November 2000 Newsletter
It is
with great joy and enthusiasm that I write to all of you in order to let you
know how my work has been going. Let me present myself for all of you who
are joining us for the first time. My name is Micaël Carter, I have been living
on the French Riviera now for about a year and working in a church as a pastor.
As summer winds down to
an end, tourist attractions start to die off as well. The harbors are still
filled with magnificent yachts and couples dreaming of one day owning such a toy.
As the moonlight reflects on the water's surface, tourists walk along the
Croissette showing off the last fashion, the nicest car and ready to spend
thousands of dollars just to be seen by others. Little boys and girls look on
with awe as they dream of the day, when they will be able to do the same in
front of others.
I feel sorry as I look at these
people whose goal in life is to impress the people watching and to be better
than the Jones. So many look at everyday as another problem, another difficulty
to overcome. And this goes on everyday until the day they die. Constantly people
are trying to find help and improve their way of life anyway they possibly can.
"Maybe, I'll find happiness in the party life. Maybe, I'll find happiness
in the fame and glory. Maybe, I'll find happiness in alcohol, or maybe in the
casinos. I'm sure that next time, I'll have more luck." All of these "maybe"
are hear too often.
I have settled in France to work in
a church, as a pastor. Just like many others have thought, I believed that I
would be able to come here, tell people of God's great love for each of the them.
Just as John 3:16 tells us: For God so loved the world, that He gave
his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have
eternal life. But so many remain unchanged; unwilling to hear of this
Savior's grace. Most of the people of France are as they say: "all
Christians, but non practicing". Oh, of course I attend mass, on Christmas,
on Easter, oh and I confess at least once a year. None ever realizing that they
need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
I had been struggling with the fact
that people remained unchanged, almost unwilling to hear about a man named Jesus
Christ, who has been showed to them throughout what the Catholic church has
portrayed. There are many people who are afraid of Christians who are not part
of the Catholic church; for the simple fact that they don't know anything about
them.
I must however tell you that I have
had the great pleasure of witnessing to people in my apartment complex. I cannot
tell you how good it feels to know that God has given you the opportunity to
make a difference in the life of someone; and all that simply by telling them
about our loving Savior Jesus Christ.
As I write my last words in this
month's newsletter, I encourage you to look beyond yourselves, and to take
every opportunity that God gives you to make a difference in the life of someone.
May the Lord bless and keep all of you!
Micaël
Riviera
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