About two weeks ago, I was told that this year, I would learn how to make community wherever I go. Additionally, what happened in France would happen in Redding: I would make those close friends who know my heart. My Revival Group would be my support. I have been told several times that this year will be all about intimacy! For several weeks, I felt discouraged and a little lonely. This wasn't happening. Now I am starting to see these relationships develop! It's like God has already placed very specific people in my life.
Today, for instance, I got to school early and happened to see Joyce, a Brazilian girl who I knew lived in France. We had met one time before, when I had found out she wasn't actually French, had lived in the South of France for the past five years, had "un coeur pour la France," and possibly wanted to return to the country and bless it.
So already, there was this awesome, almost too-good-to-be-true similarity.
Today, I happened to see her at school, where we spoke in French for a half hour. I found out that she had lived in Morocco, where she had started learning French, for a few years before coming to France! She decided to come to Bethel to have a year to herself and because she had always wanted "more."
If that wasn't enough to get excited about, up until last week, one of her legs was shorter than the other--a condition I have had since I have been five. I am taking her supernatural healing as prophetic for the one I am going to have very soon!
There is another girl at school named Eline from the Netherlands. She is an 18-year-old worshiper who carries joy and confidence wherever she goes. She is so pure, so creative, so excited. She showed up in two images God gave me where originally I was the main character. I realized then that He may be saying that we were to be close sisters, both with adventurous spirits that would soar high this year. I prayed for her on Wednesday. It was amazing to see her receive with so much excitement!
Finally, small groups started last week. This week, there was such intimacy among us as we shared our hearts, hugged each other, and prayed with each other. One of the girls, Sarah, comes from Jersey...which is right near Brittany, where I lived last year! She has passed through Rennes and visited many regions in France, such as La Dordogne (which was my favorite vacation spot) and St. Malo (where this website's picture was taken.)
"It's nice to be able to talk to someone who has been to the same places I have," Sarah smiled. "I have a heart for France. They have such a need for the Spirit here."
God keeps placing people in my midst of every nationality who have hearts for France--even if they have not been there or do not know the language! One day, if I can, it would be cool to intercede for France in a group or to teach Americans with this heart for France about the culture and language and how to pray for the country.
After my Activation training today, I saw Ketty, a French girl, outside.
"I'm hungry, but I don't trust American foods," she said, which kind of offended me, before I remembered what it had been like to first encounter white bread during a biannual summer trip to America. "When I first moved here, I would only eat things like tomatoes and strawberries...the kinds of things we would eat in France. I was too suspicious to eat anything else. If I had my way, I would be eating a warm butter croissant right now..." she scowled. "Which don't exist here."
"I would be drinking Schweppes Agrumes, the only soda I will drink. Then I would eat Moroccan mint chocolate from the LeDaniel by Republique with a Saveurs du Soir Menthe Grand Sud infusion. For dinner, I would have a quiche lorraine and a tarte--"
"Stop it," said Eric, another francophone from Tahiti. "You're killing us."
Ruth, a British girl from Paris, discussed how she preferred the way with which the French communicate with each other compared with the American way.
I am excited that my ties with both the Francophone world and with people who have hearts with France are growing! Next week a third-year French intern is hosting a dinner for the Francophone group I just happened to find out existed while I was still in France and signed myself up for in August. The more French-speaking people I have met here, the more I am looking forward to it! I have even started forgetting English words that I know perfectly in French! I love hearing all these French people roll out thick French words and hear them say "fin" and "quoi" every two seconds. I feel like I am back in Rennes hearing authentic, everyday French. Once I have gotten past my insecurities and started speaking for a couple seconds, I hear myself talking in the same way with a less pronounced accent. I feel so proud!!!
One day, all of us Francophones will get together somewhere and casually sip tall glasses of Schweppes Agrume at a little cafe, all while casually discussing the dozens of people we have seen radically changed through a love encounter with Jesus in the different cities we are ministering at. You know, the normal Christian.
We are getting so ready!
Today, for instance, I got to school early and happened to see Joyce, a Brazilian girl who I knew lived in France. We had met one time before, when I had found out she wasn't actually French, had lived in the South of France for the past five years, had "un coeur pour la France," and possibly wanted to return to the country and bless it.
So already, there was this awesome, almost too-good-to-be-true similarity.
Today, I happened to see her at school, where we spoke in French for a half hour. I found out that she had lived in Morocco, where she had started learning French, for a few years before coming to France! She decided to come to Bethel to have a year to herself and because she had always wanted "more."
If that wasn't enough to get excited about, up until last week, one of her legs was shorter than the other--a condition I have had since I have been five. I am taking her supernatural healing as prophetic for the one I am going to have very soon!
There is another girl at school named Eline from the Netherlands. She is an 18-year-old worshiper who carries joy and confidence wherever she goes. She is so pure, so creative, so excited. She showed up in two images God gave me where originally I was the main character. I realized then that He may be saying that we were to be close sisters, both with adventurous spirits that would soar high this year. I prayed for her on Wednesday. It was amazing to see her receive with so much excitement!
Finally, small groups started last week. This week, there was such intimacy among us as we shared our hearts, hugged each other, and prayed with each other. One of the girls, Sarah, comes from Jersey...which is right near Brittany, where I lived last year! She has passed through Rennes and visited many regions in France, such as La Dordogne (which was my favorite vacation spot) and St. Malo (where this website's picture was taken.)
"It's nice to be able to talk to someone who has been to the same places I have," Sarah smiled. "I have a heart for France. They have such a need for the Spirit here."
God keeps placing people in my midst of every nationality who have hearts for France--even if they have not been there or do not know the language! One day, if I can, it would be cool to intercede for France in a group or to teach Americans with this heart for France about the culture and language and how to pray for the country.
After my Activation training today, I saw Ketty, a French girl, outside.
"I'm hungry, but I don't trust American foods," she said, which kind of offended me, before I remembered what it had been like to first encounter white bread during a biannual summer trip to America. "When I first moved here, I would only eat things like tomatoes and strawberries...the kinds of things we would eat in France. I was too suspicious to eat anything else. If I had my way, I would be eating a warm butter croissant right now..." she scowled. "Which don't exist here."
"I would be drinking Schweppes Agrumes, the only soda I will drink. Then I would eat Moroccan mint chocolate from the LeDaniel by Republique with a Saveurs du Soir Menthe Grand Sud infusion. For dinner, I would have a quiche lorraine and a tarte--"
"Stop it," said Eric, another francophone from Tahiti. "You're killing us."
Ruth, a British girl from Paris, discussed how she preferred the way with which the French communicate with each other compared with the American way.
I am excited that my ties with both the Francophone world and with people who have hearts with France are growing! Next week a third-year French intern is hosting a dinner for the Francophone group I just happened to find out existed while I was still in France and signed myself up for in August. The more French-speaking people I have met here, the more I am looking forward to it! I have even started forgetting English words that I know perfectly in French! I love hearing all these French people roll out thick French words and hear them say "fin" and "quoi" every two seconds. I feel like I am back in Rennes hearing authentic, everyday French. Once I have gotten past my insecurities and started speaking for a couple seconds, I hear myself talking in the same way with a less pronounced accent. I feel so proud!!!
One day, all of us Francophones will get together somewhere and casually sip tall glasses of Schweppes Agrume at a little cafe, all while casually discussing the dozens of people we have seen radically changed through a love encounter with Jesus in the different cities we are ministering at. You know, the normal Christian.
We are getting so ready!