(L) brightly lit "cinéma" (R) bustling nightlife on the Champs-Elysees
Well, God was indeed merciful, and I met my friend just under the huge Charles de Gaulle statue where I could see the Arc illuminated by a warm glow a few blocks down. It was spectacular, and I finally felt like I was in Paris again, the glamorous Paris that most of the world imagines. Everything was lit up and the streets were bustling with people. Many had shopping bags in tow, which is not surprising since one of the two annual sales in France is going on now. You’ll see “SOLDE” (sale) posted in nearly every store window and great masses huddled inside. We ate at a cute, moderately priced sandwich shop and watched frantic shoppers scurry by. The evening quickly passed as we walked through the streets and soaked in the Parisian nightlife. By the time I returned, I was ready to sleep. Thank you for keeping me safe, Lord.
This morning, I woke up to Hilary’s phone call—she’s a dear sister who I served with in Cameroon last summer, and we were to reunite in Paris! I walked down the same path to the neighborhood metro, but the sun was out this time and the streets were fragrant with the smell of fresh flowers and baked goods. Pressed for time, I couldn’t linger at the outdoor market, but I took a different route and finally found the small evangelical church that I heard about tucked away in the corner of a building. It looked like a nursery from the outside, but I soon found about twenty people inside. A sweet lady welcomed me right as the congregation began its communal prayer. It was my first time in a charismatic, let alone FRENCH, church, but what an experience it was. We sang songs like Dieu Merveilleux (“Beautiful One”), and I could not stop smiling hearing prayers lifted up in French. Talk about the God of the universe! I realized what a blessing it was to be able to praise God miles and miles away from home.
It is a beautiful thing to hear John 1 being read aloud in French. It was actually easy to follow my first French sermon, but perhaps the Spirit was just opening my ears at that hour :) I couldn’t help but praise God for the chance to worship with these people! The small church is about 25 years old and a 20-min metro ride away, in a "petite ville" called Boulogne Bilancourt. The pastor there mentioned the hardships of ministering in Paris and the lack of space for the infants during the service. I pray that God will bless this group and provide them with a bigger building as well as their other needs—please bless them and expand their territory, oh Lord!
(L) beautiful Sunday morning on the way to church (R) my "egg yolk" pasta :/
My friend and I stayed for tea afterward and then went out for lunch at an adorable sit-in restaurant. I soon learned that the French don’t believe in “to-go” boxes and had to watch my 12 euro “egg yolk” pasta (if you know me, I had NO idea that they would literally garnish it with egg yolk) go to waste. Lesson learned. Once I got home, I explored le quartier with Steph once more, grabbing fresh crepes from street vendors and visiting a few graves at le Cimetière de Montparnasse.
(L) friendly crepe man (R) just a tad bit excited for my nutella-banana crepe :)
Much accomplished my first week, methinks. I faced my fears, decorated my room, shopped for housekeeping necessities, navigated my way around Paris using what turned out to be a rather simple metro system, and became an expert at approaching strangers with questions. HA.
(L) behind me is "La Tour Montparnasse" the tallest building in Montparnasse (R) steph cheesin'
Tomorrow, the official semester begins. Classes Monday through Friday from 9am-3:30pm, with a 30min commute by metro and lots of walking. This schedule looks a little tougher than the one back in the States. Hrm. School supplies ready. Mind ready. Body, however, needs to rest.
(L) Yes, I taped my entire violin concerto to the wall due to lack of stand (R) supplies? check.
Here we go! Until next time, bonne nuit tout le monde :)
