La Grande Challenge (Part five)

When a British couple decided to move to France and convert a semi-derelict farmhouse into a Christian holiday and retreat centre they knew they were in for a challenge - but they had no idea just how big! In the penultimate instalment of their adventure Evelyn and Graeme are reminded just why they had moved to France in the first place.

After our first guests had left we had the pleasure of welcoming a group from our old church in the UK. They enjoyed unseasonably high spring temperatures during their stay and we watched as our good friends relaxed. In fact, as we watched we saw the stresses of busy lives wash away as the days passed by. They never ventured far away from the house other than to wander aimlessly down the little country lanes that surrounded us and enjoy the sound of birdsong and the buzz of insects as they gathered nectar.

As I prepared and cooked meals I watched our friends move lazily from one spot in the garden to another, sometimes alone, sometimes enjoying the company of another. Some of them slept in the sunshine, some read books, some chatted, some just sat silently and thought, but all of them were at a peace with themselves and were seemingly at peace with God too.

We shared meals together and even enjoyed a breakfast communion but eventually the time came for our friends to leave. As they did so one of them turned to me and said, "I knew I was tired before I came here but I did not know just how tired. I feel so much more rested. Thank you."

Once we were alone, I silently thanked God for reminding us exactly why we had come here in the first place. We had glimpsed our first sight of what it was we had been trying to achieve. We had seen people come here and find time to be with God and shake off the shackles of business that are our daily lives. We prayed that others would follow and that God would use our home for those who need it. We prayed that some would reunite themselves with God while others may find Him for the first time. We prayed that He would bring Christians and non-Christians alike here and minister to them as He saw fit.

A string of guests stayed throughout the summer. Some of our guests cooked for themselves, others we shared meals with. When we were not cooking for guests, we worked 14-hour days trying to complete the work on the unfinished parts of the house. We were often really torn between the work that needed to be done and obeying the commandment 'remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy'. Taking a day off just seemed too much of a luxury and we struggled to do as God had commanded us.

The work progressed and in a dark corner of a barn a beautiful meeting room was built with two sets of double doors that overlooked the garden. We prayed that many people would sing, dance, worship, paint, play and pray in this new room. We asked God to bless this place.

Meanwhile two further new bedrooms and another new bathroom appeared in what had been a dark and dusty old hayloft. A new roof was put on what would one day be a stunning kitchen and we seemed to making progress at an amazing pace. We thanked God and all was well in our world.

As the summer passed, we saw families with young children and babies play games in the garden. We watched teenagers play football and fathers and daughters play cricket together. We saw friends eat meals together in the sun and read books. We shared a Bible study with one couple and sang songs with another. We had a music group come and stay and they set up their instruments in the meeting room. They were so pleased to be able to practice when they wanted to without having to set up each day. They wrote new songs and sang together and just enjoyed being together.

God was using our home and all He had given us just as we had prayed He would and we were glad. He had called us and we had answered and the rewards were great.

Graeme and Evelyn's Holiday and Retreat Centre is now open - to book or for more details visit www.christianbreaks.com or email graeme.stewart@club-internet.fr