Bonjour! I am thrilled to be writing to you from the front lines in France. I arrived here safely on April 30th. Before I describe my new surroundings and opportunities, let me fill you in on some blessings from my last month in the US.

Rescued by sharp eyes
In two instances I saw God’s hand of providence keep me from disaster. Two days before Dad was to drive the VW Bug all the way from New Hampshire to Colorado, Mom noticed a suspicious bulge on one of the tires. We were able to get the tire replaced just in time. The night of my commissioning service, my friend Kristen handed me something and asked, “Do you think you might need this for your trip?” It was my passport! I had left it on the copier that afternoon. A humbling reminder of my absent-mindedness and God’s mercy!

Sent by a beloved church, family and friends
Mountain View Bible Church officially commissioned me as their representative for Christ in France on Saturday evening, April 26th. What a special time of rejoicing and anticipation! I am so grateful that the Lord allowed my parents, grandparents, and future co-workers, the Foxes, all to take part in the service. My heart was touched by the presence of pastors and friends from at least ten different churches and by this note Pastor Andy Dean sent a few days later: “We have been praying with you these many months, eager to see you reach the field, and what a joy it was to see the culmination of those prayers! [Your family’s] eagerness to see you off and serving the Lord was a challenge to me. I looked down the pew at our eight children and found myself praying that the Lord would take each one of them for His service, and that I would, like your family, be willing and eager to see them go serve the Lord wherever He would lead them… I could hardly wait to get to church to share what a wonderful service we’d witnessed.”

Surrounded by newness
You may assume that because France is a civilized Western country it is not very different from the US. Let me enlighten you. The following things are all different here: unlocking a door, taking a shower, shopping for groceries (the brands are almost all new to me), doing laundry, ironing, typing (since they have different keyboards), greeting people, even flushing a toilet! Those are just a few of the things I have noticed. Getting acclimated to new surroundings is very draining mentally. The Paris public transport system is so complex that it makes the metro systems of Boston and Washington, D.C. look like tiddlywinks! My consolation in all these changes is that “in every change, He faithful will remain.”

Burdened for souls
On one of my flights I had the opportunity to briefly share the Gospel with a sweet Irish girl who told me she had never heard it before. Yesterday I spent eight hours at the Préfecture waiting to get an appointment for my residency permit application. Muslims, Hindus, and people from many unreached people groups all waited their turn with me. The Lord allowed me to befriend a gentle Pakistani woman named Shakila. In broken French, with a broken heart, she told me that she is in the midst of a divorce and is losing custody of her dear children. As I watched the tears roll down her cheeks, I longed to tell her of Jesus, who heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds, but because of the language barrier I was only able to give her a church invitation. When I told her I would pray for her, she smiled, shook her head, and said, “Muslim.” Oh, that God would send more laborers to Muslim countries!

Prayer requests for May
-that I will have the humility to ask for help, for directions, for people to repeat themselves
-that God send a believer to Shakila who speaks her language
-that He would give wisdom to Mrs. Stratton, a dear friend in my sending church, who will be taking over the Bible study at the assisted living home
-that I would be a blessing to my future church family in Rouen as I spend the weekend of May 11th with them. It will be such a joy to see them again!

I am praising the Lord for Pastor & Mrs. Barnes, who have opened their home to me here in Paris. I have already gleaned much from their years of experience as missionaries in France.

Thank you for making it possible for me to have the honor of serving Christ in France. May much fruit abound to your account!

For His glory,
Kristi Colas