Alive In France

Is it too late in the year to say Bonne Année!? Definitely out of place to wish you a Joyeux Noël… but that will nonetheless be the topic of this much overdue post.

The End of the Year

Wow, how we ended 2024 with a bang! I used to miss the picturesque winter Christmases when we were back in SA. This year’s experience just confirmed that I wasn’t crazy for missing it. They go ALL out (by which I mean those strange Northern people with whom I only associate when it suits me). Our high taxes are put well to use, that’s for sure. The city puts up lights in all the streets, along with massive lit decorative features around town. They hang up speakers along the streets too so that you feel like you’re starring in a Hallmark movie whilst you do your Christmas shopping. The city-centre mall has its own indoor North Pole with moving polar bears and a talking Yeti. You can even take a free photo with Santa Claus every morning. The same Santa also drives around town in his reindeer-dressed electric scooter and sleigh, giving out (wait for it) FREE chocolate to every and any child he sees! (I don’t know what that dude does the rest of the year but he sure gets a good salary for at least one month of it.) He also seems to do school visits because we were sent a picture of our daughter awkwardly smiling next to him. Why Santa is the only person in the entire history of humanity to whom the “don’t take sweets from a stranger” and “don’t sit on a random man’s lap” rules do not apply still boggles me. But for the sake of Christmas Spirit, it’s a vibe!

I mean, who needs to go to an Uncle Paul’s party when you’ve got a winter wonderland at your doorstep?! We also got to experience this cool multimedia display on historical monuments and a parade of opera singers dressed as giant dolls (go figure), again all for free. Sadly, we missed the “contemporary dancer doing aerial acrobatics in a flying cube” and the famous Christmas parade on the 24th, but a whole group of Harley bikers dressed as Santa kindly did a rowdy round for us. To top it off, an entire mini Christmas theme park, ice-skating rink, and Ferris wheel was set up to ensure loads of fun. Add to that an enchanted Disney trip, the Live Nativity (and yes, there was a real donkey and lamb in the cathedral), the advent calendars, Christmas dinners, birthday celebrations, l’Éscalade celebration, Epiphany celebrations, the chocolates, biscuits, Stollen cakes, presents, AND snow—there is really no time (or bandwidth) to think about God at all!

I say that tongue‑in‑cheek, but I’m not too far off from the truth. A part of me is in awe that the biggest, most important event and holiday of the year in the entire world is founded on celebrating the birth and life of the Son of God. There is no other event that attracts global attention and adoration to this extent… yet at the same time, I’m saddened because for many, the celebration eclipses the celebrated. Have you ever been to a birthday party where the party was more important than the person whose birthday it was? I actually have—when I was a teenager, a few times. The whole class was invited (woe to anyone who didn’t make the list because they were that much of a loser). For a brief two weeks, all anyone spoke about was the upcoming event hosted by some very wealthy kid whose name I cannot remember. On the night we danced, we ate, we smooched, and then it was over. I didn’t know the birthday girl or boy before, and I sure didn’t get to know them after the party. I was there for the party. So, moral of this story: the world is like a lame, insecure, superficial fourteen‑year‑old girl.

Jokes aside, it was hard for me to find Jesus in the midst of all this distraction… and I say this with sobriety, because you all know how much I love celebration and parties… and Christmas. He is here, though—in our midst. The churches are active in making Him known at that time of year. We were in Switzerland, so we didn’t get to participate in all the cool events, but there was a food drive and worship event at a shelter for immigrants with whom the church works closely, as well as an outreach Christmas show event. The church is not complacent here. We love it.

The New Year

We’re kicking off the year well too! The European Evangelical Alliance led a week‑long prayer on the topic of “fighting for the faith,” and by fighting I mean standing steadfast in the faith—not some kind of medieval crusade (thank goodness those days are over). We gathered on the 16th of January for an inter‑church event with representatives from seven to ten churches in Nîmes, praying for our nation and our continent, which was so great. We also got tuned by a pastor from China who pointed out that our churches in the West are not united enough. I agree.

Our elders then called on the whole congregation to join them in a three‑day fast to pray for “more of God,” all in a spirit of grace. It was really quite wonderful.

Andrew and I took the opportunity to also seek God’s will regarding our living situation. The romantic notion of living in this beautiful, ancient city centre is wearing off. Shouting (politely) out the window at 3 a.m. to tell people to have their drunken conversations elsewhere—only to be told to “F‑off”—dragging the kids into a 15-minute journey across the boulevard and down four levels of parking to reach our car, and dodging a minefield of dog poo when returning from school drop‑off are becoming a little tiresome when done week in and week out. We are sharply aware, however, that we didn’t move here to find comfort. In seeking balance, we sought God on the topic and felt released to start looking for another home.

One of the reasons for moving is that we can’t host easily where we currently live. Ironically, we are not easily accessible to most people, and our flat feels immediately very intimate (and it seems that the French have a strong aversion to anything too intimate or vulnerable). That—and our idea of “making friends with our neighbors from the block” just isn’t working out since (a) no one else lives in this building, and (b) the turnover rate on our street is about three months!

Don’t get us wrong, we are really very grateful for this beautiful space that God has provided (the previous rant was for comical effect), but we’ll be looking for a house in the calmer parts of Nîmes that offers an appropriate space for us to host our neighbours and friends for “Appéro” — a pre‑dinner snack that allows you to get to know people without the commitment and ordeal of a full dinner (because dinner is a whole three‑course ordeal, of course).

Other than that, we have found ourselves drawn to spending most of our holiday time in Switzerland with friends and family. My heart is evermore broken for them as I witness them having to navigate life without the beautiful grace of our Lord. I don’t cease to pray for them, and we had the privilege of praying in person with my brother a few months ago (which was a first!). I was also prompted to sing a song (The Blessing) over my family at our Christmas dinner. It wasn’t without spiritual and physical opposition, but my Gen Z cousins were particularly touched—so who knows what God is doing. I haven’t yet felt able to be as vocal about my faith as I once was, but I’m trusting that God is preparing their hearts and that they will start asking questions when ready.

So that’s us. God has answered so many prayers. I praise Him for that! All honor and glory go to Him, for all good things come from above, and He truly has been very kind to us.

Prayers to Celebrate and to Request:

Answered Prayers:

• Our daughter and I are on government medical aid, and I finally received the famous “Carte Vitale”!
• Andrew has also received his own basic government medical aid for foreigners (yay for reaping the benefits of our high taxes!).
• Our daughter’s teacher had to go on medical leave for a few weeks—shame (bless her)—so we are not celebrating that, but her replacement is kinder, more attuned, gives hugs, and understands English!
• There’s also progress in her school friendships. We, too, are deepening our friendships, and a family we really appreciate—who has been vital to us—is moving closer and will be joining our congregation this year!
• I’m making progress with my master’s thesis, which will be submitted by June!
• Despite the various little difficulties of our location, there is so much grace (and privilege!).
• Our marriage is doing better, our communication (though not perfect) is smoother, and we do still love each other even after ten years!
• Andrew’s French is improving by the day (he impressed me with his introduction at our newcomers’ dinner the other night!)

I’m sure there are many more that I forget, but a big thank you for your prayers—they are heard! If you’re up for more, though, we still have additional prayer requests, haha!

Prayer Requests:

• Administrative breakthrough: Medical aid for our son, Family Allocation Fund, French bank account, Andrew’s resident permit, car insurance, taxes, and so on—such is life, but we wouldn’t mind a little help from above!
• God revealing Himself to our friends and family
• Finding a New Home
• Church friendships for our children
• For our church: a deepening of relationships, accountability & vulnerability among the members.

We always love receiving news and updates from you, too—so don’t hold back!

Much love,
The Phillipses

P.S. The development of the family farm is advancing rapidly (no thanks to us—but all thanks to my uncles and their team’s never-ceasing hard work). Our first baby goat was born in mid‑Jan, and fifty more arrived in the following two weeks. Which means… CHEESE!
Crops will be planted in the spring, and the Mas Platon will be host‑ready by this summer. We look forward to you guys visiting!