Bonwho?

Grumpy from a lack of sleep, my feet hit the french pavement for the first time. I somehow escaped customs, and dragged my overweight suitcase from the trolley as several French people gave me the deadface look that I have now come to expect and even appreciate. It's actually amazing how non-reactive their faces are.

My eyes scanned for a Starbucks when I caught sight of a cute little sign with "Paige McQueen" scrawled on the front.
The man holding the sign, Jeff, has turned out to be a goldmine of information. From teaching me the history of every building his tiny car passed to what to say when you accidentally fall on an older gentleman in the metro, Jeff knows how to handle it all.

Gaelle, the housemother, met me about a day after I settled into Esty's and my adorable little flat. She is one of the sweetest humans I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, despite the fact that we mostly communicate through nods and "oui's." And that she laughs every time I try to say "tres bien." Her soul shines with a supernatural sort of light.

Saturday they hosted us for an orientation. It was like a welcoming party, with food and little gifts. Gaelle and Jeff presented us to the leaders of the church and gave a short bio for each of us. They were all welcoming and kind, as though hosting seven Americans was a miracle.

We met Nicholas and his lovely wife Beatrice then also. This was my favorite part, and I think it was probably the other girls favorite too.

They came around and prayed and spoke over each one of our lives. In that meeting, I gained a better perspective of the church and their heart for the people of France. Gaelle then took us to see the eiffel tower. It was beautiful, and went beyond my every expectation. It was also much much larger than the one in Paris Texas. And didn't have a cowboy hat.

Which is weird.

One of the most wonderful things about the church is that there is almost always people in it. It's a true home, a place of worship and fellowship. Life is truly "done" together here. Not just an instagram picture together, but true togetherness in love.

Anyway, tomorrow we go to buy groceries (supermarkets are closed on Sundays), so I am going to bed!
Goodnight!

(I would say it French, but I would probably brutally murder it. Apparently my throat isn't very good at making words sound like I have phlegm in the back of my throat. I'm told

this is a common condition among "American.")