COUNTDOWN - DAY 6

It seems appropriate we would walk to church in the rain on this our last Sunday in Paris.  It seems we've walked many Sundays in the rain...warm weather and cold.  At first it was annoying...as the days and months passed, it became the norm.  So today, on our last walk, we didn't mind standing close under the umbrella as we walked in the cool, soft rain.

The bus stop by church on a rainy Sunday

The American Church (taken on a clear day)

Our small group met as always and, in fact, it was David's Sunday to teach.  It was a good class with good discussion.  These are people we have enjoyed as we studied the Bible together.  Our hope is they will continue to study and learn as we leave.

Worship was typical. We did, however, sing a hymn we both knew which doesn't happen very often here.  Again, it seemed an appropriate way to say farewell to this place where we have worshipped every Sunday for the past 20 months.  Though I didn't feel sad at leaving, as I looked around I thought of how it has become home to me.  It's very different from what I knew and has practiced church very differently from how I've practiced church and, yet, I have met God here and He has opened my heart and mind to a bigger view of Himself.  And I leave changed.

As he usually does as people leave, our pastor, Scott Herr, called us to the front and shared our departure from Paris and the things he believed we had contributed to the church during our stay.  Then he presented us with a candle with a stencil  of the church on it and, what we really love, a drawing of The American Church signed by the artist.  It's a simple drawing but one we will get framed and hang in our new home.  We don't need these objects to remember our time here.  Our hearts are full of memories, but it will make us pause each time we see them and remind us to pray for these people so far away who are striving to be God's hands on those around them.

Our farewell gift - ready to frame and hang

After church and multiple goodbyes, we met our friends, Joerg and Tinu, for lunch at a little cafe not far from church.  The rain had subsided some but it's still a cool, fall day.  But it's Paris and people are still out and about enjoying the quiet that Sundays are here.  We had a wonderful lunch with lots of visiting and catching up.  They have been good friends to us during our time here and, like others, we will miss them.

I felt once today was over, it would be easy.  The goodbyes are said and now it's just about the packing and getting things ready to leave.  I'm sure in the few days we have left we'll stroll some of our favorite spots, pop into our favorite cafes and remember how strange it all felt to us those first days after we first arrived.  But home is waiting for us.  And I believe we're both ready.