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| From the platform at Béthune |
SINGING LOUD FOR ALL TO HEAR. And that we did. Basically our
entire week was running around singing to everyone and giving people cookies. It
was delightful. Except we burn cookies like it is an Olympic sport. We burned
at least 6 trays of cookies. French ovens. Ugh. Or it was just us and our lack
of hearing the tiny little timer. Nevertheless, people got some semi good
cookies, some ok singing, except "angels we have heard on high"
glorias made us bust up laughing with everyone's inability to hold it out, and
beautiful cards we bought from an Abbey/Monastery in St. Pol sur Ternoise.
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| Macdo with Soeur Rivièrre |
Sœur Meurisse drove us around the countryside into little
villages to sing to less actives, single members, and brought us to a new ami!
We visited 14 people in one day. May not seem like a lot, but considering the
distance in between each of the people, it's a lot. The most time we spent in
one place was 15 minutes. We were flying. But it was great.
The day ended splendidly. Franck is our new ami. The most
solid ami I've had yet in Arras. God has prepared him and he has experienced a lot
of difficult things to humble him to receive the gospel. He has had to start
over at ground zero. Divorced, lost his job, lost basically everything else,
and just had to pull himself up. He came from poverty but fought his way out of
the cycle, beating many odds and recognizes the hand of God in his life in
saving him until now.
He lives next door to a less active member, but works with
another member. He had seen us come over to visit his neighbor a few times and thought
we were Jehovah's Witness... Common mistake. Well, he had studied with the JW
for a bit, as he has been searching for the truth, being confused with so many
churches and so many bibles. He asked who we were to his neighbor and that
began a discussion. The member with whom he works then got him a Book of Mormon
and invited him to meet with us. And thus we met and had a lovely rendezvous at
his house with Soeur Fournelle and Soeur Meurisse.
We taught the entire Restoration and it went so smoothly. No
interruptions during the first vision, awesome testimonies from members, and he
had some great questions. He said "it's like I've known this without
knowing it before." when we shared the first vision. I asked him how he
feels, and that is how he replied. We invited him to baptism. He accepted. He
truly is such a miracle placed into our hands. I am grateful for valiant
members who live the gospel and share it by their actions and words. Without them, we simply cannot do
this work. No matter how many doors we knock, how many people we stop on the
street or on transportation, the best way to have solid amis is to have been
taught by example of the members and they invite them to learn more. What are
you doing to help the work go forth in your ward?
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| Bonday sticks. |
Bonday was splendid as usual. It was nice to serve at their
house, as we have not been able to for a few weeks. We cleaned up their garage,
sanded a door, painted said door, painted some more picket fences, and climbed
on some "sticks". Brother Bond got a little delivery for his wood
working. They made us try some mince meat pie, strait up ginger drink stuff,
and some chutney. Always an adventure. We practiced God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
for the ward Christmas party. To be quite frank, I was a bit apprehensive.
Guitar + amp, tambourine, Shakers, and maracas.... In a church... I felt a
little baptist or evangelical. But it turned out fun and everyone loved it. We
added the spice to the evening.
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Christmas caroling with
some wonderful members.
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Saturday we weekly planned in the morning and headed strait
for the chapel to be divided to conquer the world with secret Santa stuff and more
caroling. We did member splits into 4 groups, so one missionary per group. I
went with Bishop and Soeur Leterme, her mom, a young man, and two of the young
women, Paola and Noémi. It was pretty fun. We sang, prayed, and delivered
baskets of food and treats. Nothing like giving and singing and praying. It's
the best. Then finished the night with the ward party. Every auxiliary
performed a piece. Soeur Soileau and I were invited to sing with the young
women too, so we sang "away in a manger" and then "God Rest Ye
Merry Gentlemen" with the rockin Bonds. It was a good night. Franck didn't
come, which was a bummer, but a ton of less actives did and everyone seemed to
have a great night of love, service, and Christmas spirit.
I am so excited for this week. It should be filled with
awesome. Headed to Paris tonight, sleeping over in my old apartment, and going tomorrow
to pick up my legality ID card that allows me to live in France for another
year! Then district meeting, lesson visits, district activity, Christmas Eve
with members, Christmas Day with the Sanchez family, SKYPE MY FAMILY, and find
more of my brothers and sisters looking for the truth.
I am grateful for the 40 day fast we have been a part of. It
has not been easy, nor how I thought it would be. I had mustered some faith to try
and find 40 Amis before Christmas, we tried pretty hard. I don't feel like I
did everything I could, which is frustrating, but I suppose it has been a very
good lesson in humility and reliance upon the Lord.
Though we may not find 40 by Christmas, we've found 4. And
two more children have been brought closer unto Christ: Soeur Soileau and I have
both felt a deeper connection to our Savior, Jesus Christ. I suppose the soul
that needed to be brought unto Christ was my own. If that is all I did, I think
I can feel okay. I know my savior lives. I know He has a plan. I know that
prayer is real. I know there is power, literal strength, in reading the Book of
Mormon. I know that Christ loves me. He loves you. I have felt His overwhelming
love for others. I know His gospel and church have been restored to the earth
and I have come to know of their importance and vitality to our salvation. I have
shared His message and the story of His birth and in doing so I have discovered
why "a savior is born." We need Him. We simply couldn't do it without
a savior.
Jesus Christ, our Savior was born and He lives.
Merry Christmas, Sœur Kate Simpson
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