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| Bye to Soeur Soileau |
What a week. It was a good one, as usual, but change is
always an adjustment. It was sad to say goodbye to mission friends and Soeur Soileau
but I know there are far better things ahead for her. I'm excited for her to
discover and learn more. She'll be wonderful.
Tuesday was a day of service and render-vous. The elders
washing machine has been broken and then just barely told us that they have been
hand washing the last bits of their clothes. I told them to bring all their
laundry over and we'd do it for them. So we spent every time we weren't
teaching, switching, folding, and ironing their clothes. It was a nice service
and they desperately needed it. We Febreezed everything.
We taught a new amie, Anasthasie, the restoration and she
believed it right away. It turns out she already has a Book of Mormon and knew some
missionaries a few years ago in Lille but had lost contact. She is evangelist
and very believing. She told us about her experience of being baptized in the
evangelical church and that she started speaking in tongues she didn't
know...it was a little iffy. But she was super nice and the rest of the time we
felt the spirit. She told us that the first vision was true and she believes in
it and that she would start the Book of Mormon again. We are hopeful for her.
Wednesday was transfer day, so the elders came to help with
bags and then we were off to Paris. We separated at Gare du Nord; I went to St.
Merri for training training, and she had to wait with other missionaries to get
to Austerlitz to get to Orléans. I love St. Merri. It's like being home. We
were trained by Président Babin and Elder McBride a bit before all the bleus
came in. It was a pretty big group. We were divided trainers on one side
and bleus on the other. Then one by one,
president and his little slide show announced who was going to be training who.
I didn't keep track until it came because the group was so big, but I was the
last Soeur to get my bleue.
Sœur Marianna Giordano. Yes, her father is half Italian. She
was born and partially raised in Boston,
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| Hello to Soeur Giordano |
Mass and the teen years in Wausau, Wisconsin.
She has studied English and international development for 4 years at BYU and is
22. She is amazing. Absolutely a dream come true for a trainer. She is so
prepared and so ready to work. She hit the ground running and I've been trying
to catch up. I have been so impressed. She speaks French very well, still
struggling with comprehension, especially with the northern accent, but none of
the members believed she was a brand new missionary. They give her at least 6
months in France already. It has made my job a whole lot easier. We just go
hard all day long and I love it. She's got the bleue fire and it's contagious.
We went to the Leterme's, the bishop and his family, for her
first rendezvous. It went well and she connected with the family. They were silly
and teased her a lot, so I believe that means she fits right in. Haha
We spent Thursday with Soeur Meurisse, driving all over the
place to see less actives. We got to meet and teach two sisters I've never met,
so it was nice to get to now them. We had some pretty bold lessons about coming
unto Christ and returning to church. They seemed to be quite touching and I pray
they will be able to come to church soon. We went to go see Sr. Koch, who was
sick, but she wasn't home. So we took some flowers to visit a single elderly
sister in our ward who was all alone. I think it made her day, so we were glad
it worked out.
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| Contacting in Béthune |
Friday was a day mostly spent with the Bonds and then DMP
meeting and Ward Council. It went WAY too long, so we brainstormed with the
Elders what we can do to make our meetings mover efficient. It's a process. Saturday
was great, we got to find some people, not so interested, but that's ok. We
planned, taught a member family, and got some mission logistics information for
Soeur Giordano. Sunday went pretty well. Everyone was impressed with Soeur G's
French and welcomed her to the ward. They were wonderful. We had a ward
missionary meeting after church, then after lunch had more planning and
strategizing. We went to visit a sister who is working like crazy. She had to
work on Sunday from 8:00am to midnight with one hour of break. Insane. So we
left her a card and a treat.
We both were wiped out today, and so for our PDay activity,
we took a nap. Haha it was so nice. The first time I've been able to nap on a PDay.
Ever. It was lovely. Never long enough, but I am grateful for it. Siobhan, a
YSA in our ward, invited us to lunch with her today, so we went to a Chinese
buffet that is next to the church. It was not super delish, but it was good to
talk with her.
Well, I'm excited for what's in store. Lots of work to be
done and lots of plans to do it. It's so nice to have all the missionaries on the
same page and willing to do everything we can to really get the work rolling
here. We can feel it almost here. Lots of seeds almost ready to sprout.
Sœur Kate Simpson
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