Bon Courage

So I was talking with one of my French professors yesterday. He asked me how my quarter was going, what my future plans were, etc. I proceeded to tell him about how I'm writing a lot and actually had to drop my French literature class because my schedule was too hectic. After all, I'm trying to finish classes for my major. He knew that I applied for the French program, etc etc. I told him how I was waitlisted. So we had a good five to ten minute conversation (en français, mind you) about all of these crazy and overwhelming plans for the future.

Anyway, as we were parting, he said to me "bon courage". Typically in French, this means something like "good luck". But in the French language, there's two different ways of saying "good luck". It's either bon chance, which means "good fortune/luck" or it's bon courage. The phrase bon courage emphasizes, obviously, the idea of perseverance and courage. I had always knew what the phrase meant but it really struck me as we parted.

According to the French/English dictionary that's my bedside companion, the word "courage" in French is essentially the same word in English: courage, bravery. But surprisingly, it also means energy. So the essence of the phrase bon courage is to have strength to do the task at hand, to be brave in difficult times.  So that's exactly what I'm going to do. Encouraging, oui?

Bon courage à tous! 

France

So... I've gotten some sort of a response from the program that I applied to.

Waitlisted.

That word hit me like a bullet in the chest as I sat in Jimmy's Coffee Shop with my friends. I was expecting either a "yes" or a "no". Not a "maybe". That was exactly the response that I was hoping to avoid. But I'm learning that my expectations and the Lord's plans aren't always on the same plane. That is, my hopes and dreams are drastically different than what is good for me.

So what do I do? I wait some more. I put my trust that the Lord will give me an answer in his timing. All good and perfect things come from His hands, so that's where my faith is and that's where my hope lies.

La Bible

Okay guys. I have something really really really exciting to share with you.
I recently purchased the Bible in French. I've really been wanting a copy,
to learn some Bible terminology, study, and read! It's a great chance to
learn more about the gospel and study my French at the same time.

And honestly, I'm a really fast reader (when I read in English) so it's
easy for me to gloss over a chapter in no time at all. But when I read
in French, I take care to understand every word, looking up those that
I don't know with a dictionary. Therefore, studying and doing my
devotions with the Bible in French means, at least for me, that I'll be taking
more and more time. That's awesome! That means that I'll be spending
some quality time with my Savior, critically thinking about the Gospel.

How cool is that?