French Project Update # 6 - Nice

Original letter written June 28, 2008:

Hello Family & Friends,

I will be sending you a more detailed update once I return to Canada and take a time to digest all that has transpired that the Lord has done in my life and the lives of others on the project.

This update is just to let you all know that I am currently in Nice, France serving with Calvary Chapel Nice, a sister church to my own in Calgary.I have met some great people here and it is always a blessing to be with a church family when you are away from your own.
Here are a few photos and a little summary that the Pastor of Calvary Chapel Nice posted on the church blog:

http://ccnice.blogspot.com

(text translation: Big Summer Cleaning "Jonathan Brower's visit from Calvary Chapel Calgary in Canada has given us the occasion to do a big summer cleaning. Thank you to him, Daniel, Jeni and Marc for a hard labour in the midst of the intense heat")

The week has been busy and very relaxing at the same time. The weather here could be technically described as a heat wave, well at least to me. I am sitting on my bed with my friend Jeni's laptop as a big fan blows cold air into my face, so refreshing! Even more refreshing (the gelato flavoured as black olives, or cactus or poppy!! Yummy. (also available, Avocado, Vanilla with Pepper and Rose, Thyme, Tomato Basil, Lavender...).

I have been able to help out with little fix it up things for the church this week as well as be able to see some of my friends who did Youth With A Mission here in France with me 3 years ago, a mini reunion of sorts.
We have been able to take times of worship and prayer together like on the school and what a gift from God, I met a Quebecois guy from Montreal (William) at my friends' hostel and was privileged to share my faith with him in the 4 hours we all spent together, how cool that it fell in line with my vision as well as the project I just finished with Campus for Christ.

I can't wait to give you all more details about the last week and a bit of ministry our team shared in Paris, but lets just say for me it was the week where I was completely blown out of the water by the Lord and He gave me an even clearer vision of His heart...lots more to say later. I return to Calgary the evening of June 30th.

Can I just tell you all that you are valued by me and I appreciate your prayers, your vision and your support in my life, and most certainly your friendship. Thank you for sharing these experiences with me! Thank you for your support and thank you for reading, I know I write a lot.

An encouragement for you all, as you have been praying for me I have been living your prayers, you have been here with me and I have been so thankful for that extra company, just knowing that you have been on your knees for me, seeing the power of God so strong and thinking "God is really moving here and I know its not just cause I am here and ready, its the power of your prayers". As Proverbs 25:25 says " Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land" --you have been a part of turning on the tap, praise be to God for you.

Prayer requests
-that the Lord would protect all He has taught my team and me through this time
-that re-entry would be smooth, restful and encouraging
-that the rest of my ministry time would be a blessing to the Lord and his church here in Nice
-that the Lord would use what I have experienced here to bless others and encourage them when I get home
-that the Holy Spirit would continue working on the hearts of those our team spoke with in Montreal and Paris (and Nice), and that our communication with those contacts as friends would continue and bring Him glory and help them know Him more

Little story: The very first picture you see at the top of this letter has a guy named Kris from Scotland right beside me whom I rode the train back from Nice to Paris with and told him Bible stories and prayed for his heat stroke (he's not a Christian, but really appreciated it). Also in that same pic at the table, at the very back left is Bryan a triathlete who had just run the Ironman whom we talked to about faith and turns out he goes to church back home but had been training so much he hadny connected with God for a long time. We invited him to be part of our worship and prayer session the next morning as all these people were from the same hostel. He loved it, and we all got along famously and spent most of our time together. Also, there is a picture of me with William the Quebecois near the middle (He's drinking a beer), that was the night, the only few hours I had, where I got to share the gospel with him and talk about living faith, it was so great to get to know all these people and just share with them our love for Jesus. What a privilege to be with such a group of French, English, Swiss, and American youth souled out for God.

In Him,

Jonathan Brower
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My YWAM friends, Left to right: Junior & Gaelle, Esther, me, Marie, Christophe, Katie and then our missionary friend Jeni from Calvary Chapel Nice