#PrierPourParis

Friday the 13th of November
 
"French prosecutors said on Saturday that three coordinated teams of gunmen and suicide bombers carried out a wave of attacks across Paris that killed 129 people in what President Francois Hollande called an "act of war" by Islamic State."

Friday night was going to be a fun night out on the town, or at least, just my friend and I going to see the new James Bond movie. I chose a theater close to my train station in Paris so it would be easy to get home and I reserved our tickets online. A busy night, excited to see my first James Bond movie, and arriving early to get in line, I was happy to be free of watching kids and going to my first movie since living in France.  

We're watching the movie, thoroughly enjoying it aside from the disgusting part where a guy gets his eyes popped out (spoiler!), when about halfway through, a guy barges in to the room through the back doors and yells something in French. It was a quick phrase/announcement and then he was gone. Hannah and I were so confused and it seemed everyone else around us was too. We asked the two guys next to us what was going on and they didn't know either.
I was imagining the theater shooting in Colorado immediately. 

We tried turning around and watching the movie again but people kept leaving the theater, everyone was on their phones, and frankly, neither Hannah or I could focus on Bond. Since I don't have data/internet on my phone, I turned to Hannah and said, "Can you check your phone, maybe something is on the news. What- was their a shooting somewhere or something?" I was kidding when I thought of a shooting or attack occurring. Little did I know, I was right. And the worst of it was only 3 miles away.

Hannah had messages from her family asking "are you okay", "where are you", and "go home right now". We had no idea what was going on and we were officially freaked out. All we heard was that there was an attack in the middle of Paris and immediately we decided that we needed to get home, now.

Once again, theater shootings played over and over in my head. We ditched the movie too nervous to even pay attention to anything other than getting home.

Knowing that Hannah lived in the 7th arrondisement ( the "center" of Paris), there was no way I was going to let her get on a metro into the heart of something we just heard as "an attack". It wasn't until I called my host mom and asked if Hannah could come with us that we heard that there was more than one attack (believed to be terrorist) and that one was where my host dad and 10 year old were at the soccer stadium. I thought my feet were going to drop out from under me when I heard that. Definitely the scariest part of that night was worrying about them.

We got on the next train home, praying we would get home safe, and I got word that my host family was okay. So grateful!!

When everyone was home and safe, we sat down to watch the news and piece together what was going on. Finally being on wifi, I got a hold of my family and sent out the news that I was safe and home. My family in America knew what was going on before I did! I still feel bad for putting them through an hour of torture not knowing where I was.

The next phase stretching into the early hours of the morning was reading news reports and responding to the hundreds of messages of concern from people all over FaceBook, Snapchat, Instagram, and email. Truly a time in my life where I have felt so loved and cared for from my closest friends all the way down to people I had met once in my life. This event was a testament to my belief that through tragedies such as war, the most profound moments of love and undeniable miracles that emanate pure light surface through the darkness. The members of my ward in Versailles made sure I was accounted for which I am beyond grateful for. The closest people I have to family here is my ward family.

http://graphics.wsj.com/paris-attacks/
-A timeline of the events

France immediately closed its borders and a national curfew was issued urging people to stay home and not be out at night. On Saturday, we read more reports on what was happening and it was confirmed that ISIS was responsible for the attacks. It took a while for me to wrap my head around the statement that "this was an act of war". France is now technically at war. Horrific accounts came out of people who survived in the Bataclan Theater and the restaurants. My 10 year old said to his mom that he "wishes he could have enjoyed the game" but the attacks now cast a gloom over the whole thing. My host dad, Fred, was clearly shook up that night over what they witnessed. Apparently, they saw one of the explosions and could hear the blasts. He said that it really doesn't register that they were there when terrorists attacked. But they managed to finish the soccer game.... still something I don't understand. No immediate evacuations or anything, but, whatever France.

My friend had to go home Saturday back to her apartment in Paris which she was nervous about. People avoided metros and public places at all costs. Since her host family was out of town, I offered to stay with her so she wasn't alone that night. Yes, some people have said how dumb of an idea this was to travel back into the center of Paris the next day, but I can make judgements for myself and I felt completely safe doing so. After all, the media is portraying the streets of Paris as if we are being marched around by troops and buildings are exploding around us. No. Not at all the case. Paris was completely deserted. While I didn't leave the apartment on Saturday, looking out the window showed probably a total of five couples walking around, a handful of cars, and police cars flying by every 5 minutes. Sunday morning was eerie; Paris was silent, frozen in time. The air around Paris was thick with caution and fear. It was unlike I had ever experienced. I knew what everyone was thinking and yet nobody knew what to think.

I was anxious to get to church on Sunday to hear what my church leaders would advise. The message coming from my Bishopric was comforting. My first counselor said that this may have been a battle in the war on terrorism and that the attacks may seem like a victory for the enemy, but the war was not won and it won't be won by them. Neither is the war actually in France. We must continue with life as normal otherwise we would be giving power to the enemy who wants us to submit. The real war we need to focus on is the war with Satan. We will always be protected by the Lord when we are on His side, doing what we need to. Good will always overcome evil. Always.

Monday was greeted with French pride, a somber remembrance of the victims, defiance to submit to fear, and a raging desire to show the World that life was moving forward. Personally, I've felt a little distant to everything going on here. I live outside of the city so I haven't seen any of the memorials or seen any of the tributes. I've been consumed with thoughts and decisions coming from family back home, and I haven't ever felt scared since the night of the attacks. All of the news and photos that I've seen are online as if I were not even here. I've chosen not to go visit the tribute sights yet because I know it would concern those who are worried about my safety since I am so far away and I've agreed to keep out of the public places. But believe me, the media makes it sound like terror is everywhere when really, I saw three police men on my way to class on Monday and it seemed like a normal day. The entire country held a minute of silence for the victims. My class and the entire rest of the building emptied out into the courtyard to pay our respects.

The unity around the world has been displayed in amazing forms of love, strength, and courage. The Eiffel Tower was illuminated in Bleu Blanc at Rouge for the first time on Monday, the NY WorldTrade Center, the Verizon Center Hockey rink, the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower Replica in Las Vegas and the Eiffel Tower went dark in tribute of the lives lost, the Sydney Opera House, Mexican Senate, Seattle Stadium and Ferris Wheel, Tokyo Skytree, Peace Bridge between Canada/US, Jerusalem's old city walls, the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai, The Christ the Redeemer statue, London's Tower Bridge, the White Tower in Thessaloniki Greece, the Branden Gate in Berlin, the London Eye, and hundreds of more world monuments and buildings lit up in Blue/White/Red for France. An astounding display of support from across the world. History in the making!

The journalist inside me wants to be in the middle of the action. I want to see everything first hand. Obviously not the actual shootings, but the reactions and the life after this tragedy. It's amazing how strong the French are in this time of sadness. It's a little frustrating being extra cautious because I just don't see a need to be hiding right now, but that's a whole 'nother ball game. (Don't condemn me on the lack of caution I feel. I've heard enough)

So while I am in the country of interest right now, I just want to reassure anyone who reads this that I'm okay, France is really safe right now, and to look past the hype of the media and just realize that this country is so locked down that even going into malls, everyone's bags and coats are checked. I'm fine, I am not naive to the situation around me, and I'm not putting myself in dangerous situations. In fact, walking around many streets in America are guaranteed more dangerous than Paris right now.