I went on a free three hour walking tour around Paris with some other travelers from my hostel this morning. We had seen the eiffel tower twice from a distance and I wanted to get a closer look. After an Italian lunch with four travelers – from Delhi, London, Scotland and Sydney. We parted ways.
I took a lovely walk through a park and kept heading in the direction of the eiffel tower. I would get a glimpse every once in a while and know I was still heading in the right direction. After an hour and a half walk, I arrived at the tower!
While I was walking, I had decided I would find a patch of grass by the tower to sit and take it all in. I found a great spot under a tree and settled in. As I sat there, many hawkers came to sell me key chains and statues as a souvenir. A few women approached me about signing a petition, which our tour guide had warned us about this scam earlier in the day, so I declined.
One man kept coming back, with his wares for sale. The fourth time he came, he asked where I was from and we shared a conversation. His name is Golgal and he is from Delhi, India. His mother and sister are in Canada and he has a brother in Michigan. Golgal is here in Paris illegally, he bought his way into the country. He sells these trinkets to tourists to make a living. I shared with him a bit about my love for India and the time I have spent there.
He talked about his hopes for getting a legit visa and citizenship in France. Would you pray for Golgal today? Pray for his salvation, for the seeds that have been planted to be watered, for his citizenship and for his family.
