One Week Down

The first week lived in Paris took me back to how I felt as a kid, when my parents took me to Disney world. Feelings of excitement, adventure, and a rush of knowing that I was in a place that I had never been before. Paris was now my Disney World, and I could not wait to see what it had in store for me.
The crew and I were determined to wander around Paris as much as humanly possible, as if to ignore the fact that jet-lag was ever so present. I was still in dream land with no sight of realizing that God had actually brought me to France.

Off we were, walking and wandering to places we were not familiar with and to places that we had only seen in photographs. Our first official excursion was on Wednesday, that was led by the amazingly studious and hilarious man named Jeff. Jeff was in fact my personal highlight of that first week in Paris. From the get go, I could tell that Jeff would help me to learn so much about the city and its history, all while cracking jokes and making it a relatable experience as a college kid. We toured old Paris and I learned more about the city than I ever had before. It was mesmerizing and overwhelming in the best way possible. I can recall the exact moment of seeing the Notre Dame Cathedral for the first time, with its new construction taking place because of the tragic fire that had occurred only months before I arrived. It was still so beautiful and picturesque, a jaw-dropping moment that I will never forget. I snapped a few photos quickly, as Jeff hurried along. If there is one thing that I will remember about Jeff, it will be the fact that he is indeed a fast-walker. Walking the streets of old Paris were as if my eyes were deceiving me and I could not fathom the sight I was seeing.
Throughout the first week I had also begun to grow closer to my new friends through our journey's and shared feelings that we three were experiencing. Away from our families and everything we knew, it was a time of vulnerability and growth both spiritually and mentally. God spoke to me in so many ways and was utilizing me to share messages with my friends as well, which was so powerful and rewarding to my heart and soul. I knew that God had brought me to Paris for a reason, and he was using the first week as a glimpse into why. God lit a fire, and I was ready to fuel the flames