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.
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.
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