French devotional

As this school emphasizes French language learning for missionaries, we learn Bible vocabulary in addition to the usual coursework. We also get practical experience utilizing that vocabulary. Two mornings per week, a student shares a devotional or a testimony with the school. At the beginning of the year, the professors shared, then the upper level students, and now we're beginning with my class. I was the first to share from my level on Monday and I wasn't sure I was ready to talk for 15 minutes in French! But God gives His grace for the moment and He truly did strengthen me for this task - on Monday morning, but also throughout the last few months as He's walked with me through this language learning process. It's pretty incredible to realize I couldn't even introduce myself in French 4 months ago. And of course there's still a very long ways to go, but writing, correcting, practicing, and then actually giving the devotion on Monday was an encouraging language experience and another step forward.

 I shared on the theme of (God's) strength in (our) weakness with the verses from Isaiah 40:28-31 tying in the story of my paralysis with transverse myelitis at age 10 and the story of Faith, the girl pictured below who also had transverse myelitis.

As I was paralyzed, as I sought to care for critically ill patients like Faith when there was no treatment available, and as I learn the difficult French language, I do sometimes feel like the caricature above (click on the picture to make it bigger) representing the word "s'épuiser" - to become exhausted. And many of us here in Albertville feel like that now as illnesses of various sorts have been running rampant through our community. (Community is great for lots of things, and I certainly wouldn't want to live without it, but sharing germs is not one of them! But I guess it's good that I'm still getting some pediatrician practice in here these days!) But God does renew our strength. I appreciate your prayers for all of us that the Christmas break will be a time of renewal and healing for all of us. I'm especially excited to welcome my family here for Christmas! What a joy it will be to be all together! Joyeux Noël!

Let It SNOW!!!!

Although I was born in Michigan, we moved away when I was 6 and thus I don't really remember seeing snow like we've had here the last week. It certainly doesn't snow like this in Tennessee! We've had so much fun already enjoying winter activities that will likely :) not be possible in Burundi. I learned a very important phrase in class on Friday: Ça glisse! (That's icy/slippery - relevant as I walk everywhere here - and the sidewalks and roads are definitely "glissant!") 

 We took some of the girls to an International Curling tournament. Interesting, but of course the kids were most excited about our snowy walk there and back. 

 Sarah and I with the girls at the Olympic Center (Winter Olympics in Albertville - 1992)

 On Friday more than a foot of snow fell - and it fell fast and silently quickly blanketing the world in white. I was thankful one of my classmates with a car let me ride with her to the store at lunchtime to stock up on groceries - and to buy snow boots! Now I'm ready to walk to the grocery next time. :) 

 Everyone enjoyed a snowball fight after school - the adults maybe more than the kids! 

 The sun came out today - this was the view that greeted me this morning

 View of Albertville (and castle on right) from Conflans (medieval village above Albertville)

I climbed a bit to enjoy the sunset tonight - with each step sinking almost to my knees! Good exercise! 

And I'll close with a plug for 2 beautiful, less well known, snow songs with great gospel lyrics:

"Whiter Snow" by my teammate Eric McLaughlin - click here for music and lyrics 

And "Winter Snow" by Chris Tomlin - click here

33 and 3 birthday celebrations!

I've always loved my Thanksgiving birthday (Nov. 28) - sometimes on Thanksgiving, usually during Thanksgiving weekend. Family is often together and there are lots of fun things to do for a birthday celebration this time of year. Well, my family continues to creatively bless me on my birthday from a distance as do friends around the world. And friends nearby planned THREE birthday celebrations for me this year! I definitely felt loved and celebrated!

Amazingly delicious birthday dinner (chicken cordon bleu and cherry cheesecake!) with friends who live here in the dorm with me

 Birthday lunch with the girls on my team

 Brownies (from the U.S.!) and ice cream with the team

 What an incredible blessing all these teammates are to me! Abundantly beyond anything I asked or imagined! 

 Presents! Including cherry coke, hot tamales candy, and macaroni and cheese. My favorites! :)

 And the youngest teammates keep my walls beautifully decorated

And, finally, not a birthday, but a definite celebration - we all passed our exams! And are no longer "debutant" French students. Here we are celebrating at an Indian restaurant in town. It's both encouraging to realize how far we've come and discouraging to experience how difficult it still is to have a simple conversation! But we press on - one day at a time.

Third International Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving continues to be one of my favorite holidays and I'm glad that thus far, I've always enjoyed the celebration - maybe a few days late or early (like when on call during residency or when living in countries where the fourth Thursday in November is a normal work or school day), but I've never yet missed Thanksgiving entirely. I just wrote a post for the team blog from our thanksgiving celebration in France this year: click here to see the pics, etc.

And since this is my third international Thanksgiving, I thought I'd share a couple pics from the previous Thanksgivings in Kenya:

2009 - shortly after arriving in Kenya, warmly welcomed by the Roberts family (on the left in the above picture) and by the Cropseys (Jessica in the below pic - my birthday was on the same day as our Thanksgiving celebration that year)

 2010 - just after traveling to Ethiopia and climbing Mt. Kenya with my friend Sarah from Alabama (sitting to the right of me). Through those experiences, God confirmed distinctly the long term medical missions path ahead of me with the community of the McCropder team. I celebrated the McCropders especially that Thanksgiving (as well as giving thanks for surviving the climb to 16,400 ft)!   

2011 - traditional and blessed family Thanksgiving at my parents' home in the U.S. Loved it! I certainly miss the family fun and fellowship (and football) during these far-away Thanksgivings. 

2012 - France

And 2013 - Burundi! Do they have turkey there? 

Recent Travels & Exams

It's hard to believe that we're already nearing the end of our first term of language school. But we are almost three months in and our exams start Friday and continue until Thursday, Nov 29. These exams will measure our progress thus far and hopefully demonstrate that we are ready to progress to the next level. I still need to continually remind myself why I'm learning French - to share both the Gospel and medical knowledge and care with Burundian medical students and patients. After being so accustomed to class and exams from years of schooling, I easily forget this and look for the grade instead - or worse, for the identity of good performance. But God gives grace and continues to teach me through this experience. Beginner language learning is especially good for learning humility!

One thing emphasized during our language acquisition course in Colorado was the strain learning a new language puts on the brain. They recommended getting TWO extra hours of sleep per night (hard to achieve in reality) and to take regular breaks from intensive learning to allow the brain to catch up in processing all the new information. So it works out well that we're following the French school system here and so have regular breaks scheduled. We recently returned to school from our fall break. I did do some studying during that time but also read a couple fun books in French. It was interesting to note during that time off from school that randomly French words or phrases would come to mind in the course of a day, so I think my brain was doing its processing job!

But I also benefited from rest and the joy of seeing friends and new interesting and beautiful places. Living in Europe means there are lots of possibilities for travel just a short flight or train ride away. This break I visited friends in Great Britain. It truly was an amazing vacation and I'm thankful for a very dear family member who provided the funds for this adventure and for my friends who hosted me warmly in their homes. Following are some pictures from my time:

 My first trip to London!

 I loved exploring all the history at the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and throughout the country in castles and museums. And almost all of the history reported took place before America even existed! 

 My friend Sumona (from the tropical medicine course I took in Peru) gave me a great night tour of London - including an unexpected glimpse of the Queen! 

 In Bath, I visited the Jane Austen Centre. I love the Jane Austen books, so it was interesting to learn more about her life. I also worked on reading "Pride and Prejudice" in French - definitely didn't understand all the words, but I know the story well enough that I could follow along - a fun challenge!

 Roman Baths (constructed originally in A.D. 60!!!) with the Bath Abbey behind (site of the crowning of the first king of England in A.D. 973, current building founded in A.D.1499)

 One of my favorite parts of the beautiful countryside was all the sheep

 I collected Beatrix Potter figurines as a child, so I was interested to visit the Beatrix Potter museum in Windermere - note Peter Rabbit's coat behind me

 The Lake District is gorgeous! 

 The beach in Scotland where Chariots of Fire was filmed. Eric Liddell, "When I run, I feel God's pleasure"

 Dunnottar Castle on the East coast of Scotland

 I loved getting to visit with these Wheaton College friends who live in St. Andrews, Scotland. Heather and I were actually freshman year roommates - 15 years ago! So fun to catch up! 

 Christine is another friend from the tropical medicine course and I enjoyed getting to spend time with her exploring the sites of her home town - Edinburgh, Scotland. 

 In the dungeon of Edinburgh castle - this is actually where they kept the American prisoners of war during our War of Independence - pretty interesting to read about our Revolutionary War from the other side! And there was a small sketch of one of the early versions of the American flag on a door there. 

 "Arthur's Seat" - hills above the city of Edinburgh

 Afternoon tea with friends - I love this British tradition - especially the scones! 

Vacation is fun and a good break, but coming back to such an adorable welcoming committee is even better! Love these kids!