I shared this picture with you this week of Camille and Nicole heading off to school. Camille is from Paris, France and Nicole is from Caracas, Venezuela. They both live in big cities. Living with us is a huge transition for both of them.
Today we are headed to church. Camille went last Sunday but this is Nicole’s first Sunday. She has never been to a protestant church. Never attended worship. Never read scripture.
To be honest, they don’t have a lot of interest in going to church. They don’t understand why we do it. I want to explain it all to them. I want them to understand that knowing and believing in Christ is “life” for us.
But I’m not sure that anything I say will make sense. I could talk to them all day about my love for scripture, and how I want to act and look like Christ but it’s a foreign language to them.
So all I know to do is to “live life” and pray that while they’re here, they will see something different in us. I pray seeds will be planted. I’m begging God to do something in them, that only He can do.
Wayne and I both know, that this is bigger than us. God has them here for a reason and we don’t understand it all. We just want to be faithful.
Would you pray for these two sweet young ladies? Pray that we will be filled with grace, and peace, and mercy, and patience and kindness.
All week, as I’ve listened to them and heard about their lives, this song has kept coming to my mind. This world can be so enticing. But for me, just give me Jesus!
Have a blessed Sunday!
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Cyndi. Thank you for sharing this song it brought me to tears. And thank you for your style ideas. I’m 59 and while I love some of the new “kids” fashion it’s just not age appropriate for me! I just want to look and dress the best I can for my age and you’ve given me/us lots of great ideas! Bless your fashion mission!
Will be praying for your ‘girls’ and family this year. We have kept some students in the past, short term. Our Korean ‘daughter’ was a Christian and we were able through her to witness to the other students, with few direct words. One of her friends said she had noticed such a nice difference in the way our family interacted in comparison to her own. That was humbling, and reassuring at the same time. I had been focused on the activities we were planning & doing, food we ate, etc and she noticed How we were doing everything. On the other hand I was an exchange student for a month in high school, to Berlin, (W) Germany. I still keep in touch w my German Mom and have directly tried to witness to her in some of our letters. From reading your blog, I believe you are going to be such a blessing in these girls lives–not just now, but for years to come.
Cyndi it is no accident that Camille and Nicole are with you. It’s Divine Intervention and you WILL make a lasting impression on these girls by just being who you are. I will be praying for them to have open eyes and spirits to recognize that it is God moving through you and your husband to reach them.
Praying that the Christ like walk you model will be life changing for these lovely girls.
Awesome opportunity! I know you are up to it! I’ll be praying!
God bless you all Cyndi. I agree with the other readers that just seeing the way you and your family live your life will be the best witness for them. Praying for you all.
Cyndi, what a blessing to have the opportunity to share your lives with these two beautiful young women! As you said just living your Christ filled life along side them will speak volumes to them. They will see the difference Christ makes in your lives and hopefully desire Him for themselves.
Sweet friend, all you need to do is “live life,” as you say, because you and Wayne can say, along with Paul, “To me to live is Christ; to die is gain.” Camille and Nikki are so blessed to be with you!
Lifting these beautiful girls up in prayer, in Jesus Name. What a blessing you are to these Girls, I know great things will happen while they are in your beautiful Godly home.
Prayers for you and them, Cyndi — your life is the best testimony there is! God will be with you and those seeds will surely be planted. Have a blessed day!
xo Heidi
Hi Cyndi, not sure if this will help, but it might… our church as well as several others (300 churches total) in about 4 cities in central Texas are starting an Explore God initiative. If you check out http://www.centralrr.com/exploregod/whatisexploregod/, there are some videos and stuff about exploring God that might help a little. You and your husband definitely know what is best for these girls and like you said, they were brought to you for a reason. I just know your family will make a difference in the lives of these 2 young ladies and they will return home next year better than when they came to the states. I will be praying for these girls as well as you and your family. I help teach our youth at my church (central baptist) and I see kids who are forced to attend church who finally come around and accept Christ into their lives. It is so amazing. Best wishes to all of you.
I was having questions about whether this exchange progam you and your hsb are involved in was Christian oriented or not and the challenges you might be facing. I will most certainly join you and your other readers in prayers for this situation. what an outreach you have with what these lovelies can take home with them. God Bless you
What a blessing to be used by God!! You and your hubby are in a special season having these girls with you. I can imagine when their time has ended with you.. You’ll look back to see how God used you both to help transform their lives. So beautiful!!
We sang that song in church today 🙂 love it!! Praying for you Cyndi 🙂
Praying for Nicole and Camille,the Lord will work on them in his own time.Meanwhile just continue to be a wonderful example of His love..
I will definitely pray for Nicole and Camille. One of the interns at our church had an exchange student from Germany last year. Milena was her name. Such a precious, gorgeous red head. She had pretty much the same background as your girls. She came to know the Lord while she was here. I believe the Lord has already started a work in their hearts by bringing them into your home and He will be faithful to complete it.
I’m praying for you all! God is in control. Love you.
Yes, I will pray for them. Being a pastor-missionary’s wife, I have seen that it is your everyday life that matters most to young folk and most folk in general. Not just what you say but how you walk your talk. Our young generation is going to be the backbone of our country one day and this country needs a change for Christ. Bless you all for this lovely opportunity you have with these two young girls!
I sure will be praying for them! What a joy it will be for you to way h them discover so many new things! Lisa~
Oh, I pray God might use you to be a beautiful witness to these girls would transform their hearts and grant them the gift of salvation. Blessings to you! What an awesome opportunity!