John and I called Hallel on March 1st... we talked to her in France to tell her that once again John is cancer free, and the percentage of his having it come back is so much less that we don't have to go back there for 6 months - a true leap of faith and a very solid sign that he can truly trust that the cancer is never to return! While we talked to Susan/Hallel, we discovered that little sister Benedict was there with her! She is the French sister that has been the superior in charge of the new monastery in Kansas City, and after 4 years away she was allowed to go back to Saint Pierre for a few weeks and to spend some time with her family. She was very excited to get on the phone and inform us that they had gotten the building permit to go ahead and build their little Monastery on the lot of the old Belgian Church and rectory in the heart of our country, in a poor mostly Hispanic gang infested area of town... Kansas City. "We got our building permit on the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple! And after we get the rest of he dirt and cement work done we hope to start building in June!" It has been a lot of work to fundraise most of the money before they could start, and to get the building permit for the unusual things that they want like lower than normal ceilings etc... the question they heard from the city - "Why does everything have to be so little for you?" They are humble and "small" in all that they do!
They will have to tear down the old rectory they have been using... they built a little chapel as they gutted two rooms on the main floor and then put up the wood on the walls and the icons and it is on the same plan as other little chapels in their other monasteries across the world. They will save the wood and use it again as they construct the chapel in their new home, and chapel. The heart of the Community of the Lamb is prayer, and that will be a river flowing out over our entire country. There will come a huge good and healing from the Community of the Lamb putting down "small" but deep roots in the heart of our very troubled and disturbed country! 
We are sad to no longer have our big old rectory home away from home, but are thrilled to have them love America enough to stay here, and to cover us with prayers and the blood of the Lamb! Jesus, thank you for opening the door for the Community to become a part of the United States, and for our daughter to answer your call to be the first American to lead the way for many more to follow the meekness and humility of the Lamb. Jesus, we trust in you. Bless-bless
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