Technology continues to amaze me...

...Last night, I watched a video over the internet of Louie Giglio speaking at 7:22. Amazing. I knew that you could do this now...but it still floored me when I clicked on one button and within 30 seconds I was watching a talk that took place a few weeks ago in the states...had I known before, I could probably watch it live. It was so cool to hear some of the new praise songs that were played and to hear Louie again...man is he good or what? He is totally annointed for speaking to our generation. I will say that I believe he might have read Piper's book that I'm reading right now...the talk was very familiar. But I hear Louie is a big Piper fan. Its good though...Piper's ideas are a bit over my head a lot of the time and Louie kind of brings them down closer to my level...and then I can chew on the ideas from there. So...I recommend this to all of you who don't get a chance to go to 7:22 in Alpharetta, Georgia...go to www.webvideocastings.com/722 and listen to some broadcasts...they are truly inspiring.

Pretty in Pink...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...Marisa and I finally made it to the Eiffel Tower...just to take look and some pictures. Thanks for loaning me the sweater Ris! And don't you all love Marisa's hat??

Let's eat some more...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...Elie, Assia, Marisa, and Me eating at this awesome Peruvian restaurant. Although we waited forever for the food (I think they forgot about us for a while), the food was great and we had a great time enjoying eachother's company.

Her first American meal...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...Me, Assia, Jessica and Sarah (both from the Mercer group). Assia joined us for dinner at the American restaurant and enjoyed her very first American meal (aside from McDonald's). She actually like the American mustard too!

Some new friends...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...At the end of the volunteer week, we had a dinner at the American restaurant and invited students to join us. Three girls that Veronica had met joined us and, along with Ali and Sandra, they had a great time getting to know eachother. Ali is hoping to begin meeting with these girls and carry on the new friendship.

A little chit chat...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...On campuses, we use volunteer groups to give surveys. These surveys are great ways to learn about the french student culture and mindset. Here Sandra (from the Mercer group) and Anna King (from our team) are talking with a couple of girls at the university building at Censier. They ended up talking with them for at least an hour!

Cooking lessons with Lulu...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...This was my first lesson in Chinese cooking...given by my teacher, Lulu. Its an exchange of sorts...I give Enlgish lessons and now she's teaching me how to cook real genuine Chinese food. The only problem is that she doesn't know the french or english word for a lot of the ingredients....I think you can only find them in China (or Chinatown, near where I live here in Paris).

The familiar accent group...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...This is the group from Mercer University in the states that came to work with us for a week. From the left its, Sarah, Chris (the leader), Veronica, Jessica, and Sandra.

Discovering new restaurants...

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Originally uploaded by pamelamsimpson.

...I love going to ethnic restaurants and discovering foods I've never tasted before. Here, me and Assia are at a Lebonese place with our friend, Elie. He is Lebonese and took us to one of his favorite restaurants. The food was great! We're hoping to make this a weekly event...trying new restaurants with Assia, Elie, and their friends (giving them the chance to practice their English!).

A wonderful day to celebrate...

...After walking the road to the cross....what a day of celebration today is...the day that Christ defied all human laws and rose Himself from the grave!!!

Christ is Risen Indeed!!

Happy Easter everyone!!

Today is an amazing day for Christians. This is the most important day of the year as we reflect on the amazing and free gift Christ gave us...the gift of eternal life through a sacrifice that we could not make ourselves...a sinless sacrifice. I would just like to say a huge thank you to the Lord for this amazing gift...this is my Thanksgiving Day!!!!!

A walk following the cross...

...This past Friday (Good Friday) I was invited to join my friend, Joelle, and her sister to go to a service at a local catholic church. I was excited to experience something different...and I did. We begun by singing a few chants...remember, this is all in French. Then a priest carried a wooden cross and we all got up and began to follow him...even out the door! So, Joelle filled me in on what was going on. It turned out to be such a cool experience. It was "The Way of the Cross" (some know it as the "stations" of the cross). We walked a block or so, then stopped, a priest would read scripture and pray and then we would sing a chant that went along with the "station." Each station were parts of Jesus' path to the cross...from the acusasations of the sanhedrin to Peter's denial to the crucifixion. It was really moving. Although the standing and walking was very tiring...it was so great to spend three hours reading about Christ's amazing sacrifice and worship Him through prayer and song. It was a great way to spend Good Friday since that it when it all happened. I think I am going to make it a tradition for myself every year...maybe with a few slight (more protestant) changes:o)

Some familiar accents...

...A couple of weeks ago, we had the opportunity to host a volunteer group from Mercer University. Boy was it fun to hear some nice southern accents and the "correct" pronunciation of Atlanta ("Alana"). They were able to join us for a week. The group was made up of four girls and I loved getting to know all of them. One of my favorite questions to ask all of them was what they had learned about the students here in France throughout the week. So many of them were so surprised to find out that most students don't believe in God and don't think faith is important in our lives through the cultural exchange surveys they conducted. It was exciting to watch their eyes open to a whole new world around them.

On top of learning things themselves, they helped us out with making new contacts through the surveys, prayer walking up a storm!, and helping with English Club sign-ups. There were a few girls that my roommate met through them and is hoping to begin meeting with. Thanks for all the help Mercer Girls...and Chris!! We enjoyed having you all here...keep praying for the students in Paris and I'm looking forward to hearing about the new outreaches you will be doing on your campus!!!!

By His Grace...

(the Hymn, "By His Grace")


"By His grace I am redeemed, By His blood I am made clean,
And I now can know Him face to face.
By His pow'r I havev been raised, Hidden now in Christ by faith;
I will praise the glory of His grace.

By Your grace I am redeemed, By Your blood I am made clean,
And I now can know You face to face.
By Your pow'r I have been raised, Hidden now in You by faith;
I will praise the glory of Your grace."