California!

 On Fri, 7/20/12, Bethany Paxton 

Hello everyone!

 

As of last wednesday I'm an official California traveler! A total of 6 other sisters and 3 elders went with me to San Franciso. Our plane was delayed and we barely made it to the consolate before they closed for lunch at 12:30. We got there at 12:05. All they did was see if my name and birthday was right, took my fingerprints and picture. Then we went to the fisherman's warf for lunch because they MTC gave us each ten dollars for lunch. We ate at Boudin's met at least 5 LDS families/indiviuals were touring SF and were happy to see us. We explained that why we were there and that we were excited to go to Paris. I'm glad I got to spend a whole day getting to know some of the missionaries I'll be serving with. I was worried that I would get there and not know anybody from the MTC because I wasn't in the same district as the rest. We also met a french woman from Aix-en-Provence at the airport while waiting for our return flight. She loves missionaries and spoke to us in French whenever she could. She was so knowledgable about the church, gospel, temple, new church buildings etc. that you can imagine our surprise at finding out that despite the fact that her late husband and her have fed the missionaries one a month for the past 30 years they never got baptized! She kept calling me "la meilleure eleve de francaise" (best french student) and told the others to stick close to me when we get to Paris. That was definitely a boost of self esteem that I needed for my french abilities.

 

Speaking of speaking French. I finally started practicing giving the lessons in french this week with the two other elders in my district going to Lyon. One of them pretends to be the investigator and the other is the member. I'm the missionary. I was really nervous, yet surprised at how smooth I was. last I checked I was not as good I've been doing so I''m positive it''s the spirit of the Lord helping me where I need helping. Couldn''t do it with out Him! I do have to ask for vocabulary about 8-10 times from the other elders, but that''s not as bad as I thought. Plus, we got three new roommates on wednesday and one is from Paris! She''s been helping me with stuff I dont understand as I read my scriptures in french everynight. Today I have to teach in the TRC by myself in french!

 

Update on my departure date. Everyone else got their departure information yesterday except for me and one other Elder (he has dual citizenship with france so my guess is his departure stuff is coming today) in my district. I have a feeling that I'll have to wait for a sister who can fly with me, but I also don't officially have my visa yet either, but I heard that the church expedites visas after we go to California. So I still don't know what happens after everybody else in my district leaves on the 30th and 31st.

 

I realized last week that I forgot to tell you that my companions are both going to arcadia california on their mission and didn''t know each other before they met on the airplane from samoa to hawaii!

 

This week has had so many spiritual experiences. I wish I could tell them all to you. The one that stands out the most was during choir last sunday. We rehearsed "This is the Christ"" with lyrics by elder faust for tuesday's devotional. There was a line that spoke about how many drops of blood were spilled for me and then was followed by "I too can testify, this is the Christ". I suddenly saw myself sitting on someone's couch testifying of the love of our Savoir. That combined with the beautiful alto harmony was too much. I stopped singing and tried not to cry. The other sisters said "Sister, we need you to sing so we can follow you!"" I was flattered and apologized and explained why. It reminded me of that scripture in D&C where Jospeh and the other witnesses said that they testify that Christ lives. So simple yet so powerful. I can testify of Him and well. I love Him, He loves me and I know He loves each of you.

 

I love you all,

 

Soeur Paxton