Nicole's February 2005 Report

February –month of re-connecting with neighbors, friends from church and adopted family—re-connecting with activities: Mission Rad., La Fonderie, Torrents of Hope

This month was a full month of re-connecting and re-integrating into life, friendships, connections and the pace here in Paris. We hosted an open house birthday party for Joel two days after his actual birthday as more people were likely to be available on Sunday afternoon than Friday. It was a great reason to see many people we had wanted to see since our return a month prior. Friends from church included our kid’s adopted French “Papi”, grandfather, Alain and his daughter Nathalie; a dear friend from the island of Mauritius, Lindsy who has spent several holidays with us; our German,nearby neighbor and adopted aunt of our kids, Marion; dear friends not seen for many years, Jean-Louis and Anne and their kids, Raphael and Al’s (spiritual) goddaughter, Ambre. We had invited quite a few neighbors to the open house but without knowing who might show up. So we were surprised and pleased when our 5th floor polish neighbor and two of her three kids came down for a visit and cake. The final guests gracing Joel’s party were his adopted aunt and uncle, (and (spiritual) godfather) Magalie and Charles. By the end of the evening, all had gone home, there were dishes to clean, cake squished into the carpet, and we were worn out, but what fun!

People temporarily in Paris whom we connected with were Christy and Alan. Christy is a Wheaton college graduate in France for a year as an English teaching assistant, like Nicole was her first year in France. She came over for a lunch in our home after repeatedly bumping into people in Wheaton wqho encouraged her to contact us regarding her interest in working long term in ministry in France. Alan is also connected with Wheaton college as head of the French department there and on sabbatical here in Paris.

Re-integrating back into life in Paris for Al has included many Mission Radicale planning meetings for not only the April 16 “Radical Evenement” (Radical Event) youth rally with Laurence Cunningham, founder of YWAM, but also planning and preparing the brochure and many early details for July’s Mission Radicale youth conference. Al has also been involved in planning meetings for “La Fonderie” (The Foundery). His responsibilities on the steering committee require many hours of computer work expanding the mailing list, reformatting the newletter’s format and sending out the invitation/newsletter to as many as possible for the meetings in March. Starting March 3, Al will participate and assist in the Founderie meetings each Thursday night. If you’d like to read an exposee on this ministry, Christianity Today Magazine has a feature article this month on not only La Fonderie but also what God is doing in France and thru/in our church, L’Eglise Reformee de Belleville. Go God!

Nicole continues to re-integrate into our neighborhood thru frequent trips to the Pharmacie this month, knowing most of the ladies who work there now, due to Emma’s incisors coming in with much pain and also causing an ear infection. With the unusually cold and snowy month that we’ve had, she has also contacted an elderly neighbor on the 12th floor to assist him with grocery shopping if needed, which he seemed glad for the offer. Nicole will start attending Torrents of Hope at our church March 8th to participate in this 10 week course on our idenity in Christ and thus also have the possibility afterwards to assist in the next course as a group leader. She has also reconnected with acquaintces from last year’s Baby Swim Class as well as Christelle, the young mother she had been discipling/encouraging spiritually and assisting with mothering. Speaking of mothering, Nicole is looking for any advice on potty training a 3 year old boy who is very happy in his diapers.

Aside from potty training, teething and ear infections, Joel and Emmanuelle are well and growing like spring flowers. Joel has been picking up more and more of the French Nicole has been trying to teach him and loves to play musical instruments as well as sing kid’s songs like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, the alphabet song, and others as well as “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord…” and “My Jesus, my Saviour…”, even in the parks!

Emma has lost her baby chub from running after and being chased by her older brother. She picks up new words every day and usually in good humor despite her teething pain, ear infection, and interrupted nights. She loves to look at books on her own and even better to have them read to her. She continues to climb everything, much to our dismay and concern with her matra being her favorite word, “up”!

With all this re-integrating and re-connecting we need a bit of a pause so we plan to take a 3 day pause in Normany in a retreat center, barring the area getting dumped on a 3rd time with snow. We’ll return Thursday afternoon in time to get settled before Al heads off to La Fonderie meeting.