I know the French are artistic..but really...it doesn't have to be *that* much! :P
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
stopping to look at the map!
we stopped in the Jardin Public to gaze at the beauty around us and (more helpful) to look at the map!
the fountain
we walked around the town we are staying on Monday and found a nice fountain... :D you can guess the rest!What to do when you can't figure out how to use the washer...
you wash them out in the sink and hang them out to dry!
washing them out...
hanging them to dry...
washing them out...
hanging them to dry...spotting them...
rinsing...
What to do when the bakery is closed...
In France, you buy your bread every day...otherwise you get a really, really, hard rock that works as a missile...anyway... :D so what do you do when the bakery is closed on Sunday morning? You make "French!" toast! Before we left, we heard that French toast actually orginated from day-old French bread!Monday, August 31, 2009
Prayers and Praise
Before I head to bed, I wanted to talk about what we've been experiencing in the last few days...(sorry, no pictures!)
We went to a wonderful service at a "good-sized" church on Sunday. Dad writes: We participated in an awesome church service on Sunday. My personal vision for this trip: Thoughtfully, to experience how God is at work in France. The service had 10 young people share articulately of the dependence they had on Christ to live for him, follow his ways, and share his love. This was a 100 person church! Our observation is that God continues to work in the same way as he always has:
"Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:22
We met with missionaries who continue to work with George Verwer, a Moody Bible Institute graduate (the place where Cherrie and I met), and the founder of Operation Mobilization. There was much commonality with them. We just returned from their home, experiencing fellowship and fun with their grandkids and pool.
We had a hilarious experience at church: a Frenchman was very kindly welcoming us when he found we do not speak French. Through someone who knew English he told us; "I'm a good Frenchman, I don't speak English!"
We are loving the new country, but it's really hard as well. Culture shock is a good way to put it. Everything is different, from dress to language to trying to get your credit card to work so you can get gas or buy train tickets! I think the language is the hardest thing. It's amazing to see how just by speaking English, people are drawn together, from all walks of life. It's hard not to be able to comunicate with someone when you need food fast for health reasons. But in a way, it draws us closer to Him. It makes us depend on Him for our needs, because truly, we don't know what will happen next! And we might not know how to deal with it! It's really humbling. We are so thankful for an awesome leader who is very adventurous!
The food is great, though it's an adventure to shop! We went to the store and bought what we thought was yoghurt, but really looked and tasted like sour cream...so you can buy the "same" products and have things turn out *really* different! :D But, you can't get any better than the bread here! You have to buy it every day or else...but that's another post!
So please pray that through our weaknesses, the Lord will work. Blessings to all of you. We miss you and would love to hear what you're doing!
~Amber
P.S. Dad said to say that comparatively, this makes the Boundary Waters look easy! :D
In the Train
I could NOT get one of both sides...grr!
We LOVE the trains in France, they are SO much more comfortable than a plane!!! And, you can see what's outside a little more too...
We slept...played Presidents...looked at the gorgeous countryside...and arrived safely in Avignon!
P.S. this has been Amber posting...
P.P.S. note to self...do NOT help anyone with ANYTHING while taking out your contacts...you could end up sleeping with one in and putting in another on top...MORAL: it works a lot better to wear ONE contact in one eye rather than two! :D (or not so much!)
Saturday...
We're off to the South of France! Here we're at the train station ready to leave...and yes, we were very tired! 
Yay for Nuclear Power!!! This is actually one of the plants Dad works with!
Point Zero and the Back of Notre Dame
This is the point from which all distances are measured in France...it's place right in front of Notre Dame
The back of Notre DameOn a Lighter Note...
next stop was the park! Right behind Notre Dame, it was a great place to sit and meditate after the awesome experience of Notre Dame...and of course we all have different ways of meditation! :D
and a picture of the kids...Notre Dame
The sun coming through the stained glass was gorgeous. I can't even come close to explaining the grandeur of Notre Dame...built for beauty and for the glory of God. I marvel at the intricacy of carvings, the poignant details of the sculpting and paintings, barely marred by the passing of time. It was wonderful to be in a place where so many stronger believers than I had also come to worship.
With a huge sense of peace we left Notre Dame, never to forget the glory of God!
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