Aren't Sundays Wonderful?!

I love Sundays. I really do. It's as if they are inherently Sabbath as they arise and exist, no work necessary to make it so. Absolutely magnificent. Last Sunday I visited a church in Senlis with an Slovakian couple who now make their home in France (and speak a gazillion languages) and with Heather, an American student at UTC. Alexandra et Pavol invited us to join them when they heard our church was having a "week-end d'eglise" 2 hours away for the weekend. Basically it was a church retreat. So after church we returned to Compiegne for a gloriously long lunch and then a drive to nearby Pierrefonds to see the chateau there, as previously mentioned in last week's blog. After a pleasant Sunday ramble, I headed home about 6pm.

Today I commenced the day's activities by preparing a salad this morning for a meeting of young adults after church. As much as I dig French food, I'm really into more ethnic varieties. Thus my choice of couscous salad with raisins, apples, cinnamon, and sugar explained--a Moroccan recipe. After a great sermon on Jesus and Zachee (Zachaeus), which I will hopefully recap at some point this week because it's worth sharing, the young adults headed to the simple annex (not to be confused with America's gargantuan church annexes that could house a small country suffering from hunger and war) for the lunch and meeting. It passed as I'm learning most French meetings pass. Eventually we reach a point...eventually. The meal seems quite sacred here, as I'm disposed to believe it is already, and the intent of our gathering--to discuss what it is that the young adults at the church are to do together, a regrouping of sorts--wound its way to the surface towards dessert time. We will be gathering one Sunday a month for such a meal accompanied by an activity afterwards, whether it be fun, film, discussion, Bible study, etc. There will also be a Thanksgiving party, actually not suggested by me but another American, which we'll plan and prepare at the end of November. I'm still learning how to be a part of something like a French church with all of my American ideas and baggage and training (not that these are bad; but I'm in France now) so I stayed rather silent and would offer comments as solicited but did not try to be my usually not-so-timid self. While some young adults headed out for an afternoon ramble, I headed back to my place to meet Mahina.

Mahina is a student I met at UTC who wants to practice English. This afternoon we had decided to hang out, and as it turns out we share an enjoyment of cooking AND she has an oven (I do not) and suggested we get together and I could teach her how to bake. Um, okay, that's only my passion. We talked in Franglais about gardening, cooking, her studies, a newspaper she recommends, and I met her boyfriend who lives in the apartment above her. She had to return to studies but not before she invited me back for dinner this evening with her and a random 62 year-old retired professor she met on the train. As Mahina said, "She's retired but very energetic, still going." So I'm headed back for that and have promised to return the hostessing favor. I think Mahina has a sincere gift of hospitality and she's also interested in going to the market together on Saturdays. It was just such a great interaction, the day is beautiful here, it's Sunday, and man, everyone should be as blessed as I to get to serve in Compiegne. Struggles, yes. I've made that clear before. But so good.

Editorial note: In last week's Week in Review, mention was made about an upcoming What is L'Arche? article as well as Op-ed. At this time, the What is piece is being drafted and as the writer has time throughout this week, plans to publish it soon. As for the Op-ed, the Editorial Board has decided it will not run as aforementioned. For any inconveniences we apologize.

Of Note

Here's a list of cultural differences you might run across when visiting France, at least in Compiegne although I'm sure the list applies elsewhere. These are just the items I can think of off the top of my head.

• On the way to and from wherever I'm walking, I like to play a little game called "dodge the poop." Every French person owns a dog, it seems, and the idea of pooper scoopers has yet to hit French shores.
• Clean air: it's a foreign concept. I calculate that I've lost at least five years of my life due to a nasty combination of cigarette smoke air and bad car emissions. My favorite is when I open my balcony doors to get a little coolness and freshness into my apartment only to have some neighbor's 7am or 7pm cigarette trail waft into my chambers. Somehow, it's not what I was looking for. I'm told the number of smokers in France is down, however, due to a general European movement to curb the habit. Really? Really? 'Cause if this is down, I'd hate to see up.
  
• Efficiency, not a cultural value. Whether it's architecture (the UTC campus for example or Charles de Gaulle airport), processes, bureaucracy, don't expect it. Ever. Ever.
• Almost every mixed salad I've had here contains mayonnaise. I know Americans use it a lot too, but they put it in weird salad combos--like corn, tomato, pasta, and crab sticks. Tastes good but just odd.
• What would you like for breakfast? Bread, bread, or more bread? If they eat anything at all with their bowl (they drink tea and coffee from a bowl; I do not recommend this without potholders!) of hot beverage, it's a variety of breads--croissants, pain au chocolat, baguette slathered with Nutella. Which brings me to the next subject...
• Bread. It really is true, and for an American oh so darling to observe. The French consume more baguettes than should be legal. At the lunch hour, a two hour daily establishment, everyone is carrying them home. At the school release hour, many moms and kids are picking them up. And around breakfast time, a plethora of folks run down to the boulangerie so their Nutella has company.
• I've been here before so I expected to return to it unchanged; but I am truly fascinated by the collective French inability to hit the toilet bowl. Too much information? Maybe, but it's like potty training never happened here, or a different philosophy--just get in the general vicinity of the bowl and it's a victory--was used.
• Professors could care less about your self-esteem. Although I myself am quite annoyed at the direction of American education in coddling children, adolescents, and older students, correcting students in front of the class is not in my repertoire of experiences. Thus, when my French professor starts handing out corrections to us all, I am taken aback. Good for the French acquisition, but leave your pride at the door.
• Guard your eyes. And I'm dead serious. There is no concept of magazines in black bags or X-rated anything. I've seen plenty of sidewalk advertisements that would render most Americans suffering a heart attack, including me. My simple suggestion--just stick to the newspaper rack.
• They eat fatty meat. Meat here is good, don't get me wrong, but when I eat it, I spend half my meal picking marbled fat out of it. I can't handle it but it seems the French like their cow to slither down more so than I.
  

I'm sure there's plenty more but those are the daily things that pop into my mind. As others surface, I'll keep you posted. I've written them in a negative light, I know, but France is a wonderful place to live, work, and serve, if you are interested. I don't mean to turn you off. But you really should know some of these things if you ever want to live or even visit here. This is my opinion anyway.

Week in Review

Ah, it's Sunday evening after a wonderfully full week. I've decided to write a recap formatted in short form after the New York Times' Week in Review, of which I am an avid fan. I can only aspire to the coverage, wit, prophetic pieces, and general likeability of the section, but here goes...Remember, the section headings are set in the context of France ministry, so not as broad in coverage. :)

Laugh Lines

• What do you get when you put 5 adults and 6 kids in a studio apartment on the 5th floor with a balcony? A gouter (French snack time) hosted for the Hemmerles and McAuleys in my apartment. We had a blast chomping down on snacks, checking out the balcony, keeping the kids from throwing each other over, and romping in the apartment yard which I decided is the perfect playground for kids.

• So I'm holding open a door at L'Arche and Bernard, one of the daily participants, approaches me and moves way too close to my face, lips puckered for a cheek smack. Now in France, they "faire le bise" (cheek kiss as greeting and goodbye) routinely, but this was not hello or au revoir. I leaned away as far as I could then with no other option left, awkwardly turned my cheek to him. I didn't want to be rude and didn't know if this was just what people do there. He planted one on me. I am SO NOT a touch person and explained this to Martine, one of the staff members. Oh, she said, Bernard likes the ladies. You have the complete right to say "only the hand." No problem. Whew, thank God. Next time, hand shake please.
• After a pleasant church visit and lunch with a couple in Compiegne who affiliate with GBU, Heather and I found ourselves on a drive to nearby Pierrefonds to visit a chateau that is oft-toured by Parisians and French but not so many others. Here's the funny part--we had NO idea this was part of the day! We thought we were being driven home but as the road ran on, Heather looked at me and said, are we going to Pierrefonds? Um, yeah, I think we are. This has happened to me a couple other times before in France, maybe because I've missed a detail or because France is a "high context culture." The information age has missed them completely. Needless to say, my heels and hose fared decently on the cobblestone trek and gravel byways. Must admit, I felt a bit of French triumph leisurely strolling as so many French women do. However, I don't recommend it.
  

The News/Behind the News

• The News--Reported earlier, GBU-Compiegne departed for St. Genevieve de Bois for "le week-end de responsable," organized for Northern France and Parisian GBU's to encourage and facilitate vision-casting and planning for the year ahead. In attendance were Nari, Irenee, Heather, Clemente, and myself. Behind the News--This weekend was fantastic, and Dave Hemmerle and I were excited to take silent roles Tuesday night as students stepped up to the responsibility plate, announcing upcoming GBU gatherings, leading the Bible study, and encouraging others to plug in to GBU locally and nationally.

• The News--I was the first to present orally in my French course, and many thanks to those who were praying. After a Type A/perfectionist preparation, I decided to stop and hand it over to God, as I knew no amount of preparation would loosen my tongue unless he was at work. Behind the News--The presentation went well and God granted me the ability to present as well as engage students in discussing and thinking about "conviviality au travail," basically how to cultivate amicable relations with co-workers. A great surprise to me, I forgot that I've been making presentations for a while now, and even in French, it's no skin off my back to talk in front of people (if you know me, you know...). That ability coupled with prayers and grace to speak in French enabled the presentation to go well.

• The News--Greater Europe Mission France gathered for a Day of Prayer and administrative business on Wednesday in Ecouen, France, just south of Compiegne. Virginia Hemmerle spent the evening picking up the last added touches for my apartment, which came furnished and as well houses two chairs donated by the Hemmerles. Behind the News--I always find it most encouraging and challenging to be reminded we are a part of something larger than ourselves. This should always be the Church, but for missionaries, it also needs to be one's mission or supporting agency. Wednesday was a wonderful time to hear of how God is working and what needs are arising among ministry partners here France...and to pray together for them. In the evening, Virginia and I took about a 1/2 hour to circle Ikea before entering. Why is it that Ikea's are always located in some hard to get to from the road location? It was wonderful to share the experience together and I am so grateful for the friendship and wisdom of Virginia. I'm also grateful that she took me to Ikea--not a small trek but we made a memory. You can see the homey affects of the shopping in the photo.

The Nation

Ministry life and busyness has definitely picked up, and two thoughts keep running through my head. This is SUCH a privilege. I'm in France. Working at L'Arche keeps me immersed in French everyday and it also provides a growing edge, as working with mentally handicapped adults is not in my repertoire of experiences. Other staff there are kind to teach me how to "be there" well and I find I just enjoy sitting down at a table and asking someone, so how was your weekend, or, what did you do last night? I'm learning more about simplicity as I read Foster's words, serve at L'Arche, and live in Compiegne.

As I've mentioned, working the GBU is my favorite aspect of ministry. This week I met with three women and will be getting together with a couple this week. For the most part, we are meeting one-on-one bi-weekly for encouragement and conversation. One gal in particular asks all sorts of wonderful questions about Jesus and Christianity and I am privileged to get to answer them, as best I can. She keeps me on my toes and for that I am grateful. In general, there have not been women disciple-makers in these women's lives, and as I've talked with them about meeting, they eagerly agree and see the need to be encouraged. This past Friday I hosted our first "Femmes de GBU" evening, beginning with soup and sandwiches for the early birds and ending with yummy dessert made by one of our own, Heather, and divine French ice cream. We had no agenda other than just being women together, and the time was wonderful, never lacking of conversation, laughter, and energy. We all look forward to the next gathering. Nari asked as we parted ways if we could pray together, and I am blessed by the spiritual sensitivity cultivated by being sisters together. Our next gathering will be opened up for friends and other young women we know, specifically those not a part of GBU or the Church. It will be a "Fete de Femmes" and you can begin praying that the time spent piques others' curiosity at the joy and love in our midst.

As for JAO, Les Jeunes Adultes D'Oise, sadly I missed the first Bible study and meal at the Hemmerles because of the GBU retreat. I will however be present at the next, and I'm seeing this as a blessing, so that folks do not associate me with leadership but rather with being a member in their midst--which is what I am. The Hemmerles are praying for French transitional leadership and you as well can join the prayer team for this. I was excited though that this morning I visited a church in a neighboring town and did get to speak with a couple of the gals in JAO. They are kind young women and I'm praying to get to connect with them more in the coming months.

The World

Often you have to step back and assess in ministry--assess a context, a conversation, what one is doing, etc. This week I have been assessing, and grieving, the lack of spiritual models and disciple-makers in the French church. Granted, I'm new here and my experience is limited to a particular slice of French religious life, but none of the women of GBU have been mentored, there are no discipleship programs of which I am aware, and when I shared my grief over the lack of Paul/Timothy relationships at the GEM Day of Prayer, everyone knowingly nodded that this is the case where they serve.

I've been reading I and II Timothy along with keeping up with sermons from back home and I've decided this. The Church in America and in Europe will completely die if discipleship is not made priority. I cannot speak to other parts of the globe, because I have not been to them (a point I hope to change within my lifetime); but one cannot have a Church if one is not invested in raising up disciples and spiritual leaders. Now, as long as God sits on the throne above, there will be a Church, but if it is to thrive, if it is to be filled with people who long for Jesus, who seek to establish holiness and righteousness in their ways and in their cultures, there must be disciple-makers. I also see that while every person who follows Jesus is called into a lifetime of discipleship, I am also coming to see that God raises up teachers specifically to encourage the next generation of spiritual leaders. I see two levels of discipleship existing--for the lay Christian and for Church leaders, both equally necessary and important to the life and existence of the Church. The Church without discipleship resembles placing students in a classroom without a teacher. Formulas are written on the board. Books are handed out. But without a teacher to explain what the formulas mean and accomplish, without a teacher who understands metaphors, historical references, and cultural contexts to explain a book, they are meaningless. Thus, so is the life of the Church without discipleship. With the Bible, theology and doctrine, spiritual disciplines, and mission, you can have a people gathered, but there must be those who teach what do with what the Church is given. I am NOT trying to limit what God can do alone, but since Moses and Joshua, at the heart of God's story has been the existence of discipleship. It just gets more amplified after Jesus!

I've wondered, how did it get this way? How have we gotten so far away from the discipleship heart of Jesus? There is hope, there has to be. Against odds, I believe this. But we must be fervent in our efforts to continue that work which was started in us. It is not to stay only in us and for us--what is Gospel for if it remains only personal and private? Nothing about how Jesus made disciples was private--it was about inviting others into his ministry and teaching them how to continue it after his ascension. May we hear the call and live faithful, making disciples of all nations, even the one's in our homeland.

And it's a Wrap (Jennifer's addition)
Stay tuned for an op-ed coming soon along with what is L'Arche. But let me end on this note--I can't get over being here and being used. As a friend reminded me, you're doing what you love. Which is so true! There are trying moments, but the joys of seeing God real and working, well, they are boundless. This weekend, I sought Sabbath, leaving my little to do lists in a shuffled pile (still trying to operate off of them) and took care of daily life--laundry, bill-paying, grocery shopping, journal writing, breathing. And in the simplicity of those moments, God revealed to me a huge truth of himself and myself, that he is at work in the small moments, in the daily, in our simply living for him as we are equipped. I think I go looking for the grand moments of life, trying to escape the daily chores and get through them as fast as possible so the "real" stuff can get done. But you know what, laundry is as real as sharing Jesus with a student at UTC. Paying bills is as real as helping someone at L'Arche into and out of the swimming pool. I struggle seeing my life as "missionary Jennifer" and "personal Jennifer"...and maybe this is too much information. But, we all live in the small and grand and we can't escape either. By living only for the grand, I rob the small of its importance. Wendell Berry, Henri Nouwen, and Richard Foster all write in various ways about simplicity. And here in Compiegne, I'm learning the key to ministry is to embrace not the complexities but the simplicities. I thrive in chaos and the complex, but God challenges me daily to step into the simple goodness of being faithful. Being faithful with a moment, with a breath I breathe in, that no minute is less valuable than another because they are each his gifts. How dare I try to escape what is given. In Chicago I met someone at a party who said, "Oh, I know who you are, so-and-so's friend, you live large." Yeah, it's true. I was raised to do so, to see possibilities, to see God's Kingdom, to go for it. But, I'm also trying to live small, to take captive today, to minister and live well with this moment. Jesus prayed, "Give us this day our daily bread..." Daily, that's what we are told to pray for. So whether it's bread or French words for lunch with a student or refreshment after a long week or wisdom in being a spiritual encourager or simply patience to wait for a laundry load, daily. That is the prayer.

Today

Somehow life went from "ah, I have loads of time" to "how am I going to get done everything this week that rises before me?!" The list of people I need to contact grows almost daily it seems (which thoroughly excites), the time I need to be in Scriptures for study and preparation grows as people ask more questions and Bible studies begin (about which I am also excited), and personal life, i.e., filing insurance claims for stolen bikes and paying rent, also needs to be taken care of. Tonight I've just walked in from GEM France's Day of Prayer and an IKEA run afterward with Virginia Hemmerle. Praise be to God for prayer and curtains!!! The basics really...

I have an oral presentation tomorrow in French class for which I am still preparing and a bit nervous, since I'm the first to present, but I am learning daily "his grace is made sufficient in our weakness." If ministry does nothing else, it reveals weaknesses. But it also reveals a bigger God--mind-blowing really.

Today I started off my day listening to this wonderful song by Donnie McClurkin which says, "Great is your mercy towards me, your loving kindness towards me, your tender mercies I see day after day. Forever faithful towards me, you're always providing for me, great is your mercy towards me, great is your grace." You really have to hear the song to feel it, to get it, for it to seep into your bones and course down through your blood; it's just one of those arrangements vocally and musically that overwhelms you with the mightiness of God's nearness always.

So days get busier, intentionality about rest becomes necessary, life grows beautiful, abilities get stretched...and what a gift it is to get to live this life with our great God.

As for upcoming posts, depends on how the Spirit moves--it will either be What is L'Arche? or Week in Review...or maybe both. Get excited!!!

Prayer requests

• GBU starts our Bible study on Luke tomorrow (10/2)! Pray that the time together will encourage Christians and show love to those seeking. Also pray for the vision being cast by students who attended the retreat.

• French oral presentation--I'm the first to go in my French class Thursday. Pray for solid preparation and creative and scholarly engagement with the material and class. My prayer in this course is to witness through my discipline and commitment to learning the French language.

• Personal Bible study--I'm relishing being in Scripture quite a bit in French and English. Cover my time in study and prayer. May I be equipped by the Spirit for the moments brought my way to share.