Through Every Season
Part 2: A Vision for Missionaries
By Françoise Dossmann
Edited by Shari Martin
INTRODUCTION
In Part 1 of Through Every Season, Françoise shared how the Lord led her and Daniel from a small apartment in Paris to the mission field in Ecuador. As the years went by, God continued to guide their family through one season after another, always in His perfect timing.
In Part 2, we read about how those years of missionary service gave Françoise and Daniel an understanding of the joys and the challenges of ministry. They knew what it meant to travel from place to place, to serve others, and to need a place of rest along the way.
So, when Oliver shared his vision for EdenRidge, they immediately understood why it mattered. EdenRidge would not be just a new ministry idea. It would be a place where missionaries could go to rest, to be renewed, and to reflect on the ways God had led them through every season of their lives and ministry.
Françoise’s story continues…
New Seasons in Ecuador and Beyond
Daniel, Oliver, and I were very excited about moving to another country. Our year in language school in Texas to learn Spanish and Oliver to learn English had also prepared us in several ways. We joined HCJB Radio in Quito primarily to produce French radio programs for shortwave radio.
Daniel was doing mainly Bible study type programs. The title of his program was “Le Chemin de la Vie” (The Way of Life). I was doing radio programs answering listeners’ letters. I also did some translation of women’s Bible studies. Daniel continued to compose music and wrote songs in Spanish. We often played and sang together in local gatherings and participated in local Bible studies.
Oliver’s graduation, 1988
The Alliance Academy in Quito, Ecuador
We enjoyed many things being with an international community and becoming friends with people from all over the world. I am still in contact with several of them.
The one event that stands out and was an incredible blessing was to meet Rachel Saint, becoming friends with her, and visiting her in the Amazon jungle village where she lived with the Waorani tribe.
Komi, Kimo, and Mincaye
Rachel Saint
Rachel was the older sister of Nate Saint; one of the five missionaries killed at Palm Beach in 1956. During our visits, three Waorani men (Komi, Kimo, and Mincaye) took us to Palm Beach, the Curaray River sandbar, where the killings had taken place.
There is a whole section in my book about that story with pictures: (www.edenridge.org/dossmann). The story continued when a young man from that tribe came to stay with us at EdenRidge and we are still in contact with him. I wrote a special letter about that event at the beginning of the year as this happened 70 years ago.
We were in Ecuador for 17 years. In 2001, the Lord directed us to go to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, West Africa, which is a French-speaking country. We worked at a local Christian radio station under the umbrella of the mission SIM. We left at the end of 2004 because of the beginning of a civil war.
Ivory Coast, West Africa, 2001
Music, Ministry, and a Dream
After we became Christians in 1974 until we left for Ecuador in 1983, we recorded music and songs in French in France and Switzerland on cassettes.
Oliver offered us a time-share in the Bahamas for our 30th anniversary in 1998. It was while he was walking on the beach with his dad that they came up with the idea of us recording instrumental CDs of Daniel’s music and hymn arrangements.
During the following years, 13 CDs were recorded, with Oliver doing the recording as he had learned to do years before.
Then, when we were doing meetings, we always said that we had CDs to sell, but the money was not for us. It was to build a retreat center for missionaries in Tennessee where Oliver and his family were living.
Walking with EdenRidge Through the Years
As missionaries, we traveled throughout France, Switzerland, and the United States. We participated in church gatherings and conferences to play music, share our testimonies, and talk about our radio ministry in Ecuador. We stayed mostly in people’s homes.
As soon as Oliver shared his vision for EdenRidge with us, we were completely 100% behind him. The idea that there could be a place where missionaries could really rest during their travels was awesome.
We have always followed very closely all the steps that Oliver has been taking for that wonderful endeavor.
Daniel went to be with the Lord in August 2018, and I continue to be involved with EdenRidge as much as I can.
From Paris to Tennessee
I am very thankful to the Lord for how He has directed me, from downtown Paris, having never heard the Gospel message, to a special ministry place in Tennessee for people who share the Gospel message all around the world.
I love to meet our EdenRidge guests. Even if Daniel is not here with us anymore, he continues to have a very large part of the story through his music.
Was your stay meaningful? We'd love to hear how God used your time at EdenRidge.
Email us at rest@edenridge.org and we'll schedule a short conversation with you.