The bedroom switcharoo, short-termers

Today we switched bedrooms with our children in our apartment. When we moved here nearly 7 years ago, we had no kids and chose the biggest bedroom. Now we rarely spend time in the bedroom, so it wasn't necessary to stay in that room. Our kids like to playbe in their bedroom and need the extra space. They also sleep much more than we get to right now.

We were blessed to have the help of our helper Jeanette as well as the team of 6 young people from YWAM Finland. Bryan and Ville, the two guys on the team, helped us move our very heavy bed, as well as some dressers. It would have been tough without their strength. Maria helped with out with our kids all day.

I really like this team. They are all 25 or under, which is even younger than I was when first arriving in France 19 years ago. I learned today that they didn't eat lunch or supper due to financial difficulties. It was an unplanned fast. I was pleased that we invited them for lunch, then for supper today. They were especially thankful for our lunch together. In fact, I don't remember seeing anyone enjoy a meal as much in a long time.

Before they left tonight, they prayed for us. I've never been prayed for in Finnish before. I literally felt the power in their prayers for us.

One of the joys of our work in Paris is meeting and getting to work with people from all around the world. I'll often remember their helping us when looking at our bedrooms. I still can't believe that we were able to make the switch so quickly.

We used to have a team from a college in the U.S. about this time every year. We haven't this past 3. But this YWAM team was as much enjoyable as those 4 teams from back then. They were easier in many ways, as YWAMers learn certain attitudes about service in their DTS program. By the time they arrive for a project, they already have had at least 3 months of training together as a team. They also are more used to hardship and challenging living conditions that some more "touristic teams" that come over just for a week and expect 4 star treatment and lots of sightseeing. I recall the last of the 4 teams from that particular college being very motivated to visit the top 10 touristic sites of Paris, while less motivated to do ministry.

I'm probably at my best when getting to work with some short-termers and plugging them into what we are doing here. In many ways, it's easier when they are already coming with a group like YWAM and just need some direction about what activities to help with. If we could have every short-term individual and team have the attitudes that YWAM incorporates into their people, then they would be much easier to handle and more effective as well.