** WARNING! This email is a long-ish one! We wanted to update you about the 2 events, but the truth is the bottom half of this email is where we get to the “good stuff”. So keep reading!
Fête Update: In one word, both this year’s events were: wow.
The “wow God” kind of wow.
The Mini-Fête, Friday, May 29.
For the official date on the calendar we decided to invite the neighbours in our private courtyard to join us in our backyard for the evening. Although not everyone could make it, interestingly it was the very neighbours whom we didn’t yet know very well who came. And in the end, this small, more intimate gathering created a perfect opportunity to more meaningfully connect and get to know one another.
During the evening, as often happens, the question came up around why we are in France and what we are doing for work. Joel shared our story, which lead into a surprisingly natural conversation around faith, Jesus and the church. We shared that we felt God had called our family here to simply serve those around us and that we were actively asking God to inspire projects that would bless our community. Everyone expressed their encouragement and support, including the idea of possibly one day starting a church. It was incredible, really, to talk so openly about faith with these neighbours. Wow.
The Big-Fête, Friday, June 5.
The big neighbourhood Fête was held in the historical village square, Place Lafin. In the end somewhere around 90+ people came. A mix of singles, young families, older couples and retirees, the evening represented a beautiful cross-section of our community. Both Joel and I had tons of engaging conversations and met dozens of new people who live in the neighbourhood. Many shared that they too were meeting new people for the first time, despite having lived near each other for years, even decades.
It was a wonderful evening. As a family, we all felt a deep sense of gratitude and joy. We were amazed at the depth of connections we have already established in just over a year. Yet during the event it felt as if our family’s roots were extending even further into the community.
So awesome! And get this: raised up high at the centre of Place Lafin is a cross. The fact that this gathering of neighbours took place at the foot of the cross was not lost on us. Again wow, God, thank you.
Click here to see the photos!
So what’s the big deal? Keep reading!
You might be thinking, did the Kennedy’s go all the way to France to invite their neighbours over for dinner and throw big parties?
Though trivial without Jesus, these events are in fact so much more than block parties or dinner invitations. They represent what are strategic steps towards developing healthy relationships within community – a desperate need here in France.
Over the past 2 years as we have studied the French language and culture, we have been asking God to show us what exactly is the need here in France. Unlike many traditional “mission field” countries, France is not in any desperate physical need. We have clean water, a strong social system, good health care, security and the majority of the population have a home, work and adequate access to food. Yet as we talk to French people about the problems within French society, one thing is clear…
What the French need are healthy relationships.
Long before we moved here we were warned that it would take years to make friends here in France. We were warned that the French were slow to accept outsiders and we would struggle to build relationships. Thanks to the grace of God, we believe our family has been blessed with many relationships that go against this trend. However, it begs the question, why is it this way?
The truth is simple. Within French relationships there is a lack of trust. They don’t trust that you will not judge them, so they put up walls (emotional but often physical). They don’t trust that their relationships will last, so marriage rates are low while divorce rates are high. They don’t trust government leaders or any leaders for that matter. And they don’t trust institutions, in particular the church or organized religion.
So where does this leave the French?
Divided, isolated and surrounded by broken relationships:
with God, with others and with themselves.
This is what God has called us to: to demonstrate, through the character of Jesus, healthy relationships with God, within our family, our marriage, and with those around us.
And this starts with block parties and dinner invitations.
Don’t stop praying!
In love & with joy,
Becky for the Kennedy family
