Forty days & Flying

Last Saturday marked 40 days before Christmas and the beginning of our 40 day "fast" to find one new amie every day for our Christmas present to Christ. President asked us to pray every hour on the hour to find a new amie and have the spirit with us to do so. It was off to a rough start due to the terrorist attacks and being locked in our apartment for the first two days. We prayed every hour anyway. We felt peace and many blessings.

Thank you for your prayers and love. It makes a difference.

The finding has been scarce. We have seen the forces of Satan like none other. Literal tempest and storms have tried to keep us from going out, keep people from listening, and there have been maybe 5 people who have stopped for more than 5 seconds to listen out of hundreds we have contacted.

Our week.

Tuesday after district meeting was an adventure. Our appointment fell through with Christelle. To the streets we went. And so did the wind and rain. Soeur Soileau's umbrella was flipped inside out multiple times. It was so windy it would stop us from moving at times. She was not a happy camper. We were getting soaked, our skirts flying every which way, and just about no one even gave us the time of day. She had had it. We made it to the gare and didn't know what to do. So we prayed. We had passed a pâtisserie earlier and she had mentioned she had never tried a macaron. I made a deal with her: if we contacted every single person we could on our way to the pâtisserie, I would buy her a macaron. It semi worked. I contacted every person we possibly could with no takers, she got her macaron and didn't like it too much, and it was still storming like crazy. Luckily it was time for our train to go to the Rivièrre family in Douai.

Miracle: Pauline, the redhead literature student. I sat next to her on the train to Douai and began talking to her. It turned into one of the most uplifting and beautiful conversations of which I've ever been apart. I learned about her passion for writing and literature, poetry and nature, and she in turn learned about my passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Once arrived in Douai, she agreed to a prayer as we stood there on the platform. We taught that God is our loving Father in Heaven and wants us to communicate with him. She had never heard that before and told us how beautiful she found it. We prayed with her and she accepted to exchange numbers. She even texted her friend to wait longer while she spoke with us. She was such a blessing.

Beffroi d'Arras

Supporting with the Flag

We got to our dinner appointment and they thought we weren't coming due to the weekends lockdown... But they hurried home. We couldn't go inside because their son was the only one home. Not a coincidence though. He was kind and stood out in the rain with us for 30 minutes until his parents came home. He is about 20, a member but not active. He hardly says anything to missionaries when we come over, but this night he takes for half an hour! He asked us questions about the Word of Wisdom, told us how once he'd like to have served a mission, he likes church and his friends there, but isn't living the commandments and doesn't quite feel like he can. He did say, "it's never too late though" to which we definitely agreed. We invited him to the Fête de Fall next week and he said he'd come and bring his girlfriend! It was a great conversation, one of which I believe he was in need.

Needless to say, we were wiped out when we finally got home. The wind had picked up even more and reminded me of my senior year when Kaysville and the valley was wiped by the massive wind storm. Boxes and all sorts of garbage were strewn all over the place, but don't worry, I Spartan-kicked a cardboard box. All is well.

Wednesday, we began our on a rampage with The District, watching it all during lunch and dinner breaks. Soeur Soileau's first trainer didn't do The First 12 Weeks/The District training so we've been trying to catch her up and get her all trained up. Gotta love The District. Especially The District 2. Good stuff.

We had a lovely long contact sesh after a member visit. She was adorable. A cute old member, 86 years old. She's dealing with a bit of a problem. Some computer system pronounced her dead to the social services records which provide her income... So she's having to prove she's still alive to actually keep living. Poor lady. I testify she is well and quite alive. She has a very strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and is at church every week. She's more alive than many.

Anyway, we met a few nice people, none of which were interested. We then went to pass by a referral who wanted to meet with us, but she wasn't there. We didn't know what we should do, so we pulled ourselves over to pray. Just as I was about to pray, Soeur Soileau leaned over and contacted a lady walking up from behind me. Sr. S asked her if we could pray with her right then and there. She said yes. What. Yes? Yes. Sarah. We prayed with Sarah, then she stayed... So we taught her the Restoration, explained the Book of Mormon, gave her one of her own, and set up a time for Saturday for a rendezvous. SARAH IS A NEW AMIE. Miracles happen. We have been praying every hour for the past 5 days for a new amie and voilà. New amie. She was Soeur Soileau's first contact of the day, and boom. New amie. I suppose I just had to weed out the rest in preparation. Haha so worth it. We gave a prayer of gratitude right afterwards and simply could not stop smiling and replaying the scene over and over. That is true joy.

Thursday we spent with Soeur Meurisse visiting less actives and serving people. Once again, she is one of the most charitable people I've met. I hope to acquire attributes like her one day.

Feels like home.

Friday has been renamed Bonday, for service and DMP meeting chez Bond every Friday. It's so far out that it takes a 45 min train, then we work and serve, lunch, work and serve, DMP meeting, dinner, Frère Bond drives us all back to Arras to the Church for Conseil de Paroisse, and PPP. This week for Bonday we patched a gigantic umbrella for a lady that has a stand at the marché next to Soeur Bonds stand for jams and jellies. It was quite the sewing project. Sewing through canvas and plasticky stuff. Kinda tricky. But good challenge. Best part of the day, stripping wall paper. Yes. Indeed. Wall paper. It brought me home. Who would have thought I'd strip wall paper on my mission? And whilst listening to the Narnia film score in a British family's home in the middle of the countryside of northern France? Not I. But it was wonderful. Soeur Soileau needed a break I between sewing the umbrellas corners, so she primed a door for painting. I love house work serving.

Conseil de Paroisse went well. The leadership of the ward is onboard and excited for the activity this weekend. It's all kind of riding on our shoulders and slightly stressful, but this will be good. It's going to have to be. We need investigators so bad, and people need this gospel so bad, so this will be great. I pray it works well.

Saturday was kind of frustrating. Sarah frudged us. So not really a new amie...she didn't answer our calls or texts... Soeur Soileau was pretty hurt. She got really excited that we'd actually have an amie to teach, and someone that she had found, and was let down pretty hard that she didn't come. I tried my best to comfort her and help her through it. I don't know if it helped that I kind of said "get used to it because it happens a lot," but it's the truth. Don't worry, I said it much nicer and she took it and we continued.

It's been kind of a rough week for the Elders too. Elder Meng finishes his mission this week, as in two days, and Elder Tibbits is a little anxious to get a new companion. Elder Tibbitts also was supposed to go into Paris on Friday for Legality but couldn't find his passport. It's gone. He panicked a bit being in a country on lock down and immigration problems and terrorist attacks and he does t have his passport...so they spent a good chunk of the day filling out us.gov forms to reapply to get a passport and visa. Poor kid.

Sunday was good, but no one we invited showed up to church. I was asked to give a last minute talk in sacrament meeting, but the counsellor showed up just in time. A homeless man came to church for the first time. He fell asleep on Elder Meng.

It has just been a weird week. Still miracles and blessings, but a whole lot of opposition, long suffering, and patience. Oh. Last night, IT SNOWED. first real snow since beginning of 2014 back in Utah. It was super wet but it stuck for a bit this morning too. It's bitter cold here. It's been pretty nice until the past 4 days and boom. Winter is here. ❄️❄️❄️

Transfer No. 9 district

I'm excited for another 6 weeks with my dear Soeur Soileau here in Arras. Miracles to come. We we still praying and trying. I know sometimes we just have to dig and ready the soil. One day the seeds will grow and flower. The harvest will come.

To end on a cheerful note. I got an unexpected call for Soeur Tippett Sunday evening tell me: ANNA CAME TO CHURCH. I never got to say goodbye and we thought she dropped of the face of the Earth the week after she was baptized. I was pretty sad. Ut have been praying for her to come back. Well she went to Korea for a month, which we knew, a little upsetting she didn't even send a text to say she got our calls and texts or say goodbye to me, but I don't even care because she's back. And it was perfect because it was Soeur Tippetts last Sunday of her mission.

AND PRISCILLIA GOT HER TEMPLE RECOMMEND. Priscillia interviewed with Bishop Hall and will be joining the youth as they go on their temple trip to London in January. I am so so so happy. Soeur Tippett said she is just beaming with the light of Christ.

Though a different week here in Arras, it's been such a blessing to hear of fruits being harvested back in Paris. I am ever so grateful to be a missionary.

Cheers to a new transfer and a new week,

Make it a good one

 Sœur Kate Simpson

The Light Will Win, Part II - 16 novembre 2015

The Light Will Win, Part II

In reflection of this weekends events, I have flashed back quite a bit to the first terrorist attack I experienced in France in the beginning of this year when I was serving in east Paris. This time it hits a little harder. Having just lived in and served the people of Paris proper for 6 months made this attack even deeper.

Paris is a city of light. Perhaps not spiritually and morally, but to me, the physical lights that shine through the darkness of the foggy gray days and misty black nights shine a light of hope. I feel there is a certain unsaid desire within the French to find true joy and healing that comes from the gospel, they simply don't know or chose not to recognize from where true joy comes. At times I think they mean "I need love and healing" when they exclaim, "non, j'ai pas le temps." Or "non, ça ne m'intéresse pas." In times like these, I am reassured that these people affected and surrounding are in search for more, and act as Christ would when it comes down to it. Now, more than ever, the world needs the healing of Christ's Atonement and peace and comfort that comes in living His restored gospel. He is the Light. It is His light that will be the source for Paris as it is truly with His light that darkness dissipates.

I will finish with part of my own email from right after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January, still applicable to what I feel and believe.

"Though the world is falling apart and chaos is surrounding, there is light and goodness. It gives me great comfort to know that I carry the light that is victorious over dark. Light always beats darkness. We each carry the light that makes the world better; though our numbers are few, they are growing. I feel it a privilege to be an emissary of light; to be a soldier in the army of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have no need to fear. This week I was a bit nervous, but I realized I was not scared. The Lord had prepared me to handle this week and all the consequences of other's actions. I do not fear. I know that the Savior lives. He is real. He protects me. He strengthens me. His work continues.

"Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come." Doctrine & Covenants 68:6

I love you and pray for you. Don't worry about me or any of us in Paris. We are protected and watched over.

Be good. Do more. Look outward."

Avec amour,

 Sœur Kate Simpson

Daring & Djamming - 9 novembre 2015

Already to harvest. 

The Missionary Team of Arras 

Elder Tibbits, Elder Meng, 

Soeur Soileau, Soeur Simpson, Frère Bond

We've been continuing with our message of courage to the members of Arras with our challenge to pray as families to have opportunities to give 2 brochures and follow up with neighbors or friends by the end of November and invite their friends to the Autumn activity we are planning. We've based the discussion on Doctrine and Covenants 24:12 and Alma 29:8-10, which usually brings the members to talking about courage. There is a beautiful Mormon message video about the queen Esther and the stories of three other women who were courageous. It's been pretty inspiring to hear of previous missionary experiences the members have had. They are huge examples to me. They stand out and stand firmly in their faith, and share it with those around them. They dare to be a Mormon. 

Tuesday included another voyage to Amiens for district meeting. Nothing too spectacular. No Cathédrale this time. But waiting for the bus to go to the gare, I started talking to a lady who was waiting with us, and invited her to church (super helpful having the church right across the round about from the bus stop, great advertising) we talked for a bit. She had a bright pink purse, and guess what, her name is Rose. Rose = pink in French for those who don't speak French. How cute is that. It turns out she just moved here from Cameroon and hasn't found a church yet... Perfect timing. God sure knows how to place people in life. We got all her info, gave her a Restoration brochure and the Amiens Elder's number, and wished her the happiest of days. Amiens Elders contacted her the next day and set up a time to meet as well as come to church. Cool miracle. 

Wednesday we spent basically the whole day in the car with Soeur Meurisse, a ward missionary, about 65+, who fulfills and magnifies her calling quite well. She is absolutely wonderful. She sets up all the rendez-vous and drives us to them, all of which are too far away for any train or bus system. It was a day well spent and absolutely beautiful. Long drives in the French countryside, a bit of rain here and there, and visiting less actives and active members who need help. Soeur Soileau started getting sick Tuesday, so she was out most of the time in the car and was pretty silent in lessons due to sore throat. Soeur Meurisse filled in and taught as a missionary and member, such a sweet, caring, charitable lady. 

We visited a home-bound sister in the ward, who has numerous health problems keeping her from coming to church and leaving her home at all. When we shared our message with her, she began to cry as the video hit home to her life with more than one of the lady's stories applicable to her own challenges. She smiled and shared how she continues to confront fear with faith and overcome difficulties and trials in life. This sweet sister has given nearly 10 copies of the Book of Mormon in the past year, including to her city's Mayor and deputy Mayor, or whatever the second in command is. Though she cannot go to the people and share the gospel, every person who comes to her sees the light of Christ and feels the spirit. They ask her about the gospel and she gladly shares. No matter the circumstance, the Lord provides a way. Always.

She didn't have any groceries and no money or any means to get more food. We opened her fridge and all she had was some cheese, mayo, and pasta. No canned anything. The cupboards were bare. Soeur Meurisse left us with this dear sister and went grocery shopping for her. We cleaned up the lunch Soeur Meurisse had brought for all of us, cleaned the kitchen, and talked with the sister until Sœur Meurisse came back, bags filled with food. You could see the relief and gratitude in the eyes and smile of the sister with food once again to get her through until the next time. Such an act of charity and example of Christ. 

Thursday began with usual studies, followed by an apartment inspection by the Redd couple. They are fabulous. We began our missions at the same time and they are from Farmington! We passed. Phew. They then treated us to lunch at a Chinese restaurant. Such kind and generous people. We literally ran to the gare to catch our train for DMP meeting at the Bond's. It was the most different DMP meeting I've ever lived. 

Beet root & Swiss chard
with Soeur Bond

We began with business, all was well and we got it done. They, sister and brother Bond, both are incredibly helpful and absolutely hilarious. Both from the UK, their accents and sayings kill me. I have the hardest time not speaking with a British accent around them. Sometimes I just do it, and they don't seem to mind. Haha Their life could be a movie. Both are computer scientists and programmers, but quit working as such to build furniture, sell jams, jellies, and vinegars, and run a little farm in the middle of nowhere in the north of France. And sing in a rock band. Frère Bond was a lumberjack, then computer scientist and programmer, then went to a ship building academy to learn how to do just that, build ships, and make furniture. Soeur Bond decided to go to university at the age of 35 in London. She knew she wouldn't do something if it was easy, so she chose computer science because she knew it would be hard. They both met in a computer science class at university, she joined the church independent of falling in love with him, and they were married. Seriously the funniest people. I can't get enough of them. 

We got a tour of the yard, gardens, elder Tibbetts chased their geese, we ate fresh tomatoes, strawberries, and chives from their greenhouse, petted a chicken, and examined their worm compost pile. Had a quick photo shoot with the tractor, beet root and Swiss chard we picked, then went in for dinner. Once you go to the Bonds, you can't leave because you are basically stranded in the middle of farm land for miles and it's a 45 minute train ride back to Arras. We planned to be their long enough for our meeting and dinner and boy did we have a night of that. Dinner was fish pie. We retired to the "comfy" room for dessert, which was cupcakes for everyone and oranges + merengue for me. It turned into a concert by the Bonds and massages from their amazing Japanese massage chair. Unforgettable night. 

Mmm jam.

Imagine a kitchen with jars covering the floor, every counter space, the sink over filled with them. I think I might have dreams of jam and jelly jars for the rest of my life. We went in the morning of Friday back to the Bonds to help Soeur Bond with over 300 jars for her jams and jellies. My first job was to scrape out the moldy jam, jelly, marmalade, or curd, and then soak the labels. Soeur Soileau then peeled labels and soon I joined her. Then washing the jars and switching I to the dishwasher. We tried cleaning the kitchen, as in wiping cobwebs and spiderwebs down from the walls and cupboards, organizing cupboards and disinfecting everything. It was kind of a mess, so we were more than happy to help. Frère Bond was in his shop making furniture, Soeur Bond made lunch, and we cleaned jars on jars on jars. It was good fun. 

We had a layover in Béthune after leaving St. Pol sur Ternoise from the Bonds; Soeur Soileau was really sick by this point. It was pretty miserable for her. I bought her some hot cocoa and we waited for the train in the cold with nothing to sit on. When we finally made it back, we had award Council. It went really well. We deleted assignments to each auxiliary for the Fête de Fall we are throwing together. It was pretty funny to see their reactions to some of the games and activities we've planned. The French don't seem to really play games in social gatherings. I love these people, they are so willing to try new things and help to make sure it works. It's gonna be good. 

Saturday Soeur Soileau basically hibernated. I made her rest and sleep most of the day. I made us some corn tortillas from the beautiful flour from Frère Sanchez. I would fail as a Mexican. They didn't turn out like Frère Sanchez's but they worked enough. Tortillas are blessed things; you don't know what you've got till it's gone. Enjoy your tortillas, they are not to be taken for granted. 

Anyway. We did weekly planning, ate lunch/dinner, watched Together Forever for the first time just so we could say we've watched it, and I sent her to bed. She was pretty loopy off of NyQuil the night before and hasn't been there completely, thus sleeping. I filled out "Ma Famille" the family history booklet produced by FamilySearch. It's one of our Zone goals this transfer in preparation for the Missionary Olympics, our Zone activity on Monday. I did as much as I have information. It was fun to summarize the lives of my family and think about them, who they are and from where they come. I'm grateful for my family. Families are wonderful. 

Sunday was a beautiful sabbath. Poor Soeur Soileau was a trooper all through church and afterwards as well. We visited with Madame Lebel for the first time together, the first time I taught her was with Soeur Proudfoot on exchanges. She was sick too, so we just stopped in and prayed. Soeur Koch, a sister in the ward came with us. They relate well, both growing up in the foster system in arras. Very good hearted ladies trying to give others better than they have received. Soeur Koch then invited us to pass by her house later that night to share a message and visit Soeur Maire, an elderly sister in the ward not too far from her home. We shared the message of the restoration and asked them their conversion stories, how they came to know of the truth of the restored gospel. 

Soeur Maire was one of the first members here in Arras, back when they had church in the missionary's apartment. She told of primary in the kitchen, relief society out in the hall, and the many evening socials they would hold to keep the Saints together to keep building the Kingdom in Arras. It is now one of the bigger wards of France, with its own building. It was amazing to think of the growth she has seen and the good the gospel brings to people. 

Well, we are off to Lille for PDay today for a special Zone activity, Missionary Olympics. Wish us luck! 

I know that God lives, He loves us, and He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we could return to live with Him. It is through our faith in Christ, His Atonement, and our application of what we know, that we can become more like Him, prepared to live with Him once more. I know this is His gospel restored to the earth by a prophet called of God, and we are led by a living prophet of God today. We are so blessed. 

Thank you for who you are and who you are becoming. I love you! 

Sœur Kate Simpson

Cathédrale & the Countryside

Bonjour à tous,

A week well passed in Arras. Still not much on the finding people to teach front, but we have been searching high and low. We had a full week, quite all over the place, spent much with members, and the sun shone visibly this week.

The district.

Arras, St. Quentin, & Amiens

District Meeting is in Amiens. It's about a 45 min regional train ride away from Arras. Beautiful countryside landscapes and fields forever, it never ceases to amaze me. The weather was beautiful, like having Fall again. It was just about winter, but this week it warmed up a bit. Beautiful autumn leaves, clear blue skies, and warm sun rays with crisp cool air. The meeting went well with our new district. Elder Meng is the DL, and gave a basic formation covering the message of the APs from Mission Council about obedience and becoming deeply converted. Well done. We kind of failed on the food front though. We had main dish, and since it was the end of the month, we had nearly no money left, so we bought pizza. Soeur Soileau can't eat cheese and I can't eat gluten. We're brilliant. Well St. Quentin sœurs forgot their salad, so all we had was the traditional baguettes and cheeses + pizza, which is just more bread and cheese. Soeur Soileau and I completed each other though, I ate the cheeses and toppings and she ate my crust. Two peas in a pod.

La Cathédrale d'Amiens

DM finished early due to St. Quentin's train, but our train wasn't for 2 hours...since we didn't really get to eat, we ran to Macdo, ate some good American burgers and fries, and checked out the world renowned cathedral in the center of the city. I remember studying it a bit in AP Art History, not so much what about it, just that I knew I'd heard of it. Sorry, Mr. Oram. What I do know is that it is beautiful. Absolutely stunning, and impossible to capture in a photograph. They claim to have the relics of the head and bones of John the Baptiste. They are pretty heavily defensed but you can see some of the bones if you look hard enough. Pretty cool church.

Wednesday morning, after studies we headed out to find our future amis. We didn't find any, BUT we met Elizabeth. She is the most energetic and believing French lady I've yet met. She talked with us for about 30 minutes about God, Jesus Christ, faith, and the Bible. Pretty interesting views. She is evangelical and quite adamant. Very kind and enthusiastic about life and religion. It was a beautiful meeting on the street. She starting praying, without us knowing, just talking to Jesus and blessing us. We just stood and smiled and said amen at the end, then see if we too could pray with her as we do. She kindly accepted and prayed with us. Though she refused our number, the Book of Mormon, and even a brochure, it was a blessing to meet her and see her so energetic and happy about faith in Christ.

Exchanges with
the wonderful Soeur Proudfoot

Then to Lille to go on exchanges with the STLs. Not going to lie, it was a little different not being the STL and knowing exactly what she was doing and why she was doing it, but it was honestly a wonderful exchange. Soeur Proudfoot and I came back to Arras for the exchange and we sure saw some miracles. She and I are very similar and I appreciate the way she works and serves. She is also a good friend. It was fun. She asked me advice on STLing and I to her about training. We reminisced about nearly a year ago flying to France sitting next to each other, and being here now a year later thinking about all we've lived through and experienced and learned. It was pretty cool. It was a perfect little recharge to keep going full speed ahead.

She and I found a few fascinating ladies, only one of whom was interested, but we were able to street teach and pray with two others. It was a beautiful morning, filled with little blessings along the way. We talked to a lady, Mylène, who was sitting waiting for a bus. She asked us if she could give us her number...uh YES. The bus came to quick, but we got her number and she said she'd like to know more. Remember her.

When Soeur Soileau got back, the Elders, Sœur Soileau and I got on a train to go to our DMPs house out in the middle of nowhere countryside. He picked us up from the gare and drove us through tiny roads in rolling fields of potatoes and grains. The sun was setting and he had his instrumental guitar music that he and his wife recorded themselves. It was a movie moment, a time where I just wonder what my life is and now I got there. It was beautiful. The Bonds are from the UK, right, so it was a blast. Soeur Bond made a gigantic feast of random things. Sandwiches, coleslaw, shrimp, amazing fresh from the garden tomato basil soup, tomatoes in balsamic vinegar, chips, and sparkling water. Of course, it's Europe.

I've haven't laughed so hard in a very long time. The whole night was full of funny British sayings, misunderstandings with some French ward missionaries, and Frère Bond with his broken French + British accent. Probably the most memorable, it took Elder Tibbits 3 times to say the blessing on the food because the Bonds two dogs started tackling and fighting each other right at the beginning under my chair and we all lost it. It scared us / was just hilarious. It sounded like they were talking to each other. Elder T kept restarting the prayer but just couldn't keep it together after the dogs screeched again. We all nearly died of laughter.

Friday, weekly planning went well. Pretty quick when you don't have amis haha but we prepared lots of plans for ward council, which we had that night. It went very well. It was a special meeting, just the bishopric, DMP, and missionaries. We discussed callings of new ward missionaries, activities, and getting members excited and involved in moving the work forward. We created the ward mission plan, at least began it, for 2016. Changes and lots of new energy in the missionary department here in Arras. Pretty exciting.

We were the only women in the room, and honestly, it was like being in a room full of boys at times. They would play tricks on one another, and just make silly remarks and get side tracked super easy. It was pretty funny. Somehow, Frère Bond brought up the word "6-pick" and wondered what the translation was into French. The bishopric brethren thought good and hard for a minute, until the ward clerk said, "vous voulez dire une plaque de chocolat?" Of course the French are more classy with their analogies. A 6 pack, as in abs, in French is a bar of chocolate. Then, the clerk said, "mines more like a pot of Nutella." We almost cried laughing. Such good people. I love them.

Good news though, they approved and like our idea for a ward activity to invited neighbors and friends to! It's all on us, the missionaries, but they are excited and will help. We have planned a sorts of Halloween party, minus Halloween, focused more on autumn and the harvest and being grateful. The French don't celebrate Halloween really and Thanksgiving not at all, so we are making it a harvest season party thing. It'll be good. I hope.

Cute fall photo fail
raking leaves at the Sanchez

Saturday was a blast. We helped Sioban, a French/Irish member, make food for the baptism of a little 8 year old in the ward. Nearly 4 hours of baking cookies, muffins, and more cookies. Then Soeur Sanchez picked us up to do service in her yard. They live so far out in the country that no trains nor buses go out there. It was absolutely stunning. Blessed day. I love working in yards. I've only done it twice on my mission, but man do I miss yard work. Yes mom, I miss it. We just raked leaves and cleaned up the yard, but it was lovely. Then we helped make more goodies for Collin's baptism. We then had the honor and privilege of watching Frère Sanchez make corn tortillas, salsa, and tacos. He's from Mexico, she's from France. They met in America, and they now live in the most quaint and giant farm house estate that they are restoring. It reminded me of home. Power tools everywhere, unfinished walls, Sheetrock, paint, oh it was wonderful. Frère Sanchez is an interior designer and producer. He designs and makes interiors. He is currently working on restoring a castle in a different part of France. Very talented man. And he make some mean salsa and gorillas, fresh from the garden. It was heaven.

We spent a lovely Halloween with the Sanchez family. We made pumpkin pie, from a pumpkin strait out of their garden. It's was delish. It was their first pumpkin pie. We had fresh tacos and salsa with a Mexican/French family out in the countryside of northern France. They even had one person come trick or treat. France is trying to have fun like America. Little by little. It was cute. Good times.

Halloween package = this.

I successfully got my package mom. Thanks for the cat stuff and candy. We loved it.

Sunday was a full day at the church, pretty much. Church, then a delish raclette lunch at the Engelen's. Back to the church to help Soeur McKenzie with preparations for the baptism. The font didn't have hot water, so we boiled water and the elders filled it up bucket by bucket to warm it up. We were stationed in the kitchen to help set up the buffet and such. It was a beautiful service. Collins grandparents flew in from the states, and Soeur McKenzies friends came in from Germany. One of her friends from Germany bore his testimony during sacrament meeting in German and Soeur Mckenzie translated into French, and elder Meng translated it into English to the grandparents. Triple translation. Languages are crazy. So cool. The gospel is true, no matter the language in which it is given.

Miracle time : so we've been calling everyone in our area book since I've gotten here to see if anyone is still potentially interested or needs help. I have called over a 100 people now, and only one person agreed to see us again. Well it is not a coincidence, nothing ever is. Christelle was found by Soeur Tupai when she first started her mission. She only met with the missionaries twice before stopping due to work situations. It's been nearly two years and it is inspired that we happened to call now. The only day she can meet is Monday morning, so we decided it's totally more important to teach a child of God who needs and wants the gospel than to go to a museum on PDay. Don't worry, we still did both, just less museum. Worth it. She is amazing. After dealing with an unfaithful husband for nearly 3 years, she has been battling to keep her family together. She still believes in God and prayers to keep going. Though very difficult, she took our call as a sign from God that He is reaching out to her. We talked about the Book of Mormon and its power to help us, as it gives us power and answers questions. She accepted to read a chapter a day and committed to come to church, even saying she's going to make her kids come too. She was very touched by the spirit and even remarked on how peaceful we looked and the light we brought to her. It was a beautiful morning, well spent. Feel free to keep Christelle in your prayers.

After grocery shopping and a quick lunch, we made our way finally to the Musée de Beaux Arts. It currently is hosting an exhibition of 100 masterpieces from the Chateau de Versailles. It was beautiful. It felt like I was in Paris again for a bit. It was also time well spent. Culturally uplifting.

Well, another long email, sorry. I seem to have much more time to write when not in Paris and I get carried away in detail. Thank you for your support, prayers,  and love. I appreciate it and can feel the help. Keep praying, studying and ponderizing the scriptures. It makes all the difference.

Happy week,

Sœur Kate Simpson