There's a place in France...

Bonjour!

I am in France at the moment... conducting some lectures with YWAM in Le Gault-la-Foret. We are talking about our "Identity in Christ" these week, going over such things as being His Child, Bride, Friend, and more awesome things! I only have one more lesson tomorrow and that will conclude these week's course! Things are going great (all of the worries I had on the prev. blog never happened!!!) I don't feel nervous when I am teaching, but my armpits tell me otherwise! hahaha... gross.

(Church in Le Gault-la-Foret)

I am just so blessed when I feel like the students are getting it, or when they share about what they are learning. :D It really rocks my world and I feel so honored that I can have this opportunity to teach about the SON of GOD!

(The village... a school house, town hall, and YWAM... that's it.)

(Maison Neuve: Part of the YWAM Base)

I really miss this YWAM base... when I came back it didn't feel like it had been 3 years since I left! It is really old and charming... in the middle of nowhere... but I love it. I am definitely considering another return here. I can't see myself here long term, however.

It is really cold and wet, of course... that is how NE France is!!! It was raining la

st night and I woke up, cause I heard water dripping from the ceiling... when I looked over I noticed that it was only dripping on my beautiful, green iPod Nano. Merde!!! :/ It works... but it definitely has some problems.

But... despise Polycarp's injuries (that is the name of my iPod) all is going great! And God is proving himself faithful (AGAIN!!!)

Tomorrow night, the base is making Thanksgiving Dinner, with all the fixings... even though today is Thanksgiving (PS: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!)

(Scene of Le Gault)

Scenes of Paris.

From the top of the Eiffel Tower

Me. At the top.

Paris

That's right friends. I made it to Paris. Safe and smoothly!

I arrived on thursday and promptly hit the streets, doing some touristy things of course. Eiffel tower, Arc de Triumph... chose comme ca (things like that). I can say, having done this before... it wasn't as breath taking... plus I was EXHAUSTED. But of course, as I tried to grasp where I was, Paris' charm rubbed off on me. I could do without all of the steps. My glutes hate me. Today included the Sacre-Coeur, walks to Notre Dame and Pompidou... and hours of explorations the Louvre. Let's just say there were lots of steps. And the way Mona Lisa looked at me, she knew that. That biatch. JK. JK.

While Paris is the most lovely city I've ever known... homeless people are a plenty. At every touristy sight there are people begging or trying to sell you crap. "No sir, I don't want to buy that light up Eiffel Tower. And please do not call me Lady Gaga." I just want to enjoy WHERE I am, not try to run away from you after saying NO 600 times...... BUT... here's the thing: I know that I can't give every homeless person something, I'd be broke. But my heart is wrenching because I want to see these people restored. It has been hard being here, cause I SEE all these people, I really SEE them. And my heart is so burdened because I know that there are SOOOO MANY people here that don't know Jesus as their LORD. I have been praying for people I see on the Metro and all the beggars. And I've been praying for Jesus to just TAKE PARIS!

I have struggled, thinking, "If I really had mercy and compassion, I would do SOMETHING!" But I was reminded of when Jesus healed the cripple at the pool of Bethesda. There were plenty of people that needed healing there (that's where you went to get a chance to get healed). But Jesus only healed the one. And then he left. I know that Jesus is mercy and is compassion. But I don't think that we would call only healing the one mercy and compassion. So, I thought who am I to judge, thinking my prayers wont do much, who am I to doubt my mercy and compassion. God showed me that my heart is full and brimming with compassion and care for people. What a treat to hear that from the almighty.

So God is doing great things in me and in a few days we are going to bring those things to Le Gault!!!!

I am staying in a hostel for a few days. While sleeping last night, I woke up not really knowing where I was. I woke up abruptly, sitting up quickly. Not realizing that I was on a bottom bunk... causing me to hit my head on the metal. Ouchie.

I was so thirsty last night, so I decided to pay freakin' 2euro for a bottle of water in a vending machine. It got stuck. It is still stuck. Grrr.

Some of my favorite things to do in Paris are things that make you feel parisian. Like grocery shopping and cruising through the metro like it's nothing. I know that's weird, but I like to feel like a local and pretend it's where I live. Plus a bought some Nuetella.... gah *drooling* I had some Pain du Chocolat and Crepes Chocolat....

Well, that is about it for now... a bientot!!!

Tonight, I board my flight headed to France. I will land tomorrow via Dublin. I am very excited about everything. Exploring some grand European cities and representing Christ by teaching about Him and our relation to Him to some YWAMers! I know God is going to do some ROCK YOUR FACE OFF things! I feel a little attacked from devil in some areas, but I am more than a conquerer. So, nice try mr. devil, you lose. And while I feel spurts of nervousness/ inferiority come up, overall, I feel at much peace. His WORD is true: "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name." Psalm 23 Thank you everyone for your prayers!!! And stay tuned for some AWESOME news from France! Thank you God for choosing me!

Veteran's Day

My Grandpa Sebastian. Medic during D-Day in WWII. Hero.

Nine days

AHHHH!

I am leaving for France in 9 days.

I have a billion thoughts going through my head!

Trying not to doubt that the Holy Spirit is going to work through me.

This is intense.

I am trying to reject these thoughts:

"Who would want to listen to me?"

"I am too young."

"What if I freeze?"

"What if I don't make sense?"

"What if I teach wrong things!"

"What if I am dull and boring."

"I could look like a REAL idiot."

"What if I run out of material?"

"What if I contradict myself?"

... I am glad that these are my biggest concerns. Because I know that if I yield to the HOLY SPIRIT > God can speak through me. So... nothing is on my shoulders and I shouldn't have to worry one bit. (I will keep my mind renewed in this reality and not fret!)

Let's do this thing Jesus!

I am not a security threat. And, my middle name is "Kurt", not "Fart."

For the Young Adult Costume Party... I came as Dwight. I like me.

And for some kicks... some Dwight quotes:

If I could menstruate, I wouldn’t have to deal with idiotic calendars anymore. I’d just be able to count down from my previous cycle. Plus, I’d be more in tune with the moon and the tides

Babies are one of my many areas of expertise. Growing up I performed my own circumcision

I keep various weaponry strategically placed around the office. I saved Jim’s life with a can of pepper spray I had velcro’d under my desk. People say, “oh, it’s dangerous to keep weapons in the home or the workplace”. Well I say, “it’s better to be hurt by someone you know accidentally than by a stranger on purpose.

The eyes are the groin of the head.

In two weeks time:

In two weeks I will be on a jet plane headed to the land of Napoleon... oui! FRANCE!

The reason for this trip is to teach "Identity in Christ" at the DTS (Discipleship Training School) with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) in Le Gault, France (1.5 hours east of Paris). The internationally diverse students and I will be plunging the depths of the Word to find out and establish WHO WE ARE in CHRIST! It is going to be flat out awesome! I wish I could bring all my dear friends and family with me!

A few days before the week of teaching: I will be checking out the grand city of Paris. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and tons of other ahhhhhmazing sites! *fit of giddiness* And a few days after the teaching I will be exploring the fair city of Dublin, Ireland.

***Took this picture in 2007, when I was in France***

I am just so happy I could skip around like a jolly ol' lass. ... actually... I already did this morning. hahaha

Nothing beats Jesus and Travel! :D

And for whoever cares, yes. I voted.