Coming Home

Well, I am home now! That giddy little girl who always dreamed about her mission is all grown up and finished saving China....um...France! And if you read my emails you were able to go on the adventure with me! And what a wonderful adventure it was. I'm sorry if my emails became repetitive or preachy. I'd probably agree with you. I definitely never felt perfect out there, but did know that what I was doing was right.

Today my french professor needed to evaluate my language abilities and asked me to speak about my first baptism. (I attend an Latter-Day Saint affiliated university, so for us this wasn't an unusual topic for a student to be talking about with a professor). As I spoke I became so excited and could feel the love I have for Delphine so strongly. I was reminded, yet again, just how much my mission has changed me.
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For this post, I thought that I would tell you a little about what happened when I came home.

On my last full day as a missionary my companions and I traveled from Blois to Paris, where I met up with the sister missionaries that I started my mission with. We all just kept repeating how weird it was to be finishing. I know it's such a cliche thing to say, but this was the only time we'd be doing this so we had the right.

Then Soeur Alley and Soeur Searle and I spent Paris P-day together. We went to my favorite place, which you should know because I had already gone there twice...Sacre Coeur. It was so nice to catch up with Soeur Alley. After living together for 6 months and then barely seeing each other during the space of a year, we had a LOT to say.

It was also nice being with Soeur Searle because sadly, she was the only sister from our group that I didn't get to know well. Which is ironic because she and I spent the night in the same room our first night in France. She a very funny person, which I didn't know! Glad I got to discover that on our last day.

Afterward we went to the Garnier Opera house. I had seen the outside, but had never entered. I was worried about whether it was worth it. I thought it might have just been like another cathedral. I was wrong! It was so luxurious and rather different that any other architecture that I had seen. Plus, they were rehearsing a ballet and we got to watch. I really was so lovely. Definitely made my day.

We then headed back to the mission home for our final interviews. The whole time I just kept remembering my first interview all those months earlier. This was the waiting part of the night. We had to wait and wait and wait until all of us were done. By then it was 8 pm.

Then we had a nice little testimony meeting. Since we sisters weren't leaving with the same elders we came with, it was a nice moment to get to know each other a little better. I'm grateful for 1/2 an hour.

Then we went out to eat to a fancy french restaurant! Psych!!!! We totally ate Chinese buffet! I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life. We told funny mission story after funny mission story. I hope the other people in the restaurant didn't hate us too much...

Finally, some of us went to the mission home to sleep, while the rest of us went to a hotel. It was only 10:30 when we went to bed, but considering that we had to wake up at 5:15 and had a long day of traveling ahead we were kinda of worried about it. But you know what? I was so nervous I could barely sleep anyway.

Next day we went back to the mission home, grabbed a quick breakfast and then got on the RER for the last time. We had a couple of mishaps on the way and were worried that we'd miss our flights, but we all made it on. The sad thing was that we never really had a chance to say official goodbyes. We thought we would after security, but we didn't realize that there was several different direction we could go for security and we got sheparded off before we had a chance.

Then I was on the plane... for ten hours. I sat next to a nice military contracter. He seemed to be glad to have another young person to sit next by, but he realized pretty quick that I wasn't going to be drinking wine with him. I think he was a little disappointed, but not too bad. I spent the whole time watching kids' movies. Surprisingly I couldn't sleep.

When I got to Detroit I called Mom to let her know I was safely in the states and waited for my flight to Huntsville. And I have to say that was the worst flight EVER! It was so cramped, my foot hurt from lack of use for ten hours and I was very anxious to see my parents.

When the plane landed I was off like a rocket. I've never walked so fast in my life. And there they were. My parents. I grabbed them together and didn't cry. I was to happy to cry tears of sadness and too sad to cry tears of joy. Coming home from a mission is weird like that.

An hour later I was sitting in front of my stake president. He read me a letter that President Poznanski had written him about my service. And asked me to report on my mission. I expressed gratitude for something that my stake president had blessed me with as I was set apart: to be obedient. Although I was never a perfect missionary, obedience was something that was always in my head. It was a blessing in my mission life and I wanted him to know how much his blessing meant to me.

Then, in great soberness, he asked me to take off my name tag. And that was it. I was no longer an official representative of Jesus Christ. But I will always be a missionary.

9 December 2013 Last email home!

Thank you Mom and Dad for being really supportive during this whole time. I know you screened the difficult things in your life a little so I wouldn't know. I hope that I'll be able to come home and help you as much as you can.
I realized very quickly in the MTC that not everybody's parents liked the idea of their children serving missions. I'm glad that you did. I don't think I could have done this emotionally without you.
Oh, and thanks for keeping me updated on people we know. Hardly anybody else's families gave so much information. It helped me not feel so much out of the loop.
Dear Everyone,
Before I forget, somebody tell Miriam and Salem Happy Birthday for me, ok?
Oh my goodness! I AM SO HAPPY for Cyndie! I hadn't seen her for over a year even before my mission and I can't wait to finally see her when I get home.

Gaaa! I want to know what's up with Sadie!!! I know she's probably not in Brazil yet, but the poor thing has waited such a long time.

KC's mission situation sounds super unique and interesting. I am so proud of him for wanting to serve the Lord. I'm thinking that while I'm in SLC visiting Soeur Bernhardt that I'll try to visit him too. I wonder if I could get a tour of the Distribution Center. Not gonna lie, I'm not exactly sure what they distribute....
Well, if I do get to see Uncle Don during my layover on Thursday (in Detroit) that would mean I would see him before you, Mom and Dad! Haha! I bet any members of the Church who might be at the airport who would see me with my name tag hugging a bunch of people would assume they were the family I was coming home to. If they ask I'll just tell them that they are the "practice round".

Yes, I did get Lauren's email and the picture! She and I have been writing each other our whole missions and we both feel that we've gotten closer because of it. She really is such an example of pure faith and love for God. I know that we'll continue being close for years.
So we got to use Skype with Valijas to talk with the Albanian Elders. It's sooo cool to see how technology is helping the Gospel be spread. The mother and older two daughters were there the first time. The brother and father didn't come because they weren't sure what would happen, and their lives in Kosovo, as men, were really in danger. But the daughters said afterward that they'll both want to come now that they know what's happening exactly.
The missionaries in Blois have been baptizing so much that we're mostly teaching recent converts. We're busy, but we really need to find some new amis. Maggy is getting integrated into the Ward by attending church and Relief Society activities, etc. She even told her son that when he visits they can't do ANYTHING Sunday mornings so she could go to church
Soeur Doyle found out that she'll be serving next transfer with Soeur Rhondeau, her first name is Olivia, and I lived in the French house (at BYU) with her. They'll be great together. Soeur Judd is going to be going to Versailles! She wanted to serve in Paris soooo much and is very excited.

Something that Lauren said in her last email touched me. She mentioned things she has been grateful for and I realize that I didn't talk about that during my Thanksgiving email. I decided that there isn't better time to talk about such a subject than during my last email home.

My companions are constantly asking what I feel at the end of my mission and if I'm scared, happy or what. I always say I don't know because there are such so many emotions right now. I don't know if anybody can explain what it feels like, only those who have done it. However Lauren’s comment helped me put into words, at least a little part of what I feel.
Gratitude. My mission has meant everything to me. I have seen people change and I have been changed. For the better. For the best! You try and try to return some to the Lord for all that he has given you and all you end of doing is being blessed even more. I know that our Heavenly Father and Elder Brother Jesus Christ love us so much. I have felt that love over and over and over again. They are so real and so present in our lives. We just need to search for them.
I want to express gratitude for all those who have read my emails and said encouraging words during the past 17 months (I can't lie and say I'm doing a full 18, darn it!). I'm grateful for the cards, letters and gifts I have received. I know that your support for me and my family has made the hard moments a litter easier and the good moments even greater!
To finish, I'd like to use a quote from Joseph Smith:
"The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."
As a missionary my goal was to preach of Christ. I testified of Joseph Smith, the Restoration, the Plan of Salvation, Baptism, etc and I know those things are true. But in the end, my true testimony echoes that written in Doctrine and Covenants 76.22-24, "That he lives!". I KNOW that Christ is the Son of God and that he loves us so much. This love drove him to make the greatest sacrifice possible and for that I am forever grateful.
My greatest desire for anyone reading this right now is to sincerely pray to know He is there and to feel His love. Pray to know what you should do to find happiness and be closer to Him and our Heavenly Father. Pay attention to your feelings. I know things will work out for your good.
I love you all,

Bethany

This is Bethany's sister Laura. I hope you all have enjoyed reading Bethany's emails over the past year and half. I've enjoyed posting them on here for you. I'm grateful that Bethany was able to come home safely and with honor and that I was able to spend time with her before she returned to college and before I leave on my mission to Nampa, Idaho. God bless America. Go Cougs!

3 Dec 2013 Thanksgiving in France

Dear Everyone,                                                               3 December 2013

Whoa! The Iron Bowl this year sounds like it was crazy! Can't wait to see the recaps.

I'm glad that Laura got to see so many family members for her last Thanksgiving before the “ mish”. I hope she took lots of pictures. I always hated taking pictures before my mission, but I've learned to realize that they capture memories.

And Daddy, I'm SO proud of you for inviting someone to the Stake Christmas Festival! I know you say that he practically invited himself, but the fact that you talked about it to him is so cool. I really have been so touched by the way you and Mom and the Byrd's Spring Ward have started becoming real member missionaries. I've come close to tears several times. I hope that I can join you all when I get back.

So my legality was so that I would be legal during my last few weeks here. The Church wants us to do it because it's easier for them to get visas in the future for missionaries, if the ones that have served here before stay as legal as possible. However, when we got there yesterday the lady asked why I didn't do it in Blois. I explain how the Church had been told that wherever I start the process I must finish it there. She said no and sent me on my way. We didn't care too much though because I'm leaving in just a few days.

 

We spent half of our P-day doing stuff in Paris. We saw Notre Dame, ate at my favorite restaurant, went to the famous bookstore Shakespeare and Company, and shopped at the Kilo Shop and the Kiosks around the Seine. Actually, the other sisters bought stuff while I just enjoyed being in Paris one last time. I did buy a cool "scary stories" book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle though. It was a packed day. Oh, and I got to stop and visit Chriso to say goodbye right before I did legality. Soeur Judd and Soeur Doyle loved him. He's just the best recent convert ever!

Last Thursday was Thanksgiving for us as well! Our plan was take a train at 9:30 and talk with missionaries on the way to Tours, start District Meeting at 11, eat and play games from 12:30 to 4. Well, the bus was late in Blois and we missed the train. There was another one until 12:15! We got to the chapel in Tour at 1:45. Which meant that we still had about 2 hours to talk and have Thanksgiving fun. I was grateful for what time we did get, but the other Sisters were sad that we didn't get more. I guess it was harder for them because they're not going home anytime soon.

We still had a great time though and the other Sisters agreed. It was great to eat a real Thanksgiving meal (well, as real as it can get without Turkey). We laughed a lot, played games and took silly pictures. They were all really good memories.

We had our exchange with the Sister Training Leaders this week. They both came here so we got double the work done for our area! Soeur Doyle and I were with Soeur Thibault, who I lived with when she was a bleu in Nogent and I was still in Torcy. It was good getting caught up with her. We found a great young man to teach. He actually lives in Savanna, Georgia and speaks English perfectly, even though he is technically French. He's just here waiting for his American visa. He's very interested in what we have to teach and says we can keep doing so until he leaves the 23rd. He gave me his phone number in Georgia and I plan on giving it to the missionaries there when I get home.

Last Sunday was fast and testimony meeting. It was a big day for us because we invited the Valija family to each write down a question and bring with them to church. Then we promised them that the Lord would answer the question. We fasted and prayed a lot for them. We'll be seeing them on Wednesday to find out what happened. We wanted to see them earlier, but with my legality and then District meeting it was too hard. Also, we've gotten in touch with the Albanian Elders so we can Skype with them! Finally!

Maggie was confirmed Sunday as well. Maggie has had a tough life and would rather joke with us than be spiritual sometimes. However, after her confirmation she had tears in her eyes and later she texted us to say she felt things in her heart. It was a wonderful confirmation to us that she is sincere in being a member of the Church.

I'm sorry that I can't send pictures this week. This computer won't allow me to. It's too bad, with Paris and Thanksgiving we had some great ones.

I love you all!

Bethany

PS-Attached is a Christmas Card that Bethany sent us of her and her companions. You can tell that they like to have fun!

18 Nov 2013 Business in Paris

Well, a few days after that, Soeur Bernhardt got her visa. She is currently on a plane right now on her way to SLC. We said goodbye to her at the train station yesterday and sent her off to Paris. I'm so glad Heavenly Father gave her a few weeks with us. I can't wait to visit her in January at Temple Square! Soeur Judd and Soeur Doyle and I are in a trio right now. We're having so much fun! Maybe too much fun...but they're both really sincere. They both have had difficult personal lives in regards to their families and because of that both are very grateful to the gospel for how it had helped them through their trials.

This week was very eventful, but sadly we were not able to do a ton of missionary work because of it. It's a little frustrating when that happens.

On Tuesday we went to Zone Conference in Anger and I was pleasantly surprised to see that several sisters from my Bleu (original arrival) group were there as well. Only two from our group were not. We were all able to bear our “dying” (departing) testimonies together. It was an honor to do it with these Sisters that I've learned to love so much. I struggled to decide if I should do it in French or English. Finally, about an hour before I decided to do it in French since I've been bearing my testimony in French for the past 16 months. But about four minutes before I had the strong impression to do it in English. I don't know why, but I hope that it maybe helped somebody in the room who didn't know French yet.

BTW, mom I loved that missionary miracle with Sister Smyly. I really am so very proud of my home Ward.

Well, that night we whisked off to Paris and the next day at 7h30AM we were at Place de la Concorde where the American Consulate is. I wasn't allowed in and for the first time in 16 months I was totally alone for about an hour. I got bored quickly so I walked around as a glorious sunrise came over the Place and the bridges next to it. It was beautiful and I thought of how many Americans/non French people would love to see it (I didn't have my camera, they were not allowed in the consulate). But I realized that as beautiful as the city was and as wonderful as I felt seeing it, I had felt better things. I had felt a more wonderful feeling sitting on people's couches testifying of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ than I did on that bridge. The Spirit feels better than anything. I would much rather feel those feelings over and over again than see the sun rise in Paris. I'm glad I've had both opportunities, but I know which one I prefer.

Well, I'm very close to running out of time, but I want to share a quick miracle. Soeur Bernhardt and I decided to be as obedient as possible one night and literally two seconds after we agreed together we heard a baby cry. We looked through the window and saw a young family. They only speak Albanian, but the other sisters happen to be teaching an Albanian family who also knows English!!! They said they'd help us!!

 

Bethany

11 November 2013 Bonne Apres Midi

No photos from Bethany this week. Due to the Veteran’s Day holiday in France the Internet Café was closed and the computer they used at the church was slow. But we have attached a scan of a postcard she mailed us of the Chateau that is only a few blocks from her apartment. We also received a  touching email from her Mission President telling us how much he appreciated working with Bethany during the past 17 months. And he pointed out all the wonderful qualities she has developed. It made this mom tear up for sure!

 

Bonne Après Midi!                                                                    11 November 2013

 

Well, it's afternoon here even if it's not where you are, and you don't really say that as a greeting. But I'm running low on greetings here guys!

So, Soeur Bernhardt found out that her visa petition was granted, but we had to spend several hours on the computer filling out more information and then getting on the phone to make the appointment at the American Consulate. She had me do it because she thought it would only be English (I knew it wouldn’t be.) Turns out that everybody I spoke to was French, but I did it anyway.

We set it up for this Wednesday at 7:30 am!! Tuesday we're going to be in Angers until 5pm for Zone Conference and then we take a train to Paris. The Consulate is not far from where I lived in Nanterre so we're going to stay there Tuesday night. If all goes well, Sr. Bernhardt will be on a plane on either Monday or Tuesday next week.

Also, I got some news from my trainer, Sr. Dremeaux (now home from her mission). She's engaged!!! To an Elder who served in our mission too. They had dated before, but it ended several months before both of them started their missions. She told me she didn't care about him anymore, but I knew better. ;) I'm just glad neither of them restarted anything while still on the mission. I just sent her a big email saying "I KNEW IT" over and over again. I'm so excited for her!

And it's cool because Sr. Dremeaux, actually she's Amandine now, worked before her mission in the same town where Sr. Bernhardt grew up, Albi. Sr. Bernhardt and I were able to scream and jump around together when I found out.

So Blois is just the prettiest town you've ever seen. Especially when you see it from across the Loire River. I love seeing it when I'm on the train. When I go to Angers tomorrow I'm going to try to take a video of it. It looks like something out of a Disney movie. Actually, a member just told me today that Chambord was the inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty.

We actually taught lessons last week!!! One was with a very Catholic grandmother who had some really great questions about the Family Proclamation. Another was with a young mother that the other Sisters had found a month earlier. Turns out she wasn't that interested, she said so from the very beginning. We were both going to just say thank you and leave, but something told us to push and find out why she was so hesitant. It's turns it's mostly rooted in Joseph Smith being a prophet and the Book of Mormon. She didn't understand why we needed more from God in our day, when we already had the Bible. We bore testimony about both of them for two lessons in a row and while she still wasn't sure after we left the 2nd time, I was so happy.

The Spirit was strong during both lessons as we testified. I know she felt it, you could see it on her face. She knew that she had to at least make the effort to ask God to know if it was true or not. I realized how much I'm going to miss testifying everyday with my authority as a missionary. I can still testify every day, but I won't be set apart. It is a privilege that it so wonderful and I sometimes took for granted. But I will miss it so much.

 

Love, Bethany

4 November 2013 I'm in Blois!

Bonjour from Blois!!!!
Oh.....my......gosh!!!!!! Blois is exactly the type of ville that I always wanted to serve in. Just the cutest, oldest, neatest town EVER!!!!! It was probably the smallest town I've served in, which scared Soeur Bernhardt and me when we first got here, but it's bigger than it looks.
It's a medieval type town and is surrounded by a lot of chateaus. One of them is right in Blois and is literally our neighbor! We went to it today. The chateau I really want to see is Chambord. However, there is only one bus that goes at 1PM and another that returns at 5PM. That would mean no time for emails. So we're still trying to figure out how we're going to do it.
One thing that surprised me about Blois is how many Muslims and Africans are here. Normally, little towns like that don't have that many, Arras and Quimper had like none; they mostly stay in the bigger cities. Being in St.Ouen was good for me because I got a LOT of practice teaching them. Nothing new for me.
The Branch is not terribly small; about 30 people at church every Sunday (Quimper had 15 on a good day.) And they have their own building too, a nice one. They like talking about how terrible it was up until four years ago, when they used to have to meet in an apartment. The members were really welcoming and are excited to have 4 sisters. There are quite a few investigators at church which was wonderful!
I met the President’s (of the mission) mother and was a little surprised at her greeting "So, are you a slaver?" Yup, because she heard I was from Alabama. It was a joke……!
There seems to be a lot of problems with people (in the Branch) getting offended here, but that always seems to be the case in Branches. I think it's because it's so small and easy to get on people's nerves. I like them though!

We live at 60 rue Denis Papin 41000 Blois FRANCE if you want to write me, but keep in mind that I'm leaving France soon. Our apartment is right in the middle of Centre Ville which is the area that most towns in France like to keep looking old for tourist reasons. However, despite the fact that it looks old it's probably the best apartment I've lived in or visited my whole mission. It's got a really nice layout. It's a little cramped with four sisters, but it's not that bad. I'm sleeping on the couch and there is an extra mattress for Soeur Bernhart. We had to spend the first few days buying stuff for the apartment, like a bar to hang clothes on, coat hangers, drawers, etc, so we would have room for all of our stuff.
We're living with Soeur Judd who is in her 24th transfer here and Soeur Doyle who is also new to Blois. Both are from Utah. We have SO MUCH FUN with them!!! I'll have to show you pictures of them next time. Soeur Bernhardt and I also get along great! I LOVE having someone to ask French questions to again. She doesn't really like practicing English, but I make her practice lessons with me in the morning. It's also cool to have the same acquaintances from Arras. I've been able to get the updates about the members that I wanted, especially the YSA serving missions.
So Soeur Bernhardt was really confused when she found out that she was leaving Evry after only two weeks. She thought that she had done something wrong. However, the Assistants told her that the President strongly felt that she had things to do in Blois. We also found out from Soeur Judd that she had been praying for another set of missionaries to come to Blois for three months because she feels that there is work to be done in Blois. Soeur Bernhardt and I feel a little pressure from all of this, but we also feel comforted to know that the Lord had told more than one person that we're needed here.

It's kind of daunting to come to a town and not know anybody, not know how to get anywhere and not having ANY investigators. We decided to start small and grow big. We prayed that we could just fix one appointment with someone our first day. And we did!!! With a family! And then the next day we called someone the other Blois sisters contacted a month ago and set an appointment with her! And THEN our third day, after having a very interesting lesson with an old Muslim couple, I felt I needed to talk to a young woman passing by, and SHE was interested too! We got one appointment every day that we've been here; if we keep going like that we'll have LOTS of appointments. Of course, it won't be like that every day, but we still know we have the Lord on our side.
We've also managed to make appointments with former amis that the other sisters had to stop teaching because they stopped progressing. Many of them were interested in meeting with us again when they heard a real French girl on the phone! NOW Soeur Bernhardt knows why she was needed. Also, there have been several less active women who know Soeur Bernhardt and agreed to meet with us, when the other sisters were unable to do so.
Bethany

End of October

Dear Everyone,

Well Dad, France DID actually change hours this weekend and I got to sleep for another hour. A missionary's dream (after baptisms that is)! Sadly, it was really windy all night and it kept moving the windows back and forth. It sounded like someone was slamming their body against it for 9 hours.

Yes!! Keep doing all that you can with the missionaries Mom and Dad!! I can’t wait to work with them when I get home!

Tee hee! Mom, I promise not to spill the Paxton Family cupcake recipe. And I'm planning on making those pumpkin cookies for Halloween! We also found pumpkin sausages at the store today. I'll tell you if they're any good. And I'll pray for your talk next weekend Mommy!

Last P-day we met up with the Evry sisters, another suburb of Paris, for lunch. It was my birthday lunch because we were supposed to do it for my birthday, but they missed their train that day so we delayed it. The Evry Soeurs were (I say "were" for a reason that will be revealed momentarily) in a trio because they had a French visa waiter, Soeur Bernhardt, with them. When I saw her I said, "Have we met before? Turns out she was in Arras every Sunday because her boyfriend was in that Ward. AND she’s from the same town where Soeur Dremeaux (my trainer) worked before her mission. It was nice to finally get to know her, since she wasn't really in the Arras ward I really never got to talk to her much.

Soeur Bernhardt is going to the Temple Square mission, which I had heard she wasn't too excited about. When I asked about it, she explained to me that she's happy enough to go there, it's just that she REALLY wanted to go to Madagascar. I told her that I'd try to visit her when I got back to Utah.

You're probably wondering why I've spent all that time talking about a random visa waiter. Well, I was 99.99 percent sure that I was going to stay in St.Ouen for my last transfer, but lo and behold what do I see when I check the transfer list today...Blois! And guess who my companion is? Soeur Bernhardt!!!! Now I'm DEFINITELY going to visit her while she's in Temple Square. Actually, she could be getting her visa anytime now, maybe even before transfer day. Whenever it does happen, I'll probably just become a trio with the other companionship of sisters that's already there. The fourth trio of my mission!

Blois is a smallish town (50,000 people), kind of in the middle of nowhere, but it has huge significance for our mission because that's where President Poznanski grew up. Most of the Branch is comprised of his family members. No pressure right! Blois is also located in the Loire Valley, which is known for having many famous castles. I hope I get to see a few!

FYI, Soeur MacKay and I went to the Champs-Elysée, Concorde and the Arc of Triumph for the rest of P-day. Even though I've been before it was always cloudy and cold this time of year, last week it was glorious! Lots of good pictures, if I can get them to load...

This week we went to Laurinda's with the Assistants because one of them could give a blessing in Portuguese. It was a good moment for her to see how the priesthood works...and her husband too. He stayed in the kitchen the whole time, but I saw that he was watching. Our problem now is that she's missed every week of church since her baptism, two weeks was General and Stake Conference, one week she was visiting her son and this last week she was ready to come, but there was a miscommunication on trying to get her a ride to church. And sadly, she says she can't go next week either. The first few weeks after a baptism is crucial for a new member so we're trying our hardest to get her to church.

Tuesday was a “miracles” day for us. As we began planning the night before, we realized we had no appointments set up, which is a bummer for missionaries. Soeur MacKay said, "Well, when you have nothing in your life, that's when the miracles start. So I started calling old investigators and potential ones to see if any were interested. The first woman I called was a woman named Hary who approached us a few weeks ago while we were grocery shopping. Turns out she was VERY interesting and we set up an appointment. We were a little disappointed though because we realized that she actually lived the area right next to us. We called the Elders in that area and they told us to teach her once and then pass her to them during the second lesson.

Then just as I hung up another companionship called and said they just realized that their investigator actually lives in our area. So while we had to give one great investigator away, we got another one in her place!

We had to talk with Aisata last week about why she isn't reading and coming to church. She says it's because she's never read anything about Joseph Smith in the bible and so she's not sure if she wants to research something that might not be true. We explained that research is how you find out something is true. Luckily, Aisata is really awesome and sincere and she admitted that she already knew that. She promised to really put forth an effort, but also said that if after a few more weeks she still doesn't feel that it's true then maybe we shouldn't see each other so often. We agreed. The thing is that I KNOW that if she does read, pray and attend church, she WILL know. It's the promise of the Lord! The question is: will she really do it? We're going to see her tonight and try to set up a FHE with a member for Wednesday, after I leave. :(

Things are going great with Alicia. What I love about teaching with her is that while she's is preparing for baptism we can see how the lessons are reactivating her mother, Joyce, little by little. Last week we talked about Sustaining the Prophet and Obedience, which worked because that was the subject the prophet spoke about during the April 2013 General Conference. It was a simple lesson, but I saw at the end that Joyce was crying tears of happiness. It was another moment when I said to myself, "This is why I came on a mission".

Love, Bethany

pictures 1- Last visit to Arc of Triumph 2-Missionary district 3-Alicia's family