Things have been busy as I prepare to return to Europe to work with The Bridge.  You can read specifics in my latest newsletter by clicking here Lora’s Newsletter, Summer 2011 .  Earlier this month I enjoyed a short break from Tucson and loved the cooler temperatures in central Arizona in Tonto National Forest.  Here’s a photo of an afternoon rain storm getting ready to bring some much needed refreshing…

Afternoon clouds near Payson, Arizona

I’m continuing to make connections with friends and new contacts who want to join my partnership team.  I’ll keep you posted as things progress!

May God bless you richly – Lora

It summarizes what I’ve been doing so far this year as I prepare to return to Europe to work with The Bridge.  I hope you enjoy the stories and photos !

As you can follow in my last post, I first spent 10 days in Paris where I helped out with “The Bridge”.   It was great to re-connect with my colleagues, and I loved getting my “feet wet” for the work I’ll be doing with “The Bridge”.  Once I qualify for my visa, I can’t wait to get “completely immersed” in pursuing my passion to work with internationals & refugees in France!!!

View of La Tour Eiffel from La Place de la Concorde

I then went to the Netherlands and stayed in Delft – the city where I lived for 4 1/2 years until September 2009.   I was right at home – it was as though I’d never left! I loved riding my bike again to go visit friends and for quick shopping trips into the city center.  It was surprisingly easy to tap into my Dutch language skills after a year – and as always, I understood better than I could speak

The main market square in Delft

Delft was my home base for the next 2 months, and I made some short trips nearby.  I visited friends in Amsterdam, and I enjoyed some autumn colors in the eastern part of the Netherlands.  The timing of my trip meant a change of season from summer to autumn, and therefore a need for warmer clothes and, little by little, a decrease in the amount of daylight!

Herengracht Canal in Amsterdam

Autumn colors in Baak, the Netherlands

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I also joined my friend Uta during her autumn vacation for a week in the Normandy region of France.  A highlight of that trip included a day trip to Le Mont Saint-Michel, a place I’ve wanted to visit ever since seeing a picture of it in my first French text book in high school.  It’s a monastery and small town built on a tiny tidal island about a half-mile off the Atlantic coast of France – if you’re ever in the region, I highly recommend seeing it!!

Le Mont Saint-Michel

Le Mont Saint-Michel, up close

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In the town of Le Mont Saint-Michel

Landscape in southern Normandy - also known as Swiss Normandy

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An even greater highlight, of course, was re-connecting with friends and colleagues.  I loved hearing their latest news, and I appreciated how everyone was so interested in my plans to return to Europe and work with “The Bridge” in France.  Several people have joined my team as financial and/or prayer partners – something I’m very thankful for and excited about!  I also have new friends that I met during my time in Europe.  I look forward to staying in touch – building both old & new relationships!

With friends in Delft

My dear friend Astrid

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My Dutch friends, Bram & Rienke, with their new baby, Juda

High Tea with some colleagues from the International School of The Hague

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I also got to see a few of the children I worked with in speech therapy – it’s always  fun to see how they’ve grown and progressed!!!

Sean & his mom

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A very special time included a “reunion” with my international friends from the woman’s small group that I helped co-lead while living in Delft. All of these women are pursuing a relationship with Jesus and following the dreams and destiny He has for them!  Some are still students, some have graduated and are now working in the Netherlands, and a few are now married!  Being with these dear friends really ignited an excitement for working with international students in Paris. I envision building special relationships with many students through small groups or through English tutoring, etc.

Our International Reunion - Asian friends eating with chopsticks, of course!

Enjoying Belgian chocolates!

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Friends from China and the Netherlands

More international friends - from China & Singapore

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I also hosted a “reunion” with the women from the English classes I taught in Delft. It was so wonderful to see how our relationships were not just teacher-to-student, but friend-to-friend!  We had fun sharing our latest news – in a combination of English and Dutch, and even some French now and then.  Many of them asked & hoped that I would return to Delft to teach English again – that was special to hear, but unfortunately it’s not possible in terms of a visa to live/work in the Netherlands.  Once all the steps come together to move to France, however, I do plan to make visits to the Netherlands and continue to get together with these special friends!

I had the opportunity to spend some extra time with one of these former students, and she was interested in learning more about Jesus.  She was excited when I offered her a small book to read in Dutch – John’s gospel from the New Testament.  I look forward to keeping in touch and hearing what she thinks as she reads it!  It’s very exciting to me that teaching English classes and offering English conversation groups through “The Bridge” means I will meet many more women just like these special friends! And just like I’ve continued to be friends with these former students,  I know my relationships with future students will grow beyond the classroom…

With two students/friends from the Netherlands

More students/friends - from Indonesia, Iran & Iraq

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Still more students/friends - from Belgium, Iran & Iraq

A student/friend from Iran with her daughter

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I’ve been back in the States for a few weeks now.   I’m currently in Denver, Colorado where I grew up.  Almost all of my immediate family lives here, so it’s been great spending time with them!  I’m also catching up with friends while I’m here, some of whom I haven’t seen for 10 years or more!  It really means a lot to me how everyone is so interested in the work I’ll be doing with “The Bridge” in Paris.  My team of partners continues to grow one person at a time!

Skylor, my great-nephew, preparing to carve the Thanksgiving turkey!

My sisters and brother-in-law -- really carving the turkey!

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Morgan, my great-niece, with Beau

Van, my great-nephew

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Rome, my 18-month-old great nephew

My sister Natalie & my nephew Drew, Rome's Dad

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My nephew Joe

Ryan, another nephew

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And another nephew, Alex

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I’ll return to Tucson, Arizona December 14th – where I’m sure I’ll enjoy a sunny winter!    I’m looking forward to spending the Christmas and New Years holidays with friends there.  I’ll then continue to connect with potential partners who want to join with me in my work with “The Bridge”.

Once I reach my financial goals, I can apply for my visa and make the move to France.  Obviously, the sooner I reach those goals, the sooner I can begin working with “The Bridge”!   I’m currently at 25% of my goal for monthly support, and 55% for one-time gifts. If you’re interested in making a one-time donation or monthly contributions, both of which are tax-deductible in the US or the Netherlands, you can check out the “Partnering – Giving & Support” page of this website or contact me directly.  You can also partner with me through prayer, which is an essential foundation both during this preparation time & when I’m actually in France working with “The Bridge”.  You can find specific prayer requests on the Prayer Points page of this website.  Thanks for following along on this adventure!  May you be abundantly blessed in every way!!!

Hello again!  I know it’s been awhile since my last post in May… Since then the saguaro cactus blooms have come & gone, I did some volunteer work with Burmese refugees in Tucson, my partnership team has continued to grow little by little, and I survived the summer heat of Arizona!

Saguaros blooming in Tucson - these are Arizona's State Flower

Women from Myanmar/Burma learning English in Tucson

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Julie and Tamara - my friends and support partners! Tamara visited from Germany this summer.

In the mountains of Arizona - to escape the heat!

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I’m currently back in Delft in the Netherlands – and it’s great to be back in Europe!  It feels like I only left a month ago – rather than a year ago when I moved to France!!!  I’ve been having a great time reconnecting with my friends and support partners here. My main goal during this trip is to meet with potential partners to join my prayer and financial support team.  It’s a wonderful blessing that my partners here can make contributions through the Dutch organization I became affiliated with this past summer.

Back in the Netherlands - a land of Bicycles!

When I moved back to the States in December 2009, I had a round trip ticket from Paris-Denver.  So I’ve been able to take advantage of the return leg of that ticket to make this trip.  I first traveled from Tucson to Denver in August and had a great visit with my family.  I also made connections with friends and churches in the Denver area – and God has continued to be faithful to move on hearts to partner with me!

My niece Morgan & nephew Van - cousins enjoying time together!

My nephews Skylor & Rome - more cousins playing together!

I arrived in Europe on the 2nd of September and spent the first 10 days in Paris with “The Bridge” team.  It was great to have my vision re-ignited – I can’t wait to join with the team as soon as possible!  The timing for that will be based on meeting my financial goals in order to get my 12-month visa — I’m hoping for that to be by April 2011.  I’d appreciate your prayers for God to add to my financial support team, and for a smooth process when I apply for my visa – Thanks!!!!

Among other things during my time with “The Bridge”, I was able to join a group of about 12 women for a monthly “Ladies Night Out”.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner at an Indian Restaurant in Paris.  The group included women from the States, the UK, Columbia and Indonesia – how I love being in and among the nations!!!

A few of the ladies at the Indian restaurant

I was with “The Bridge” for two Sunday gatherings where I made new friends from several countries, including France.  I met one young woman from France who has been coming on Sundays – she shared that she’s excited because she’s learning more & more about “meeting Jesus”! I also helped hand out flyers at several metro stops to invite people to come check out an event at “The Bridge” on September 19th called “Open Doors”.  I hear it was a big hit, with many new visitors – people who have an interest in building relationships in an international setting, and who want to pursue the things of God!

So, that’s Lora’s Latest!  Now I’m off to visit with a German friend living in Delft – time to “catch up”!

Spring Wildflowers at Picacho Peak, April 2010

Tucson Wildflowers, April 2010

More Arizona Wildflowers, April 2010

Hello again!   Here are some of those beautiful spring wildflowers promised by all the winter rain.   More and more cactus are now blooming, including the Arizona state flower on the Saguaro cactus – I’ll share some photos later.   And with the blooming cactus comes the rising temperatures…I was originally planning to be back in Europe before summer hit the desert, but now my plan is to be in the States through the summer and travel back to France in September. I’m very thankful for air conditioning!

My fund raising is progressing, but slower than I had hoped.  I’ve had a recent breakthrough for tax-deductible contributions from Europe! I’ve been welcomed to join an organization in the Netherlands that will oversee those contributions so that my European partners will have the benefit of tax-deductions.  This is a great open door – and I believe my team of partners will significantly increase as a result!!!  Thank you for your prayers for this – God has answered them just as He promises!

My main prayer requests continue to focus on God moving on people’s hearts to partner with me financially, and for God to guide me to new people with whom I can share about my missionary work in France.  I appreciate you joining with me in prayer – thanks. The Bridge team in Paris continues to connect with people from more and more nations!   I’m excited by the news that local French people are also joining The Bridge during Sunday meetings and are interested in building relationships.  I can’t wait to get there and join in myself!!

In addition to making connections with friends and colleagues here in Tucson, I’ve also enjoyed meeting up with some of my former speech therapy clients.  Here’s a photo of Chelsea who came to me for therapy until she was about 4 years old.   She now receives therapy at her school and is making on-going progress.  Her mother works for one of the churches here in town, and it was great to spend time catching up with Chelsea and her family!

Chelsea & Lora, March 2010

That’s it for now – I’ll look forward to sending another update soon!   Lora

I’ve been back in Tucson for almost 3 months now – and it’s been the perfect time of year to be in the desert!  The weather has been wonderful with lots of sun and warm temperatures.  I think being surrounded by sunshine has been like medicine – a HUGE dose of vitamin D after living in northern Europe! And the much-needed winter rains have turned things green, and I’m looking forward to the result — spring wildflowers!

It’s been GREAT to re-connect with friends, as well as former colleagues from when I worked here as a speech therapist. I’ve also been able to visit with some friends who now live in the Phoenix area.  Even though it’s been a while since I’ve seen these friends and colleagues, it just takes a bit of “catching up” and then we’re right where we left off.  That’s proof of true friendships and lasting relationships!

I’m really enjoying meeting new people through the fund raising process. There are so many amazing people out there who are serving God in very practical ways.  My most recent encounter this week was with a group of volunteers who help when new refugees arrive in Tucson.  It’s LOVE IN ACTION – helping to furnish an apartment, providing transportation, teaching English, etc.  These refugees have lost so much before arriving here, and having friends to help them “settle” into a new life is a small gift of hope.  I’m feeling the need to “give out”, so in the few months that I’m still in Tucson I’ll help “adopt” a mother and daughter who just arrived last week.

A quick update on The Bridge in Paris…The first official meeting on March 14th was a great success!  There are people from several nations regularly meeting together and building special friendships.  More team members have arrived in France after raising their financial support and receiving their long-stay visitor visas.  Making connections among the internationals in and near Paris is underway!  I can’t wait to join in… and my plan is still to return to France in early June 2010.  That means I need to finish raising financial support and have my visa.

I would greatly appreciate your prayers for that to happen! Specific prayer requests are for God to move on people’s hearts to partner with me financially, for God to guide me to new people to contact, and for me to move forward in confidence as I communicate about my work in France.  Also, please pray for God to open a new door so that donations from financial partners in Europe can be tax-deductible.  I’m looking at different options and would appreciate your prayers for favor as I communicate with organizations in Europe that can provide the tax-deductible status.  Thanks so much!!!!

Until my next update – Lora

This photo was taken west of Paris in Vernon, France in July 2009.  This is near Giverny where Monet painted his famous water lily paintings.  When you travel through Paris I strongly recommend making a day-trip to Giverny.  It’s easy to do and the surroundings are so beautiful and very peaceful!

Well, as of January 2010 I’m in the “west” again – but this time I’m in the desert southwest in Tucson, Arizona! There have been many changes in my life this past year that  you may or may not know about.  The most recent change was in December 2009 when I returned to the States after having worked in Europe since May 2005.  I went from being a freelance speech-language pathologist working with English-speaking children in the Netherlands, to taking a 4 week course near Paris to get certified to teach English, and now to fund raising in the States!

My goal to get a work visa in France as an English teacher or speech therapist isn’t possible.  It comes down to the possibility that  a non-EU citizen would potentially be taking away a job from an EU citizen.  But I will still be able to return to France and be part of “The Bridge”, an international English-speaking church that’s just starting west of Paris.

The door has opened for me to work as a missionary with The Bridge  – which is truly a dream coming true! I firmly believe that opportunities await me to connect with many internationals, just like my friend Cynthia who was studying in the Netherlands.  She wrote me a card before moving back to China last year and shared “I believe it was an arrangement from God that you walked into my life and spread the news.”  There’s obviously more to Cynthia’s story, and you can meet her in the “Stories from Europe” page on this website.  There are many others like Cynthia living in Paris, and I know with confidence that it’s “an arrangement from God” that I walk into their lives!

I’ll return to Paris and join the The Bridge team as soon as I raise the funds necessary to qualify for a long-stay visitor visa.  My temporary stay in the States therefore involves building a support team to partner with me in prayer and in financial giving. I hope to reach my financial goal and return to France during the summer of 2010.

I’d like to invite you to learn more about my work with The Bridge by exploring this website. You can also find out about  making tax-deductible donations toward my work in France at the “Partnering – Giving & Support”  page.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want more information.  Thank you so much as you consider becoming a partner in touching lives in Europe – and beyond!

I look forward to updating you again very soon,

Lora