Sorry it's once again beena little while since we've posted an update. and forever since I have joined in on the posting. The internet here has been flaky for the past week but we think it's finally been all fixed up.
This was a very busy week once again with course finishing and packing and goodbyes to be said. The third group left this morning, bright and early around 5:30 am. For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to get up and tell them goodbye so my day started pretty early, but of course I went back to sleep after they left for a couple more hours. The exitement really started when I was getting ready to start the dishes and they come running saying, get ready, we need to send you to Paris because one of the students forgot their bag. So I went to Paris today. A little running around with a big suitcase and some close calls, but all in all God made it happen and everything fell into place perfectly. All of the students made it on their way with their luggage (at least when i last saw them) and none had to pay overweight charges.
this all goes to say how much recently I've seen God with a hand in what I'm doing here or coming up in my life. or in every little thing from moment to moment. At times it is very easy to forget how He is watching every moment to belay fears or worries and guide our hand and words and thoughts. This summer has been a struggle for me with faith and understanding and fear of the future and what is going to happen. I had a friend last fall who gave me a devotional book called "Jesus Calling" which has really helped me recognize areas in my life where my focus may have failed or I have left fear take control of my actions. I want to share with you all one of my devotions from this past week that has really helped my regain some of my focus on God and giving him control:
- Bring me all your feelings, even the ones you wish you didn't have. Fear and anxiety still plague you. Feelings perse are not sinful, but they can be te,ptations to sin. Blazing missiles of fear fly at you day and night; these attacks from the evil one come at you relentlessly. Use your shield of faith to extinguish those flaming arrows. Affirm your trust in Me, regardless of how you feel. If you persist, your feelings will eventually fall in line with your faith. Do not hide from your fear or pretend it isn't there. Anxiety that you hide in the recesses of your heart will give birth to fear of fear/ a monstrous stepchild.... Concentrate on trusting Me, and fearfulness will gradually lose its foothold within you.
There have been so many fears to face traveling to a new country: travel stress and safety, language barriers, lack of communication, and just being away from good friends and family for an extended period of time. I have faced these challenges before with no issue so didn't feel there would be a problem with just 3 months in france. It's not the other side of the world, don't have to worryelectricity or any other day to day needs. But there has been a big battle of satan saying that I should be scared about obnoxious things like whether or not i will even make it back to the states or have a place to live when i get there. In the past few days, I have seen God provide in more ways than I can imagine serving as another reminder for the next time i fear somthing ridiculous, or not, that God is taking care of me even if it means waiting another day or two.
We have an opportunity everyday here to recognize God's beauty in our surroundings and the people that have surrounded us. God has blessed us with new friendships and also time to relax in his presence. Please pray for us in our last two weeks here that we take advantage everyday of the moments he gives us to praise Him whether it is while we're doing the dishes, worshipping in church, cleaning a toilet, taking a walk on the beach or just having a conversation about what to make for dinner. Pray for our conversations, that we will use the time we have wisely and do not focus on the lack of time we have but instead enjoy everyday.
There have been some changes about the house as well and we seem to have gained another intern in the past 24 hours! Her name is Diana, and she was a student with Track C and is now staying on to help the institute. please keep her in your prayers and she adjusts to the change in responsibilities over the next couple of days. Also, with track C leaving there are only 6 people left in the house. This has already affected the sleeping habits of the students and the dynamics of the house. Please pray for Katie and I as we also adjust to the change in number and the difference in relationships that may develop with less people.
Katie has her third bible study tomorrow night and the person who had been helping out with the music is one of the students who went home. Please keep her in your prayers as she prepares for the discussion tomorrow night and thinks on how she would like to handle worship.
and thank you all, whoever you lay be, for taking the time to read my ramblings this evening. some of this has been weighing on my heart for awhile and I'm glad I was able to share it with you. Good things are happening here in France with this ministry and the new relationships the institute has formed through opportunities they have had this summer. Praise for the neighbors that have become buddies for the students as well as the neighbor across the street who helped provide housing for a professor for a month this summer.
love you all! have a splendid sunday!! (cause it's already sunday here)
-Amber
There have been some changes about the house as well and we seem to have gained another intern in the past 24 hours! Her name is Diana, and she was a student with Track C and is now staying on to help the institute. please keep her in your prayers and she adjusts to the change in responsibilities over the next couple of days. Also, with track C leaving there are only 6 people left in the house. This has already affected the sleeping habits of the students and the dynamics of the house. Please pray for Katie and I as we also adjust to the change in number and the difference in relationships that may develop with less people.
Katie has her third bible study tomorrow night and the person who had been helping out with the music is one of the students who went home. Please keep her in your prayers as she prepares for the discussion tomorrow night and thinks on how she would like to handle worship.
and thank you all, whoever you lay be, for taking the time to read my ramblings this evening. some of this has been weighing on my heart for awhile and I'm glad I was able to share it with you. Good things are happening here in France with this ministry and the new relationships the institute has formed through opportunities they have had this summer. Praise for the neighbors that have become buddies for the students as well as the neighbor across the street who helped provide housing for a professor for a month this summer.
love you all! have a splendid sunday!! (cause it's already sunday here)
-Amber
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