"Soyons fou" - Frédérique Tomasin (Week 67)

Elizabete and Leony got baptized!!!

Okay, prepare yourselves....this email is going to get absolutely crazy. I can't even control myself I'm going to have to start with the best story of the week. This is definitely in my top 5 miracles of my entire mission.

I'm not sure how much I've told you about the Slepcik family (if anything). They are a Slovakian family who have lived here for a little more than 5 years. The wife's mother is actually a member! So this family has always known the church but never wanted to be baptized. I knew just a little bit about them since Fr. Van Tonder gave us the down-low. I decided that I wanted to extend a baptismal invitation and see what they said (even though Fr. Van Tonder knew that Ladislav didn't understand the authority of our baptism). I had prayed about it and I discussed it with Soeur Christensen a bit last transfer so I just went for it in our lesson on Tuesday. It was literally a disaster. Ladislav was super offended that everytime missionaries come the first thing they want to know is why he's not baptized in our church and he kept repeating that he had already been baptized! We tried to calm it down a bit and in the end we just gave him a sticky note with the date we wanted him to pray for and said we would leave it between him and God. The rest of the family didn't really respond to the question.. anyway, it all just seemed kind of like a failure.


Soeur Sutcliffe's family sent her face masks :)

But....

The next day we were walking in ville and for some reason felt like we should go to the church. Fr. Van Tonder was there doing some stuff on the computer. We started talking to him about Ladislav. Ok get ready. While the Slepciks and Fr. Van Tonder were cleaning the church that morning Ladislav had told Fr. Van Tonder that he couldn't sleep the night before because he was pondering about the baptismal date and talking to God. After literally praying all night he heard God tell him that he needed to forget the past and leave it behind him and start new. Before Fr. Van Tonder responded he went to his bag and go out a bible in Slovakian (he hasn't read the bible in 5 years because he didn't have one here in France and hasn't been able to find one.) Ladislav was appparently happier than he's ever seen him. He told Fr. Van Tonder that this was the confirmation he needed to know that he really did need to get baptized. HE IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON JUNE 6TH!!!!! He told us in our next RDV with him that now that God has told him to be baptized that nothing and no one is going to keep him from getting baptized. It's been FIVE YEARS that he's refused to get baptized! God lives and answers prayers! I cried when I heard this and we immediately knelt in a prayer of gratitude with Fr. Van Tonder. Pray for this wonderful family!

So when I first got to Montauban I emailed Soeur Caldwell and asked her who she thought I should visit. She told me that there was a wonderful French family (the Tomasins) who she had taught when she was here. I asked the branch about them and Jérémie told us that he knows them really well and used to take the sisters once a week out to see them! We organized it so we could go together and just drop by and see what happened.... We got there (with his grandma as well) and Frédérique was outside and him and Jérémie had an awesome reunion! (Its been like a year.) In the meantime....they had a new baby haha! I think when they accepted a baptismal date in the past the temptation got really crazy and they let the church go. :( It was amazing in the rdv because I could tell how prepared they really are and that they are most definitely going to be baptized!!! They have 4 children and love each other so much! They are absolutely wonderful! I can't wait to start working with them.


My babies! at mission conference

Subject line: When we got inside Frédérique offered us something to drink and we were going back and forth between different cirops (it makes water flavored) and juices and whatnot and eventually Jérémie is like "ok lets do the raspberry cirop" and Frédérique is like "oui soyons fou" (yeah lets go crazy!) I laughed for so long.

Remember last week how I told you about Patrice?? Well we had a RDV with him this week! It was absolutely amazing.... He has been prepared. He shared some stories with us about meeting missionaries in the past and he says that every time he is having trials in his life he somehow comes in contact with the church! He described himself as a "sheep without a fold" and he came to church!!!!! We'll keep working with him!



We went on an adventure

I just have a quick story that will make mom really proud of me. :) So we were at break-the-fast with the branch yesterday and Soeur Yonnet comes up to me and asks me if she could have some of my water. At first I was confused but then she told me that tap water was undrinkable and she preferred filtered or bottled water. I asked her how she knew mine was filtered or bottled and she said "I know you." Hahaha. I tried to warn my district last transfer but no one will listen to me! I do what I can I guess. :)

Okay, one last story since there's time. :) Let me preface this a bit. So Soeur Sutcliffe is SUPER into health and working out. We work out so hard in the morning and hard at night as well....I'm going to be so buff by the time I get home hahaha. Anyway so last night as we were laying in bed with the lights off we started talking about I don't even know what and then I look over and she is literally doing ab workouts IN BED!! She is crazy!!!! Hahahaha I love her.

Okay, here is my short little spiritual thought for the day.



Soeur Sutcliffe made this single muffin out of thin air

"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I love this quote!! There is nothing better than being an instrument in the Lord's hands to answer someone's prayer. Let's turn out so more this week.

Have a great week! Can't wait to talk for Mothers Day!

Bisesss

Soeur Ev

It was raining, so we had our picnic indoors

"Hello, is this the angels?" - Fr. Van Tonder (Week 65)

Coucou famille!!! Such a good week.


ELODIE GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!! :)

Elodie's baptism!!!! It happened!! We had a couple things come up this week that definitely could've prevented it from happening... but in the end it all worked out! She is the cutest ever. Today she took us grocery shopping so we wouldn't have to lug huge heavy sacs of groceries home. She's going to make such a great member. She is always looking to help others and to improve! I love her so much. So the night before the baptism I was praying and I had this impression come to me that said: "Why aren't you singing?" I had figured that I didn't want to volunteer myself so I never asked. But after that I knew that it was a prompting and that I should at least ask Elodie. I texted and asked if Soeur Christensen and I could sing and she was so excited about it! She told us how nice that was and that she would love to have us sing. Although we barely practiced it ended up really well and the spirit was strong. Glad we did it. :)



This is where we did our studies this morning.:-)

I'm not sure if you remember Théophile but he's the one who is 21 and grew up Buddhist. This week we had a RDV just with him when we explained the Book of Mormon more clearly. Everything we tell him he soaks in and he is so committed to act! He told us he will be at church on Sunday (he's on vacances in the north of France this week). I can just see him joining the church and then going on a mission...keep him in your prayers!

Remember how we had Zone Conference in Montauban last week? Well while a huge herd of missionaries were walking to the church they started talking to this man named Jean Renée. He was super impressed by so many young people giving up time in their lives because of their dedication to God. He gave Soeur Staples (WHOO!) his number which they passed over to us! We got to meet with him this week and it was amazing. We told him about our beliefs and more importanting WHY we believe the way we do. He also loved hearing the conversion story of the member we had with us. At the end we knelt in prayer and afterwards he told us that he had chills. He thanked us for the RDV telling us that it was "un moment de grace" and that he would love to meet with us again. Super huge blessing.


The cookie catastrophe.

Alright now its time for the explanation of the photo. I call it: "The Cookie Catastrophe." Earlier during the week Soeur Christensen and I had made DELICIOUS no-bake cookies and we were basically obsessed with them. We decided we should make some for Elodie's baptism since they were so good! The day of the baptism while we were doing weekly planning Soeur Christensen is making cookies. She puts all the rest of the oats that we had into them and then laid them out to cool. We realized after about a half hour that they weren't going to harden... we literally just had a bunch of goo globs as cookies. Even though they tasted good there was no way we could give them to anyone... so we ate some and threw the rest out. :( So we went to the store to get some more ingredients. We made our round 2 batch of cookies and put in the rest of the oats we had and realized that it probably wasn't enough. We panicked. We dropped everything and ran out the apartment to monoprix. We both forgot our name tags...oops. We paid and ran home - the people who were sitting in the café by our house probably thought we stole them...maybe it was good we forgot the name tags ;) haha just kidding. We poured in more oats then laid them out again. (This is when I took the picture.) We both felt sick from eating so many cookies so I cut some veggies and we laid for 3 minutes before running to the church for the baptism. After the baptism we tasted our cookies. THEY WERE AWFUL. They tasted like straight oats. But for some odd reason (maybe it was a miracle that they didn't taste them right) everyone thought they were amazing. Elodie's brother ate like half of them. (Haha this whole story was pointless, désolé!!)


I just love Montauban... it's so cute.

Okay here is a really cool experience. So this Sunday there was a HUGE marathon in Montauban. I have never seen so many people here!!! But because our church is right in the middle of Centre Ville all the roads leading to it were closed. That meant that only the people that lived close enough to walk could come. There were only 10 of us! The night before me and Soeur Christensen were thinking there were only going to be us and Aurélie and Fr. Caplan - Sr. C said jokingly "And then Fr. Caplan will pass the Sacrament to himself and then tell himself he can be seated." I STILL laugh when I think about that! Hahaha. Luckily there were a few more people that that - but barely. This is the smallest Sacrament Meeting I've ever attended and it made it so special. While we partook of the Sacrament I could feel the Spirit so strongly testifying of the importance of it! The reason why we even went to the church on Sunday was solely for the Sacrament. It was cool to ponder about that.

Here's some pics from my exchange in Toulouse!

Also at church we heard testimonies from the members about them doing missionary work!!! Aurélie shared a cool experience how last week 3 members from the branch had the same revelation at just about the same time. They wanted to have an FHE for the singles in the area! They were able to invite a bunch of non-members to join them and it ended up being a huge missionary tool! (Isn't this great??? The branch is starting to get moving!)

Alright I promised Dad that I would share some of my thoughts of recognizing the Spirit. Soeur Christensen and I had a super great discussion on this today. I know in my life when I have had important decisions to make such as moving to California, going on a mission, coming home from my mission, going BACK on my mission (haha), and deciding when to go back to school and everything I haven't necessarily had a huge WOW moment when I was hit in the face with an answer. I think more often the Spirit comes by giving us peace about a decision we are facing. Everything just feels right. We can go on with a certain decision without being stressed about it or wondering "what if I had done something else?" I also find that everything is more clear in the temple - which is why I'm planning to go every week so that I can stay close to the Spirit. To make my explanation more simple here is a quote I love from President Gordon B. Hinckley: "If you are doing the right thing and if you are living the right way, you will know in your heart what the Spirit is saying to you." That's a pretty great promise. I think that sums it up! When we're living the right way, spiritual promptings will be clear. (I'm going to add in another quote from Preach My Gospel that talks about receiving revelation.)


More Toulouse

“[A person may have] a strong desire to be led by the Spirit of the Lord but … unwisely extends that desire to the point of wanting to be led in all things. A desire to be led by the Lord is a strength, but it needs to be accompanied by an understanding that our Heavenly Father leaves many decisions for our personal choices. Personal decision making is one of the sources of the growth we are meant to experience in mortality. Persons who try to shift all decision making to the Lord and plead for revelation in every choice will soon find circumstances in which they pray for guidance and don’t receive it. For example, this is likely to occur in those numerous circumstances in which the choices are trivial or either choice is acceptable.

“We should study things out in our minds, using the reasoning powers our Creator has placed within us. Then we should pray for guidance and act upon it if we receive it. If we do not receive guidance, we should act upon our best judgment. Persons who persist in seeking revelatory guidance on subjects on which the Lord has not chosen to direct us may concoct an answer out of their own fantasy or bias, or they may even receive an answer through the medium of false revelation” (“Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall,” Ensign, Oct. 1994, 13–14).

Ok that's all for this week! Pray that we will find miracles and find those people here who are waiting for us! I can feel big things coming these last 2 months. Time to go hard!

Love you!
Soeur Ev

"Just being around you is making my hair curlier!" - Sr. Christensen (Week 64)

It's true. Her hair has literally gotten curlier since I've been here....

did morning studies here one day this week... made it a bit harder to look at my scriptures ;)

Great week!! (But aren't they all?) I actually have less time than usual because we were out with members and Elodie alllll day long! But thats ok I will try to get through everything as quick as I can!



our ami Marc took us around the city Cahors - super gorgeous

First of all, wasn't General Conference AMAZING!? I especially loved the prophet's talk (although I'm sure we all did). I know that I have found clarity and peace as I've been in the temple and I can't wait to be there again. I loved when he quoted the young man who was about to go back on his mission when he said that after that experience "I knew not that all would be well" - isn't that so comforting. In attending the temple we can truly come to feel that all will be well in life. Being in the temple just puts everything into perspective. I would hope that those of you who DO have the opportunity to go often to DO IT. I know that when I get back that is at the top of my list of goals.




look at this super cool bridge in Cahors...

 A couple news events... We have a new engagé! His name is James. He is absolutely wonderful... We had asked a member to come and teach with us (a young adult in the ward who is currently preparing for his mission). We hadn't realized that James wasn't a native French speaker and therefore needed the lessons given in English... Poor Gabriel was caught totally off-guard. It was amazing though hearing him bear his testimony of the gospel and the importance of baptism in English. It took a lot of humility for him to do that and we were all so grateful! James told us that he didn't know why he ever stopped meeting with the missionaries - because he liked our church so much better than his own. He asked us to pray for his wife that she would want to come and join him here with us! Cool right??



this is where we live. so cute huh?

making fries... we're so healthy

Remember when I told you about that man that randomly came to church my first Sunday here with his cousin from Toulon? Well we FINALLY got to meet with him! I thought maybe he was ignoring our calls but turns out he had just been in Paris visiting family and he was super willing to fix a rdv! We gave him a Book of Mormon and he committed to read it - he even told us that his cousin had given him a book on the Restoration and that he had enjoyed that and that he would definitely read this one! He took us on a tour of his ADORABLE city named Cahors. I love love loved it. It had a super old (1100s??? check me on that) that was gorgeous - I mean look at the photos!! He's a kind man. He's not the most ready person I've ever taught but I think with time and love from the branch he will soften! He definitely saw the difference in the life of his cousin when he joined the church, so that will play a big role in his conversion I think.


I ATE ESCARGOT!!!!!! (it actually was pretty good......)

Ok break from amis for a funny story.


I also ate cuisses de grenouille (frog legs)

On Saturday I went to the room to take my nap. Yes mother, I still take my 20 minute naps faithfully. :) So I had been "asleep" for all of 30 seconds when I hear Sr. Christensen chuckle beside me. I flip over and open my eyes and she had been crawling through the whole that separates our bedroom and kitchen in hopes not to wake me up so she could grab her journal! She was obviously never going to be able to reach her journal from all the way up there but she was so determined to not disturb me. She couldn't take the hilarity (is that a word?) of the situation and lost her composure. Not quite a ninja yet. ;) This describes her personality so well.

Let's see... Oh Marthe! This week she asked us if she could have another copy of the Book of Mormon because she wanted to give it to her daughter! WHAT. She's so adorable! She lovessss the Book of Mormon. But we really need the Spirit to help soften her to accept teachings that don't agree with the ones she has previously been taught. I have so much hope for her though.

We went and saw a castle in Bruniquel today! 

Elodie is sooooo great. I love her immensely and I've only known her for 3 weeks!! Funny how that happens. She is a sweet-heart and she is going to be a great addition to this branch. I'll add more on her next week when I tell about her baptism. :)

Ok I'll end with another story...


Ma collègue :)

This week we had zone conference and we had the STL's sleeping over at our apartment. When we went for our morning run we left the keys at home because we decided it would be dumb to lock them into the apartment... What we forgot was that we wouldn't have a way to get IN to our building after our run... We didn't have our phone and our buzzer to our apartment doesn't work. Sr. Christensen goes and grabs pebbles and starts chucking them up to our window in hopes they'll hear. After a couple minutes of that I realized that praobably wasn't going to work haha. I scanned the streets and there was NO ONE. I decided to say a prayer (we had forgotten up to this point...). Then I see this man walking a bit away. I shouted and ran to him (hahah realizing now how weird I probably seemed...) I asked him if we could use his phone. (Luckily Sr. C has our number memorized.) We called and no answer... :( Sr C went back to throwing pebbles. Then our window opens and there is Soeur Koyle!!!!!! She said she heard our phone ring and got nervous so she felt like she should look out the window (wish it would've been because of the rock throwing...haha). The guy even called a bit later to make sure we got in ok. :) I love Montauban.

Ok thats about it for today! I love you!
Soeur Ev



Cute little village of Bruniquel!

This is Nohlan - Elodie's baby

"I love you too...and not because I have to say it back..." - Sr. Christensen (Week 63)

Soeur Christensen

Well.... I'm deciding how to start this e-mail. So last Monday I woke up with the plague (just what I call it...when in reality it was just this weird stomach bug) so I had to call Soeur Povar (the mission nurse). Whenever I call her she always makes some joke like "Ok wait a second I need to sit down to brace myself. Ok now you can tell me what's wrong." Hahaha. Anyway she said I needed to stay in the apartment for 48 hours. Well the 48 hours passed and Soeur Christensen wakes up on Wednesday morning and HAS THE SAME BUG. We just kind of laughed about it. So yeah... 4 entire days in the apartment. But wait until I tell you what happened the 3 days we were out. It was as if we had been out the whole week with all the amazing things that happened.

Before I get into that I need to describe my angelic companion a little better (mom's request). Soeur Christensen is from Edmonton, Canada. She turns 21 the last day of the transfer so we're the same age! She is suuuuper smart and learns French really quickly. She is sporty (she like traveled the world playing sports...) and she loves snow? I'm not sure what to say haha. She's amazing.. like the most patient and kind and loving person in the entire world. She could be the prophet's wife one day that's how great she is. I've been blessed with the best companions.

Double Chocolate Chunk Brownies

Ok this is cool. Get ready. So while we were in the apartment with nothing to do for hours on end I was sitting there reading my scriptures and I get to the part when Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah are having a reunion after they had been apart on missions for several years (Alma 27). This is right after Alma collapses to the ground of joy - love that part. ;) In verses 25-26 it said: "And Alma also related unto them his conversion, with Ammon and Aaron, and his brethren...And it came to pass that it did cause great joy among them." I read this and I immediately received inspiration to something I had been praying about ever since I met the branch. Let me back-track a bit. The members here in this branch are absolutely amazing! But when I got here I just felt like there was something weighing on them, there was just something amiss my first Sunday. They needed something to light a fire under them and motivate them and reactivate their excitement for the gospel (can you kind of picture what I mean?) When I read these scriptures it hit me so clearly. They needed to share their conversion stories with one another! Alma and the sons of Mosiah all knew each others conversions stories... I mean, they were together when it happened! But even still they had so much joy in sharing their testimonies! After this initial revelation, the revelation and miracles and unfolding of the biggest miracle happened little by little.

Branch President's daughter. Cutest French girl ever!

We got a call from our DMB (ward mission leader) on Friday saying that he had just gotten a call telling him that the missionaries would be in charge of the lesson for the 5th Sunday. WHAT. Answer to prayers. As we prayed and then sat and discussed what we should do everything just came together one thing after another.

During our lesson we decided to not talk a lot and let the members and Spirit do most of the talking. We had 3 members come up and share their conversion stories (this part was powerful). Then I shared with them that scripture I read and told them about my revelation. I invited them to all write out their conversion stories and testimonies and that afterwards we would compile them and share them with one another! Then we read a part of one of the best talks I've ever read (found this while I was sick as well...led by the Spirit once again). Here's the link to it. You have to watch this. Everyone needs to watch this!!!!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng

There were people in tears (including me and my companion when we bore our testimonies at the end). This is one of my favorite experiences of my mission. It's hard to explain how amazing it was in words. I can see the fire being lit to the members excitement and its all thanks to the inspiration that Heavenly Father blessed us with after fervent prayers!

Soeur Gaigne is like a gourmet chef...

Ok anyway... :)

Elodie is doing wonderfully! She is adorable. I think she has the most motivation in her conviction to be baptized than anyone I've ever taught. She knows what a blessing the gospel is and she understands the importance and sacredness of the covenant she will be making. I love her so much!

I wish I had time to go into depth and tell the stories of everything that happened but I'm gonna have to pick and choose here!!! We got a new engagé! Her name is Faith. She has 4 kids and her husband is currently in Spain working. He should be getting back to France in like a week or two?? Then it will be easier for her to take the kids to church. We're going to see if we can recruit some members. She is great! (Soeur Christensen killed this lesson. She definitely helped Faith to feel the Spirit!)

Ok brace yourselves...this is awesome. So we were able to go to English Class this week! We had a member there (who is an English teacher) and then 3 young adults. One of them had come before and brought his brother this time! At the end of the class Théophile starts asking about the church. Our member Aurelie basically gives a super simple restoration (she used to be a missionary) and asks them if they wanted to just have a religious discussion another time. ALL 3 AGREED. We set up a RDV for last night. Théophile and Vanessa came and we had an incredible RDV... Both of them expressed to us that they are in the middle of researching different churches to try and find where they fit in best. Aurelie bore super powerful testimony to them and they hung on her every word. When we showed Théophile the Book of Mormon he asked how he could get one of them. He was thrilled when we told him it was free. He said he wanted to read it and was going to come to church to see how it all worked. (Vanessa expressed very similar feelings.) Both are coming to General Conference next week! So cool huh???

We did a ton in 3 days. We squeezed everything we possibly could into the time we had! At the end of the week we were just amazed at how the Lord had blessed us. The work is on fire here. I can honestly say that I love Montauban! I've been praying to love it because I really miss Cannes. But there are people here that mean a lot to me already.

Ok well pray for me to stay healthy! Haha just kidding, I think I should be good now. :)

Bisous!

Soeur Ev

"Viva Sister Everett!" - Frère Vital (Week 62)

Oh my I have a lot to tell you! It's been quite a weird week.

View from our apartment

We had only a few days to actually be here in Montauban because we went to Lyon for Blue's Conference (the conference that all the 2nd transfer blues go to)!! (That's my 4th one.....hahaha.)

Some great things have happened here though! I mentioned last week about Elodie. So turns out I was wrong about the foster mom being against the church. I met her on Saturday and she is a family history missionary in the branch haha oops. I think it was her real mom that wouldn't let her be baptized until she was 18 but honestly I wouldn't quote myself.. I don't know anything haha. She is the sweetest ever!!! I absolutely love her!! We had a Relief Society activity on Saturday and she was just beaming. She told everyone how awesome I was and told them all it was my birthday. Then she said she wanted to take me to a castle sometime this week for my birthday and that they would invite me over so I could try escargot and frog legs (never tried either of them.) She's so cute huh?? And her baby is adorable...


Eiffel Tower made of red chairs...

So the very first person I contact in Montauban was a lady named Marthe from Haiti. We had a discussion on the bus about God and family and she was just really sweet! I asked her if she wanted to set a time to meet and all she said was "Si Dieu le veut" [If God's wants.] We went to the RDV we had set up and parted ways. After we had finished our RDV we walked over to the bus stop and guess who walks up? MARTHE. The first thing I said to her was "Dieu le veut" [God wants us to have the rdv]. She laughed and then accepted! We have had 2 rdvs with her since. We showed her the BOM and she was excited to read it. She asked us to pray for her that she would be able to know that it was true. :) Then she invited us over to eat at her house on Sunday! At the end she sang us a song and then told us how happy she was that she finally had friends to eat with. How sweet.

We found this guy named Patrick! He's from the Congo but he's lived in France since he was like 13. We started off teaching him by showing him the family booklet but then he asked us what the Book of Mormon was so we set up a second rdv to meet with him and discuss it! He even came to church on Sunday! This guy is elect I can feel it.



The cutest little ville named Caussade

It was so good to be in Lyon and to see some friends and make new ones! I always love conferences. I learned a lot. The morning before the conference we left the STL's apartment early so we could get to the chapel early. We got down to the metro and there were literally a million people (or at least it seemed like it). We tried super hard to get into FOUR metros that passed us before we finally got on one! The last time I turned to a man standing next to us and said "that is the FOURTH metro we've missed!!!!" he just laughed at me. Guess this is normal haha.



We put on dead pile clothes for my birthday and ate ice cream

At Blues Conference I got some news from my old amis in Annecy!! Apparently Gerard (not sure if you guys remember about him) has been coming to church every week!! The first time he ever went to church was when I was there. And he also went to Giovanni's baptism. Anyway, so he started struggling with being sure that he should be baptized. The sisters invited him to kneel right then in prayer and to ask! He said a sincere prayer and then they all knelt in silence. After awhile Gerard said "God is real. I need to be baptized." How cool!!! He is scheduled to be baptized this weekend! Pray for him!



Birthday present from our new ami Patrick! Chocolate chicken!

So last night we went to a less active's house - her name is Soeur Korpal. While we were there she told me that I had "l'air d'un chef" [acted like a leader]. She said I reminded her a lot of a sister missionary who had served there not that long ago. Guess who it was.. Soeur Reicheltr!! Hahaha. When I told her that I had trained her she freaked out and said that explained everything!!! So glad to know I passed on my confidence to my daughter haha.

Okay, since I have a bit of time I will share one more cool miracle. Yesterday at church we had a member come up to us and say that we had an investigator there (we were confused because we weren't expecting anyone except for Patrick and Elodie). We couldn't see anyone we recognized but then this man approached us and introduced himself! I then realized that a few days ago I had gotten a call from a member in Toulon asking what time church started. This man was that members cousin!!!! His name is Jean Marc. He lives in a ville not too far away from Montauban and he told us he wants to have us visit him this week! He said he sees himself really fitting in well here and loving this church! Awesome huh??


My babies!! Soeur Hurd and Soeur Castagno (came in together my 2nd time)

I had a realization this week as I was talking to Sister Clark (office couple - she came in with my group way back in the day!)  We were talking about me coming back on my mission and the blessings I've seen from it. As we were talking I realized how hard the first half of my mission was! I literally had trial after trial. I still had many many happy and amazing experiences but I really feel like the first half was a "refiners fire" time of my life. Honestly I can say that nothing bad has really happened the second half of my mission. Its been miracle after miracle, blessing after blessing. Sure I've had those tough days that everyone has and I've had some sad moments but du coup I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said that this part of my mission is the best and most rewarding time of my life! I think Heavenly Father is trying to tell me thank you for coming back and sticking it out. And now the blessings.

I love being a missionary and I love you all!

Have a great week!

Soeur Ev

P.S. Montauban is amazing and the branch is super great and my companion is an angel (literally I have the best companions ever). Life is wonderful!

"That's a load of blowfish." - Sr. Skalka (Week 61)

How I felt leaving Cannes

Wahhhhhhhhhh. :'( I'm so sad.... I think I left half of my heart back in Cannes. I will forever be grateful for the time I spent there. What an amazing ward and amazing people and experiences that I had! I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Okay honestly I have no clue where to start with this email! My mind is everywhere and I don't even have my planner from last transfer to see what we even did last week hahaha. I'll share a couple cool miracles though, don't worry. :)

Here I will start off with a really cool tender mercy that Heavenly Father gave to us to end the transfer.

A sad day....

So we were stopping by a less active who wasn't there so we headed over to the bus stop to head over to the Payas for dinner. I sit next to a lady on the bench and start talking to her. She was so sparked... She starts telling me and Soeur Skalka how beautiful we were and we have a conversation about how we're missionaries here and everything. Then she asked us if we wanted to come over the next day! We got her number and set up a RDV for the next day. The miracle is that the RDV actually happened!!!! She told us she had been excited and waiting for us to come all day. (She's this little Italian lady with a super thick accent hahaha. She's cute.) We got there and she started making us this DELICIOUS Italian pasta. She was more happy to have us over than I think I've ever seen! We told her we were both leaving the next day but that we had 2 friends that would love to stop by and visit her and she said of course!! We gave her the "my family" booklet and she was so grateful. Cool way to end a miraculous transfer huh? :)


Saying goodbye to everyone on Sunday was awful... I will give myself some credit that I didn't cry very much, just in my goodbye testimony to the ward. Man it was hard looking out at all of them. My heart is just so full of love for those people. I love when you give a talk or testimony and everyone's eyes are on you. Some of my favorites there (I know its bad to have favorites) were even crying with me. Mehhhhh my heart hurts. :( Luckily we had a meal together at the church with la mission de la paroisse so I was about to be with some of them for a little extra time.

Okay I have to talk about a couple people.

My District

Sandra is one of my favorite people in the entire world. She is at the top of my list. When she found out I was leaving she just cried and cried! When we left each other the last time she could hardly look at me she was so sad.. I LOVE HERRR. Her and Tangi gave me this shirt as a present (I should've taken a picture dang it!!) that says "On vous aime. La familly Tangi" on the back. I love it so much!! She told me she's never going to get attached to a missionary again because its too hard to say goodbye. I told her that the day I'm back in America I would call her. What a blessing it was to teach her.. she is so special.

Speaking of it being a blessing to teach people. Raphael is the best. He got YET ANOTHER calling!! He is now the second counselor in the Sunday School Presidency. This week when we were trying to plan a lesson for him nothing was coming and all of a sudden Soeur Skalka says, "We should have him teach us!!!" It was so inspired. I was amazed at how well he knew how to teach and I was so proud of him... Also he helped us with our super heavy suitcases on moving day. On Sunday night when I asked if he would help us he was like "Of course! Especially because that means I get to see you one last time. :)"

Montauban

I'm gonna miss my recent converts! :'(

And then of course Elizabete, Leony and Kleina. Its always the worst with investigators when they don't really know anything about how missionaries leave. They had no clue that would happen! Leony (who speaks a little bit of English) yelled "Why!!! I need you!!!" hahaha. They are so wonderful. I'm sure they'll be baptized this transfer. They are my miracle family. I'm so grateful for them.

Montauban

Why am I so blessed???? Why!? The second half of my mission has been nothing but joy. Honestly... only good things ever happen to me. I have amazing companions, amazing investigators, amazing members, beautiful cities. It just doesn't ever stop being wonderful!

Montauban

Okay, quick shout out to Sr. Skalka. She was such a huge blessing to me last transfer. I can't imagine not having been together. She taught me so much about being happy no matter how hungry, tired, or annoyed you are. She is a ball of sunshine and has never-ending light and energy. When we parted on the train that was only the second time I ever saw her cry. (By the way I spent about 6 hours alone with an elder on the train ride to Toulouse hahahaa that was weird.) She is an angel. I want to be more like her one day.

Soeur Christensen

Anyway! Now I'm here in Montauban! I can't get over how stinkin adorable it is. My new companion is probably annoyed by me constantly saying "It's so cute here!!" haha. By the way my companion is basically perfect too. What in the world. She's a blue (of course, I have trained my entire mission hahaha) and she's from Edmonton Canada!! Her name is Soeur Camrie Christensen.  Her French is really great and she is a wonderful teacher. We're going to have an awesome transfer together!

Montauban

I'll just share this since it happened today. So there is this 18 year old we met with today named Elodie. She is 18 and just had a baby out of wedlock. She grew up in the church as a foster child in a member home but the mother had gone out of the church and didn't let the kids get baptized unless they decided to at 18. Elodie spent quite awhile away from the church but after having her baby she decided she needed to come back. Just about 2 months ago she started coming to church again. Today when we met with her she told us she wanted to be baptized!!!!!!!!! We set a date with her for April 11th! We have to teach her all the lessons but I think it will be easier seeing as she has a background in the church. I'm so excited (and yet again blessed) to teach her! She's so cute! And so is her baby haha. :)

Okay running out of time and I need to get out and get to work in this little magic ville. I love you!! Send me mail, that would be fun!

3 allée de l'empereur
Montauban 82000

Bisous!
Soeur Ev

P.S. More pictures of my beloved friends from Cannes below.

Alberto

Dinner after Church in Cannes

Dorian Vivier

Soeur Skalka

Famille Perez

Miracle Italian lady from Sunday night

Elizabete Leony and Kleina

Etan

Eveque Vivier

Kiwa and Hugo and Elizabete

Mama Gentil

Raphael

Rodriguez

Sandra and Tangi

Simons

Soeur Rodriguez

Soeur Vivier

Sr Fily

Sr Nancy Berthon

Stella Gentil

Tantely