March 30, 2009 - Posted by Amanda- 1 Comment
Been wondering what I’ve been doing at A Rocha France, lately?
Throughout February, under the leadership of our scientific director, Timothee Schwartz, A Rocha France moblized all available volunteers (me included) to take daily topographic measurements on two properties in the Vallee de Baux. Daily, two ‘topo’ shifts of 2-3 people walked, boated, and waded the marshes and fields of Joyeuse Garde and l’Illon, properties sized 247 and 100 acres, respectively. The owners of these two properties would like to improve their management of the fragile ‘zone humide,’ or marshland, that extends through their properties. Much of the Vallee de Baux is below sea level, requiring constant electric pumping to limit to flooding of agricultural fields. Detailed topographic measurements of Joyeuse Garde and l’Illon will help A Rocha France work more effectively in developing marshland management strategies with these property owners.
After a month of daily fieldwork, muddy galoshes, and tipped boats, A Rocha France overlaid 2,800 topographic points on a map of the Vallee de Baux. Through the miracle of GIS technology and the brute labor of A Rocha France volunteers, we can now look at a 3 dimension analysis of nearly 400 acres and better strategize marshland conservation with property stakeholders.
March 12, 2009 - Posted by Amanda- 1 Comment
Today, I biked to meet Miranda, my boss’s wife and my dear mentor, for a walk in the foothills. The smells along the ride came upon me in waves and were more striking than the sights or sounds of the landscape. It’s said that when your other senses are weary, one becomes particularly strong. Here is my bike ride according to my nose:
1. Spices, like the cloved oranges I made with my mother eleven Christmases ago
2. Sweet flowers… perhaps the blooming almond tree that overlooks the Abbey; maybe the early orchids; or the brilliant yellow mimosa bushes that spill over the walls.
3. Wood smoke
4. Musty olives and dust
5. Faint flowers
6. Gnat. In my nose. I learned quickly to duck and hold my breath when I saw clouds of gnats ahead.
7. Pasture and manure. There are antelope (not a native species!) raised on the next-door farm.
8. Sea. The marsh is freshwater, but time to time, I smell the salty smack of a not-too-distant sea.
9. Gnat.
10. Car exhaust. Diesel.
March 11, 2009 - Posted by Amanda- 0 Comments
The day I returned to France, I moved to a different room, a cozy little “chambrette” that looks out onto our small greenhouse and our suffering banana trees—an unfortunate victim of an unexpected Mediterranean snowfall in January.
These banana trees receive their fair share of attention, as do the rest of the plants in Les Tourades’ many gardens. Each Friday morning “chantier,” when all A Rocha France volunteers and staff pause their daily routine to work outside on Les Tourades’ property together, the gardens get groomed, planted, or watered. As the weather warms and the gardens awake from their short winter sleep, we receive our due reward for hours of hard work.
Daffodils are blooming in the back yard, and some shy orchids are preparing their blossoms. The almond tree sheds its white petals on the lettuce and spinach seedlings. Songbirds chatter as they nibble the berries off our hedge and discover the bird houses made by children at an environmental education program yesterday.
A Rocha France is full of people who come alive when they are out-of-doors and in their Creator’s world. This Spring, I live in a place bursting with life!
March 11, 2009 - Posted by Amanda- 1 Comment
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:15-16
Now, more than ever, the word ‘home’ brings to my mind a faces of people rather than images of a place. I deeply enjoyed visiting my ‘homes’ in the US. What a joy I found in sharing my experiences with my family, giving my best friend a long-overdue hug, chatting face-to-face with my boyfriend, and gleaning advice over coffee from former professors and pastors. My heart is full of thanksgiving for all the people I can call ‘home.’
God’s given me the gift of delighting in being home in France once more. Laughter fills the dining room each mealtime and patient francophones correct my flawed grammar cheerfully. Peter’s accounts are less of a mystery to me, and I’m continuing to learn so many valuable skills through my work with him.
My parents just returned back to the US after a well-deserved vacation in southern France. It was fun (and exhausting) to show them my life, my work, and the small things in France that remind me of them. We saw things I’ve wanted to see for a long time here, but never had a good excuse to - the local bird park, Camargue horses (went on a real ride - how McMillan!), really old (think 1st century) aqueducts with really old (think 18th century) graffiti… In less than two weeks, my boyfriend, Josh, will spend his spring break in France. I’m ecstatic, and praying hard for good weather. So many bike rides to go on! So many conversations to catch up on!
Home is coming to me, to see my home in France. I am so grateful for all the people God has blessed me with – all the ‘homes’ surrounding me in encouragement and prayer. I understand all the more why the Apostle Paul couldn’t stop giving thanks for the people who cared for and prayed for him!
