The fam...

....Whoo hoo!! My family is in town visiting me. Its so great to have family here, experiencing my life here (going grocery shopping with me, meeting my teammates, staying in my apartment, and eating at my favorite restaurants). Its a neat experience to be able to be the native showing them around to all the sights that I've seen multiple times....like the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Versailles, and more. We've been so lucky to have amazing weather while they've been here...blue skies and temperatures in the 79s and 80s! The hottest its been since I've lived here. Thank you Lord for that. Right now my parents and sister are on a boat ride on the Seine River...seeing all the sights from down on the river...and I'm taking a break from being tourist and getting back to some of the things in my normal schedule, like righting here and my prayer letter. Tonight we have a wonderful dinner at Chez Papa planned...my teammates, Anna and Mentanna, will be joining us for the Southwestern French cuisine. I love this place! Then we'll be doing some more sight seeing and other stuff in the next couple of days before my parents leave. Tomorrow night we are going to Cirque de Soleil...a birthday present to my sister....I'm so excited. Then on Saturday, me and my sister are heading to Belgium and Holland for a few days of European touring. Then I will say goodbye to my sister in a week and a half. Then its only a month until I go home for Valerie's wedding...a little 10-day trip home. So...its going to be a busy next month...but I'm looking forward to the Lord using me this month to do the amazing things He has planned. I'll try to send out some updates on everything!!

Saying goodbye already...

...In the past week, I've had to say three really hard goodbyes/see you laters.

The first was to my teammates, Rob and Nichole, as they left for the states for four months to raise support to come back here in the fall. I am so thankful to have been able to work with them and am challenged by their motivation and hard work with students here in Paris. Please pray for them while they are in the states!

The second was a sudden one. My friend, Khadija, had to leave Paris and go home to Morocco due to some personal problems. Although this was a very sad goodbye...we had coffee two days before she left and had some amazingly blessed conversation!! Please be praying for her as well.

The third was sudden as well. My roommate, Ali, needed to move apartments. Although I am so sad for losing an amazing roommate, I know this is better for her and I know the Lord has plans in this and is using it. Please pray for her as she goes through these changes.

So...its been a bit of a rollercoaster...but the Lord is sustaining me and I know that He is always with me and He is my true HOME!

A four letter word...

...KIND. So simple. I read this word everywhere in the Bible, but something hit me the other night in house church: I've never really thought about its meaning. What does the word "kind" mean? Am I "kind"? Do I exhibit kindness?

My first response is no. I don't think of myself as first and foremost a "kind" person. So, what is a kind person? I think I've always thought of someone who just seems to be sweet all the time to everyone. But I think it goes beyond that.

As a group of us discussed it, some good points were shared. Kindness is not just a feeling, but must be manifested into action. You can't just feel kind...you must BE kind. And someone must receive your kindness...you can't be kind into the air, but you can be kind to someONE. Also...kindness entails valuing people. When I think about Jesus and how He displayed kindness, its easy to see that what pushed Him to kind actions was His love for people...He valued them because He saw the potential in everyone.

So...there are some thoughts that have been swimming around in my head the past few days. Hopefully these thoughts will turn into actions as I open myself up to God showing me how to be kind, when, and to whom. Maybe I'll be able to share some cool experiences soon!

I'll leave you with some quotes about kindness:


Eric Hoffer:
Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.

Abraham Joshua Heschel:
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people.

Albert Schweitzer:
Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.


http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_kindness.html (for more quotes)

A tech miracle...could it be?...

...I can't believe I'm going to blog yet again about technology. But I have to express the joy I am feeling right now. I truly am in shock about the fact that I am sitting here in my room in my apartment using my own laptop to write this...wireless internet!! Its really a man-made (God-blessed for us) miracle! Some of you have heard me complain for months and months about all our internet troubles...I mean, who hasn't had internet troubles at one point or another. I know I've had my fair share. But for the moment, I am smiling. After many months of saying mean things to our former computer and sighing over and over again around my teammates, Scott from my team blessed our apartment, specifically Ali, with a new computer. Its a Mac that he used to have before he got a new one. So, out with the old and in with the new. This started the process of getting a new modem...one that actually works with computers that aren't as old as who knows what. So...after much patience from Ali, 4 visits to the France telecom store (3 different ones), and a salesman that actually revealed to us a secret plan...we ended up with not only a new modem, but a wireless router...for even cheaper than expected! Amazing. Truly a miracle. And thanks to Scott again, after hooking everthing up for us in our apartment, I am sitting in my room, on my laptop, typing this. Amazing. You can't know what a relief and joy it is to have internet with a computer that will actually work and not have to be restarted an average of 10 times per day! So, thanks again to everyone who was a part of this amazing process that has revolutionized mine and my roommates' lives: Scott, Ali, Paulette, and the salesman at France telecom. I look forward to many more months of emailing more, blogging more, and sending out updates more frequently!

Lots of laughs...

...Although the visit ended with a few tears, it could hardly be classified as a sad or disappointing one. My best friends, Leah and Tatum, came to see me last week and we had sooooooo much fun. Of course, what should else should I expect from the two of them. Anyone who knows them both and has been around them together can testify that life gets pretty silly when both of them are around...you know what I mean! And that's exactly what I needed! I didn't even realize how warn out and tired and serious I had gotten from living in the city for 7 months. As they put it..."you're just more reserved here." That's definitely true and partly because of the culture here...but also partly because I'm just more tired here. I can't explain it, but if you've lived in a big city then you understand. Anyways...they were such a blessing of refreshment for me. I need times of complete silliness to relax and have fun and let go of everything I had been holding onto. This couldn't have been represented more perfectly than by our last night. They invited me to join them in a hotel suite where we ordered pizza in, watched the French version of American Idol (Nouvelle Star), and ate 3/4 of a cake (chocolate with cream cheese icing)!!! Not to mention, Tatum became photo artiste and took about 40 pics with different objects that we aptly names the "box pictures". So...as you can see, silly it was! Thanks for an amazing time girls!! Tatum...you're next...it will be mine and Leah's treat!

Technology again...

...So, once again I'm amazed at technology and feel as if I've jumped 100 years into the future into come time that I used to watch on television...like on the Back to the Future movie. On Saturday, I talked to my friend, Stephanie, who's in China, through the internet. I sat with a laptop in front of me and a headset on and talked to her as if it were a phone. It was so weird at first. I really felt like I was in a movie. But it was really amazing. To think that I can talk to her when she's so far away so easily (and it was free!). So...thanks technology and all those who are constantly discovering new things!!! And thanks for a fun talk Steph!

Happy Birthday Caden!

I would like to say Joyeaux Anniversaire to my little nephew, Caden, who is turning 1 !!!! Its his first birthday and I am very sad to miss celebrating it with him...but I heard the party was a blast. My big sis always knows how to throw a good party:o) I love you Caden and I'm giving you a big hug and kiss from Paris!!

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."