HELLO ALL YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!!!
The sun is finally out in France and it is BEAUTIFUL! Don't get be wrong, France is beautiful in the rain too but with the sun out, the people are smiling and so many miracles come with the sun. It is fantastic!!
First things first. Prisca is getting baptized!! Her baptismal date is for the end of this transfer. The 22nd of June. So it is coming fast. We started teaching her about 5 weeks ago-only have a lesson a week but she is SO ready. I have never met anyone more ready for the Gospel. Just in case you have forgotten who she is or I neglected to tell you (doubtful) she is a 26 year old young mom that we met on the street one day. Soeur Rhondeau and I were talking about weddings (not so unusual) and mid-sentence, Soeur Rhondeau turns to this woman walking by and says "Bonjour! We are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ..." Little did we know in that moment that in 7 weeks, she would be getting baptized.
Prisca has a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and to her, everything else about the church just logically makes sense because the Book of Mormon is true. To her, if the Book of Mormon is true, then the church is true and the practices are true. Pretty simple. Love it. She is going to be such a huge asset to the ward. Some favorite Prisca quotes of mine: In sacrament meeting she is about to take off her coat but she turns to me first and says "I'm wearing short-sleeves...is that OK for church?" after showing her where the baptismal font was she asked "so...am I going to need to bring a bathing suit to this?" he-he. Speaking of that, when we showed her where she would be baptized and talked a little more about what would happen that day, she asked "so how many people are getting baptized that day?" We told her that it was just for her. Her face light up. "Just for me??" She was truly honored that there would be a whole day in her honor. This last lesson, we asked her what she thought of church and she said "I love it. It's a perfect place for the family". We've noticed in lessons that Prisca is incredibly family oriented. Everything is about her two little girls and making a better life for them. Long story short we love her. She's funny, she's cool, she's incredibly sweet and I hate that one day I'll be leaving here. She's become one of my really good friends.
In reference to my headline, we found Gotham city. Let me just paint a picture for you. Imagine sky scraping complexes formed in a complete circle around a pond. But upon closer observation, this is no pond. It is a swamp. Where there are hundreds of dead fish floating on the surface. Most of the time this place is silent but ever once in a while you can hear the echo of children's laughter (which is super eerie). So the first time we came here, Soeur Rhondeau and I had a really good feeling about this place...but it didn't change the fact that it was kind of creepy. So we decided to call the Elder's and find a time that we could both come. That way, if anything sketchy happened, the were a phone call away. The Elder's started at one end and we started at the other. I can not even begin to explain the miracles that have happened at Gotham City. This place is nuts! I'll just highlight a few people we met and then in personal letters I'll probably talk more about Gotham city.
So we met this lady the first day who called us literally 2 minutes after we met her and said "on the back of your card, it says you have a DVD about Jesus Christ! How can I get that??" We told her we could bring it to her and she was incredibly excited (we have a lesson with her next week so you'll hear more about her later). We come back another day and knock but no one was answering. There was this man who was working there and he said "I saw them leave about 10 minutes ago. Sorry" to which we responded "Oh Merci!" and started to walk away. He then called at us and said "Wait are you the Mormons?" Instantly he had our attention. He then proceeded to explain how he met another set of missionaries just two days before "ya but they were men missionaries. One of them was Canadian and the other one was from California". Oh do you happen to mean our stellar district leader and his companion. He said he was at his brothers house and that they were there and he sat in on the lesson. He said that our church has been all over the TV and internet ever sense. "I'm finding your church everywhere". We instantly called the district leader and told him what happened and he freaked out. He said "that's not just any ami! That is our ami with a baptismal date! He is awesome!" There are no coincidences in the work of the Lord.
Next story: So Soeur Rhondeau and I are feeling awesome. We are seeing tons of miracles and there are so many people who are receptive to the Gospel and asking us to come back. We knock on this door and this lady answers. She doesn't seem to interested so we decide to give her a card with our number on it and say that if she ever finds herself interested in learning more, she can give us a call. Instantly her face light up and she told her daughter "Run grab that picture off the fridge". Her daughter comes running back with an old pass along card in hand. Sure enough, on the back is our number. She said that the had met the Elders years ago and the Elders had given her their card. She loved the picture of Christ so much that she decided to keep it. She told us "This is the second card I've received. So maybe God is telling me to come to your church." That was such a testimony to me that you really never know the entirety of your influence. Those two Elders have probably never thought of that woman since but because they were doing the right thing at the right time, they moved that woman a little closer to Christ. So awesome.
Also, Elder Ballard is coming tomorrow!! And Elder Ballard, Elder Oaks and Bishop Causse are all coming in September. Exciting exciting!
Also, are Julie and Tom coming to Paris? If so, I would love to go to lunch with them or something. I have to ask President ahead of time and get permission. Are they still coming? What's up?
Also I heard the Coleman's were in Cean! That is crazy! Soeur Holmes told me that you met her and told her to say hi. She did :) I hope you're enjoying France!
Also, THANK YOU SO MUCH MAMA RHONDEAU FOR THE THAT AWESOME JOURNAL!! I am the worst journal writer ever...but now I write in the 5 year journal every night :) It is beautiful and I couldn't have asked for a nicer gift. That was seriously so so so sweet of you. Also, if any of the Rhondeau's are reading this- CONGRATULATIONS ELIZABETH!! You're officially a Morgan! I've heard tons about you and John and I'm excited to meet you both :)
I love you all so much.
Quote of the day: "...once there has been genuine illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don't give up when the pressure mounts. You can find an apartment. You can win over your mother-in-law. You can sell your harmonica and therein fund one more meal. It's been done before. Don't give in. Certainly don't give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. He wants everyone to be miserable like unto himself. Face your doubts. Master your fears. 'Cast not away therefore your confidence.' Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you."
Love you
Soeur Bitt
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