So my team and I went to Paris for 12 days. However France and Hungary were never on the list of countries that were planned for us to go to this year. But when the Lord says go… we go.
Upon finishing the Camino in Spain, we had some freedom in terms of how we were to get to Serbia which was our next planned country to go to. France as well as Hungary were placed on my teams heart with Paris not even being in the same direction as Serbia logistically. Upon researching bus tickets, they appeared to be cheaper to go via Paris and Budapest to get to Serbia as opposed to the direct route there. This was the first green light to start our plans for Paris.
We decided to book our bus ticket that night in complete faith that God would make a way for us to stay in Paris as He had called us there – because honestly Paris is so expensive that we just couldn’t afford to stay there in terms of lodging and food! That night we prayed a lot, and the next morning (the actual day of departure to Paris) we received a message from a friend of a friend saying that we could stay with her in her apartment! It was such an answer to prayer!
That same day, one of my teammates backpacks were stolen which included her passport, this lead to her spending the afternoon getting a police report. The bus driver was very hesitant to let her on the bus, explaining that when we are stopped by the police in France there’s a high chance she will be kicked off the bus. This lead to many many people praying that this wouldn’t happen, and that God would make a way.
Upon arriving in France we were stopped by the police, the man looked at the documents and just carried on down the line, not even thinking twice about it. It was such a relief! However an hour out of Paris we were stopped again by the police. This time they searched many peoples bags – but not ours. And looked at almost everyone’s passports – but not ours! It was incredible!
Upon arriving in Paris, we learnt that Sabrina,the lady we stayed with, had been praying that her house may be used for Gods work and so our arrival was in fact an answer to her prayers too!
Before arriving in Paris we had had it on our hearts to work with refugees as well as the homeless. We have had the privilege of working with both in ways we couldn’t have expected!
It turned out that our arrival in Paris was another answer to prayer as we were able to help with interior decorating and general setup of a new cafe opening in Paris in 2 weeks that is going to be hiring refugees to work there, as well as hosting different workshops for them. The couple who are opening the cafe have a 6 month year old son, and so it was amazing being able to help with the opening as well as caring for and loving their son.
There are so many incredible stories I could tell you about how we saw God work and provide in Paris but it would just be to much to read!
Upon arriving in Budapest, Hungary, we just ‘happened’ to be staying somewhere with one other guy who just ‘happened’ to be from Serbia. And so after having made friends with him, he has now put us in contact with his church in Serbia and we are heading there in a few days! I am so excited to be there and get involved within the community after all he has told us about it!
I’ll be sure to blog about our time there!
