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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, AUGUST 19, 1983
PAGE 2
International News
From the French Department While France is sizzling under a Mediterranean
style heat wave reaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit {and most homes are not
air-conditioned), the French franc is taking an astounding dive against the
U.S. dollar. Since January 1981, the franc has dropped 80% in value in its
exchange rate with the currently almighty greenback. Unfortunately for the
French, as the franc sags, the government is raising taxes. France is still
in the depths of a severe recession.
In the meantime, interest in La PURE VERITE is rising. Excluding French
Canada, responses to our PV ads year to date are running 91.6% above last
year's, and our PV circulation is 45.2% above July 1982.
The total
worldwide PV subscription list now stands at 156,391.
Another piece of heartening news is that God is blessing His Work in the
French-speaking areas worldwide with a growth in income of 23.4% over the
same period last year, even though inflation in these areas varies between
10% to 15%.
Our total response from the ad in the four French versions of READER'S
DIGEST now totals 5,062.
Broken down into the different versions the
responses are as follows: French Canada--2,884: France--1,689: Belgium--
259: and 230 responses from French Switzerland.
Mr. Bob Scott, festival elder for the Feast of Tabernacles at Jonquiere,
Quebec, has now received over 900 applications for this year's Feast. This
will be the second time the Church has chosen Jonquiere as the festival site
for French Canada.
We were publicly recognized on television by the
Jonquiere City Council on July 11. All of the council members who stood up
to speak before the cameras praised the attitude and the conduct of the
Church members. The council unanimously voted to give us free access to the
city's indoor pool, sports arena and tennis court--facilities which repre
sent a savings of about $700 to the Work.
From July 14 to 28 a French SEP camp was held at Zimmerbach in the Alsace
region of France. There were 24 campers and seven staff members, directed
by Mr. Olivier Carion. The wide range of activities included: track and
field training, hiking in the forest, environmental studies, a visit to an
aviary of eagles, a fascinating tour of a wine cellar, swimming and horse
back riding. From the beginning to the end of the camp, the weather was
radiant and hot. The mayor of Zimmerbach and his assistants were invited to
a special performance prepared by the campers. The town leaders were as
tonished to see such willingness to serve, discipline and hospitality on
the part of the campers.
Mr. Gilbert Carbonnel, our minister in Martinique, visited the Port-au
Prince, Haiti Church the weekend of July 22 to 24. Mr. Carbonnel conducted
Sabbath services and two Bible studies for 38 persons who attended each of
the three assemblies. On top of the load of difficulties the Haitians
already face, one more has been added.
Due to the drought currently
affecting Haiti, water is now being rationed. Can you imagine a tropical
country without water?
For the Feast, Mr. Lambert Martial, one of our long-time deacons in the
Fort-de-France, Martinique Church, will be traveling to Haiti to conduct
the first part of the festival. The second part will be conducted by Mr.