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Since last writing, I have been able to go on a weekend retreat with my church, dive more into the student ministry, press forward in school, and continue adjusting to life here.
You can be praying for me in that last part, as I am currently still quite drained from trying to emotionally balance where the Lord has asked me to engage. (And, I have to remember there is probably still a bit of culture shock too!) Just this past week, I have been struggling with school and wondering why I am in a classroom. While I will always love learning new things, re-acclimating to being in a student after two years has taken up more time and mental energy than expected. I love working with my hands and creating things, and though writing and reading are just as fulfilling to me, my classes seem to, at least right now, be keeping me from what I want to really would love to be doing here; working with people.
I have been surrendering these thoughts to the Lord, as I can see why He is calling me to be a student right now. I am making friendships and connections with people in my classes, and it being a student allows me to live here. It has been a re-calibration and understanding of my time and investments. I want to “do my best” in school, but sometimes that may mean "my best" for the circumstances; i.e. investing in students and the ministry while being thankful for the opportunity to learn. So, thank you for your prayers in this shifting of mindset!
One verse that comes to mind/that I have been praying in this sense:
“May I obey those who are in authority over me in all things, not with external service as a pleaser of men, but with a sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord." Colossians 3:22
On a different and encouraging/exciting ministry note: I have been so honored to recognize the little part in God’s story that I play. For the church weekend at the beginning of October, I rode up to the camp with our pastor. I was able to not only learn his story in coming to France, but also the story of the FEU. The house I am living in was bought in the 70’s by an American woman who was passionate about the ministry. Since then, people have been in and out of this home: from the families, couples, and students who have lived here, to the numerous churches and ministries who have used the space. It was a sweet reminder of how little we matter in God’s story of redemption and calling His beloved back to Him, and how we are all supported by those who have come before us. What an honor it is to be a part of that story.
Speaking of stories…
Here are a few “vignettes” about some cool ways God is moving!
I was standing in line at the grocery store one day, and saw that the girl in front of me was wearing a Champfleuri t-shirt. (Champfleuri is a Torchbearers location here — I am actually going this weekend!) I said, hey, do you know Champfleuri? We ended up talking, and she is in her first year of undergrad here and was excited to hear about the FEU as she was looking for a faith-filled community.
The church retreat was really sweet. It has filled my heart to be a part of this church, and even though it can still be a little exhausting as everything is in French, the familial love that everyone has for each other is a neat reflection of what the church is: God's family. When we pray before the sermon, anyone can join in the prayer - having kids pray with such earnest hearts is touching. Each member of the church has an active role in the body, whether is is in worship or giving announcements, etc (these roles change weekly). Our women's group is merely the women of the church: from highschoolers to grandmothers. While there was babysitting at our weekend retreat for the sermons, the kids were otherwise part of everything we did.
I have kept up with two girls I randomly met the first week in the hallway of bureaucratic chaos (we were all trying to figure out our papers as international students). One of the girls who is from Russia came to the FEU and loved it, even though she isn’t a believer. She would still like to come when she doesn’t have work. The other girl from Italy is currently trying to figure out her relationship with the church, as she knows God to be Creator and King, but is working out what it looks like to know Jesus. Super exciting!
I have been helping out in the kitchen with YoungLife on Friday nights which has been so encouraging to see about 30-40 kids consistently show up every week! It’s also great that it takes place at the FEU so all I have to do is walk downstairs… ;)
We had a prayer night with about ten other organizations/ministries in the area. Man what an encouragement it was to see all the other ways God is working!
Once a month, we go into a student residence and make crêpes. In exchange, all students have to do is ask a question about the Christian faith. My time in France has been the first time that I have been able to dive into truly sharing the gospel with non believers.
I had to call my credit card provider to figure out some overseas issues, and I ended up talking with the woman for thirty minutes about her life and faith. I learned this from watching my mom take every opportunity to talk about Jesus!
I was able to visit a sweet friend in Ireland, which was the re-set I didn’t know I needed. Though physically I was quite exhausted after, (lots of hiking - yay!) my heart was so refreshed by the sea air, wind, rain, emerald hills, and Molly who is so genuine and such a listener. It was also cool to see more of the context for my Brexit class and Irish literature class.
I shared a bit of my testimony with around thirty students this past Thursday for our FEU Thanksgiving (as the token American I was very honored to be asked to speak.) I have recently been wrestling with reconciling what I know to be true about God — that He is good — with what I see in the world — suffering and pain. If anyone would be interested, I can share my speech with you.
This last story is my favorite. A few weeks ago, we had a “Soiree Chinoise”, as we will often put on cultural nights. I noticed this man and woman sitting alone, so I went and talked with them. They were excited to be at a Chinese night, and he especially had a lot of questions about what is true in the universe. We were able to talk for a bit, and I have seen him a few times after at the English speaking church that takes place at the FEU, the Chinese Bible study group, and then this past Thursday at the Thanksgiving night. He and his wife have been in France for about 5 years now, and he is searching, with everything he inside him, for something to grasp onto. He was touched by my talk, and we were able to discuss for a while after why there is suffering in this world. He asked me if I think that some people were made for suffering. I said I don’t think we were made for any of this — pain, suffering, loss, grief, chaos… and that we have hope in Jesus. I pointed him towards Philippians 4:11-13 and Job and “The Hiding Place”, which thankfully has a Chinese translation. Please be praying for him (text me if you want his name so we can pray for him by name!) and his wife — that they would come to know Jesus and the freedom in Christ.
Prayers:
The FEU - that there would continue to be an outpouring of God’s spirit over this home and ministry
Other ministries in the area: YL, Remix (a ministry that teaches English), Croix Rouge
My church - Église Grenoble Est
Those students I have mentioned who are interested in the gospel, (again you can reach out to me for their names :)
Confidence for the students of FEU to share the Gospel at university
Perseverance in my classes; shifting my mindset
That my social security would come through: this is a random “side quest” that I have been trying to solve for the past two months …
Prayers as I think (?) I might still be experiencing some sort of culture shock/overwhelming amount of novelty— it has been hard to wind my mind down to sleep, and it has been difficult allotting my time accordingly as I have (at least) 3 thoughts competing for attention in my head all at once
Bisous ♥️