On my way out of Paris a week ago, I was totally worn down from my initial transition. I had just gotten over my jet lag and was in full "drowning" mode. It was too much for me. I spent half my days depressed and drained and crying. I purposefully didn't take any music or player so that I could focus. I had some serious time with God as I sped along in the TGV. I was wrestling with the humility issue as it pertained to a foreigner in France. When I arrived in France I had some knowledge of what was ahead of me. I knew some language and some cultural things. As those first 9 days ticked away, I realized that I knew even less and that I would have to ask questions to get along. I hate asking questions if I can avoid it, so for me this became a humility issue: Would I be humble enough to really return to 'babyhood' and start learning from the French by asking those questions. I made up my mind that I could do it and I'd just need an attitude adjustment. God helped me adjust it and I fell asleep there in my seat. It was a first time in a week that I really rested.



We had our little trip in the Pais Vasco and then came back into France. God was watching and absolutely encouraged me as we arrived in Bayonne and wanted food and suddenly I became the translator and helper to my 5 friends. We found a cafe and ordered sandwiches...the server was so curtious to me with my french and patiently worked with us to get sandwiches and drinks. I was in my element. Gerald and I went to buy phone cards and a recharge for my phone. I felt a victory finding where I get my recharge card: any Tabac should have one! G found a calling card too and we raced back to the cafe for food.



After enjoying food and fellowship we moved into the street and I caught a little lady and asked her as politely as I knew how, where to find the beach and for directions. She got all animated and we stood in the street and she directed me: "all the way to the end of the road and left, then straight ahead, straight ahead!" I felt so good for having asked, challenged myself and suceeded as understanding her instructions. We drove away and found the beach and walked along the Promenade.



It was a victory to connect us with Jean-Yves too. This young surfer just wouldn't let us get out of a rendez-vous. I even tried thinking we wouldn't have time but it turned into more than expected: a young man and pregnant girlfriend, moving in a week to Tahaiti, studying the Bible with questions that our host, Bernard, could answer.



Now my friends have joined me in my aptment here in Paris. They sleep and are experiencing the exhaustion that comes with such an intense "moving-around" trip. Paris is just a quick stop for them before their return; they have Fri-Sat here to see what is now my home and city.

So I've just returned from an exploritory trip in the Basque Country of France and Spain. This "L" shaped piece of land engulfs a beautiful area of mountains and water. Because of its shape the surf there is terrific in the fall and it becomes a touristic hit spot every summer. One surfer explained it as "the war again with the Germans." He said it becomes impossible to even surf because you'll run 'em over: "la Guerre".



I met some friends from Bible College in Portland and now spread into California. We were 6 in total and converged on San Sebastian from Paris by air and train. Our days were filled with meeting workers in the area and brainstorming God's leading for us personally in regards to a difficult area. For me, since I'm already engaged in an internship of sorts, I couldn't think to much about jumping into a ministry in the area as my friends were. My specific call has been into France and I didn't even feel at home on the Spanish side mostly because of the language barrier. As soon as we crossed the border though, I felt right at home: France. That's all I know at this point.



In Bayonne, we met a great family with 7 kids and stayed in their home. I only stayed 1 night and then returned last night to Paris but that one day was packed with God showing us wonderful things about what He is doing. We had made a contact in SS with a surfer in Bayonne and it turned into an amazing encounter where the Gospel was shared and the young guy showed up at the house church meeting that night with his girlfriend.



God is definately about doing some interesting things down the road here. There is a new feeling in the air that the workers are testifying to. I'm excited to be in training for it. I can't wait to see what will come up in the next couple years for me.

You should have seen it the other day. Little Sammy asked me to read him a story. So I relented and followed him to the couch and we curled up and I began his story....in French. I hadn't gotten very far when I realized I might not be saying something right so I corrected my pronunciation and watched his face. Nothing. So I continued and I wasn't very far into the second page of a simple child's story when I ran into a word I didn't know at all. Sammy was pointing at the pictures and babbling so I asked him what one of the animal's was on the page and he slobbered the french word as perfectly as he could around his pacifier. I said, "Oh" and continued. We came to a page that used pictures instead of words to tell the story. I was stumped. If I was his mother I'd have done fine but I was stuck, so I started with the couple words and then pointed to the little picture and Sammy filled in the blanks as I filed away the new word in my brain.




Talk about having to start from ground zero. I guess I did ok cuz Sammy tracked me down within the next hour to have me read him another story...in French. Sometimes we have to laugh at ourselves.



Today was a crazy day. I didn't feel like getting out of bed and totally miss the FedEx/Postal Service person who was bringing my birth certificate to me. I don't know what I would have done with it today cuz I don't know how to get to Melun to take care of my Carte de Sejour nor can I get there without a car. Tomorrow we'll search it out again.



They computer was having problems and I couldn't connect to the internet. I finally remedied it by disconnecting and reconnecting. Later on though, it didn't even show a signal so I couldn't do anything. I finally figured something out and I'm back in business. Its good cuz I have so much to do on Juno with my addressbook. Its all a mess right now and I'm so bummed on it.



I made a trip out to Disney again. Round trip costs 5 Euros. I changed my ticket again. Fortunately the same gal was there when I got up to the counter. I remembered something I had read about french culture: They never like to be accused of being wrong. So I casually said I didn't trust the reservation to get me to Spain because of the duration of the trip and the price. I asked her to check again and she said yeah, I was right and made the changes. She said I did well to come back and I thanked her profusely.



I came home to work on the "bazard" called the kitchen. I still am working on it. I think I'll retrieve another mattress from the basement for my bed. Its just a bit too firm for me. The computer has had so many little problems today that I had to figure out. Fortunately I'm getting a little more adventureous in the systems and before long I'll be a programmer without any study.... HA!



Can I just say that STAVESACRE rocks!!

Last night was a late night again with the company. I really love having people over. I love it when J and K as if they can come up and watch a movie and I even loved sharing my computer's DVD player with them all. I like having people over. I still want to work on being a better hostess. The apt is a little unruly at the moment but I'm working at making it the place to invite people into. That is important to me. This morning Karen told me a secret about French culture: They won't ask to come over. I have to invite them. They want to come but won't ask unless they are a very close friend. I had the perfect opportunity to invite a friend over the other day and didn't realize that they wouldn't ask to come, just insinuate it. I totally missed out and was bummed and I'm sure they are sorta bummed but just waiting til I ask. Its so crazy! Why didn't I think of it sooner? Of course they're not going to impose on the crazy little american who just arrived and is trying to settle in. Sure they want to see me but they'll be patient until I'm ready. SHOOT! I should have invited.



I did invite someone who I know a little better yesterday and we will get together today around 4. I haven't seen Sophie for a while and I'm so excited to get together. She understands american culture better than other french so she may give me some hints too. I'm going to ask for hints. Even though my place is a "bazard" I'm excited that she's coming and even offering to help me with the cleaning. I'm going to shower and get to work preparing. I need a new kitchen garbage can and K suggested that I just go to the big shopping centre and walk around looking at what things are called and learning what's here and what's not. Maybe she and I will be able to do that. Or I might do it tomorrow.



Last night I reflected on the Sunday and churchy events I had witnessed as I read an email from my friend Diane in Portland. I began to miss the lovely (last heard- out-of-tune) baby grand on the stage at CB and the crowd of friends. I cried thinking about the teaching from Proverbs, Paul Anderson and the Anderclan- all 7 of them, Tim and his chin rub, and Gerald with that funny grin that gets on his face as he preaches. There is such a movement happening there with the guys as they seek God's leadership for the SNS. Dan breaking strings on the first song, pitching his guitar back to make John close out the song, Katie's pristine voice blending so well with Dan's, those moments when the team backs off and we hear the people worshipping... That's how I love to serve, seeing others brought face to face with His glory. I remember that morning of the 19th of January when I saw Jeanette at Sunday morning and we bounced with the excitement of the arrival of my Visa...then all the mornings we bent to our knees on the RUG at the Reynolds. RECKLESS UNHINDERED GOD-CHASING!! It continues- IT HAS TO!



Then there is skatechurch. All the evenings I drove into the parkinglot by the warehouse and beat my own hands into the puckered door that has received so many acostations by rollerblades, skateboards and even angry young men getting "the boot" for their attitudes. I can see Stephen burning the sins of the bladers on his wood cross, Ahmed landing on his head in the roll-in and getting up to try the doublefull again. John Golden clearing the coping between the bowl and mini-ramp. All the nights I leaned across the rickety makeshift table and asked for ID. Rides to and from Canada in the sweltering heat of August. Paul leaning up and lecturing me on learning to ride in cars and someday letting my husband do the driving. The massive collection of Tue night that I had to weazel through to get to the reg table in the basement. Watching Lance and Kendal work the handrail at the rest stop by the light of the van headlights. Late night approaches to the Intern House to ask to borrow "the ski" and then nearly dying on my way down 87th on it. Chris warned us, Beth... It was fun though! Riding my longboard up 87th and across MBC in the dark when the only person who recognized me was Peter Jenkins. Seeing Hayes and the Cat videoing on 102nd and stopping to say hi. Hayes' "oh so annoying" video- getting flicked. Watching the transformation of the Dept and being included in the family. I have CCCP, DEPT and PHARMACY sweatshirts with me...I wear them in the house so I don't offend anyone. Seeing for the first time over here, a skater and knowing their genre has a special spot in my heart. I know just where to go if I get lonely- there's a skate/surf shop at Chatelet.



With all those memories, I looked at the little church at Claye-Souille, its 30 people, maybe more, the piano with an octave that sticks- but I can play without, the simple, family feeling, the warm greetings, the children running around. There is a family of believers. My extended family. Central Bible's and my brothers and sisters. Everyone was so joyful to be there. People pitched in to make coffee, turn overheads and pray when called upon. This is a movement too. If felt kinda like an incubator for an evangelistic wave to hit the little town. I don't exactly know what my part will be but I'm looking forward to see what will happen in the weeks ahead. I will most likely put my music skills to work after a short time. The room was miniscule compared to the gigantic sanctuary at CB. It must measure 10ft by 15ft. It was packed too, and its vacation time! So they need another building. I felt a little on the outside but being taken in. It will take a little time for me to warm up and start to recognize people and them to recognize me and get to know me. Also with my language capabilities growing in time, it will become easier.



We went out to lunch at a decent french 'resto' and since I have such hard times deciding on stuff like food, I just ordered soupe and a salade. It was good although I would have heated to soupe up a bit more. I also drew the short end of the straw on quality. I didn't say anything cuz they would have been so embarrassed, or I was or something. Everything gets so wierd culturally when something like this happens.... I found a piece of plastic in my soupe and tucked it under my bowl without a word. I was actually disgusted but didn't know how a true frenchwoman would have responded so I tried to push it aside. Maybe she would have howled at the garcon... or muttered to her friends about the service or maybe said nothing. Since I don't know, I feel like I did the best I could at the time and I'll wait til I see what others do in such a situation before I react if such a situ should ever happen again.

This morning my alarm scared me. I hate it when that happens! I was sleeping along just fine and there it is. I hit snooze. 4 minutes later, I hit it again, and again, and again, and finally I shut the darn thing off. Then I was later than I wanted to be cuz I kept sleeping. Yesterday was a tiring day and I was exhausted. I got to see some old friends from the 2000 summer campaignes. It was Nico who recognized me. Most everybody at the student "reunion" didn't know or recognize me although I recognized quite a few. I'm glad I reconnected with just a few the first time. My comprehension still sucks and I need to go at this bit by bit. And after having had such a tough emotional day, I didn't need anymore pressure.

My bed sheets this morning reminded me of Paul's illustration when he says to "throw off all the sin that so easily entangles." I was totally stuck in them this morning and had to bust out. They were so comfortable, warm, pleasing and yet they stop all that is to happen today, even if it were going to be nothing. Today is my first day of church. I'll go to J and K's church call something like 'clay-souille'. I don't know how to spell it. I'm noticing that spelling is my biggest problem and fear as I anticipate this voyage in France. Of all that I learned 4+ years ago in language school, its the spelling, accentation and grammar that get me. I'll have to study hard. Then again, I did recognize a rule the other day in reference to pronouns. So maybe it will all come rushing back and I'll just need to review. I'm fearful of writing papers too. I hope they don't spring that on me too quickly.

Its still really cold out and I'm stoked to have the warm coat. Praise the LORD! The kitchen is getting more and more to feel "clean" and like mine. I've never had my own way before- its always been a sharing situation and one day Michelle will arrive and we'll share but for now....its all mine. I was grateful to God for the crazy things I kept finding in the cupboards, like the set of 3 iron skillets. How cool- I think I have one more than my mom! And I didn't buy them, They were donated to this old apt and hiding in the most unsuspect corner.

I made my first trip to Tang Frere's since I was here last. I bought some random things to eat and just have here. At least if someone comes I can offer tea, cocoa and a cookie. I got a big jug of juice too.

I was teaching Sammy about Mancini yesterday as I played the Pink Panther out of the liztoppy. He danced around and said, "Mr Mancini... " Go Pink Panther!!!! It especially looks cool with my visual effects!

Another Valentines Day has been and gone. This time it was called Saint Valentin and I had a little valentine named Sammy who planted the most slobbery kiss ever given on my cheek. We rode a carosel in Fontainebleau and I finally found warm wintery coats on major sale. I bought one. Its black and fairly simple but long enough to keep my legs warm in this freezing weather we're having. Of course, now that I found it, the weather will shape up and turn super nice (I'll keep you posted). We tried to get in to see a castle but it was closing when we arrived so we only got to see the outside with its gorgeous staircases. Some day I'd like to shoot them.



I sucessfully made a trip to Disney train station to buy train tickets to Biarritz and back. They call this Aller-Retour, the go-recome. The gal was so sympa with me. She spoke only french with me and pushed my comprehension leaving me time to calculate what numbers she had actually said. I bought a card for young people and will get up to 50% off train travel! It looks like I'll need to change my return though cuz it arrives in Paris kinda late. So either I'll change it to earlier the 26th or make it a night trip and go directly up to CDG to meet Gerald, Jenni, Brooke, Steve and Chris.



Today I am especially having difficulty with transition. Some of it is attributable to my physical status. I'm not worried: This too shall pass....after about a week :-( I'm all homesick and just want my own space, heavy metal rock, my own food and noone to even mention home or memories connected there-to. It is helpful to know my friends will be here to visit. I'm a little frustrated though with not having some convenience that I'm used to in the states: the easy 'jump-in-the-car' trip to the store. For me, its 'bundle-up-walk-to-store-and-search-for-what-I-need-and-carry-it-all-home'.



I'm not the type to just sleep when stressed but right now it seems like the most viable option for getting through this week- I wouldn't have to feel the pain, think about home and when I awoke- it would all be behind me... Its upon this thought that I dive into getting through this week conscious. It will be behind me soon enough so mise well work the very best I can and pray that God will keep me. Soon school will start and I'll be doing homework again and busy with learning to speak, comprehend and write french.



My thoughts for today: 2 Cor 5:17-21- I'm an ambassador, pleading with these people to be reconciled to God.

So the day so far has been good. I'm feeling a little more of the reality setting in. My body got up so stinkin' early this morning and now that sun has gone down again. It was clear and bright out at first and then the clouds rolled through, collected in the Paris skys and its got cold out. By late this afternoon it was certainly freezing. I spent most of the day working in the kitchen. There are literally hundreds of plates and bowls and silverware all missmatched. I got to choose my set! Of course the fork design doesn't match the spoon design nor the ceral bowls match the salad plates or dinner plates, but who cares!: THEY DON'T MATCH EITHER! I tried to find the most flattering combination though. I think they'll be just fine. It kinda made me stoked about hosting people. I found a cool convienient cheese grater and too many can openers as well as a paint can opener in the drawers. My hands looked like prunes by the time J came to rescue me from the dishwashing process.


J and I took off to find me a "portable" or cell phone. We had to run back to the Val d'Europe mall to FranceTELECom. We bought the most expensive Nokia kit and a 35 Euro recharge card. I'll use this system til I need more minutes but for now, since I can hardly speak whatsoever, this will be more than sufficient. Having a phone helps me feel a little more settled and soothes that transition feeling for some reason. It must be connected to stability. As flexible as I claim to be, I desire it too; and hey, even Gumbie has a wire in him.


I listened to the Passion DVD while I cleaned plates and bowls today and reflected on God's call to OBEDIENCE over sacrifices. When I think about it, this what really what put me on that plane 5 days ago. I think that dreams and passions, and faithfulness to those are more pleasurable when God leads and I obey. When in transition because of God's call, even a discovery such as a new bottle brush stowed away in some drawer seems like a blessing straight from God. Sure don't know when I'll use it...

So much for a good sleep. I woke up before 6am this morning and am wired. I can't get back to sleep either. So I was thinking about yesterday and joining all the sniffing Parisians in the cold and I'm wondering: WHY? I know it looks so much better than all the yellow caution tape and painted curbs of the US, but in Paris, they don't give you warning about trippage. Tue when J and I entered the language school where I'll study my booty off in March, I didn't see the little step. Oh, it was only about 2 inches but that's definately enough to trip you when there is a shiny marble floor and mirrors on all sides of an entryway. I nearly fell but caught myself and purposed that in all my entrances and exits, that I will never trip there again. Maybe that's just the French way of doing things: you learn it once and for all and are forever civililized thereafter.



In thinking about my transition to living here, I can best describe my wonder in one word: Obsolete. All that was before is obsolete. My schedule, worship practice, places to be, work to do, appointments to make and keep. I find myself longing for some sort of skeleton to hang my day on. Right now my priorities are getting legal. The trip up with my carte de sejour is now in reparition and now its just a matter of time. I think I'll work on my comfort at home and plan the details of the exploration to the Pays Basque today. This means I will clean and make a quick trip to Disney to buy train tickets as well as stop for some essentials for the apt. (I will always remember my friend Chris Frank asking in an email, "why do they call them 'apartments'?" Well here, they are "appartements", said 'a-part-e-mon' with that french accent. Who knows- mines seems awfully "closer than apart" from the neighbors downstairs.)

Last night I woke up once at about 6:30 which is a good sign that I'm overcoming the jetlag and getting onto french time. I'm doing the very best at changing over than I have ever done before. I was supposed to try and make it to the American Embassy by 9am when it opened but instead I left at 9 and arrived about an hour later. The RER is a good ride. I sat there not smiling- for sure, and not talking or making any eye contact. This seems to be totally uncouth while full on staring is permitted. A black woman diagonally from me sat coughing and sounding like a smoker- like so many french, and I watched her pull a small but thick red book from her large purse. She began to read. The pages were a little dog-eared at the corners and she was only about a half-inch into it. After a few moments the page flipped up and I saw the word "Exode" (Exodus). I was so stoked...I had wondered if it was a Bible but didn't say anything. I just thought to myself: how curious that I would find a sister on my ride into town in such a spiritually starved place. She must have come from farther out than I, at least Torcy- which is the stop after mine.



As I rode I worked at orienting myself. As a child I learned that Right was on one side of the chalkboard from where Mrs. Nabozne stood and Left was to the other side. And to follow that, North was the same as Right and South was the same as Left. New York would then be behind me and Hawaii was straight ahead even though it was so much farther south. This is how I perceived direction and I have always functioned on it. It took me 5 or more years to orient myself in Portland OR and now I have to do it in Paris. Paris is so far inland and I have no landmarks that easily identify direction so I'm working on setting my internal compass according to the red RER line A4. If I ride the metro toward Paris, I'm going West- toward the Pacific Ocean and if I ride it out, I'm headed for Russia. I am so mixed up but today! TODAY- I had a faint glimmer of compass coinciding alignment. It quickly vanished though as I tried to harness it. I'll try again tomorrow.



As I approached Paris and my connecting station I decided I didn't want to have to get my little maps out of my purse so I gutted it- following the crowd like a dumb sheep. I did pause in front of a formal map to locate my next stop and make the correct connection. When I came out the stairs, I was at the right spot and marched myself right up to the American Embassy. The french guards did a thourough search of my bag and removed my little knife, collected it and gave me a card in exchange. This was goose-chase # 3 that the French officials have sent me on in 48 hours. The nice lady promptly send me on #4 so as to keep the momentum of whatever they started. Non, of course she couldn't give me my original birth certificate. I had to pay to get one made and sent to me or I could have a family member send it- BUT, it needed to be authorized specially. What? She handed me a bunch of papers and sent me off to collect my lilly knife from a french guard who wondered when I'd be coming back. Fat chance, buddy!



My next stop was not on the metro but a very brisk, long walk up the Champs d'Elysees. There was an incredible police presence and as I approached what must be a very official building I noted the Russian Flag displayed boldly along side the French flag. Putin is in town talking to Chirac about Iraq and the US. I saw a cartoon in a paper that showed Rumsfeld advising Bush to just declare war on Saddam and "old Europe" and show them that we mean business while Putin and Chirac whisper in the background. These attitudes help me keep my mouth shut as a foreigner in a rocky time. I walked all the way to the great round about and over a couple streets and weaved my way up to my school to register. I payed and filled out the few papers and looked at a schedule. I'll start March 3 at 20hours a week. Its looking good so far. I was able to grab the A4 RER back out to Lognes for a lunch with Karen.


Everything is going to work out. I know that each day has enough worries of its own. Today we worked out two of them. My "authorized" birth certificate wasn't such a big deal and mom has sent it on its way. School is ready and tomorrow I can work at turning this little home into a cozy place.

That afternoon, I worked at unpacking my few bags. I was so shocked at how many things I brought and at the same time how much I had left behind. I feel like I have just what I need and not too much extra. Jonathan and Karen Finley's son, Samuel, helped me unpack and was delighted at the little candies that kept jumping out of my bags. He is just over 2 years and the cutest half French kiddo. When they dress him up to go out, he wears a huge puffy coat and little hat like all the other french children. :)


I tried to stay up as long as I could that first day. I started to fall asleep during the "journals" on TV and had to drag myself up to my apartment. Everything had changed so fast. I slept pretty well waking only once for a momentary millenium. I roused at 7:30am to watch the sun rise over the small town of Lognes where I now life.



That second day I savored a shower that helped wash the airplane scum from me and dressed only slightly warmer for a cloudy Paris day. J and I worked on the errands that legalize me in France. We tried to withdraw the funds that I had received for my first month here but the ATM wouldn't render what I requested. We took the Metro/RER into town to the language school where I'll study come March. Its located just a little NE of the Arc de Triomph in a nice area of town and a chick building. I'm still working on turning my body clock over so I had begun to tire but feeling pretty alert, I attempted my entrance exam. I surprised myself and finished the entire 4 page questionarie which progressively got more difficult until I was guessing at subjonctif conjugations. I realized how tired I was when I reviewed a few of my answers and found stupid mistakes and corrected them. The prof who reviewed my work and slashed violent lines through my mistakes, looked at me curiously when I said I hadn't studied in 4 years. He put me in an intermediate level in both grammar and conversation. I'll get total review and and a notch higher class in conversation: Moyen 1 for Grammar and Moyen 2 for conversation. J was pleased with my results saying it was a truer evaluation than if I had studied and then I had a bit of cushion too instead of drowning in a upper level course.


We tried to get into the Embassy to get a birth certificate but we were 3 minutes too late. J and I strolled into the Jardin de Tuilleries for tea and coffee and sat under the heat lamps in the park. We discussed the internship, OIKOS and dreamed. It is a bit rough starting off a new project like this, so we pioneer ahead. The money is short and the team is only in its infancy but the potential is exciting. We continued our walk up through the Louvre courtyard and down into the Metro to ride home. It was so crazy to walk through areas I know and think "this is my new home for the next 2 years." I felt comfortable like I know this giant city and it knows me. I also see that I have so much adapting to do. Hearing fullspeed french again is a shock and I am overwhelmed. I find my legs hurting from the clipped walk that everyone seems to use. (I guess I'll lose the pounds and convert to muscle.) The women are tiny here. I was cold and mostly my face hurt from the cold so I purposed to get my hands on a warmer coat ASAP.


We began the hunt by visiting a new mall down the freeway a few kilometers. K and I took Sammy and started hunting in the stores. We finally found one jacket that was semi winter weight/semi spring and styling. I just couldn't feel good buying something too expensive but I knew I needed it and would use it the next 2 years so I went for it.


I guess one of the craziest feelings is being displaced so quickly leaving behind the old schedule and suddenly having a new one to discover. Everything I used to do like clockwork is now obsolete.


My favorite smell here is the laundry detergent. I'm going to send a little bit to a friend who loves doing laundry! Think they'll let me mail an envelope with laundry detergent in it?

It began so long ago but I'm not going to go into that too much. I'm just starting at this chapter. I arrived in Paris on a gray Monday. February 11 took so long to arrive compared to the 4 days before which seemed to wiz into existence and then quickly vanish before I had time to finish all the prep lists. Fortuantely God was on my side the whole way and my bags were packing a day in advance of 'family time'. By the time Saturday, Feb 8 rolled around, everything was ready and my sister rolled in with an airport for my new mac and a copy of Microsoft Office X. It was installed and I received a couple phone calls, a foot massage and pedicure (thanks Andrea- they look great!) and a great dinner and prayer time with the immediate family.



My heart jumped into my throat when my mom woke me Sunday morning the 9th. My plane was scheduled for 12:45pm out of SEATTLE and the first thought in my mind as I lay there flat on my back and stiff as a board was, "What in the heck am I doing?" I got over it as soon as I jumped in the shower and the LORD reminded me of everything that I had dreamed of since 6th grade and then as a 14 year-old. I remembered my decision to obey the LORD and his call at age 17 and my headstrong commitment to the LORDSHIP of Christ in my life at age 20.



We got to the airport and God showed his faithfulness to us with a parking spot next to a luggage cart. Almost like it was left there just for us and then standing in line to check-in, I nearly got an upgrade to first-class. My sister took them since they wouldn't let me use the tremendous gift of some generous man on my connecting flights. Fortunately I didn't get stuck with the "missionary seat" either (we all know that's the middle of the middle with a friendly child behind thrusting their toes into your booty). I had a window the first leg and then a whole row in which I had to try to sleep upright since the arm rests didn't budge. The LORD brought along a pastoral group surrounding me headed to do some preaching in the south of France and Paris. Its exciting to see others getting excited about reaching France for Christ too.



I did manage to barely sleep. It was enough to give me a boost for the following day. I woke up about 1500 miles from Paris and watched the sun rise. It was incredible to look directly out a window and see the dark stary sky and then peer forward to see a slight orange to blue glow that only grew with every second. Soon the stars were swallowed up by the sun and we hovered over a layer of clouds.



The security in Paris gave me no trouble at all. I might have asked for some if I had asked too many questions so I just gathered my bags and cruised through 8 guards out into the freedom of France. I waited for my team leader to show up and since I was a bit early, I just stood around a while. I did begin to wonder where he was after 30 minutes and as I began my search which took me outside into nearly freezing weather, then down another hallway, I finally found him sitting in the bar I had been standing near but behind a tree so neatly oriented that he couldn't see me nor I him.



We loaded my belongings and raced out into traffic where everyone follows just a little too close for 140kmp. I was feeling pretty good so after some lunch we headed out to try finishing my legal paperwork for residence. The crisp french woman distinctly said to go to another place and that she had "aucun" information. This is quite french and I will just have to work at weasling around all the flat "non's".