Language School

Right now, we are sitting in a hotel near the Charles De Gaulle Airport.  Our flight back home leaves in the morning.  I am amazed that we are here.  In someways, the last 2 months have gone by quickly; yet at other times, the moments away from our children were unbearable.

What comes to mind is the grace of God that allowed us to make through this challenging time.  What a display of the expression that "the will of God will not take you where the grace of God can not keep you". It has only been by His help that we were able to do this!

So what have we done for the last eight weeks here in language school?  Well, it is kind of hard to explain.  We had classes 4 days a week that covered vocabulary, grammar, conjugation and phonetics, written and oral expression and oral/writen comprehension.   We also had classes on Biblical French where we learned the books of the Bible in French, the names of God in French, learned how to pray in French and learned French songs. Now, were are not fluent in French....that takes years!  But we have learned so much and will continue to work with a tutor once we get to Togo to help us continue to learn.

Some days were completely overwhelming.  Other days were completely humbling.  But through it all we learned to rely on the Lord!

Today we said goodbye to some amazing people.  They are all here to learn French so that they can serve the Lord in missions.  While we know we will never see some of them again here on Earth, we know that they will go on to do great things for the Lord.  And one day, in Heaven we will all see each other again.....and not have to worry about French!!

John and his brother from another mother, Sweny from Iceland.  He and his wife Anita (from Norway) and their 2 beautiful children are going Mali, West Africa

John and some of his class mates.  His teacher Valerie (on the far right in the green sweater) was born in Benin and lived in Togo for a while.

Me and sweet Agaate, from the Netherlands.  She also is a nurse and is headed to Guinea West Africa.

My wonderful class!!  My professor, Regine (right of me in the teal sweater) was absolutely wonderful.  Somehow, she made learning French fun!  She served as a missionary in Madagascar for over 20 years and has such a love for the Lord.

I hated to say goodbye to these wonderful people, but I am so very excited to see 3 special little people tomorrow!

My Little Man is 3

I have alot of mixed emotions today. Three years ago today, the Lord blessed me and John with a beautiful baby boy. We had not found out the gender, so when the doctor said "It's a BOY!!" we were thrilled. Of course, we would have loved a third girl (and I actually thought it was going to be a girl!) but the addition of a little boy to the family was so special.

Today, we are not together. It hurts my heart to be away from him on his birthday, but I keep telling myself that this is where God wants us right now. Earlier, I was feeling a little blue so I decided to look back at some pictures of Aiden from the last 3 years. Instead of being sad for this one day that we are apart, I am thanking God for all the other amazing moments we have shared together.

John Aiden- 9lbs 1oz.  October 22, 2009

It is still hard to believe I have a son!

Sweet cheeks- 1 week old

Eliza & Olivia were instantly in love!

Sweet laughs!

Baby Jesus in the church Christmas program.  Aiden was 6 weeks old.

 1st Christmas was spent in the hospital with severe RSV.  We went home 12/26.

Easter 2010

4 Generations of Groeneveld men.  Aiden is the only great grandson so far to carry on the name.

The girls checking on Aiden first thing in the morning.

Fall 2010

Aiden turns 1!!!

Thanksgiving 2010

Christmas 2010

Disney World January 2011

Such a little man.  Spring 2011

July 4th, 2011

Aiden turns 2, October 22 2011

Thanksgiving 2011---my 3 turkeys!

Aiden loves collecting and grouping things together

Aiden and his best bud- his Daddy

Beach Trip May 2012

Summer fun at the splash pad- 2012

Rotten thing!! 

Pickle Festival 2012

Loving life at Grandma & Grandpa's, 2012

The only grandson on John's side of the family.  And another neice is due in a few months!

Always doing something outside!

We are so thankful the Lord gave us this little boy.  And believe me, he is ALL boy!!!  I think when we get back home there will be some un-spoiling to do after 2 months with the Grandparents & Auntie!!!

Oh Happy Day!!

Saturday was a big day!   It was our half way point!  We have been here 4 weeks!

Today, I got to take down September.....

...and put up October!!!

The people in the apartment below us might have heard me do a little happy dance as I changed the calendar! I can hardly wait to get my hands on these 3 little people...

We have learned alot, but still have so much still to learn. While it is a little daunting to still have 4 weeks ahead, we are trusting the Lord for grace for each day and each hurdle was must jump as we learn French. It has been incredibly humbling and frustrating, but it has given us a new sense of dependence upon the Lord!

He will hold my hand

It creeps up slowly, hardly noticeable at first.

It begins as a second thought, then it grows into doubt, worry, anxiety.  Then it hits you full force, right in the face.  FEAR.

Fear.  It is something I struggle with.  Somedays more than others, but it seems to always be there, just under the surface, waiting to rear its ugly head at the first possible chance.  It attacks at random, unsuspected moments.  It comes in your dreams. It robs you of spiritual victory.  It hides itself and then shows up at your most vunerable times.

And so it happened to me again. 

While John and I were rejoicing about finally getting our tickets for Togo (we were so thankful for the great price the Lord provided) I went to bed that night and it began.

 I laid there for what seemed like  hours talking with God.

 Asking Him again,  "Are you sure we are the family you want to send to Togo?  Don't forgot God, that IS in Africa.  Far away Africa.....hot Africa......Africa without WalMart....Africa with huts and Typhoid......Africa with malaria and mambas......Africa.  Really God?  Are you sure you weren't talking to someone else?  Maybe we didn't have a good connection.  John's not a preacher.  I'm just a mommy.  We are no one special.  Don't forget God, we do have 3 kids.  You really want us to pack them up and take them all the way to Africa?  What if they get sick?  What if a snake gets in the house?  What if Aiden picks up a scorpion and sticks it in his pocket?  What if they get some weird parasite?  Really God......are you sure you want US, the Groenevelds, to go to Africa? Are you sure you have the right people?  I am scared.  I don't think I can do this."

And then, in the quiet stillness of the night,

He whispers to me, "I am there".

There...... with me as tears fall down my cheeks onto the pillow as fear plagues me.

There...... as my mind wanders, again asking God, "Are you sure?"

There....as my heart races with fear for my children.

There....as fears threaten to take my breath away.

There.  He is there.  He will be with us in Africa.....with the parasites.....with the mambas....with my sweet children.  There is no better place for them than in the center of His will for our family....even if that means in Africa.  So as fear plagues my heart, I remind myself of these promises:

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee: yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Is 41:10

For the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not: I will help thee. Is 41:13

Did you catch that?? God said He will hold my hand!

So as we venture further into the fearful, what better assurance do I need to calm my fears than knowing that God,

the God of all the universe,

the God who placed each star in the sky,

the God who watched over sweet baby Moses,

the God of Abraham & Isaac,

the God who was with Daniel in the lions den,

the God who took on human flesh,

the God that knew me before I was formed,

the God that knows the number of hairs on Eliza, Olivia, and Aiden's head,

the God that promised to go with me

....will be holding my hand!!

We saw it!!!!

Yesterday we had an outing.  One of our professors took a group of us students to explain how to use the train system in France.  It is essential to know how to get around on the trains with the very intricate system.  So she took us to the train station and took us into Paris!!!  Then we went on a little boat tour with her and the other students.

After the boat tour, we had the option to stay in Paris or go back to the school.  Since it was the first time we have been anywhere(other than the grocery store and church) since we arrived, we decided to stay and look around.  We walked around the city for a while and made our way to.....

 

......the Eiffel Tower!!!!

 

It was actually getting a little late when we got there, but we wanted to go up to see the view of Paris.

 

 

Apparently, we got in the wrong line, because we ended up WALKING up the stairs.....all 674 of them!!  Needless to say, we had to stop a few times to rest!

     This was the view from the 2 floor up.  It was quite breath taking.

This is on the very very top of the Eifel Tower.  After all the stairs, we had to take a tiny elevator that seemed to go up forever.  I kept asking John, "Aren't we to the top yet?".  When we got out at the top, it was absolutely freezing and the wind was blowing pretty hard.

After we made our way down the elevator and ALL those stairs, I was happy to be on solid ground!  I turned around and looked up, and this was our view of the tower.

But the fun didn't last long.  Today we were back in class and this was my view.....all day.  And now, John is doing his homework (for nearly 2 hours) and I am study for my test tomorrow.  But at least we have our memories of a wonderul day in Paris.

The Weekend

Nothing too exciting happened this weekend. 

Laundry was on the top of my to do list.

The laundry room in the basement that we all have to share. 

Obviously, the settings are all in French.  I don't know if we set it wrong, but it took 2&1/2 hours just to WASH the clothes and another 1 & 1/2 to dry.  So I sat there....the whole time......and studied!

We did have a little cookout with all the other students Saturday night.  That gave me something to look forward too......the days seem so long without the kids to fill my time. 

John playing with Josiah, one of the other missionary family's little boy.

We all had to bring something to grill and a side dish.  So I figured the best "American thing" to bring to a cookout was good ole potato salad!

I wasn't sure if all the other nationalities would like it....but it was all gone so I guess it was okay!

This was a salad an Australian girl brought.  I hate to admit, I didn't try it.  I am really not adventurous when it comes to food.  Although I did try the salad that the Korean family brought and it was great!

Then today we went to church with another couple, Jeremy and Mattie, who are headed to Togo.  We hit if off with them since we have the Togo connection! 

The church was in Paris (don't worry, we didn't see the Eifel Tower) and it took a train ride and quite a bit of walking to get to it.  I understood a few words here and there from the pastor's sermon, but it was pretty difficult sitting and trying to listen so intently for 2 hours! 

There were around 60 people there and I was struck by the fact that they all have to travel so far (some travel well over an hour) to attend a fundamental Baptist church.  Such a beautiful country...but such lost people with a great need for the Gospel.


After lunch we both studied for a while.  I have a test in the morning over the first unit that my class has covered.  Alot of it is review from what I already know,  but I am still nervous about a test!  It's been 10 years since I was in a class room.  I hope I remember how to study!

This evening we were able to watch Faith, our home church's morning service.  There is a 6 hour time difference so it works out nicely that we can watch it live.  We are so thankful for our home church.

And then, the highlight of my day.......

I do not know how I would get through being apart without being able to Skpye the kids!   It has been such a blessing being able to see them and talk to them every day.  I realize that we could NOT have internet access so I just wanted to thank the LORD for such a tremendous blessing!