The bonus week; bits and pieces

Bonjour tous et toutes,

As you can imagine, we are just in our glory this past week reconnecting and sharing story after story of our experiences these past year and a half.

We’ve had a wonderful couple of days reuniting. But deep down, we all feel the same way: we didn’t want our missions to end. Nadya reported to us she wants to go back out and return to her mission and never let it end. She gets really quiet and starry-eyed thinking about a certain companion, a friend she met or a family she was teaching. It truly is a wonderful time of life to really give of ourselves and put as many material and self-centered pursuits on hold as possible and for that long of a duration. Plus we get to teach and share with others what we hold to be true, life-changing and at the core of who we hope to daily strive to become. We’re SO glad she has had the opportunity to learn to love, serve and give at such a young age. It truly is the best times of our lives. And, we echo her same sentiments that we never want it to end.

Paris was 108.7 F and broke records the beginning of the week. It’s expected to go up to 109F. It has been beastly hot where we have been. But….some of it we’ve been on the Mediterranean Coast, and went swimming! Talk about a fresh, clear cooling body of water this is it.

Our hike and picnic Saturday was sadly cancelled as they are calling for fierce thunderstorms in the mountains. We drove in it and were glad we were not on a hike in it with its buckets of pelting rain, lightning and thunder echoing through mountain after mountain. We imagine the storm was connected to this second heatwave and the build-up of humidity that has been keeping everyone in the sweltering heat throughout France. The temperatures in Andorra have dropped significantly after a short rain we had here. The Braconniers (the family that was to host the picnic and hike) call themselves “The Little House on the Prairie” family. It’s very fitting of them in their mountain home and holistic approach to life.

Small world story—We spent a few days this week heading through Spain and spent a few nights in Andorra. As we were coming out of an entertainment venue next to our hotel, Meg heard “Bonsoir” and turned to return the greeting. It was our across-the-street neighbor from Tarbes who was in Andorra, about 5 hours from Tarbes! Neither one of us knew the other would be there. Imagine that!

Gladly, our slated Monday hike to Cirque de Gavarnie will still take place. It will be a much cooler hike. It’s an all-day hike up, up and UP so we are all relieved that is falling outside the thunderstorm warnings. Several will join us to take Nadya up to Cirque de Gavarnie.

Andorra is a tiny land-locked and extremely mountainous country, a principality really. It has 2 princes—one from the Catholic Church and the other the President of France who lead the principality. The official language is Catalan (a romance language). There are 4 languages that you’ll find in every day walk of life—Catalan, Spanish, French and English—like menus, hotel staff, and infrastructure-related jobs. Portuguese is also spoken fairly widely. Catalan, Spanish and French are all taught in the schools so the children learn those 3 when they are young. Our Church is not yet established here.

We’ll be traveling another 3 weeks and really on the move and will take a well-needed vacation. Once again, thank you for joining us weekly.

For every picture you’ve seen, there are 100s that didn’t make it to the Blog. We like photography, in case you haven’t noticedJ. And France is an incredibly beautiful and richly picturesque and country full of a myriad of reasons to love it—its people, the landscape, the countryside, the diversity of geography, the beauty, the history, the architecture and its diverse cultures that are still in practice today throughout France. No wonder all the painters came to France to try to preserve and capture its beauty. The Impressionists had it right—there is something about the quality of light here; it’s just the right latitude and slant to the sun’s rays that magnify and enhance what was already beautiful to begin with.

Likewise for every thought we’ve posted, it’s only the tip of the iceberg on what we have learned and experienced. As we continue to reflect, we are still learning of the impact this mission has had on us. And we catch wind from time to time on how we have impacted those here.

Avec plasir—with pleasure. This is a strong part of French culture. We will miss hearing it and being a part of this integral part of being French if just for a small period of time. It’s a bit hard to explain….. Doing a good deed, a kindness for another….avec plasir. They love being on the giving and receiving end of it and it is what makes up a loving part of French culture. A good example is the woman who saw us admiring her roses and walked down the lane back to her house to get her rose clippers and give us our favorite pick off her 50+ year-old rose bush. Avec plasir.

Bonjour—(Hello, Good day) An absolute must. Use bonjour at every start of every conversation. DO NOT forget to start your conversation and interactions with strangers, the baker, the neighbor, the policeman or anyone else with “Bonjour”. As Americans, we get right to the point…fast and efficient right out of the gate. The French savor their food, their words and their connections with others. Leave out Bonjour….you’ve insulted them. Start with Bonjour, then ask your question or make your comment….then you’ve opened the door to a beautiful friendship.

Meg’s Favorite areas—Laruns valley area, Beost, Gère-Bélesten, Cassis, Conques, Cirque de Gavarnie and Calenques National Park.

Marc’s Favorite areas in our secteur and visited during our travels— Tarbes, Argelès-Gazost, Toulouse

Latest Marc-ism…..As we are driving through a back road, we round the corner and up pops a castle. Marc, without batting an eye says, “Give a man a mountain (in France); he’ll build a castle on itJ” Very fitting and VERY true, especially so in Perigueax region where he coined the phrase. We will be lost for sure in young California wondering where our next chateau to explore is.

Another Marcism—Marc always wants to know how he can contribute; what we will do with the rest of our lives and how we will serve. He expressed his concern, “We’ll go back to the States and be asked to be the Second Counselor of the Flag Raising Committee which meets every second Leap Year.” Meaning there are SO many opportunities abroad to participate more fully in the fundamental establishment of the Church where leadership is just starting to take hold with the second rising generation.

Le Petit Prince—by French author Antione de Saint-Exupéry has just been translated into its 300thlanguage. Its famous quote is:

“What is essential is invisible to the eye”

Alas, we won’t say “A la prochaine”

but

“God be with you until we meet again”.

All our best,

Marc and Meg