Training in Lille

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Originally uploaded by whitneyherrington.

We’ve joined up with Yann and Rita Opsitch and four ACU undergrads to participate in an ecumenical outreach program in Lille, France for our final week here. Here’s what we’ve learned so far: most French people are very suspicious of organized religion and are (rightly, in my opinion) disgusted by the disunity they see in its many sects and factions, all touting correctness. This project on which we’ve embarked combines the efforts of many churches, Catholics and Protestants together working simply to show unity and to serve the people of Lille (in this case; the project occurs in several other cities as well). We serve free food to hundreds and hundreds of Lilleputians (I must find out what people from Lille are really called!), and, while of course we will answer any questions about Christianity any people might have, we are not here to pull a “bait and switch” on them, but rather to encourage a feeling of goodwill toward the churches here and Christianity in general. Katie and Krista are very happy with their assignment; they’ve been tasked to kitchen duty, preparing six hundred or so “barbecue sandwiches” per day (but they’re nothing like Harold’s, believe you me), cutting tomatoes, slicing baguettes, washing and preparing lettuce, etc. They like this job because (a) they’re good cooks, (b) they’ve already made some friends in the kitchens, (c) they’re together, and (d) they (mostly) don’t have to speak French (convenient, since they only know the following words and phrases: bread and cheese, yes and no, hello and goodbye, cat, turtle, otter, and duck, my name is…, I don’t know how to speak French, and apple juice). We think that Ken and I will be trading off with the students between kitchen duty and meet-n-greet with folks. Now to see if it all goes according to plan…
(more on this effort later)