The Start of a Movement: Part 2....

Hello All!

I'm sorry it's been so long! I've been quite busy since returning from my break. I wanted to continue updating you as well as share what's been going on these past few weeks!

So I left off telling a bit about the conference in Ales. It was truly a lovely time in a small town about two hours north of Marseille. We were able to attend this conference, a gathering of believers all throughout France, met to discuss the miraculous and the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a time of inspiration for me, to see so many believers gathered together to celebrate the power of God. The Lord spoke very deeply to my heart during this time, telling me so many incredible things. I know that the Lord is really moving in this country, and there is a revival coming that will bring the healing power and love of Christ to a nation so desperate for a God they don't know they need. i am so excited to be a part of this time to come. France is being talked about all over the Christian world. Seeing so many who are sold out for Him in such a big way at this conference was truly amazing. Worship was so beautiful, the presence of the Holy Spirit was felt, and it was incredibly refreshing for me.

Shortly after the conference we headed out for our two week break. First we headed to London, and we were able to visit our friends from the London team. It was so fun to be able to take a break, relax, and just be! We went sightseeing quite a bit, and were able to experience the beauty and history that London had to offer us. We also sampled some British cuisine during our stay. It was delicious! in the middle of our time there we went up to York to visit our friend, Annie. She works at the YWAM base in York, so we were able to stay there with her, which was such a blessing! Our time in York was very relaxing, a time to just pause, and breathe. I really enjoyed our time there, and while we were there we had an interesting conversation, and while we were sharing with some people about what we're doing in France, one woman shared with us: France had recently come up at a conference she had been at. That the Lord would start a revival in Europe right here, in France. It blessed my heart to hear yet another conformation in the coming revival here. The Lord is doing something big here, and even though we can't see all of it in the natural right now, I believe the Lord is working in a big way in the supernatural here in France. Please continue to join me in praying for the softening of hearts, the breaking of strongholds, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit here in France.

After our stay in York we returned to London for a few days before heading off to Paris. We did quite a bit of sightseeing there as well. Upon returning to France I felt more confident in my language abilities. It was very encouraging for me to realize this. I was really excited to actually be aware of the progress I have made, since I had begun to really wonder if I had been making progress.

Since returning to Marseille I feel as though I've been quite busy! Since Sarah was here by herself, she began to really build relationships with the people we have mostly been acquaintances with, so I've been able to hang out with them more as well. This has really helped with my progress in language, as well as deepening the connections I have here. I've also been growing closer with one of the local girls here. She has really become a dear friend to me, and I am so thankful every day for her friendship. I love her very much, and really enjoy spending time hanging out with her, sharing with her, and talking about the Lord with her.

So that is pretty much where I'm at now! We are heading on a retreat tomorrow with our Global Internship Leaders, Paul and Amy. I'm excited to spend this time away, just getting to debrief, and really reflect on life here. Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement! I really appreciate all you do! Please continue joining me in prayer for this nation. Your prayers for our team, and for the people of the nation of France are truly appreciated!

Blessings and Love,

Chrissy

The Start of a Movement: Part 1.....

Bonjour Tout Le Monde!

Well these past two weeks have been quite busy! At the beginning of the month we had a team from London in town to help us jump start some new ministries as well as be an encouragement to us, and help out in any way that was needed. Man they were such a blessing to us! Then this past weekend we went to a bill Johnson conference a few hours north of here, in Ales, which was an incredible conference! SO since there's so much to share, I'll be doing this in two parts: first, the London team, and all of the incredible things God did during their time here, then a second part about the conference we went to this past weekend. The second part will come in about two weeks (After my two week break for which I will be traveling to the UK and Paris! Courtesy of my lovely tax return!) So here we go!

Well, the London team arrived on a Saturday evening, and we met them that evening at a special dinner. The next day was the first church service for Matt's new church plant. It was such a great service! The Spirit of God was moving, and it was an incredible thing to witness! It definitely got me really excited for the coming week!

So Monday we hit the ground running! After an amazing time of prayer and worship we went to the train station across the street from one of the big universities here in Marseille. We were handing out flyers for the new English conversation groups we were starting as well as doing "God tests" where basically you do a survey to see what people believe while also sharing what you believe. It was incredible, and heart breaking to hear some of the answers that I heard. Every one of the students I spoke with were Atheists, with no belief, no strong hope in anything really. It broke my heart to see the lack of purpose in their lives. We also spoke to a young man who had an intestinal disorder and was told he would only live to be forty, so we laid hands on him and prayed for healing. While he didn't believe in what we were doing, he still allowed us to do this, and I truly believe that the Lord has healed him.

Over the course of the next two days we did the same things, handing out flyers for the conversation groups, handing out chocolate with little messages written on them, and doing God tests. Some of us had some pretty amazing conversations, that's for sure! Then Wednesday we had the first English conversation group. We got to meet some pretty amazing ladies who we are still getting to know in our weekly meetings. I am truly happy and excited about the friendships forming through these conversation groups we have!

On Wednesday afternoon, and the next few days (The last few days the London team was here) we went to Cour Julien, the more artistic area of Marseille, and did some praise and worship there. It was amazing just singing at the top of our lungs worship to God, and seeing people gathering around us, attracted to the music. During this time Thea was also able to help lead a woman to the Lord! It was a beautiful thing to see. My heart was so full of all that God was doing. We have seen the fruits of it since, especially in the building of friendships through our English conversation groups. I cannot wait to see what God does during these times, but He is definitely doing something through all of this, as of course none of these meetings were by chance or by accident.

I am thankful for all that God is doing, as He is moving, and teaching me. He is showing me more and more, every day, that He has me here for a reason. He really loves the people here in this city and in this country. He is starting something here, and I feel blessed to be part of it! I will definitely share some more of that when I write about the conference we went to in Ales! So stay tuned!

Blessings and Love,

Chrissy

Germany...

Bonjour Tout le monde!

Hope all is well, and you have had an excellent beginning to spring! Things are warming up here in Marseille, that's for sure! We finished language school earlier this month, so now we are heading into our time of full time ministry here. As this is a new site, we are still figuring out exactly what that looks like for us, but I am excited to be able to devote more of my time spiritually investing in the lives of my friends, as well as helping the ministry of Evolution 13 grow and expand here in this area! I can't wait to see what else the Lord has in store for our ministry opportunities here in Marseille!

As many of you know I had the privilege to go to Nuremberg, Germany this past weekend with my friend Thea. Thea is working with Evolution 13, which was how I met her. She is originally from Nuremberg, and asked if I would like to come home with her for a visit, so of course I said yes! It was a lovely time, meeting her friends and family, who all warmly welcomed this girl from America. I enjoyed being able to relax, and just hang out and be a tourist! After having a rough few weeks of homesickness, stress, and just general struggle, my time in Germany helped me to really refocus and rest in the Lord.

The past month was a difficult time for me, as I had stated in my last blog. I was beginning to question what I was doing here, what my purpose was here. I was having a hard time with the language, and feeling inadequate. I needed a time for refreshing, reminder, and reflection. A time away where I could just let the Lord speak, and be alone to listen. Going to Germany gave me all this and more! On Friday, when Thea and I arrived, we spent some time with her family and boyfriend. I can't lie, it was nice to not be expected to know the language. I was able to just relax, and not frantically try to follow along. That night, I stayed with Thea's friend, Karin, who was at work until late, so I was able to have some time alone to myself. It was a wonderful time spent alone with the Lord. I was able to let everything out, and just be completely alone with Him. I loved it! He refreshed me, reminded me that He has a purpose for my time here, and I need to trust Him in that. I felt such peace wash over me, it was exactly what the Lord knew I needed.

Saturday I spent sightseeing with Thea, exploring a bit of the city, then headed to her parents' for dinner. It was a fun time, hanging out and laughing around the table, even if I couldn't understand half the conversation. I enjoyed just being there, with such warm and lovely people. After dinner Thea shared a video about Marseille with her family. As we watched familiar scenes of Marseille caused a pang in my heart. I missed home. Home? Yes, Marseille is my home now. It was so strange to think that way, but my heart has been lost to this city. I began to miss French too. Hearing the familiar sounds, understanding (somewhat) what was being said... In that moment I realized, I love this city, God loves this city, and that's why He's brought me here. He knew I would fall in love with this place. Yes, it's hard, yes sometimes I just want to hide and cry after a long day, but at the end of it all, I love the people here, and so does He. I don't know exactly how everything will play out, or what exactly it will all look like, but for right now I know this: I need to reach all the people that I can in the ways He provides, because this city is my home, and these people are my family. For much of the rest of that night I tried to speak to Thea in French, my determination to master the language had been rekindled.

Sunday morning I went to church. Worship was incredible, the Lord moved in amazing and powerful ways. He spoke to me about many things, and my heart was open to receive. The message on the Father's heart (which was translated for me from German to English) resonated with my own heart. After church we spent the entire day at the church cafe for coffee, lunch, birthday cake (it was the birthday of a few church members), and dinner. While I was there, I was able to meet some pretty amazing people that Thea very much wanted to introduce me to. But before I tell you about them, I need to tell you a quick story first. See, about a year after I started following the Lord, He told me, very specifically about where my life was headed. He wanted me to open and orphanage. In the Middle East. Now He did not say when, but I knew this was the calling He had on my life. So since then, I've been quite open about it with friends, family, and supporters. That being said, when I told Thea a few months ago, she told me of these friends of hers, who came from the Middle East, to Germany. So we arranged that I would meet them at church, and I ended up spending the whole day with them. They told me their amazing story of escape from a very strict Islamic nation to Germany. Their story inspired me, but also sobered me. I knew the calling I had was a dangerous one, but hearing it from the mouths of people who had lived under such regimes made it very real to me. But their stories of God's faithfulness, as well as the miracles that God had performed in order to bring them to where they are now were truly inspirational. I felt so blessed to meet, and know these people.

Monday I ran errands with Thea, and went to Nuremberg castle. It was just a fun, calm day before leaving on Tuesday. Overall my time in Germany was refreshing, rejuvenating, and something I had really needed, even if I hadn't realized it before. God really used this time to help me rest in Him, as well as reflect on my purpose in Marseille. My fervor renewed I was very happy to return home, to my city.

So, thank you. Thank you for praying for me through this difficult time, thank you for your continued support and encouragement, thank you for believing, and trusting the Lord with me. My heart has been lifted, and I feel truly blessed to have all of you out there taking this journey with me. Please continue to pray for my team and I, this is not an easy journey, but it isn't one I would trade for the world. I know God is working and moving here in this city, and so of course there is spiritual opposition to that. Please continue to join us in praying against these powers of darkness, and pray for the love of God to explode and ignite a fire in this truly amazing, beautiful, wonderful country.

Blessings and Love,

Chrissy

The Trials and Triumphs...

Hello all! Well, February is drawing to a close, and the four month anniversary of arriving in Marseille is coming up. Wow! Four months! It has not been an easy four months, that's for sure! While God is good, and has been with me through all of this, it has not been an easy road to travel.

Over the past few months I have seen myself growing in many ways. But all this growth has not come without growing pains. Many days I have struggle with culture shock, homesickness, or just plain sadness. But man has God been SO faithful! God has given us so many promises, but one of the promises that I keep remembering is the one in Joshua 1:5 "Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you." This is the promise I remember when everything seems too overwhelming. Sometimes life can just be too much, there's too much going on, or you can't speak French the way you want to no matter how hard you try, or you miss people. But God is enough, more than enough, to help you through that. He knows we need time to experience these emotions, but not wallow in them, not dwell on them. He brings peace and comfort when we need it, all we need to do is ask. God is always with us, and always ready to help us when we ask Him to.

There have also been moments of doubt, when I wonder why I am even here, but God always reminds me that He has me here for a reason. He did not make a way for me to come here for no reason, He has a plan and a purpose for my time here. It's during these times that He reminds me of that oh so famous Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Sometimes I need a reminder of this, that God has plans in store for my time here, and while I might not be seeing them right now, He will reveal them to me in HIS timing, not mine. God has brought me here, for such a time as this, and I need to cling to that promise.

The reason I am sharing these things is because I want you to know, that while I have seen much growth, and shared some of the lighter aspects of being here, not everything is perfect! And I most definitely am not perfect! I have my moments where I question God, when I get frustrated and fed up with how I'm acting, or not being able to see what's going on, or not being able to understand the language. God is so gracious, and forgiving though! Even in all of this, He uses me in ways that I can't even see. I want you to know that you don't have to be perfect. Yes, we should strive to be holy, and live a life pleasing to God, but we should not berate ourselves when we mess up. We're human, and God knows that, but guess what? He loves us anyway! I know when I mess up I have to repent before Him, I have to admit that I messed up, but it's a chance to learn, to grow, to not make the same exact mistakes time and time again. I encourage you to not let your own mess ups, or frustrations get in the way of your relationship with God. Go to Him, repent, or ask for peace, take the situation and grow from it instead of wallowing in it. Trust me, as I'm writing this I'm talking to myself too, sometimes we just need to be reminded of how we should react in these situations. Love you all!

Blessings and Love,

Chrissy

Growing Pains...

Group Photo at the retreat!

Hello all! I hope you have all been blessed in this first month of the new year! Just an update on how January has been for me, and What things are going to look like as I head into a bit of a transitional phase.

The beginning of this month was spent on a retreat in a small town a bit north of Marseille with Evolution 13 staff and ministry workers. It was a wonderful time of direction and planning for all of us, and to just do life together. I really enjoyed the time of prayer, worship, and encouragement that we had with each other. It has definitely made me excited about starting ministry!

Poker night on the retreat (just chips, no money of course!)
Ladies against Gents. Notice, the Ladies won. ;)

Which brings me to the title of this week's blog. It's hard just waiting to start ministry. Of course waiting is necessary as I am still learning and trying to grasp the language. It's funny because before I left, waiting and patience was what the Lord was teaching me, and of course I'm not through learning that lesson yet (not that I ever will be necessarily!)! Now I am learning to wait in jumping into ministry. There's so much I want to do, so many I want to encourage, but I can't.... because my language skills just aren't there yet. And for those of you who haven't tried learning a language in another culture let me paint you a little picture: You are an intelligent adult, who is fully capable of forming sentences, thoughts, and having conversations. Now, you are treated like a child, who can't speak, who can't communicate, and have to ask everyone to slow down when they talk to you because you just can't keep up. It's very frustrating. But in that frustration, there is so much learning! It's amazing to me how much God is teaching me through all of this! In my time here I can feel as I continue learning the language, I am also growing closer to Him. This is probably because I am continuously running to Him through my frustrations and difficulties here. But don't get me wrong! I have my moments where I choose to just let frustration turn to anger, throw up my hands, and desperately want to scream. I'm human after all, I'm not perfect! But I know that God has had so much grace for me in this time. I see it when I can understand so much more in French than I could when I got here, or when I actually try to speak in French, and I can do it! It's all a matter of pushing past the barriers, praying for peace (cause it is NERVE WRACKING to try to talk to people in their native language when it isn't your native language!) and grace, and just DOING it! It is a challenge, it isn't like poof! now you speak another language. It's work, and it's hard, but it is incredibly rewarding, especially when in the end, it brings glory to God!

So here is my challenge to you: how is God asking you to step out of your comfort zone? What has He asked you to do that seems completely terrifying to you, so much so that it's crippling? I challenge you to ask Him for peace, for grace, and then DO IT! I know it's hard, and it's scary, and sometimes it's very painful, but guess what? You will grow so much! In the Lord, no matter what age we are, we are always growing in Him. Our walk with Him is not promised to be easy, but count it all joy, because your faith in Him will grow exponentially! Remember in the end it's all about love. Love Him, and through that you will be able to love others, which includes doing the hard stuff! There's a reason they're called growing pains, but oh man, the end result is something so beautiful!

So in conclusion: Take a leap of faith! It might be tough, painful even, but in the end, the reward far outweighs any temporary discomfort. Please continue keeping our team in prayer, and remember that you are loved! God has a lot in store, for me, and for you. Always remember that.

Blessings and Love,

Chrissy