Bonjour Tout le Monde

Sorry it has been a while since I wrote but I think everyone can understand how things just are challenging to get done in the summer.

So far my summer has been a good one.  I just recently arrived back from France.  My time in France was two weeks well spent enjoying food, wine and laughter with my mom and sister.  I fell in love with that country all over again and hope to return many times in the future.  I loved being able to speak French; took me a couple of days though to gain some confidence in my language skills.  But the French expressed such relief when they realized that I could speak and understand French; all those years in French Immersion have paid off.  Plus I was able to share the gospel to one of our taxi drivers even though my French vocabulary is not up to par. 

Mom, Hilary and I in Versailles, France

One specific highlight was going to Provence.  There is a relaxed mood in the air there especially in the summer; as one local said “that every day in Provence is a holiday.”  Walking around the quaint towns the church bells are ringing and the warm summer wind smells like lavender; it was a little bit a paradise.  I would go back in a heartbeat!    

The town we stayed in while in Provence-called Lourmarin

Another highlight of these past two months was our GPI (Global Player Initiative) Amateur players that came for short term work here in Vienna.  Ariana Cooley and Nick Sands both from Oregon, USA graciously spent their time here in Vienna/ Kosovo this summer.  They were able to encourage the current Surge staff and also serve in many places while here in Vienna.  I was able to go through a discipleship book with Ariana called “Not a Fan” by Kyle Idleman.  It was a great read, specifically talking about what it means to be a true follower of Christ, not a fan of Christ.  It really help me examine what I am doing in my life and checking myself to see if I am following Christ or am I one of his biggest fans? There is nothing to lose being a fan of Christ but to be a follower of Christ; it costs your life. 

Soccer season starts on Saturday, it has been really nice to touch the ball again.  All the girls were excited to see me back and it looks like I am going to be making all my appearances for Neulengbach with the second team this year again.  I would like to play for the first team but due to the number of international players playing for Neulengbach, I am on the second team.  My goal this year since now I know the ropes of this Austrian Soccer thing is to be more of a leader.  I hope to connect really well with the girls on the second team who are all around high school age; it is like God has organized my own soccer youth group J.  

Well summer is still going on for another month and the weather in Vienna has continued to be nice and sunny-my favorite weather!! The next month consist of me coaching at a soccer camp and then going to a Calvary Chapel Missions Conference in Southern Austria.  It is a conference for all Calvary Chapel Missionaries within Europe.  I am excited to meet fellow workers and hear their stories.  Plus it takes place in the same castle I spent my American Thanksgiving last year but now it is warm enough to swim in the picturesque lake!     

This link http://www.facebook.com/SurgeSoccer#!/SurgeSoccer will take you to the Surge International Facebook page and if you scroll down on the time line you will find a video that really explains what I do in Vienna really well.

Prayer Request:

Great Week Coaching at Westside Soccer Arena
Amazing Conference Aug. 12-18^th
Continued Rest during the last month of summer

 Hope the rest of you summer is awesome and I would love to hear all about it- send me an e-mail or a comment would love to hear from you. 

All for God, Gillian