Le Papillon

It has been awhile sine my last post. I know my goal was once a week but with a vacation and then school starting right after, things piled up. The updates therefore should be more consistent now.

The winter semester is into its third week the 27th- kinda crazy to think about. It is a VERY hard semester. Initially I was under the impression that I had moved up one level but apparently I moved up two. This semester I take intermediate 2 French at the Sorbonne- the more advanced class... and it is very obvious! Thanks to God, I understand most of what the professor is saying and am now able to comprehend about 70-80% of what she says and can recognize what tense a verb is in... for the most part. However we are moving extremely quickly and it's all I can do to keep up. My head is just above water. Satan therefore has been attacking me here with discouragement at the rate of my learning, ability to understand, speak and the accent.

Culture is going well. I think God really used my time in Prague to grow a closer connection with France and its culture and language. In the Czech Republic I understood nothing of the culture and language, but in France things are at least somewhat familiar. I still find certain situations hard difficult to figure out.

For example: this mourning people who are involved with the church's outreach tonight were here for lunch and I was still in my mourning clothes. Is it alright to be seen like that and are the greetings the same or more distant because of that?
Another example involves eating. This evening I was having diner at around 5pm and the guest speaker was waiting in our living room for the outreach to begin. So I offered him some food and he responded by asking what time it was and looked at his watch (most French eat around 7-8). It was only after I had spoken that I realized what I was asking... but I did not want to be rude and not offer (if that is even considered rude).

This past week was particularly hard in terms of spiritual attacks. Around every corner something was waiting. Nothing seemed to go right and everything seemed much more difficult. When I spoke French I made mistakes that I never make. I understood very little about the grammar we were learning in class... and on and on. Thankfully I think many were praying for me this week and it certainly made a difference! Although still difficult, I was much stronger and much more encouraged. Thank you and please continue your prayers!!! They are the means to my breath, strength and spiritual life!

I have never done something this difficult! But by the grace of God I will accomplish what He desires. The passage God gave me last week was Psalm 46. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way... The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth... Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The God of Jacob is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."

Prayer: 1. I Corinthians 10:12-13 2. II Thessalonians 4:17 3. Faithful in memorizing and studying Scripture 4. Psalm 1 5. To live the Christian life by faith just as I was born by faith 6. Language acquisition: vocabulary, accent, grammar 7. Culture acquisition

Praises: 1. God's faithfulness 2. God's power 3. My prayer supporters 4. My financial supporters 5. My prayer supporters 6. I am now at 96% of my support level... and that in the midst of the world financial crisis 7. I am in France!