With 40 pounds of stuff strapped onto our back, 13 girls got on a small canoe to cross the boarder from Suriname to French Guiana.
We had no place to stay, we didn’t know a single person in the small town of Kourou where we were dropped off in and only 1 out of the 13 girls spoke French (pshh who would have thought I’d ever need to know French while in South America. Also, in Suriname, people speak Dutch ayyy).
For about 5 hours we were sure we would have to spend the night hammocking on the beach, taking shifts of staying awake throughout the night. My adventure spirit said bring it on!! but, we kept being told by locals that sleeping in this part of town was not safe.
But take a look at what God had in store for us!
Side note: the 13 girls split into our teams of 6 and Sweet Heat has now changed to be called Remnant.
This is the Clair Family.
Magali has quickly become our French mom. She took us to the market, made homecooked papaya dinner (it was delicious) from the papayas we picked earlier in the day, and even took us to a popular hiking spot right outside of town!! My heart! She has taken us into her home and immediately made us feel cared for and loved.
Bruno is an intelligent wood biologist who is very kind and loves his children well.
Marion, Francois, Jean, and Camille are their four children who have become our little brothers and sisters so quickly. They are all very talented in music, sports and are the biggest joy.
There is no doubt in my mind that this encounter was God ordained.
One of the nights Magali was telling us how just that last weekend the priest from Guiana went to Kourou and preached about opening up their homes and hearts to different people. And there we were, asking for for a place to stay. Also, earlier in the week I had a vision of my hammock next to a body of water, and as I went to bed that first night I had realized that I was setting up my hammock right next to their pool, which also has a view of the lake on the other side of the fence.
All I can say is God has been blowing my mind on so many levels that I don’t even know how to cope.
Lastly,
I am now currently sitting in a coffee shop in Cayenne, French Guiana (about about hour away from the Clair Family). We got into the city less than 2 hours ago, started walking around and we now have an other place to stay the night. CRAZINESS!!!
Side note #2 this was written 30 hours ago. The young couple that hosted us went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed.
Please continue to pray for protection and provision. Tomorrow we head to Macapa Brazil where we found a place to stay through Airbnb; and we think it’s with a pastor’s family. Not to sure, but I mean knowing God, He’s got it all planned out.
In Him,
Lila
