HELLO HELLO!!!!
The biggest highlight of today, our apartment is getting a bath!! Scrubba dub dub!! I sent the zone leaders of Louise and Liege on a shopping trip to buy us all the things that were missing :) They're so great. They bought me a comforter too! (Before I was sleeping with that blanket you sent to me in the MTC. I'm so glad I had that!) Now I'm sleeping so much better.
We got a bunch of organizational stuff and items that were just missing in the kitchen (i.e. pans, 9x13 pans, cutting board, Tupperware, etc.). The hot water guy comes again tomorrow!! So hopefully that will be fixed soon too and my days of water boiling will be over!!
We spent all day cleaning. We are not even close to done and most definitely one of the most disgusting experiences of my life. I was gagging over and over again. BUT the worst of it is over! All the nasty stuff is out and it's just junk that is left right now. Good thing I'm not nostalgic at all or have any attachment to this stuff—five full trash bags later and I’m not even close to done. THE WRATH OF SOEUR BITTER MUAHAHAHA
Everything else is going really well. Also, I don't want to jinx it...but I think I may have found my super power....I bring warm weather with me wherever I go. BUT DON'T JINX IT!!! I remember when I got to Melun, Soeur Rhondeau said that it was the first time she had seen the sun since she started her mission (maybe that was an exaggeration on my part...but I remember it being a really long time). Then I go to Rennes, which supposedly rainy Bretagne. When I was there it was the most beautiful weather in the world. Well now that I'm in Belgium, Rennes is back to its original reputation of raining...ALL THE TIME. But how is Belgium, you ask? The last few days I've just worn my raincoat and a scarf. Pas mal if you ask me. So anyway, maybe I found my superpower.
HIGHLIGHT: So last week we found out that Chantelle had been going to the wrong ward. She was really well integrated...into the wrong ward. HAHA. So my companion and I decided it was GO TIME. I had to use all the tricks up my sleeve to make sure that the members in Charleroi 2nd just adored her. We scheduled a soiree with the Family Vandevelde.
I hadn't met them before and my companion didn't remember them but we both thought they would be perfect for her as we looked over names in our phone. Well as it turns out-they were. For the lesson, we taught the plan of salvation and the spirit was really strong. We testified that she would see her husband again and that she could live forever with him.
Then Frere Vandevelde bore a strong testimony of our personal responsibility; which means that the promises in the plan of salvation are only valid and reserved for faithful covenant keepers. She really understood and she immediately associated that with her upcoming baptism. I cannot count the number of times that I looked over at Chantelle during the lesson or in the car-ride home and she looked so blissfully at peace. It brought me so much joy to see her so happy.
Later, I talked to the Vandeveldes and I found out that Frere Vandevelde used to be the Ward Mission Leader for Charleroi 2. He then told us that ever since he was released, missionaries had not been to his house. We were the first in over 3 years. He was so happy to have us there and to have an ami in his home. And we were THRILLED that he and his wife were SO good to her.
She came to church this Sunday and the members just swarmed around her. Success!! She actually was at the metro stop at around 7:20 in the morning...even though church doesn't start until 9:30 Haha, she was just so excited. :)
ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT: MAJOR MIRACLE!! Sophie is getting baptized this weekend!! So a hang-up with Sophie was that she was in a work contract that required her to work on Sunday. She was trying to quit so that she could honor the Sabbath day but her boss wouldn't let her out of it. She works at one of the top restaurants in Rennes. Every time we would meet someone when we were with Sophie, they would say, "Oh!! I know the greatest Chinese restaurant you have to try! It's at such and such a place."
Sophie: "Oh ya. That's where I work."
Well when she couldn't get out of her contract. She then told the missionaries, "Maybe the restaurant will close down and then I will be out of my contract and can get baptized sooner!"
That's exactly what happened. Here is Soeur Barton's account:
"On Tuesday afternoon she found out about the restaurant for sure, and she talked with us on Tuesday night to ask if she could get baptized on January 18th! It was so cute yesterday. Sophie went around to all the brethren in the ward who she wanted to participate in her baptism and confirmation... they were so touched when she asked them in her adorable Chinese accent. All of these good men--their eyes welled up with tears and they just were all grins that she'd ask them to participate. It was a really sweet moment. "
I am happy for my Sophie. So sad I won't be able to be there but I am so happy that this ward has taken her in and just loved her. I know she will be a huge support to Rennes and they will be/already are her French family.
I feel so blessed to be here. To meet these people and to witness the Lord work that Mighty Change of Heart. He lives.
Love you
Soeur Bitt
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE AMAZING CHRISTMAS GIFTS!!! Uncle Craig and Aunt Maria!! I absolutely loved the stocking!! And I loved the clever scriptures on it too :) You are so sweet to think of me. I also got your Christmas card yesterday! TALK ABOUT A SUPER STAR FAMILY!! I'll try to keep up.
Thank you Grandma Bill and Grandma Bitter and Bro & Sis Hawkins for the Christmas money!! I will most likely buy a warm winter hat with it :) I'm so excited. I hope you are all doing well and that your Christmas season was unforgettable.
MAYU!!! WOW!! YOU. ARE. BEAUTIFUL!! I FINALLY got your invite. It got lost in the mail. DRAT. But you look so unbeliveably happy and beautiful. not even kidding. Happiness just oozed out of the pics on your announcement. By this time your married!! I'm so sorry!! I was planning on sending my rents in my behalf. FAIL. But know that I love you and I'm sending you all my love from Belgium. Next time I'm in Bruxelles, I'll send you something pretty. (but for right now I'm in the ghetto...and there's not much to send haha).
haven't gotten my skirts but thankfully, it has been really temperate weather. I'm assuming they'll get here soon but mail takes a really long time to get to this city.
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