Le Papillon

Sorry for the long delay since the previous update. I have not had the internet for about three weeks while we changed carriers. It was both a hassle and a blessing in disguise. But finally the problemes have been resolved and here I am, connected to the world once again !

Two weeks ago I began what will likely be my last semester at the Sorbonne for language. This semester I am in the last level, superieur, and am enjoying it much. At this point one studies exceptions, nuances and the deeper sense of words and phrases. It's great !

As for my internship, I have my fingers in many different pies. I help with kids Sunday school from time to time, I am involved in a ministry that reaches out to the handicapped where the program is essentially a Sunday school, half-time I am aiding with a college Bible study (like Navigators, Campus Crusade for Christ etc.), Thursdays we have a Bible study for the new church, every two Sundays the new church plant meets, there are meetings and this upcoming week is a campaign with Operation Mobilization and WorldVenture's yearly retreat. Haha, like I said, many pies ! Thankfully I do not feel over burdened and those in charge of my internship have been very helpful therein !

Church planting is much harder than I imagined. Thank God for this internship ! I can't imagine jumping in without a primer course ! Initially I became frustrated and disappointed at the rythme of the plant and some strategy but now I am very thankful for it all... the good, the bad and the ugly. God is letting me go through these experiences (good and bad) in order to form a working vision of how to effectively minister in France while being culturally sensitive. Several books I have read, am reading and will read are : Cross-Cultural Servanthood, Ministering Cross-Culturally, Reconnecting God's Story to the Ministry, Let the Nations be Glad, Understanding Folk Religion and By My Spirit. So with all of these tools at my disposal, your prayers and financial support, I should be well prepared for full-time work here at the end of these two years. THANK YOU SO MUCH !!! AND PRAISE GOD for using we who are nothing in His great redemptive program !!! As God says in Zechariah 4:6, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit."

A verse that has been comforting to me with the fall of the dollar against the Euro and the loss of supporters- a triple punch if you will, is Malachi 3:10, "Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, say the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." Just by the dollar's fall I have lost around $120/month of support then compound that with the fact that everything is much more expensive here and one really feels the hit. In the States I could survive on $25/week for groceries. Here it is around 30-35 Euro/week ($45-52/week). It is a hard time, for everyone, and I must continue to put God and His will before everything else. He WILL provide ! What a blessing it is to know that we will always have what we need !

Maybe you're asking at this point, "But what about his daily life. What does he do for fun ? How does he relax etc. ?" Well, I try to run about every four days and work out every other. Currently I am reading The Pilgrim's Progress, Cross-Cultural Ministry, The Canterbury Tales. I enjoy eating. Last week I went over to a friend's house for diner and also tried out Capoeira for the first time. It's a Brazilian form of martial arts hidden in dance. It was much fun and I think I will go back again !

As for Prayer Requests : 1. To reach many in the upcoming week's campaign 2. For cohesion and clarity of vision for the team during the retreat 3. For God's faithful and timely provision 4. Finding that balance in life between God, work, people, family, friends etc. 5. Wisdom as what to do after the internship

Praises : 1. My family 2. Friends 3. The meeting of my needs 4. My current lodging 5. Reaching the final level of French at the Sorbonne 6. Salvation 7. God's love