A Very Full Week

I am utterly amazed that it has been a week since I posted! But it has been a busy and full week ... your prayers were felt often!

• Recording for DVD

• meetings to strategize for Member Care

• two birthdays

• the family Scharz
  

and all in 6 days ...

Recording for Helimission DVD's ... what a honor! Helimission is redoing the original films from the 1970's and the English versions were to be recorded this week. My timing here was perfect, Ernie asked, as an English speaker, if I would work with him to make the recordings. We spent 3 sessions doing them, with some of the time correcting mistakes. There were a few laughs along the way too!

Meetings to strategize for Member Care ... this week we (me, Simon, Brikena and Jurg, who is the personnel manager) met a couple times to discuss the direction we are heading in concerning Member Care for Helimission. Honestly, prayers were felt, there is a sense that Helimission accepts it responsibility of caring for its workers; but also recognizes that it is impossible to do the 'caring' alone. Therefore, we are hoping to share the vision of the Three Legged Stool ... meaning ... in Member Care, the missionary, the agency and the church are equally responsible for the a support of the missionary and the work. Of course, God is the ultimate One we look to, and beyond that we each take our roles. And out of the meetings came a number of things to do and follow up on ...

Two Birthdays ... as anywhere, birthdays are important in family. Helimission is a family, by blood, but by the Spirit also. Wednesday was Judith's 23rd b'day, I met her when she had just started w/HM 3 years ago ... on Saturday we went to her family home for Rachlette* w/all the Tanner's (7 in all) myself, the HM staff and spouses (6) plus of course her family & a few friends. It a great cultural experience! Simon turned 44 on Thursday! A special dinner was prepared, gifts in the morning, and it is quite a tradition surrounds Simon. He is a chocolate lover, but not just any chocolate, Lindor milk chocolate balls! We figured out this morning that in all he came close to 3 kilos of Lindor! That translates to over 6 pounds! But I must say, he is a man who shares freely!

the family Scharz ... I first met the Scharz family 3 years ago when I went to Wamana, Indonesia with Simon. It was there first term on the field ... since then Erwin has been building up flight hours to qualify him for solo helicopter license. The last three years have found them in Canada, and the Yukon accumulating many adventures. It is a delight to watch them as a family, 3 girls, 11, 8, 5 and one boy, 15 months! They were here visiting, checking in with Hdqtrs and renewing relationship. They are home (Switzerland is there home culture) until July, when they return to Indonesia for language school then on to Wamana to become a part of the team there.


And this morning we awoke to snow! And it hasn't stopped snowing ... it is what I call 'real snow' ... you know the atmosphere is creating it, not the lakes. Consequently, it is about 34-36 degrees, but with no wind blowing. It is a gentle snow, just continues to pile up!

*Rachlette (not sure I'm spelling it right) is traditionally Swiss ... you melt rachlette cheese on a type of grill on the table (it is electric) and it is served over potatoes, with pickles, small onions, and other condoments. I have one at home and hope to bring some rachlette cheese home with me... I'll invite you!

Hope this won't happen again... waiting a week makes the post much too long, but wanted to share how your prayers are necessary, and progress is being made! Will post again tomorrow to share some of the upcoming events...

Love you All!!!!
Margaret