Ahhhhhhh this week has been so good! I will not do it justice in this
email, but I'll try anyways. Anyways, it's the last week we had to
find 10 new amis per companionship and Soeur McClellan and I
succeeded! I think we had 2 at the beginning of the week and we worked
hard to get new ones everyday. So we ended up getting 8 more! We had a
miracle couple call us--a lady we contacted forever ago but I only
vaguely remember her face, and she said she'd be at the chapel in
thirty minutes and could we teach her. Bah, ouaiii! They were a
Catholic couple but still open and haven't really been super keen on
it anyways, and wanted to discover more about the Mormons.
Among other new amis we have a few young adults named Kanto, JC,
Tristan, and Adrian, an older guy named Naceur who is so sparked every
time we call him, and an American woman named Jodi. They seem pretty
legit and so I'm excited to keep working with them. Add them to your
prayer list!
It is with lots of sadness that I report no news on our amie Deborah.
We haven't had contact for two weeks, and we just don't know what
happened. We keep praying for her and we hope one day she'll be ready
to come back to church.
On the positive side, our other amis are actually progressing! Nicolas
is still doing wonderfully. A month ago he started reading the Book of
Mormon and I think he might be done at this point because as of
Saturday he was already starting Mormon. He's really changing little
by little and it's cool to see how little acts of faith, like
consistent prayer and scripture study, can open up someone's heart and
create a burning testimony. Unfortunately we've had to move back his
baptismal date because for the moment he can't come to church, but
it's still his desire to be baptized and we're still working towards
that. He's awesome! Our other ami Sadin is also progressing little by
little. He knows that God is there and he really enjoyed learning
about the restoration of the church. He always asks the best questions
and the difference between our first lesson and now is black and
white. Each time he seems more humble and thirsty for answers.
Saturday night we had a movie night at the chapel for "Meet the
Mormons." We invited tons of people and it worked out quite well for a
last minute activity! Amis from us and the elders came, as well as
members, and everyone really liked the film. I love that movie! Makes
me love being a missionary ❤️❤️❤️
Today we had sisters conference and OH MY GOSH BEST DAY EVER. It was
seriously so fun. It was SO FUN to be reunited with all the sisters
and see ones I thought I'd never see again. There are also so many new
sisters that I got to meet! So many young ones that I had never
met...it's weird. Don't remember when I got so old in the mission. All
the STLs were assigned beforehand to bring a pair of their shoes and
talk a little about a lesson they learned in those shoes. The ones I
brought were the ones Allison left when she went home, so I talked a
little about my experience learning from my younger sister and being
able to call her my hero. Everything the other STLs shared was so
good, so inspired, and very touching. Along with President's and Soeur
Brown's comments. It was just what the sisters needed to hear. Soeur
McClellan and I did a musical number too that was kinda fun, but some
other sisters performed and it was SO GOOOD. I need to get the videos
airdropped to me to show you.
Also did I mention that out of all the 46 sisters in the mission,
Soeur McClellan and I were 2 of 8 that got to stay in the mission home
the night before?? Ahhhh!! Among those others were Soeurs Holmgren,
Grant, and Christensen who are all my former companions still in the
mission! I have no idea how those companionships were selected but I
was not complaining, best thing ever! We all stayed up so late
chatting with Soeur Brown. Soeur Grant and I were reminiscing on our
week we spent in the mission home around christmastime....just too
good. It's weird to think I'll be back there in a week for the event
which must not be named.
Our train back to Aix was cancelled so right now we're still in Lyon
finishing up emails. (Strikes here are SO BAD. It has never been this
bad my whole mission. They don't know if they'll ever stop, neither
the government nor workers are giving in. Also with the euro2016
football stuff going on all over France, security and stuff is CRAZY.
People are CRAZYYY!!) Anyways so yeah we're going home tomorrow
morning. Pray that our train will actually run! We heard a rumor that
June 14 is walk off day? Like everyone in France is supposed to walk
out of their job? I don't know. I'm just glad this kind of thing
doesn't happen as often chez nous.
This mission is so great! I have so many heroes! I wish I could stay
here forever.
Je vous aime !
Soeur Hurd
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Bonjour!
It's getting hotttt down here in Aix. Sandals are back out and I'm
generously rubbing in the sunscreen on my feet to avoid further tan
lines.
This week has been so good! Long, hot, but good. Unfortunately we've
had to cancel all our exchanges because of strikes so that's been a
bummer. But it means more time in our sector, which is great because
we need the time to find new amis!
Yesterday at church we had three new ones come to church! Two were
these adorable women we found on the street, an elderly mother and
grown daughter. They were so sparked by us and said they would come to
church before heading back out of town this Sunday, and people often
say that, but they actually came! It was so cute and they loved it. We
had another ami we met the week before come as well, and he really
liked it. En plus, it happened to be interregional multi-stake
conference so it was a broadcast from salt lake, and Bonnie Oscarson,
Elder Kearon, Elder Caussé, AND Elder Christofferson spoke! It was
awesome! I really want to get the talks in English.
Because it was a stake conference too, they announced in the first
part of the meeting those members ordained to office of an Elder in
the priesthood. And miracle Anthony from Cannes was just ordained an
Elder! So cool!!
Earlier in the week we had a great lesson with Deborah who's SUPER
excited for her baptism. She even tried on her baptismal dress and
liked it!
Saturday was the long-awaited Star Wars humanitarian activity. Our DMP
has been so excited about it since months ago and now it's happened!
So yeah basically there's this group that is obsessed with Star Wars
and they have like real costumes and everything and they go to events
and donate money to whatever cause the event is for. Our DMP is in
charge of an organization that takes care of orphans in Benin and
feeds them, gives them a home, etc. So we raised money for that
organization. So yeah not sure if in America this kind of activity
would fly because basically it's saying the church is promoting Star
Wars but hey you know, I think they just wanted to get lots of people
to the church! And it was actually cool to have good conversations
with the friends of the ward members.
Sorry this weeks letter is so lame, I have no time but next will be better!
Love you all!
Soeur Hurd
generously rubbing in the sunscreen on my feet to avoid further tan
lines.
This week has been so good! Long, hot, but good. Unfortunately we've
had to cancel all our exchanges because of strikes so that's been a
bummer. But it means more time in our sector, which is great because
we need the time to find new amis!
Yesterday at church we had three new ones come to church! Two were
these adorable women we found on the street, an elderly mother and
grown daughter. They were so sparked by us and said they would come to
church before heading back out of town this Sunday, and people often
say that, but they actually came! It was so cute and they loved it. We
had another ami we met the week before come as well, and he really
liked it. En plus, it happened to be interregional multi-stake
conference so it was a broadcast from salt lake, and Bonnie Oscarson,
Elder Kearon, Elder Caussé, AND Elder Christofferson spoke! It was
awesome! I really want to get the talks in English.
Because it was a stake conference too, they announced in the first
part of the meeting those members ordained to office of an Elder in
the priesthood. And miracle Anthony from Cannes was just ordained an
Elder! So cool!!
Earlier in the week we had a great lesson with Deborah who's SUPER
excited for her baptism. She even tried on her baptismal dress and
liked it!
Saturday was the long-awaited Star Wars humanitarian activity. Our DMP
has been so excited about it since months ago and now it's happened!
So yeah basically there's this group that is obsessed with Star Wars
and they have like real costumes and everything and they go to events
and donate money to whatever cause the event is for. Our DMP is in
charge of an organization that takes care of orphans in Benin and
feeds them, gives them a home, etc. So we raised money for that
organization. So yeah not sure if in America this kind of activity
would fly because basically it's saying the church is promoting Star
Wars but hey you know, I think they just wanted to get lots of people
to the church! And it was actually cool to have good conversations
with the friends of the ward members.
Sorry this weeks letter is so lame, I have no time but next will be better!
Love you all!
Soeur Hurd
MIRACLES
This week was so full of miracles!! Opposition is so real though--this
week has really been comprised of the highest of the highs and some
deeeep lows. But it's all wonderful and that's what makes life
beautiful!
Well, Monday we had a rdv with Deborah and she is SERIOUSLY SO GOLDEN.
We fixed a baptismal date with her for June 18--the last weekend of my
mission! And she is so excited. We saw her three times last week and
once again just now, and she is so prepared. She knows everything and
she has such a love for the Book of Mormon and she even has a
subscription to the ensign! Shes been going to church for about a year
and a half in England and other parts of France, since she travels
often. She has already been to Temple Square in Salt Lake City and
listens to Mormon tabernacle choir all the time. In each lesson she
teaches us and understands everything so well. It's clear she's an
elect daughter of God that has a work to do here on earth. I've never
met someone more prepared! She really wants to serve a mission too!
Tuesday we had an exchange with the Montpellier sisters and they're so
great! I was with Soeur Burton from Provo and she's just so adorable.
We've done exchanges a few times and I met her when she was a bleu,
and she's just made so much progress! Such a hardworking missionary
with a huge desire to serve the Lord. She's in her fourth transfer and
had to train right after she finished her second, so she's a champ.
Can't wait to hang out with her in Provo one day.
We also went to Cannes! I did an exchange with Soeur McKeon, another
bleu also from Provo and she's so awesome too! I had a reallyyy quick
exchange with her last transfer so it was good to have another real
one and get to know her better. We had an activity at the chapel and I
got to see a few members in the Cannes ward! It was so great! Two of
the young adults I knew are now planning on going to BYU next winter
so I'll get to hang with them! Also, miracle Anthony was there! It was
so great to see him all integrated with the ward and hanging out with
the other young adults! And he's been to the temple and just got his
patriarchal blessing!
Wednesday we met with our ami Nicolas and he's so precious!! He's
already changed so much from the first rdv we had with him and he's
been praying and reading everyday. He already finished 1 Nephi and
started 2nd. We were able to fix a baptismal date with him for July
2!! It's clear to us for him as well that he is truly a special son of
God sent here on earth with a work to do. Golden!! We'll see him again
this Wednesday.
Friday we had a lesson with a potential we met on the street and it
was fine until towards the end when we talked about the Book of Mormon
and had him read a few passages. He all of a sudden became so critical
and started criticizing the book, along with our chapel and the fact
that we didn't offer him something to drink during the rdv, along with
telling my companion she had to work on the subjective. I was like AH
NO YOU DIDNT and told him to stop there. It was so weird. It was like
Satan got a hold of him all of the sudden with the Book of Mormon and
he turned into this different hateful person. I've never had a worse
rdv. My companion told him to leave and he got even more angry. It was
bad. And there was a member with us the whole time who didn't know
what to do! Eventually he left but with my companion in tears! So much
opposition!!
Our amie Deborah had showed up in the meantime for her lesson directly
after, and she was an angel. She consoled us and was just what we
needed to recover from that lesson. It was horrible, but it made us
see how wonderful Deborah really is and how much we appreciated her.
Now we feel like sisters. I guess if the Lord trusts us enough to have
a miracle as wonderful as her, there's bound to be some opposition
there too.
Speaking of which, there have been transportation strikes going on all
over France forever now. This whole transfer and before that. Because
of that, so many of our exchanges have been messed up and we found out
a few days ago that all remaining district meetings and zone
conferences have been cancelled. Soooo sad, especially since it's my
last transfer. BUT sisters conference is still happening the last week
in Lyon! So excited! It's been rough though. The train workers have
been striking forever already and they keep extending it longer and
longer. Apparently some of the manifestations have been prettyyyy bad
and dangerous but we've been lucky enough to avoid them so far. With
all this opposition, president has launched us a new challenge! We're
not going to let it get to us! He wants is as a mission to get 1000
new Amis in the next two weeks. That's about 10 new amis per
companionship! That's a crazyyyyy high number for this amount of time,
considering that the European average is like 2 per companionship. But
we're going to get it and all this time staying in our sectors will
help us achieve this goal!
Yesterday we found our first new ami for this challenge. Yesterday was
a day of miracles. We had set a goal to get 20 lessons this week and
Sunday morning we had 11. We had 4 hours of contacting to do after
church before going to the bishops hours that night, so we were
determined to get 9 lessons! We planned specific times the night
before for the lessons and in some instances what we were going to
teach and even planned to run into a less active. WE GOT THE 9
LESSONS. The last one we got five minutes before catching the bus
which resulted in us sprinting to catch it (me barefoot because my
shoes were flying off). We even ran into an inactive woman like we had
planned! It was truly a day of miracles. We had 42 conversations just
in that one day, and it was so evident that God was putting people in
our path that he needed us to find.
Afterwards we had a really fun night at the Pichon home, the bishop's
family. It's Mother's Day in France so we met their extended family
and had lots of fun. We found out they might move to Utah so it would
be fun to see them there!
Anyways, I'm out of time, but it's been a great week. We're going to
keep it going.
Je vous aime!!
Soeur Hurd
week has really been comprised of the highest of the highs and some
deeeep lows. But it's all wonderful and that's what makes life
beautiful!
Well, Monday we had a rdv with Deborah and she is SERIOUSLY SO GOLDEN.
We fixed a baptismal date with her for June 18--the last weekend of my
mission! And she is so excited. We saw her three times last week and
once again just now, and she is so prepared. She knows everything and
she has such a love for the Book of Mormon and she even has a
subscription to the ensign! Shes been going to church for about a year
and a half in England and other parts of France, since she travels
often. She has already been to Temple Square in Salt Lake City and
listens to Mormon tabernacle choir all the time. In each lesson she
teaches us and understands everything so well. It's clear she's an
elect daughter of God that has a work to do here on earth. I've never
met someone more prepared! She really wants to serve a mission too!
Tuesday we had an exchange with the Montpellier sisters and they're so
great! I was with Soeur Burton from Provo and she's just so adorable.
We've done exchanges a few times and I met her when she was a bleu,
and she's just made so much progress! Such a hardworking missionary
with a huge desire to serve the Lord. She's in her fourth transfer and
had to train right after she finished her second, so she's a champ.
Can't wait to hang out with her in Provo one day.
We also went to Cannes! I did an exchange with Soeur McKeon, another
bleu also from Provo and she's so awesome too! I had a reallyyy quick
exchange with her last transfer so it was good to have another real
one and get to know her better. We had an activity at the chapel and I
got to see a few members in the Cannes ward! It was so great! Two of
the young adults I knew are now planning on going to BYU next winter
so I'll get to hang with them! Also, miracle Anthony was there! It was
so great to see him all integrated with the ward and hanging out with
the other young adults! And he's been to the temple and just got his
patriarchal blessing!
Wednesday we met with our ami Nicolas and he's so precious!! He's
already changed so much from the first rdv we had with him and he's
been praying and reading everyday. He already finished 1 Nephi and
started 2nd. We were able to fix a baptismal date with him for July
2!! It's clear to us for him as well that he is truly a special son of
God sent here on earth with a work to do. Golden!! We'll see him again
this Wednesday.
Friday we had a lesson with a potential we met on the street and it
was fine until towards the end when we talked about the Book of Mormon
and had him read a few passages. He all of a sudden became so critical
and started criticizing the book, along with our chapel and the fact
that we didn't offer him something to drink during the rdv, along with
telling my companion she had to work on the subjective. I was like AH
NO YOU DIDNT and told him to stop there. It was so weird. It was like
Satan got a hold of him all of the sudden with the Book of Mormon and
he turned into this different hateful person. I've never had a worse
rdv. My companion told him to leave and he got even more angry. It was
bad. And there was a member with us the whole time who didn't know
what to do! Eventually he left but with my companion in tears! So much
opposition!!
Our amie Deborah had showed up in the meantime for her lesson directly
after, and she was an angel. She consoled us and was just what we
needed to recover from that lesson. It was horrible, but it made us
see how wonderful Deborah really is and how much we appreciated her.
Now we feel like sisters. I guess if the Lord trusts us enough to have
a miracle as wonderful as her, there's bound to be some opposition
there too.
Speaking of which, there have been transportation strikes going on all
over France forever now. This whole transfer and before that. Because
of that, so many of our exchanges have been messed up and we found out
a few days ago that all remaining district meetings and zone
conferences have been cancelled. Soooo sad, especially since it's my
last transfer. BUT sisters conference is still happening the last week
in Lyon! So excited! It's been rough though. The train workers have
been striking forever already and they keep extending it longer and
longer. Apparently some of the manifestations have been prettyyyy bad
and dangerous but we've been lucky enough to avoid them so far. With
all this opposition, president has launched us a new challenge! We're
not going to let it get to us! He wants is as a mission to get 1000
new Amis in the next two weeks. That's about 10 new amis per
companionship! That's a crazyyyyy high number for this amount of time,
considering that the European average is like 2 per companionship. But
we're going to get it and all this time staying in our sectors will
help us achieve this goal!
Yesterday we found our first new ami for this challenge. Yesterday was
a day of miracles. We had set a goal to get 20 lessons this week and
Sunday morning we had 11. We had 4 hours of contacting to do after
church before going to the bishops hours that night, so we were
determined to get 9 lessons! We planned specific times the night
before for the lessons and in some instances what we were going to
teach and even planned to run into a less active. WE GOT THE 9
LESSONS. The last one we got five minutes before catching the bus
which resulted in us sprinting to catch it (me barefoot because my
shoes were flying off). We even ran into an inactive woman like we had
planned! It was truly a day of miracles. We had 42 conversations just
in that one day, and it was so evident that God was putting people in
our path that he needed us to find.
Afterwards we had a really fun night at the Pichon home, the bishop's
family. It's Mother's Day in France so we met their extended family
and had lots of fun. We found out they might move to Utah so it would
be fun to see them there!
Anyways, I'm out of time, but it's been a great week. We're going to
keep it going.
Je vous aime!!
Soeur Hurd
Exchange with Soeur Burton :)
Fete des Meres en France - even we potential mothers got flowers!
Does Chrissy want this shirt? Haha
Fueling the fire!
This week was soooo goooooood I hope I have time to write everything!!
So Monday we went to Lyon and had extra time so I took Soeur McClellan
to see beautiful Lyon and it was great! Saw the old city and went up
to Fourviere and it was just so wonderful to be back. Love that place
and can't wait to visit it later with Allison and you all one day!
That night all the STLs stayed in OUR apartment (beautiful new Ecully
apartment that I made our home) and it was sooo fun to be reunited
with everyone!! Soeur Holmgren, my blue, and Soeur Grant were just
companions in annemasse for a transfer, and when you get three
companions together that have all been together at one time or other
and all just get along super well, it's a blast! We reminisced and
laughter together forever. It was wonderful. I can't wait to see these
lovely ladies again after the mission. Soeur Holmgren is considering
BYU! Yesssss. Also she hits her year mark in like two weeks.....how
does time go that fast....
The next day at MLC was THE BEST. President actually invited everyone
from my going home group to the conference because everyone at one
time or another has been a leader in some way. We did an impromptu
musician number all together and it's such a big group! So many of us
going home have become my very best friends, so that sad day we leave
will also be a happy day of friends gathering together. Even though it
was a leadership conference, president directed a lot of what he said
to our group. He talked about how this is our last five weeks, and
it's a comeback conference. We didn't reach our baptismal goal last
transfer, but we're making a comeback! Talked a lot about fire and
grabbing the bull by the horns and lighting it on fire (told a funny
story of a relative about that). He testified that if we chose to make
it so, these next five weeks could be the best of our mission, and the
best of our life so far. I'm taking him up on that! This week is
already making it happen! Then the assistants talked about fire and
how it spreads and how we're starting the fire here in Lyon and taking
it back to each of our respective sectors across the mission. They
showed that one clip from lord of the rings (lol I know) when they
light this huge beacon and then all across the land bonfires go up
signaling their response to the call for help. Then Soeur brown showed
us the clip of the swimming relay from 2008 Summer Olympics--that one
where USA is against France and France is currently the top, and USA
is behind like the whole time and then the last leg of the race the
USA guy just comes out of nowhere and wins by like a millisecond! You
can bet that was the most exciting moment of a leadership conference
I've experienced my whole mission hahaha the whole room was freaking
outtttt go watch that clip again! It's so motivating!! Soeur Brown was
talking about how that winning USA swimmer was an older swimmer, a
veteran, and how we older missionaries need to finish that strongly
and make that comeback and bring in the win for the rest of the
mission and pass the fire onto them. We were all so motivated to
contact every human in our mission boundaries haha. So when we did a
contacting activity after lunch, we contacted everyone in sight and so
many miracles happened.
The next day we had a rdv with this new ami Nicolas who is so cool!
He's not really believing but is willing to learn our message and has
started to read the Book of Mormon and pray! We talked about temples
and preparing him to go. He was really close to his father, who passed
away a few years ago, so we also testified of eternal families made
possible in these temples. He's so legit and we know he'll be able to
receive these blessings one day.
Friday we had zone training and shared to the best of our ability the
fire that we caught in Lyon. We're making a comeback as a mission! I
think we did a good job of motivating them all and building that
flame! Right afterwards we sent everyone out on a ten minute
contacting blitz and so there were missionaries running in all
directions from the chapel trying to teach lessons on the street. It
was great!
That night we got invited to a bbq at a members home and they invited
lots of their neighbors and wanted us there to talk about the church.
It was cool and we had so many great conversations with people about
who we are. We talked to one man for twenty minutes about temples and
showed him several pictures. While we were there, a woman named
Deborah called us and said she has been going to church a long time
and when a while back in Aix and wants to be baptized. Whattttt! This
never happens. I had actually heard of someone named Deborah from the
DMP when I first got to Aix but no one knew anything about her and we
had absolutely no record of her in our area book. But she's back here
in Aix and will be until the end of June and wants to be baptized
here! She has the Book of Mormon already and asked for a triptych in
French. She came to church yesterday as well! We have a rdv with her
in thirty minutes
Then Saturday night we had a semi-rough rdv with jocelyne because even
though we were able to refix her baptismal date and she promised to
come to church, she called back thirty minutes later and said she
forgot she told her husband they would go out Sunday morning. Another
excuse yet again! We don't know what to do with her. She says she has
a testimony of Joseph smith and the restoration but doesn't quite
understand something because....if you understand Jesus Christ
restored HIS true church on the earth then that's a big deal and you
would go to it!! Every week! But we love her and maybe she's just not
quite ready :). But anyways Soeur McClellan really wanted pizza for
dinner so we went to this pizza stand close to our house and the guy
at the window was like "hey I'm looking for a religion!" So that was a
miracle and we're going to see him again this week.
So many miracles are happening here!! Also, just heard that there's
going to be a sisters conference in the mission home the last week of
the transfer! Ahhhhh I will get to see all those sisters again before
going home! The mission is the greatest.
Lindsey is such a mom! Her belly is so big!
Je vous aime tous !
Soeur Hurd
So Monday we went to Lyon and had extra time so I took Soeur McClellan
to see beautiful Lyon and it was great! Saw the old city and went up
to Fourviere and it was just so wonderful to be back. Love that place
and can't wait to visit it later with Allison and you all one day!
That night all the STLs stayed in OUR apartment (beautiful new Ecully
apartment that I made our home) and it was sooo fun to be reunited
with everyone!! Soeur Holmgren, my blue, and Soeur Grant were just
companions in annemasse for a transfer, and when you get three
companions together that have all been together at one time or other
and all just get along super well, it's a blast! We reminisced and
laughter together forever. It was wonderful. I can't wait to see these
lovely ladies again after the mission. Soeur Holmgren is considering
BYU! Yesssss. Also she hits her year mark in like two weeks.....how
does time go that fast....
The next day at MLC was THE BEST. President actually invited everyone
from my going home group to the conference because everyone at one
time or another has been a leader in some way. We did an impromptu
musician number all together and it's such a big group! So many of us
going home have become my very best friends, so that sad day we leave
will also be a happy day of friends gathering together. Even though it
was a leadership conference, president directed a lot of what he said
to our group. He talked about how this is our last five weeks, and
it's a comeback conference. We didn't reach our baptismal goal last
transfer, but we're making a comeback! Talked a lot about fire and
grabbing the bull by the horns and lighting it on fire (told a funny
story of a relative about that). He testified that if we chose to make
it so, these next five weeks could be the best of our mission, and the
best of our life so far. I'm taking him up on that! This week is
already making it happen! Then the assistants talked about fire and
how it spreads and how we're starting the fire here in Lyon and taking
it back to each of our respective sectors across the mission. They
showed that one clip from lord of the rings (lol I know) when they
light this huge beacon and then all across the land bonfires go up
signaling their response to the call for help. Then Soeur brown showed
us the clip of the swimming relay from 2008 Summer Olympics--that one
where USA is against France and France is currently the top, and USA
is behind like the whole time and then the last leg of the race the
USA guy just comes out of nowhere and wins by like a millisecond! You
can bet that was the most exciting moment of a leadership conference
I've experienced my whole mission hahaha the whole room was freaking
outtttt go watch that clip again! It's so motivating!! Soeur Brown was
talking about how that winning USA swimmer was an older swimmer, a
veteran, and how we older missionaries need to finish that strongly
and make that comeback and bring in the win for the rest of the
mission and pass the fire onto them. We were all so motivated to
contact every human in our mission boundaries haha. So when we did a
contacting activity after lunch, we contacted everyone in sight and so
many miracles happened.
The next day we had a rdv with this new ami Nicolas who is so cool!
He's not really believing but is willing to learn our message and has
started to read the Book of Mormon and pray! We talked about temples
and preparing him to go. He was really close to his father, who passed
away a few years ago, so we also testified of eternal families made
possible in these temples. He's so legit and we know he'll be able to
receive these blessings one day.
Friday we had zone training and shared to the best of our ability the
fire that we caught in Lyon. We're making a comeback as a mission! I
think we did a good job of motivating them all and building that
flame! Right afterwards we sent everyone out on a ten minute
contacting blitz and so there were missionaries running in all
directions from the chapel trying to teach lessons on the street. It
was great!
That night we got invited to a bbq at a members home and they invited
lots of their neighbors and wanted us there to talk about the church.
It was cool and we had so many great conversations with people about
who we are. We talked to one man for twenty minutes about temples and
showed him several pictures. While we were there, a woman named
Deborah called us and said she has been going to church a long time
and when a while back in Aix and wants to be baptized. Whattttt! This
never happens. I had actually heard of someone named Deborah from the
DMP when I first got to Aix but no one knew anything about her and we
had absolutely no record of her in our area book. But she's back here
in Aix and will be until the end of June and wants to be baptized
here! She has the Book of Mormon already and asked for a triptych in
French. She came to church yesterday as well! We have a rdv with her
in thirty minutes
Then Saturday night we had a semi-rough rdv with jocelyne because even
though we were able to refix her baptismal date and she promised to
come to church, she called back thirty minutes later and said she
forgot she told her husband they would go out Sunday morning. Another
excuse yet again! We don't know what to do with her. She says she has
a testimony of Joseph smith and the restoration but doesn't quite
understand something because....if you understand Jesus Christ
restored HIS true church on the earth then that's a big deal and you
would go to it!! Every week! But we love her and maybe she's just not
quite ready :). But anyways Soeur McClellan really wanted pizza for
dinner so we went to this pizza stand close to our house and the guy
at the window was like "hey I'm looking for a religion!" So that was a
miracle and we're going to see him again this week.
So many miracles are happening here!! Also, just heard that there's
going to be a sisters conference in the mission home the last week of
the transfer! Ahhhhh I will get to see all those sisters again before
going home! The mission is the greatest.
Lindsey is such a mom! Her belly is so big!
Je vous aime tous !
Soeur Hurd
Exploring a new outer ville
Charmaine!! And her cute chocolate egg
Back on the Saone!
Back in Vieux Lyon :)
Fourviere! <3
So many people I love <3 <3 <3
Little baby Holmgren so grown up! She hits her year mark this transfer!
All the sisters I did exchanges in Geneva with
Happy Mother's Day!
Well it was so wonderful to skype with the family yesterday! I am
continually amazed at the ability we have to communicate with several
people all across the world all at the same time. Thank you, Heavenly
Father, for inspiring people to develop these incredible tools. Now
that we've talked, I'm not sure what to put in my email.
This morning during studies I fixed some transfer goals. It was hard
because I just want to fit everything into one transfer since this is
the last chance I get to improve myself as a full time missionary! I
need to take advantage of this sacred time! One of the things I want
to really work on is developing the Christlike attribute of humility.
During the mission it's common to have lots of ups and downs of
feeling great about yourself and then feeling wayyyy low like you've
got an impossible amount of growing to do. I love the description of
humility given in Preach My Gospel "It includes acknowledgment of your
constant need for His divine help. ... You are confident that you can
do whatever the Lord requires of you if you rely on Him." This reminds
me of Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven." I love these definitions in trying to find the
true meaning of humility. Humility is NOT thinking poorly of or
constantly diminishing oneself. It IS recognizing our nothingness
compared to God but complete confidence in Him. I want to give all I
have to the Savior this transfer and let Him work the miracles. I hope
that I can truly become who He needs me to be.
This past week we did a lot of member visits and lots of asking for
referrals! That was one of our goals so it was exciting to see we were
able to accomplish that. Still got no referrals from members though.
BUT we can tell they're really trying to find ways to invite their
friends to our upcoming activity in June and to church and share the
gospel with them. We're helping them any way we can. I think we're
going to start seeing cool miracles the next couple months.
Oh and yes it's official, I'm spending my last transfer in Aix with
Soeur McClellan again :). Next Monday we're heading to Lyon for
leadership council and we're getting in pretty early this time, so I'm
hoping to be able to take a little tour through the old stomping
grounds :). Soeur McClellan has never served in Lyon so we might try
to see Vieux Lyon or meet up with Marsha, the amazing Peruvian amie I
taught in Ecully! We'll see what we can do.
Je vous aime !
Sœur Hurd
continually amazed at the ability we have to communicate with several
people all across the world all at the same time. Thank you, Heavenly
Father, for inspiring people to develop these incredible tools. Now
that we've talked, I'm not sure what to put in my email.
This morning during studies I fixed some transfer goals. It was hard
because I just want to fit everything into one transfer since this is
the last chance I get to improve myself as a full time missionary! I
need to take advantage of this sacred time! One of the things I want
to really work on is developing the Christlike attribute of humility.
During the mission it's common to have lots of ups and downs of
feeling great about yourself and then feeling wayyyy low like you've
got an impossible amount of growing to do. I love the description of
humility given in Preach My Gospel "It includes acknowledgment of your
constant need for His divine help. ... You are confident that you can
do whatever the Lord requires of you if you rely on Him." This reminds
me of Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven." I love these definitions in trying to find the
true meaning of humility. Humility is NOT thinking poorly of or
constantly diminishing oneself. It IS recognizing our nothingness
compared to God but complete confidence in Him. I want to give all I
have to the Savior this transfer and let Him work the miracles. I hope
that I can truly become who He needs me to be.
This past week we did a lot of member visits and lots of asking for
referrals! That was one of our goals so it was exciting to see we were
able to accomplish that. Still got no referrals from members though.
BUT we can tell they're really trying to find ways to invite their
friends to our upcoming activity in June and to church and share the
gospel with them. We're helping them any way we can. I think we're
going to start seeing cool miracles the next couple months.
Oh and yes it's official, I'm spending my last transfer in Aix with
Soeur McClellan again :). Next Monday we're heading to Lyon for
leadership council and we're getting in pretty early this time, so I'm
hoping to be able to take a little tour through the old stomping
grounds :). Soeur McClellan has never served in Lyon so we might try
to see Vieux Lyon or meet up with Marsha, the amazing Peruvian amie I
taught in Ecully! We'll see what we can do.
Je vous aime !
Sœur Hurd
Soeur Roche taught us how to make Charlotte aux fraises
Soeur Roche :)
District meeting
Aubagne soeurs
My companion actually enjoys foie gras (duck liver).
This was fun! Technology is rad
Sister Surprises!
This letter is going to be lame but here goes: So this week started
off kind of complicated as we learned that our zone conference was
moved from Thursday to Friday because of transportation strikes
(typical France). As we had planned to do exchanges with our sisters
before and after the conference, we had to take some time to rearrange
everything! Because it was really complicated to change train tickets
for three zones, Montpellier and Perpignan came in a day early anyways
so we had surprise sleepovers! Cannes sisters were already in Aubagne
doing an exchange with them, so luckily we only had 4 extra sisters
with us each night. We REALLY had to get our exchange with Cannes in,
so on Thursday they came up from Aubagne and we had a triple exchange
with us, them, and Montpellier sisters. We sent Perpignan sisters down
to Aubagne to do a surprise exchange with them that day. These few
days were full of improvise planning, meals at the chapel, and trying
to herd 20 elders away from the kitchen (there were tons of elders
whose trains also came in early...the poor ZLs...trying to fit that
many teenage boys into an apartment AND finding things to keep them
busy is rough).
It's been really fun to get to know each of them better. Especially
talking to Perpignan sisters, who are not under our allotments so we
rarely see them. Let me tell you, I love being an STL and hanging with
all the sisters! But, alas, I would be lying if I said I wasn't
relieved we don't have to play hostess everyday. We were exhausted
afterwards haha.
Zone conference was absolutely wonderful! It's weird to see the Browns
only once or twice each transfer, I miss them! So it's just the
biggest burst of sunshine when I get to see them again. We talked
about baptisms the whole time. Soeur McClellan and I performed our
musical number again. We talked a lot about building the faith to
baptize 91 people this transfer and how it's not a question of whether
or not it's possible. We know the Lord has extended this challenge to
us and it's up to us to do all we can to reach it. I'm not sure what
our current number is but I know that pretty much everyone on our
engage list has a date for May 7 or 8. Our engage jocelyne was set for
that date, but she hasn't come to church at all so she can't be
baptized that date :(. Pray a ton for us that our mission will
accomplish this goal!
We had a cool lesson with one of our amis, Sadin, who is really
stubborn but on my exchange with Soeur McKeon, we taught him the
beginning of plan of salvation and about halfway through the lesson a
cool change came over him and he opened up and told us why his faith
was lost and his current worries. It was cool! He totally needed to
hear about the plan of salvation and eternal families. At the end he
prayed and it was way sincere! Soeur McKeon did an awesome job. She's
a blue from Provo, currently in Cannes, and is such an awesome
teacher! I really liked spending the day with her and she's just so
cool. Also did the same study abroad program I did but the semester
right after so I was sparked by that.
Par contre, we had a lesson Saturday with our new ami Abdoulaye and we
actually had it with a member this time and she totally bombed it! I
knowwwwwww we're supposed to teach with members all the time but
sometimes it's just hard when you're sitting in the lesson and
realizing that you're the one called of God to testify and yet you
can't get a word in. She was totally missing the mark on everything.
But you know, it's ok. We showed our faith by having a member there,
and I hope the Lord will be able to compensate for the damage done. It
was bad haha. He's still a way cool ami so I don't think it's over.
Yesterday the ironman came through Aix! It made our walk to and from
church very interesting. So many champions!
This week I'm deepening my study of the Atonement. All transfer I've
been studying talks on it as one of transfer goals, and I've had a few
questions come to mind from my studies. This week I'll be prayerfully
meditating and studying to further understand these questions and the
infinite sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to take a few
minutes each day this week to prayerfully consider this atoning
sacrifice for you personally. I love Elder Ballard's questions to
youth and young adults a few conferences ago: "Do you think deeply
about the Savior and His atoning sacrifice for you?"
Je vous aime!
Soeur Hurd
off kind of complicated as we learned that our zone conference was
moved from Thursday to Friday because of transportation strikes
(typical France). As we had planned to do exchanges with our sisters
before and after the conference, we had to take some time to rearrange
everything! Because it was really complicated to change train tickets
for three zones, Montpellier and Perpignan came in a day early anyways
so we had surprise sleepovers! Cannes sisters were already in Aubagne
doing an exchange with them, so luckily we only had 4 extra sisters
with us each night. We REALLY had to get our exchange with Cannes in,
so on Thursday they came up from Aubagne and we had a triple exchange
with us, them, and Montpellier sisters. We sent Perpignan sisters down
to Aubagne to do a surprise exchange with them that day. These few
days were full of improvise planning, meals at the chapel, and trying
to herd 20 elders away from the kitchen (there were tons of elders
whose trains also came in early...the poor ZLs...trying to fit that
many teenage boys into an apartment AND finding things to keep them
busy is rough).
It's been really fun to get to know each of them better. Especially
talking to Perpignan sisters, who are not under our allotments so we
rarely see them. Let me tell you, I love being an STL and hanging with
all the sisters! But, alas, I would be lying if I said I wasn't
relieved we don't have to play hostess everyday. We were exhausted
afterwards haha.
Zone conference was absolutely wonderful! It's weird to see the Browns
only once or twice each transfer, I miss them! So it's just the
biggest burst of sunshine when I get to see them again. We talked
about baptisms the whole time. Soeur McClellan and I performed our
musical number again. We talked a lot about building the faith to
baptize 91 people this transfer and how it's not a question of whether
or not it's possible. We know the Lord has extended this challenge to
us and it's up to us to do all we can to reach it. I'm not sure what
our current number is but I know that pretty much everyone on our
engage list has a date for May 7 or 8. Our engage jocelyne was set for
that date, but she hasn't come to church at all so she can't be
baptized that date :(. Pray a ton for us that our mission will
accomplish this goal!
We had a cool lesson with one of our amis, Sadin, who is really
stubborn but on my exchange with Soeur McKeon, we taught him the
beginning of plan of salvation and about halfway through the lesson a
cool change came over him and he opened up and told us why his faith
was lost and his current worries. It was cool! He totally needed to
hear about the plan of salvation and eternal families. At the end he
prayed and it was way sincere! Soeur McKeon did an awesome job. She's
a blue from Provo, currently in Cannes, and is such an awesome
teacher! I really liked spending the day with her and she's just so
cool. Also did the same study abroad program I did but the semester
right after so I was sparked by that.
Par contre, we had a lesson Saturday with our new ami Abdoulaye and we
actually had it with a member this time and she totally bombed it! I
knowwwwwww we're supposed to teach with members all the time but
sometimes it's just hard when you're sitting in the lesson and
realizing that you're the one called of God to testify and yet you
can't get a word in. She was totally missing the mark on everything.
But you know, it's ok. We showed our faith by having a member there,
and I hope the Lord will be able to compensate for the damage done. It
was bad haha. He's still a way cool ami so I don't think it's over.
Yesterday the ironman came through Aix! It made our walk to and from
church very interesting. So many champions!
This week I'm deepening my study of the Atonement. All transfer I've
been studying talks on it as one of transfer goals, and I've had a few
questions come to mind from my studies. This week I'll be prayerfully
meditating and studying to further understand these questions and the
infinite sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to take a few
minutes each day this week to prayerfully consider this atoning
sacrifice for you personally. I love Elder Ballard's questions to
youth and young adults a few conferences ago: "Do you think deeply
about the Savior and His atoning sacrifice for you?"
Je vous aime!
Soeur Hurd
Surprise sleepover with Perpignan and Montpellier
Loveliest ladies around
Lovely day in Aix! Sunday walk home was serenaded by cheers and music of the Ironman that took place.
FHE with Soeur Connessa! Soeur McClellan's dad's famous red sauce was our meal
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