soeur bitter: Transfer Notice to Vannes and Chocolate to Spare

So this week was the last week of the transfer--which always means THE BEST WEEK EVER!!! It's the week where we really get to see the 'fruits of our labors'.

We went to see all of our less-actives and amis and I told them all that I would probably be leaving. Needless to say, now our cupboard is FULL of all sorts of Belgium chocolates, over 7 boxes of different kinds of cookies, chocolate dipped marshmallows. You name it. I was so touched by their generosity and love...it's just too bad that I'm on a diet hahaha.

This week at the Rosenbluth's, Soeur Rosenbluth told us that she read the talk that we left her—“Come Join With Us” by President Uchtdorf. She told us, "It was like it was written for me". The amazing thing about this talk, it addresses pretty much every reason why someone would go less active. After discussing the talk, I then asked her what exactly was stopping her from coming to church. Frere Rosenbluth comes about 2x a month but Soeur Rosenbluth hasn't been to church in about 8 years.

Half way through testifying of the importance of church, I felt that familiar voice telling me exactly what I needed to say. I started by telling them that this would most likely be our last RDV together. I would probably be leaving on Wednesday. Immediate shock! Then I went on to tell them that from the very first week I got to Charleroi, their name came to my mind. Over and over and over. I didn't even know them at this point. And since meeting them, they were constantly in my thoughts. I went on to tell them how much I really love them. And that I was only asking them to do these things because I knew it really would help. After a second or two, Soeur Rosenbluth looked at me and said "I'm coming this Sunday. I'll be there".

We're going to put this story on hold while I go on explaining the rest of the week.

Cool miracle later that week: So we were on our way to pass by someone on the other side of Mont-Sur-Marchienne. On our way, we noticed a woman sitting on a ledge holding a bouquet of flowers. As we walked past, the Spirit whispered so subtly to go and talk to her. So we make a really sly (NOT!) detour around the street pole and I started by introducing myself and our message.

She then looks up at us and tells us "Today is my birthday."

Soeur Bitter: "TODAY? Oh la la! Happy birthday!!"

Then she said, "And this morning my dog died."

Soeur Bitter is now at loss for words. All I could mutter was a "I'm so sorry".

She then went on to explain that her dog had been attacked by a German Sheppard and had been mauled to death. We continued talking to her about the healing power of Christ but it was obvious that she was in a state that was hard for her to focus on what we were saying. We then offered to walk her home and to help her carry the groceries she had around her. She complied and we just continued talking to her as we went.

When we got to her house we just let her talk for a little bit and then we asked if we could just sing a hymn to her and leave her with a prayer. We left her the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and told her that it would give her peace. She made us promise to come back :)

That Sunday, we go to church and we see the Elder's super cool ami Phillipe. He comes up to us and says, "HEY! I heard you visited my mom and sang to her." Instantly confused, I start scratching my brain for all the names of people we sang to during Christmas.

I ask, "When was it exactly?"

Phillipe, "Thursday."

Me: "Wait, like recently?!"

Phillipe: "Yes!"

Me: "Elizabeth?!"

Phillipe: "Yup. That's my mom!"

I. was. Floored. I was incredibly humbled to see the hand of the Lord. Charleroi is a fairly big city—about 200,000 people. There is no way that you can justify what happened that day to be mere circumstance. We were in the right place, at the right time, in the moment that she needed us most. This then made Phillipe's family SO much more open to the idea of him getting baptized and meeting with the Elders.

Through the rest of church, I was EXHAUSTED. I'm not going to lie to you all. Charleroi has been a really hard place for me. There was A LOT of work that needed to be done when I got here but every missionary has their own Gethsemane's and so there is no room to complain. But it felt weird that those days were coming to a close. I was almost certain that I was leaving and there was just one desire that I had that whole week--that I would receive a confirmation that the Lord accepted the work I had done here. All week I tried weighing it out in my mind. Things I had done successfully v. things I had not been able to finish. Would it end up being enough?

Sacrament is the last hour and as I walked in I kicked myself and thought stop focusing on you. Time to work! I ran around and welcomed our amis and said hi to all of our members and asked how they were doing. It looks like the meeting is about to start so I turn around to go find my companion when I see SOEUR ROSENBLUTH walking into church. She's beaming from ear to ear and comes running up to me "I told you I would come!".

She then is swarmed by all of our ward (she's lovable so obviously everyone has missed her). I told her I would save her a spot. When church started, she plopped herself right next to me. The Bishop got up and said that we would start the meeting by singing The Spirit of God. Before he sat down, I felt the most amazing feeling. I felt as if my soul was being expanded within me and I heard "Look around you". I looked up and instantly my eyes feel on Soeur Puissant, I then looked a few rows back and saw Soeur Charles there with her granddaughter and daughter (1st time she's been in church in a few years). I then thought of the wonderful couple sitting next to me--the Rosenbluths. I instantly started choking back tears. Let's just say I didn't make it through much of the hymn.

I am so grateful to have served here--even if it was just for that moment right there. Saying goodbye to these members will just about kill me. They all came running up to me at the baptism last Saturday and through tears asked "BUT YOU'RE NOT LEAVING ARE YOU?!" The ward here really is unbelievable. I'm so grateful to have met all these beautiful people.

The first day with Soeur MacKay I told her "Charleroi may not be beautiful but you will fall in love with these people. They are the best". And it's true. I'm sad to be leaving them BUT I'M SO EXCITED TO BE GOING BACK TO BRETAGNE!!!! Yup. I'm in the same stake as Rennes, my favorite place in the world. I'm going to Vannes. HAPPPINESS. My new comp's name is Soeur Francis. I've heard she's AMAZING and I've talked to her a bit and she seems really cool. Also, tender mercy, Vannes goes to Rennes...A LOT. Do you remember who is IN Rennes??? MY SOPHIE!!!!!! Praying we'll get to see each other!!

That's all my updates for this week. I need to go pack my bags and get ready to head out to the beautiful Bretagne.

Soeur Bitter

Well this last week we had an all sister conference. IT WAS AWESOME!!! It made me feel like a girl again! Win. Well Soeur Barton and I...naturally... embarrassingly cling to each other...so all my pics are of her. Whoops haha. But Sending them anyways!!!