None of this is really about us. We, the Kennedy family, are included in but a few chapters of God’s Great Story. We hope as you read the stories of our journey as disciples of Jesus, that you too are inspired to consider how God is writing your life into His Story.

June 2024

Happily Unmet Expectations

We arrived in France having already heard numerous reports that setting up life as a foreigner here was always and notoriously difficult. In fact, we had heard that there was a familiar saying among missionaries in France… “France wins again”. This and many other stories naturally shaped our expectations and formed in our minds the mountains we anticipated we would soon have in front of us.

The Anticipated Mountains:

Bureaucracy is a concept invented by the French. Expect everything to be complicated and slow.
You need a bank account to do just about anything else in France but banks don’t like dealing with foreigners, so it is nearly impossible for a foreigner to get a French bank account.
You need an address to get a bank account, but you can’t get a bank account without an address.
The apartments for rent are few and demand is high. Most rentals are found through an agency, most of which require a “dossier” to even be considered to view an apartment for rent. But dossiers had to include a guarantor (a French resident who would financially guarantee we pay our rent), which we would not have.
There is a shortage of doctors in France, and it is nearly impossible to find a family doctor.
The French are cold climate people, therefore don’t expect warm and welcoming.

In short, we arrived in France already anticipating that setting up life here would be discouraging and hard. Armed with these expectations, we braced ourselves for a tough season to come as a family.

“Joshua told the people, ‘consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you… See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord – the Lord of all the earth – set foot in the Jordan, it’s waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”

Joshua 3: 5, 11-13

What really happened? The Lord did amazing things…

A Doctor for Brennan

An important medical issue arose for Brennan that made finding a specialist one of our most immediate priorities when we arrived. Although we were told that finding a family doctor in France is nearly impossible, thankfully for children it is not required to have a referral to see a specialist. So we prayed that God would provide and Becky began the search for a specialist. After literally a few minutes online, we found a paediatric surgeon with glowing reviews, who worked in a clinic less than 5 minutes drive from where we were staying, who had an available appointment 2 weeks later. Wow, God. After our initial consultation, the doctor advised Brennan undergo surgery, and he was booked for May 31. Everything went incredibly well, and he is now recovering. We can hardly believe how perfectly Brennan was taken care of.

School for the Kids

Our French contacts here strongly encouraged we attempt to register our kids at one particular school, for many reasons. Not only did this school have an excellent reputation, but they would be able to provide the support that our kids, both of whom have ADHD, would need. We were warned, however, that this school was very hard to get into, and because the registration period began in March, there was a good chance the classes were already full. Again we prayed and gave it to God.

Joel called the school and spoke to the secretary who very kindly explained the process. To be considered, we would need to provide several documents, after which time a meeting would be set up with the school director. Unfortunately the school was closing for vacation for the next 2 weeks, so she said we would not be contacted until the school re-opened. We emailed the required documents and prepared to wait. But within an hour we received a call back from the school saying we could meet the director 2 days later. Before the end of our first week in France both kids were enrolled in the school. Amazing things…

A French Bank Account

We were warned that getting a French bank account as an expat would be one of our greatest challenges, yet critical to setting up so many other things like buying a car, getting insurance and renting an apartment. We heard stories of other missionaries who had been refused by every bank they tried, and were left to relying on foreign credit cards, wire transfers and exchange fees. Seeking God again in prayer, we decided to spend an afternoon in the centre of the city asking for wisdom. As we stood in a courtyard with several banks in view, we felt God ask us to simply walk into one in particular and present our case. An incredibly friendly man at the reception welcomed us and explained what documents we would need to provide. A couple of hours later we returned, documents in hand, and he gave us an appointment to set up accounts the following week. In the end, this “impossible” task was not only easy, but encouraging and pleasant. Wow again, God.

Buying a Car

With a French bank account, we were now able to purchase and insure a car. But we had no idea where to begin, given many of the vehicles in France don’t exist in Canada. But of course God knew what we needed. At church on our first Sunday in France we were approached by Yoan, a super friendly guy and a mechanic. He offered to help us with the vehicle search, sharing his wealth of knowledge in the French vehicle market. He was awesome. Soon we found a great used car and made new friends with Yoan and his family.

A Place to Live

Tied for first place with getting a bank account, everyone we spoke to said that finding an apartment would be exceptionally difficult. The search was indeed rather painful. We spent hours online, finding few options, most of which were met at a dead end. We went in person to numerous agencies in town, and were advised that we had to submit our “dossier” on their website, and if our profile was promising enough, then we would receive an offer to visit what they had available. But for most agencies, this dossier included the infamous guarantor. Feeling like we were running in circles, we prayed. With only 10 days left in our short term rental and the

shipment of our belongings from Canada due to arrive, we really didn’t know what we would do. We joked about buying a camper van. We continued to pray. Late one night on a website similar to Kijiji, we found a small 600 square foot 2 bedroom apartment to rent direct with the landlord. Gracious, kind and understanding, he rented the apartment to us, no dossier or guarantor required. Whew. Thank you, Father.

Finding a family doctor

Our most recent challenge was to find a family doctor who would take care of the 4 of us, preferably before our stock of prescription medications from Canada ran out. Not unlike Canada, there is a shortage of doctors in France, and no one we talked to knew anyone who was taking new patients. We inquired at a newly opened clinic nearby, but the receptionist informed us that there were no doctors able to accept our family. Our French contacts here had given us the contact info for their family doctor’s office, but they also were doubtful that they were accepting new patients. With this before us, we drove out to visit this clinic. Expecting to speak with the receptionist, we walked into the building to find only

a waiting room and 2 doors. Unsure of which was the reception, we knocked on the first door and a very kind doctor greeted us. A bit embarrassed, we explained our confusion and why we were there. He very graciously told us that although neither he nor his colleague were accepting new patients, given the relationship with our friends, he would be willing to make an exception. He advised us to call the booking secretary (who worked offsite) to arrange for a first appointment. Not convinced by our story, she said she would have to confirm with the doctor that indeed this was the case. But sure enough, she called us back to offer appointments for all 4 of us, just 2 days before one of Becky’s medications would run out. Wow God again.

God Wins Again

We feel so overwhelmed by the incredible ways God has provided for us in our short time here. Many people who influenced our original expectations have shared in our amazement, and God has truly been glorified. He is greater than French bureaucracy indeed.

But beyond God’s provision for our practical needs, our experiences meeting the French people have also been very much opposite to the expectations and stereotypes that even some of the French we have met have endorsed. In fact, our time in Aix-les-Bains has been full of warm, welcoming and encouraging encounters with the people around us, whether in the shops or at the market, in the waiting room at the medical clinic, or in the parking lot of our apartment. We have found the people here exceptionally open and friendly, including in our new church home, Le Rivage, where we have felt embraced and welcomed as family.

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God;

all things are possible with God.’” Mark 10:27

Thank you God, for all of it.

This chapter is truly all about our incredibly faithful God who takes care of us, and the joy of so many unmet expectations and cool experiences that have flown in the face of the warnings and stereotypes. We hope, as you have read this chapter of God’s Story, that you are challenged along with us to give God more room to BE GOD and experience Him accomplish the impossible for His glory.

The Practical:

For the kids: Three weeks left of homeschool! Pray for strength and endurance for them and for teacher Mommy. It has been a year full of disruptions and no consistent routine, so not easy.
Now settled, pray for our pursuit of language proficiency and cultural understanding.
We still have a funding gap and need to grow our team of financial supporters.

The Eternal:

For vision moving forward, to see what God wants us to see and know what He wants us to do with that.
For our French church home, Le Rivage. Pray for God’s blessing on the leadership, and deepening roots of faith and truth in the hearts and minds of the believers.
For Jesus to be glorified where we are presently planted, in our tiny apartment in Aix-les-Bains. For opportunities to know and love our neighbours.

We are so blessed by those who have already joined us on this financial journey. We wouldn’t be here without you.

But, if you have not joined our team of financial supporters,

would you prayerfully consider joining us now? We need you!

Help us reach 100% of our funding!

A GEM Canada initiative to help missionaries reach 100% funding, for every new MONTHLY donor who joins our team (after we reached 70%), GEM Canada will match that pledge with a one time gift. That means if you join our team of monthly supporters now, we will receive an additional month’s support in our GEM funding account!

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