Rochester
L'Abri Newsletter
Spring
2003
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He
who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow
of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust." PS 91:1-2
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Dear Friends of Rochester L'Abri,
I write this newsletter I can glance over the many photographs pinned
to the corkboard in my study. Each one brings back memories, moments
to cherish; the children playing in an alpine meadow with the majestic
Swiss mountains in the background; Nancy in India with Help-a-Child,
five children crowding around her and one little girl on her lap;
postcard views of the village of Huemoz and the Dents du Midi across
the Rhone river, photos taken 40 years before the Schaeffer family
moved to Huemoz; an etching of the wooden shed in Edith's backyard
when she lived in Rochester; Matthew in his flight suit standing in
front of his plane, pictures of pets and kids and family; a group
photo of workers in Swiss L'Abri with their children in front of Chalet
Les Melezes; another picture from the early 80's of the members standing
outside of Chalet Chesalet. All bring back wonderful memories of the
past thirty years that we have worked with L'Abri, eighteen years
in Switzerland and now fourteen years in Rochester.
There
were only 22 of us in the group photo taken at the member's meeting
in Huemoz in the spring of 1982. We were from six different countries,
and interestingly, almost all of us first heard of L'Abri by word
of mouth. Some heard of L'Abri from family, others from friends, and
some of us heard about L'Abri from total strangers. I don't even remember
the name of the person I met in Oslo who told me of L'Abri. We met
for only ten minutes after dinner, but I am forever grateful. I remember
only that he was from Iowa. Each of us in the photo walked through
the front door of Chalet Les Melezes, and our lives were changed.
For most of us our parents would have preferred we were doing something
else, working at a job with more security and a better income. I can
only say that we were heeding a different drummer for each one was
fully committed to the vision of L'Abri.
For
some of us in the photo our lives were woven into the fabric of L'Abri
for a lifetime: for others, there were many rewarding years in L'Abri
and then the Lord's leading onward. Jerram and Vicki Barrs are now
living in St. Louis where Jerram teaches at the Francis Schaeffer
Institute; Barry and Veronica are living in England where Barry pastors
a church near Greatham; Udo and Debbie live in Gryon and care for
the Francis A Schaeffer Foundation; Ranald and Susan live in Cambridge
where Ranald co-ordinates the Round Church Project; Jane and Betty
are in retirement in Roanoke; Juanita, retired but still having Bible
studies in France, and John and Prisca still living in Huemoz. From
time to time we all have our 'senior' moments. Some have continued
their race in other places. Dr Schaeffer, Anky Rookmaker and Lisa
Johansson have already crossed the finish line and are now with their
Lord. The rest of us press on.
And
the 'baton' is being passed on. There is now a younger generation,
full of energy and good ideas, and with growing families. Just last
October the L'Abri trustees met in Korea to dedicate a new residential
house on the east coast not too far from the DMZ, near the town of
Yangyang. Inkyung and Kyung Ok Sung have established a good work there
and it was a special joy to be with them. Since then there has been
a wonderful development in Canada. After some years of prayer, a 21-acre
property was found on Bowen Island, only a 20-minute ferry ride from
Vancouver. This summer the Curry family from English L'Abri will pack
up and move to Bowen Island where, we are praying, a new residential
branch will be opened soon. Each family coming into the work will
cherish their own special moments. There will be memorable photos.
The L'Abri album of memories will increase, and in the coming years,
God willing, these workers will be able to pass the 'baton' to a future
generation. So there is much to be thankful for as you pray for L'Abri.
I
am sure that most of you have been watching the 'real time' reporting
of the war in Iraq. We see images that anger and incite and comfort
and encourage, but we also know that images can confuse and mislead.
Disinformation is very difficult to identify. One can gather much
information, plan for months, consider all possibilities, and still
get caught up in the fog of war when information becomes fuzzy, plans
go awry and the unforeseen becomes a reality. I have always appreciated
the words that Tolkien put in the mouth of Gandalf when the larger
world seemed to overwhelm Frodo, for we still have the responsibility
to choose for the good and right and just.
"Yet
it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do
what is in us for the succor of these years wherein we are set, uprooting
evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after us may
have a clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not our
s to rule."
Of
the many lessons that we can learn from history, it is imperative
that we pursue righteousness informed by wisdom. One can collect mountains
of facts, but one also needs wisdom to make good and right decisions.
Where does this wisdom come from? Is it simply that wisdom comes with
age? Not necessarily. True wisdom is based on the transcendent truths
that God has revealed. Alison said it so well in a recent thank-you
letter where she wrote "we are reminded that the daily battles
of our own lives are in a way a small part of a greater reality, a
greater struggle to push back the sin and evil that exists in this
world, a world that has been groaning since the fall. We are reminded
that evil prevails only when good men do nothing. To stand for the
good does in fact require a great deal of struggle and effort. The
good news is that we do not strive alone in our own strength nor are
we unsure about the final outcome. We have a sure and present hope;
our future, thankfully is certain." 'No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.' Romans 8:37
The
2003 conference on Rhythms of Grace and the Glory of God was well
attended with over 700 people from 32 states. Unlike last year, this
year no one has to cancel because of the inclement weather. I am always
amazed how seamlessly the theme of the conference is woven so well
into the lectures and workshops. And as in the past, we had a good
mix of all ages, families with children, college students, married
couples and singles, even former students from 25 years ago. Jock
and Alison hosted a lunch on Saturday for college students only, as
we wanted to give the college students who were interested in L'Abri
an opportunity to ask their questions and to meet each other. From
Jerram's opening lecture on The God of Grace and Glory to the closing
session when we all sang Amazing Grace accompanied by Monty Alexander,
the theme of the conference was etched in our hearts and minds. Wish
all of you could have been there. Dick Keyes also spoke to students
at Carlton College, Andrew Fellows lectured in the Twin Cities for
The Heart of the Matter lecture series, and at St. Olaf College Wim
Rietkerk addressed a student group and then spoke during their chapel
service. Wim also spoke to medical students at the Mayo Clinic.
We
are looking forward to our member's meeting this April 24-29 in England.
Jock and Alison will be taking a much- needed vacation with family
before the meetings. Nancy and I will begin a three-month sabbatical
when we return. After 30 years we are looking forward to this time
to recharge. Jock and Alison will keep the branch afloat with the
help of Dawn Dahl in May and Karen Alston in June and July. So, this
branch will continue to have students and lectures during the summer
months.
The
Saint Louis L'Abri Retreat is scheduled again for the last two weeks
of August at the Kramer farm near Steelville. Jock and Alison have
done a great job in organizing this retreat last year. Some of the
professors from Covenant Seminary also come for a day to lecture and
then head the table discussion. We are very thankful to the family
who has made this possible.
Prayer
for our sabbatical that it will be a time of rest and refreshment.
Prayer for the McGregors and Dawn and Karen who will keep the branch
up and running. Pray for the students who would like to come and study
in Rochester. Pray for wisdom as we look to God to lead us into the
future. Another couple? Housing? A single worker? Pray for the planning
for the next Rochester conference. Pray for Edith who will be with
us the month of May. Jock will be attending the International Apologetics
Conference in Bratislava the first week in June. And that we will
always have a thankful heart. With gratitude for God's amazing grace,
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Rochester Conference
Set The Gospel Free: The Transforming Power of Truth
February 6-7, 2004 Rochester, MN
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Log
onto the www.labri.org for more information about conferences, branches,
etc.
There is an e-mail list for Friday evening lectures for those who
live in the three-state area.
If you want to be on this list we will keep you more informed about
the lectures and send out a brief summary of the presentation a week
before the lecture.
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Phone
and Fax (507) 536-0108 - our e-mail address is Rochester@labri.org
L'Abri
website at www.labri.org
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Summer Lecture Series
May 9
Five Themes of L'Abri - Jock McGregor
May 16 Surviving Abundance - Dawn
Dahl
May 23 What Ails Islam? - Vishal
Mangalwadi
June 13 Still Bored in a Culture
of Entertainment? - Richard Winter
June 20 The Christian Roots of
Nursing and Healthcare - Sandra Oster
June 27 Do the Stones Bear Witness?
- Mark Chavalas
July 11 Questioning Genetic Determinism:
Surprising Results of the Human Genome Project - Gloria Peterson
July 18 Sigmund Freud and CS Lewis:
A Conversation About the Human Dilemma - Kem Philbrick
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Fall
2002 Newsletter
Spring
2002 Newsletter
