Jesus is good to me!

 

Kandern in the fall

The last month has quite honestly been a hard one as I have felt the stress and the fatigue of the last three months catch up to me.  There were a few days where I wondered what I was doing here and felt like I was completely out of my league as a French teacher (which I still am :)).  Jesus has truly met me in those moments though and sent many to encourage me along the way.   Jesus has asked me to enter into a field and an environment that is completely new to me.  While it is hard it has thrust me into a complete dependence on Him.  And that is never a bad thing.  And in the midst of it Jesus has proven Himself faithful over and over again.  I have seen Jesus in e-mails from friends back home, chocolate in my mailbox after a long day, encouragement from other teachers and finally a weekend with family in Paris.  When you work at a boarding school you don’t get long weekends because many of the kids can’t go home.  We do get a nice long Christmas break but between August and Christmas there is only one long weekend.  All Saints Day (November 1) is a European holiday and was our first day off for the semester.  It was needed by students and staff alike. 

In Paris with Sylvia and Thomas

I was able to go and visit my cousins that live in Paris.  What a treat it was to be with family and to get away for a while.  I was even able to figure out the French train system and the easiest way to get to Paris from Kandern.  Maybe next I will be brave enough to tackle the German trains.  But when you are first figuring things out it is always nice to be able to read and understand what is around you. I had the chance to attend my cousins' Ilka and Philippe's French church which was a real treat as we have been praying for this church for months that they would be able to buy their property and Jesus has answered and things are about to be finalized.  I was also able to catch up with my cousin Sylvia and her husband Tim. Three and a half years ago I was able to attend their wedding and this weekend I got to met their son Thomas and spent most of the weekend with them.  What a treat that was!  We had a great time catching up and walking through the streets of Paris.  We even ended up walking right past the British bookstore WH Smith.  My dad used to take me there on my birthday to buy an English book.  English books were hard to come by in those days and to get the chance to go to an English bookstore and pick out a new Little House on the Prairie or Nancy Drew was a real treat.

 

WH Smith

As I rode the train home yesterday I found myself thanking the Lord for His provision once again.  The beauty of the leaves as I rode and the chance to live in Europe, the privilege of having family nearby, the opportunity to get away and to speak French and eat delicious French food, roommates to welcome me home – all gifts from Jesus right when I needed them most.

Now I am back home in Kandern.  Thankful for the beauty of this little town and for the privilege of serving here.  I am jumping back into lesson planning, day to day life, and seeking to love my students and praying that I will remain faithful in all that He has called me to do. Thank you for your continued love and prayers.  It means so much.