For the second set of sixes, I want to introduce my six most influential Parisians from the last six months.
UN: Jonathan Chapuis, man of the house. This guy’s a firecracker, a go-getter. My earliest real snapshot of Jonathan was upon my arrival at the airport. When I came out of customs, I found him in the waiting crowd, with Ionaelle on his shoulders. Peacefully, we made our way through the transit system, back to the apartment. In contrast, my second major impression of Jonathan was when he showed me the way to take Eliakim to school by bike, weaving through traffic and somewhat ignoring lights! I love about Jonathan that he’s a good dad, he loves his wife well, he works really hard but trusts God with his finances, and he thinks and works through issues regarding the Church.
DEUX: Amélie Chapuis, lady of the castle, mother of the children, and bombshell. This chick takes amazing care of her children—and by that I mean that she is available to them, physically and emotionally. One of my favorite things is to see her enter into the imaginary with the kids, especially if puppets are involved! All kinds of funny jokes and animal noises come out of her mouth. But what’s great is that Amélie is also a warrior, not afraid to confront forces natural or spiritual, and often does this in inspiring teamwork with her husband. All of these things she does with flair; I don’t know anyone that dresses like Amélie!
TROIS: Amber Korneliussen. Along with number four (below), this woman has saved my relational life here. I love the integrity, wisdom, and utter faithfulness that this woman displays in her commitment to her work with YWAM Paris; it’s been such a pleasure to come alongside this friend to many and share the ins and outs of being single, young, American ladies in Paris. There’s a sense of joy about Amber that’s like a deep spring, and you can see it when she smiles at kids on the Metro or takes in the absurdity of the touristy Christmas market.
QUATRE: Sarah Allen, British prayer warrior. This gal, with me in the ranks of au-pairdom, has really stunned me with her commitment to the family she works for, although her situation with them has been far from easy. Where most people would have quit and not looked back, Sarah has gotten serious about praying for them and serving them from an inner position of love and faith. I have benefited not only from her ability to sympathize with the complexities of au pair life, but also from her true encouragement and belief in me. In trio with these two ladies, there is a sweet togetherness but also a powerful co-laboring of the French terrain and a deep encouragement to take hold of our dreams here.
CINQ: Brendan Stater-West, future winemaker and current co-laborer in things of the earth. For two months, we’ve been hunkered into a dim corner of a coffee shop on the Seine, getting riled up and dorky over things like vermicomposting. Thanks in part to Brendan’s manly powers of initiation, faith, and support, we’ve successfully launched three wormy composts in apartments around the city and a vegetable garden at the bottom of his and his wife’s building. I am incredibly grateful for the good gift this guy is to me, not just because he’s someone who loves land, but because he’s a good man and a good friend.SIX: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, my closest friend and deep heart companion. The one who knows me in Kansas City and in France, at birth and at 27 ½. So much of being here, these last months, has been private, internal, and I am infinitely thankful that he has been with me. Through my new friends here and through my experiences, he has taught me many, many things, and therefore I have discovered him in many new ways. Paris is a good place to be loved on by the Lord.
Love these sixes! Helps me to know about life there where you are.
ReplyDeleteBarbara