Well let's just say this was the WEEK of MIRACLES! I cannot even begin to describe my feelings of complete joy. Watching people want to change and want to come closer to Christ just hits a special spot in any missionary's heart..and this week, let's just say we all felt God's love for us as His children a little stronger.
Tuesday we went to Elbeuf to visit Teclaire, our lovely friend from Cameroon. We taught her a little more about the restoration and organization of the church. She is very open and humble and willing to learn. She is one of those perfect child-like amis who just asks us to help her on her journey closer to Christ. She is having so many difficult trials in her life, but she said she wants to be baptized..she's a little nervous someone else will walk around the corner and ask her to be baptized in their church, since she's already been baptized 3 times, but we invited her to pray about this church to know from God what to do. We love her!
Later we saw our home-girl, Ludivine. We taught about the Word of Wisdom. I love that commandment! Just makes so much sense..I invite you all to please follow this commandment and don't mess up yo dang body..it's a gift from God..let's ask the magical question, "do you treat your body like you treat your iphone?" wash, rinse, and repeat.
Wednesday..a VERY emotional day for all of us. We had a big multi zone conference in Paris to say goodbye to the Poznanskis. Such a sad day for all of us in the mission, but a happy one for our dear President and family to be able to sleep for a good week and replenish from all their incredible hard work they've put into this mission, the missionaries, and for the Lord. They have truly changed this mission and touched all of our lives as they have been our 'parents' away from home. Words just can't describe my appreciation and love for them and I know every missionary in this mission has that same love for them. We are just one big happy family and it makes me so grateful for my brothers and sisters I've been able to meet on my mission, from missionaries, to members, to amis. Anyways, the day was filled with wonderful trainings and musical numbers. This mission has so many talented people! Sorry I'm not in a TON of photos, but they asked me to take the pictures for Soeur Poznanski. It was so fun to play photographer all day long and capture all the sweet moments of the missionaries and the Poznanskis. It was such a fun day. Then we all got to HUG President and Soeur Poznanski! It was so nice to get a hug from them. Let's be real, bisous's and hand shakes are nice, but nothing compares to a warm embrace with the people ya just love. Seriously, hugging president felt like I was huggin' my daddy back home and oh how I've missed that!
Thursday we saw Sr Bachelet..love that woman..she gave us a pineapple..it was yummy.
Found a monistary with a bunch of 'bonnes soeurs' (nuns) and we are trying to figure out how we can go back to swap stories over biscuits. They look like a fun conversation since everyone thinks we are 'bonnes soeurs' since our plaques say 'Soeur' but anyways..that'll have to be for another day..I had a dr apointment with a allergy specialist. Didn't know they existed! It was literally the fastest dr appointment of my life. It lasted a total of 3 minutes! I was so surprised, but since I knew what I needed and what my problem was he just prescribed me some medicine and voila..I'm good as new.
Later saw our dear Ludivine and introduced the Law of Chastity..another GREAT commandment that I love and encourage you all to follow :) It's a good one. Ludivine had a lot of questions and it's so hard to explain that even though sex before marriage is widely accepted today, it is not accepted in the eyes of God. Our branch president was there with us in our lesson and it was wonderful to hear his powerful testimony of the special blessings of living the law of chastity. It's so clear that this world is just continuing to be strongly influenced by the adversary, but the righteous will prevail! So. along with the iphone analogy..do we treat ourselves like we treat our iphones? We need to take care of ourselves and remember we are the work and glory of God. Our bodies are a precious and valuable gift!
Then we met with Eric, our awesome friend we found on the bus who came to church last Sunday. Frere Bitanga and Clemence Barnjak were there and bore such powerful testimonies of the Book of Mormon. We gave him his own copy and I have never seen anyone accept the Book of Mormon with such excitement and joy. He even accepted to be baptized if he receives an answer to his prayer. WOW!
Friday we helped clean our new friend, Milady's apt. She is a less practicing member. One of the members invited us to meet her and we just love her. She was just in the hospital for a few months and is a single mom with 3 kids and her life just sounds hectic so we helped clean a little here and there to help her get ready to move in the future...we went back on Saturday to help again and her kids were there and she opened up how she really wants to find peace in her life. We invited her to church.
THEN...Sunday happened...oh what a wonderful Sunday it was!! One of our wonderful members drove with us all the way out to pick up Teclaire for church and she LOVED church. Also, Milady and all 3 of her kids came to church! AAANd Ludivine came to church AAAND Eric came to church and bought flowers to put on the podium. WHAT A CRAZY AMAZING SUNDAY! Here we had been working so hard to have people come to church and we had so many people!! It was incredible. Everyone just loved church and that day, the Spirit was just so strong. The members were so loving and welcoming to the new people and it's so awesome to see the fruits of our many labors. We have been working so hard trying to invite everyone to come to church and finally we had people come who just LOVED being there. I absolutely love Rouen and never want to leave this ville. It will only break my heart.
Later we went by Milady's and taught the kids about the story of Nephi and building the boat and we made little aluminum boats and little pieces (coins) that they had to make float on the water. It was so fun and the kids are sooo adorable and just love it when we come over. They run to the door and yell 'THE SISTERS! THE SISTERS!' and that Sunday was their first visit to church! How incredible. Milady even got out old pictures from her baptism and activities and was so excited to show us. This family is so special!
Things are going so well in Rouen. We have seen miracles left and right. I just love these people and love serving the Lord and helping people discover Jesus Christ as their Savior. I love this church and this gospel and the blessings it brings to our lives and to our families. Love you all! Have a great week!
GROS BISOUS
Soeur Berge
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