This week was full of miracles! It was such a great week. So many things to say. So little time. I'll start with my most favorite and so I know I will have time.
This last Thursday, we were in a town just outside of Foutainebleu. We were stuck with no trains coming and no people around. So we start doing our weekly planning while sitting on the side of the road. We're sitting there planning and I get a text from our next appointment (one of our less actives) telling us that she was cancelling. "Well great." I thought, "smart me didn't plan a back-up plan".
My mind starts racing as to what we can do. The responsibility of the ville is totally on me. Soeur Grewar is just getting acquainted with Melun so she couldn’t offer much help. As far as pass-bys or where to go finding or porting, that is definitely on me. We get on the train and I start thinking through our villes. "Ok we could do some finding in that apartment building in Savigny." The spirit says "No."
"Ya. I guess that would be bad. Savigny is kind of sketchy at night....what about Cesson? Pass by some of our old amis?" No. "Moissy?" no. "Boussy" no. Ville, after ville, after ville after ville. no no no no no no no. I'm starting to seriously stress at this point.
We have about 2 hours left in the evening and nothing to do! We can't just sit on the train forever. "Ok...well we could just stay in Melun itself..." I felt so strongly that was EXACTLY what we need to do. Then my mind started racing "and do what?!" Melun itself has been pretty torn up. We have ported in most of the areas.
I started thinking of passbys and then a name came into my mind clear as day EUGENE! I WAS THRILLED!! Back up story to Eugene: My very first day in Melun, Soeur Rhondeau told me about an ami. He read the first 20 chapters of the Book of Mormon in 3 days. Between the 2nd and 3rd appointment, he had read almost 200 pages. He said that every time he read the book, he felt overwhelming peace.
BUT the week before I got here, he called and said that he wasn't interested because he heard that we were a cult. Sad story because it's so not true! As soon as I heard this story, I told Soeur Rhondeau. "It's not over with him". Ever since then, he will come to mind at least 2 or 3 times a week but I always felt it wasn't time to visit him. Just remember him.
Yet Thursday, I felt that it was time!!! We run to the church, print out a talk in Russian (p.s. he's Russian) and grab a bus to his place. We ring the doorbell and he opens the window. I had that split second "oh shoot...what am I going to say??" haha Luckily I didn't need to say a word "are you the Mormons?" He asked "Yes! We're the sister missionaries!"
"Wait one second". He came out and greeted us and invited us in. Gave us some delicious herbal drink, ice cream, a tour of his house with all his artwork and allowed us to teach him a lesson. It was SUCH a good lesson too. He had SO many questions and you could tell that he is fervently searching for truth. At the end we asked if we could leave a prayer with him. I told him that he could choose who would say the prayer. "May I say it?" He asked.
As a missionary, you ALWAYS love when the ami wants to say it. YES OF COURSE!! haha he thanked Heavenly Father over and over for sending us to him and for the lesson because it was "much needed." The spirit was very strong--soul piercing. Anyway, we are going to see him this week and it is definitely what I am most excited for! I have been waiting to have this RDV for months and I am through the roof that he wants to see us again! Oh and side note, his mom was there and originally she had said to steer clear of the church. I think just seeing us there and that we're just normal people teaching about Christ really helped her.
Prisca is doing so so well. We had a lesson with her this week and it went marvelously (no surprise there). My favorite part of the lesson was when she opened up a little about her conversion. We were talking about prayer and seeking answers to prayer. She said "ya. I've learned that God answers prayers through the Book of Mormon too. If I have a question and I read the Book of Mormon, I always find my answer. That is how I knew this church is true." Another quote by Prisca, "Whenever I'm sad, I read the Book of Mormon and it brings me happiness again." If that is not a stellar member, I don't know what is. I'm so excited for her. She is so full of light and love and it's been amazing to me to see how much the Gospel adds to that light that she already had.
Another great miracle: On Friday we had a rdv with a less active in our ward. THEY ARE MY FAVORITE!!! Ok..you're not supposed to have favorites...but I love them lots. haha Anyway, we got to Moissy about 15 minutes early so I thought, "Alright. Let's do some porting for about 15 minutes and try to find some amis".
Sure enough! After like 3 doors, we find someone who lets us in on the spot. All we needed to say is "We're missionaries for the church of Jesus Christ--"
"Yup come in." Umm k that doesn't normally happen! We scheduled a RDV for the next day thinking "ya this is really awesome". So we go back the next day and once again we're early...like 45 minutes early. "Alright...let's do porting over there". First door we knock..no answer. 2nd door we knock...no answer. 3rd door we knock a woman answers the door. "Hi We're missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ. We're here to share a message about Christ and the Plan he created for you".
"Yes. Come in". We walk in and it's a family of like 20 people! It was the grandmother who answered the door. Her 4 grand kids were there and her daughter in law, son, sister....on and on and on. They were all gathered round. I have never taught so many people before haha. IT WAS AWESOME!! Then we leave, and we still have some time. So we go porting some more...we find 2 more families who let us in and we get to teach them lessons as well.
It was such a testimony to me of the Lord preparing the missionaries path. The trains were quicker than normal so we were 15 minutes early to our 1st RDV...then we had a return appointment. Then to go to that RDV, the transportation was RIDICULOUSLY fast and we were 45 minutes early and found people in the area who have been prepared. Miraculous!
For the rest of my time, I'm going to attach all the pictures that I have been wanting to send but just haven't had the chance. I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU ALL!!
Quote by President Benson:“Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar his face is to us.” This quote hit me hard this week. Our spirits recognize who we are as children of our Father in Heaven and it will be a wonderful reunion when the veil is taken away and we see the Father again and realize how close and familiar our relationship with him is.
Avec Amour,
Soeur Bitter
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