Saturday, June 4, 2011

Piercing the Darkness

What a busy few days it has been!

I haven't had much time to update the blog, much less sleep, eat, or relax. But in and through our hectic schedules, the Gospel has gone forth!

Our last day doing surveys was Wednesday. My partner, Cole, and I went with another team to a new campus (Université de Provence) and met a lot of students. Throughout the course of the day, we met a Muslim guy, two from Vietnam, one from China, a girl from Eastern Europe and finally four French high school girls. We were able to do surveys with all of them and got each of their contact information, they being mostly interested in practicing English with Matt and Christy. It's a great conduit for building relationships and an opportunity to live the Gospel in word and deed.


Apart from the campuses, we've also been able to minister to various people that we've met out in the city. At the popular Belgian fast-food restaurant here, called Quick, Rollan (a pastor from King's Park), Whitney, Cole and myself met a 60-year old man that we spent an hour with and invited to church. Being raised Catholic, he was very interested in becoming part of a church family. Please pray he comes tomorrow! Here's a picture from that evening at Castellane. It was pretty cool here for two days, unlike how hot it was when I arrived.


Rollan has a contagious personality and is anointed as an Evangelist, so he has been able to meet many people and share the Gospel with them. As one of two French-speakers on the trip, I have been able to accompany him to most of his meetings to translate for him. It has been a very rewarding challenge. Though taxing mentally, and even emotionally, I am blessed to be able to share hope with these French people in their native tongue. We are piercing the darkness with the truth and life of Jesus.

I told Rollan today that I have prayed many times to be poured out like a drink offering before the Lord, and I feel like I have been while here (2 Tim. 4:6). Thank you for your prayers for myself and Brian as we translate during these eternally-siginificant meetings. We are truly depending on the Holy Spirit as the Lord makes His strength perfect in our weakness.

One of the most remarkable meetings we had was with a middle-aged lady. Having endured much emotional pain and brokenness in her life, she has been drawn most recently to Buddhism, though having dabbled in the occult, drugs and substance abuse. I went with Rollan to meet her, and it was obvious within a few minutes that God was chasing her, especially in how He had prompted Rollan to stop her on the street a few days prior. The darkness in her life was palpable, but she has a sweet heart and I believe she is yearning for true healing and deliverance. We spent 3 hours with her, explaining who Jesus was and what He wanted to do in her life. At the end of the night, she said that she wasn't ready to make this decision. We gave her a Gospel of Luke and asked to meet her again. She said she "did not see sex in our eyes" like she sees in most men, but rather compassion for her. When we left her, I couldn't help but cry; her situation broke my heart. Rollan and I pleaded with the Lord on the way back to open her eyes. Please join us in asking God to mightily deliver her and set her free to love Him and be loved by Him! She is most precious to the King.


Another fantastic meeting was with a Muslim student that Dave and Katie met when we visited an English class. She is from northern Africa and invited them to her home to prepare couscous. They asked me to join them as she didn't speak much English, so I was only to happy to oblige! We spent the whole afternoon with her, and she prepared us a delicious meal of couscous, simmered vegetables and veal. She was curious as the the differences between Protestants and Catholics, and that opened the door for me to share a bit of my testimony with her. She seemed interested and I believe that even the joy on our faces was a witness to the power of Jesus! We had great discussion, and she would like to meet with us again and prepare almond cakes for us. She had such a sweet disposition and was hospitable and generous. We loved her company and are praying for an opportunity to share the Gospel. Please pray that the Lord would reveal Himself to her!


I've got much more to update, as this is only through Thursday evening. More to come! Thank you for all your prayers and support; you are truly partnering with the Lord in sowing seeds and reaping a harvest here in Marseille, France!

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