Here I am. Done. Fini. I am actually packing my suitcase today, and I cannot even put into words how bizarre that feels. I finally understand for myself the feelings that Claire Moore shared with me when she returned from Uganda, “My heart is in two places. While those dearest to me are in America, I can’t deny the sense of belonging and purpose I have while in Uganda.” This is so hard to explain, but I will try: it is as if I want to be back in America with all of my heart, but at the same time I want to continue my life in France with every fiber of my being. Andrew asked me last week what I envision being the hardest thing I will have to deal with upon return. I couldn’t answer then, but now I have come to realize – it will be that my heart will be in a state of being torn. Something I unfortunately cannot share, or that everyone will understand…but also something that will force me to lean more heavily on the Lord as my source of joy. And that is definitely something to look forward to.
I want to thank everyone who has supported me this semester.
Merci à:
Mama: for all of the surprise calls, constant support and advice. I can’t tell you how great it has made me feel to answer the phone and hear the inevitable “Baaaaabe!”
Daddy: for the random funny emails, and your willingness to step out on a limb to learn some French for me. I absolutely love it that you now sign your emails with “Amour, Papa”.
Grayson: for your quick “I love you’s” in the mornings before school when I was talking with everyone. I’m still overly freaked out that you sound like Dad on the phone.
Andrew, mon coeur: for your stability, your advice, your sweet packages, and your ability to always bring it back to the Lord. It is your support and belief in me that kept me afloat this semester.
Aunt Annie, Aunt Jenni, and Auntie Shea: for your encouragement. I could always count on you three to lift my spirits – whether through a chat or an email.
Ann Wood: for keeping me in mind, and being faithful to remind me how great our God really is.
Katie Mills: for your emails. They were straight from the heart, truthful, and uplifting. I really have cherished them.
Clare, Rock and Molly: for your prayers and love. How about we get the smallER ball rolling this fall?
Stonehenge: for all of your support, both for me, and for Andrew. I love all of you guys.
T, Cha-cha and Nana: for your funny comments and sweet notes that lifted my days.
Dude Ranch: for welcoming me with open arms – and being as excited as I am!
Cheryl Lagmay: for my Hawaiian package. I smiled for a week after I received it.
And to everyone else: all those who sent me an email, who read my blogs, who gave me encouragement; it was those little things that made me laugh and really feel loved. You all are wonderful, and I am truly blessed to have so many quality friends.
This is my last blog from France. I will continue to write updates as I am in Italy, but I am not going to send them out in mass quantity. For anyone who wants to be on the receiving end, just let me know – it’s mostly going to be about everyday Bookwalter life, about the girls and related. If you are part of the Holden family you are automatically on the list, I can imagine you all want to hear about how Shea is doing.
I am off! I leave you with some French - my favorite praise song in English, which I had the pleasure of singing today during my last service at Le Chandelier:
Je loue ton nom, Eternel;
Seigneur, je célèbre ta bonté.
Quelle joie, tu vis en moi !
Quelle joie, tu viens pour nous sauver.
Tu viens du ciel sur la terre montrer la voie,
de la terre à la croix payer pour moi,
De la croix jusqu'au tombeau,
et du tombeau jusqu'au ciel.
Je loue ton nom, Eternel.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
Jusqu'au bout..
Three weeks. Only three weeks until I leave Grenoble. I am not going to say the cliché, “Boy, how the time flew…” (Because it did not), but I find it unbelievable that there are only three weeks left of time in this incredible place that I have been blessed to call my home for the past five months. I have had some pretty wild experiences, have learned so much about myself, and most importantly have come to a better understanding of the Lord and where I am in my personal walk with Him. Not many people can claim to have done all these things, all within the duration of five months!
As things are coming to a close, I have been going out on a limb to do and experience absolutely everything I can within reason. Two weekends ago four of my girlfriends and myself all packed into a rented Ford Fiesta and drove down to the South of France (Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Cassis, Nice) for three days. We stayed in hostels, took a ferry to the Count of Monte Cristo’s castle of exile (the Château d’If), saw the Callanques, drank cocktails on a Mediterranean beach, hiked to a waterfall on top of a mountain, and spent 27 hilarious hours in our car. That weekend went down in my memory as one of the best experiences of my life.
The following weekend our program had an excursion to Torino, Italy – where the Olympics were held last year. The town did not hold a candle to Shea’s, but nonetheless we had a ball. The highlight was going with my roommate Mikey to a Juventus match. We bought fake jerseys and screamed so loud we went hoarse. Mikey took a picture of me with the field that my program is actually considering for next year’s catalog! After the game we went to a market and an Egyptian museum. At JMU I have been taking Italian as my third language, so even though I speak broken Italian, I quickly became the official interpreter of the group. In the afternoon on Sunday one of our girls fell very sick and had to go to the emergency room, and they had me go with her to interpret between her and the doctors. It was VERY high intensity, being as though she is allergic to penicillin and Advil, but I got the major points across and everything worked out. She ended up being okay by evening and we were able to leave and head back to Grenoble.
This upcoming week is the last week of classes; I will begin my exams on Saturday. It absolutely blows me away how much information I have learned here, and how much I have improved within my major. I think one of the hardest things for me in my return will be the lack of intensity and gravity about French studies in the States, as well as a lack of resources to be able to continue to speak, communicate, and learn in the French language on a daily basis. That has been such a blessing for me here, and I do not take for granted for even a second that all I have to do is walk outside of my door to be able to hear and speak French.
As for my heart: I could not be more ready to see my family, to be with Andrew, to be a JMU student, and to be in my own culture again. However, I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that reverse culture shock is going to be a vivid reality for me. I know that my tendency will be to focus in on the aspects of American culture that are petty and annoying. But I am praying that my eyes will also opened to the strengths of us as a people, and as a nation. I do not want to be stuck in a position comparing France and America; rather I would like to regard them as two separate entities, in not becoming frustrated with one or the other. I need prayer for this, because I know it is not possible tout seule, or all alone. I am counting on all of your support – in listening to me, in encouraging me, and in putting up with the fact that I will probably be speaking in French at random times, most likely to myself, little children, and animals. :)
I am off to have dinner with my host family now, a time I have come to cherish. (Who would have guessed?) I love you all.
P.S. To my friends at Virginia Tech: you are in my daily prayers, as are the families and friends of the victims of that horrible day. I know that the memory is not fleeting for you, and that you will be forever affected. Know that you are loved, not just by me, but by the Lord – who has a purpose and a will for you.
As things are coming to a close, I have been going out on a limb to do and experience absolutely everything I can within reason. Two weekends ago four of my girlfriends and myself all packed into a rented Ford Fiesta and drove down to the South of France (Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Cassis, Nice) for three days. We stayed in hostels, took a ferry to the Count of Monte Cristo’s castle of exile (the Château d’If), saw the Callanques, drank cocktails on a Mediterranean beach, hiked to a waterfall on top of a mountain, and spent 27 hilarious hours in our car. That weekend went down in my memory as one of the best experiences of my life.
The following weekend our program had an excursion to Torino, Italy – where the Olympics were held last year. The town did not hold a candle to Shea’s, but nonetheless we had a ball. The highlight was going with my roommate Mikey to a Juventus match. We bought fake jerseys and screamed so loud we went hoarse. Mikey took a picture of me with the field that my program is actually considering for next year’s catalog! After the game we went to a market and an Egyptian museum. At JMU I have been taking Italian as my third language, so even though I speak broken Italian, I quickly became the official interpreter of the group. In the afternoon on Sunday one of our girls fell very sick and had to go to the emergency room, and they had me go with her to interpret between her and the doctors. It was VERY high intensity, being as though she is allergic to penicillin and Advil, but I got the major points across and everything worked out. She ended up being okay by evening and we were able to leave and head back to Grenoble.
This upcoming week is the last week of classes; I will begin my exams on Saturday. It absolutely blows me away how much information I have learned here, and how much I have improved within my major. I think one of the hardest things for me in my return will be the lack of intensity and gravity about French studies in the States, as well as a lack of resources to be able to continue to speak, communicate, and learn in the French language on a daily basis. That has been such a blessing for me here, and I do not take for granted for even a second that all I have to do is walk outside of my door to be able to hear and speak French.
As for my heart: I could not be more ready to see my family, to be with Andrew, to be a JMU student, and to be in my own culture again. However, I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that reverse culture shock is going to be a vivid reality for me. I know that my tendency will be to focus in on the aspects of American culture that are petty and annoying. But I am praying that my eyes will also opened to the strengths of us as a people, and as a nation. I do not want to be stuck in a position comparing France and America; rather I would like to regard them as two separate entities, in not becoming frustrated with one or the other. I need prayer for this, because I know it is not possible tout seule, or all alone. I am counting on all of your support – in listening to me, in encouraging me, and in putting up with the fact that I will probably be speaking in French at random times, most likely to myself, little children, and animals. :)
I am off to have dinner with my host family now, a time I have come to cherish. (Who would have guessed?) I love you all.
P.S. To my friends at Virginia Tech: you are in my daily prayers, as are the families and friends of the victims of that horrible day. I know that the memory is not fleeting for you, and that you will be forever affected. Know that you are loved, not just by me, but by the Lord – who has a purpose and a will for you.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Pâques
Where to start? I’m just going to plunge right in, since there is so much to tell and not enough time for an intro…
I started my vacation off with a monstrous hike in the Vercors Mountains with my friend Morgan. Now mind you, the only tennis shoes I have here are my Pumas – and if we were to be totally honest, they are just for looks; there is not one iota of ankle/arch support in those suckers. Keep that in mind as I recount this tale. So Morgan and I found a road that seemed to be heading “up”, so we hiked that for what seemed like hours. I felt as though my thighs were burning with the fire of a thousand suns. (A little bit of drama never hurt anyone…) After making it about halfway up, we met an older man who ended up showing us to the trail that we needed to take to the top. However in transit to the entry of the trail, he told us that he was with a search party looking for a 19 year-old boy that had disappeared 6 days before. Evidently, the boy rented a bike from downtown and went for a ride in these mountains, then called his dad around night fall to say that he was lost, and then was never seen or heard from again. You better believe that this scared the you-know-what out of Morgan and I, and it didn’t help that once we were on the trail there were laminated pictures of this boy on all of the trees with the word “DISPARU”. We hiked for another 4 hours, and I saw some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. When we came down I told my host family about the boy, and they said they would look into it for me. The next morning when I woke up there was a newspaper on my desk that said the boy had been found dead, 3 miles away from his bike. They are pretty convinced that he fell off of his bike and got hurt, and then tried to walk home in the dark, eventually becoming disoriented and walking off of a cliff. It was just devastating, and if you have the time, I ask that you keep his family in your prayers and thoughts.
That Sunday Mikey’s (my roommate) mother and brother came from the States to visit him for a week. They both came over to have dinner with our host family, and I spent my first night as an official interpreter! It was incredibly encouraging. My host parents don’t speak a lick of English, and Mikey’s family pronounced “Bonjour” just about as well Picoh (bahn-jewerr) … so everything that was said went through me. Everyone seemed to understand just fine, and I didn’t have much trouble. United Nations – here I come!
On Thursday I packed a lunch and rode a bus about an hour away to a town called Voiron. Situated there in the Chartreuse Mountains is an order of monks that, not joking, distill hard liquor. They are a silent order and wear their traditional white robes with hoods, while distilling Chartreuse Liquor, which is 65% volume. The reason this liquor isn’t mass-produced is because it is created from 130 different herbs in a very laborious process, which is said that only monks have patience for. It was a sight to see, and although I wasn’t allowed to take pictures, I snuck some for you.
This Sunday was my very first Easter without my family, and I must say, I was quite a baby about it. No little woven basket with Starburst Jelly Beans next to my bed when I woke up, no getting ready in our new Easter dresses with Mama, no coffee and devotion with Daddy, no Sunday brunch and relaxation with Gray. (Sad, I know.) Nonetheless, I went to my church for breakfast and for service, and had quite a good time. Everyone was very joyful and welcoming to me as usual. I couldn’t help but laugh at the man standing in front of me during worship who decided to wear a fanny pack to church, who whipped out his newly shined harmonica in the 2nd song and went to town instead of singing. There was a guest pastor who spoke from John, and of the disbelief of Mary when Jesus first appeared when she found the tomb empty. It was very interesting and poignant. After church I made a Tarte Tatin (upside-down French version of an apple pie) and took it to Kristin’s house for an Easter dinner. Nine people ended up showing, and we had a blast coloring pictures and eating an incredible American meal of pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans and fruit salad. It made me miss Holden family cookouts like none other!
To end with, I have some very exciting news – the Lord finally opened up an opportunity for me to discuss faith with my host family! At dinner last night, my host father Gilbert matter-of-factly stated that today in modern society, if you are not poor or homeless, there is no need for God. He said that if you are hurt, you could call on a doctor; if you’re cold or hungry, you just have to grab a blanket and some bread. He claimed that because we have these conveniences, we don’t have to rely on the Lord to provide for us what we need, therefore we don’t have any need for Him at all. I found it very interesting that he said this, because he is a teacher at a private Catholic school. I told him that I believe quite the opposite; that rich or poor, there were always be something “missing” in our lives without God. We may try to fill it with whatever – another person, an activity, but what it boils down to is that this hole is God-shaped, therefore only He can fill it. He listened, and then told me I was wrong, and defended that people just don’t have enough time in the day for God anymore, and because God created the world and how it works, He understands this and takes it into account during Judgment. He quickly changed subjects after that so I couldn’t interject, but the door was left open. I plan on staying persistent, to see where the Lord leads this!
Next week I am going to Torino, Italy with my program for 2 days, and when I return I will be almost ready for finals. I still need a load of prayer for my studies, because not only are they ridiculously hard, but also I am lacking motivation because the weather is turning and there is more to do outside. Six more weeks – I can make it!
I love you all with all of my heart!
I started my vacation off with a monstrous hike in the Vercors Mountains with my friend Morgan. Now mind you, the only tennis shoes I have here are my Pumas – and if we were to be totally honest, they are just for looks; there is not one iota of ankle/arch support in those suckers. Keep that in mind as I recount this tale. So Morgan and I found a road that seemed to be heading “up”, so we hiked that for what seemed like hours. I felt as though my thighs were burning with the fire of a thousand suns. (A little bit of drama never hurt anyone…) After making it about halfway up, we met an older man who ended up showing us to the trail that we needed to take to the top. However in transit to the entry of the trail, he told us that he was with a search party looking for a 19 year-old boy that had disappeared 6 days before. Evidently, the boy rented a bike from downtown and went for a ride in these mountains, then called his dad around night fall to say that he was lost, and then was never seen or heard from again. You better believe that this scared the you-know-what out of Morgan and I, and it didn’t help that once we were on the trail there were laminated pictures of this boy on all of the trees with the word “DISPARU”. We hiked for another 4 hours, and I saw some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. When we came down I told my host family about the boy, and they said they would look into it for me. The next morning when I woke up there was a newspaper on my desk that said the boy had been found dead, 3 miles away from his bike. They are pretty convinced that he fell off of his bike and got hurt, and then tried to walk home in the dark, eventually becoming disoriented and walking off of a cliff. It was just devastating, and if you have the time, I ask that you keep his family in your prayers and thoughts.
That Sunday Mikey’s (my roommate) mother and brother came from the States to visit him for a week. They both came over to have dinner with our host family, and I spent my first night as an official interpreter! It was incredibly encouraging. My host parents don’t speak a lick of English, and Mikey’s family pronounced “Bonjour” just about as well Picoh (bahn-jewerr) … so everything that was said went through me. Everyone seemed to understand just fine, and I didn’t have much trouble. United Nations – here I come!
On Thursday I packed a lunch and rode a bus about an hour away to a town called Voiron. Situated there in the Chartreuse Mountains is an order of monks that, not joking, distill hard liquor. They are a silent order and wear their traditional white robes with hoods, while distilling Chartreuse Liquor, which is 65% volume. The reason this liquor isn’t mass-produced is because it is created from 130 different herbs in a very laborious process, which is said that only monks have patience for. It was a sight to see, and although I wasn’t allowed to take pictures, I snuck some for you.
This Sunday was my very first Easter without my family, and I must say, I was quite a baby about it. No little woven basket with Starburst Jelly Beans next to my bed when I woke up, no getting ready in our new Easter dresses with Mama, no coffee and devotion with Daddy, no Sunday brunch and relaxation with Gray. (Sad, I know.) Nonetheless, I went to my church for breakfast and for service, and had quite a good time. Everyone was very joyful and welcoming to me as usual. I couldn’t help but laugh at the man standing in front of me during worship who decided to wear a fanny pack to church, who whipped out his newly shined harmonica in the 2nd song and went to town instead of singing. There was a guest pastor who spoke from John, and of the disbelief of Mary when Jesus first appeared when she found the tomb empty. It was very interesting and poignant. After church I made a Tarte Tatin (upside-down French version of an apple pie) and took it to Kristin’s house for an Easter dinner. Nine people ended up showing, and we had a blast coloring pictures and eating an incredible American meal of pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans and fruit salad. It made me miss Holden family cookouts like none other!
To end with, I have some very exciting news – the Lord finally opened up an opportunity for me to discuss faith with my host family! At dinner last night, my host father Gilbert matter-of-factly stated that today in modern society, if you are not poor or homeless, there is no need for God. He said that if you are hurt, you could call on a doctor; if you’re cold or hungry, you just have to grab a blanket and some bread. He claimed that because we have these conveniences, we don’t have to rely on the Lord to provide for us what we need, therefore we don’t have any need for Him at all. I found it very interesting that he said this, because he is a teacher at a private Catholic school. I told him that I believe quite the opposite; that rich or poor, there were always be something “missing” in our lives without God. We may try to fill it with whatever – another person, an activity, but what it boils down to is that this hole is God-shaped, therefore only He can fill it. He listened, and then told me I was wrong, and defended that people just don’t have enough time in the day for God anymore, and because God created the world and how it works, He understands this and takes it into account during Judgment. He quickly changed subjects after that so I couldn’t interject, but the door was left open. I plan on staying persistent, to see where the Lord leads this!
Next week I am going to Torino, Italy with my program for 2 days, and when I return I will be almost ready for finals. I still need a load of prayer for my studies, because not only are they ridiculously hard, but also I am lacking motivation because the weather is turning and there is more to do outside. Six more weeks – I can make it!
I love you all with all of my heart!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
la Suède
“Jésus fils de Dieu,
Seul roi éxalté,
Tu es mort sur la croix à ma place,
Digne es-tu Seigneur!”
All of this time, and my parents never told me. Yes, I’ve seen the pictures of me as a baby in the hospital – but I must have been superimposed. It is obvious to me now however. Despite all of the stories, I have come to discover my true identity: I am Swedish. I had to have been adopted. Honestly, look at the Swedes – tall, blonde, blue-green eyes, rosy cheeks, strong women…it just makes sense! So having said this, I regret to inform all of you that I have made the decision to return to my homeland, and live amongst my people once again. I will write, don’t worry.
Okay, so I jest. But seriously, I have been spending a lot of time with my Swedish friends, and I feel so at home! We have the same sense of humor, and let me tell you how wonderful it is to take a break from the French female stature of 4’11” weighing in at 85 lbs, and actually be eye to eye with those I’m having a conversation with. And their native tongue is so beautiful too; it is like listening to a bird chirp. Sweden is now definitely on my A-list of places to visit.
Other than a horrific computer crisis that happened last night, I am doing really well. (Turned on my computer to find that every file, photo and song had disappeared…) I think that finally, after 3 months, my body is starting to acclimate to France, and I am near finished with being sick. My classes are continuing to challenge me, in all of the right ways. This past Monday I gave a huge oral presentation, and although I was a nervous wreck at the beginning, I made it through, and got the ever-so-cherished words from my professor, “Très bien fait!” The professors here give out a “well-done” just about as often as they shave their armpits. Which is never.
Life is calm, and I am settling into my way of doing things. I walk a lot, and I am not joking when I say, “a lot”. Saturday I walked a total of 14 miles after getting lost intentionally, to see where I would end up. I try to keep myself outdoors because the intake of fresh air keeps me in a fresh state of mind. Beginning tomorrow is my Spring Break for which I do not have the means to travel, so I picked up some hiking guides from the Maison du Tourisme, and I plan to explore the mountains surrounding Grenoble for 12 days. It’s amazing how much clearer the Lord’s voice becomes when in the solitude of nature; I have always heard my Dad speak of it since we moved to Idaho, and now I’m realizing it for myself.
Yesterday my program director Patrick paid me to go to the Lyon Airport to pick up the newest girl in our program. He had previous commitments, and our program guarantees airport pickup, so I got to spend the day seeing the French countryside by train. It was wonderful! It was also really neat to be able to describe to her all of the facts and information about our town, and it made me realize how much I really do like it here. I was proud to be able to show off Grenoble, and that was a great feeling.
Well other than that, not a whole lot is going on. God is continually revealing himself to me everyday…through the random beautiful days amongst snowstorms, through the pictures of all of the sweet new babies being born (Ella Grace, Eva and Jack!), in him blessing the efforts of my studying; the list goes on. Thank you all for continuing to pray and support me, I can’t thank you enough! And I know I say it every single time – but I miss you much more than you realize!
Seul roi éxalté,
Tu es mort sur la croix à ma place,
Digne es-tu Seigneur!”
All of this time, and my parents never told me. Yes, I’ve seen the pictures of me as a baby in the hospital – but I must have been superimposed. It is obvious to me now however. Despite all of the stories, I have come to discover my true identity: I am Swedish. I had to have been adopted. Honestly, look at the Swedes – tall, blonde, blue-green eyes, rosy cheeks, strong women…it just makes sense! So having said this, I regret to inform all of you that I have made the decision to return to my homeland, and live amongst my people once again. I will write, don’t worry.
Okay, so I jest. But seriously, I have been spending a lot of time with my Swedish friends, and I feel so at home! We have the same sense of humor, and let me tell you how wonderful it is to take a break from the French female stature of 4’11” weighing in at 85 lbs, and actually be eye to eye with those I’m having a conversation with. And their native tongue is so beautiful too; it is like listening to a bird chirp. Sweden is now definitely on my A-list of places to visit.
Other than a horrific computer crisis that happened last night, I am doing really well. (Turned on my computer to find that every file, photo and song had disappeared…) I think that finally, after 3 months, my body is starting to acclimate to France, and I am near finished with being sick. My classes are continuing to challenge me, in all of the right ways. This past Monday I gave a huge oral presentation, and although I was a nervous wreck at the beginning, I made it through, and got the ever-so-cherished words from my professor, “Très bien fait!” The professors here give out a “well-done” just about as often as they shave their armpits. Which is never.
Life is calm, and I am settling into my way of doing things. I walk a lot, and I am not joking when I say, “a lot”. Saturday I walked a total of 14 miles after getting lost intentionally, to see where I would end up. I try to keep myself outdoors because the intake of fresh air keeps me in a fresh state of mind. Beginning tomorrow is my Spring Break for which I do not have the means to travel, so I picked up some hiking guides from the Maison du Tourisme, and I plan to explore the mountains surrounding Grenoble for 12 days. It’s amazing how much clearer the Lord’s voice becomes when in the solitude of nature; I have always heard my Dad speak of it since we moved to Idaho, and now I’m realizing it for myself.
Yesterday my program director Patrick paid me to go to the Lyon Airport to pick up the newest girl in our program. He had previous commitments, and our program guarantees airport pickup, so I got to spend the day seeing the French countryside by train. It was wonderful! It was also really neat to be able to describe to her all of the facts and information about our town, and it made me realize how much I really do like it here. I was proud to be able to show off Grenoble, and that was a great feeling.
Well other than that, not a whole lot is going on. God is continually revealing himself to me everyday…through the random beautiful days amongst snowstorms, through the pictures of all of the sweet new babies being born (Ella Grace, Eva and Jack!), in him blessing the efforts of my studying; the list goes on. Thank you all for continuing to pray and support me, I can’t thank you enough! And I know I say it every single time – but I miss you much more than you realize!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Chamonix
God is SO good.
Today, while lying out in the sun on my lunch break with two of my good Swedish friends, Charlòtta and Jôhæna, I got to share the Gospel for my first time in French! It all started with girl talk – and by girl talk I mean them drilling me about Andrew. Loyalty, and especially fidelity (unfortunately) is a foreign concept to many Europeans. They asked me why I have made the decision to “deprive myself of foreign men”, after all, they said, it is a part of the “study abroad experience”. I proudly told them that I love Andrew, and because of this – I respect him and his feelings. This is when things got interesting… Jôhæna then told me that she has noticed in watching me that it seems that I have a respect for others that she doesn’t see in anyone else, and that she would go as far to said that I have a certain “compassion”. Charlòtta agreed, and asked if it had anything to do with the fact that I’m a Christian (I had mentioned it in class before). The Lord swung the door open for me, and I was able to tell them all about my faith, what He has done for me, and what He can do for them. They received it well, and when we were getting up to go to class, they thanked me for a wonderful conversation and asked if we could talk about it more. Praise the Lord!!
So all-around, the past couple of weeks since I returned from Italy have been pretty good. Things are definitely on the up with my host family. I force myself every night when I come home to go into them and tell them all about my day and ask about theirs, even though sometimes it’s so obvious that they could care less. But on Tuesday night I had dinner with them and instead of bolting from the table the moment after my last bite, we stayed and talked for 2 hours. I’m really praying that the comfort level continues to increase, and that by the end of this program we will be on good terms. Like I’ve said before, God has placed me in this house for a reason…I still don’t know what it is, but I’m looking forward to finding out.
This past weekend I went on an excursion with my program to Chamonix, a town nestled at the base of Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain (4810 meters) in France. As you can see from the pictures that I sent – I couldn’t get enough of these mountains! Everywhere I turned, God was evident. A lot of people went skiing, but I stayed in town and explored a bit with a couple of friends of mine. We had a great time, and it was a wonderful trip!
Now back in Grenoble, I’ve just been concentrating on my classes and enjoying the nice weather (a freakish week of beautiful-ness in the 50’s!) before next week, when it’s supposed drop down in temperature and snow again. This Saturday I will be traveling to Lyon to spend the day walking around and exploring the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre. It should be fun!
Now I haven’t heard from a lot of you in a long time – I’m not lying when I say I want to hear how you are doing! I do miss you all, every day.
News Flash: I am proud to announce that this past Sunday was Andrew and my 2-year anniversary! :)
Today, while lying out in the sun on my lunch break with two of my good Swedish friends, Charlòtta and Jôhæna, I got to share the Gospel for my first time in French! It all started with girl talk – and by girl talk I mean them drilling me about Andrew. Loyalty, and especially fidelity (unfortunately) is a foreign concept to many Europeans. They asked me why I have made the decision to “deprive myself of foreign men”, after all, they said, it is a part of the “study abroad experience”. I proudly told them that I love Andrew, and because of this – I respect him and his feelings. This is when things got interesting… Jôhæna then told me that she has noticed in watching me that it seems that I have a respect for others that she doesn’t see in anyone else, and that she would go as far to said that I have a certain “compassion”. Charlòtta agreed, and asked if it had anything to do with the fact that I’m a Christian (I had mentioned it in class before). The Lord swung the door open for me, and I was able to tell them all about my faith, what He has done for me, and what He can do for them. They received it well, and when we were getting up to go to class, they thanked me for a wonderful conversation and asked if we could talk about it more. Praise the Lord!!
So all-around, the past couple of weeks since I returned from Italy have been pretty good. Things are definitely on the up with my host family. I force myself every night when I come home to go into them and tell them all about my day and ask about theirs, even though sometimes it’s so obvious that they could care less. But on Tuesday night I had dinner with them and instead of bolting from the table the moment after my last bite, we stayed and talked for 2 hours. I’m really praying that the comfort level continues to increase, and that by the end of this program we will be on good terms. Like I’ve said before, God has placed me in this house for a reason…I still don’t know what it is, but I’m looking forward to finding out.
This past weekend I went on an excursion with my program to Chamonix, a town nestled at the base of Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain (4810 meters) in France. As you can see from the pictures that I sent – I couldn’t get enough of these mountains! Everywhere I turned, God was evident. A lot of people went skiing, but I stayed in town and explored a bit with a couple of friends of mine. We had a great time, and it was a wonderful trip!
Now back in Grenoble, I’ve just been concentrating on my classes and enjoying the nice weather (a freakish week of beautiful-ness in the 50’s!) before next week, when it’s supposed drop down in temperature and snow again. This Saturday I will be traveling to Lyon to spend the day walking around and exploring the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre. It should be fun!
Now I haven’t heard from a lot of you in a long time – I’m not lying when I say I want to hear how you are doing! I do miss you all, every day.
News Flash: I am proud to announce that this past Sunday was Andrew and my 2-year anniversary! :)
Monday, March 5, 2007
Vive l'Italie!
Boy. I never did realize how many devoted blog fans I had until I decided to lay low and not update while in Italy. Have no fear! I’m back in action, and have not forgotten all that happened underneath the beautiful Italian sun. Be sure to look at my pictures, because words will just not do it justice.
I left from Lyon at 10:45p on Monday the 19th and endured an absolutely horrific 13-hour bus ride to Venice. I’m not even going to explain it, because I don’t care to recall it – so let’s just say I was simply ecstatic to see Shea, Aubrey, and little Anabella all waiting at the station when we pulled in. I tried as hard as I could not to burst into tears, Shea looked absolutely beautiful and the girls had grown so much! We then hopped in the car and drove a ½ hour to Vicenza, their hometown. Their apartment was absolutely fabulous, and Shea took the extra measure to put a fluffy mattress topper on my bed, and have chocolates and magazines sitting out on my dresser. I felt welcomed and relieved! Later that night I got to see Mikel when he got home from work, who made us STEAK and MASHED POTATOES! I savored every single bite, and was so thankful for his generosity in an amazing welcome-dinner.
Amidst all of the relaxing and much-needed fellowship, Shea took me on some pretty wild adventures. We got to go to downtown Vicenza and see the beautiful square, and also visit their favorite olive oil shop. We went on a gorgeous drive through the mountains, and saw everyone preparing their vineyards for the upcoming season. We hiked through the Villas, a beautiful old estate with gardens and statues. We even traveled to Verona and saw Juliet’s balcony from Romeo and Juliet! It was absolutely magical, and ten times more the better because of the company I shared.
On Sunday it was Shea’s birthday, so her and Mikel tooled around town for a bit, then he made another wonderful dinner of lamb chops and fried portabella mushrooms. Aubrey and Anabella helped me make a German chocolate cake for Shea, which was a big hit. We all watched a movie after dinner, and I think it was a very relaxing time for Shea – something she needs more often now that her days are filled with chasing the girls around!
A couple of days Shea took me the military post that Mikel works at, because that is where she does her grocery shopping. They had to do the full-on ID check with my passport, and issue a pass for the day for me to be able to walk around. It was wild – American dollars were used, everyone was speaking English, and the grocery had American food! You better believe I snagged some Pop Tarts, Quaker Oatmeal, and Ramen noodles to take back with me to France.
Unfortunately towards the end of the trip the pollution got to me and I became a bit sick. The Bookwalter’s cared for me, and were very sweet, as I didn’t have one iota of energy. I got the hook-up with medication, and it should be knocked out in no time!
All in all it was a fantastic trip. I was sorry to leave, but happy to come back to Grenoble and get into my swing of things again. Shea and Bella took me to the station that Friday, and after 13 hours with a really creepy Italian man wedged up against me, I am finally home. Granted it’s raining and freezing again – go figure – but I am home!
For all of my family and relatives who want the update on the Bookwalter’s:
They really seem to be doing great. They are definitely ready to be back in the States – and be near family again. I didn’t realize this, but Mikel has been overseas for 90% of his military career! I can imagine why they are ready to skedaddle.
Shea is busy busy busy, with the two little ones and all of the other things to be accomplished in a day. She is a wonderful mama, and those girls absolutely adore her.
Aubrey is growing like a tree! Her sweet cheeks haven’t changed a bit, but she has definitely become more grown-up. She understands some pretty complex concepts, and you can tell that she’s a “thinker”, pondering all of her surroundings. And of course, she’s still enamored with Dora the Explorer.
Anabella Sofia is a light and a joy. I spent the most amount of time with her, because Aubrey was in school for most of the day. She most definitely has a plan of her own, and is always moving, climbing, or rappelling to get to her goals. She loves to play, and doesn’t really like to sit and watch TV or movies. It’s chiseled in stone that she will one day be a genius – she will go into a room full of blocks and come out with 3 that look exactly alike. Or she will open up the utensil drawer in the kitchen and pick out all of the wooden spoons. It’s fascinating!
This update was not very detailed, so if you’re interested, shoot me an email and I can tell you more. I’ve got a bunch of fun facts and captivating stories about the specifics of what we did. I still miss you all like crazy, and want to hear from you!
I left from Lyon at 10:45p on Monday the 19th and endured an absolutely horrific 13-hour bus ride to Venice. I’m not even going to explain it, because I don’t care to recall it – so let’s just say I was simply ecstatic to see Shea, Aubrey, and little Anabella all waiting at the station when we pulled in. I tried as hard as I could not to burst into tears, Shea looked absolutely beautiful and the girls had grown so much! We then hopped in the car and drove a ½ hour to Vicenza, their hometown. Their apartment was absolutely fabulous, and Shea took the extra measure to put a fluffy mattress topper on my bed, and have chocolates and magazines sitting out on my dresser. I felt welcomed and relieved! Later that night I got to see Mikel when he got home from work, who made us STEAK and MASHED POTATOES! I savored every single bite, and was so thankful for his generosity in an amazing welcome-dinner.
Amidst all of the relaxing and much-needed fellowship, Shea took me on some pretty wild adventures. We got to go to downtown Vicenza and see the beautiful square, and also visit their favorite olive oil shop. We went on a gorgeous drive through the mountains, and saw everyone preparing their vineyards for the upcoming season. We hiked through the Villas, a beautiful old estate with gardens and statues. We even traveled to Verona and saw Juliet’s balcony from Romeo and Juliet! It was absolutely magical, and ten times more the better because of the company I shared.
On Sunday it was Shea’s birthday, so her and Mikel tooled around town for a bit, then he made another wonderful dinner of lamb chops and fried portabella mushrooms. Aubrey and Anabella helped me make a German chocolate cake for Shea, which was a big hit. We all watched a movie after dinner, and I think it was a very relaxing time for Shea – something she needs more often now that her days are filled with chasing the girls around!
A couple of days Shea took me the military post that Mikel works at, because that is where she does her grocery shopping. They had to do the full-on ID check with my passport, and issue a pass for the day for me to be able to walk around. It was wild – American dollars were used, everyone was speaking English, and the grocery had American food! You better believe I snagged some Pop Tarts, Quaker Oatmeal, and Ramen noodles to take back with me to France.
Unfortunately towards the end of the trip the pollution got to me and I became a bit sick. The Bookwalter’s cared for me, and were very sweet, as I didn’t have one iota of energy. I got the hook-up with medication, and it should be knocked out in no time!
All in all it was a fantastic trip. I was sorry to leave, but happy to come back to Grenoble and get into my swing of things again. Shea and Bella took me to the station that Friday, and after 13 hours with a really creepy Italian man wedged up against me, I am finally home. Granted it’s raining and freezing again – go figure – but I am home!
For all of my family and relatives who want the update on the Bookwalter’s:
They really seem to be doing great. They are definitely ready to be back in the States – and be near family again. I didn’t realize this, but Mikel has been overseas for 90% of his military career! I can imagine why they are ready to skedaddle.
Shea is busy busy busy, with the two little ones and all of the other things to be accomplished in a day. She is a wonderful mama, and those girls absolutely adore her.
Aubrey is growing like a tree! Her sweet cheeks haven’t changed a bit, but she has definitely become more grown-up. She understands some pretty complex concepts, and you can tell that she’s a “thinker”, pondering all of her surroundings. And of course, she’s still enamored with Dora the Explorer.
Anabella Sofia is a light and a joy. I spent the most amount of time with her, because Aubrey was in school for most of the day. She most definitely has a plan of her own, and is always moving, climbing, or rappelling to get to her goals. She loves to play, and doesn’t really like to sit and watch TV or movies. It’s chiseled in stone that she will one day be a genius – she will go into a room full of blocks and come out with 3 that look exactly alike. Or she will open up the utensil drawer in the kitchen and pick out all of the wooden spoons. It’s fascinating!
This update was not very detailed, so if you’re interested, shoot me an email and I can tell you more. I’ve got a bunch of fun facts and captivating stories about the specifics of what we did. I still miss you all like crazy, and want to hear from you!
Friday, February 9, 2007
Tres tres vite...
Here I went and updated my blog, and forgot of course to add the most important thing that has happened in the past two weeks: a huge answer to prayer!
Linda Lemon, a missionary friend of Mrs. Mills who is currently in Lyon (an hour away from me) contacted me on Saturday. She listened to some of my frustrations and then encouraged me in the Lord. It was really sweet of her. I told her of my background as a Christian, and about what type of church I have been attending in the States - and then she went out and did some research and called back with a church recommendation. So, Sunday morning I picked up Kristin at 9a at the tram and we went to go find this church (Le Chandelier). It was right downtown, at a great location that's not too hard to get to. We walked in at 9:20a (the service started at 10a) and there were already about 50 people there. The last church I went to had sweet people, but only about 20-30 members. That made me a bit weary because they said they've had the same ones for awhile – so that leads me to believe that they are not growing or moving forward. Anyway, by the time service started, there were about 200 in the congregation. And then much to my glee and delight, a BAND walked out! Two backup singers, a worship leader, a saxophonist, a keyboardist, and drums. You can imagine how quickly my heart started beating when they started playing VINEYARD songs in French! I looked around, and there were older women dancing, and a few with raised hands. And then as I began to feel the Holy Spirit move, this body of Christ was confirmed for me. I was so excited I was about to pass out. And it only got better. In the middle of worship, someone had a Word from the Lord to pray for those in physical need. So we prayed and stretched hands for all of the handicapped and older people in the congregation. Then we had a time of prayer for missions. After that, we had a time to just "cry out to the Lord" and that's what everyone did! People just prayed out loud, there were tongues, and people singing. I closed my eyes and soaked it all in. Afterwards the pastor came up to give the Word, and it was about "daily taking up your cross". Simple message, but good. It brought a lot of people to tears; he was passionate about the subject. One of his main points was that people often take up a cross every day, but it's not of the Lord – it's the cross of despair. They feel they must work for their relationship with the Lord, and therefore be unhappy at the same time. That would be an interesting way to explain the French being so "cold". So anyway – in conclusion…church was GOOD. And I'm EXCITED. I hope that they have a way for me to get plugged in.
P.S. Thank you, thank you to those who have been praying specifically for a church home for me. This is proof that God is alive and well, and working his miracles on a daily basis!
Linda Lemon, a missionary friend of Mrs. Mills who is currently in Lyon (an hour away from me) contacted me on Saturday. She listened to some of my frustrations and then encouraged me in the Lord. It was really sweet of her. I told her of my background as a Christian, and about what type of church I have been attending in the States - and then she went out and did some research and called back with a church recommendation. So, Sunday morning I picked up Kristin at 9a at the tram and we went to go find this church (Le Chandelier). It was right downtown, at a great location that's not too hard to get to. We walked in at 9:20a (the service started at 10a) and there were already about 50 people there. The last church I went to had sweet people, but only about 20-30 members. That made me a bit weary because they said they've had the same ones for awhile – so that leads me to believe that they are not growing or moving forward. Anyway, by the time service started, there were about 200 in the congregation. And then much to my glee and delight, a BAND walked out! Two backup singers, a worship leader, a saxophonist, a keyboardist, and drums. You can imagine how quickly my heart started beating when they started playing VINEYARD songs in French! I looked around, and there were older women dancing, and a few with raised hands. And then as I began to feel the Holy Spirit move, this body of Christ was confirmed for me. I was so excited I was about to pass out. And it only got better. In the middle of worship, someone had a Word from the Lord to pray for those in physical need. So we prayed and stretched hands for all of the handicapped and older people in the congregation. Then we had a time of prayer for missions. After that, we had a time to just "cry out to the Lord" and that's what everyone did! People just prayed out loud, there were tongues, and people singing. I closed my eyes and soaked it all in. Afterwards the pastor came up to give the Word, and it was about "daily taking up your cross". Simple message, but good. It brought a lot of people to tears; he was passionate about the subject. One of his main points was that people often take up a cross every day, but it's not of the Lord – it's the cross of despair. They feel they must work for their relationship with the Lord, and therefore be unhappy at the same time. That would be an interesting way to explain the French being so "cold". So anyway – in conclusion…church was GOOD. And I'm EXCITED. I hope that they have a way for me to get plugged in.
P.S. Thank you, thank you to those who have been praying specifically for a church home for me. This is proof that God is alive and well, and working his miracles on a daily basis!
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