December 2

Happy Thanksgiving, a little late. We had a great Thanksgiving feast here the Wednesday before. Here are a couple pics from that day. I hope everyone enjoyed family and friends. We did the traditional giving of thanks around the table, international style. It was wonderful.

(Pics: Lauren and me; Deborah, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Katie; table decorations by Katie)

The big news, if you haven't gotten the newsletter, is that I will be home for Christmas. I am very excited about this. It will be good to be home. I love it in France. I know this is where God has me. I also see my need to be restored. So, I will be home for 2 months and return to France at the end of February and attend Les Cédres until the end of June. I will continue to study while at home with the help of books and friends to keep me up on assignments and the ever generous help of Mme. Freeman.

My friend, Amy Coonagh, came to visit this past weekend. We know each other from when we did our DNA year in England 10 years ago. We had a great time. It's always so encouraging for me to see the ease and goodness of the God-connection. We had a time of worship on Friday night. It was so refreshing. Something I really needed.

It was my day to give the meditation or devotion for our class chapel yesterday. It was my first "message" in French. I shared about our complete dependence on God. So many times we know what to do and we just move along without really paying attention, and then... God is faithful to remind us of our need for Him. I mean isn't it nice to just get on and do what needs doing. Isn't it nice to be strong and independent. hmm... But the truth is He is our source in all things. And we will always run out of strength, energy, resources at some point. The good news is "ma grâce te suffit," "my grace is sufficient for you." Isn't it good to know that we have an unlimited source to plug into!? It's not always fun or comfortable, but God is dependable and life giving. Merci, Dieu. So, I encourage you, if like me you're at the end of you and all your resources, trust in God for He loves you. He is faithful. And His grace is sufficient. And then there's the whole life abundant thing, but that's another topic...

November 23

This blog is going to be an attempt at giving a little perspective on the French people. Please keep in mind that these blogs are simply that, blogs, made up almost entirely of my opinions. However, I will add a few historical facts to give what I say a little backing.

The French Revolution began in 1789. The monarchy had bankrupted the country, in part by funding the Americans in our revolution. The people were starving. And "the philosophes of the Enlightenment had provoked hope for the improvement of people's lot and provided the philosophical template for a new political order."* The result was a bloody and violent revolution. The guillotine was invented and anyone who had an enemy with any kind of influence lost their head along with their family.

Protestant Chritians had been severely persecuted and massacred. The idea of separation of church and state was born in France. I think this was the removal of God from society. Not that there are not always believers and lovers of God in France, just that as a society I think this was a major turning point.

Something maybe more familiar to all of us are the two World Wars. Just think, these wars were fought on French soil. They were pounded again and again on their home soil. Two generations of men were lost. Americans can't understand this, not on a gut level. So, if a stereotype of the French is that they are cynical, one can begin to understand why. If I don't see a lot of hope, one can begin to understand why. If the French think we are too happy and not based in reality, one can begin to understand why. We need to be ever thankful for the hopeful culture we have. Don't misunderstand me, we have plenty of problems, but as a nation we can usually have hope for a better day. We even have a holiday for giving thanks!

++Pray that God will bring hope, healing, peace, joy, and true freedom to France. Pray that God will raise up laborers for working the soil and bringing in the harvest. Pray that God will visit France with the power of His Spirit.++

*quoted from "Instant European History" by Robert P. Libbon


just for fun:

Please understand that I don't associate the following with what I've said above.

Elizabeth and I visited the catacombs under Paris. There are the bones of around 6 million Parisians from several centuries decoratively arranged there. One must descend 20 meters below Paris and then wind your way through the catacombs. Being the nerds and generally odd people we are, we loved ever minute of it. I'm going to add a couple of pics from the catacombs with this blog. Enjoy...

November 17

This blog is in honor of my friends Greg and Day Burns who took a very active role in educating their friends for the election. Day, you said you were interested to know what the election looked like in France. So here is an Arkansas girl's take on the French view of the U.S. election.

Obama is a rock star! He is a savior to right all that is wrong in all the world. (according to the French) There was a spirit of celebration when Obama was elected. The French are passionate about what is happening with our politics. If people assumed I was English I didn't correct them because I didn't want to talk about the election. They always wanted to know who I voted for. And then would cheer Obama. I'm talking about random people you meet in the shops. I asked one guy if he could actually vote. He wouldn't drop it. People here are sick of Bush, the war, and the struggling economy. The European economy is suffering as well as in the States.

I told my teacher that Americans think the world revolves around them. I always thought that was an arrogant assumption. But she pointed out that we are a strong power in the world and what we do effects everyone. An English lady studying here put it this way, "We have to keep an eye on what Bush (the US) is doing." In other words we can't let you screw things up too much. (my interpretation)

So, there it is in a nutshell folks. My observation of the US presidential election in France. It's been eyeopening for me.

November 11

Armistice Day, Veteran's Day... We remember and are thankful to those who have given everything for the freedom and peace we now enjoy.

In the past weeks I have been struck by the costs involved with what I am doing. I knew it would sink in, and it has. It's difficult to be away from friends and family when they go through life's joys and difficulties. Community is nice, but so are a cozy couch and a bath. Being in France but realizing you'll never be French. Knowing God is big enough to reach these people and feeling way to insignificant to think I can do anything to help.

Fear not! I'm not discouraged, at the end of my rope, or ready to give up. I'm just sobered a bit. There are months of language learning ahead. I know I'm supposed to be here and God can use even me mightily. But I still have no idea what that will look like practically after school.

In the meantime, I study and love and try to be a help to the beautiful people He has put here with me. I seek God and marvel at His generosity, goodness, kindness, and grace. Our God is faithful. I want to be like Him.

November 3

So another 2 weeks between updates... Couldn't be helped. I was on holiday...Here's what happened.

Hannah and I spent the weekend of October 24th with the Leighs. We had a great time. David showed us around the area. It's very beautiful in Alsace and the Fall colors just enhanced the experience. We were able to tour the French Christian School and attend the Sunday service of their church. God is really at work in Alsace. I was struck by the presence of God in the prayer time before the Sunday service. Then we had an extended time of prophetic worship during the service. It was very powerful.

Somehow I got out of Alsace without a Leigh family pic! But here is a pic of David and Hannah in a WWI battle trench.)

Thanks again David and Angela for your hospitality. They are great people!

Then we moved on to Switzerland to visit my friend Simone and her family. Naomi, Simone's daughter, was 2 yesterday! Bonne anniversaire, Naomi! It was so good to see Simone. God started our friendship 10 years ago in England and it is still a blessing today. It rained most of the time we were there but it's still beautiful. And the last night we were there it snowed! I was like a little kid out in the street playing in the snow in the dark. It was also a great opportunity to practice speaking French with Simone's parents. It was a time of peace and rest and amazing Swiss food! Thanks Simone. You and your family are always so generous.

Swiss pics are: Simone and Naomi; Simone's parents, Ursula and Willie, Naomi, Hannah and me.)
**As always there are a lot of pics on my Facebook page. Check them out! Lots of scenery.**

We had a bit of an adventure getting out of Switzerland because we booked our train tickets online with a French company and the tickets wouldn't print. So we thought, we'll just do it at the station.... Well, Swiss stations can't print from the French system. So after trying all we knew to do, we just got on the train and prayed. Shortly after the trip began, the porter came by to take our tickets. We handed him the printout from the internet showing our reservation and did our best to explain. He was not happy. All he wanted was tickets, this meant nothing to him. We stayed calm and polite and when Hannah finally said ok how do we buy more tickets, he said to check at the main station! Then the next porter, because they changed during the trip, was completely cool with it and didn't mind. And we didn't see anyone on the last leg of our journey into France. God gave us favor that day. We thought at one point we would have to pay twice for our tickets back to France.

I had been longing for the country after being in the city for two months. This was the perfect break. So imagine my surprise as I thought to myself as the train pulled back into Paris, "I'm so glad to be back. Wait, did I really just think that?" I guess this is home for now. God is good to keep that settled in my heart.

Classes start again this Thursday. Then it will be December 19th before Christmas break. For those of you who may not have heard, I will not be home for Christmas. That had been my original plan. Now I am planning on finishing the school year at Les Cédres at the end of June. So I will return for two weeks in February for Christie and Andy's wedding. (What a great thing to come home for!!) But I can't really do 2 trips so close together. So I should be stateside for about two weeks starting around February 14th. Then I think I will be around for a while this summer after school is out working on getting a visa to return. This is what I know now. Everything is subject to change! So just stay tuned in folks....

October 18

Sorry I missed a week to update all of you. And I had sent a prayer request with no follow up for you to know what has happened. So now I can fill you in.

All is well. I had asked for prayer because several of us were experiencing sleeping problems, sickness, and general malaise that we couldn't shake. We (five ladies) got together to pray and felt we discerned there was a spiritual element involved. So we prayed for each other and our school. Then a few of us wrote home for prayer support as well. Within 24-48 hours everyone was sleeping better, feeling better, and one of the ladies had some direction come through for her time coming up. It was so exciting to see the power of God and the prayers of the saints at work in our lives. Thank you to all of you who took the time to pray! It made a big difference in our lives and the atmosphere here. Please don't stop praying!

Last weekend I was blessed with a visit from Jeff and Maureen Grace. They are friends from home. It's always good to see people from home when you're in a strange land. I spent the afternoon with them. It was a great visit. They filled me in on their trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro. They were on their way home from two weeks in Tanzania. What a fantastic couple! You see them pictured here with the Eiffel Tower in the background. (The other pic is of the clock that is in the building of the Musée d'Orsay. Hannah and I enjoyed the impressionist paintings there.)

This Friday, October 24, Hannah and I are going to visit David Leigh and family in Alsace, an eastern region in France. I am so excited about this trip. David has been helping me since last December and is the reason I found Les Cèdres. I think this will be a significant time for me this semester. Please pray that God will bless this time with the Leigh's and that He will bless the Leigh's for their hospitality and generosity. This is their website if you'd like to check it out: www.leighweb.com

We will move on to Switzerland to visit my friend Simone. Simone is a dear friend from my DNA year in England. I get to meet her two year old daughter, Naomi, for the first time. I really enjoy Simone and her family. Another reason I am really looking forward to this trip. And fortunately Alsace and Switzerland are next to each other.

In the midst of the language learning, the growing friendships, and planning trips, God has been working in my heart. I'm sorry I can't really put it into words what He's doing or what I'm feeling. My teacher has caught me daydreaming in class and asked if I was ok because I had been so quiet. I assured her I was good and that God was doing something in my heart. The morning before that conversation I suddenly became aware that people were praying for me. It was an amazing feeling. Thank you. I can feel your prayers and I covet them.

October 5

It's October!! How did that happen? Time is flying by. I'm sure you find it the same with work, school, and activities.

I'm going to post some pics from last weekend in Paris with the girls. We went to Sacre Coeur and Montmarte. And for the evening we had a picnic on a lawn by the Tour Eiffel. It was a great day, the weather was perfect. But what makes such a day wonderful is the company. I cannot express how rich I am in relationships here. God has been so good to bring good friends, each with their own gifts, beauty, and treasures to share. Three of these special people, pictured here, are Hannah Glover, Elizabeth Bricken, and Katie Berry.

I mentioned time flying by. Well, the days are so full and I realized I hadn't taken time to pray. I missed God. I mean He's the reason I'm here in the first place. Don't get me wrong, my days are spent in communion with Him. It was some quality one on one I was needing. So, yesterday I went to the park for a walk and talk. On the way home, the face of a teenage girl in the back of a car struck me. Again, I was aware of how people need hope. People everywhere in every country need hope. Who's going to share it with them? Will it be you or me? In the States the odds of someone who knows Jesus being around to share Him are so much greater than in France.

I learned Friday about laicite. The idea is basically "separation of church and state." But it runs much deeper in France than in the States. Our politicians will still affiliate themselves with religion. Religion is not even mentioned or talked about in schools, government, etc. Religious symbols such as a cross, star of David, or Muslim head covering are forbidden in schools. If one is not raised in a religious family how will they learn about faith of any kind? Can you begin to see the odds? Where are the workers for the harvest? God prepare the soil.

Ok, so there is so much more I could go on and on about, but I won't. If anyone is interested in knowing more about the culture here just let me know and I will share as much as I know, which at this point is still not a lot.

So, I was sobered by the need for Jesus in France. But I know that it is God who will reach the people of France. And for some reason He has historically chosen to use His people, as frail as we are. So, I'm going to end this blog with a word of hope. (Which is fitting, don't you think?) I received an email from missionaries in Italy that I've kept up with since my YWAM summer there. They shared about two ten year olds, a boy and a girl, who had had God visit them in dreams. After the girl shared her dream she said, "Something big is going to happen!" These kids have no agenda for making these things up. God is up to something, something BIG! HA! I can't wait!

May God fill you with His hope and visit you with dreams and visions.