The R&D phase, or maybe just R

As we spend the next several months learning French, our plan is to visit every area of the city and spend significant time in prayer there so we can start to get a sense of where God is leading us to start a new community of believers. Here are a couple pictures of us at the Jardin du Luxembourg (luxembourg gardens) doing just that. Walking around, sitting on benches, people watching, and spending time in prayer.

We also found a "american style" coffee shop. So comforting.

The pond was surrounded by kids all navigating their
miniature boats around ducks and other boats.

Also, another key aspect of the plan is to work hard to connect with as many churches and leaders in the city as we can, so we can complement and partner with their efforts as much as possible. So we visited our first church in the city on Sunday. It was one of a handful of churches that were recommended to us so far and it is only 1 year old. Right away we connected with a few people from the church and also a few visitors. And afterwards, we had lunch with some great people. It was a very encouraging first experience and eliminated any nervousness we had about visiting churches where we know no one and don't even really speak the language yet.

The church met in this incredible space with stone walls & a vaulted ceiling.

It is so humbling that upon meeting people who are laboring for the Lord here, the first thing they often say to us is how much of an answer to prayer it is that we are here. We don’t know exactly how to respond, because in our minds we just arrived and haven’t done anything yet. And even if we do eventually do something worthy of praise, it will be God that does it all. It is confirmational but like I said, so humbling. For them, it is huge just that we are here. That’s kind of what we were told last time we were here in 2010 too. French believers are SO incredibly encouraged to know that there are other brothers and sisters around the world who know about them and care about them. And it is mind-boggling and so encouraging to them as well to know there are unseen partners in the U.S. who are praying and giving sacrificially to send people (like us) here to serve alongside them. 

But if you think of it, please pray for us as we are in the R (research) part of the R&D phase, as Ryan calls it. And also for the many leaders and laborers in France that we haven’t even met yet but who are no doubt doing awesome things for the glory of God.