So I have started classes, finished my first week! It's coming! Being immersed in it is really helping. I also am really good at making people think I understand them! haha...
I moved in with Monsieur and Madame Bauge, the greatest couple ever! He is French, she is English. They are a sweet retired couple that are so hospitable and generous enough to have me stay with them for these next 5 weeks. Dinner conversations are great and the food is even better!
I have come to realize that my internship is going to look a lot different than I thought. I won't be able to be very useful here. I know that sounds weird, but it's because A) You cannot do ANYTHING if you do not know the language. and B) It takes a lot of time and trust for the French people to open up. BUT, with that said, I am learnng A LOT and know that I will learn more. And that is what my internship should be about anyway. I am learning the language. I am observing the culture. I am getting to know the city of Paris. I am meeting some great people, French and others. I am understanding missionary life!
All in all, this has been and will be a great experience for me and something that will hopefully shape my future! Whether I spend it in France or somewhere else.
Anyway, things are great over here and now I am off to bed!
P.S. Congrats to Ben and Kim Tyler!! They were married today :)
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The First Few Days in a Foreign Land
I have settled a bit into life in Paris. I signed up for French classes yesterday and they start on Monday. I will be doing the 5-week intensive class, 4 hours a day! It really is a humbling experience when you come in, thinking you know a bit of the language (I took 3 years, for crying out loud!) and realize you know NOTHING. I am a bit scared to start on Monday, but I know it will be worth it all in the end. I now feel like a child, unable to communicate with people.
I have spent some time exploring the city a bit, although its not as fun when you are alone! I went to the Louvre, walked along the Seine, walked along the Champs-Elysees, saw the Arc D'Triumph, saw the Eiffel Tower, and went to the Luxembourg gardens. I feel though that I am a bit touristed out. I don't know how people can just go backpacking all the way through Europe for months at a time. I have done about 3 weeks of it and I am done. Touring through London, Cardif, Dublin, Belfast, Portadown, Glasgow, Edinburgh, York, and now Paris, I am kaputz! And I haven't hardly touched Paris. But it's ok, I am here all summer!
I am slowly learning the "ins" and "outs" of missionary life, from the finance side of it to the language and the fears of offending someone! I definitely know this summer isn't going to be a piece of cake. It will be hard but good. Language learning will be difficult. Communication will be hard, but through God's mercies I will prevail.
It looks like I will be able to lead a Bible study for some French girls that want to go to America. They know a bit English and want to practice, and I want to practice my French! I will also be able to play my viola in the praise band. I'm also going to be connecting with some missionaries that are working with Northern African Muslim women. I may be teaching english, or learning French with them!
Here are some pictures!
Bon soir for now, thanks for all your prayers!
Monica
I have spent some time exploring the city a bit, although its not as fun when you are alone! I went to the Louvre, walked along the Seine, walked along the Champs-Elysees, saw the Arc D'Triumph, saw the Eiffel Tower, and went to the Luxembourg gardens. I feel though that I am a bit touristed out. I don't know how people can just go backpacking all the way through Europe for months at a time. I have done about 3 weeks of it and I am done. Touring through London, Cardif, Dublin, Belfast, Portadown, Glasgow, Edinburgh, York, and now Paris, I am kaputz! And I haven't hardly touched Paris. But it's ok, I am here all summer!
I am slowly learning the "ins" and "outs" of missionary life, from the finance side of it to the language and the fears of offending someone! I definitely know this summer isn't going to be a piece of cake. It will be hard but good. Language learning will be difficult. Communication will be hard, but through God's mercies I will prevail.
It looks like I will be able to lead a Bible study for some French girls that want to go to America. They know a bit English and want to practice, and I want to practice my French! I will also be able to play my viola in the praise band. I'm also going to be connecting with some missionaries that are working with Northern African Muslim women. I may be teaching english, or learning French with them!
Here are some pictures!
Bon soir for now, thanks for all your prayers!
Monica
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Bonjour de France!
We have ended our 3-week tour of the UK and now I am off to the next phase of life! My Moody part has now ended, seeking the Lord about my future has begun!
I arrived in Paris yesterday via the train from London. I was met by Doug, the missionary field leader in Paris, and we took the local train to a little village outside of the Paris called Lognes. Last night I basically got situated in the Mission house where I will be staying for two weeks and then I will be moving to a family's house. Today I will meet Doug's family and go over what my summer will look like.
Here are some pictures of the first half of my trip to the UK. My camera died halfway through.
Friends at Stonehenge
Me at Stonehenge. Of course you had to pay to get behind the fence, so we stayed out.
This is me with our favorite host home, Ruth and Alexander! This was in Wales, by the sea.
This is Giant's Causeway, on the north coast of Northern Ireland
Nathan and I at the Giant's Causeway
More to come later!
Blessings,
Monica
I arrived in Paris yesterday via the train from London. I was met by Doug, the missionary field leader in Paris, and we took the local train to a little village outside of the Paris called Lognes. Last night I basically got situated in the Mission house where I will be staying for two weeks and then I will be moving to a family's house. Today I will meet Doug's family and go over what my summer will look like.
Here are some pictures of the first half of my trip to the UK. My camera died halfway through.
Friends at Stonehenge
Me at Stonehenge. Of course you had to pay to get behind the fence, so we stayed out.
This is me with our favorite host home, Ruth and Alexander! This was in Wales, by the sea.
This is Giant's Causeway, on the north coast of Northern Ireland
Nathan and I at the Giant's Causeway
More to come later!
Blessings,
Monica
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Concert Itinerary
Hello from Northern Ireland!!
We just finished three days in Belfast staying with my favorite couple, Lindsey and Cris Ile! The top picture is a cool one of the Northern Irish Parliament building in Belfast. The last two are from the Giant's Causeway on the north coast of Northern Ireland. It has been a fun time!
I will post more information later, but I wanted to let you know (especially people who are living in the London area: aka, Tracey, Steven, Melanie, and Andrew!)of the rest of our choir tour schedule. I would love to see people in London if anyone is around!
Tour is going very well. We all have seen God work amazing ways these last few days. One woman in Wales accepted Christ after our concert!
Here is the itinerary for the next week and a half!
Wed 26 Ferry Belfast to Stranraer
Irvine C of N
Thurs May 27
7.30pm
Mosspark Baptist, Glasgow
155 Corkerhill Road
Glasgow G52 1PG
Fri 28 No Concert
Sat 29 Sightseeing Glasgow Concert 7.00 pm
Dalziel St Andrews Church
The Cross
Motherwell
Sun May 30 Morning Worship 11.00 am
St Matthews Church of the Nazarene
Gordon Street
Paisley
Evening 6.00pm
Trinity Church of the Nazarene
York Place
Perth PH2 8EH
Mon May 31
Inverness East Church
Academy Street
Inverness
Tues June 1 No concert
Wed June 2 No concert
Thurs June 03 Concert 7.30 pm
Faith Mission Bible College
Fri 04 Concert 7.30 pm
Albion United Reform Church
Stamford Street East
Ashton under Lyne
OL6 6QQ
Sat 05 No Concert
Sun 06 London Church service 11.30am
All Souls church
London
Monday, May 17, 2010
London
Well, I have officially embarked on the first leg of my summer journey. The chorale took off to the UK right after graduation. (MY GRADUATION!) We got into England just as the Ash cloud was grounding all flights to and from the UK. We were the last flight into the airport!
We sang a concert last night (sunday) after being up 30+ hours. It was definitely a hard time to get through the service, but the Lord gave us strength! We had a free day today to recouperate and tour the great city of London! We stayed in host homes last night and today. It is such a blessing to spend time with believers from across the oceans. God is truly the God of everything. Our perspectives keep widening. I am very happy that the Chorale is able to come and minister these three weeks.
After this 3-week tour, I take a train to Paris and spend the remaining 6-weeks doing my internship. I do not know all the ins and outs of what I will be doing there, but some of my objectives are to get a better understanding of French culture, observe and help out with muslim ministry in Paris, brush up on French (aka, RE-learn it!), help conduct an English camp, observe/help out with ESL or TESOL ministries, and understand the ins and outs of ministry in France.
My internship is a time where I hope God will use it to lean my heart toward a specific ministry and destination. I will be seeking the Lord in his will for my life, specifically in what to do when the summer is over!
Thank you all for reading this update and supporting me on my internship for this summer. I will keep this blog updated as often as I can!
In His Grace,
Monica
We sang a concert last night (sunday) after being up 30+ hours. It was definitely a hard time to get through the service, but the Lord gave us strength! We had a free day today to recouperate and tour the great city of London! We stayed in host homes last night and today. It is such a blessing to spend time with believers from across the oceans. God is truly the God of everything. Our perspectives keep widening. I am very happy that the Chorale is able to come and minister these three weeks.
After this 3-week tour, I take a train to Paris and spend the remaining 6-weeks doing my internship. I do not know all the ins and outs of what I will be doing there, but some of my objectives are to get a better understanding of French culture, observe and help out with muslim ministry in Paris, brush up on French (aka, RE-learn it!), help conduct an English camp, observe/help out with ESL or TESOL ministries, and understand the ins and outs of ministry in France.
My internship is a time where I hope God will use it to lean my heart toward a specific ministry and destination. I will be seeking the Lord in his will for my life, specifically in what to do when the summer is over!
Thank you all for reading this update and supporting me on my internship for this summer. I will keep this blog updated as often as I can!
In His Grace,
Monica
Friday, April 30, 2010
future.
There has been so much that has happened since I wrote on this thing in the fall. I had a great Christmas spent with family and friends and embarked on my last semester of college! Ready to take the world by storm.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of homework, papers, youth group, chorale, friends, and work, I began to think the ominous question, "What do I do when I get out of here??" As you probably know, I am a missions major at Moody Bible Institute so that means I want to be in full-time Christian ministry overseas. But what does that really mean, practically speaking? Being a full-time missionary seems so far off in the distant future, with months and months, maybe years in between preparing, strategizing, raising funds, seeking the Lord. I didn't (and I still don't) know how to even start preparing for leaving the country, figuring out what God wants me to do.
While in the middle of this struggle to figure out what I should do, I was in the commons one day sitting eating lunch when I looked over to a recruiting table by the windows. Honestly, I just kind of felt bad for the two people standing there because no one was stopping and hearing what they had to say. I felt sympathy, so I walked over to see what ministry they were "selling". They were with BCIS, Bangkok Christian International School in Thailand. They were looking for missions minded teachers to come and work at the school. They had a spot for a librarian.
Long story short, I applied to work at this school in Thailand for a year. I prayed and prayed about it and felt no closed door, so I took the plunge and applied, putting it all in His hands. I have been waiting a month and there is no email, no call, no letter from these people. I am still waiting, but as graduation inches closer and leaving the country for chorale tour and my France internship, it seems that God is closing the door.
All I want in this life is to make much of God and less of me. I want to glorify the Lord of my life, so whether that means being in Thailand or Paris, or Grand Rapids, MI, I am going to do it. It seems like I will be in Grand Rapids in the fall, figuring out life. I know of an organization that works with refugees that come into Grand Rapids, helping them get accustomed to life in America. When I come home in the fall, I would LOVE to do that. Then I seek the Lord's direction and GO. I know I am called to overseas ministry. The WHERE and the WHO is what I need to find out.
Just one day at a time. One step at a time.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of homework, papers, youth group, chorale, friends, and work, I began to think the ominous question, "What do I do when I get out of here??" As you probably know, I am a missions major at Moody Bible Institute so that means I want to be in full-time Christian ministry overseas. But what does that really mean, practically speaking? Being a full-time missionary seems so far off in the distant future, with months and months, maybe years in between preparing, strategizing, raising funds, seeking the Lord. I didn't (and I still don't) know how to even start preparing for leaving the country, figuring out what God wants me to do.
While in the middle of this struggle to figure out what I should do, I was in the commons one day sitting eating lunch when I looked over to a recruiting table by the windows. Honestly, I just kind of felt bad for the two people standing there because no one was stopping and hearing what they had to say. I felt sympathy, so I walked over to see what ministry they were "selling". They were with BCIS, Bangkok Christian International School in Thailand. They were looking for missions minded teachers to come and work at the school. They had a spot for a librarian.
Long story short, I applied to work at this school in Thailand for a year. I prayed and prayed about it and felt no closed door, so I took the plunge and applied, putting it all in His hands. I have been waiting a month and there is no email, no call, no letter from these people. I am still waiting, but as graduation inches closer and leaving the country for chorale tour and my France internship, it seems that God is closing the door.
All I want in this life is to make much of God and less of me. I want to glorify the Lord of my life, so whether that means being in Thailand or Paris, or Grand Rapids, MI, I am going to do it. It seems like I will be in Grand Rapids in the fall, figuring out life. I know of an organization that works with refugees that come into Grand Rapids, helping them get accustomed to life in America. When I come home in the fall, I would LOVE to do that. Then I seek the Lord's direction and GO. I know I am called to overseas ministry. The WHERE and the WHO is what I need to find out.
Just one day at a time. One step at a time.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Fall and Ukraine
Fall is here and school is in full swing. As of late I have been venturing out to the Ukrainian Village here in Chicago for a semester long research project on the Ukrainian people. As I understand and learn more about this rich culture, I am amazed at the craftwork of our Lord as well as the dire need for the Gospel. It is missions conference this week and I hope that He will speak to me in a new and passionate way.
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