June 27, 2011

Bonjour!

Well I think summer has officially started here in Paris... it is a whopping 96° here today!!!! Im pretty much sweating through my clothes... and the weather helps the metro smell GREAT!!! Im sure you wanted those details....

This week has been a rather dramatic one here in the France Paris Mission. We had our last Zone Conferance with President Staheli... and as of tomorrow we have a new mission president! The Zone Conferance was amazing. President and Sister Staheli left us with some wonderful words of wisdom. Soeur Staheli really focused on being a missionary now, because it is the only time in our lives where that is our only role. When we get home we can focus on all of the other roles/dreams/hopes we have- but now is the time to be 100 percent missionary. President  focused on learning to have good judgement and listening to the voice of the spirit vs. the natural man. It truly was so amazing (lm experiencing a lack of a better word-sorry) I hope someday I can even be a tenth of the person they are. I can't imagine what they are feeling leaving the mission... good thing I won't have to for a very long time! Soeur Pearce on the other hand had to deliver her departing/ dying testimony. And as much as she will claim it was a blubbering mess... It was amazing! I feel so blessed to have been 'trained' by her...she's the best and you can tell she is someone who gave her all to the mission!!! I love her!!! Overall the day was emotional...the worst part was singing 'God Be With You Till We Meet Again' as the Staheli's left mid song and drove away for a final time... dramatic I know. You could hear sniffles throughout the crowd.

Soeur Pearce has been fighting a bad cold all week that has left us in the awkward balance of trying to keep all our appointments while also letting her rest. At times it has resulted in an exchange with our roommates....and Im proud to report that I survived a day with Soeur Didier (ya she's the french one...who doesn't know much english) Through caveman french, lots of hand actions, and some nodding and smiling when I really had no clue what she was saying we somehow survived a day in Paris together... yes Im feeling accomplished about that :)

This week I also got to go to Belgium to sign my legality papers. I got to take a train up to Brussles with my entire MTC district and the group older than us...it was so much fun!!! I dont even know how to describe how great it was to see everyone and hear about how they are adjusting and the adventures they have already had here in the mission! I got to see the 'big sites' in Brussles aka Grande Place and Maniquinne Piss (disappointing)... and partake of Goufres (yes the waffles really are better in belgium...Especially when they are covered in nutella and strawberries hmmmmm) But honestly the best part was being reunited with my little MTC family...and Soeur Woodward and her companion got sleep over that night so it was a party in Paris!

And it truly was a party in Paris this week as it is Gay Pride Week .We have seen some very interesting people in the metro... and the elders have felt a little bit more self conscious about walking around in pairs with matching outfits this week. Living in the young, fun part of Paris was not a blessing as there were concerts and parties celebrating... one night we got off the metro and when we arrived home Soeur Pearce just looked at me and said " I think we just walked through Soddom and Gamorah". Call me naive....but the whole thing just left me sad and more determined of how badly the world needs the gospel and aware of how desperate people are to find a place where they belong.

We continued to make some interesting 'friends' this week. We had one referral from the Elders that was a bit of a miracle. Naomi is from Nigeria and just barely moved to Paris so we asked her to meet us at a main metro stop and then we would walk with her to the church. Well she got off at the wrong stop and called us and told us she was waiting at McDonalds. Right...not vague at all. After an hour and a half of calling back and forth and both parties feeling frustrated Soeur Pearce and I were ready to give up. She called us and told us 'It was not God's will that we meet today'. So we started to walk away feeling defeated... when all the sudden I noticed another McDonalds kind of hidden behind some other shops. We called her, and with some quick desperate prayers,  by some miracle she saw us and was still willing to meet with us. She walked with us to the church and when we gave her a Book of Mormon in english (she doesn't speak french) she jumped at Soeur Pearce and give her a huge hug! It was adorable. Well then in getting to know her we have some questions about her profession. She refused to tell us exactly what she does but did tell us that her work hours are from 7pm to 2 am... so Ill let your imagination run wild but we are trying to assume the best. We will see how it goes... we are just celebrating in the miracle of finding her!

As well Lou FINALLY came to church!!! We were so excited...the YW president is really excited about fellowshipping her so hopefully church will give her the place of belonging she needs so badly. We are hoping we can meet with her more often since school is out...but also scared that she be will at her Dad's house more often so we won't be able to see her...we will see.

Well this week the 'numbers' were better...but I also have come to the realization (or re-realization) that those don't really matter... as long as we are doing our best the Lord will provide. Like last night... after having some cabin fever from being home with sickly Soeur Pearce , the other Soeurs and I pulled out a matress, ate chocolate ice cream and watched Legacy on Soeur Didier's mini DVD player. Yes... we are a little desperate for chick flicks on the mission....but I was just grateful for the friendship the Lord has provided for me with the other sisters so that even when things get tough... I have someone to laugh about it with...

Love you and miss you!
Soeur Smith
PS Happy Canada Day on Friday!!! Ill try and represent our country well....