in the pews and enjoy some inspirational preaching. It was a time of spiritual refreshment - and we were delighted to catch up with many of our local church friends..!
The weather in May was really boisterous - rain and wind nearly every day so we didn't travel very far. However, on my birthday we made a trip to the romantic banks of Loch Lomond. We also visited Aberfoyle, Inversnaid and the Trossachs..! Scotland is very dear to our hearts and in these troubled times our beloved land desperately needs Christ.
Whilst in Scotland our niece Laura very kindly loaned us her flat. Sister Eileen had a bad fall at home in December shortly after her knee replacement operation, severely damaging a tendon in the process. More surgery was required and she spent another 6 weeks in hospital. Laura has moved in with her mum to help at this difficult time. The surgeon warned Eileen that because of the torn tendon the healing process would be painstakingly slow. Every day we were able to spend some time with her. At times she is frustrated, but she’s persevering - with God’s help.
Since returning from Scotland on 10 June - (the 17-hour crossing from Newcastle to Amsterdam was smooth, like the proverbial ‘mill-pond’) - services have been held in churches not too far from home. This month and August we have a full preaching programme arranged in the Swiss cantons of Vaux and Neuchâtel. For three weeks in September, we've been invited toPoland for ministry. In October, further ministry has been organised in Switzerland. Mid-November and part of December will - (DV) - find us preaching in Spain. We have also been invited to speak at a 3-day seminary for young married couples which will be held in a 4-star hotel beside the blue Mediterranean..! Should be a very interesting experience..!
Philippe - the owner of our flat here in the village of 'Le Lieu' - had asked us to bring him a tin of 'Butterscotch' from Scotland..! Jocelyne took the tin of delicious sweets to his home, rang the bell, banged the door, phoned from her mobile - but no answer. He was a retired widower and very often he would go away for the day with friends so we weren't unduly alarmed. Next morning, we had to leave our base very early as Jocelyne had an appointment for a gastrointestinal endoscope at a Medical Centre in Lausanne.
Towards the end of the afternoon, when we returned to the village, the two of us tried yet again to contact Philippe. We rang the bell, but no reply. As the door to his apartment wasn't locked, we opened it slightly and then we saw him lying in the corridor - dead..! It gave us quite a shock. The doctor who issued the death certificate reckoned he’d been dead for 24 hours. The funeral service took place in the village Parish Church a few days later. As far as we know Philippe had never accepted God's free gift of Salvation. However, God is the just judge. We had witnessed to him on a number of occasions, so maybe he had time to call upon the Lord in his dying moments.
On Thursday 9th July, Jocelyne's mother had a nasty fall at home. She was taken by ambulance to the village hospital for a check-up. Later in the afternoon she was transferred to a regional hospital where a scan revealed that she had a fractured hip-bone. The following morning an orthopaedic surgeon decided that it would be necessary to operate as soon as possible. The operation took place early on Friday afternoon. Around 4 o'clock the hospital 'phoned to give us the distressing news that she had passed away on the operating table.
The two of us jumped into the car and drove to the hospital. A foreign doctor with a limited knowledge of French took us to the room where she was lying. Imagine our surprise when he opened the door and said…"Madame Guignard, you have visitors"..! We were really shocked. She was still alive..!
Before leaving the hospital, an anaesthetist explained to us that on rare occasions some people that are thought to be dead can have a brief unexpected return to consciousness..!
For 20 unforgettable minutes we were alone with Jocelyne's mum. Although she had an oxygen mask because of breathing difficulties, we were able to communicate. We had the privilege of praying with her and we sang one of her favourite hymns…'Voir mon Sauveur face à face.' ('Face to face with Christ my Saviour') She smiled and said a very faint 'Amen'..!
Then Jocelyne's sisters Jacqueline and Myriam arrived. They hugged and kissed their mother after which our beloved 'Mamy' closed her eyes and passed peacefully from this scene of time into the presence of her Lord and Saviour.
More than 150 attended the funeral service which was held on Tuesday 14th July. On a beautiful sunny afternoon she was laid to rest in the village cemetery.
It was a very moving ceremony. In Psalm 116/15 David reassures us, that…"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints..!"
Yours in God's Great Love,
Ken and Jocelyne.
