Carnaval

Every year, without a doubt, our French livres would have something on Carnaval. There would be pictures of the ice hotel and of ice sculptures, and who could forget, singing a song about Bonhomme (although I can't seem to remember the words or how it goes anymore). Well, this year, I got to live out what I once only saw in pictures (and I guess ''read'' about) in a textbook while sitting in a classroom on a rainy day in Vancouver. Joze came while Winter Carnival was going on, and so we went for an afternoon to see what all the fuss was about. We saw all the different activities that were going on, but there were lineups for everything so we didn't end up doing anything but walk around. We didn't even get to see Bonhomme. But, nonetheless, it was good to experience Winter Carnival at least once.

I also had the opportunity to share in French at my church on Feb. 6. It was nerve-wracking, but by God's grace, I was able to do it. I also had good support from some friends in Québec who came to hear me speak.

As this February has come and gone, I often think back to last year and what I was doing. I remember sitting in my chair, selling Olympic tickets and often encountering French speaking people whom I couldn't understand. I tried so hard to follow what they were saying but ended up having to ask

my Supervisor to come over and do all the talking. I'd wished that I could understand and have a conversation with them. I wonder now, if I could probably follow what they were saying and respond back. (I also wished that I could've spoken French back then because bilinguals were paid more :))

Well, time is quickly passing by here. I am halfway through my second semester and reading break is coming up in a couple of weeks. But before that can happen, I have to get through my midterms first. So off to more studying I go. À la prochaine!

New Beginnings

Happy New Year, Everyone!

So, I realize I'm really bad at updating my blog and a lot has happened since I last updated.

Here are just a few things that have happened since November:

1. Finished my first semester at Laval.

2. Went home for Christmas for 3 weeks.

3. Got engaged.

4. Came back to Québec and started my second semester of French.

5. Snow came and has not gone away. The temperature continues to drop (today with wind chills, it was at -41).

It was definitely great to be home with family and friends during the Christmas break! Our family has not celebrated Christmas together since 2002, so this past Christmas was especially memorable. It was a busy time, but it was great to just catch up with everyone and to eat all the Asian food I could. During the break, I also had the opportunity to share at two different churches about heading off to Guinea and about the WAVE program.

I will also have a chance to share at the church I attend here in Québec. If you want to hear me speak in French, you are more than welcome to fly on over and listen. It will be on February 6.

Joze and I got engaged on Christmas day. What does this mean? Right now, it looks like I won't be heading off to Guinea this year. We will stay in Canada for at least another year and we are looking to go to Guinea together the following year. We are still trying to figure things out, so if you could be in prayer with us about this, we would really appreciate it.

And now....to brave the cold some more.....

2 and a half months...

My apologies for not updating my blog more regularly. I am going to try to update it at least once a month from now on.

So, I thought I had left the rain behind in Vancouver when I moved to Quebec City. But this doesn't seem to be the case, as it seems to rain here more often than it does in Vancouver! It still has NOT snowed here... (apparently it did this past Monday but I was sleeping while it was snowing and woke up to no snow, therefore, according to me, it hasn't snowed here yet). Below is a picture of me with a couple of kids I play with every day. Their family is also here in QC studying French this year. As you can somewhat see, autumn is so beautiful here in QC! Loved it! But now, the trees are bare and ready for the snow to come.

Some new things since first arriving here in Quebec:

1. I can now speak with my roommate with more than just gestures. We are having longer, deeper, more meaningful conversations and we are getting to know each other better.

2. After 23 years, many disgusted looks from people and a deal with a 5 year old, I have finally stopped biting my nails and grown them out! Hard to believe, I know, but it is possible!

3. I have become a keener at school (something I have never been). But it is only by God's grace am I learning French right now. I think I've learned more French in the last 2 and a half months here than I ever did in my 8 years of French in Vancouver. I still mix up words with Swahili sometimes, and I'm definitely losing my Chinese AND English in the process, but it's been neat to reflect on how little I could comprehend when I first arrived at the end of August and see how much more I am able to comprehend now. We had our reading break 2 weeks ago and it's amazing how time flies!

4. I am currently attending Église de l'alliance chrétienne et missionaire de Ste. Foy. People have welcomed me with open arms. I currently attend their Thursday Bible Study group.

Here's a glimpse into what a normal day looks like for me:

7:15am - Wake up

7:50am - Take bus to school

8:30am-11:20am - Class

11:30am-2:50pm - Do homework at school

2:50pm - 3:40pm - Pick up kids and head over to the Chen's place

3:40ish - 5:00pm - Hang out with the family

5:00pm - 6:00pm - Eat dinner

7:30pm - Head home

8:00pm - 10:00pm - Try to do more homework

12:00am or later - sleep

As you can see, life is pretty typical here. God has been good and is continually showing His sovereignty in every situation. I have been blessed with a great roommate, a new family, and new brothers and sisters.

Thanksgiving and prayer requests:

1. After many postponements, Guinea was able to have their presidential election last Sunday, November 7. Please continue to pray for this country as results have yet to be announced. Please pray that there would be peace and unity.

2. Please pray for the WAVE (West Africa Vision Expedition) participants who have now been in Guinea a little over 2 months. Please continue to pray for their health and safety as they build relationships with those around them.

3. In the last couple of months, I have been able to meet many new people either from school or from church. Please pray that I would be able to grow deeper in these relationships and that I can be an encouragement to those around me.

It is truly by God's grace that I am able to be here and study French. Thank you all for your continued support! Currently, the Global Advance Fund, which supports International Workers with the Alliance, is in a deficit. If you would like to support it, the box on the right can tell you how to do so.

Et qu'il illumine les yeux de votre coeur, pour que vous sachiez quelle est l'espérance qui s'attache à son appel, quelle est la richesse de la gloire de son héritage qu'il réserve aux saints, et quelle est envers nous qui croyons l'infinie grandeur de sa puissance, se manifestant avec efficacité par la vertu de sa force. Il l'a déployée en Christ, en le ressuscitant des morts, et en le faisant asseoir à sa droite dans les lieux célestes, au-dessus de toute domination, de toute autorité, de toute puissance, de toute dignité, et de tout nom qui se peut nommer, non seulement dans le siècle présent, mais encore dans le siècle à venir. Il a tout mis sous ses pieds, et il l'a donné pour chef suprême à l'Église, qui est son corps, la plénitude de celui qui remplit tout en tous.

Éphésiens 1:18-23

Je suis arrivée à Québec

I am now in Quebec City, after spending a couple of weeks in Toronto taking a Language Acquisition course.

I arrived on Tuesday and am settling in quite nicely. The apartment that I'm staying in is in quite a prime location, with a Progivo (similar to a Loblaws or Superstore only smaller) right across the street and a bus stop in front. My roommate speaks only French, so communicating with her thus far has been quite challenging yet will be great in the long run. There have been attempts of speaking French to her and a lot of hand gestures, but when all else fails, there have been attempts to try to explain or clarify things in English. I'm sure over time, we'll be able to have deeper, more meaningful conversations.

School begins on August 30 for me at Laval University. So until then, still trying to familiarize myself with this new place.

Bienvenue à mon blog!

Welcome to my first ever blog in hopes of allowing you to catch a glimpse of what's happening in this journey of mine!

Hopefully, this will allow us to stay connected and for me to let you know of any prayer updates and thanksgiving items that arise. Thank you all for already supporting me and praying for me! It's always great to know that people are behind me.

So, this afternoon, I left Vancouver and am now in Toronto for a linguistics course. I will then be leaving for Quebec City on August 24 to study French at Laval University for the upcoming year.

I hope to update this blog frequently, so if you want to know what's happening with me, just read away!

Bye for now!