PARIS!!!

Wow!! Last day in Paris!! It has been such a fun trip! Danae and I have had to learn how to use the bus, train, subway and Metro systems here--and we have had fun just being two girls wandering around like little tourists, eating Panini's and Crepes hehe! We have seen all the "Paris" sights and wow they are really amazing! I cannot believe how BIG everything is!!! ..well...except for the Mona Lisa.. she's a little disappointing ;) haha! shes only about the size of a large piece of construction paper!! Which actually made us giggle :) The tour-de-france ends today in Paris, so we will be looking for Lance Armstrong and his crew ;) hehe!

We are staying with the most wonderful family here in France, that let us use their guest room in their European home about an hour outside of Paris, and it is amazing! they even cooked us a wonderful French Dinner of Duck, potatoes, green beans, salad and of coarse ice cream for dessert!

Paris has been wonderful! seeing all the sights, and of coarse doing handstands all over! But to tell you the truth, we are really ready to go to Africa! Tomorrow we leave, and I know that I am so ready! :) yay!! :) Please keep Danae and I in your prayers as we are about to pack up one last time, and travel down to Benin, Africa! We will start safety training and teaching training this week! I love you all and miss you too ;)

Here are some pictures of our Paris trip so far :)

Handstanding by ALL 300lbs of luggage we had to carry ALL over Paris! (getting from the airport to the family's house we are staying at) It was WAY harder than we anticipated! But we did it!

Gotta be cliche' and handstand in front of the Eiffel Tower!

Danae and I on the Eiffel Tower looking ALL around Paris! What a truly spectacular view!

And...in front of the Notre-Dame Church!! ...did you know that there is a crypt right in front of the church....that has ancient ruins of Paris??? Pretty cool eh? ;) (just for Danae!..my lil' Canadian!)

Are you getting tired of my handstand pictures??? ...well this one is in Versailles! which is only a 15 min train ride from where we are staying! (oh plus a 15 minute walk to the train station ;))

Famous Statue....

No wonder no one ever thinks to take a picture from her backside.... haha!

Gotta go...Gotta go...Gotta go.... haha!

A real castle!!! ...kinda like a mote around it! This is actually an island!

Told ya' she was small... haha!! (I look really funny in this pic lol!)

Quick Update!

Wow!! I have officially completed my Mercy Ships Gateway training here in Texas!! I leave the good ole' U-S-of-A on Wednesday morning!!! We have the rare opportunity of having a layover in Paris, France...and a 5 day layover at that! ;) (okay so the date we were to leave Texas we bumped up earlier, but our rooms on the ship are not ready for us yet, so we were able to change our flights to "hang-out" in Paris for a few days! We are staying with a Missionary Family who lives a few minutes past Versailles, which is an amazing blessing! Danae and I will be having fun, and just seeing the sights for a few days, and then on Monday, July 27th we will fly to BENIN, AFRICA!!!! Woot Woot! I am so excited to get on the ship! Teacher Training & Orientation will begin right away after we arrive, and our first day of school will be August 10th. Everything is going so quickly now! I cannot explain in words what this journey has been like so far, and what the future holds, but I want to share with you some amazing highlights!

Training here at the IOC (International Operations Center, TX) has consisted of Cross-Cultural training, Spiritual training, and Basic Maritime Safety training. I have been physically, mentally and spiritually stretched in so many ways. I have really enjoyed learning about my own relationship with the Lord on a deeper level, and how He really can speak to me in so many ways. I am anxious to see how He speaks to me on this journey. Through constant prayer and reading His word, I have already began a deeper relationship of trust, faith, love and shining His light. :) ..and definitely JOY! One evening after class, one of our teammates came up to me and just asked if she could pray with me, and during that time God showed us a verse, that has continually been confirmed over and over again in my heart; Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Here are some picture highlights!