Ramblings

It has been a tough month in some respects, but lovely in lots of other ways. 
The tough parts have been being away from family and friends and familiarity. To be in a country away from all of those, highlights the other issues I have that God is resolving in me.

I have a strong need to be understood and to understand. This usually shows itself me being the one who reads the instruction manuals or asks questions like " How does that work?" or "Why do we do it that way?" etc. So to be in a country that I don't know the language of (only basic schoolgirl french) is challenging. I am comfortable going to the supermarket as I have done that many times before here. But to go to the vets or answer the phone has highlighted my fear of not being understood nor understanding others. It all came to a head one day with Roger and I arguing in the car and me realising that my fear was the underlying cause. In the dark moments of the night when I am fearfully awake, when the boiler is making noises that I don't know, when the wood-burning stove is making lots of noises then it is when fear is easiest to overcome me. 

God points out to me that "Perfect love casts out fear" 1 John 4:18. 

So He is working in me to remove the fear - His perfect love in which I can trust casts out fear. So I have been answering the phone every time it rings, and I was able to recall a phrase to tell the telesales person - "Je ne parle pas francais." he understood and said "Pardon" and hung up. We have also been to the vets and booked an appointment for the removal of Archie's cyst and I had written down my sentence requesting an appointment, and Praise God, the receptionist spoke some English to me and we made the appointment. Archie has had his small operation and is recovering well. Though he looks comical with a lampshade on his head!

Over the last two days the sun has shined all day long. So Roger and I took the day off and went for a walk around Vire and Chateau Donjon and the valley below. Here is a photo of the garderobe, the toilet shute on the castle - a simple hole discharging to the outside. I wouldn't have wanted to be down wind of this corner...

Garderobe

When we returned home the sun was still shining brightly, and although it had been -2 overnight, it was warm in the front of the house. We sat drinking tea and reading our books. It was lovely and decadent.