A 5 minute Presentation

“Prepare a 5 minute presentation for the class,” our professor told us.  “You can talk about whatever you’d like.  Jordan and Kate, perhaps you can tell us about your mission.”

Well, if that’s not an opened door, I’m not sure what is!

Five minutes may not sound like much, but it took both Jordan and me nearly 2 hours to prepare our presentations in French.  Our teacher was impressed, but it was certainly no easy task.

One woman from Japan demonstrated the FUROSHIKI (pictured below).  Traditionally, people would wrap bottles in scarves to take the drinks to their friends’ homes; it served as a bag.  Historically the guest took the scarf home with them again, but our classmate allowed us to keep the scarves.  Another girl from Japan talked about the Kimono.  A woman from New Zealand talked about her country, one girl told us a funny story from working at a local ski station, and another classmate talked about the history of the Red Cross and her work with them in Africa.

Jordan told the story of The Prodigal Son.  It was interesting to watch the other students’ reactions.  One guy from Ireland immediately recognized the story, but it took him a while to remember the name.  Our professor knew that it was a story from the Bible, as did the women from New Zealand and Australia.  The students from Taiwan, Turkey, Japan, and England had no previous knowledge of the story.  It led to an interesting discussion as students asked questions and discussed their reactions such as:  Was the older brother annoyed with the father?  I’m like the older brother, and I’d be annoyed with the father.  If I knew I could go party and get away with it, I would. 

I shared with the class why we live in France.  It was scary – especially since there happened to be 2 classes combined on the day of my presentation (meaning twice the number of students as usual).  I told them that we came to France because we want to show people the same love that God has showed us.  We work with an organization that wants to serve the city of Aix-les-Bains and its inhabitants.  We are in France to help people know God because He is a personal God who cares for us.

Previously, I had a classmate ask me why the cross was so important to the Christian faith. 

While we know that our primary focus right now is language school, it is apparent that ministry is a lifestyle; evangelism is a lifestyle.  Our classmates are becoming our friends.  They do not know Jesus, and even now, with limited language, we have the opportunity to bring the Hope and Love of Jesus wherever we go.  It’s not a project or a mission, but it’s a love of Jesus and the people around us that has moved us to France.  

Praise God for giving us boldness to speak!  May He continue to give us such boldness.