To sum up the Montreal trip...

So... right now, I'm sitting down in the B&B in Montreal - it's 10:30 pm , and we leave for the airport heading back to Louisville around.... 4:30 am. We'll be back in Louisville by noon tomorrow, Lord willing. All EST, by the way. Montreal isn't in a different time zone.

This trip was a really good trip - not at ALL what I was expecting, but when is a mission trip ever what you expect? (Unless you've been there multiple times... but even then!!)

We did many things throughout the week... we would do community projects - like picking up trash in the park or pulling weeds at an old established church. We all had matching t-shirts -- for 2 days of this - so older people would point this out and ask what we were doing - this presented a good opportunity for whomever the person asked. We would hang out in a park right across from the Bed & Breakfast we were staying -- seeing if we couldn't strike up a conversation with somebody. We also did a whooooole lot of praying & prayer walking. I believe this was a MAJOR part of what we were doing... without it, I doubt anything would have happened at all.... this sort of thing is something that God has to do, alone.... we are just along for the ride. (Which, is true of missions in general, but in this context it's felt a bit more. People aren't as open to just talking to anyone here - like at home -... you have to have a reason to speak.)

By Saturday - things were moving along well. We talked to quite a few people - probably at least 15 or so as a group. I was getting a bit discouraged at this time, because I hadn't spoken to ANYONE yet, and our trip was coming to a close. This whole time I had been praying that God would send someone for me to talk to - to share the Gospel with. For the first half of the day, everyone I said hello to -- only spoke French... and I can't really do more than greet people and ask if they speak English, in French - much less have a full on Gospel presentation.

After spending the morning sort of discouraged, the ladies (5 of us including 1 under 18) split off from the park and went down a little bit to see if we could meet some people in the shops & surrounding areas. We met one lady from Venezuela - named Gabrielle (pronounced with a heavy French accent) - We weren't able to share the Gospel with her, but we were able to talk for a bit & invite her to a church plant (Renaissance Church) here in Little Burgundy (which is a neighborhood in  the larger city Montreal -- Sort of like the Highlands or St. Matthews in Louisville - same idea). She asked that we prayed for her family & her business. She doesn't really go to church... she used to be Catholic when she lived in Venezuela... she didn't really seem to claim it anymore.

Then we split off into pairs... divide & conquer sort of thing. So Bethany & I went off... and we passed a few shops, went into one or two.... no luck starting up a conversation... THEN we passed by a park. There was an older lady sitting in a chair (that was just sort of provided by this park area).. For those of you who knew Sue Newcomer -- she honestly reminded me of her right off. haha. She had a book but as we approached she put it down and watched us... I greeted her in French, she started talking... I promptly asked if she spoke English... and Oh. My. Word... yes, she did. I was so happy. haha. We talked about several things.... Her former job & now retirement, cats (which was great... because I got to show off my kitty cat), and sort of segued into the Gospel & visiting the church plant. Just being able to share with her was a breath of fresh air -- but she told us she didn't believe in God -- that she grew up catholic and was catholic for awhile because her parents were... but once they passed on she dropped it. She said she respected people who do believe & thought we were doing a good thing -- and was curious about what we were doing. We gave her a card & explained where the gathering met, she thanked us and we went on our way. Her name is Carol (Also pronounced with a very thick French accent... and yes, she laughed when we tried. Indiana/Kentucky accents & French don't really mix that well. ha).

Carol didn't show this morning... nor did Gabrielle.... there was one visitor they had besides our team, but he was a believer & goes back and forth from here to St. Louis, MO for work... African, but has family here in Montreal.

Each of us on this trip (9 of us) had many conversations like the ones I described. Arron & Samantha (the church planters) have many teams lined up to do the sort of thing we did this week all summer. Please keep them in your prayers - their church planting team, Renaissance Church, and everyone we talked to - and those that future teams will talk to. Pray that God will open doors in this mostly lost community (I believe it was around 95% or higher?).

I also want to take this time to remind y'all about our own communities -- and think how many lost people there are in our own cities & towns. Montreal is not very different than say... Louisville, KY or Bloomington, IN.... just a slightly different context. Be praying that God would give you opportunities to speak & ask that He would give you boldness to share the Gospel.... because it is REALLY IMPORTANT!!

If you would still like to give towards this trip and didn't get a chance - just email me or contact me in some way & let me know. Arrangements can be made! ;)

THANK YOU for the prayers for this trip, and for sending me.

Love y'all.

Hello from Montreal!

Hey Y'all,

Wanted to let y'all know that we all made it SAFE & sound to Montreal last night. We're staying in a bed & breakfast in Little Burgundy. Today was just sort of our introductory day, so not much happened - although there were a few conversations that we were able to have. Arron (missionary on the ground here) gave us an overall tour & showed us were Renaissance church meets (the church plant). After lunch we hung out in the park & a few of us did some prayer walking around the area.
The context Montreal is in is very secular -- more so than our context in the States in general. It's a lot harder to start Gospel conversations here. There seems to be more of a European type culture. People are less open even to just saying "Hi" as you pass down the street. There are so many nations represented here as well. So many, that I lost track of just how many. There seems to be a large Muslim presence here alongside the general secularism.

We still met some people & had conversation, and we are thankful for all we met so we can pray for them.

Arron mentioned that while we don't really see it as well back in the states -- no spiritual door opens here (in Montreal) without prayer. PLEASE pray for opportunities for us to speak about spiritual things with people. Pray that God will open many doors & call HIS sheep from Montreal... because we know they're here! Also, remember to keep the Boswell's (missionaries that are here) in your prayers as well - as well as the coming teams & interns who will be here after we leave here.
More later!! Be sure to check back!

(The same blog post is being posted on Bethany Baptist's page, minus pictures because I'm not sure how to do that just yet. haha. I wanted to be sure to post in both places just in case some one were to look here!)

Renaissance church will be meeting here in a few months. There are community groups that work in the city -- the missionaries work alongside these groups... and this is sort of their way in to the inner workings of the community.

Part of the Market

In Little Burgundy

Montreal Reminder!

Hey Y'all!

Just wanted to post a reminder that tomorrow I'll be leaving for Montreal on a 5 day trip! This will be my FIRST mission trip in North America in a city... my first time in a real big city. haha. My plane leaves at 12:45 tomorrow.

But anyway, if you'd like to keep up on the trip, please go here. This is my church's (Bethany Baptist's) blog, and I'll personally be posting this week to keep everybody updated! If the link doesn't work for whatever reason, go to bethanylouisville.com and then click blog on the upper right hand side.

If you need or would like to contact me, a comment on here or on the Bethany Blog will get to me -- or you can facebook/email/skype me.

Please keep the team in your prayers! I'll be sure to at least post a recap and a bit more personal posts on here. On the blog for the church I'll be posting from more of a team perspective.

Love y'all

Em

Quick Update!

Hello all!

Just a quick update...

Montreal 2015

A group of members from Bethany Baptist Church (including myself) will be going to Montreal (Canada) to share Gospel in June-- this is a very diverse city, with less than 2% being Christian. Please pray with me that this trip will go well - and that we will be able to connect people to the NAMB (North American Mission Board) missionaries there and their church plant. As always, I never know what the mission trip will hold in store for us - but God is in control, and I will keep y'all updated! Please pray for the preparations and keep the missionaries who are already there in your prayers. If you would like to support financially - I have sent out letters that you should be getting within the next week. If you do not get one of these and would like one, please let me know.

Here in Louisville

So a small update on where I am -- I am about 10 classes away from graduation (about a year) - but I will be remaining in Louisville for a few more years to complete a Master of Divinity at the Billy Graham of School of Missions at Southern Seminary. The IMB (International Mission Board) has changed their requirements for those seeking to be sent out as career missionaries - to include graduate hours. I will be completing most of this in Louisville - but (Lord willing) should be moving overseas in about 4 years. I will be overseas for about 2, will come back for about 6 months, and then - (Lord willing) - will be appointed as an official missionary and go out long term. My parents have helped me out financially in the past - but this will stop once I graduate. Please be in prayer that God will provide the funds and the patience necessary to achieve one more degree.

Ministry wise - I have been volunteering my time at a homeless shelter in downtown Louisville (Louisville Rescue mission (formally known as Jeff Street Baptist Center). I've been working at a day shelter for women at least one a day week - providing food, showers, laundry, and love. Please pray for these women - they live very hard lives... and seem quite confused as to who God is. I've also met two people at a local coffee shop - who I was able to witness too. Pray for them - and for me or whoever finds themselves in a conversation with them next - that focuses on the Gospel. Pray they may come to faith.

I've finally got an email subscription list up and going - if you would like to be added to that list please email me at emilyonmission@gmail.com. I've got a bit more on it than I do with this blog post -- sort of a recap of the last few trips. Usually it will be a little different, but not much. So if you'd like to get an email instead of checking this blog -- that would be the way to do it if you haven't already subscribed to this blog via email.

Thank you! :)