Long Live the Alliance!

In Douai, we discovered that the “Auld Alliance” – a pact binding France and Scotland – lives on.

A team of 11 people from Kirkliston Community Church in Scotland (the same church that sent me and Mary), arrived in France to help repair the terrace of the church building. Also assisting in the project were: Bernard Huguenin from Réseau 55+, Jonathan Conte from Vilodec, Ermal, an Albanian asylum-seeker who frequents the church, and Antoine, a young Douaisien landscaper, free to give a helping hand and happy to share in Bible readings and prayer. Together, we had the ambitious project to re-level the terrace in front of the church building so that it may accommodate tables and chairs for the café. At the same time, we had to remove the steps in front of the main door, so the building would conform to handicap accessibility standards.

God gave us strength and extraordinary efficiency. The terrace and the painting of two stairwells were both finished in record time. The city authorities, who gave us permission to work on a public street, expressed their surprise and joy for the efficiency and quality of our work. The mayor came to share a drink with us on the terrace and personally thanked the volunteers from Scotland.

The joyous unity God gave us through the New Covenant (much older than the “Auld” covenant between France and Scotland!) is very much alive. Antoine said he was amazed by the cohesion of the group – despite the diversity in age (15 to 69 years), in language, in backgrounds, and in technical capacities. What a joy to live concretely the fulfillment of Jesus’s prayer in John 17: “that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

Thank you to those who participated this week, through prayer or in person. How encouraging – the support, the visit, and the service, side-by-side with our Scottish brothers and sisters in Christ! What a joy to build together, not only the terrace, but also the Kingdom of God, consecrated by our prayers and our lives. May God continue this beautiful work in the city of Douai and in each of our hearts for His glory!