3 September 2013 Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

        It's weird to think that a year has already gone by since the last time that I said Happy Birthday from a computer. I hope you have a wonderful day and you get to do and eat whatever you want!! You'll be getting a card from me soon! It also has the memory card in it.
          I forgot to mention a very important piece of information last week! In 1976 President Kimball came to France and prophesied that, one day, France would see itself covered by stakes and have a temple. At the time there was only one Stake (a unit of our church like a diocese) in France, the Paris Stake, and the rest of the country was covered by Districts. Since I've arrived on my mission there has only been one District, the Lorient District (Bretagne). Well, as of August 22 the church will organize another Stake using the former District of Lorient. AND they've announced that the building of the Paris temple will finally start! 33 years later, President Kimball's prophecy has come true!
         This was an especially well-timed announcement for us missionaries because we just accomplished our goal of 100 baptisms in two transfers. Something that hasn't been done in over twenty years in the mission! Elder Oakes will be here for Stake Conference the weekend of the 15th. There will be 3 stakes meeting all at once in a stadium that the church has rented for the event. He was supposed to speak with all of the missionaries in a special conference, but because of this recent development it was canceled. Luckily I'm serving in Paris so I'll get to see him. It really is a wonderful time to be serving a mission in France!

Yesterday I was unable to email because Soeur Gordon had to do her legality. The trainers and I stayed in Paris and did a scavenger hunt that also made us do contacting. We had to contact every person with a stroller, get the phone number of and take a picture of a woman wearing the best African bubu, sing to someone, get six phone numbers and lick the Eiffel tower. The bonus was going to one of the major train stations and play the piano. Then we got a text of double or nothing: preach to a group of 5 people or more. I DID THEM ALL except get a picture with the bubu lady. We got her number, but she wouldn't let us take a picture. It was a bummer. But still, it was fun! Oh, and I didn't actually lick the Eiffel tower, my temporary companion, Sr. Evans, did.

    This week we did a service for Gina to help her organize her deceased son's things. She was really happy find old memories of him and she said it was nice that we were there. However, we're worried that she only sees us because she's lonely. We need her to understand why we are really here. The problem is that she can't really progress until she comes to church but she lives far from the church and works until 10pm Saturday night. But the Lord can do miraculous things so we'll figure out what to do eventually!

On Saturday we got fruged a lot and were pretty frustrated. We had one last appointment and we figured she, Rose, was going to fruge us too because she already indicated that she might have to work. Plus, we forgot about our last appointment that we had set up with her about a month ago and she was kind of mad about that. We figured she didn't want to see us. Well, we went anyway and she was so happy to see us! She said she felt that God was pushing her to find out more about Him and that she liked what we taught her. It was a pretty spiritual lesson and a great way to end a tough day. We'll be seeing her again tomorrow.

The best moment of last week was actually when I was on exchanges with our Sister Training Leader in Paris proper. The sister I went with was in my bleu group and will be dying (going home) with me. We had a lot of time to catch up and talk about good memories of our mission. That night we taught a recent convert name Phueng (Vietnamese) at the Visitor's Center. She's about our age and is really sweet. She’s still worried though about whether or not Jesus can really forgive totally, as in never think about our sins again. I asked if she thought it was possible and she said she didn't know.

I could have tried to logically explain why it was true, which is what seems to normally happen, but that didn't even cross my mind. I simply told her that I KNEW it was true because I had experienced it myself. I don't think I have ever said anything with so much love in my life. You know those moments when the spirit is so strong you feel like your heart is going to burst? Me too! and I love those moments.

This wasn't it though. The spirit in that room was the calmest and most peaceful thing I've ever experienced. For a moment, that room was one of the holiest places on the planet. I could hear the noise of people enjoying the night outside, yet we were in a haven. It was interesting to think that 50 people outside had no idea of the miracle happening just behind the walls. I wish they could have known.It's a wonderful wish. Thinking about it brings back that feeling a little bit. I think that feeling when I wish is a tiny bit of what Heavenly Father feels for us. I hope to feel that more in my life. I'll be seeking for it. I hope you will too.

Bethany

 

PS: I talked to the mission secretary last week and she said I'd be going home on the 11th of December. I should be getting my "dying papers", AKA my itinerary, in the mail this week.