1. Saturday - Ikea trip #4 (and final...I hope)
Kate and I were going to go in the morning to get a few remaining things from a bricolage (Home Depot-esque) store to finish up our apartment. On the list were nuts to attach the legs to a table we inherited, the right size screws to hang a shelf we had bought at the previous trip to Ikea, and a few other sundry items. As we were waiting at the tram stop to take the tram out to Brico Depot (what Amy thought was the name of the store) at an unknown stop on the line 3 headed towards Lattes Centre (Amy assured us we would know it when we saw it), Kate pulled out her phone to double check we were on the right tram in the right direction. God was definitely with us, even in this! When Kate looked it up on her phone, she found out it wasn't even open on Saturdays. As a result, we saved at least an hour and a lot of frustration. Since we couldn't go to Brico Depot, we went to Ikea instead to get a few other remaining things (some umbrellas and a shelf for our kitchen). On our way, I had a brain wave and wondered aloud to Kate if perhaps Geant (a giant Wal-Mart-like grocery store) might have a bricolage section. It did, AND we found what we needed AND we got to have Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes for lunch at Ikea. Thanks Lord!
2. Saturday - Cake and Dessert party
Saturday night Megan invited a bunch of people over for desserts (she made banana bread and two kinds of cookies! Yum...) and games. What we failed to realize was that a conflicting girls event at Jeanette's meant that out of all the people we invited, only the guys could come. As a result, we ended up with us 4 American women, a ton of desserts, and 10 guys. We ate, talked, played some really crazy games (Jungle Speed? I'm still not sure...something about a rabbit figurine.....), and had a great time. It was such a blessing to get to know the Christian Agape guys that came a bit better, and such an encouragement to have another opportunity to build relationships with the non-Christian guys as well. At the end of the night, our dear friend Adam (a Muslim student involved with Agape) stayed for a great conversation about forgiveness and we were able to share the Gospel with him. He asked some great questions and seemed genuinely interested in what we had to say. I am so excited to see the ways God continues to work in his heart!
3. Monday - Sharing on campus
On Monday, Megan, Julien, and I went initiating on the science campus - seeking out students interested in spiritual things and asking them about their beliefs. After being rejected twice and being blown off by a student we were supposed to meet for coffee, we wanted to try to have at least one real conversation with a student before leaving. That was when we stumbled across Laila, Yoursah, and Sara - three girls sitting on the steps behind the Polytech building. We discovered through our conversation that the three girls were all Moroccan and Muslim. They were very willing to speak with us, and shared a lot about Islam as they understood it. I feel like I really learned a lot. In the course of the conversation, we asked them how they knew if they were going to Heaven or not. They responded that they didn't - they just did all they could to be good enough and hoped for the best. It was an amazing opportunity to share with them why we have complete certainty because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. We were able to have an amazing conversation that was respectful, full of grace, and we were also able to share the Gospel with them - that they could have a real assurance of Heaven! I truly believe this meeting, like all of our meetings on campus, were divinely appointed and directed by God - a God that truly loves these students and deeply desires for them to be saved.
4. Monday - English Club
Monday night, comme d'habitude (as per usual) we met at FitzPatrick's Irish Pub downtown to speak English and build relationships with students from all different kind of backgrounds. Two students that Megan and Julien met on campus last week (Fabeha and Thibauld) were both able to come - and they brought a ton of friends! As a result, we had the largest amount of people at English Club that I have seen so far this year - about 30-40 people! It was a wonderful evening with great conversations - and many people had the chance to speak with different students about spiritual things. What a blessing!
5. Wednesday - Lunch with Lucie
Wednesday afternoon after our morning prayer meeting, Amanda and I were able to have lunch with a third year student in the French equivalent of biomedical engineering at the science campus. Lucie is a summer project contact - someone who met up with students who were here with Cru this summer and had an interest in spiritual things. After many unsuccessful invites, we were finally able to find a time we were both available. I am so glad that God is still pursuing her, and that He keeps bringing her to my mind so I can persevere in contacting her. Amanda and I had a great time eating with her and getting to know her, her English was excellent and we talked a lot both in English and French. We got to hear about her time in the States, the different places she has visited, and about her family as well. It was a lot of fun, and she told us she plans to come to English Club on Monday. I am hopeful that God will keep giving us opportunities to continue our relationship.
These are only a few examples - if I shared every way that I was aware of God working here in this city (and that's just what I'm aware of!), this would become ridiculously long. Thank you for your prayers - keep it up! It makes such a difference for us in our personal lives - in our battles against apathy and spiritual warfare; and it makes such a difference in ministry!
Bisous from Montpellier! A bientot!
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