The first week...

Re-Bonjour a tous! It's hard to believe, but we have already been here in Montpellier an entire week! But let's back up...

Sunday: Many goodbyes at church and at the airport...the beginning of our journey via airplane

Monday: A train adventure - after randomly running into Megan's (my teammate) French friend Yann at the Charles de Gaulle train station, we discovered that our train (and his) had been delayed by over an hour because of a fire on the tracks earlier that morning...but as a result we had some great conversations. First, with Yann as we all waited for our trains. Then, on our first train, we met a young man named Pierre-Baptiste that Megan befriended who was kind enough to lend us his phone to call Amy (who was meeting us at the Montpellier train station) to let her know we were running late. On our 2nd train, we met an Englishman (or boy? guy?) Aaron who was taking a break between his undergrad and masters to bike across Italy, and returning home via France. While we were all speaking English together, a young French guy named Florian, who was a reggae- and English-enthusiast, came to chat with us. All in all, a long day of travel made much more pleasant by wonderful people - not to mention all the French people who helped us with our bags! If anyone thinks the French are rude, they just need to travel by train with lots of luggage and they will quickly learn the kindness of French strangers! After a long day, we were welcomed and moved into our temporary apartments and the second-year girls fed us some yummy pizzas.

Tuesday: Our first real day in Montpellier! We started with pains au chocolat (chocolate croissants) in the park and some apartment viewings - nothing we were very enthused about. After a picnic lunch with Amy and Caroline (two of the second-years), we went to the Montpellier Transportation station and waited in a long line to get our tram and bus passes. That evening, Janette (one of the permanent staff members in Montpellier who stinted herself 2 and 3 years ago) welcomed us to her apartment for great quiche and fellowship.

Wednesday: We started Wednesday by going to the train station to get our "12-25" (the train card for people in that age group that gives great discounts for tickets). Next, we had crepes for lunch and then went to see our 3rd apartment - which all of us loved! (Unfortunately, due to some incomprehensible - to us - issues, we were not able to get it). That afternoon, we went onto the 3 main campuses we will be working with this year to hang posters for an event called Majestart Party - an exposition of all different kinds of artwork put on by young, French, Christian artists. The goal of the event for them is to showcase the talents God gave them to glorify Him and share their testimonies with non-Christian friends. It was really exciting to start getting acquainted with the campuses, and to take the time to pray over the students who will be there this year. For dinner, we were invited Chez Skur (to the Skur house - a staff family in Montpellier) to meet Robyn and her beautiful children - we had already met Darrin as he is our resident apartment-hunting assistant! Dinner was wonderful, and a great chance to share together about the ways God had brought each of us to France.

Thursday: Thursday after lunch a group of us went back onto two of the campuses to initiate with students in small groups (of 3). Our goal was to have spiritual conversations with at least two groups of students, and to pray for the students and university as a whole. I went to Paul Valery - the liberal arts campus - with Megan and Amy, and we used two different tools Cru has for starting spiritual conversations called Soularium and Perspective Cards. Soularium is a set of 50 beautiful photos that we give to students and ask them to use to answer a few questions. For example, we ask students which photo best represents their life as it is today. Then, we ask which photo represents the way they wish their life was, or the life they want one day in the future. Finally, we ask them which photo they think best depicts God - as they understand Him. It's a really unique way for students to express themselves and to get them talking about how they feel and what they think. The perspective cards are a series of colored cards where each color represents possible answers to one of life's big questions - like: How would you describe your beliefs? (Monotheistic, polytheistic, agnostic, deist, etc.), or Who do you think Jesus was? (A myth, a historical figure, a prophet, etc.) With the first group, we were able to have a brief conversation using the Soularium pictures, and with the second group we talked to we had a fairly long discussion using the perspective cards. The girls in the second group were very involved in the discussion, even asking each other (and us!) questions about what each of us believed about different things. Despite the fact that each of them was very convinced that there are no absolutes - a relativist "to each his own" mentality, they were willing - even eager! - to hear about what we believe about God. As a result, we were able to share with them about God's love for us, His grace, and the way we live our lives in response to all He has done. It was truly an amazing experience, and (I hope!) just the beginning of deep, invested spiritual conversations with students. Thursday night, us "new girls" and Caroline had dinner with an Agape (Cru's name in France) student Adam. It was a lot of fun to get to know him a little, and to share in delicious food and great fellowship together.

Friday: Our first day with the Lord! One day each month, we are required to spend a whole 8-hour work day with God. (My job is the coolest!) We can do whatever we want, provided that it is time truly spent with the Lord, and that we do it individually. It was a great time for me to take a step back, to pray about the things He has in mind for this year, and just to process all of the things that had already happened the first week. Mid-afternoon, our day with God was interrupted (by necessity) for a fourth apartment viewing. The apartment was the perfect size, and actually had 3 bedrooms instead of two...which means we could possible have a guest room or office in the 3rd room. We didn't have the same immediate reaction of instant love as we did with the 3rd apartment we saw, but we all liked it and could see ourselves living there. (Les droits croises - fingers crossed!) As of right now, we have submitted paperwork and are hoping to hear back soon...so keep our apartment in your prayers! After all the apartment excitement, we had dinner with the girls and a few Agape students who were Chez Chester (at Amy, Caroline, and Joelle's apartment) before they left for their weekend retreat. After dinner, they left for their retreat, and us "new girls" went to meet up with Adam again to go check out Les Estivales - the last of a series of festivals that happened each Friday night over the summer. While there, we were able to try some delicious regional wines (tres francais!), check out some different foods, peruse the work of local artisans (everything from hats to jewelry to purses to lamps!), and enjoy live music from the band that was playing. Beyond that, we were also able to sample some delicious Moroccan pastries that Adam's mom (who still lives in Morocco) sent to him, and he was kind enough to share with us. Yum!

Saturday: Our first day "on our own" - with the second-year girls gone to the retreat, we were able to take some time to relax and enjoy the city. We dubbed Saturday our "tourist day" and set about making the most of it. The first thing we did was go to the coiffeur and get Amanda's hair cut. (She cut off all her dreds before coming, but hadn't yet acquired a "style"). It was a lot of fun translating (for me) and trying to describe what she wanted. The woman was so nice and understanding, and her haircut turned out absolutely adorable! After that, we had a leisurely lunch, a tour of the Centre Ville (historic downtown area) via a tiny tourist train that Kate absolutely loved, came back Chez Chester for a light dinner, and watched a hilarious French film called Le Diner des Cons (The Dinner Game).

Sunday: Church! Sunday we went to Pompignon - a local church that Amy and some other Agape students attend - with Joanna. We met Joanna Friday, and learned quickly that she was a wonderful person to have as a friend! A very sweet, friendly girl, she was involved with Agape in the past and spent the last year in North Carolina doing an internship. As a result, she was excited to see us and to have the chance to speak English and fondly remember the States. She was a wonderful guide and hostess, and all of us thoroughly enjoyed the service and the potluck luncheon afterward that we were invited to as well. It was a lot of fun getting to meet some people from the congregation, and getting to know Joanna better as well! After church, we came back, changed, and took a long tram ride (followed by a bus ride) down the beach. It was a real pleasure to get re-acquainted with the Mediterranean, and to be able to enjoy the refreshing water, some relaxation, and the beautiful sun!

Sorry to write so much, but a lot happened! I will definitely keep you au courant (up to date/informed) about happenings here regarding our possible apartment. Also, expect an update soon about language school (our first day was yesterday!) Meilleurs voeux et bisous a tous! Best wishes and kisses to all!