Some quotes from our region

STUDENT-LED

“Mohamed is a college student I had the privilege to share the Gospel with many times. After one year and a half of seeking the truth Mohamed decided to give his life to Christ.”

"This year is proving God’s grace and mercy. How unlimited are God’s blessings, that nothing of our weakness can limit the power of God as long as we trust Him.”

LEADER-LED

“Other women who have heard about what’s happening in their city have asked if they can join in.”

CHURCH-LED

“This is my first time I heard about planting churches so I pray to God to give me a vision and power to start to planting a church in my area.”

“Praises to Lord Jesus Christ! He really likes me and other people. He is my Lord and Saviour. I thank him for this.” -

VIRTUAL-LED

“Since I gave my heart to the Lord, I feel lighter – it is like I got rid of seven mountains that were weighing down my back. Before, I beat and mistreated my wife, but now I have peace and I will never go back.”

Learning the change

This week alone has been nuts! I can't believe once month ago I left my family, my friends, my culture, my LIFE for Operations STINT in France... well, ultimately Jesus.

In the last 4 weeks, I have learned a lot about myself - both strengths and weaknesses. God is continuing to teach and refine me through many things - big and little.

...Starting language school, loosing my passport, adjusting to my position in the office, daily accepting the fact that "I am not a tourist, I LIVE IN FRANCE" [it can be hard to do because it almost seems surreal], squaring away finances for start-up costs, personality tests [which are actually fun and help our team get to know each other] meetings, making friends with the local business people, seeing weird looking cars...

So many new things all at once definitely brings, if not forces, growth.

My roommate, Beth, just made a comment while Skyping with her friend, "I do not know what I will look like at the end of this year."

How true is that? Not that I am expecting, at the end of this STINT year, that each of us to be total opposites of who we are today or even when we started a month ago. But there are plenty of scenarios, situations and experiences which cause room for growth - mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I expect and hope for a change; a change for the good. I have already learned a lot - I just need to remember to take time to sort through it all.