Bonjour!

Bonjour famille!

Tuesday we had our zone conference with President and Sister Brown and
they are truly amazing! Like Allison said in her letter last week,
they are some of the most loving people live ever met. President Brown
clasped my hand in both of his and said "You're Sister Melissa Hurd.
You look beautiful today, thank you so much for lighting up this
room." So sweet! We started conference late because he was going
around greeting every missionary and talking with them. And Sister
Brown is seriously the cutest mission mom!! She's absolutely adorable.
She's such a normal person. You can tell she's been feeling inadequate
for the work ahead of her, but Elder Uchtdorf gave her some advice
that I'm taking the liberty of sharing: "You have to do it your own
way." I'm so excited for "her way" because president said we're in for
the biggest treat of our lives.

When Elder Kearon came to speak to us in April he said oftentimes
missionaries are not necessarily called to a specific mission but to a
specific mission president. I felt strongly when I was talking with
Browns that one of the biggest reasons I was sent to this mission was
for them.

We had interviews with president during this conference and it was
seriously so great and much needed. He is an inspired man. He already
knows exactly who I am. He gave me the same advice that President
Uchtdorf gave his wife: I have to do it my own way. It's kinda weird
to hear that because during the mission I've been trying SO HARD not
to think about myself and learn everything I can from everyone around
me. I've been trying so hard to acquire Christlike attributes and the
best attributes of my companions. I think in the process though I've
forgotten to amplify my own spiritual gifts. As president talked to me
about what some of those are, I realized I felt like I had lost a bit
of myself. Sad! As I made goals this week to forte the gifts I've
already been given, I realized that missionary work is already so much
easier and so much more fun. It was exactly the advice I needed! He
even counseled me to call someone who I thought was a good example of
what I lacked. I picked Allison, it was good to chat. ☺️ I hope I get
to see her soon!

President Brown told Sister Holmes in her interview that miracles
await in Cannes. He knows we don't have any Amis. He knows we're
struggling. But he promised! That night on the way home from
conference we contacted from the gare to home and we ran into this
lady who was taking her dog out. She was very closed off and even said
she doesn't actually really like Mormons. We asked her what she knew
about us and ended up talking about tithing, restoration, lots of
other things. We talked with her for a while and it was incredible to
see how she just opened up and her heart was softened. We ended up
getting her number and will meet with her soon. She said that usually
she doesn't like to go out and mostly keeps to herself, and especially
that day was feeling put off. But she just decided to take her dog out
at that time, and she said how delighted she was to run into us. Each
of us agreed it was not a coincidence. A miracle! A few days later we
made contact with a long lost recent convert that just disappeared off
the face of the earth after his baptism. Sister Holmes said she hadn't
seen him since March. We don't know exactly the situation but we made
contact nonetheless. Another miracle!

Last ward council my companion and I suggested we do a ward fast for
each person to have their own missionary experience as part of
accomplishing a goal we saw on the (maybe forgotten) ward mission
plan. After expressing our desire and hearing some other suggestions,
we felt like we got a "yeah sure whatever lets do it for fast Sunday
tomorrow and get it out of the way" response. We figured it was a
flop. Or maybe they liked the idea...we don't know. We'll blame it on
the language barrier. Well Sunday happened and one of the bishopric
members bore his testimony about missionary work and the fast and I
was really touched. He took it to heart! This week at ward council he
approached us and told us he had invited a coworker over to his home
for a family home evening. He even asked her if she would be
interested in talking with the sister missionaries. She said yes!
Another miracle!!

Today for Pday we went on a hike way up by Saint Vallier, a far outer
ville of our sector. It's called the route de Napoleon because after
he escaped from the island of Italy he landed at the beach at Juan des
Pins and then made the trek up through the mountains all the way to
Paris. We were following the same route, but not all the way to Paris.
The people of France loved him so they recognized him and gathered a
group of soldiers all the way. They started with five followers and
ended up with 45,000 by the time he reached Paris! Napoleon. What a
bro. Anyways, the hike was lovely!! We picnicked and had a great time
with our ward mission leader and his son and the four other elders in
the ward. I'll send pics.

Ok I'm sorry, why did no one tell me how amazing Elder Maxwell was?? I
mean of course, I always knew he was.  Recently I was wanting to study
more of his talks and then Sister Holmes told me about this great talk
he gave and I started reading and it was beautiful. Not only are his
talks direct and exactly what I and everyone should here, but they are
beautifully written with the best imagery and alliteration. Also they
are kind of intense and I feel like I'm back in AP literature
analyzing everything. It's the best. I've read several talks of his
since then and I'm excited to continue. Two of my favorites so far are
"Why Not Now?" and "The Man of Christ." Read them.

This week we also did a transfer in Aix-en-Provence and it was super
fun! We love our STLs and always learn so much from them. They invited
us to specifically study and learn about leadership because we are
being leaders all the time, whether or not we have a formal leadership
position. I've been reading some great talks, but I would love some
other suggestions! If you have a favorite leadership talk, let me know
what it is.

Friday we find out about transfers and I'm terrified 😬 part of my is
scared I will do a one-and-done and have to leave Cannes. I hope not!
I love the ward! On verra vendredi!

Je vous aime! Bisous!

Sœur Melissa Hurd