Cooking in the Chalet Kitchen

Let me tell you a little secret. Before coming to France, I was really dreading cooking for so many people - and for so often, too. I knew it would be too expensive to go to the few fast food places nearby (plus everyone would get tired of pizza in a hurry) and I knew I could barely understand the directions on the few prepackaged meals in the stores!

But now I'm starting to really enjoy myself. The guys are so thrilled at mealtimes (after their hard work on the job site) that it makes it fun to create new and tasty dishes! I guess all that practice I had helping cook for my unsiblings has paid off. One thing I must add, though - I wouldn't be this thrilled with cooking if it weren't for the fact that every time I get a dish dirty, Jane cleans it!

Anyway, we have a great table to eat at (this picture was taken before Connie & Ralph left us) and after each meal we take time to remember our friends & family either at home or on other mission fields.

Here's a picture of our bulletin board wall on which is tacked news that we don't want to forget to pray about. We've been told that many are praying for us, too - for safety and that the project can be completed. I for one hope that God answers those prayers by sending more workers and funds!!

But He knows best and we better not think that we can tell Him how to do His job!!

Starting to miss Greenville a bit - Teddy

P.S. Has anyone ever had raclette before? It's a little time consuming to make and eat but is it ever worth the effort!! Bon Appetit...

P.P.S. In this country it is possible to buy 10 hot dogs in a package as well as 10 hot dog buns! Amazing.

P.P.P.S. I also learned a good trick from Lynn Lindquist. If you keep a bit of cold water in your mouth while chopping onions (and I've gone through at least 3 bags or more so I know), your eyes won't tear up! Let me know if this works for you!

More Pictures at the Fogelsong's

I didn't get a chance to tell you that Brad was so glad to find an electronic drum set at the Fogelsong's house. I don't even think he noticed the view from the music room window.

Bruce later charmed us with his singing and guitar playing abilities and we all laughed until we hurt! It was like a breath of fresh air on a hot day.

`a Bientot - le Teddy

P.S. I wonder if Norma has given a thought to possibly cooking at the camp for a day or two when I leave! She sure knows how to put a great supper together!! But I bet Jane will be just fine - especially if I make up some quick things and put them in the freezer!!

Other Americans (& Canadians) in Grenoble!!

This past Sunday our team had the pleasure of eating lunch at the home of Norma and Bruce Fogelsong. And I got to go, too! Here I am sampling some of the many olives we consumed and a lovely fresh carrot. Everyone devoured the paupiettes, the noodles with mushroom gravy and the mixed vegetable casserolle (with a devine chocolate sheet cake afterwards). Not only was it all so delicious but I'm so glad I didn't have to cook for a change and the team was glad to get a break from my bear-able cooking, too!!

We got to eat with three of their four children - Marc, Kaitlin and Julie - and another English speaking friend of theirs, Andrew. (So sorry that I'm not too great with last names!) Towards the end of our hours-long visit on their sunny patio, Tara and Andrea stopped by - they are both Canadian and are playing volleyball here in Grenoble - wonder if they'll get to meet my un-cousin, Ryan DeBruyn one day! He just won the 'Rookie of the Year' award for all the colleges in Canada!

The Fogelsong's will be returning to the States after this summer but have thoroughly enjoyed their 3 plus years in France. Hope we can keep in touch - I love sending and getting letters or emails! - Teddy

An Unexpected Dentist's Visit

You'll never believe what happened this week! Talk about miracles.

Well, I was having tooth problems and taking a lot of medicine to relieve the pain but I didn't really want to take the time to go to Grenoble to see a dentist if I didn't have to. (We go there on Sundays but it's an hour away from the camp).

Well, after church last Sunday (which was Easter), I asked the choir director, Penny if there was 'a dentist in the house'. She said there was and introduced me to Dr. Paul Louis Albertini. Guess what! He was kind enough to take me to his office right then and there! The rest of the team had lunch and picked me up a couple of hours later. What an answer to prayer, eh?

Not only did I not have to take team members away from the work at camp on a weekday to drive me into town, but I do believe it would have been difficult to find a dentist who could have fit in a root canal surgery at short notice.

Anyway, this fine man even gave me a fabulous price!! Now I'm as good as new and can cook for the workers with a new song in my heart! He will be rewarded, I'm sure, for his generosity and unsurpassed kindness. Blessings, TR

(I call it my two hour massage of the inner tooth!)

Our Church in Grenoble

For the past three Sundays, I've been attending (with the team) an English-speaking church in Grenoble. That means Palm Sunday and Easter both! But maybe before we leave, I'll get to visit the Lindquist's church - I have my French bible with me but it'll probably be quite difficult for most of our team to understand. Just so long as we are praising Our Lord together with fellow believers - in whatever language - that's the main thing!! I'll let you know - Teddy

Pizza in Bourg DÓisans

The town that we are closest to has some very special views, as you'll be able to tell from pictures that I blog later. One night we had pizza in a charming restaurant next to the river. (It was before Ralph left us!)

It was quite an experience sitting next to a couple of dog patrons. Can you see me on the table?

Write back, someone!! Love, Teddy

P.S. When we left, Brad took this lovely night time shot.

Unexpected Ski Trip for Some of the Team

Did I tell you that we had unexpected visitors at the Camp? From Greenville, SC!! Glen Hicks and Tony. Because of them, some of our team got to go skiing in nearly perfect conditions!! Thomas was a great guide (you saw his picture recently.)

Here are some pictures that Brad Armstrong had on his camera. Unfortunately, they didn't want to take me; they were probably afraid I'd slow them down!! - Sadly, TR

We're Losing Team Members - Boo Hoo

Can you find me in this shot? We are all so sad because it was Ralph's last night and we had to 'vote him off the island' (or mountain actually). We will miss his hands at the jobsite and his humor amongst us. To all those at our church or elsewhere: if you are thinking of coming - just tell us when to pick you up! We have beds enough and the food will be pretty good...

I've been asking Connie to teach me to cook some more authentic French-style meals before she leaves!! I'm going to miss her because she loves to do the shopping, too. Not only that but she appreciates me more than most of the rest of the team does!! Here she is when we picked up some baguettes today after church, and yesterday in town at the playground.

Brad loved goofing off a bit, too. He can be quite jovial at times, by the way - but in the mornings he will hardly even talk to us! We love him just the way he is, though. He will be staying as long as I do, by the way... Later, T

The Official Camp Workers

I thought you might like to see a picture of Lynn and Rose Lindquist (when they stopped to see us at the chalet) and their five lovely children: Miranda playing ping pong, Miriam and Morey playing another game and Merrick and Malon stopping to chat with Robert's two dogs. These guys are practically running the camp right now (and Rose home schools, too) but soon the five Guffey's will be back from their furlow (Tom, Brenda, Terra, Rhea and Noah) and everyone is looking forward to the new camp director coming on board soon.

I shouldn't forget to mention Thomas and Candide who are invaluable in the work they do - general maintenance & upkeep as well as computering & administrative. Here are a couple of shots of them - they both came for supper the other night and Thomas has been over to play Sequence with us.

Right now there are about 2 dozen German kids staying in the lodge. Hope they don't mind us working above them during the daytime!

More about Robert another time... Affectionately, TR

Working with Bob the Builder

Just when you thought all we did was play jokes up here, you get to see a lot of pictures of the major plastering project that's going on! In total there are going to be 7 bedrooms for 30 campers; three of these rooms will have lofts above (so you can tell how high the ceilings are) and each room will have its own sink. The bathrooms and showers will be in the hallways.

Unfortunately, I have to report some rather disconcerting news at this point. Our team has found out that there appears to be $35,000 lacking to finish the plumbing of all these water pipes! What a shame if us workers wouldn't be able to complete the work that we are here to do! Ooh la la - I'm glad I believe in miracles - we sure are praying for one now. And I'll definitely let you know how this funding problem gets resolved!!

For now, though, we will continue with the walls, walls, and more walls. Hey, check out some of these views for all these future campers.

Love, Ted. R.

P.S. That's Matt in the window and Ralph is above in the check shirt - he had to leave us - more on that later...

American in Bearis

I forgot to tell you how I got Connie on April Fool's Day after she put fishes on everyone's backs. I put her washing up rag a little out of reach!! Hee Hee - TR

French April Fool's Day

Apparently, on April Fool's Day in France, people go around putting paper fishes on other people's backs. Connie really got into this and tricked quite a few of us. She had also purchased a chocolate fish for all of us to share. Naturally the cameras came out a lot that day. See my unmom hanging from the ceiling beam (that keeps her back straight).

There's also a shot of me washing my hands in the bathroom sink. We are all so thankful because, though all eight of us do our part to keep our chalet tidy, it's Jane who keeps it so nice smelling. Bravo!

See ya' around - maybe in the grocery store!?

Love, Teddy