Paris, week one has been quite the journey! My team is trailblazers, and consists of the following friends : Emily, Elaine, Eli, Patrick, Bradley, and Ross. We have been staying at an airbnb and today moved to another place which has wifi, hence the sudden reappearance. We have been going to a nearby park, where we met some friendly faces whose images I put below, as well as doing frequent ATL days (ask the Lord days for where He wants us to go/ who to talk to).
We just made a connection with YWAM, to help move refugees to a new camp that will be opening at the end of the week! We’ll be loving and evangelizing during the day, eating dinner and staying the night with the refugees, and then help move over 700 refugees across town to a new camp. After that, we will be working with an organization handing out water, food, and serving the refugees in any way they need us to serve. During this time we get the humbling opportunity to minister to many of the lost souls who have gone through such a devastating transition. It was a powerful image to see walking up to the camp: people in every direction were sleeping on mattresses under bridges, in tents tightly packed together on the street, some mattresses were laid out on giant boulders, there was trash everywhere, ripped clothes, and a very distinct smell. It was something I’d never seen before. People were standing by a bus station drawing images of what the Mediterranean looks like right now and in them I saw images of boats with numerous stick figures sprawled out on them, with helicopters flying overhead, and the flag of Africa. My heart breaks for these people, and I feel incredibly honored to be able to be here in Paris.
Please be praying for our time at the camp, for opportunities to minister and connect, and for unity, encouragement, and depth within our team! Pray for eyes to see and ears to hear as we go tell people that there is actually a very big hope awaiting them, whose name is Jesus. We aren’t there to convert to a religion, rather to share that there’s someone we know who has answers and point them to Jesus, rather than pointing them to Christianity. My prayer is that they will share with their families and homes, and intercede for those they know who are going through dark situations.
i love you all, and thank you so much for your prayers and intercession on our behalf, and thank you so much for the financial support- I am only 800$ away! Love, Kiana.
