And God's Faithfulness Never Ceases to Astound Me

Wow, it's been a significant amount of time again since my last post. God has been doing great things this week though!

Monday night English club was amazing. There were less people, but we played games and talked and laughed for 4 hours. I love it :)

On campus, there are less and less people all the time, so we're meeting less people. However, we're still having great conversations and getting phone numbers. I was also able to have lunch with Jonas and Kate on Wednesday. Jonas is a French student who became a Christian a few years ago. It was so encouraging to hear his testimony and just hang out with him.

Thursday was great, too. Lauren and I had dinner with Nari; she's so much fun and so great to talk to! Then, we 3 went to Le Ranch and met a lot of French and American students to watch the France/Mexico World Cup match. I'm not that into soccer, but it was tons of fun anyway!

Friday, Pamela and I had coffee with a French student for 3 hours. It was quite a long talk, but I felt like we didn't actually talk about anything. That was a little discouraging, but I pray that God uses what we did talk about! Then, at night we had an 'American' cookout with American football, frisbee, hamburgers, and hotdogs. It was amazing! We had almost 40 people there, and it lasted until 12:15. Of course, we had to end it with an epic game of mafia :)

Anyway, things are going really, really well here. I leave in a week and a half, but I'm totally not ready. Please pray that God will continue to work here!

With much love!

Mid-Project Retreat

Woah, it's been a week since my last update already! Sorry! Things have been pretty crazy - in a good way.

It's been raining here almost all week, so there haven't been a lot of people on campus. We have had some great conversations, though! Lauren and I were also able to meet with Nari again. Such an answer to prayer! We went out for coffee, then just walked around, going to different stores. Such a great night!

English club last Monday was ridiculous! We had even more people this time - some returning and a lot of first-timers. It was great just sit around, play games, and help French students practice their English. I can't wait till the next one!

Friday night, we had another game night. A lot more French students came this time. We played epic games of Mafia with about 15 people, while others sat and talked or played other games. Many students said they can't wait to do it again.

Currently, we on mid-project retreat: a 3 day break from ministry. Saturday, we all went to Cassis. It was beautiful!! Some of us went hiking, and some just laid on the beach all day. I was one of the latter :)

Sunday, 4 of us were able to go to Carcassonne. We walked around the castle there for about 5 hours. It was absolutely breath-taking. I can't wait to share all my pictures with you! We were supposed to ride separate trains back to Montpellier, but God definitely blessed us with nice conductors. We asked them if we could ride an earlier train together, and even though one of them didn't speak English, he let us! I was amazed!

Please keep praying for our project.
- We have 2 weeks on campus left. Please pray we'll make the most of this time.
- We have 2 outreaches coming up. Please pray many French students will come and be interested in learning more about Christ!
- Pray for all the students we've become friends with. Pray that God will open their hearts and that they'll be eager to know Jesus!

Thanks so much for your prayers already! I can't wait to report all the great things God will do here this week!

Day Off Is Never An Off-Day

"I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." - Acts 20:23-24

I read this passage this morning and was very encouraged, so I thought I'd share :)

Today (Monday) is our day off of ministry. We don't go to campus, though we do have English club tonight. I'm definitely taking this day to rest and spend extra time with God. My quiet times are feeling a little rushed lately. I also did laundry (in the sink) and cooked myself a very interesting lunch of potatoes and green beans, with a little chicken and pasta (basically everything I had left thrown together; I need to buy more groceries).

As for ministry updates, I don't know where to start. Friday was great! Though Melissa and Marjorie had to cancel lunch, Casey, Kelley, and I had a great talk 2 girls about God. One believes in reincarnation and the other believes nothing happens after death. They were, however, very interested to hear what we believe, so of course, we told them! They're excited to come to English club tonight, as well.

Friday night was tons of fun, too. While some students on project went out with French friends, some of us invited French friends to come to our hotel and play games. We had a great turn-out and played games until 1am.

Then on Saturday, American and French students got together and played ultimate frisbee for 2 hours. We were all hot and sweaty afterwards, but I think everyone had a great time :) Saturday night, the 3 men on our project took the women out. They'd set up a picnic in the park for us. After eating, we all took a lot of crazy pictures, then went back to the hotel and played games. It was a great way to relax.

I do have some more prayer requests:
- please pray that we'll re-connect with Myriam. Kate and I had a great conversation with her last week, but we haven't been able to connect again.
- pray that many new French students will come to The-O-Show and English club.
- continue to pray for rest for our project. We have 1 more week until our mid-project 3 day break. Pray that we'll not let up all week.

Thanks so much! I'll definitely be keeping you updated on what God is doing here in Montpellier!

Being Content With Only One Thing

God has definitely been teaching me a lot since I got here. The biggest one thus far has been to be content and satisfied only with Him. My identity and satisfaction shouldn't come from people, works, fun, etc. It should only come from Him.

We've had great contacts so far! Lauren and I met 2 French women who were very eager to talk to us. We exchanged numbers after chatting for alomost 2 hours. One of them doesn't believe that God exists, but the other - Marjorie - is very unsure. She thinks a higher power created everything, but doesn't know where 'it' is today. We're having lunch with them tomorrow.

Kate, Kelley, and I met up with the 2 girls we met last week. They took us to Les Jardines des Plantes. It was beautiful!! They are so fun, and I can't wait to see them again.

We've made connections with a few other girls as well - Nari, Katerine, Myriam. Please pray we'll be able to get together with them again! Also, be praying that we meet more people who speak English and are open to talking about spiritual topics with us. And praise God for those we've already met!

Big Things Happening Already!

The past few days have been SO great! On Friday, Kate, Kelley, and I met 2 girls on campus who were English majors! We talked for over an hour and exchanged contact info with the intention of meeting again. We plannd on texting them soon to set up a time, but one of them - Melissa - texted us first! Please be praying for our next meeting in a few days.

On Saturday, we all made the half hour bus trip to the Mediterranean. I've never seen the ocean, and this was absolutely gorgeous! We swam, laid around, played frisbee, etc. It was a great day off, though I'm pretty sunburnt.

Today (Sunday) we went to a French church. Though I didn't understand most of the message, I recognized the melodies of most of the songs and was able to sing along.

Please be praying for this upcoming week - that we'll meet a lot of students and have great conversations. Praise God for the ones we've already had!

It's Finally Here!!

After months of anticipation, I've finally arrived in Montpellier! I have so much to tell but so little time.

We've toured the city - I've never been to a more beautiful place in my life. I can't wait to go back to some of the places we saw this afternoon.

One highlight thus far was getting to meet some of the French students involved in Agape - their CRU. They came with the STINTers to meet us last night. They are all so nice and funny. We played games and told stories - my kind of night! I got to talk to one guy for quite awhile, and later got to participate in the French greeting/goodbye among friends - 3 small kisses on alternating cheeks - because of this. It was a blessing to know I've already made a friend here.

We've been to campus once and had a few good conversations. We'll be going back tomorrow (and most days from now on) so I'd really appreciate prayers! Also, here are a few more things to keep in your prayers:

- That God will put a lot of students in our paths early on to give us plenty of time with them.

- That we will be bold, united, well-rested, and stay close to God.

I was reading Acts 5:1-11 today - the story of Ananias and Sapphira keeping some of the profit from selling a field for themselves but giving most of it to the disciples. I pray this is not my story. I pray that I give everything to God this summer and keep nothing for myself.

Until next time!

En Route to Minneapolis

It's Saturday night, and I'm sitting in a hotel room in Menomonie, WI. My aunt, Donna, met Dad, Kristina, Dennis, Wyatt, and I in Effingham for breakfast. We said our goodbyes (numerous ones, actually), and Donna and I hit the road. It was a fun 9 hour drive or so - lots of laughs and good talks.

Tomorrow, I'll be meeting with the France team again in Minneapolis. After meetings, briefings, etc., we'll head off to France on Tuesday! I'm really excited, but as the time to leave approaches, I'm getting more nervous. Thankfully, I've had some good talks with a friend who's been on project in Montpellier before. He's been great about answering questions that I have.

6 weeks seems like a long time, but I know it will fly by. Please pray that I take advantage of every moment there. That I rely on God to guide me and give me strength. I won't be able to do this on my own.

Please pray for safe flights for us (and for everyone going over seas on projects in the next few days). I'll let you know when I'm in France!

A Week Away from Departure

Finals are over, and I'm taking a week off to spend at home with my family. This week, however, will also be full of rest, prayer, and preparation- I'll be back in Minneapolis May 23rd and leave for France two days later.

God has blessed me with even more support in the past month, and I've been able to pass some of it along to a few friends who are following Christ to missions this summer. They've blessed me so much in my life, so I was really thankful that I was allowed to do that in return.

As for preparations, I don't actually have many physical things to do. The goal is one bag of checked luggage (with a small carry-on or two), though I'd like it to be relatively small to make travel in France easier. I need a hair-cut and need to buy a few things here and there.

Spiritual preparations, however, will be much more extensive. In general, people in France are very post-Christan. They seem Christianity as a religion that they've "evolved" past. They no longer have a need to God. Their knowledge and intellectualism doesn't call for that. They also look at Christians through the lens of the history - the Crusades, in particular. As I prepare to go there, both of these tings are on my mind. While no amount of apologetics will ever 'convert' someone, they definitely break down 'walls' that people have because of science. I'm trying to prepare for conversations that are inevitable about God vs. science.

I'm also praying for humility and vulnerability. I tend to lean on my own strength, but I'd love to be able to rely entirely on the Holy Spirit - not just in France, but all the time. Please pray for that for me :)

- Also, I'd appreciate it if you'd pray for my team and I as we travel to France. Pray for safety and patience - it's quite a long flight.
- Be praying for my other friends going elsewhere (Australia; Miami; Milwaukee; the Middle East; Ocean City, New Jersey; East Asia; North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina). Many of them are still raising money and leave soon, as well.
- Please pray for the French students we will be meeting and talking to - that they'll be open and eager to talk about God.

Hmmmm. I'm nervous, but I'm SO excited to see what God will be doing. Until next time :)

Being Called to France

I don't know how many of you know this story, but I thought I'd give everyone a little background regarding going to France this summer.

I got involved with Campus Crusade for Christ a few weeks into the fall semester of my freshman year at the University of Minnesota. This was(and still is!) a total blessing in my life, because before I got involved in my Bible study, I'd met about 3 Christians other than myself on campus.

The semester was fairly uneventful: trying to make friends, studying a lot, getting adjusted to being away from home. It was definitely good but not easy. Thankfully, God and I got a lot closer through that. He was the only thing that stayed constant in my life from high school to college; I had to rely on Him to help me through the transition. Spring semester was similar, as well, though I had some good friends by this time. I was also to able to attend a Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU for those of you who don't know :) ) event called Spring Retreat. There, I met a lot more people. But more importantly, God and I had a very long talk about where my life was going. I felt like He was calling me to be more active in serving Him - not to just sit on the sidelines. It was during the last session, during worship, that I agreed. I told Him to do with me whatever He pleased. Little did I know that that was exactly what He'd do :)

A few weeks later, I was having a devotional time, and suddenly, I was hit with this feeling like I was supposed to go to France with CRU. I'd been considering going on Summer Project with CRU, but only the projects in the States had really drawn me. What on Earth was I doing thinking about France? I had no desire to go there.... It then occurred to me that maybe this was God telling me to go - which terrified me. If God say to go somewhere, you'd better go. Or else you might get swallowed by a big fish, ya know? Well, after about a week of not being happy with the prospect of going to France, I finally agreed. If that's where I was supposed to go, then fine. I'd do it.

Well, after 8 months or so of praying about it, the time to apply for summer project finally came. I applied, got accepted, and started raising support to go. And God has come through in such a big way!! I'm already done raising the funds to go ($4700!). Now I'm preparing my heart for the trip. France is a very spiritually dead place - it'll be rough. But I pray that God will carry me the whole way and that I won't lean on myself at all. I pray that God is already preparing French students for the myself and the team I'm going with to talk to. I pray for safety. I pray for unity within our team.

I'm so excited to see what God has planned in Montpellier this summer!