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!)