lance le !

I couldn't believe it. Yesterday after days of email work, 'photoshopping', and multiple visits to the printer, I said: Do it! We started the printing part of the Christian Surfers International conference in Hossegor France. I've been sweating over this for weeks now and to have finally said 'go for it' felt so wonderful. We waited down to the very last minute available, needing one confirmation from one dude in Seignosse. We have posters and flyers and tracts.

So the hustle of meeting people and trips to Bilbao and all over town has begun. The waves come and go. They expect a nice swell Sunday which could produce waves of 3 meters. They are beautiful to look at but powerful and out of my level for swimming or surfing. I'll take my camera out here soon and catch a photo of the break against the dig... you gotta see it!!

My time here in Biarritz is passing way to quickly. I have really grown fond of hearing the ocean not far from the house, the gorgeous sunsets and sunrises, the varying weather, walking into the beautiful town, meeting people and chatting. Tonight I had dinner with Juliette in a pizzeria downtown. We chatted it was such a great time for me. I wish I could hang out longer with the youth around this town. Who knows... ?

hullo mudder, hullo fadder...here i am at...

After spending a week in the washing machine, which I actually enjoyed, I am back working frantically on the final details of the Christian Surfer's Conference. I'm not anyone important but I'm busy gutting up the courage to make phone calls for them, talking in French to a ton of people who I don't know and twisting arms of friends who are much stronger in the area of translation than I.

I'm tired.
I cry.
I sleep.
I eat (or ate mussels today which I don't really like because of their funny texture).
I pray.
I pray.
and pray.

...and pick the surfing scab on my knee wishing I could surf as well as the guys I saw tearing up the waves today.

"hang-10" or "washing machine"

Tomorrow I jump a TGV (fast train) for Bayonne. I'll be wisked off to a camp where I look forward to meeting some young french people. I am joining in at a Youth for Christ surf camp directed by friends Lorenzo and Marie-Alice Monge. I'll let you know if I truly achieve "hang-10" which I highly doubt since it will be my first experience paddling the great Basque coast. Pray for fearless investment on my part in the lives of those around me; that I will compassionately put others before myself.

Bonne nuit de l'Espagne Euskadi de Hendaye. A sunset from Hendaye looking in the direction of Euskadi in Spain.

tomorrow

So tomorrow I'm off to Spain for a day trip. We'll be crossing through basque country and back in one day on our way to Santander. I'm dropping off Tabitha and cousin Johanna to help in a camp for a week. We should get a few nice shots on our way home. Thanks for all the prayers and support.

voilà les jumeaux Paul et James. Lequel est lequel?

Here is Steve's eye just a few minutes after impact. Looked pretty scary. Don't worry Korea, I'm sending him back in one piece.

les feux d'artifices à Biarritz le 15 août.

House of Blues: Here is a friend Steve Heckman who slammed his head into the head of Paul yesterday and instantaneously grew a bump resembling the likes of Bart Simpson.

Welcome to the party in St Laurent de Gosse. These men play with mad cows. Here are the pro's saluting the crowd.

a view from the bar during the Fêtes de St Laurent de Gosse. I was invited to serve along with the young people. The party lasted 3 days (and nights) including La Course Landaise, kids games, concerts, and unfortunately, lots of drinking for the entire town. Interestingly enough, I was warmly welcomed and adopted into the little landaise/basque community.

La Course Landaise: an only slightly dangerous game where a few dudes taunt mad cows and then jump out of the way of their charging opponents... or just jump over them.

it was a close call but a magnificent move by this guy.. note the ambulance in the background who were on site the whole event just in case someone got seriously injured.

Sunset in Biarritz - my favorite time of day 

I watched a little paddleboarding at the Nokia Biarritz Surf Festival 

I took a glance over my sholders a few weeks back while in Ancizan in the Pyrénées Mountains 

Greetings from Jean-Yves and Pyrénée at Labenne 

The Sea

Full moon last night.
Sunday afternoon in humid 30°C weather with storm warnings.
Trip to the beach in des Landes.
Super steep beach and beach breaks in heights up to 2 meters with incoming tide.

I followed Tabitha into the water during a calm and we swam against the current rising and falling with the large swells. Then we decided to get out... I watched the one powerful wave pound the shore and started like mad for the water's edge. We had been pulled south toward the stronger more dangerous current. Before we could get our feet on the sand, I felt the pull and watched the 7th wave rise up behind me. Nearly screaming 'I can't move!' because of the pull, I knelt under the power of the salt wall as it crashed over me and swept me up the steep beach leaving my knees in red bloody speckles.

I hope you enjoyed your Sunday evening, contemplating the power of our Creator, but from a safer distance.

Sunset Sunday at Labenne, France