Lindsey's Weblog

I have been up to…

Lindsey — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:20:02 +0000

Hey Friends and Fam,

I hope you are doing wonderful. Just a little update as the end comes more in view. Pretty crazy to think about. I just got back from Paris and London with Helen and Traci and it simply a wonderful time. I just resting now and getting ready to get to teaching. I only have two weeks left. I can’t believe it. It is so odd and it doesn’t feel like its actually happening. I will be leaving on May 18th and spend a day and half in NYC and then I return to the states the evening of the May 20th.

I applied a couple months ago to go over to Senegal to do ministry there. Of all sorts, schools, churches, orphanages, children and older youth. I received an email yesterday telling me there is an opening in December if I am still interested. And even though I thought I would go in September or October I think this is just God telling me I need to wait a little longer and leave in December. I am so thrilled. It will give me more time to finish documents they require and raise support. However, I want to stay busy with ministry during my time before Senegal (I still must be accepted). I praying that the Lord will guide me exactly what these next 6 months look like. I want to stay focused and purposeful in everything I am doing. Because even though I have a little bit of waiting time these two years are still His.

Continue to pray for my students, and the church. It will be very difficult to say goodbye. And it will be hard for Heloise a friend I have become close with at the church. She is 13 and there are no Christian girls to have as friends and in France everyone is into a lot of stupid and dangerous activities. So it is difficult for her to have friends and make good decisions. So usually she just stays home and watching TV instead.

I love you so much and would love to hear how everything is going! miss you all.

More Greece Pics, Parakalo (please)

Lindsey — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:13:29 +0000

Hydra!! an Greek Island Cream Pie Agora, Museum and Ruins

Greece Pics!!

Lindsey — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:45:11 +0000

sorry for the delay

Lindsey — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:01:05 +0000

Hi Everyone!! I hope you are doing well. Its friday and my weekend has begun. I worked with another English teacher today and answered questions that the students had. It was super fun and interesting. It is very intriguing to see their opinions of America, it is like one giant Corvallis, pretty awful. Luckily I have lots of students who put our nationalities aside. Some more discoveries I have made about the French. They don’t really laugh out loud, they do it discreetly. They don’t smile much, and loving stare at people as you pass them. Rather depressive and they’ll admit it. However, I have seen the changes in my students, relaxing a bit, laughing out loud.

There is a teacher that has been sick for the past month and here there are no substitutes. So I haven’t been able to see some of my favorites students in a very long time. It has been so sad. However, sometimes I will see them in passing.

I finished the brochure for Apage Campus Ministries, here in France. It was for a summer project in Nantes this summer. It was really fun to work with them. I also completed my application for the mission trip to Senegal. I sent it to them a few weeks ago. It was very long or I was just slow not sure exactly. But now I am just waiting for an answer. If I am accepted I would leave in September or October for some months. Going back to Africa has begun to excite me. I miss it so much.

It is very very strange to think about leaving in a few months. It is really crazy to head back to the states. It has been so long. Please be praying for my re-entry and also just winding down the last few days before my departure. The cultures are very very different and my life will change dramatically when I return just with daily activities and various jobs. It is going to be very difficult. I have dreams that I returned to the States and it ends up being a bad dream. I have grown very attached to the church and all of my students, so it will be only be by God’s grace I can leave smoothly. I love you all so much!! Have a wonderful week and Easter!

Newsflash

Lindsey — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:09:09 +0000

Hi friends and fam, I thought I would send more of a day-to-day update. The past few weeks have been really a blessing. Last monday I had dinner with Audrey and Maud, students of mine. They are so sweet and kind and very hesitant with their english. I love hearing what they are going to do after high school. Tuesday I had lunch with Sofia and caught up on how everything is going with her. My new schedule started last week. So on that tuesday I had two classes of ten or twelve to work with. It was a bit more than usual. But it went fine. The second were adorable and I was surprised to find an American, yes a pure bred american sitting in my class. She is from chicago and has been here since August and had no idea there was an American assistant at her school. It was fun to meet her. Her name is Ariel, she’s had some not so great experiences with families she’s been staying with.

Thursday I hung out with Manon for the afternoon and had lunch with her and her mom, it was fabulous. We taught each other the animals sounds from our language. For example, a rooster says “cock-a-doodle-doo” but in french “cocorico”. A sheep “baas” but in french it “bele”. it was so amusing. Thursday night we went to Patricia and Randy, the pastor and his wife, their house for dinner and play the Wii. french…haha learned lots of new words. Saturday I hung out with Audrey another student and then Heloise, a 13 year-old come over for a sleepover. It was so fun. We had dinner and watched a movie. Shrek 2 in french. Helen came over for NRJ music awards on TV that night. Sunday I was donned “grande soeur” (big sister) by Jesse and Geoffrey, it was so cute. The church had lunch together, it was great. Today I had some loud and rambunctious boys, we slowly got through the activities. And later this afternoon I took the whole class of about 18 cuz the teacher was absent and it was fun. Definitely different and kept me up on my toes. I randomly ran into my students during lunch so I got to eat with them and then tomorrow Audrey and Maud are going to have lunch together. Thursday afternoon Audrey, Soumia, Sharleen are coming over. I am still struggling with my energy, not sure why i am still tired. i am taking iron and I do have meat in my meals more frequently. I will be heading to Nice friday to see Caroline, and hopefully Benedicte. It will be great to see them. Ok that is about all. Please be praying for my students and the church. More opportunities to serve. Love you all!!

Geneve p.2

Lindsey — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:40:45 +0000

Cathedral Saint Pierre, where John Calvin preached. We climbed to the very top! favorite pic. the scary steps!!

Geneve: a crisp, brisk city.

Lindsey — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:35:22 +0000

Emily and Charlotte and Our Australian friend that roomed with us. She’s great! This was 9USD worth of goodness. Jet D’eau, tallest Fountain in Europe with cute yellow water taxi. we took that often across Lac Leman. Gorgeous Alps. Horloge Fleurie (Flower Clock). favorite pic. Cathedral St. Pierre at left. This chair is donated piece for the Handicapped Association. UN Parc des Bastions, Life size! Reformation Wall, dedicated to the men who helped reform the church.

Venezia in all its Charm.

Lindsey — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:20:24 +0000

Fabulous Italian Friends. Yummy Pizza rolls. Gondola Men!! San Marco Piazza Palazzo Ducale On top of San Marco Basilica

The Always Fabulous Paris p.2

Lindsey — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:06:13 +0000

Pantheon Majestic Notre Dame Pantheon in the Day Jardin du Luxembourg My Beauty. Venus de Milo in the Louvre Us and cool man Stone. Napoleon’s Apt in Louvre Palace. Sacre Coeur.

The Always Fabulous Paris

Lindsey — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:59:38 +0000

zee Louvre La Grande Roue Arc de Triomphe New Years! it was drizzling. Metro after New Years