Normal life

So here it is...normal life. Back to reality where there's this sense of mondane scheduling and a huge to do list. I got a job this week....Office Depot, working evenings 5-10 probably 20 hours a week. Not bad. I might cut back though. I want to have a social life to and just kinda get to know my friends for real this semester. I think I'm going to talk to my new manager about letting me have a friday/saturday night off once a week so that I can do this kids thing. I really want to make a difference in the community and an impact for God. I'm really excited for classes to start on Monday. Two French classes, international relations class, human geo, and macro...sounds like it's goin to be an interesting semester. I've been having amazing quiet times. God has been so gracious, but satan has been relentless in his attacks against me. I really need to get that group together to start praying and maybe we will get stronger against his attacks, but I am certain that he will only up the stakes. Especially if we are praying for the people that he owns right now. The lost on campus are one of my focuses this semester. Along with finding my group of girls. I really liked just hanging out with girls this summer and I've been longing for that relationship in the weeks I've been home. I think I want to be done telling the stories about Paris and just use what I've learned. I think I'm looking back at it too much...well here's to the next 15/16 weeks of classes. Pray for my roommate. She's a great friend and needs to find Jesus' love again.

One step closer...

My bible study was amazing this morning. I am greatly blessed by our Lord and Savoir. I've spent this apparently dreary morning watching a sad movie... Steel Magnolias followed by listening to Mercy Me and diving into my Experiencing the Heart of Jesus Bible study. Today was a look toward heaven that sent my heart to dancing. How can the thought of being one step closer to seeing Glory face to face. Will I be speechless? Or will I sing praises to the King? I will not shead a tear, for tears will be no more!! There will be no sadness, no mourning, no "good days" and "bad days." We will all be made new and be in the presence of our creator.
Here are a few verses to check out, hopefully they will encourage you as they did me.
Hebrews 12:2 Revalations 22:12 Habakkuk 3:17-18. Well those are just a few...but I pray God blesses you today.

Preparation

I'm spending a lot of time in the word and in prayer because I have nothing else to do. Perhaps I should go out and try and meet people and start building relationships with people who don't know Christ. I'll continue to pray and let God lead me. Hope all is well.

Moved in

Hey... So I have been back for almost a week now. On Wednesday I woke up at 3:30 am. It was glorious. I wash washing clothes by 5am. I went shopping with my mom to look for a comforter and ended up buying one from Kohls, it's jean/khaki. I like it a lot. I got my hair cut and then I moved up to Greeley. Got my bed in order, made the futon in the living room, and got some of my clothes put away. Thursday I went and bought groceries and job hunting...it sucked. I did like 6 applications. Then my breaks weren't really working, so my dad ended up putting some in my car. I came back had a hamburger on a nicely lit charcoal grill. It was very tasty. Friday I did some more unpacking...putting things in place...or just somewhere for the time being. My mom called and said that she got a job so I packed up some clothes and headed down to Denver. The only catch was, my breaks weren't really working again, and the light was on. Hmmm. I drove 65 miles with breaks that bearly work. It was kinda sketchy, but I did stop to buy some okra and cantelope. I was way excited. My family and I ate at Stewart Anderson's, which was very good. Friday night I just kinda hung out at the house with the family. Saturday I got up early again, but this time due to my loud barking dogs...my mom and I started looking on craigslist for a dresser and we ended up finding a garage sale, and worked our way over there...it's amazing. I painted it and all that. I did some more hanging out at the house and just relaxing. Sunday I went to church in English...wow it's wonderful to hear God's word in your own language. French is good, but I don't understand it much, so kinda difficult. I had lunch with Janell, a friend from elementary school. That was a lot of fun. We talked for a bit and then I left to go show my pictures to the other college students from church. I hung out with Britta, ate some Thai food and had some starbucks. This morning I got a call for an interview at Office Depot, so I packed up, got to greeley unloaded some stuff with the help of Jordan, and then went to the interview. I had to go do a drug test, and I totally couldn't do it. I duno what my deal was, but finally I got it and it worked out. My room is almost together minus a few things and it's quite nice to finally just be able to relax in my room. Next task is the kitchen and living room....not looking forward to it. Watch out for pics of my new place...new look and random Greeley living.

These are all my wonderful friends...Praise God!!!

Last Day

Today was my last day in Paris. I have some days inbetween travelling, but those don't really count. I slept, watched the rain, and hung out and read. Then we left to have a going away party, and it was a lot of fun. It was supposed to be a surprise, but we knew...but it was my first surprise party. I love the people here, so I will surely miss then. I have great pictures and would love to share them with anyone who hasn't seem them. Lots of stories as well. Be back in a week and a day. Looking forward to it, but it's hard to say goodbye.

new pics

hey..i added some new photos from a boat cruise we took and some of mani...you all should check them out.

MOUNTAINS!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh how I miss the mountains dearly and God knew it and he allowed me to come to dear Switzerland. I am so greatful. The view is amazing. There's the lake and then mountains all around...wonderful. Work, however, is hard. We are doing surveys and it is hard to stand outside all afternoon and only get a few people to actually do surveys. Thursday was wonderful we each made contacts and hopefully we will have meetings with them next week. Last week we had six girls living in our apartment, but one went back home this weekend...wow, so now five in the same small apartment. It's like a slumber party for a whole month. Almost dorm life, but not quite because I have my own room and I don't have to share the bathroom with as many people. I have been reading two books this week. Jesus the One and Only and Captivating wonderful books that are soothing to my soul. When I get back to the states there is so much that I must tell. One month minus a day until I am home. That is exciting and sad all the same. For the last week I might be going to Strasbourg, France to meet up with an International Student. I am really excited to be able to talk to her and get to know her in her own culture. This week we will be on the street Tuesday-Friday/Saturday for surveys and we might have visits as well. Be in prayer for us, so that we might not be discouraged. I added some photos that Marie took in her garden...it's really pretty, you might want to steal them for your computer's background. God bless...Rachelle

Latest...

Since I've been here I've read a number of books. This week I finished The Five Love Languages for Singles and Sacred Romance. They are wonderful...highly reccomended. I need to find something else to read, but I'm afraid with the OM girls moving in on Tuesday there won't be too much time to read. There will be 6 of us in our little apartment, crazy, however, Judith leaves on July 12 to go back to Germany. I will be gone this up coming weekend to Switzerland and then two weekends later Melanie will go to London. Anyway that's just the little update for what's coming up in the future. I have about 5 weeks left. Still not sure what I'll be doing the first week of August. I find out soon who my International Ambasador partner will be in two weeks so maybe I can go visit that person, whomever they will be.

Some thoughts while I have time

Well I'm serving God but it doesn't seem like I am doing much. I meet people here and there, but they aren't really interested in hearing anything that we have to say. We hand out stuff so maybe someone will watch it or read it, I hope they do. I'm halfway done and it still feels like I've just started. I'm halfway across the world with people I bearly know, but if I were home I'd be surrounded by people I know, yet wouldn't have time for. It's interesting how being further separated from the things that I held onto so dearly begin to fade. It talks about seasons and how life changes so quickly and so often depending on where we are and what we are doing...I've realized that in the past year. The friends I had in high school are really just a glimpse of the past now, but I'm excited about my new friends. The friends that I'm excited to get emails from...the ones I'm excited to see when I get back...but even then part of me will still be here. In 6 weeks I've met some amazing people here. People whose hearts' are for the lord...It's amazing. I love spending one on one time with the girls who have so much to offer and they don't realize what they are giving me...I ask them questions prodding into their lives learning why and how they got here and what God has on their hearts...its fun. I had lunch with one yesterday and we hung out for a few hours alone on wednesday..it was great. Then when the group met up with us it started to rain..only it was more like a mist and it continued the rest of the night. We went down to the latin quarter and there was some great music and a lot of people. I spent almost an hour in mcdonalds trying to buy a coke in order to go to the bathroom... as the french say...oh la la. My pants were already a little wet so I started puddle jumping as we were strolling for the Effiel tower.. its quite beautiful when it sparkles.. The friends I am with here are so full of life..not that the others aren't but it's a different kind of life...we all have the same passion, our hearts beat with the same rhythm..its a new thing for me. It's going to be hard to leave..but a relief to be home...I'm not sure.

In the midst of it all

Lately it's been fun. Doing stuff here doing stuff there. Nothing too exciting has happened since last monday and the toilet explosion thing...Never in my life have I ever experienced that before. Wow. Okay so this week...
Today: Doing some surveys hopefully meeting people
Tuesday: Surveys again meeting with some girls we met last week
Wendesday: Kids carnival music festival...woo free music all around Paris
Thursday: more surveys? maybe meet with new people or old people
Friday: surveys again? meet with people? who knows
Saturday: eating some lunch/dinner with Alex and Tyler

It's kinda all the same everyday not much change and seems to run together. I've been speaking more French and I can understand people for the most part, which is really good. I'm not going to Hungary since my friends are too busy to see...sad...looks like I'm off to somewhere else in Europe or France....Any ideas? Glorious! I'm learning how to bend and be very flexible even if it's completely backwards or all the way forwards...i hope my muscles don't tear. Email me I'm feeling slightly disconnected.

An experience of a lifetime

It started out as a normal day...Annette and Tyler came over for the usual bible study...followed by Tyler staying a bit longer to hang out to past some time until he met Jim. Melanie and I were reading on the couch when I got bored and decided to take a little nap...Melanie left to go over to the internet cafe and then it all started...I heard some strange noise, like water turned on and they were hosing something off outside my apartment but curiosity didn't stir much so I didn't get up and look because it stopped after a few minutes. Naturally after a nap you feel the urge of needing to go to the bathroom so I did...This experience, however, would not be a normal trip to the WC. Before I had finished I heard a rumble beneath my seat (no i didn't fart)...before there was time to react the toilet became proactive. If you have been to Yellowstone you know what Old Faithful is like, I had something like a first hand experience with a geyser, only my geyer was my toilet. Water was spraying everywhere and it wasn't like a normal backup...this water was out for a vengence and out to get me. When it started spraying I moved quickly to the door, opening and then shutting it while I was outside...then proceeded to pull up my pants...Yeah it happened that quickly. I was standing outside the bathroom stunned that this had occured...I then called some people to try and get help, but all I got was laughter and confused people on the other line. Jim finally called me back and said he was coming over later with a man who would help us figure out what had gone wrong....He came over and they looked and there was no explination. They decided to go over to the property manager to find out there was a sign in the hallway saying that they would be cleaning out the sewers that day... The sign needless to say is not in a spot I normally look and wouldn't have spent time reading it considering the context was quite dense in French with vocab I don't understand.. So that is my story of the exploding toilet...an experience of a lifetime....our God surely has a sense of humor.

new PICS AGAIN....

Paris is beautiful when the sun shines

How is everyone doing? I am doing well. I went into Paris today...lots of fun...posted some pictures so click the link to see those. Today we went to Sacre Coeur/Montmartre then over to Luxembourg Gardens, saw the outside of the Pantheon, walked the Champs-Elysees and happened to run into a parade of somesort so we stopped to watch that...we went over to La Defense which has the Grand Arch..and then back...Long day with lots of walking, around lots of people...Good old Paris. This week has been full of activities. Monday we had a visit with a Christian women who was at one time Muslim, so she kinda has some things mixed up between the too. so please be in prayer for her. I went to a party to say goodbye to someone that I just met a couple of weeks ago. Her name is Cathy and she is from Pupa New Guinea and left on Friday. Tuesday I went to the class and hoped to have a visit to go on, but I didn't so I came back home and read and studied my stories and such. Wednesday we had another kids carnival but it rained so we went to the church and played there. I went to a really cute shop after that called Provence, a really Frenchy store. Thursday went to the class again and no visit either. Friday I had a visit with a woman, who is an Egyption and she isn't always receptive to stories so be in prayer for her. She is a widow and has several children. We went and prayer walked one of the new families houses, which is a huge PRAISE!!!! Some of the others went over to another neighborhood where another new family is in the process of renting a house but that paperwork hasn't gone through yet, so please be in prayer for that! I had a lot of time last night just hanging out with myself. I have been reading Joshua and it talks a lot about how God was with the Isrealites as they defeated all the people in the promise land...but you all know that...it's a great testamony though. This week...
Church tomorrow, free museums tomorrow, then maybe some 24 sometime this week at Anne's house, training all day monday, class tuesday and thursday and then whatever else I'm told to do....woohooo.
GOD BLESS

Don't be afraid

Lately God has been saying over and over again, "Don't be afraid." I think it is an echo that I have been ignoring because I don't want to admit I am afraid. I think that not being able to speak fluently has affected me much here. I have no confidence to stand and talk to people about anything. Even though we speak French we speak mostly English, and only say one or two sentences to others when we want something. I have been learning stories. Creation to Noah. I don't have much time to explain all that's going on...pray for courage and obediance.

since we last talked

Hey everyone!!! Thursday it rained but we still had the kids club because it rained while we were having it. Jim and Tyler were able to meet some men and young men so that is such a praise. Friday Melanie and I went to Djazia's house to have our speaking French session, after that we went into Paris and rode around on the bus. We ate at a cute little cafe... our waiter was Spanish, and yes, he was cute. So far we havent seen any cute French boys. Darn!!!! We rode by the Arc d'Triomphe and la Place de Concord. Very beautiful places. We went back to our apartment for a nap and dinner, only to go back into Paris to go to an international church. Church was interesting. First of all the pastor who delivered the sermon was a woman and she didnt really use the word!!!! no good!! oh well the worship was in English so that was good. We walked around the Latin Quarter and ate a crepe and then we walked over to Notre Dame and it was beautiful, since it was lit up. It was rotic, romantic without the man, all of us there were single, its the joke around here since there are so many of us in such a romantic place. Saturday we cleaned our apartment and then headed over to Betina's to help paint her living room. Then we went to the Latin quarter again and ate in a little French restaurant, good, but wouldnt eat there again. Today we went to the French church, I didn't understand everything, but i understood some of what was said. I have no clue what the plans are for this week besides party tomorrow, class tuesday, class thursday, hopefully some visits this week and bible study in the morning. Pray for the people that we will be around this week that they would hear the word of God and be affected by it. God bless

Pictures!!!

I added pictures to my webshots. Click the photo link and it will take you to it.

howdy

so for those of you who would like to send something over here, this is the address as i know it
rachelle ivy
8 allee henri legall
92230 Gennevilliers, France

we dont have a key for our mailbox as of now but what can you do. maybe i can reach my hand in it and grab stuff out. yesterday we went to the French classes and taught. i tought a women named Filie or Fily. We were working on the alphabet and things like that. It was really fun. Today and tomorrow we are supposed to have a kids carnival to meet contacts,hopefully it does not rain. there are volunteers here from virgina and mississippi. melanie got her bag late monday night!!! anne williams a missionary is staying with us as her apartment is being painted. we are still doing training and Tyler, Melanie and I are doing a Bible study with our project leader weekday mornings and currently it is focused on fear so we are studying stories of the old testament. plans continue to be changed as to what we will be doing. i am becoming more confident speaking french so it is fun to walk around the litte village area where we live. i hope to be able to have conversations today with people at the carnival. God bless all of you who read this. I miss you all very much.

prayer requests

we start trainging this week.... pray for the following
melanie's bag to come
the people learning french
our hearts to be prepared
training
learning stories
speaking more french

i havent gotten my pictures uploaded yet but i am working on it!!! soon!!!!

first couple of days in france

well first of all both of my flights were delayed. i got here and i went to my apartment where i met jim, bethany, and tyler. i have met a lot of american missionaries here. it is very difficult to type on a french keyboard. it is a lot different then good old qwerty. I went to a mosque, saw le louvre, but not inside. I have ridden the bus and metro. it is an experience. its quite lonely living in my apartment. girl tyler is there for a little before i go to sleep but is gone before i wake up. i helped with a language class and i visited a lady today that is going to help me speak french better. i am meeting with her tomorrow to talk. i dont have much to say so it will be hard. in an hour i am going to meet the girls mother. i cant wait until melanie gets here so i wont be as bored. maybe this weekend i will go site seeing in paris. well pray for my french speaking and pray for the ladies i help with learning french.