refreshing week of my mission. We've been hanging out with the Browns.
And by hanging out I mean living with them! Long story short, we had a
creepy incident Tuesday evening coming home, and so Wednesday morning
on the way to St. Etienne for an exchange, we finally decided to call
president about it. President is very cautious and protective and
hasn't let us sleep in our apartment and were not complaining--they
invited us to come stay with them! So we've been with them since
Thursday and it is A BLAST. It's actually been a really big blessing
for all of us. Both President and Sister Brown have been so busy
preparing for our huge all-mission conference this week and there are
so many things still to be done. We've been able to help Sister Brown
do a lot of grocery shopping and organizing and planning and wrapping
and baking to help get everything ready. President also asked us a
while ago to do a large art project for the conference and so we were
FINALLY able to get that done as well.
Let me take a moment and brag about Sister Brown--she is the most
courageous, hard-working, fun, motherly person EVER and she keeps this
mission going. I have NO IDEA how she does it all. She doesn't speak
the language, she's far away from her kids and grandkids and
everything familiar back home, and yet she somehow can whip out a
gourmet meal in 10 minutes for 10 people (cause she's always feeding
the assistants 🐷) and can plan games and meals for over 200
missionaries and make everyone happy at the same time. She's AMAZING.
And she even does it without Costco, which is HARD in France. Plus,
she takes care of everyone's emotional needs and has pretty much all
the normal responsibilities that her husband has. I have the deepest
respect for mission presidents' wives now.
Basically it's just been the best thing to spend the last few days
with the Browns. We've shared our meals with them, we've said family
prayer together, we've even played basketball all together after a
long day of work. I really do feel like they are my parents now. And
that is so nice because sometimes you just need a mom and some days
you just need a dad. We'll be staying with them until after the
conference after which we'll move in with the Val de Saone sisters
(Allison's apartment) where we'll be living until they find us a new
apartment. Spoiled again to be living with my own sister. I think some
really hard trials must be in store for me because right now the
mission is just bliss!
We are so excited for the mission conference, which will be starting
tomorrow and going until Wednesday. We pretty much know all the
secrets about it because we've been helping do it all, and it's going
to be AMAZING. The Lord has truly been helping President and Sister
Brown prepare for all of this and directing their decisions. I know
this conference is going to unite our mission and unite us in our
cause to bringing the message of the temple to all those we encounter.
Speaking of which, we talked to our amie nelly again about the temple
and baptism and she's ok. Remember how we thought all was lost? Well
she's making even more progress than before. The Lord has her in her
hands, and he's helping her all along the way. She said she is even
going to start taking piano lessons!! If you knew her, you'd know
that's a big deal haha. So cute.
I am so grateful to be a missionary, especially here in France and
especially during this Christmas season! I'm so grateful to know the
real reason we celebrate Christmas and rejoice in the Savior's birth.
He came to the earth for each one of us and if he didn't, there would
be no hope or peace on earth. We can clearly see in the world today
the need for this hope and peace (lots of people here don't have it!
And I imagine it's the same in the USA if what I've heard about
current presidential candidates is true 😩). Fortunately, we know that
Jesus Christ brings lasting peace and lasting joy. His gospel is true,
and it is the ONLY way we will be truly happy in this life and the
life to come. I know that He has so much in store for me and for each
one of his children. I'm so happy to know that even amidst the turmoil
of this world, Christ will triumph all. The glad tidings we bring to
the world are not just to help people feel good but are actually true,
and are part of something bigger at work than any of us can imagine.
Je vous aime très fort, et je vous souhaite un très joyeux Noël !
Sœur Melissa Hurd
Assistants to Sister Brown--prepping for all the mission conference next week!
Sleepover chez Brown....most spoiled missionaries
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