Conversation with my neighbor
Tuesday, April 4, 2006
Ever since I moved here, I have prayed that God would give me some chance to meet and get to know my neighbors in my apartment building. It is a small building, with only two floors and about 30 apartments. Most of the people that I see in the lobby or the parking lot seem to be single or couples without children, all about my age. I would really like to have some acquaintance with them, so that I can have a chance to witness to them.
One day about a month ago, I needed a bottle opener, and since I don’t have one, I went knocking on doors. At the end of my hall, I finally found someone at home: a couple with a yellow lab that looks a lot like my dogs back in the States. The husband opened my bottle for me and mentioned that the whole building was aware that a new girl had moved into apt. 30 (me) and that I was American. But I didn’t have much of a chance to say anything other than that I like yellow labs.
Then, this week, I walked down to the lobby to check my mail box and saw the man talking to the building super. He called me over to them, and said that they had just been talking about me. I asked him why, and he said that they were wondering what I think of life in France. Then he started asking me what I do here (as a job). At first I was a little vague, but he kept asking more and more pointed questions, until I finally said it was a Christian ministry. He asked me if I myself was a Christian, and I said yes. He told me that he is a Catholic, but doesn’t really practice the religion. He asked me if I had found a church in this area that I go regularly to, and when I said yes, he asked me where it was located. I tried to give him the directions and then he really shocked me when he asked, “Do you think I could go to the church with you sometime?” I told him certainly! I feel like it was totally God to answer me prayers in such a manner. I am hoping that I can take my neighbor to church soon. Please be in prayer that this man will come to the church and that I can continue to get to know him and be a witness in his life.
Ever since I moved here, I have prayed that God would give me some chance to meet and get to know my neighbors in my apartment building. It is a small building, with only two floors and about 30 apartments. Most of the people that I see in the lobby or the parking lot seem to be single or couples without children, all about my age. I would really like to have some acquaintance with them, so that I can have a chance to witness to them.
One day about a month ago, I needed a bottle opener, and since I don’t have one, I went knocking on doors. At the end of my hall, I finally found someone at home: a couple with a yellow lab that looks a lot like my dogs back in the States. The husband opened my bottle for me and mentioned that the whole building was aware that a new girl had moved into apt. 30 (me) and that I was American. But I didn’t have much of a chance to say anything other than that I like yellow labs.
Then, this week, I walked down to the lobby to check my mail box and saw the man talking to the building super. He called me over to them, and said that they had just been talking about me. I asked him why, and he said that they were wondering what I think of life in France. Then he started asking me what I do here (as a job). At first I was a little vague, but he kept asking more and more pointed questions, until I finally said it was a Christian ministry. He asked me if I myself was a Christian, and I said yes. He told me that he is a Catholic, but doesn’t really practice the religion. He asked me if I had found a church in this area that I go regularly to, and when I said yes, he asked me where it was located. I tried to give him the directions and then he really shocked me when he asked, “Do you think I could go to the church with you sometime?” I told him certainly! I feel like it was totally God to answer me prayers in such a manner. I am hoping that I can take my neighbor to church soon. Please be in prayer that this man will come to the church and that I can continue to get to know him and be a witness in his life.