A Family of Friends
It was Thursday morning. We had lived in this country called France for all of 2 days, and we now had 10 days to learn our way around town, understand the different products at the grocery stores, open a bank account, get a phone line and internet set up, figure out how to use our cell phones here, learn the city bus schedule, and register our children for school... all in a language that we didn't know. Our schedules still askew from the time change, and much of our belongings still stacked in trunks all around the house, we pulled ourselves together and headed out on the 20 minute walk to the center of town with legs that were still very much accustomed to riding in a mini-van.
Shelly, a friend of ours from PBT who was just completing her time in France had arranged to meet us downtown and help us find the bank and the cell phone store and show us around a bit. A face you recognize in an unfamiliar place is such a welcome sight! That morning, she had a friend with her, another American missionary studying French in Chambery in order to work in Africa. She had a baby strapped securely to her front, and three other children followed her closely, ranging in age from 3 to 8.
"Hi! I'm Bonnie. Welcome to Chambery!" she said with a warm smile, and we proceeded to exchange greetings and get to know one another as well as possible in five minutes while standing in the middle of a busy town. "Could I take your children to the park while you run your errands?" With her generosity, the kids had an enjoyable time and we accomplished much, and by the end of the morning we had made our first new friends in France.
Yesterday morning at 6 a.m. that family loaded all of their belongings into a taxi and began their move to Africa. Our time with them was limited; we saw them at church and on a handful of other occasions during the past three months, and then had the privilege of hosting them for their last two nights here in France. We shared life with them for such a brief time, but I will keep those memories in the pocket of my heart and count them as a gift from the Father. Though our paths may never cross again, we consider ourselves blessed to know one more family who is living and working for the Kingdom of God.
Shelly, a friend of ours from PBT who was just completing her time in France had arranged to meet us downtown and help us find the bank and the cell phone store and show us around a bit. A face you recognize in an unfamiliar place is such a welcome sight! That morning, she had a friend with her, another American missionary studying French in Chambery in order to work in Africa. She had a baby strapped securely to her front, and three other children followed her closely, ranging in age from 3 to 8.
"Hi! I'm Bonnie. Welcome to Chambery!" she said with a warm smile, and we proceeded to exchange greetings and get to know one another as well as possible in five minutes while standing in the middle of a busy town. "Could I take your children to the park while you run your errands?" With her generosity, the kids had an enjoyable time and we accomplished much, and by the end of the morning we had made our first new friends in France.
Yesterday morning at 6 a.m. that family loaded all of their belongings into a taxi and began their move to Africa. Our time with them was limited; we saw them at church and on a handful of other occasions during the past three months, and then had the privilege of hosting them for their last two nights here in France. We shared life with them for such a brief time, but I will keep those memories in the pocket of my heart and count them as a gift from the Father. Though our paths may never cross again, we consider ourselves blessed to know one more family who is living and working for the Kingdom of God.
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