Update (by Amanda)

We just finished our end of term exams and we are both pleased with our results. The best news for us is an answer to prayer we are very happy to let you all know that we moved into our new apartment this weekend. We are already enjoying the space of course and making all kinds of invitations to friends we have made. This week is also exciting because we have guests coming during our break in classes. Thom’s parents should be arriving Tuesday 26^th of April. We have all kinds of things planned for them and we are also looking forward to a few relaxing days to just hang out.

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Our Pictures (by Thom)

Have you seen our pictures yet? We have taken hundreds of pictures in Paris, Massy and the surrounding area. You can see some of our photos by clicking here. There is also a link to the photo page in the right-hand column of this page.

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Sometimes it's the little things... (by Amanda)

...in life that count. After being very discouraged with taking tests and not seeming to be able to retain what I have studied I finally did well on one. I can now say the Lord's Prayer almost perfectly in French (if you don't count off for pronunciation). Yes, it would probably be said very slowly as I think carefully about each word, but I can write it almost perfectly with the accents in all the right places and with correct punctuation. I give thanks to God who has allowed the little victories and encouragement from the many new friends around me.

Notre Père:

Notre père qui es aux cieux. Que ton nom soit sanctifié. Que ton règne vienne; que ta volontè soit faite sur la terre comme au ciel. Donne-nous aujourd’hui notre pain quotidien, Pardonne-nous nos offenses comme nous pardonnons aussi à ceux qui nous ont offensés. Ne nous laisse pas entrer dans la tentation mais délivre-nous du malin, car c’est à toi qu’appartiennent, dans tous les siècles, le règne, la puissance et la gloir, Amen.

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Special Financial Need (by Thom)

Special Financial Need

When we arrive in Mali, we will need to purchase a vehicle. We are currently about $5000 US short of our needs. If you wish to help financially towards our purchase of a vehicle, please give to the fund below called Thom & Amanda McMurray Vehicle Fund. It will be tax deductible for you and will help us out tremendously! Thank you for your prayerful consideration to this need.

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The C&MA

Thom & Amanda McMurray Vehicle Fund

P. O. Box 35000

Colorado Springs, CO 80935

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Contact Us (by Thom)

For security reasons, I'm not including our email reason on this page as a link. If you're willing to take the effort to type it out, it looks like this: mcmali (at) gmail (dot) com

We also are reachable via phone, Skype, and Instant Messenger. If you want more information on this, please email us.

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Church In France (by Amanda)

We recently started attending an English speaking church as well as the French church and it has been a wonderful blessing and encouragement. Although we can understand the big picture in a French sermon it was not feeding us spiritually (although it is helping our language skills). Another wonderful thing about the English speaking church is that we are able to spend time in the Luxembourg gardens before each service. Each time we go out we understand more and more and there are little bits of understanding that excite us. We have also enjoyed meeting many people from different areas of the world who are also planning to do God's work in many places.

We do plenty of walking here in France and it is wonderful! We are within walking distance of many grocery stores and small shops. One of our favorite activities is walking down to the bakery and buying a baguette or one of their fabulous pastries. We do not have much storage space so we end up shopping often. We also have a McDonalds in walking distance which has basically the same food and some of the food even has the same titles as in the US.

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Language Study (by Thom)

We've been in Massy (just south of Paris, France) for a little over two months now, as we continue to learn the speak the French language. There's no doubt that this has included many times of real struggle. Aside from adjusting to a new culture, it's just not that easy to learn another language! We were warned that there would be days where we would feel like 6 year olds, but that couldn't prepare us for this challenge. Despite the trials, we have learned a good deal of language in our time here. In fact, we have had times where we communicated with clarity and ease. Those are days we try to hold to, and remember on the days we can't convey anything!

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