Hello all!! I am writing to you as an American (not that I ever wasn't one)...but I am once again living the life of an American, so I will attempt to write as one!
I have been safely back in the states for 4 days, in Hillsboro for 2. I will tell you a little bit about Paris at the end...but What is even more exciting is our last few days in Montpellier. We were able to spend lots of time with Sophia. It amazing every time I'm with her how much I see the Holy Spirit moving and working right before my eyes.
Sophia shared SO much with me about her life and her past, things she feels bad about and is searching to find ways to forgive herself. I continued to tell her about God's love and gift of forgiveness in Jesus. She so longs for this, and said that she hopes someday she will be able to experience this. She said it will be very hard to ever "concecrate her life to God", she said, "If I do this, I will totally trust God with all of my life, not just some, and that is a big thing." I am just so thankful and blessed that I got to meet her and be her friend and love her. She is so loving, and is already writing emails to keep in touch! She also met our friends who will be there next year for an entire year, and she is excited to continue to hang out with them! God is working! Please continue to pray!
God has also been teaching me so much! I am learning more and more that God doesn't want us to trust him with our lives so that we have to live a certain way or follow rules or not have fun....he does it because giving him our lives is where we will find JOY and FULLNESS OF LIFE! Jesus died to save us from our sins, but he also ROSE AGAIN...so that we can RISE with Him and live a new life. Not one where we are coninually having to seek joy...not a life where joy is something that I experience every once in a while, where its something rare. God wants us to find JOY IN THE LORD, everlasting JOY! I'm still learning how to experience this, but it is freeing just to know that THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS FOR US!
peace friends...and chow! :)
p.s. Paris was wonderful, although it was a strange transition, project was basically over, but we weren't quite home. It was still PARIS, though, so how can one complain? I didn't go crazy trying to see everything, but the first evening we took a nice boat ride, which was beautiful, and the next day I walked around a lot looking at different things. The most exciting was the Opera House, which is the same one where Phantom of the Opera comes from. I actually was able to get rush tickets and saw my first opera! This was wonderful. The next day I tourned the Orangerie, which has Monet's 360 degree paintings, Renvior's paintings, and many others. This is right by the Louvre, which I didn't have time to see. I saw the Luxembourg Gardens, which are beautiful, and of course the Eiffel Tower, great times!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
YES!
WE JUST HEARD FROM SOPHIA AND SHE WANTS TO MEET TOMMORROW EVENING! PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS TIME TOGETHER! She said she has been reading the bible and has LOTS of questions!
chow!
chow!
au revoir Montpellier!
I must say I am very excited for snicker bars and MY FAMILY, but leaving Montpellier will be much more difficult than I would have ever imagined. This will possibly be my last post, and I feel like a lot has gone on since I last updated.
Things are still going very well. I had a little bit of time to process today and just really reflect on the summer so far. It has been such a heart changing experience; I feel like its very difficult to put into words. I have been so amazed by the connections we have had with the French. Contrary to popular American belief, the French students I have met have been so friendly and welcoming. God has so clearly been moving in their hearts....I am still so shocked by their willingness to talk about God and to listen to what we believe...to hear about the message of Jesus. However, it is SO difficult to see their apathy, they just dont really care, which is common with American students in many ways too. They dont really think about God.
But its also incredible, then, to see how God clearly HAS prepared specific students to really be seeking and interested in God for their own life. Although this is very unusual, my friend Sophia, who I told you about, is seeking God very much in her heart. We have given her the New Testament in French and a book called More Than A Carpenter, which is a man who did not believe in Jesus, and as he studied, he found valid reason for why to believe that Jesus was more than a carpenter, that He was truly God. Sophia said she loves to read and these would be her new books to read before she goes to bed. WHAT A MIRACLE GOD IS DOING IN HER HEART. I pray so much for her, as her dad is very opposed to her seeing us at all. We have not heard from her in a while, but I know that whether we see her again or not, God is pursuing her and it is in His hands. At one point she was even crying and said "life without God is so hard...I hope someday I can believe."
God has continued to bless our trip, we had 15 students at our Agape meeting night on Thursday...we had prayed for 10 or more! God is continuing to teach me. He has especially showed me that I need to trust him...trust that he IS guiding me, and trust that when I pray for something in his will, he WILL answer it...and I should not doubt this. I am learning that as I have faith and trust God, I am seeing him do things that I otherwise might have missed.
I was sick for 4 days...so had a long weekend, ha, a French doctor actually came to my room and gave me an antibiotic for a virus...I feel like I have a whole new body now, so praise God for that!
THANKS so much for those of you who have been reading and praying....your prayers are being answered...God is moving in Montellier! I am excited to be in America...I need to prepare myself for the culture shock. I cannot wait to hear what been going on. Thanks again!
chow
Things are still going very well. I had a little bit of time to process today and just really reflect on the summer so far. It has been such a heart changing experience; I feel like its very difficult to put into words. I have been so amazed by the connections we have had with the French. Contrary to popular American belief, the French students I have met have been so friendly and welcoming. God has so clearly been moving in their hearts....I am still so shocked by their willingness to talk about God and to listen to what we believe...to hear about the message of Jesus. However, it is SO difficult to see their apathy, they just dont really care, which is common with American students in many ways too. They dont really think about God.
But its also incredible, then, to see how God clearly HAS prepared specific students to really be seeking and interested in God for their own life. Although this is very unusual, my friend Sophia, who I told you about, is seeking God very much in her heart. We have given her the New Testament in French and a book called More Than A Carpenter, which is a man who did not believe in Jesus, and as he studied, he found valid reason for why to believe that Jesus was more than a carpenter, that He was truly God. Sophia said she loves to read and these would be her new books to read before she goes to bed. WHAT A MIRACLE GOD IS DOING IN HER HEART. I pray so much for her, as her dad is very opposed to her seeing us at all. We have not heard from her in a while, but I know that whether we see her again or not, God is pursuing her and it is in His hands. At one point she was even crying and said "life without God is so hard...I hope someday I can believe."
God has continued to bless our trip, we had 15 students at our Agape meeting night on Thursday...we had prayed for 10 or more! God is continuing to teach me. He has especially showed me that I need to trust him...trust that he IS guiding me, and trust that when I pray for something in his will, he WILL answer it...and I should not doubt this. I am learning that as I have faith and trust God, I am seeing him do things that I otherwise might have missed.
I was sick for 4 days...so had a long weekend, ha, a French doctor actually came to my room and gave me an antibiotic for a virus...I feel like I have a whole new body now, so praise God for that!
THANKS so much for those of you who have been reading and praying....your prayers are being answered...God is moving in Montellier! I am excited to be in America...I need to prepare myself for the culture shock. I cannot wait to hear what been going on. Thanks again!
chow
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
ALLELUIA!
Praise the Lord my friends! woop woop! My friends Jenna and Ness just saw a girl, Julie, put her FAITH IN JESUS! God is great...the angels are having a party in the heavens today!!!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
peanut butter
no more nutella....although I may have purshased a 7 dollar small jar of skippy peanut butter (only 3.40 euro)....and yes, it was most certainly worth it. why they do not eat peanut butter here is beyond me....I found it in the specialty section.
I just want to thank all of you who read this and who have supported me and made it possible for me to be here....know that your prayers and support are the reason this team is in France and being used by God...your prayers are heard and answered...you are part of bringing the LOVE of JESUS CHRIST to this spiritually dark city! I thank you so much for letting God use you in such a powerful way...more powerful than you know.
so our 2 goals of the summer are:
1. to make French friends
2. to learn how to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit
It has been so cool to see God teach us more about walking in His spirit, and I am AMAZED by the number of French friends the team has made.
God is doing some mighty awesome things. In just a few minutes my friend and I are meeting our newest French friend, Sophia, who I had asked for prayer for. Earlier she had said she couldnt meet until next Thursday, which was just a big bummer because we leave the Monday after that, but now just texted and said she wanted to get lunch this afternoon (at Mac Do)..frenchy name for MCDONALDS! This girl is searching SO much for meaning in her life...she is struggling internally with continuing to live the way the world lives, or giving over her life to something bigger!
God has really been teaching me a lot about trusting Him and trusting that he is guiding me. When we ask his spirit to fill and lead us, we can BE SURE by faith that he will do this! Our team has really been focusing on unity this week, and the importance of being united as one body this summer in order to God to use us. Everyone has so many different talents and gifts that the Lord has given them, and if we are all seperate, not united as one, the "system" will not be able to function effectively.
UPDATE: I JUST RETURNED FROM OUT MEETING WITH SOPHIA. We ate with her in the park and she said she had lots of things to tell us. She said she told her dad about when she met us, and he told her we are bad and that she shouldnt see us again. He said we are probably with a sect and if she does not do what we want we will want money or something from her. She knew inside that this was not true and she wanted to hang out with us more. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER AND HER FATHER and that God would protect her and help her to experience His love. Praz against any lies or things that would keep her from the love of Christ. She trusts us, praise God!
She is such a beautiful girl, and i so hope we can be friends beyond this trip. It was so good to talk about all of these things with her. She said she had never looked at a bible before, and likes to learn. We gave her the new testament in French and together we read almost 4 chapters of John. She would just ask questions if she had any. She wants to hang out more and read more and learn more. I am so overwhelemed by Gods goodness and hand in this whole thing. Never can I do anything to change Sophias life...but GOD CAN! Pray that she would continue to feel loved and cared for.
praying for you all! peace!
I just want to thank all of you who read this and who have supported me and made it possible for me to be here....know that your prayers and support are the reason this team is in France and being used by God...your prayers are heard and answered...you are part of bringing the LOVE of JESUS CHRIST to this spiritually dark city! I thank you so much for letting God use you in such a powerful way...more powerful than you know.
so our 2 goals of the summer are:
1. to make French friends
2. to learn how to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit
It has been so cool to see God teach us more about walking in His spirit, and I am AMAZED by the number of French friends the team has made.
God is doing some mighty awesome things. In just a few minutes my friend and I are meeting our newest French friend, Sophia, who I had asked for prayer for. Earlier she had said she couldnt meet until next Thursday, which was just a big bummer because we leave the Monday after that, but now just texted and said she wanted to get lunch this afternoon (at Mac Do)..frenchy name for MCDONALDS! This girl is searching SO much for meaning in her life...she is struggling internally with continuing to live the way the world lives, or giving over her life to something bigger!
God has really been teaching me a lot about trusting Him and trusting that he is guiding me. When we ask his spirit to fill and lead us, we can BE SURE by faith that he will do this! Our team has really been focusing on unity this week, and the importance of being united as one body this summer in order to God to use us. Everyone has so many different talents and gifts that the Lord has given them, and if we are all seperate, not united as one, the "system" will not be able to function effectively.
UPDATE: I JUST RETURNED FROM OUT MEETING WITH SOPHIA. We ate with her in the park and she said she had lots of things to tell us. She said she told her dad about when she met us, and he told her we are bad and that she shouldnt see us again. He said we are probably with a sect and if she does not do what we want we will want money or something from her. She knew inside that this was not true and she wanted to hang out with us more. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER AND HER FATHER and that God would protect her and help her to experience His love. Praz against any lies or things that would keep her from the love of Christ. She trusts us, praise God!
She is such a beautiful girl, and i so hope we can be friends beyond this trip. It was so good to talk about all of these things with her. She said she had never looked at a bible before, and likes to learn. We gave her the new testament in French and together we read almost 4 chapters of John. She would just ask questions if she had any. She wants to hang out more and read more and learn more. I am so overwhelemed by Gods goodness and hand in this whole thing. Never can I do anything to change Sophias life...but GOD CAN! Pray that she would continue to feel loved and cared for.
praying for you all! peace!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
yo
Things are going real well here in our little corner of France. Too much to give all the details right now, but just some really incredible things have been happening....God is moving big time. We hung out with our close French friends, Amandine and Emeline for an entire day this past week. Went shopping, found this spot where you can see the entire city ôf Montpellier...which they had never even seen, had lunch, and talked in the park for hours. We were able to share with them why we would come here to talk about God and what he has done in our lives and why we believe in him so much...and they opened us about their lives, which is just so amazing. Just getting to know who they really are and be trusted by them and just hang out is incredible...I can see no reason why they would want to be our friends so much after just two weeks....I can see that God is working in their lives...even if we dont see the results while we are here.
Also...today in the park my friend Hanni and I met two girls who are about to graduate from high school. It was the most intense spiritual conversation I think Ive ever been a part of. I will give details later...but please be praying for Sofia....I have never seen someone seeking at much as she is...God has been working in her heart and drawing her to Himself for quite a while...please pray that she would truly experience Him and find the answers to the questions she is asking about her life...what her purpose is...why she feels an internal battle with the way she is living....pray that she would experience Jesus...we will be hanging out with these girls again. Its just so great to joke and laugh and just hang out with them too....wow!
please pray that God would continue to restore and fill our team with life that only comes from Him and that everything we say and do would be completely covered with LOVE! and pray for sofia!...and everyone else we have connected with! Let me know how things are going for you.
au revoir!
Also...today in the park my friend Hanni and I met two girls who are about to graduate from high school. It was the most intense spiritual conversation I think Ive ever been a part of. I will give details later...but please be praying for Sofia....I have never seen someone seeking at much as she is...God has been working in her heart and drawing her to Himself for quite a while...please pray that she would truly experience Him and find the answers to the questions she is asking about her life...what her purpose is...why she feels an internal battle with the way she is living....pray that she would experience Jesus...we will be hanging out with these girls again. Its just so great to joke and laugh and just hang out with them too....wow!
please pray that God would continue to restore and fill our team with life that only comes from Him and that everything we say and do would be completely covered with LOVE! and pray for sofia!...and everyone else we have connected with! Let me know how things are going for you.
au revoir!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
too much nutella...but GOD IS GOOD
This is a blog I wrote on Sunday, but the internet was down so I wasn't able to post it. I'll try and start posting more frequently so they will be less long....some way cool things have happened even since this blog, so I'll try and fill you in! I apologize that these blogs are not written too professionally, as my thoughts are kind of all over the place. Hope all is well!
written SUNDAY 1, June 2008
It has been such a crazy busy week. I went to a different church this morning. It was so great. There was such a variety of people..all ages, and it was in a small room, it was a much smaller church. Ah, it was just very wonderful, it seemed to be exactly what I would imagine the church and body of Christ should be like. There was an older lady there from the U.S., she is a missionary and helped us to understand the sermon. What a blessing. In the beginning, the pastor was talking about how it often seems people come to church with no pleasure even in worshiping God or real desire...so he gave everyone some personal reflection time and said that anyone could pray out loud as they were lead. This was so amazing to me, many people prayed (although I have no idea what they were saying, it was beautiful).... elderly men, young people, someone from Britain...they prayed for our group and what we are doing...another humbling experience.This past week, I was able to meet up with some French friends again. :) I've seen Caroline twice, and 2 of her friends too, Amandine and Emeline...so crazy to me that they would want to include in their little friend group....we can hardly communicate! But God is good, he overcomes barriers...my bedmate speaks pretty good French, so she hangs out with us too. I met a couple of people from Morocco at a sidewalk store too...they want to meet up and learn more about Jesus...they believe in God, but don't know much about Jesus.
I also met 2 guys this last week at the university who do not believe in God...but had not even thought about it in 10 years they said..because they had to go to church when they were kids. They were so open to talking, and hopefully hanging out some more. Yesterday (saturday), we did an outreach and just went out to meet and visit with people in the city. I had specifically prayed that I would find someone who at least believes that God exists (this is uncommon here). The first 2 girls I met, and only ones because we talked for so long, both believed in God, one is studying theology, and the other isn't sure exactly WHAT she believes but knows she believes something. She told me all about her life, how she was born in Madagascar, but adopted and has lived in France her whole life, and totally was wanting to hear my beliefs and I was able to share why I believe in Jesus . We talked about the fact that Jesus existed and lived and died, and that he claimed to be the Son of God. We can either choose to believe he is a liar or that he is crazy, or he was telling the TRUTH. I might get to hang out with these girls more too....God is working.
More than all of these amazing experiences, I am learning new things about God and how incredible his love is for each and ever one of us individually. A man in church this morning was talking about how the God of the universe, who created everything, plants, animals, planets, stars, galaxies...also created us and knows every hair on our heads, he knows all of our desires, hurts, passions...everything about us...and he wants to have a relationship with us...with you, with me!
My team is just great...we are such a family! The cheese is so strong here..but so good...and I swear I eat baguettes or french bread at least 4 times a day. Being an American here is just so crazy...everyone is so quiet...I'm learning to like that, it will be so difficult to come back home where everyone shouts and just raises their voice if they need to be heard. There are many homeless people...I'd like to talk with them. I guess they must choose that life here...it's interesting. The government has to provide everyone with a job, so if they don't work, it's their choice. I love the laidback lifestyle....people take like a couple months off work for vacation whenever...so so different.
I could go on forever, please excuse my rambling, I again hope all is well. Please leave me a comment if you would like...I would love to hear about life back in America! chow!bisous! (kisses, cheek to cheek!)
written SUNDAY 1, June 2008
It has been such a crazy busy week. I went to a different church this morning. It was so great. There was such a variety of people..all ages, and it was in a small room, it was a much smaller church. Ah, it was just very wonderful, it seemed to be exactly what I would imagine the church and body of Christ should be like. There was an older lady there from the U.S., she is a missionary and helped us to understand the sermon. What a blessing. In the beginning, the pastor was talking about how it often seems people come to church with no pleasure even in worshiping God or real desire...so he gave everyone some personal reflection time and said that anyone could pray out loud as they were lead. This was so amazing to me, many people prayed (although I have no idea what they were saying, it was beautiful).... elderly men, young people, someone from Britain...they prayed for our group and what we are doing...another humbling experience.This past week, I was able to meet up with some French friends again. :) I've seen Caroline twice, and 2 of her friends too, Amandine and Emeline...so crazy to me that they would want to include in their little friend group....we can hardly communicate! But God is good, he overcomes barriers...my bedmate speaks pretty good French, so she hangs out with us too. I met a couple of people from Morocco at a sidewalk store too...they want to meet up and learn more about Jesus...they believe in God, but don't know much about Jesus.
I also met 2 guys this last week at the university who do not believe in God...but had not even thought about it in 10 years they said..because they had to go to church when they were kids. They were so open to talking, and hopefully hanging out some more. Yesterday (saturday), we did an outreach and just went out to meet and visit with people in the city. I had specifically prayed that I would find someone who at least believes that God exists (this is uncommon here). The first 2 girls I met, and only ones because we talked for so long, both believed in God, one is studying theology, and the other isn't sure exactly WHAT she believes but knows she believes something. She told me all about her life, how she was born in Madagascar, but adopted and has lived in France her whole life, and totally was wanting to hear my beliefs and I was able to share why I believe in Jesus . We talked about the fact that Jesus existed and lived and died, and that he claimed to be the Son of God. We can either choose to believe he is a liar or that he is crazy, or he was telling the TRUTH. I might get to hang out with these girls more too....God is working.
More than all of these amazing experiences, I am learning new things about God and how incredible his love is for each and ever one of us individually. A man in church this morning was talking about how the God of the universe, who created everything, plants, animals, planets, stars, galaxies...also created us and knows every hair on our heads, he knows all of our desires, hurts, passions...everything about us...and he wants to have a relationship with us...with you, with me!
My team is just great...we are such a family! The cheese is so strong here..but so good...and I swear I eat baguettes or french bread at least 4 times a day. Being an American here is just so crazy...everyone is so quiet...I'm learning to like that, it will be so difficult to come back home where everyone shouts and just raises their voice if they need to be heard. There are many homeless people...I'd like to talk with them. I guess they must choose that life here...it's interesting. The government has to provide everyone with a job, so if they don't work, it's their choice. I love the laidback lifestyle....people take like a couple months off work for vacation whenever...so so different.
I could go on forever, please excuse my rambling, I again hope all is well. Please leave me a comment if you would like...I would love to hear about life back in America! chow!bisous! (kisses, cheek to cheek!)
Monday, May 26, 2008
French friends!
Today was our first official day on campus doing what we came here to do. I am just amazed by how welcoming and exciting the French students I met were to just talk and hang out with us. Very different than what we usually hear or think about French people. The students are taking exams right now, so it just boggles my mind that they will talk with us right up until the time to take an exam, where in America, we SO worry and think about ourselves and what we have to get done (not that it's always bad), that putting people first usually seems stressful and impossible. I received an email this evening from a girl who I just me on the tram today. She doesn't speak too much english, but wants to "get a drink with me" this week or next week, and said it would be nice if I could help fix her errors with her english speaking. What an incredible opportunity to just get to know her and love her. Please pray for her heart. Just in the little bit we talked, she shared that she does not believe in God, because she only believes in what she can see around her. She shared this without me specifically even asking! Also pray that someone in our group would be able to help communicate French with her well. Also, that she would be able to understand my english, considering all I can say in French is :
Hello, my name is Katy. I do not speak french, do you speak english?
Very well.
Very beautiful. Yes, no, thank you, please, and your welcome.
It's a good start though! Is such a sweet language.
This is all for now, if anyone wants to leave a comment, I think you just have to register for an account. Thanks again for the prayers! I pray that all is well for everyone back in the states and that you are experiencing God's LOVE and peace!!
Citadines Montpellier Antigone
588, Boulevard D'Antigone
34000 Montpellier
France
Friday, May 23, 2008
Bon Soir!
Hello friends! We are on day 3 in Montpellier...
wonderfully smooth flight and travels getting to where we are!
Day 1- came off an 8 hour flight and 4 hour train ride...some major jet lag trying to keep ourselves awake...so after a good 27 hours of awakeness, we finally got some sleep. It was a glorious night, except for the ceiling which fell on Hannah in our kitchen...HA...it was really only one large panel, something was leaking, but praise God that no one was hurt, we had help from the guys moving ALL of our things we had already completely unpacked, and were able to move into a new room. Our rooms are actually very nice...a little cramped, but 2 bedrooms and even a kitchenette!
Day 2- (yesterday) We began some more training, learning more about the culture and what it will be like as we meet and build relationship with French students. So much to share about the culture sometime, I'm afraid I will not want to return to America!
We will be spending time on 3 different campuses in Montpellier, meeting students and just trying to make French friends in hopes of learning from them and sharing our lives with them. The area we live in is beautiful! Everything is so laid back, there are people just everywhere, no cars right around this area, its kind of like the city center. Too much to describe right now! The cheese is wonderful, and I think I'll be eating lots of chocolate croissants!
Last night we went to "Agape Night", which is the college ministry of students that is already here in Montpellier. We met at a church, and the church was just incredible, so loving and serving! They cooked dinner for us...so hospitable...and so many kisses! It was absolutely amazing to worship God with French people, in French and English, and the choir even sang songs for us. They were so excited to hear why we would come all the way to their country. We shared why we were called to come here, which was traslated into French. So cool to experience our God...who is the God of every nation, tribe, and tongue. He is not the God of America....but he is the God of the universe!! I have never felt so much love. The pastor gave a sermon, which was tranlated into Enligsh for us- one of the most encouraging and loving messages I've heard! This whole service was just so intense, and we then had dessert and hung out with the people.
What a blessing that our first real one-on-one interactions with the people were with French believers. France is such a spiritually dark place. Even the people we talked with today just breifly had given really no thought to spiritual things. A Christian in France is a TRUE follower of Christ, so in love with the Lord...it's so real, and so humbling!
We soon will be regularly meeting students on campus and hopefully will be making some new friends. Please pray for people who are welcoming and excited to meet us and know us and share their lives with us! Because its such a spiritually dark place, and we are experiencing jet lag, please pray that we would find rest and not be discouraged, but continue trust God and turn to him with all we do. He has us here for a reason, and I absolutely can't wait to see what that is! I so appreciate your support!
chow!
p.s. a pigeon pooped on me today :)
wonderfully smooth flight and travels getting to where we are!
Day 1- came off an 8 hour flight and 4 hour train ride...some major jet lag trying to keep ourselves awake...so after a good 27 hours of awakeness, we finally got some sleep. It was a glorious night, except for the ceiling which fell on Hannah in our kitchen...HA...it was really only one large panel, something was leaking, but praise God that no one was hurt, we had help from the guys moving ALL of our things we had already completely unpacked, and were able to move into a new room. Our rooms are actually very nice...a little cramped, but 2 bedrooms and even a kitchenette!
Day 2- (yesterday) We began some more training, learning more about the culture and what it will be like as we meet and build relationship with French students. So much to share about the culture sometime, I'm afraid I will not want to return to America!
We will be spending time on 3 different campuses in Montpellier, meeting students and just trying to make French friends in hopes of learning from them and sharing our lives with them. The area we live in is beautiful! Everything is so laid back, there are people just everywhere, no cars right around this area, its kind of like the city center. Too much to describe right now! The cheese is wonderful, and I think I'll be eating lots of chocolate croissants!
Last night we went to "Agape Night", which is the college ministry of students that is already here in Montpellier. We met at a church, and the church was just incredible, so loving and serving! They cooked dinner for us...so hospitable...and so many kisses! It was absolutely amazing to worship God with French people, in French and English, and the choir even sang songs for us. They were so excited to hear why we would come all the way to their country. We shared why we were called to come here, which was traslated into French. So cool to experience our God...who is the God of every nation, tribe, and tongue. He is not the God of America....but he is the God of the universe!! I have never felt so much love. The pastor gave a sermon, which was tranlated into Enligsh for us- one of the most encouraging and loving messages I've heard! This whole service was just so intense, and we then had dessert and hung out with the people.
What a blessing that our first real one-on-one interactions with the people were with French believers. France is such a spiritually dark place. Even the people we talked with today just breifly had given really no thought to spiritual things. A Christian in France is a TRUE follower of Christ, so in love with the Lord...it's so real, and so humbling!
We soon will be regularly meeting students on campus and hopefully will be making some new friends. Please pray for people who are welcoming and excited to meet us and know us and share their lives with us! Because its such a spiritually dark place, and we are experiencing jet lag, please pray that we would find rest and not be discouraged, but continue trust God and turn to him with all we do. He has us here for a reason, and I absolutely can't wait to see what that is! I so appreciate your support!
chow!
p.s. a pigeon pooped on me today :)
Sunday, April 27, 2008
3 WEEKS!
I officially leave for Montellier, France summer project in 3 weeks! We start off with a couple days of training in the cities, and fly out on May 20!
I just want to thank all of you for being a part of my support team! In whatever way that you are supporting, you are allowing God to use YOU to spread his love to people who so deperately need to hear it! That is our purpose, to bring people to Jesus, and you are a part of that!
8% of the population in France has a bible, and only 3% profress to be Christian. Thank you, thank you, thank you that you are a part of bringing the light of Jesus to this spiritually dark place. Your prayers, more than anything, are such a POWERFUL SUPPORT!
I'm going to put some prayer requests on here, and would love if you would join in praying! Thanks again for your prayers and encouragement!
Prayer Requests:
-our team, to be walking with God daily
-the hearts of Frence students to be open
-that our team would continue to trust God as he provides financially
-that we would trust God for big things, and trust in his promises
-against spiritual warfare
-safe travels
-health of our team
God's peace!
I just want to thank all of you for being a part of my support team! In whatever way that you are supporting, you are allowing God to use YOU to spread his love to people who so deperately need to hear it! That is our purpose, to bring people to Jesus, and you are a part of that!
8% of the population in France has a bible, and only 3% profress to be Christian. Thank you, thank you, thank you that you are a part of bringing the light of Jesus to this spiritually dark place. Your prayers, more than anything, are such a POWERFUL SUPPORT!
I'm going to put some prayer requests on here, and would love if you would join in praying! Thanks again for your prayers and encouragement!
Prayer Requests:
-our team, to be walking with God daily
-the hearts of Frence students to be open
-that our team would continue to trust God as he provides financially
-that we would trust God for big things, and trust in his promises
-against spiritual warfare
-safe travels
-health of our team
God's peace!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Kick-off weekend!
I just spent this past weekend in the twin cities for kick-off weekend to our France summer project!! It was so amazing, and has made the trip so much more of a reality! I got to meet everyone that will be on my team with me (there will be 27 of us). Everyone is so much fun, we are already like family! It was sweet to learn more about France, the culture, what to expect. My heart is beginning to break more for the French students...they are just so indifferent as to what they believe. Many of them may have heard about God, but they have never experienced him, haven't felt love like that, so sharing our lives with them and how we've experienced God will be huge!
Its such a different culture...no sweatpants, no shorts...I'll have to go shopping or else just stick out I guess! It is going to be hard, we have to avoid eye contact on the streets in France...and SMILING! How crazy is that?!
This is where I'll keep updates of my trip, though, so I'm not sure how often, but if you want to see whats going on you can check here.
Peace!
Its such a different culture...no sweatpants, no shorts...I'll have to go shopping or else just stick out I guess! It is going to be hard, we have to avoid eye contact on the streets in France...and SMILING! How crazy is that?!
This is where I'll keep updates of my trip, though, so I'm not sure how often, but if you want to see whats going on you can check here.
Peace!
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