Ma Famille et Mes Amies,
Well this week was the start of a new transfer.
For starters, my last companion went home from her mission. She
finished all 18 months and she was such a great missionary and I'm so proud of
her.
This transfer is quite a cycle of life. My old companion going
home and receiving a fresh new companion straight out of the MTC. Her name is
Soeur Sorenson or better known as my TWIN. Everyone asks us if we are real
sisters because we look so much alike. She is from North Carolina (they
should've known better than to put two southern ladies together. ;) I absolutely
love her. She has the biggest heart and is so fun. We have a great time
together and I can already tell we are going to have a blast.
This past week has been just crazy. On Tuesday we ran around all
over town so Soeur Huntsman could say goodbye to everyone. And we left to go
spend the night in Nantes with some other sisters. We had a huge packing party
for Soeur Huntsman and Soeur Hoover who both went home. They did not want to
leave.
Wednesday we all rode together to Paris to drop off Soeur
Huntsman and to pick up my fresh new companion. After all of our
meetings were finished, we had quite a bit of time so we went contacting in the
heart of Paris and Soeur Sorenson did so great talking to people on her very
first day. I was so proud of her. She has such a great go-getter attitude. Then
after a long 3 hour train ride home we arrive in St. Nazaire.
Thursday we did a lot of finding. We had a few meetings with our
ward mission leader and the ward counsel. We have so many ideas for ways to get
the members involved here so we've been working really hard to put the ideas
into actual activities.
Friday we passed by some less actives to deliver invitations
for our "Special Christmas Sacrament Meeting" next Sunday. That was
super interesting experience.
Later that night we passed by some amis who haven't been
answering and a less active named Souer Bichon who is the sweetest old lady.
She just had a few surgeries for skin cancer. We sang some songs and read some
scriptures with her and she the Spirit was so strong. She said she will come to
church next Sunday and the Christmas activity if someone can bring her.
Saturday we saw Mme Jouget. She bought us roses. So sweet of
her. We introduced the Book of Mormon to her and talked a lot about Joseph
Smith. She still struggles with understanding that God has a physical body, but
she said she'd start reading the Book of Mormon and pray about it. Then we saw
Therese. It's always really hard to teach her because she doesn't speak much
French and can hardly read, but she likes it when we come over. We just decided
to start reading the Book of Mormon with her, starting with the first chapter.
She liked reading it, but it's really hard to communicate and her language is
some crazy African dialect that isn't written so we're not really sure what to
do about her, but she's really nice. Then we saw Jeanne and shared Ether
12:4 with her. I think she's going through a really hard time right now because
she wasn't her normal, bubbly self and she doesn't want to get baptized right
away so we're just taking it really slow with her and trying to figure out her
needs.
Sunday was so hectic. I didn't realize how hard it is to be in a
ward without elders. We have to share a missionary minute with the men and the
sisters and one of the members brought his friend to church, but we also had
our recent convert Esperence and our ami, Jeanne so it was hard to try and talk
to him too. I wish we had Elders here too.
Yesterday we went contacting right on the coast. There is
this beautiful sidewalk right next to the beach and there are always tons of
people and families walking right next to the beach. Perfect spot to find
people ready to hear the gospel. Later we went over to Mata's. William, her
son, just turned 8 and she really wants us to teach him all the lessons and get
him ready for baptism. Normally when we try to share a spiritual thought with
them it's really hectic and the kids run all over the place and the dad isn't
always there, but last night was such a miracle. It was the first time that the
kids were calm and Romu was there and listened. I hope we can start really
teaching Romu soon. Anyways, it was a great lesson about the Principles of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. Soeur Sorenson invited William to be baptized and he
accepted. I was so proud her! :) Then we ate an incredible meal and celebrated
William's 8th birthday.
I am so grateful to be here in beautiful Saint-Nazaire and to be
able serve these beautiful French people. What a wonderful time of the year to
serve and to share the truth. Jesus Christ is our Savior and He lives and loves
us so much. How incredible it is that we have the priesthood authority on the
Earth today. How grateful I am for a loving and livng prophet who guides us and
serves us willingly every day. God loves us and knows us perfectly. I love this
gospel because it is true. I love you all so much! Have a blessed week :)
Stay righteous, be true, be you!
Avec amour,
Soeur Berge
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