If my third week here was a baked potato. . .

It is now the beginning of my fourth week in Marseille, and I can honestly say that I am content here where God has me. As you can read from my previous posts, my first two weeks here were . . normal for anyone who doesn't care for pest control and is immune to loneliness and homesickness. My third week (this past week) here was a major turn around. I wouldn't go so far as to say that this was a major turning point in history like the industrial revolution or the invention of coasters but this past week was a close second.

If my third week here was a baked potato. . from potato shack, it wouldn't be the simple kind with only cheese and bacon bits or the half order, but it would be the intensely loaded full-sized potato blessed with chicken chunks and bbq sauce (feel free to FedEx me a potato). So much has happened this week that I feel it would be a bit much for one post on its own, but I'm going to hit the highs of it all and invite you to ask questions about any or all of it if you would like to know more!

Work has been going well; not because of the work that i am doing but because of the people that i work with! Paulette is my co-worker and is someone who has blessed me so much with her dry sense of humor and encouragement. She kind of craazy-- but in a wonderful way that leads to me find myself frequently in her office just talking about life and work and herman, her stuffed pet hamster (or something) that sits on her desk. I actually began my third week crying in her office Monday morning. Not the dainty tears that softly trickle down your face, but the heaving kind with the staccato inhales that usually happen in triplets. It was truly a good cry. That night I came home, ate dinner, prayed, and went to bed early. Since then, I've been given this indescribable peace and contentment that I am praising God for!

The rest of the week went by like those scooters that zip by me every day, and the days were full of love, great conversations, and grace.

On Tuesday, Marie-Christine who works in the consular section, unexpectedly came to my office in the morning and gave me a huge bottle of water as a gift. She said that this water has Mg in it and is good for women; she said she got it for me because she knows how much I have to go through to get groceries here. We planned to go get lunch together soon.

On Thursday, lots of things happened, but what I want to share is that I met Allen Palermo's French twin. I really hope someone from Living Hope reads this. This man could've been born on the same day and year as Allen and got sent to France upon birth. He seriously was about the same height, had a similar hair color and cut, had similar mannerisms even down to his sense of humor!. . but in French. He is the president of this distinguished association who had their meeting at our consulate and he led the meeting, which is how I picked up on his sense of humor, etc.

On Friday, while i was running some errands on the second floor, Josette said that she had brought enough lunch for two, and that she wanted to share it with me. She has already been so hospitable inviting me over to her home for Sunday brunch, and it was so sweet for her to even think to share her meal with me (which, btw, she is an amazing cook so anything she makes is very delightful). Considering that this is an unpaid internship, I was very thankful to be able to save my coins for lunch this week.

Saturday was the day that I had an opportunity to go to a potluck and fellowship with other "young adults" and youth at my church here. It was so much fun even though there were times when I zoned out because everyone was talking so fast, in French. We ate Mexican food, mmm, which is very rare to find here, prayed, and did a bible study/life application discussion after the fellowship part. It was like comm group! Sara, one of the girls there, drove me home after because we were there past midnight.

Sunday, I went to church and stayed there until 3 PM to practice for the resurrection day dance. It was so much fun! It was so nice to be able to greet people by name after having gotten to know some of them the evening before. I am looking forward to building these relationships and doing life with other Christians while I am here. I also met the worship leader, Patrick, and he allowed me to play on one of the guitars after service. After practice, Sara offered to drive me home again. It was nice not having to take two different buses home in the rain.

I miss you all, and I am praying for you. I ask for your prayers as well. Specifically, God has put going to Haiti on my heart, and after receiving permission from my mom, I am in the process of preparing support letters to send out. There are quite a few challenges with this spiritually, logistically, and financially since I am volunteering abroad, but I pray knowing that God has got this worked out already and ask for your prayers as well.

It has been a pure joy getting to skype in to Shepherd 2 class and prayer class this past week. I felt nourished, renewed, and encouraged being able to be in touch with my living hope family. Praise God for this that with this renewed enthusiasm I may go back out day-by-day during my time here and live out my faith, pray for souls, and glorify God as I encounter the people in my sphere of influence here. I pray for salvation for each of these people and opportunities to share the gospel.

To God be all the glory!

It is now the end of week 2 here in Marseille, and I am beginning to feel more settled here. More familiarity with certain areas, and less paranoia about someone ripping my bag off of my shoulder every time I hear a motorcycle or scooter zipping by. I'm sure you, too, are relieved that I am probably perceived to be more at peace when walking around here rather than someone who has had too much coffee and has to go to the restroom. How dumb to fear anything other than God, anyhow? So what if someone takes my bag? It's just stuff; plus, my passport would be at home, so I would still be able to return to the U.S.

Today, was another day full of grace. Buckets and buckets of grace, God's grace. I went to the same church i went to last week, and it was good. I praise God for Ayshka, who helped me out a lot today. She is the intern at the church, and she is from the UK. She speaks english, french, and italian, and she will be here for her internship with the church until the end of June. What a blessing that God placed her and I here at the same time. She translated some things that I didn't understand, and we exchanged contact information.

After service the "young adultes" had a short meeting to discuss things that are coming up. Next weekend the girls are having a "girls day" and the guys on their own, and for dinner we are all getting together for a potluck at the pastor's house. Some (including myself) are participating in Resurrection Day celebration in Toulouse (another city in the south of France) one weekend in April. I am super pumped about this because what we do is learn a choreographed "dance" routine, more like a workout routine, meet with other French people in front of the capital building in Toulouse, and basically do a demonstration for the rest of the world as all Christians in the south of France come together to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Over 200 people have already registered, and I am looking forward to this-- i've never experienced anything like it before! We will probably take the church bus to get there and back, and stay overnight at a church there. This demonstration (for all ages) began in Hungary, and here is a link to see what it will be like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5dSIL358NM&feature=player_embedded

Work is going. I am beginning to identify what things I enjoy doing and what I don't. Through it all, I am learning discipline and humility, so praise God for that! Those two words have loaded explanations in terms of how I am learning each one here, but feel free to ask!

I also took a day trip to the town Cassis yesterday with some new American friends that I made here. They are all students in a study abroad program in Marseille until the end of May. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of walking! We walked 7 or more km just in the walk from the train station to the center of the city and back at the end of the day. Yes, I am a bit sore today, but it's a good kind of sore!

The sun is shining and the rain has gone away for now in Marseille! A few days ago I was able to take a run along the mediterranean in such beautiful weather. I look forward to more of this weather!

I miss you all.

Love,

Grace

Ants almost in my pants!

Sunday morning, I'd missed my alarm, but have no fear! An ant crawling on my arm woke me up instead so that I wouldn't miss church. There were many many ants in my sheets with me, but it was bizarre how there were zero ants on top of my covers, just inside. Other than the one that touched my arm, no other ant was on me; they were all just crawling around me-- crazy. Nonetheless, I did panic. I bolted out of the bed, changed clothes, shook my limbs all about (kind of like in the hokey pokey but exponentially more intense-- it only takes a hundred ants in bed for one to discover that level of intensity i suppose), and then called around to find a solution.

I could've stayed home to deal with the problem more in depth, but missing church was not an option. Not trying to be legalistic; I just wanted to go and worship my Father in Heaven with other believers to honor Him and because I love my God and know He would be pleased. So I left to go to church, but since I'd never been there before and it was windy and rainy. . it took stopping 3 different people for directions, one metro ride, two bus rides, and a little jogging before I found myself at the church. The church is actually called "protestant church peace today" (translated). It was very different, and I just so happened to come on the Sunday where all of the youth, children, etc. groups each led a few songs for worshipping through song. People were allowed to wave around flags during the music part, but of course in the back where it wouldn't be a distraction. I hadn't seen waving flags since I was in my high school marching band, and the colorguard people would prance around with flags and guns. Nonetheless, the service was great. Everything was in French, but I understood most of it! Praise God!

Afterwards, I met with Elizabeth (new friend) who led us to Josette's house for lunch. Josette had a friend in town, and the neighbor's child, Eva, was also there. The five of us had lunch, and oh my goodness, Josette is a wonderful cook! I was overwhelmed by the fact that this lunch was five courses. First, we had pita crackers, tomato basil spread, guacamole with no seasoning (so blended avocado spread), cheese spread. Next, we had salmon with a cheesy cauliflower casserole as a side (it had this special sauce that was amazing), then, we had a salad, and finally, we had such an amazing dessert!! Just imagine the molten chocolate cake at chilis (w/o the icecream on top) this with a half of a pear with this sauce (that i could taste some alcohol in), but so good!

I went home Sunday, moved some of my stuff, and relaxed for the evening.

Today was Monday, and I went to work as usual. Didn't have as much work to do today. It was rainy and cloudy, and according to weather.com it will be this way until Thursday morning. I hope it goes away soon!

Oh and just earlier i found ants in the kitchen of the house i'm staying in for the time being until my apt. is fixed (aka ants are all gone). I am convinced that the ants are just following me-- not to be dramatic or anything ;)

I was frustrated about the ants. The day before I found the ants in my bed, I had seen two ants on the floor and prayed about them that night. The next morning there were hundreds in my bed. So I was frustrated. I didn't understand what was going on. I thought to myself "Have I not repented of something?" "Is the Lord angry with me like he sent the plagues to the Egyptians and even allowed Israelites to die for idolatry/disobedience/etc. in Exodus?" "I know the Lord didn't bring ants, but why did He allow them to come into my bed like that?"

BUT then I began to think:

-I am not an Egyptian in Exodus (non-believer)

-I am not the same as the Israelites in Exodus because though they were the Lord's people, they had the veil/curtain in the tabernacle God had them build and in their relationship with God. Whereas, I am a Lord's person, but I am now also God's daughter who he loves. Because Jesus came and shed blood on the cross for my sins, there is no veil/curtain. It has been torn, I have been reconciled to God and been made righteous in His eyes because of my faith in Jesus, and I can now call God "Abba".

- I cannot repent more or less, do any work, etc. in order for God to love me more or less. God's love is extravagant. And love doesn't mean "good things only", it also means suffering, trials, and discipline.

- He says that he will not leave us nor forsake us.

After one day, I realized that I was asking the wrong questions. Instead of asking "why is this happening", I should be asking "How can I glorify God in this situation?". And I say this all the time, but when I was put into a situation to live out what I say (which is that I should ask how and not why), I forgot that which I used to say to myself and even tell other people. Bottom line is that it doesn't matter why or how the ant situation happened. It really is true that we really don't know what can happen tomorrow or the next day. Bottom line is being joyful, praying, and giving thanks in whatever circumstance. Living a life that is worthy of the gospel no matter what happens. So if the ants come again, so be it; i'll just wash them off. Creepy and disgusting ants will not keep me from praising my God. I say all of these things sincerely from my heart. Y'all stand by me though, watch me, and keep me accountable as I report to y'all how I act in whatever may come my way in the next nine weeks here.

My internet may be limited after tomorrow, so I don't know how much more often I will post. I will keep y'all posted. Everyone have a wonderful day! God is good. All the time. All the time. God is good. (like they would say in Malawi) :)

Love,

Grace

So we meet again. . wireless internet

Bonjour tout le monde!

How is everyone doing?!? Moi, I am better than I've been doing during the first couple of days here. I have wireless internet connection this weekend, but it is still up in the air whether I will have it after Sunday, just fyi.

My first week here has been very routine. I am now taking the bus to and fro work, and i've found that if i don't catch the super early bus to get me to work super early-- it will take me 30 minutes instead of 12 minutes or i will be late or both.

The first couple of nights I woke up around 2 AM and wasn't able to go back to sleep (due to jet lag), so i'd stay up all night and then go to work at 8 AM. Tues and Wed. I really almost passed out at my desk after lunch because of this lack of sleep, so on those days I would have to take my heels off, assume a plank position, and do 20 push ups under my desk to wake myself up-- in sets of 10 of course :) I am now sleeping during the night. Praise God!

The work has been great! Yesterday, was Friday, and I'd been dressing up business professional just without the suit jacket, but for some reason on Friday i decided to be a little more casual and wear a sweater dress and my snow boots because my calves were sore from wearing heels all week. I got to work around 9 AM, began finishing up some articles, and at 10:15 AM, one of my co-workers at the consulate came in and said "Grace, let's go, get in the van!". . I was thinking. . . [why is she telling me to get in a van?]. . . , but i threw my jacket on, grabbed my stuff and briskly walked out to this van where four other ladies that work at the consulate were waiting. We jumped into the van and Plamen (our driver) drove us to a little town outside of Marseille, Cassis. IT WAS BEAUTFUL! Like what you would see "little french towns" to be in the movies! So vibrant, quaint, and relaxing!

Turns out that our acting consul Richards, was receiving a medal from the mayor of Cassis that morning, so we took the morning off to go and surprise him by being there for this honor. We went into one of the houses there where they'd set up hors-d'oeuvres, wine and other drinks, and some chairs. There was the cutest and most exciting market right outside that I am determined to go back and visit during my spare time one weekend in April (i'll take more Pics of the town of Cassis then). Anyways, because i didn't know about this "surprise" trip to Cassis, I was not dressed appropriately! Everyone was in their best suit, and even women were dressed in suit jackets and heels even with dresses on. They awarded Philip with the medal and then everyone began to mingle. Most everyone seemed to know each other. Most were French and some Americans. If y'all know me, and know how awkward I can be even around my closest friends, just imagine what this social gathering/cocktail situation would've been like for me. Yes, I mostly stood by the table with the food-- the shrimp was delish. and since i don't drink, i had two glasses of orange juice. I did get to meet Doug, who works in the NCIS dept. of our consulate, and the directors of the camargo foundation founded by an American and based out of this town, Cassis; one of them def. flashed the longhorn symbol with his hand when i said i was from TX. Unfortunately, I didn't hiss like I normally don't, and he knew I was an Aggie by the end of our conversation. I also met the lawyer of the foundation, Ron, and he was just delightful.

We got back around 1 PM, and i worked in my office for the rest of the day. After work, I went with Josette, public affairs, to her house and met the study abroad student, who is staying at Josette's house. Elizabeth and her friend from CSU, who was visiting (Alexandre), were awesome. I spent Friday night going around the town with them and 5 other people from their program. After dinner, I caught my bus, missed my stop, found a taxi, and came home.

I've been lonely and almost depressed being alone here. I am the only intern, which means everyone else that i work with are definitely a lot older than me and most have their own families. And other than my boss, the consul, there are no other Americans. However, after much prayer and "me time", God has been providing opportunities to meet friends like last night! Praise God! I also found a baptist church! I will be going to service on Sunday and am SO excited to find fellowship and a time to worship with other believers.

My prayer request would be to find fellowship. To be protected from spiritual attacks in terms of fear of anything other than God. I am finding that it takes a lot more courage to explore and venture out into the city all alone. Praying for this courage to get out and explore. Pray for humility and courage (again) to try to speak french more confidently-- how can we get better at a language if we don't try and make mistakes, right? Pride has definitely got in the way this week.

Praise God for boldness. At dinner with all those new friends last night, it was obvious that most seemed to either not believe or they are not living out their faith considering talk about going out to do certain activities. Knowing this, when they asked me what I was doing this weekend, I, Grace Hojin Hwang, in my flesh, confess to you right now that I did not want to talk about how excited I was to go to this church service on Sunday because I was afraid of rejection (considering how lonely i'd been all week); nonetheless, by God's grace, I talked about church! and I talked about LHBCB and the ministries that God is at work in! and I shared my faith as God also allowed me to bring up Malawi!

I don't know if i'll see them again, but Praise God for boldness and for an unwavering faith in this situation. Our faith isn't a one time "done deal" type of thing. Living it out requires us to put on the armor of God DAILY. Choose to follow God in every situation, in every second of every decision of every day. It is a battle that we must fight 24/7. And fighting means that we are not idle, sitting back just going with the flow of this world, finding pleasure for ourselves in whatever, making choices to feel good and do what we want. Fighting means seeking and pursuing the Lord every day, it means us stopping and not thinking about ourselves for once, for just one minute (and for the next minute and so on) and setting our eyes on Him, that we may be equipped every second of every day to choose Him, follow Him, and be used for His Kingdom and glory here on Earth. And yes, we are all going to mess up, but there is grace. By actively and sincerely pursuing God every day, He allows us to see through His eyes more and more in different and even the same type of situations that come into our lives and gives us the power to say no to ungodliness, to kick away sin that we maybe used to have more than less trouble kicking away as we are refined into being more like Christ in this process called sanctification. God is so good, and the Holy Spirit definitely didn't let me in my flesh and desire for acceptance not be true to who God his molding me to be in Christ! To God be all the glory!

Jess- I miss you too, and i, too, wish that that was me in the car that you saw! Feel free to fill me in on what's going on with you! I want to know how you're doing!

Sarah- It is truly weird having a room, an apt., to myself! I wish you were here or i was there still. It's ok though because God has a plan, and I will definitely see you at your wedding/house in 9 weeks!!! I love you and want to know how you're doing as well!!

I am praying for you all. Friends, family (including my church family), and all brothers and sisters in Christ. It brings me joy and encouragement to know that we share in this inheritance, and God is bringing y'all up as I pray and keep myself updated on the City and email. Thanks be to God for you all, and I cannot wait to see you all again soon!

Love,

Grace

Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever."

First Update from France

Howdy all!

I am in Marseille, France, and honestly, i am just trying to get settled. There is no wireless internet signal that will reach my apartment, so as of right now we are working on a solution to try to get me a signal. I am hoping we can get the connectivity going soon in order to be able to research some of the things that we are working on at the consulate during my spare time, but also to skype and keep in touch with all of you that are at home :)

I will be taking a bus to and fro the consulate general, and tomorrow is the first day that i will get a chance to figure that out. Still no phone or bus pass, but everything is just taking some time to get going. Today, Plamen picked me up from my apartment and took me to work, and I met everyone, who works at the consulate general. I was disappointed because i didn't really get to do any work today, but I am excited about helping Sandrine with a project tomorrow! I know, I am weird, but it seriously stresses me out sometimes when there is nothing to work on or be busy with. God has been working on me on this, so this past semester and year, i've been able to be more flexible for Him to really move in and through me. I am praying that He be glorified here in Marseille, and reach the hearts of those that I have and will encounter. Hopefully, this will include some exciting projects to work on!

The flights over here were, to be optimistic, quite interesting-- I've never had such an experience on any flight. Well, this is only my third time on an international flight, but oooooo girl (or guy) let me tell you! On my first flight, which was 9 hours long, I did not sleep. There was a man sitting in the row behind me and one chair over, who became severely intoxicated and began to (a) smell like alcohol that my nose could detect from my seat without any effort of my own and (b) be aggressive in the way he acted and talked to the flight attendants. He actually got into more than one yelling argument right above my head, and this went on for the "lights out, sleeping" part of the flight. At one point I just began to pray that God would save souls on this plane because I thought this man may attack people, and maybe the captain who said he could purchase no more alcohol. He fell asleep for a little while later on the flight, and that's when the two boys, 10 and 7 years maybe, who were sitting next to me began to play a game without the sounds muted. They were going to the grandparents in the UK, and unaccompanied by their parents. They were moved to other seats near the front, so that they could exit first, which gave me an entire row all to myself. I laid down to get some sleep, and then they turned all of the lights on and began to serve breakfast. Mmmmm breakfast, but at that point i just wanted to lay on my muffin and sleep.

I am having to catch a wireless signal outside to post this and am getting very cold. The weather here is about 50-60 degrees F and maybe colder than that at night. Not too shabby, but still a little colder than I would prefer. The view, however, is amazing! Praise God for His creation! Pictures to come soon. Thank you for your comments, and feel free to keep them coming! I praise God for all of you and the encouragement you are to me. I hope that I will be able to encourage you and serve you in some way through these posts. I love and miss you all!

Grace

I'm leaving on a jet plane. . in T-4 DAYS!

Ready or not, Marseille here I come! I cannot even begin to explain the emotions that are running around in my heart and mind right now about spending the next 10-weeks of life in Marseille, France. If i had to choose three words to describe my heart at the moment, they would be excited, anxious, super-pumped (i'm just gonna make this one word). I cannot predict what is to come in the next 10-weeks much like the weather in CS, and this is exciting in an adventurous kind of way but also nerve-wrecking! I've memorized Philippians 4:4-9 this week, and plan on repeating this to myself as I fly to France and when I arrive there.

(Paul writes)

"Rejoice in the Lord always, i will say it again, rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is righteous, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. What you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

I look forward to updating y'all as I live in Marseille for the next 10-weeks. Feel free to comment and update me on what is going in your life because I'd love to hear about what you may be going through! I will miss everyone dearly and am praying for each of you.

Love,

Grace