Greg here. I’ll never claim to have had the most rigorous academic life. There were times when it was difficult but I know that some of you chose fields of studies that were crazy. So what I’m about to say has to be framed against the backdrop of my life.
Language school is like a tornado. Exam week was like a super tornado. (And I’ll take care to step around references of sharknado)
For me it was without a doubt the most rigorous test (if we consider all the tests to be part of one big test) I’ve been a part of. Can I ‘speak’ French. Yes. I can successfully order food or have a conversation to clarify a perk card that I don’t understand (thanks Carrefour lady). In front of a professor. Trickier. I can, somewhat, tell you what happened last year, yesterday, 3 minutes ago, right now, 3 minutes from now, tomorrow and next year. Spitting it out on a 15 (or 17 page) test that took a little over 2 hours to complete. A little more difficult.
All in all it was difficult.
Let me back up.
It wasn’t THAT difficult. I read on various forms of Facebook this week people who have lost loved ones or are commemorating the death of a friend years ago. That’s difficult. I read about people with friends who are very ill. That’s difficult. I read about conflicts raging in remote African villages and threat of international war. That’s difficult. I read about a plane accident that was somewhat close to where we are. Everyone perished seemingly because of the deep depression of a co-pilot. That’s difficult.
And we come to Easter. Yes, in a little while we celebrate that glory that is/was the Resurrection. That’s big. That’s crazy. That’s a tornado that tears at the soul.
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Tuesday we’ll be receiving our level exam results. Oddly enough after three months in school I’m just now figuring out the best methods of studying and test taking. I should have stayed in school forever. We’ll let you know how we did and what that means for us later in the week.
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Lastly, we were very glad to welcome Rob Harris (Director, Kontaktmission USA) and Steve Hammer (Pastor, Impact Christian Church Pittsburgh) to our home two weeks ago. It was wonderful having visitors and quite fun to ride around Europe with Rob again. We got the chance to share lunch with Raphael Anzenberger and talk more about the future of our ministry here in France as well. All in all a great trip and totally worth the 60+ euros we paid in tolls… I hope :)