Recently, I have taken some time to think back on the many changes that God brought into my life during 2011. I can honestly say that all of these changes have been a blessing, and I can clearly see that God has used them to sanctify me and make me more like His Son. When the year 2011 began I was living in Durban, South Africa and investing my time in the ministries of the church there. The experiences that I had in Africa taught me so much about God's ability to work through my weaknesses, and I saw over and over again that He was faithful to accomplish His purpose.

In August I moved to Quebec, Canada, and I have now been living here for 4 months. I think that I actually experienced more culture shock coming to Quebec than when I first went to Africa because of the language difference. It has all been new and different, but in a very good way. During the time that I have been here, I have been studying French a lot and realizing what a gift from God it is that I have this opportunity.

It is a gift and a blessing for me to have this opportunity, first, because French is the heart language of Laurie, the girl that I love : ) It has been such a joy to see how the investment in learning French has strengthened our relationship, and I thank God for the relationship He has given us. This relationship has produced a lot of maturity, learning, joy and growth in my life over the past 4 months.

I am recognizing too that learning French is a blessing because of the richness that speaking another language adds to life and ministry. I have read recently that: "French is spoken by about 75 million people as a first language and an additional 265 million as a second language. It is widespread in 35 nations including France, French Canada and many African countries." The map of the world above shows the countries where French is an official language. In each of those places there is a deep connection between culture and language that I am better able to relate to and understand as I continue to learn French, and as we come to understand people and their culture we become better equipped to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is, in a sense, like what the apostle Paul described as becoming "all things to all men" for the sake of the gospel.

So I am very thankful for the opportunity to be studying this language. Until now, I have been studying independently using an online course which I have recently completed. Next week I will begin a 3 month course at a language school here in Montreal. I will be attending classes full time, 5 days a week. I am excited about this opportunity and praying that God will also allow me to be a testimony to the other students that I will study with. Many of the students in this school come from other countries around the world, and I know that by God's design, this classroom can become a great mission field.

In the past 4 months I haven't written many updates on what I was doing, but I have felt very dependent upon the prayers of my family in Christ. In the months to come I hope that God will continue to lay it on people's hearts to pray for me and for the opportunities to minister that God will give me. I want to share some of those opportunities and answers to prayer through this blog because I am excited about what God is going to accomplish in 2012, and I want to give Him all the glory!

À Dieu soit la gloire|