Week 2 in Pau!! (Week 32)

Holy moly is this going to be one miraculous transfer... because the opposition is HUGE. I don't even know what to write about this week seeing as we couldn't do much because I felt like dying most of it...

Soaking wet.  It rains every single day.

I've been sick the entire week.  Boooo....

I got sick on Tuesday night (after being out ALL day long and having everything except our last rdv fall through) and I have felt sick ever since. I think its starting to get better, but I'm so worn out from being sick that any physical exercise I exort brings me back to feeling terrible. (I thought I was completely healed on Sunday, then after church all of my energy was completely drained and I was back to feeling sick again.) Its been horrible - but can I just say how lucky I am to be with Soeur Bagley?? She is an angel. I will now devote an entire paragraph to her.

Our favorite food

My dearest companion

Soeur Bagley is sent to me from heaven. We were best friends in the pre-existence, I'm sure of it. She knows exactly what I need to be happy and she is so sensitive to my needs. This week as I've been sick she has cleaned the apartment, cooked for me, and she's been on-the-minute obedient with the morning schedule, even while I've been sleeping (WHAT - talk about virtue). She even does comp study opening song and prays for the prayer list alone. She is wonderful. She also knows how to crack me up... she says and does the funniest things, it keeps our spirits up. :) She has been so good to me this past week, she knows how I feel because when she first got to Pau she got sick too.  We can talk for hours, and we never get tired of each other! I just love her. The other day she said the funniest thing.. I have no idea what we were even talking about but I suggested that we go and do something and she responds "There is no way in the Telestial Kingdom that I'm doing that." I laughed for about 10 minutes (still laughing about it). The members love her too. Man I could go on forever..

Zone Training!!!! (I love Soeur Bayles!!!!)

So good to see Soeur Beeny!

Ok let me talk about the Leangs. I LOVE this family - they are definitely a tender mercy for me because I miss my old DMP Frère Vital who would always make us nems. And now I have a new family to make me nems! I feel right at home with them. This week we spent a lot of time with them because they invited us to dinner, we went over and helped them make nems for the ward party, and then the ward party that was a HUGE hit!!! We had SOO many potential amis there it was incredible! The ward is on fire with missionary work, let me tell you. Sooo many people brought their friends. It was a really really good activity - best I think I've ever been to! And they're having another in February (like a talent show thingy, I'm so pumped!!)

The Leangs making 600 nems for Chinese New Year

We love nems!

As far as amis go I don't really know who to talk about. We say a few people this week, but I don't have a TON to say! Things will really pick up this week, I assure you all!!!! I'm feeling progressively better, so Pau is going to explode I know it!!

As for a thought this week I've been thinking about D&C 84:88 - we should all notice better the angels that are surrounding us! The Lord promises to send them to help us, and I can definitely feel them near.

Love you!!!

Soeur Everett

PAU!!!! (Week 30)

I feel like I'm on exchange, it hasn't really hit me that I'm not going back to Carcassonne tomorrow... I don't really feel like Pau is home yet, but I know it will. :) IT IS GORGEOUS HERE! AND HUGE!!!! There are buses (I can't tell you how excited I am about this).

My favorite crepe stand in Carcassonne

Last sunset in Carcassonne

Mural

Carcassonne

Birds over Carc

View of the Fortress

Ok seriously where do I start! (Emails are such a stressful time haha). We had the most amazing week EVER!!! First and foremost our equipe got the most people contacted this week in the whole mission!! Whoohoo! We contacted 702 people. :) Also at church on Sunday we had 5 amis!!! I don't know what my record is, but I don't know if its more than that! I was so happy on Sunday.

Soeur Reichelt

Soeur Reichelt on bridge

She makes the best crepes ever...

So this week while we were out contacting I contacted this lady who was completely not interested - she gave me the finger wag and everything. Right afterwards I hear (in English) "Why didn't she want to talk to you?" I turn around and there's ROMAIN!!!! I was so happy to see him, it had been so long. He was definitely placed back into our path for a reason because I hadn't even thought to start teaching him again. And I think he is way more ready this time around. We went over to his house the next day and we talked about the nature of God. He is one of the most Christlike people I've ever met and he doesn't believe in Christ. He loves to make people happy and he's such a wholesome person who brings light wherever he is. Something really sparked in him as we talked about God. He's willing to find out if he's there. And HE CAME TO CHURCH and he brought his girlfriend!!

Romain et Julia

Romain playing accordian

Romain performing on street

So while we were at church I went over and said hi to him and he said "I have a present for you." We follow him out to the hall and he gives me a beret!!! (Not just any beret - its authentic basque, made in France, 100% wool, and very expensive.) I cried.

Lost on the way to a less active's house

Walking on highway to Soeur Devloos

Oh my goodness, leaving everyone was so hard... I translated for the Andersons for the last time... cute Azure and Meleani were both crying during my testimony. :'( Bishop's last words to me were "Soeur Everett I love you just like I do my daughters. I can't hug you, but the feeling is there." I MISS HIM ALREADY. He did so much for us and he really holds Carcassonne together. I don't know what they would do without him. AND FRERE VITAL. As soon as he left us from the gare me and Soeur Caldwell just started sobbing. Neither of us talked to each other for like 5 minutes, we just cried. (Our goodbye was super sad too... I miss her!) Man this is the worst part of missions is having to leave everyone. But the great thing about it too is that now I've met people that mean so much to me and I'm going to be able to see them again!!

Bishop et Soeur Martin

Frere Vital

HUGE NEWS ABOUT PHELIPES. We were there on Sunday and Anderson says "Oh, I got my papers." WHATTTTT. AND Nice has been watching her friends kids on Sundays while her friend goes to work (her friend is Muslim so the kids can't come to our church with her), so Nice hasn't been to church in ages. But on Sunday Anderson told us that SHE MOVED so now Nice can come to church!!!!! Super huge miracles!!! Baptism is soon!!!! :)

Meleani et Azure 

Okay a little something about my blue. :) Soeur Reichelt is incredible. I have never met a missionary who was more determined than her. She works SO HARD and we've seen so much come from it. She is so willing to try everything - nothing scares her, not french, not contacting, nothing! She is just always ready to work and become better. She has progressed so much as a missionary and in her french since we've been together and I know that the Lord is blessing her for her righteous desires. She gave me so much hope during our time and taught me more than I can express. We went through so much together, good and bad and we have become so close because of it! Training is such a funny thing. I barely feel like I did anything... She taught me just as much as I taught her. But I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to serve with her, she will do great things on her mission!!

I am also SOOO PUMPED to work with Soeur Bagley!!! We are going to have an amazing transfer!!!

My new companion Soeur Bagley!

I love you family!!

xoxo Soeur Everett

Mark 9:49-50 - had super cool studies on these verses this morning but I don't have time to write about it. do some research, you'll love it!!!

Soeur Segui

Colette

La famille Viellard

Frère Vanaquer!! He is so awesome!

Ann-May (bishops daughter) et Soeur Fouti-Makaya

Devloos!!

Mosiah 21:15

I think this week I'm going to mostly focus on my thoughts. I wouldn't say that this week was bad. We saw so many miracles and touched a lot of people, and I never feel like a failure, but missions aren't easy and I don't think they were ever meant to be.

Another sunset in Carcassonne

I feel like my whole mission it's been easy for me to find success. I'm not saying that we haven't seen miracles this week, because we have, its just been harder than I'm used to. Our recent convert Jean Phillipe took a complete 180 from wanting to serve a mission to being completely against the church. I know that God is looking out for him, but its hard for me right now to see everything happen. I really care a lot about him so its hard for me to see him use his agency like he is.

Our district leader made a pinata with his face on it...

I'm really lucky to be with Soeur Reichelt - she is absolutely incredible. She has SUCH a desire to work hard and I've really loved how hard we've worked this transfer! There is really no better way to be happy than to WORK. I really don't know what I would have done this transfer without her. She has taught me so much and I've progressed a lot as a person because of her. I really am so blessed to be learning all that I am because of her. I wish you all knew her like I do. (It's amazing how much the Lord has blessed me with the companions I've had!!)

Perpignan

I know everything is going to be fine, I've been blessed with amazing people here who love me and during this transfer I've really felt the power of the Atonement in my life - its really carried me through a lot. In a way I'm glad I have these experiences because I'm learning so much about the love of God. Our bishop here has really helped me, I will always be grateful for the genuine love he has for us. He is one of the most Christlike people I have ever met. He has cried with me and he has taken such careful care of this ward who needs him so much even when they may not realize it or appreciate all he does. I admire him.

Frere Vital gives us gifts literally every week

Anyway, enough with the rambling! Thanks for reading my problems haha. I really am doing alright, I promise!! Definitely not losing hope, but I think I'm ready for the transfer change. And I'm anxious to see what the Lord has in store from me!

HEY!!! Here's a great thing! We got a member referral from Colette (she's amazing, I love her so much), they are a GERMAN family!! We are going to go over to her house this week with them, cook a dinner and then teach a lesson. I'm stoked. :)

Also dad - what you said about the spirit of Elijah is real!! The other day we got this call from a random number who asked us if we were the church who did family history. We asked him if he wanted help with his geneology work and he said "yes, how about tomorrow??" It's so cool how people who may have never otherwise come to church get to come and feel the spirit there as they search for their ancestors. Super cool miracle.

Contemplating the weightier issues of life.

Ok one more - last night Soeur Reichelt and I were out contacting (oh we also got the number of a professional italian opera singer WHATTT), and we met this couple from England who are living here in Carcassonne!! We talked to them for so long (this was a blessing for Soeur Reichelt, she did amazingly while we were talking); the whole time it was super iffy whether they were going to be interested in learning more or not, but at the end the wife said, "You know what, I'll give it 3 months to see if this will really make me happier." YES!!!! This family will be baptized for sure.

Thank you so much for your prayers. Know I'm really doing well and that I'm happy.

I love you so much!
Soeur Everett

Christmas Time in Carcassonne

I can't believe it's already Christmas!! Crazy how time flies. You know, exactly one year from now I will be home. I have mixed feelings about it.. But I have to have the most amazing Christmas every while I'm here on my mission!!

I have a TON to tell you all, as usual. I'll do my best to fit in the most important - and I can tell you the rest on skype in 2 days!! Whoohooo!

Where to start!?

I don't remember if I've ever said anything about Myriam, but I'm going to now! Briefly, she started talking to me while we were in line for the post office a couple weeks ago when I was sending your package. She probably heard my American accent because she asked me if I spoke English. I said yes!! She told me that she was looking for someone to come and speak to her kids in English so that they could learn it from a real native speaker rather than just at school. She told me that she wanted someone who could be a stable job and that she could pay.. I told her that we couldn't be paid but that we would love to do it for free! She seemed hesitant about it but I gave her my number anyway and she said she would think about it. So Tuesday night we get a phone call from a random number... IT'S MYRIAM. She told us that she would love if we could just come over and help her son with his English homework. We of course agreed! She was so grateful for our help and told us that she would love to have us over often to help him! YAY!!! There family is adorable - and the way their house is decorated looks EXACTLY like ours. Its a little scary. They're going to join the church someday for sure. :)

Zone Conference!!! Oh my heck it was so fun and so uplifting. President is such an amazing speaker - he knows how to make the entire room laugh and cry. It's astounding. I love how much he uses the scriptures when he talks to us - he's such a good example for how we should be teaching as well. So their son-in-law was there to speak to all of us (he's a talented speaker as well) and he came up to me afterward and called me by name without looking at my plaque. He said that he tried so hard the night before to memorize missionaries names but had a really hard time remembering them all, but he told me that I was the easiest to remember. Haha! After the conference we packed up all of our packages and prepared to make the 30 minute trek to the gare. When we got to the door we realized it was POURING RAIN. So all of us missionaries walk 30 minutes in the pouring rain with ALL of our packages. That was a great memory haha.

Reunion of the September arrivals (with Pres. Roney photo bomb...)

JEAN PHILLIPE!!! I can't even begin to describe my feelings on Saturday at his baptism. I thought I was going to explode from joy. The service went flawlessly and the Spirit was so strong. Our DMP, Frère Vital was the one to baptize him and when he heard the news that he got to baptize him he told us that this was the best news he had heard all year and that this is the best Christmas present. :) I love Frère Vital!!!!! He gave a talk on the Holy Ghost right after Jean Phillipe was baptized and he started crying (I've never seen him cry my entire time here). He said that when Jean Phillipe got out of the water he told Frère Vital "I want to do what the soeurs are doing. I want to be a missionary too." When I heard this I couldn't help but cry. I wish you all could have heard Jean Phillipe's testimony afterwards. Everything on the mission is worth it when you get to teach someone as changed and converted to the gospel as Jean Phillipe. Soon enough he'll be a missionary too - what could be better!?

Baptism of Jean-Phillipe by Frere Vital

Soeur Reichelt, Jean-Phillipe et Soeur Everett

This is the biggest miracle of the entire week. Last night at about 9 we get a call from Christian. (Remember Christian? The eternal ami of 8 years who comes to church every Sunday, who was going to get baptized a couple transfers ago but dropped us the day before his baptism?) Well he called last night!!!! He laughed a little when I answered and then he said "Are you sitting down?" I said "Yes... what's up?" Then he said "I want to get baptized." WHAT. At first I thought he was just joking around but then he told us that while he was sitting in church he had a strong spiritual confirmation that he needed to get baptized. So we set a date for January 11th!!!! I'



M STOKED!!!!!

Well there are about a million other things that happened, buts its impossible to write it all down in so short time!!! I love you all so much!! I am so excited to skype you!!

JOYEUX NOEL!!!!

Soeur Everett

The mission watch

P.S. I've been thinking a lot about Mary the past few weeks since its almost time for Christmas. This morning I was reading the first 2 chapters of Luke to get in the Christmas spirit and one verse really stuck out to me. Luke 2:19. Mary was so magnificent yet so humble. She was the mother of the Savior but she kept all of her spiritual experiences so close to her. We should follow Mary's example and ponder a little more.