“Because I live, ye shall live also.” John 14:19
My Grandpa Thompson went home to be with Jesus on Monday, March 17th. Grandma and my parents knew that the time was near. God gave them some good last memories together. What a special time of year to go home to Heaven. This morning, I read Jesus’ promise in John 14:2: “I go to prepare a place for you.” He’s all done preparing Grandpa’s dwelling place! He is there today, basking in the glory of His Savior Who is the Light of the world and the Light of Heaven. Thank you for your prayers for my family as they prepare for the funeral in Denver. I know it will be a special service; I wish I could be there. How eager I am for the Lord to give me more opportunities to share the Gospel with people here and in France who do not have the comfort of a living Savior in times of death and sorrow.

Visa verified
My visa has been approved! The Lord has heard your prayers! I will have until the end of July to apply for a residency card in France, which I will have to renew each year for several years. I am also praising the Lord for providing a place to live in Paris during language school this summer. Missionary friends in Paris just “happen” to have a mini-furlough planned during the months I will be in Paris, and they have generously offered their apartment. Once again, I marvel at God’s sovereignty. He is not just sending me to France - He is shooting me there like a torpedo!

Expanding horizons
This time in Quebec has already proven to be extremely profitable. In addition to many special opportunities to serve in the different churches, the Lord has given me some terrific resources and contacts for my future projects in French sacred music. My head is spinning with ideas. Please pray that I will have wisdom in knowing which projects to tackle first! The needs are enormous.

French frolics
Forgive me if I slip into French in this email. Since arriving in Quebec on March 7th, I have only had a few opportunities to speak English (which is exactly what I want and need). Donc, the more French I speak, the less English I remember. Oh well, c’est la vie! I do not understand 100% of what people say, but I usually manage to get the general idea. No doubt some of you have been anticipating hearing some of my hilarious faux pas in French. I am afraid that I must be giving people the impression that I am horribly arrogant because of some of the things I’ve said:

In describing something, I wanted to say “I was amazed,” but instead I said, “I am amazing!”

When a pastor said to me, “I hear you are an excellent pianist,” I replied, “I try.” He raised his eyebrows and snorted with laughter. I realized that “I try” sounds almost exactly like “I know!”

A Quebecoise woman told me I had an angelic singing voice (which is disputable) and I smiled and nodded before I realized what she had said. The default “smile and nod” response can certainly get one into trouble!

May you enjoy a blessed Easter celebration with your church family.

“He who refused to come down from the cross came up from the grave, and it was a greater matter to arise from the grave than to descend from the cross: to destroy death by rising than to save life by descending.” - Gregory Nyssa

for His glorious Name’s sake,
Kristi

Countdown to departure: 6 weeks