I'm in Paris right now (we're planning to have a picnic infront of the Eiffel Tower soon) so I'm going to keep this letter a bit shorter and then I'll try to respond to all the emails I got this week.
OH FIRST OFF!! Mayu! I finally got your letter! We had zone conference and my zone leader was like "I have an elephant card for you". I was a little weirded out until I realized he was talking about a letter from you!! I sent a letter back to your Manti address this morning so I'm hoping it will get there while you're down for Rachel's wedding. Speaking of which CONGRATS RACHEL!!! I cannot BELIEVE you are getting married this weekend. That is nuts! Also, I am dissappointed that I have received no pics of engagements or such. I'm expecting beaucoup by next week :)
So the highlight of this week was definitely meeting Amelia. Two weekends ago, the Elders ported into this woman who they said had eyes full of love and that we HAD TO return to her. They couldn't go in because she is single but they wanted us to return and visit her. So we went back this last Thursday. The Elder's did not exaggerate. She is FULL of love. She is a 78 year old SUPER Italian woman. Everything she does and says is SO Italian. She passoniately loves people and considers everyone her daughter. We call her Grandma Italy now. She actually was taking the lessons from the Soeurs 5 years ago but after that, Soeurs left Melun. In Grandma Italy's words "My heart broke that day."
Her house is in a super obscure part of Melun so the fact that the Elder's found her again is such a testimony to me that God is looking out for her and does not want her to be alone. Her husband passed away when she was 41 and she said that the idea of remarrying broke her heat so she raised her kids and has been doing it on her one for about 37 years. Her faith is out of this world. I have never before met someone with such strong faith in the Lord. And she is super passionate about her faith in Christ. She kept telling us to keep smiling and go and share the good word of God with EVERYONE. She kept calling us God's angel's and his disciples. It was super sweet. Then her grandma side would come out and she would say things like "and then after your mission you will go home and get married!" Just seeing a 5 foot nothing tiny italian woman commanding us to get married made me smile. She then pointed to our plaques and said "and maybe marry someone like you!" meaning another missionary. haha. I even thought in that moment. Oh don't you worry Grandma Italy, you will most definitely be getting an invite to my wedding.
Before our visit, Soeur Rhondeau and I felt that we should talk about the Love of God and just keep it at that simple message. At one point, I told her how God loves all his Children but he also loves you specifically and how she had a very special place in the heart of God. Her eyes welled up to the size of puss n boots on shrek and she said softly "...really?" She is genuinely the sweetest woman. I thought then how everyone just wants the knowledge that they are loved and accepted by a loving Heavenly Father. When we asked if we could come back she responded like "of course you can! Why wouldn't I want you back!" and then she told us next time we come she will make us a cake haha.
When we left, we asked if we could give her bisous (a kiss on each cheek. People don't really shake hands here). "OF COURSE!" she replies and then grabs our faces and kisses us so hard on each cheek that my jaw hurt for about 30 minutes afterwards. Haha. After Soeur Rhondeau and I left, we both said how that was like a visit to your Grandma's house on a rainy day. She motivates you and then tells you to keep going. We both felt like we could just float away and nothing could ever hurt us again. Haha. Now we have a standing appointment with her every thursday :) it is our thing that we get to look forward to each week. I can't wait to see Grandma Italy again!
Jon- HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! You are awesome. Congrats on defending your thesis too.
Jon- HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! You are awesome. Congrats on defending your thesis too.
Dad- Happy papas day! You're the best dad a girl could ask for. :)
Sorry my email is short this week. I will make it up to you by trying to find a working computer that will send pics. The internet cafe in Paris bites so each computer can only do half of it's intended job. I'll try to find a computer that has decided to accept photos.
LOVE YOU ALL!!
Soeur Bitter
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