Saying goodbye is something many people try to avoid. Leaving is not easy, especially when it is unexpected. It isn’t much easier even it is planned. Just the other day I was driving through Kandern and saw a couple I hadn’t talked with for quite a while, and I wondered how they were doing. Imagine my surprise when just 2 days later I read on Instagram a post from them saying they had just crossed the Belgium border and were almost home, having left Kandern that morning. After 8 years, they had left. It seemed like this was planned (there was a job lined up, for example, according to the post), and they were glad for their time here. But what a surprise!
We feel transition is something we specialize in. Not just because we’ve done alot of it. But because we treat it seriously. We see it coming, a change, and prepare. Now, in that sense we have been fortunate. Even when Shane’s parents passed away it was not unexpected. But not just their actual death, but their leaving. When someone has left, there aren’t opportunities to say things, to talk about something, to look into their eyes and just be there with them. With my parents, in great part to the part of the world to where I first left, we also made sure to make our goodbyes a good one. We talked, we spoke, we just spent time with each other, because as my mother would say, “You never know what’s going to happen in the intervening 2 or 3 years.” So in a sense, we’d been saying goodbye for 2 decades, continuing with Liberty and then Van; we also made our goodbyes good. So when they really did pass away, we already had closure (if that is the right word). We had said what we needed, we had spoken about what needed to be covered, we spent time with each other. Even Liberty and Van know the next time we see them it will be in heaven with Jesus. Now, that is a good thing to think about!
You may be here because of a recent email. We are facing a potential goodbye. It’s an interesting one because it may not just be to a place and a ministry, but to an entire way of life. Like many other overseas workers we’ve seen, our financial income has simply dropped low enough that remaining overseas isn’t possible. And, remaining in volunteer ministry is also in question… we need to pay the bills! This means a paid position. So, the goodbye that we are keeping an eye on as it’s on the horizon is a big one.
I hope we are ready, either way.
Saying bye to our favourite jiaozi restaurant in 2018A Black Forest landscape. Hey, where is the forest? This is looking south towards Basel, Switzerland.
Psalm 23 shares comfort and reassurance. At different points in life what we need is not that same as before, either. As we shared in the newsletter, something new is that Liberty and Van are taking an international adventure without mom and dad! Good, this is a path I would call “right”. First, it is an opportunity for them to have an adventure with friends, classmates, and teachers. But more than simply an earthly adventure, it is one with spiritual and eternal ramifications. Their group will be going to a place in Africa where there are opportunities for them to participate in ministries which are welcomed. It isn’t just a bunch of foreigners showing up to prove how good they are. It is interesting to think that somewhere in that African town where they are going there could very well be some kids, probably younger, maybe their same age, with whom Liberty and Van are going to connect and bond. And none of them know! So, pray with us as Liberty, Van, their team, and the hosts all prepare for this trip in March.
In case you are led to give financially, here are some details:
This is arranged by BFA/TeachBeyond, meaning we don’t handle the finances. It also means that, for example, if Van receives 5,000 in total, for example, that only 2450 will be used for Van’s trip… the excess goes to TeachBeyond, not us. So take a look at the page before contributing in case the amount shown is close to the USD2450 amount!
You can also give via WEC Canada, or WEC USA – if you use this option, be sure to specify the gift is for the COOKE family.
If you don’t require a tax receipt, you can:
Use our family’s Paypal page: https://paypal.me/shanecooke;
If you are in Europe, or use Wise.com, send a gift using IBAN to: Walter Noel Shane Cooke TRWIBEB1XXX BE64 9670 9300 2552
The Cookes in Strausburg, France, over Christmas 2023.
Pray also for our own path. You may recall that last year we were facing a financial crunch, having lost a significant portion of our support. God arranged a very last-minute miracle whereby we could serve at BFA for one more year. However, this would last for only the year. We find ourselves in a similar situation. Without more people or churches who believe in mission through education, who value the well-being of, caring for, and teaching MKs while their parents remain on-field, who feel we are in line with God’s calling… it is unlikely we will return to BFA for next year. So, we ask you to pray. I suppose one focus of prayer is for more finances. But more importantly, prayer for the path we are to be on is important. After almost 28 years of service overseas, I’m less inclined to automatically assume that God “proves” his calling on someone by supplying all the finances that is needed. I’ve seen far too many instances of valid, needed, excellent efforts started by quality, God-fearing, sincere people simply not get off the ground because of various reasons: unsupportive leadership, weak team, uninterested donors, “not flashy enough”, poor promotion or presentation, etc. The inverse is true, too: how many ministries seem successful but are led by unsavoury characters who know how to play the role, or continue due to inertia, rather than because it is needed? Thankfully, God DOES provide, as would any Father who is asked by his children for fish or bread, but often the provision comes from the family of God.
9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:9-11
We would really relish knowing that you are praying with us about the path we ought to be on. Thank you!
How many posts of mine have started with a similar tone? Well, here is another. Every year goes by so quick. But, praise God, we somehow keep up. The picture above was taken over the Christmas holidays, so you might think it is the most recent pic of the Cookes. In fact, I’ve since shaved my beard (Christmas is over, so the Santa-look is no longer needed), and Michelle had her hair cut (looking young and vibrant as ever). Both Liberty and Van are still growing; it’s a regular occurrence for them to suddenly be standing beside me—do they want advice! A hug! Just to be near their father! No (but yes), it is simply to gauge our respective heights and see if they are finally taller than dad. I have withstood their height attempts thus far, but 2024 might be the year I lose the crown.
Thank you all for praying for us. Our ministry and service touches many lives. In Michelle’s case, the results are often very evident — the students love her and coming to class! I also enjoy seeing the students I teach move on from our one-on-one classes, taking with them the skills, experience, and confidence which they’ve built up over this past semester. Both of us get opportunities too to talk about God and how he moves in our lives.
I might be coming back to Canada in the early Spring! Our support level has remained low. This hasn’t been helped by the fact that we’ve been away for so long, with our only recent visit being last summer, and short at that. We believe if God wants us here longer, he will move people to contribute. This is the WEC mindset in action—enough people know about us, have heard about us, support us already, that out of all those people surely God can move some to contribute financially and partner with us in this specific time and ministry. “WEC doesn’t make appeals for funds”, but we do share the burden and the ministry God has given us. So, I might see you in a few months!
Spring, 2022. Can we say, “we made it”? All around people breath sighs of relief that the pandemic is weakening. Confinement measures are loosening. Where we are, masks are mostly not mandatory. You can now bisou your family, friends, neighbours. It’s been two years. A little more.
2 years ago in a local supermarket
The picture above shows the shelves of a local supermarket at the start of the pandemic. People were scared. They bought out the store, preparing for the worst. Like literally, people felt that the end-of-days was upon us, that roving bands of bandits would soon run amok, law and authority would disintegrate. They were hunkering down in part of because of this fear, but also because the government was soon to ban any unnecessary movement in public. Do you remember those days? We went weeks not being able to leave our home! Only one person per household was allowed to leave the home, and then for only one hour, and then only for a trip with a purpose considered essential. That was usually me — I would get to the supermarket, and scan the shelves for whatever was left and edible.
It was an eerie trip to make. It often reminded me of the time back in Urumqi during the riots in 2009. People were scared. They barricaded themselves in their xiaoqu’s, arming themselves with poles, sticks, axes, long knives, pulverizing hammers… Whenever I had to go out, I had to be incredibly careful because I could be mistaken as a potential threat (because I was not Chinese). Fortunately, we had lived there long enough that, as I approached a milling crowd full of nervous armed people eyeing me, someone could shout out, “He’s ok, he’s a foreigner in our xiaoqu!” and everyone would exhale and let me pass. Who was the enemy?
The past two years the enemy has been the virus. Sometimes though we let each other become the enemy too. “Who’s infected? Who’s not being careful enough? Who’s making choices I don’t agree with?” Finally. Finally, we are past the worst, on the outside. I think many of us still need to address the worst inside of us. That’s not a bad thing. Lots of bad things happened, and it was hard, and how were we to react?
Both my parents died while I was overseas, and I could not be there with them to see them onward. They and I were ready for that possibility. For years now, when we would say bye at the airport, we would acknowledge that this might be “Good Bye”. The first time we said “Good Bye” like that was really tough — maybe it was when I left as a married man. It was tougher when we left with their grandchildren. But we would never ignore what might happen, and we would tell each other what we needed to say, just in case. So our goodbyes tended to be pretty intense. But fulfilling. So not being there when the worst did come to pass was incredibly difficult. But we had already said goodbye, too. How can I say more? My tears suffice.
OK, so the title of the post hints at something positive, and I’ve somehow wandered into moroseness! Let me share. When you agree to follow God, you really never know what might be around the corner. Our years here in France are coming to a close. We’ve all learned French (some of us better than others). We’ve helped the local church as best we can. We’ve made a positive impact on the people around us. But we have reached a turn in the road. This turn points northeast of us, to a region in southwest Germany known as the Black Forest. In the Black Forest, where there are no bears, is a small town, with a bustling school. The town is called Kandern, and the school, Black Forest Academy. Over this past year God moved us to consider enrolling our kids there; this would necessitate Michelle and I either sending the kids as boarders, or applying to serve there. So we did what of course we would do! We applied to serve!
Recently, we finished the application process for all four of us, and received word back that we had all been accepted! We hadn’t shared much during this process as we wanted to be sure what their response would be before telling everyone. Well, what does this mean? It means that we will be moving to Kandern, Germany, later this summer to begin a new chapter of our overseas life at BFA. Michelle will be teaching elementary. I will be teaching slightly older grades with ELL as a focus. Liberty and Van will have a new English-speaking environment to thrive in, filled with children who, like themselves, have already lived in various and diverse places and situations. And staffed by teachers who care for the well-being of the students.
So. Something new on the horizon. Looking back, that horizon is rather bleak and grey. Looking ahead, the horizon looks colourful and promising. Thank you for your continued prayers, support, friendship, emails, letters, pics! Every contact with you is a blessing.
This summer, our family went on a long-awaited camping trip. After being confined in-place for almost 2 years, it was good to be out and driving around. Mind you, we do live in a beautiful place which made most of the confinement bearable, but as a family, we were happy to be in the road again. Prices for hotels were going to be quite high, so we decided to camp. Fortunately, we found a cool tent for 4 people on sale at InterSport! We bought a few more items, and then we were off.
Now, you should understand that because this is Europe, “camping” is not quite the same as what we are used to in Canada, and even the USA. We pitched in between big RVs and trailers wherever we went. But, despite the non-wild feeling of the places, it was good to be sleeping under the sky, with fresh air, and the same midnight stumble to the central bathroom for a bathroom stop. We all had a great time, and didn’t even have any family fights setting up the tent, and taking it down. THAT was actually a lot of work, thus we have no pictures of it because by the time it was up, or down, we were ready to get in it, or ready to leave.
We camped a bit on our way to the yearly WEC conference, and for this I am grateful. I heard the news my mother’s health was poor, and that she might pass into God’s presence soon. We tried to see if the kids and I could get back in time, but it was impossible. So, Aug 11 my mother did die, and went to be with Jesus, and reunited with her hubby. It was a heavy blow. All of us were stunned. We had postponed a video chat just a week earlier, thinking we would chat after the conference. Well, here it is 2 weeks or so later, and we are home, but the shock is still there. Please pray for my family, and for those of my brother and sister, as we all press on in a world without our parents.
Cookes Overseas, this time in Paris.
We visited Paris after the conference with a goal to visit Uighur restaurants. We were aching for some good spicy food. We found three, and ate at each, one per night. Oh! You can check out my IG account to see the restaurant fronts if you want. When we were first considering coming to France, we of course had put Paris on our list of potential places to live. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an option, partly because of how international the city is. But we are always impressed by (ready for something that sounds silly) how many French people are there! We rarely talked with anyone but French people, so it was a relief, in a way, to rediscover that the French capital is still very French and not only or primarily international.
Liberty still has an interest in graffiti.
We like eating at Thai places, especially those named after the city of Van’s birth. This is actually in Toulouse.
It was good to get home eventually. The kids discovered that they are not as small and compact as the last time we went on a long car trip! So, if God wills, we will be looking into buying a larger vehicle (we don’t have a car, and in fact we’ve never had a vehicle when we’ve been overseas!). We had to go retrieve our two guinea pigs, Sunddee and Fizzgigg, from a kind lady who watched them for us. The giggly pigs were happy to see us! And, we were back into a routine, of sorts. Cleaning, sorting, and also getting ready for school.
So, I will end this post with a small request, one which applies to many of you too. Please pray as Liberty and Van re-enter school. Liberty is starting an important year in the French school system, the last year of her academic division – college. Van is in fact starting his first year of the same division, college. So, there will be new and bigger stresses for each. Due to laïcité there is very little content about God, which also means that the students, their home lives, and the entire atmosphere, is very godless. There is lots of immorality. They also deal with a surprising amount of anti-foreigner sentiments. Yes, its true! Despite how “western” and advanced and open France is, there is a constant stream of anti-foreigner feelings, including a particular anti-Americanism. It is pretty tough at times for our kids. But I am proud of them. Even though at times it seems it would be easier if they weren’t Christian, they both do their best to stand against sexual immorality, cheating, bullying, and even despair (suicide is not uncommon amongst the student body). And this is even a Catholic school, where you would think there would be a little more awareness and seeking of God, if not spirituality. But when the teachers are cruel, mock students, and care little for spiritual things, and the kids come from a home-life which also doesn’t include God, what can you expect. Pray for them!! And for the students and teachers.
It had come true, those words spoken to us by those who had lived in France before us. We had expressed our desire to live in Paris. It made sense: It was the capital, what better place to start a new ministry. But we were told, “Everyone thinks they will go to Paris. You will see that it is not as crucial as you think. You will see, its draw over you will wane. Give it time.”
So we certainly gave it time. Two years in fact. Time did its work, with the help of life. We were busy living in the south, finding a rhythm and a flow there. We were getting used to living there, not Paris. We walked around our new city, but not as much as we had walked around Paris.
You see, one thing you never hear about Paris is how eminently walked it is! It seems like every guidebook we read, every review online, they all assumed we would take the metro, just like everyone else. They gave detailed instructions on how to buy the correct type of ticket for the metro, the pros and cons of a booklet, to keep in mind zones, and family options. Until the day we decided to not take it. Why? ALL THOSE STAIRS.
On the map places may not seem far by metro, but it doesn’t take into consideration all the walking you have to do to take the metro. You have to walk to the station, then down flights of stairs, then to the turnstiles for the tickets, then down more hallways and down more flights of stairs to get to the platforms. Hopefully we read the signs right and we at the right platform. Then you stand in the metro car, swaying, hoping the dude playing his guitar doesn’t head your way to ask for change, getting angry when you don’t give him any. (Well, for one thing, we don’t have any change! All we have are cards to pay for things.) Then, you have to get off the car and realize the platform exit is at the far end of the platform, then up more stairs, some winding hallways, more stairs, then the final exit turnstiles, only one of which is working for those leaving, causing a jam. Then, for good measure, one last flight of steps up to the city where you realize… you are on the far side of plaza from where you wanted to be at. More walking.
So with all the walking involved in taking the metro, one visit we decided we would walk. So we did! We walked from the Arc de Triomphe all the way to Montmarte and the Sacre-Coeur basilica. Google Maps says its 4.3 km, just an hour walking. It would take almost that long to do the whole walk-metro-walk routine, so we walked. And we saw bits of Paris that the guidebooks can’t tell you about, because no one has ever walked there! But les Parisiens do. Ever since, we walk through Paris whenever we can.
But last week was my first time back in Paris in over a year. And I was shocked by how touristy it appeared as I walked out of the Montparnasse train station! Glittering lights everywhere! Garish signs! Almost begging me to come and partake of their coffees and treats. All I could think was, “This is not Bayonne! It isn’t even… France!” It had happened. I no longer looked at Paris through the eyes of a dreamer, but through the eyes of one who has walked far less glamourous French streets, the streets Parisiens escape to when they escape the dreaming tourists flocking to Paris, those for whom all the glitter and glamour are displayed. I found I didn’t like; I didn’t need it. I had seen and tasted of a France beyond flashiness, and it was this France I had come to love. Sadly, I had no time to touch that side of Paris. I was only passing through this time.
We are all in the boat! Over the years we’ve sent you email updates because our life takes place in such a different context that it was helpful to share about it. But now, in this Age of Pandemic, most likely our lives look very much the same. Travel is restricted. Only one household member per day is allowed to go out and then only for one hour and only if the purpose is listed as Essential; groceries, medicinal, to help an incapacitated family member, unavoidable civic business (law, court, fines, renewals, etc.) If the one family member who does go out does so for exercise, they must remain within 1 km (less than a mile) of their residence. And each time that household member does go out, even for exercise, they must have on them a self-signed declaration form with the current date, address, purpose of outing, and the hour they left (to make sure you stay within the 1 hour limit) or they face a fine if caught by roaming police. Wow. Welcome to our world.
So with these restrictions, what would happen about church? Of course it is essential… just not essential for broader public safety I guess. Very quickly people were jumping aboard the virtual church train!! And most often that happens with zoom. Even our church here in France started going digital.
Virtual church
Going digital has been a blessing, but also some care must be taken. Zoom for example has already been in trouble before for being underhanded in what they install, and most recently were caught sending info to Facebook, even if you don’t have facebook. Yikes! Because it seems to work the best, it is also being used the most. I prefer to avoid it when I can because of it’s track record. There are other options, some open source, such as Jitsi Meet and Kopano, and even Riot/Matrix I think has a video option. But how many of us are conversant enough to whip up our own server and install these free apps, and have it run well enough to manage 10, 30 or 400 participants!? Well, do what you can, and try to use other options. I think using zoom is going to leave many with regrets eventually.
Speaking of being online, one of the ways I’ve been helping others overseas is by setting up and managing websites and emails. If you find this is something you’d like to have, or indeed have to have with the Stay-at-home protocols, write me an email. I am sure I can help you out.
In the meantime, there is lots to do in the analog world! Like sitting outside and trying to burn out a stump!
You wouldn’t believe it. If we had known what was in store for Michelle before her journey back to North America… we may have opted out! But praise to God for his calming presence, Michelle persevered through many obstacles to reach home. Here is the itinerary we expected, followed by what happened:
Air France:
Feb 27: Biarritz BIQ to Paris ORY airport, followed by a cross-town bus to get to the next airport Paris CDG. She had 4 hours to do this, which should be enough time.
Paris CDG to Montreal, with a 2 hour layover.
Montreal to Toronto, arriving at midnight Feb 27/28.
A 5 hour stay at the airport (it’s too short a stay to pay for a hotel)
American Air:
Feb 28 6 am flight from Toronto to Dallas DFW, arriving at 9 am
Dallas DFW to Tyler TYR, arriving at 11 am, Feb 28. Easy peasy.
It started at the airport here in Biarritz. Michelle checked in the night before, then received an email that her flight was delayed. So we made a call and the agent on the phone told Michelle she was booked on a slightly later flight. That would work but Michelle would have one hour less to make the cross-Paris trip to change airports. We went to bed a little worried.
When we arrived at the Biarritz airport the fun started! Michelle was informed that she not in fact booked on the next flight but was placed on standby only. Well, that wouldn’t work! We explained how she had a connecting flight to Toronto from Paris, and if she missed this first flight she’d miss the Toronto flight, which in turn would make her miss the Dallas flight. The agent was surprisingly calm and kind and began to look for other options. These included taking a taxi from Biarritz to Bordeaux where she could make it to Paris in time for a later flight from Paris to Toronto, but she’d still miss the Dallas leg, and she’d still be on standby at Bordeaux, thus potentially not getting ont he flight AND being stuck in Bordeaux; leaving in an hour for a multi-city journey around France, getting her to Paris again in time for a later flight but once again too late for the American Air flight to Dallas. It wasn’t looking good. Michelle needed to get to Paris to get that one flight.
Suddenly, I wondered if trains were running. The flight cancellations and delays were due to a storm, but maybe trains would be running. I checked and there was one train, leaving in 45 minutes, that would get Michelle to Paris in time for the original Paris-Montreal-Toronto flight. So we asked the agent to confirm that Michelle could skip the Biarritz leg, take the train, and still be able to take the Paris flight. Normally, this isn’t possible. But the agent got on the phone, talked awhile as we kept looking at the time. then, she typed something into her terminal, and handed Michelle a boarding pass for her Paris flight! Michelle could skip BIQ-ORY, as long as she made it to Paris in time for the flight! Amazing! So we raced to the bus stop and hopped on the bus going to the train station downtown.
A bus has never felt so slow. But we were blessed by technology – the France train system has a mobile app, so while we sat on the bus we bought a train ticket for Michelle. Thank God for that because by the time we got to the station the lineup to buy tickets was really long, and she had 10 minutes to spare. We find her track, stand there breathlessly, and thank God for this option. The train pulls up, Michelle hops on after we pray for her, and off she went, thinking the worst was over. In four hours she would be in Paris.
Michelle on the train to Paris
Michelle got to Paris fine, and took the metro to the CDG airport. It didn’t seem to crazy, and her flight even departed on time. But then later I looked online…. what…. her flight from Montreal to Toronto… CANCELLED???
Sure enough, due to the huge winter storm in Ontario airports were canceling flights left and right. And the worst was that Michelle had no clue! Well, she did a little before landing. She landed in Montreal around 9 pm Feb 27, and amazingly she was met by an Air France agent at the gate. Michelle was one of the few with connecting flights, and Air France was working hard to help those passengers. They put her up in a hotel, paid for her dinner and breakfast, and generally were so helpeful. Except for the agents on the phone, again. Michelle was being given options such as staying in Montreal all weekend, or flying to other cities before Toronto, but days later. This was terrible because missing the flight to Dallas would basically mean she would have to skip her Texas visit. It would simply be too expensive to buy another flight now. Suddenly, an email arrives saying her American Air flight from Toronto to Dallas was delayed, also because of the storm, and so we could change the Dallas-Tyler leg for free. Wow. Ok, but first we had to get her to Dallas. After more time on the phone it was clear there were no options. All Michelle could do was go to bed.
The next morning, early, Michelle gets up, eats a good breakfast, and calls from her hotel to the AA number. MIRACLES! In the middle of the night a huge Dreamliner from London to Toronto had to land in Montreal. The weather had cleared enough that that huge plane was going to be able to leave early. Michelle could get on it if she wanted. YES YES YES! It was so big it could take the equivalent of three other planes’ worth of passengers. Everyone who made it on board was cheering and happy. They made it to Toronto!
Now, remember, the AA flight was also delayed, so Michelle went to the desk to try to work something out. She was told there was no option to get her to Dallas that day. Strange. So I go online and find a flight leaving from Toronto to Chicago to Dallas… could she not get on that? It was the ONLY flight to Dallas from Toronto that we could find that would get her to Dallas in time for the last Tyler flight. She asks the agent and they tell her yes, they had thought she wanted a direct flight. Because it was a delay that the airline made there was no charge to go through Chicago, and we could then change the DFW-TYR flight to 9 pm without any charge. Shortly after, Michelle was back in the air. Phew. What a roller coaster of emotion.
There was a scare that the plane would for Chicago would be delayed, but in the end it left early. And got to Dallas early, and so Michelle could have a breather. She hadn’t slept nor really eaten in 24 hours. But knowing she was close to seeing her parents and sister gave her strength. Sure enough, she landed in Tyler (a city close to where her parents live) at 11 pm. Only 12 hours later than the original plan. Oh, but what a whirlwind!
Even though Liberty and Van’s schools are within walking distance, Michelle and I like to walk with them to school. I guess we are being a little cautious. Van doesn’t mind, and we often have some really good times walking in the mornings, talking about all kinds of topics. Van and Liberty have to go to school at different times, so one week I will walk with Liberty, who goes 40 minutes earlier, and then the other week I will walk with Van. Most mornings Michelle is up early anyway, but we still alternate.
The other morning after I walked with Liberty, I turned to head home. It was a warmer-than-usual morning, and it wasn’t raining (for once). All in all, it was the perfect morning to go have a coffee somewhere. Right beside the route we take to and from school is a Burger King! Why not have a coffee there!? Well, there is one problem. Generally, places like this open only for lunch. Can you imagine? No egg mcMuffin! No King Breakfast! They just don’t do that here (in the biggest cities, yes, but not here). There ARE smaller local bakeries and Tabacs where you can grab a coffee, but we don’t live near one. Oh well. This is just one small difference in life we have.
Sundays are even worse! Or better, depending on your perspective. I feel like I’m back in Manitoba in the 70s… nothing is open on a Sunday! There is the odd small market that will be open from 9 am to noon, but that is it. So is it a day of rest? Not really, for Sunday is the day all the Associations do their thing! Cyclists cycle, river canoeists paddle, photo groups go snapping, painters paint, and so on. For us, Sunday mornings we head to church!
Saturday is the day we do chores. We load up my trusty bike with the laundry, or with gardening tools borrowed from a church member. Liberty and Van like to enhance the lives of their chickens by building things for them (Popcorn and Charlie). We also like to get out and around Bayonne.
Laundry run on the bikeExtendable trimmer, chainsaw, hedge cutters, and assorted toolsOld stump converted into Chicken ResortMost every city in France will have a Winter Ferris Wheel!
