First things first, I got my companion Wednesday. She is from Tahiti...so needless to say...it's a little cold here for her haha. She spent about 10 days in the MTC in Madrid and then she came here to France!! She doesn't speak any English so it's French 24/7...and then Soeur Barton's Bleu is French so needless to say, we speak a lot of French in the apartment. But things are going well. It's been pretty crazy splitting up the ville. Everyone thinks that all four of us are one companionship at church. It's been sad splitting up our amis. There are some people that I just won't teach anymore :( The good side is that we've had a ton of finding miracles this week which has been awesome.
Now that we have 4 sisters in Rennes, we have a TON of finding time. Before we were pretty much going from RDV to RDV with just a little finding in between. Now....like large chunks of time.. But it is really good because Rennes has a ton of potential and now that we have more time, we can find people who are really ready for this message.
Cool finding experiences this week: We were doing some porting in the area around our new apartment (which is awesome BTW. The Elders kept it super nice) and we started talking to this lady at her Porte. She then tells us that her brother is LDS...and his wife...and all his kids...and all their kids served missions...and then their kids as well. She said that her brother had already talked to her about the Book of Mormon. We told her "that's awesome. Can we talk to you about the Plan of Salvation this next week?" She said yes! Woot! I'm so excited. She said that she was really impressed at how faithful her brothers family was to their faith. She said often you will see that the parents practice one thing but then the kids will practice another and she said she found that the most impressive.
Another cool finding experience, we were contacting on the metro and I thought to contact the girl standing next to me. We started talking and she talked about how excited she was to find someone believing too! That it's so hard to find people our age who firmly believe and practice. She immediately invited us back to her apartment (which we happily got off the metro and went). It was a beautiful lesson. We'll be seeing her this next week :)
Annabelle is doing great. She came to church again this Sunday and in Relief Society, the lesson was about Missionary work and how the members can participate in missionary work. We split off into groups. I was the missionary in this group and Annabelle was sitting next to me. Our group was in charge of the question "how can we open up the conversation to the church to our friends and people we meet". The people in our group started to give a lot of really good ideas. Suddenly Annabelle said "well I think it's necessary to just go on a full time mission. You know giving the Book of Mormon out". BAHAHAHAH Everyone got a kick out of that. Also, Annabelle finished reading the Book of Mormon. We gave it to her at the end of August and she finished it on Halloween. We had a FHE with Annabelle and Sr Hamzic. When we got there, this is how the conversation went:
"Annabelle! How are you?"
At this point I can see that she is bubbling over with something that she has been wanting to tell me.
"Well, I went for a run this morning, cleaned the house...and I finished the Book of Mormon." She smiled slyly. Of course I exploded with joy and started asking her a million questions.
Then she went on, "I actually thought of you when I read one of the verses. It's in Moroni. Wait a second. I'll find it....Ah, here it is 'and likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such."
BAHAHAHA. Oh gosh. I don't think I ever said it that strongly. But needless to say, if ever anyone talked to Annabelle about prayer she would say "oh yes. Soeur Bitter has talked to me many times about having a sincere prayer."
But the greatest part was that she was not even offended by the scripture. Instead she said:"that's kind of an important scripture! You think they should have put that in the beginning!" :) oh cute Annabelle
Well that's probably enough for now :) Also, I showed Soeur Barton the pic that you sent of our home and she said that she has never seen greener, fluffier grass in her life--props to you peeps. She said that it was the most beautiful yard ever. woot
Anyway, I love you all so so much. Things are great here. The work is great and the ward is still so amazing. I am so thrilled that I will most likely stay for another 3 months here. What made me even more happy was that on Sunday, so many members ran up to me and told me how they had been hoping I would stay as well. SO CUTE!! I love it here in Rennes. I love the members. I love the people. I even love the rain. (going to buy myself an umbrella today). Rain-boots are still best purchase of the mission. Well, until next week.
"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." -Ether 12:4
Soeur Kari Ann Bitter
OH ALSO GREAT NEWS!!! So, I know that in other missions each week or every transfer they have a party with their zone. Like a bbq or football...well not here -- we are all business. BUT President is letting us have a get together with the other missionaries in our Zone for Thanksgiving!!!!!! BEST. DAY. EVER!! I'm so excited. THANK YOU PREZ!! It's gonna be a fête.
Oh also, forgot to say, we got all moved in OK and below is my new address. Soeur Barton and I were pretty tired by the time Wednesday came...and then we needed to help the new missionaries move into our apartment too.
Well when Soeur Tane got off the plane, two of her wheels had been removed from each of her suitcases ...so both of the suitcases didn't really move. She told me this new news nervously at our first meeting. "No problem. That's what Elders are for!" hehe. So I convinced a few elders to hand carry her bags (one of them being like 65 lbs) all the way across Paris to our train. THANKS ELDERS!! You're the best.
It's interesting being in a completely new part of town and in a new apartment and with all this new finding time, I kind of feel like I'm in a new ville!...but then I go to church on Sunday and I see all the members I love so much and I think "All is well. I'm still in Rennes".
New Address:
Les Missionnaires
2, rue Molière
Rennes 35700
France
New Address:
Les Missionnaires
2, rue Molière
Rennes 35700
France
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