Farewell to Paris

Before I get into my 'end of the summer' schpeal, there are a few things that I wanted to share with ya'll! First, I got to watch part of the last leg of the Tour de France! It was so amazing and something I will never ever forget. We spent a lot of time outside waiting for the cyclists to arrive, and it was so worth it once they arrived! Ah! It was so cool! I can't believe that I got to watch it. And I also got to go to Disneyland in Paris! I have only been to Disneyland once, when I was five, and I remember nothing. So naturally, I have been dreaming about going to Disneyland for such a long time! It was so amazing and magical! We spent the entire day there, and I loved every second of it. We got to meet Snow White as well! It was so great. 

This summer has been such an amazing and life changing ride. It has been filled with amazing people, sweet moments with Father, answered prayers, lots of laughs, experiences that I will never forget, and growth. I've been able to do things I never really imagined I would be able to do, and things I can't do on my own. This summer was not something I could have gotten through without Father's amazing provision and strength. He has answered prayers that we didn't even know to pray. Father has transformed my heart and shown me how much I need Him in every area in my life. Without Him, I am nothing. It doesn't matter whether I acknowledge it or not, I am 100% completely dependent upon Father. He is in control of my life whether I believe it or not. His plan is going to be done, no matter what I choose to do. I am a small part in His big plan. I am not a necessity. I am not going to screw up His plan, either. If I am being disobedient, He will show me. I don't need to stress about knowing His plan so that I don't screw it up cause I'm not going to. I do not have that power, and I can rest in that. Throughout the summer, Father has shown me how big and amazing He is and how small I am. It has been an amazing lesson to learn.

1 Corinthians 1:25-2:5 

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not may of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential' not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things- and the things that are not- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God- that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."

Leaving Paris is so incredibly bittersweet. I have grown to love these people so so much. It's so hard to think that I will be leaving them and might never see some of them again. They have encouraged, challenged, and helped me grow so much this summer. It has been amazing living with them and doing life with them. They have been such a blessing, each and every one of them. They have been my support system and inner circle while I've been away from home. They were able to keep my homesickness at bay, not that, that was their goal, but it happened. These people have had a huge impact on my life, and I hope to never forget them and all that has happened this summer. They are seriously amazing, and I love each one of them dearly.

In conclusion, this experience was amazing and life changing. Father is good. There is no greater purpose in life that to seek after Father and make His name known. We are here to bring Him glory. That is why we have breathe in our lungs. Father's plan is not one that is all struggle and pain with no joy. It includes abundant joy and hope, but it will include pain and suffering. Following Father is not an easy task to do, but it is absolutely worth it and so so amazing. Father is calling us to do hard things so that His name will be praised throughout the nations. He will drag us through the mud, but He will also be there to clean us up afterwards. Nothing happens apart from His will. Take heart and rest in that. Father is capable of answering our biggest and most exuberant prayers, but He also loves us enough to grant us our most petty requests. Follow after Him, and hold nothing back for He is sufficient to fill all our needs.

In & Outs of Paris

The one-weekers have come and gone! They were such a blessing to have. They were absolutely amazing and jumped face first into the work here. Each one of my students were awesome to get to know and share life with, if only for just a week. We shared trials, hurts, and triumphs. My trek absolutely inspired me because of their faith and strength. They are all fighting the good fight and fighting so so hard. It was so amazing to just hear each of their testimonies. Father is working in huge and miraculous ways in each of their hearts. He is giving them strength to push through each day, to live the life that we're called to live, to love those around them with the love that He first showed us, and to beat the odds stacked against them. Father used these students to touch not only my life but many other lives during their time in Paris. So many students were able to share the story of Father's love, and Father changed hearts through these students.  If you know Mr. Danny Caldwell, you need to ask him about how Father used him because it was amazing and awe-inspiring. Father worked in so many amazing ways. It blew me away. It was also so nice to have three fellow Weatherfordians in Paris. Father used them to give me a much needed boost and relieved the small homesickness I was experiencing. It's so amazing that Father not only answers our big requests to move in hearts and change lives, but that He also answers our small requests for comfort from homesickness and energy to get through each day. Praise Him.

Also! My fellow JSI ladies celebrated the 4th of July by wearing red, white, and blue. Although, we were far away from the fireworks, freedom, and the home of the brave, it was still a great Independence Day. And although I didn't get to celebrate freedom from the tyranny of King George III, I got to celebrate the storming of the Bastille just yesterday. It was simply amazing. We sat on the grass beside the Eiffel Tower for about eight hours and watched the fireworks show last night. It was beautiful and a blasty blast. We did quite a bit of dancing. They played some American classics, a small bit of MLK's 'I Have a Dream' speech, and presented us with a spectacular firework show. There were thousands of people there. It was insane! I loved every minute of it.

As I have frequently mentioned, I absolutely love my fellow JSIs. Father has put us all together with different personalities and has bonded us together beautifully. It is such a great group of weirdos. We are completely comfortable to be ourselves around each other. And naturally this leads to outrageous things. That's for another time, however. They put up with me and my hunger induced anger and poutiness, which is awesome, cause we that could have posed a huge problem. So, praise Father that He allows us to be around people that love us and that we get along with. And that we can just have a great time with. These people have been so great to be around. I can't picture what life is going to be without them once I get home. It's going to be weird  and sad not seeing them everyday. I love them all so so much. So, naturally with all these personalities we have stumbled upon a few great photos.

This one is probably my favorite. The boys decided to throw Alex up in the air. It was some great fun.

Also, one day we went shopping because it was the first day of extreme sales all throughout Paris. During our travels, Jessica and I were approached by two models. They asked if we needed help. We were confused, of course. Apparently, they were there to carry our bags for us. How sweet of them. So, we did the Christian thing and let them carry our bags- enabling chivalry as I would say. So to recap, Jessica and I had two French models carry our shopping bags throughout the mall. That's all I have to say about that.

And the most ridiculous picture from the past few weeks. It's one of my personal favorites. Less because of me and more because of Taylor.
















Father has a plan for each of our lives. A plan that has been in place long before we were on Earth. It's a plan that we cannot wrap our minds around. It's not a straight shot to the end. There are dips, curves, and unexpected obstacles. All of these things work together for Father's glory, and they all happen for a reason. We may never know or understand why certain things happen or why we go through things, but we have to trust in Father. He is so much greater and smarter than us. Surely, He knows what He is doing. He spoke the heavens and Earth into being, surely He knows how to direct my life. I don't have to know every point of His plan. That's where faith comes into play. I don't know His plan. I can't know. I don't have enough brain power to comprehend that much information. So, I will be obedient in the areas that He has instructed me and where I know what obedience looks like. I will follow His plans as He reveals them to me. As for now, I will obey. I will seek after Him and live as He has called me to live. The rest, I leave in His hands. He knows the plans for my life. I will not and cannot screw up His plan for my life. He knows when I rise and when I lay down. I cannot surprise Him. The choices I will make, He already knows. And He will use them for His glory. Father is in control. That we are sure of. If we know nothing else, we know that Father is in control. We can take comfort and rest in knowing that. He loves us and cares for us. He will take care of us, but first His glory will be known throughout the nations.

Good Gifts

Paris is so amazing! Our time and work here looks much different than in Amsterdam, but I am loving it! I get to help teach an English class three days a week. We have a lot of North Africans that come to the class that already know French and/or Arabic, and are now trying to learn English. It is so much fun! We are taking the reigns from a group of students from Auburn. They were able to make some great relationships with their students and be very intentional. They did a really great job of preparing us for our teaching roles and passing off their relationships to us so that we could continue to love on the people they had meet. It was such a blessing meet them and get to know them. ESL (English as a second language) has been such a great experience. The first goal of the class is to share the gospel, and the second goal is to teach them English. We teach them English by presenting different Bible stories to them and asking them questions about the story. We also cover vocab words and different rules of English. My first day to teach class, I had to explain 'had slept with a man' and 'God's spirit,' which both presented completely different challenges. I did it though! Kinda, I needed a substantial amount of help to get both concepts across.

We have also been able to attend a ZUMBA class that a fellow American lady put on for a week. It was such a great time. We got see a group of Muslim ladies just completely let go and just have fun. They were tearing off their head-scarves and tossing their hair all around, which is a really big deal in their culture. It was really amazing and such a blast. We also got to hear a lady that was previously a Muslim share her testimony on how she came to know Christ. He spoke to her through a series of dreams and through healing a stomach problem she had been battling. It was so encouraging to hear. We won't be able to go back to the ZUMBA class, but it was a great thing to be apart of, if even for just a short time.

Our one-week students get here tomorrow! I'm so excited! I'm especially excited to see the three students from Weatherford. It is going to be such a great taste of home. It's going to be a hard week with little sleep, but I am so beyond pumped. I'm excited to see Father move in hearts and change lives, not only in the people of Paris, but also in the students and adults. Father is going to do such amazing things! This week is going to be so great. Also, our team has been getting along so well since the arrival of the new JSI's! Which is an answered prayer! Father is so good to answer our prayer and faithful to provide even our most petty needs. He is so so good.

I will give you a great example of this. As you may or may not know, I have a giant addiction to Dr. Pepper. And the Dr. Pepper in Europe is not the same or as good as Dr. Pepper in the States, which is a very tragic occurrence. So, I've been filling my Dr. Pepper void with Coke, which cannot satisfy like Dr. Pepper can. So, yesterday I went into an American inspired bagel shop. I ordered my bagel and was going to order an A&W Rootbeer. However, when he opened his cooler, I noticed there was an American Dr. Pepper- cause the cans are different in Europe- and lost all sense of control. I freaked out, waving my arms like an idiot, and demanded the Dr. Pepper instead of the Rootbeer. He was scared to say the least. I think I had a very crazy look in my eye, like when a tiger locks on a gazelle. This may seem sappy and over dramatic, but I don't care. I think I acted so wildly because of the ties that Dr. Pepper holds for me back home. So many of the closest people in my life are helpless Dr. Pepper addicts like me, and it was almost like that can of Dr. Pepper was a big hug from home. I felt connected with home and comforted. Like I said, it sounds uber sappy and over dramatic, but I don't care. That Dr. Pepper was a blessing from Father. It filled my desire for Dr. Pepper and calmed my homesickness. Dr. Pepper is something that I associate with home and so many dear people in my life, and finding a good, American Dr. Pepper was an experience that was so weird but so great. If you take anything from that story, remember that Father fills even our pettiest of needs and He can completely shock us with how great His gifts are.

Also, yesterday I got to eat at Pizza Hut! It's odd that this didn't hold more significance, but it wasn't quite as good as the ole' Bob and Terry shop. I miss it lots. But it was still good. I enjoyed it a lot. I also got to watch Man of Steel. So, it's been a pretty great week in the life of Sarah. 

From Amsterdam to Paris

Last week we had our one weekers arrive from Kansas! It was a great week. Father worked mightily in each of their hearts! It was such a blessing to be apart of it. We spent a lot of the day walking around parts of Amsterdam talking to Father and trying to have conversations with random people. My trek had a few really good conversations and got to share the good news a couple of times. So that was awesome! They were all really great. My students were so smart and gifted in different areas. My adult chaperon was so sweet, and he poured into each of our lives deeply! He was so so great to have for the week. My students were defiantly a little shy and quiet, but it worked out great! Father used it to His advantage! We had a great time, and they each came out of their shells little by little.They all were ready to be used and ready to jump into Father's work. They were such a blessing!

Bill, James, Emily, Addison, Me

Another great blessing that has come out of this experience has been the ability to walk closely with the other girls here. Father has really used this time to reveal different things to my heart. Listening to their struggles and how Father is moving in their lives really encourages me and teaches me things that I never expected to learn. It is such a great time of community and fellowship. They are such a blessing. Each of them has really been able to speak good truths into my life as well. They encourage me and challenge me in so many different ways. The two team leaders Kelley and Sarah have also been great examples to follow and look up to. They pour into Jessica and I with all their hearts and listen when we need to talk. It is such a great  group of girls to be spending time with. It has been such a great learning experience and has pulled me closer to Father and increased my dependence on Him.

We have also recently been blessed with some free days to spend relaxing and doing touristy things, which was awesome! After a week of students and craziness, the relaxation has been priceless. We were able to visit a seaside village in Holland, and visit some cool museums. Also, we were able to take a lot of cool pictures! I absolutely love Holland. It is beautiful. I am so sad to leave it! However, Paris is beautiful as well and filled with more History than I can comprehend. Our team from Amsterdam has split between two cities. I was really sad to leave Hunter and Kelley because they are two awesome people that make my life better, but Father has a plan. And that plan involves them leaving me. Anywho, I love my team! They really make it easy to be away from home for the whole summer. That is another great blessing from Father. Here are some more of my favorite pictures of us. (plus one of our friends from the hostel.)

 Since being in Paris, we have done a good amount of sight seeing! Paris is so beautiful, and I love it! This time spent relaxing has provided a good time to take a deep breathe and refocus for the rest of the summer. The end of July seems far away now, but I know it will be here before I know it. Despite that, I'm going to enjoy each day that Father blesses us with and be obedient to what He has called me to do. I'm really excited to dive into the work here. It's going to be a great time! Here are some pictures from Paris!

The Arc de Triumph!

Notre Dame- couldn't find any hunchbacks, though.

 

Less interesting to normal people, but monumental for me. PIZZA HUT!!! 

A really beautiful and old courthouse!

And the Eiffel Tower!!!! 

And finally, the obligatory ridiculous picture. Jessica and I with Mr. Thomas Jefferson.

Father is sufficient. He is enough to get us through whatever circumstance He may throw our way. He is enough to fill all the cracks and hurts in our hearts. No matter what anybody is going through, Father is sufficient to fill the void. He will sustain us through any storm or trouble. Acknowledging that we have no control over anything in this life brings a great peace and comfort. Father spoke the Earth into being. Trust Him with your plans. Trust Him with your heart. Follow His plan even though it may look scary and hard. He is sufficient to get you through it, and you will be praising Him by then end of it. Father has shown me His immeasurable might and His unconditional love recently, and how they go hand in hand. Father loves us so so so much, and He is more than sufficient to get through anything and fix any hurt or wound or longing. He will call us to things that are hard and aren't always fun, but He will get us through. And His name will be praised because of it. Even though I miss home and everything that comes with it, Father has captured my attention. So, I'm not constantly homesick or missing Oklahoma in any unhealthy way because Father has filled those voids with Himself. Where there used to be a deep longing is now joy and contentment. Father has stretched me and forced me to depend on Him in so many ways, and I am constantly humbled by how loving, gracious, and powerful He is. 

Standing Firm.

Isaiah 7:9 says "... If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."

Standing firm in faith for me is a complete dependence on Father. I know in that I can contribute nothing to the Kingdom. I bring nothing to the table. Anything that happens of significance happens because of Father. He allows it and makes it happen. Once I begin to live like it's not of my power that can bring about spiritual conversations or new believers, I can a new and great freedom. I ask Father for big things, knowing in full faith that He can do big and miraculous things, but I may not see Him answer those requests. He is in control. His plan will  be accomplished, in His timing. His name will be glorified throughout the nations. I will find joy in being allowed into his work, because He could command the rocks and trees to cry out to Him, but He chooses to allow me into His work. That is an absolute blessing that I will cherish. Right now, I'm just trying to be obedient to His will, whatever that looks like.

Today, that looked like spending time in the park with a few of our friends here and their families- loving on and playing with their children. It was a great day of fellowship, and it was really good for my heart and mind to just hang out. We had a great time.

A few days ago we had a free day, which  we spent around the city and visited the Dutch Resistance Museum, which was really cool for a history nerd like me. The next day was our focus day which was spent in fasting. I was really concerned about it because I thought it was going to be the most difficult thing I ever experienced. However, it was not that bad, mainly because we slept through part of the fasting time. We also spent a lot of the day in the Word, and that was really good. It was a great day that we all got to just focus on Father, and be rejuvenated. They were really great days of rest that have prepared us for the crazy times that are about to come.

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 says "What, after all, is Apolllos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

This is something that has been drilled into us over our time away from home. There is nothing we can do to provide the growth, only Father can do that. Accepting this and applying this in my own life has been a great experience. I've felt nearer to Father than ever before, and I've seen Father just answering prayers. I've been absolutely floored by His power and majesty. Father is great and greatly to be praised. I am having a great time and lots of fun in Amsterdam, but I'm also growing nearer to Father and learning more and more about Him. It's a great time.

Here are some pictures because I love to add them in every time.


This is our team and our Canadian friend Carl that we met in the hostel. He was awesome and hilarious! He said that he often pictured Americans drilling for oil with the American flag in one hand and a bald eagle perched on their shoulder.

This is me in front of Westerkerk. Anne Frank writes about hearing the bells from this church a lot in her diary. It's really close to our hostel too! So, that's really cool. I often refer to it as Anne's church.

This is in front of one of the many, many canals here in Amsterdam. My father was begging for some canal pictures.

And of course, the obligatory ridiculous Sarah picture. This time featuring Kelley.

QUACK QUACK QUACK.

Right now, I really want to share with the world my great team that I'm spending my time in Amsterdam with. They are unpredictably great and hilarious. They make my time here so much better, and always keep me laughing. They spur me on when I don't think I can bike any farther. And they accept me and love me even when I do ridiculous things. This is really just an excuse for me to share the many ridiculous pictures we have taken since arriving in Amsterdam.

Obviously this one is not ridiculous, and quite adorable actually.

But here are a few of us climbing a tree together.

Here is Jessica. Obviously she understands me to the core.

Then there are the boys. Dillon with the curly hair. And Joel with the height.

Hunter is here too. And he's a boy. He's the ginger.

And then there's Sarah and Kelley. The long and the short, respectively.

And of course, there is me doing ridiculous things.

And Sarah prepared to catch me if I should fall.

These are the people that I will be spending my Summer with! Except Hunter and Kelley, they are leaving us June 15 for another group. But I love these people and they love me in return. So that's always nice. And I'm super duper excited for what is to come!