Merry Christmas

This Christmas, I have the extra special blessing of celebrating our Savior’s birth in Israel. Dad and Mom gave me the Christmas gift of a “lay-over” in Israel. It is so fun to tour this country with my parents. As we travel from site to site, remembering the historical and Biblical importance of each place, I am not quite able to grasp the significance of such a wonderful trip. It hasn’t really sunk in that I am in Israel. Perhaps it is because I have traveled quite a bit already. Perhaps I am not one to make pilgrimages. Or perhaps it is because I have the presence of our Lord with me wherever I go, whether in the Promised Land or outside of it. Wow, what a blessing that we have God’s very presence with us.

Merry Christmas!

Jennifer

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Lac St-Jean!!!

Béthel Gradu 07-08

Quelques souvenirs des camps d'été (summer camps)

Be Still My Soul

I got an email update today from a friend who is going through a tremendous amount of transitions right now. I can relate a little. As my heart is heavy with many dear people to pray for today, I was happy that Naomi included this text from a beloved hymn in her email.

Be still, my soul! the Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul! thy best, thy heav’nly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Résumé de la première semaine

I'll start off with a big thank you to all of you who are still reading the blog. Thank you also to Jyll who so gently reminded me that it has been a month since my last post.
I just finished my first week of Fall classes here. It is really good to be back. I have some good news. I tested into the advanced class! That means that I will get to learn lots of new stuff, but I will also have lots of work to do!! Pray for a clear head, good memory, a flexible tongue, and the ability to be patient with myself. I was so blessed to be able to stay in Quebec during the summer and spend time with the Néron family. My teacher here at Parole de Vie Béthel noticed a big improvement in the amount of French I was speaking when classes started. And I also gained some very special friends in the process!!!
I've also moved. Last semester I had the blessing of being in the dorm with the French-speaking Bible school students. That helped a lot with my French, and also gave me the opportunity to have a bit of a ministry with the girls. However, the dorm is too full this semester, and I had to move into the mobile home. I am still on campus, and I plan to spend a lot of time with the Bible school students, so keep me in your prayers as I actively seek opportunities to practice my French and minister to the students here. As I type this message, a whole group of Bible school students are in the process of arriving and registering. Pray for the students and staff of both the language school and the Bible school, as this will be a record-breaking year.

Lac St-Jean

For the remainder of my summer, I get to hang out with the Néron family just outside of a little village called Albanel. Where's that you ask? Well, it is in the region of Lac St-Jean (lac for lake, St-Jean for St-Jean) in the North of Quebec. It may seem like I am in the middle of nowhere, but there is plenty to do here. Blueberry season is just beginning, and I hope to take part in the harvest. The blueberries here are the best!!! We also go out on the 4-wheeler now and then (thanks Pierre-Olivier). We have gone to the falls a few times, ridden horses, harvested raspberries, gone on a little story telling walk through the woods, and visited the ranch of a man who raises a rare breed of cattle from Scotland called the Haute-Terre (Scottish highland). It is tons of fun. I would be content just to hang out with the family, but I am glad to be kept busy.
Keep me in your prayers as I continue to try to wade through the thick lumberjack accent of Lac St-Jean and as I continue to study faithfully with the hope of advancing my French.
Pray also for the Néron family, as they have been wonderful hosts and great French teachers for this little English speaker.

Goodbyes

One of my friends here at language school recently posted on Facebook that she is tired of goodbyes. I wholeheartedly agreed. The missionary life is full of goodbyes. Last week I said goodbye to one more group of beloved people. The students of the Bible school here, who I have lived with, eaten with, shared joys and heartaches with, and learned French from, have graduated and moved on to their respective homes. I already miss them dearly, but I pray that God will continue to hold them in His hands of love and continue to guide them in the ministry that He has for each one of them. One thing I have learned in the midst of all of these goodbyes is that God alone is truly faithful. He is the only true constant in my life that I can always, without fail, count on. When others, even with the best of intentions, let us down, God is there, with His arms of love and faithfulness held out to us.

After a long absence

Hi all, I am back at the blog after a long absence. You know, sometimes I just get stuck in the tyrany of the urgent and forget to do some things that are important. For curiosity sake, and to encourage me to write more, who is still reading this thing? Click on the comments link just below this message and write a word or two.

Le voyage missionnaire

The mission trip to Sept-îles and Matane went quite well. We got to talk to so many people about the Gospel and we did many presentations in churches, schools, and at the Moose lodge. And I got to practice my French, a lot!! One young man accepted Christ and a few others showed genuine interest in a relationship with Christ. Praise God! He truly showed us His glory these last 2 weeks.
Pray for me now as I am jumping right back into French classes, but without a dormitory full of tutors and friends. Pray also for the Bible school students as they are on a 2 week break before they come back for summer camp.

Waiting for la traversée.
La traversée est arrivée.
Attends un instant Katherine. Je vais te sauver.Mes belles filles.

Matane

Hi all!! I just wanted to say a quick hello from the beautiful town of Matane. I stayed in the home of a beautiful young family last night. They have 4 young girls. Pray for them, as they endeavor to raise their children in the knowledge of God. When I awoke, I found that the kitchen windows look out onto the water. Beautiful! God is good.
We`ll stay in Matane today and travel to Sept-îles tomorrow. We would appreciate your prayers as we share with churches and minister to young people. Pray also for the group who will be leaving us by train to journey on to Schefferville at the end of the week.
Pray also for me as everything that we do here is in French.

To Quebec and Beyond

Quebec City that is.
Yesterday was the last day of classes for the Bible school students. They finished up their final exams and are in a period of transition. We had a dinner last night to thank some supporters of the school, and we will have a brunch this morning for the same purpose. Then we will all load onto a yellow school bus and head toward the city of Quebec. We have presentations to do in several churches, so we will travel the next day to Matane and eventually to Sept-îles. I'm excited about the trip, but at the same time nervous to do ministry in French. Thank God, I'll always have Bible school students available to me when I need language help. In all, we will be gone for 16 days.
Pray for safety in travel, that the old yellow bus would fare well, that God would prepare our hearts for ministry, and that God would also open the hearts of those that we hope to minister to.

Owl's Head

For a class outing today, we went to Owl's Head. We were told that we would do some hiking, but I didn't expect to scale a mountain! In the winter, this is a ski resort. The view was great!
A few of us were not quite high enough, so we climbed to the top of a ski lift.The descent was a lot easier, but wrought with havoc, as the snow was slick under our tennis shoes. But fear not, we all made it down safely.
I don't think I make a very good mountaineer:)

Oh, and did I mention that I am experiencing my third spring this year. I got to experience a little bit of California spring, the beginning of the North Carolina spring, and now I am watching leaves turn green and flowers bloom in Quebec. The Daffodils are just coming out here. Trees are budding...


...and dandelions are bursting forth.

Say 'Shibboleth'

The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan opposite Ephraim. And it happened when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead would say to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No,"then they would say to him, "Say now, 'Shibboleth.'" But he said, "Sibboleth," for he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they seized him and slew him at the fords of the Jordan. Thus there fell at that time 42,000 of Ephraim.

Judges 12:5-6

That is what I read this morning during my quiet time. What did I learn? Well, I learned how important it is to have good pronunciation. Any English speaker who has had to learn French will agree that French is often difficult to pronounce and the difference between two words or two phrases often hinges on just one little sound.

Incidentally, I told my classmates and my teacher this morning what I had learned. Yeah, try pronouncing 'Schibboleth' in French with the correct accent! Just for kicks, I have included the Louis Segond (most widely used French Bible) version at the end of this post.

So, will bad pronunciation cost me my life on the mission field? Not likely. However, it could hinder my ministry. So, I'll strive to do my best with not only pronunciation, but also with vocabulary, grammar, and spelling.

Voila! Juges 12:5-6

Galaad s'empara des gués du Jourdain du côté d'Éphraïm. Et quand l'un des fuyards d'Éphraïm disait: Laissez-moi passer! les hommes de Galaad lui demandaient: Es-tu Éphraïmite? Il répondait: Non. Ils lui disaient alors: Hé bien, dis Schibboleth. Et il disait Sibboleth, car il ne pouvait pas bien prononcer. Sur quoi les hommes de Galaad le saisissaient, et l'égorgeaient près des gués du Jourdain. Il périt en ce temps-là quarante-deux mille hommes d'Éphraïm.

Plane Crash

Please pray for my friend Debbie, who was in a plane crash yesterday in Africa. She is a missionary in Sudan. After a short time of rest in Kenya, she was returning to Sudan by airplane and, due to weather conditions, the plane crashed. There were only 5 aboard, and all were injured, but no-one was killed. Praise God that he preserved the lives of all the passengers. Debbie has hurt her neck, so please pray for quick and complete healing and for safe transport back to Kenya where she will receive additional medical treatment.

Language Shock?

Language learning is a bit of a stressful experience. When one learns language by immersion (as I am doing), there is more than just the language to learn. I had a bit of a bad day yesterday. Quite honestly, I was at the edge of tears most of the day. For those of you who know me well, you know that I don't cry often. Fortunately, I benefited from the empathy of a few people who knew exactly what I was going through.
You see, as a language learner, I can really only function as a child. In fact, most of the time I can only function as an infant. However, I still have the responsibilities and desires of an adult. Many times I can't really understand what is going on around me. Even if I understand most the words spoken, I often misunderstand something or miss the meaning all together. One example is when Serge, the chef here, was joking with me yesterday. As he was dishing up some shepherd's pie he explained how he made it. He used a word that I didn't recognize, but I didn't think anything of it. I discovered later that he was telling me that he added glue to the meat. Oops, I was supposed to laugh at that:0)
To add to the stress, I am in a culture and land that I am not yet accustomed to. I don't know the names of streets or stores, and I don't always know the significance of local news. And in addition to that, I have given up much of my freedom to be here. Instead of having my own house and car, I've decided to live in the dorm and to sell my car. And as enjoyable as the Bible School students are here, they are still significantly younger than I am.

Please pray with me, that I would learn the French language quickly and well, and that I would also be able to rely on God in the rougher times. Also, pray that I would remember to set my mind on heavenly things.

Abele Update

I received an email update from my friends a few days ago. Below is what the Abbotts said about their visit with Abele.

"We were able to stop and visit with Abele at prison on our way home. He is thin and hungry but otherwise doing well and in good spirits. It is still uncertain how long he we will remain there. Continue to join us in praying that God will strengthen him and continue to bring him to complete repentance and restoration."

The Conrods also recently updated their blog with a post about Abele. You can find it by clicking here

Praise God that He is preserving Abele during his time in prison. He is truly suffering the consequences of his actions, but God has more than enough grace for Abele and for each one of us. Continue to pray for his protection. Pray also that he would truly understand the depth of God's grace and forgiveness and that he would be able to communicate that same grace and forgiveness to his fellow inmates and to the guards at the prison. Continue to pray also for his children who are without father or mother until Abele is released.

Coffee

I have an announcement! I drank coffee today!!
OK, that announcement doesn't usually produce cheers and whoops of joy. In fact, most people would respond with a confused look. So, let me explain. Yesterday at dinner I spoke with my new French teacher. He was asking what my plans were for the evening. I responded that I would probably study. His response to me was that it was Friday night and I shouldn't be studying on Friday night, especially since classes haven't even started yet. I was reluctant at first, but with some prodding from another student, I decided that I really wasn't going to study.
You see, I have been expecting a lot from myself. I've been in Quebec for one week now, and I don't know French yet. Absurd, I know, but I fully expected to be able to understand people much better than I can, and I also expected that I would actually be able to contribute to conversations. So, in an effort to survive my experience here, I have been hitting the books hard, and being hard on myself when I don't understand or when I can't communicate well.
But, I have to remind myself that I am a language learner, and learning a language takes time. It will take time to get used to the Quebecois accent, to the slang, and to the speed of speech here (let alone to figure out the language itself).
Later yesterday evening, I read the blog of a friend, who, in the midst of many piles of things to do, decided that she would first have to just eat her strawberries. That inspired me. I decided that since I have not been fair to myself, I would set an attainable goal for myself. I thought about what would be attainable, practical, and enjoyable. Coffee! Perfect! I set a goal to drink coffee today. And guess what! I attained it! I am so proud of myself.
In addition to drinking my morning coffee, I also attended a conference on ministering to Muslims, attempted to go shopping with some friends, had some valuable conversations, attended a piano concert, and drank more coffee at Tim Hortons.
Ah, Timmy's. That is another Canadian thing of note. I guess the American equivalent to Tim Hortons would be a Dunkin' Donuts. Hmmm... I wonder if there were a competition between Timmy's and Dunkin' Donuts...Ah, it would probably be a draw, Eh?
Speaking of competitions, I just want to point out that the Americans won against Montreal today. Please pray for me, as I might get mobbed by angry hockey fans.

La Tire

I went with the Bible School students to la cabanes à sucre today. It was a uniquely Quebecois experience. Most Americans are familiar with the Maple tree, but many of us don’t even know the difference between real maple syrup and the imitation kind. Well, I now know the difference!!!

We had a tour of the facilities, which consisted of tapped maple trees, a collection shack, and a larger shack for boiling the sugar. Once the sugar is boiled enough, it is syrup.

We all headed outside, where there were long wooden boxes filled with packed snow. Each of us took a popsicle stick and waited for the treat, ‘la tire sur la neige.’ A pot of sugar was boiling in the sugar shack, and at the right moment, it was brought out and poured into the snow. That is when the sticks came in handy. We poked and twirled our sticks in the sugar and out they came. Maple popsicles!! Yum, c’est tres cool!!


I start classes next week. In a way, I am glad to have some time to rest a bit, but at the same time, I am working hard to strengthen my French now, in order to be able to communicate with my new friends.

Wide-Eyed Foreigner

I’ve made it!! My first destination after leaving California was North Carolina. I took a course called Missionary Medicine Intensive (MMI). I learned a ton, but still feel quite unprepared for the immense medical needs that I will no doubt encounter in Cameroon. The best part by far was the interaction with other missionaries.

After a very intense 12 days in North Carolina at Equip International for their Missionary Medicine Intensive, I flew to Quebec. The night of the 10^th was spent in a hotel in Montreal, since it was too late to catch the bus to Sherbrooke. Yesterday, the 11^th, I took the bus two hours and was met by the Christensens at the Sherbrooke bus station. It was so good to see familiar faces!

I am staying in the dorm with all of the Bible students, who speak French as their native tongue. The girls that I am staying with made a point to come greet me when I arrived. They are quite friendlyJ There is also another single gal, named Jen, staying in the dorm who is also studying French. I anticipate making a bunch of new friends here.

Yesterday, as I was making arrangements for the bus, I realized how foreign this little piece of North America is to me. I looked around, and everyone looked so American, but, in fact they were French speaking Quebec natives. I imagine that I probably resembled the foreigners that visit the United States, wide eyed and confused. But God is good, and He has provided for me a wonderful place to learn French and to make new friends. Soon I will be able to communicate with more ease and will know better how to navigate life in Quebec.

24 hours 8 minutes

I just attempted to check in for my flight tomorrow, and the website wouldn't let me since it was more than 24 hours before my flight. I guess I was about 8 minutes early:)
Well, the suitcases are packed, the boxes are packed, and I am loading the crate today, so that it can get shipped to Cameroon.
I read Deuteronomy 6-8 this morning. As the Israelites prepared to enter the promised land, after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, God again reminded them of His providence, power, and grace. He reminded them that He was the one who led them out of Egypt and who was their protector throughout the whole ordeal. He told them of the prosperity that they would experience and commanded them not to forget God, who was their provider. God told them that remembering Him and obeying His commands would guarantee prosperity, but warned them against disobedience.
As I leave in 24 hours, I will do my best to remember that it is God who leads me to Cameroon. I will remember the many things He has done on my behalf. I will remember His providence, power, and grace, and I will serve Him only.

Packing

I think I am nearing the last stretch of the packing phase. Almost everything that needs to be in boxes is in boxes and will likely fit on one pallet to be shipped to Illinois and then on to Cameroon (I am not going to IL, but my stuff will be shipped to Cameroon in a container that will originate in IL). The suitcases are almost ready too. I have most of the winter stuff I will need in Quebec in one suitcase and I am living out of the other:) There are several more odds and ends to attend to, but it will be a great relief to have the packing finished.

Not Soon Forgotten

I spent a few days this week with dear friends. This time will not soon be forgotten. Thanks Robyn and Lindsey for sending me off with such fond memories.

Robyn

Lindsey

Upper Yosemite Falls

Is it safe to camp in a tent so close to a mountain made of solid rock that creaks and groans and emits sounds like thunder? With the changing of temperature, it was possible that some of that rock could come right down on us.

A land of contrasts. Gigantic and magestic stone walls surrounding such fragile and delicate small things.

Exploring the thawing valley on two wheels.

North Dome

A shroud of clouds. It almost seems like the mountains aren't even there.

From the most popular viewing point of Yosemite, the famous Half Dome is hiding behind the clouds, but El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls are both peeking through.

Rosalynn got to join us on her day off.