This week was really awesome--I feel like I say that every week...but it's true!!
Françoise and Patrick are doing really well. She's still on her homemade ice cream kick so we're being pretty spoiled chez-eux. So this last week we taught her tithing and fast offering and we went over the Priesthood again. They are both just so awesome!! For her, she's already taken upon herself the decision to be baptized and now she just wants to learn all the commandments so that she can be completely obedient. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, we were teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and when we were talking about Repentance, she turned to us and asked "but what are all the commandments. I know don't kill, don't steal...but I really just need to know and so i won't mess up". And honestly that is how she sees EVERYTHING. Tithing? Done. The fast? Done. Sabbath Day? Not a problem. For her, she has received her answer and now it's just to her to move forward and do all these things.
At one point, during the lesson on the Priesthood, Patrick turned to Sr Mason and told her "you know...I've never been baptized". Before she could respond, he joined in again in the conversation that Françoise and I were having. But it has been really cool because these last few weeks, we have really seen a change in Patrick's countenance and we can really see that these things are starting to come together for him to.
The Gentry's haven't been able to come to the lessons this week because Sr Gentry's mom was in town from England so they have been spending the week with them exploring the Morbihan. But we have been calling them to give them updates on how the lessons are going because they are so tightly woven into this process too. Sr Gentry told me on the phone this week "you know something? For a while, David (her husband) and I have been wondering 'why is Françoise's baptism all the way out in September?? Why isn't it sooner? She's so ready!!'" And honestly, we had thought the same thing! then she continued by saying "and then we realized that the Lord wants Patrick to be ready for baptism that day too!! And he's getting there!!". So exciting. And so sweet. I love the members.
Julie is doing so amazingly. She's still really divided and all this is so new to her. Even in the lessons it's really easy to tell that she will have a quickening of the spirit and she will understand and really feel of the power of this message and then she'll have doubts. She even says herself that all her ideas contradict themselves in her mind. She just still doesn't know where the truth is and she wants to know SO BADLY. We're really trying to help her know how to receive answers to prayers because she is reading so much and really wants this. So we know that the answer will come. We just need to show her HOW it will come.
We went on exchanges this week and there was just a really cool experience that I wanted to share. So we were out porting and we came up to this apartment building and a cute TINY French woman walked up right behind us and opened the door and said a nice little "bonjour" and then went up the stairs. Well we went to the very top and started porting. We get to the 5th door and I had the thought to start the conversation with the next person with the plan of salvation. So we knock on the door and who is it? But our friend who opened the door for us! I then introduce myself and then tell her that I was actually there in France because "I know that there is a life after our life here on earth and that families can live together forever." I then asked her "and for you? What does a life after this life mean to you?"
With tears already streaming down her face she then proceeded to tell us that her granddaughter passed away this last December, followed by the death of her daughter this last March. She talked about the deep hallowing emptiness she felt and the anger that often filled it. She then explained that she was very believing and that she knows that Heavenly Father is there but that she was just angry at Him for the time. We had a wonderful opportunity to enter her home and bear testimony of the power of the Atonement and the life to come.
When we asked if we could come another time she told us "of course. Because today, you brought Christ into my home. I'm not yet healed but today, you helped me heal just that much more". I left feeling so profoundly touched and with a deeper conviction that the experiences and testimony we have are not only a gift to us but a helping hand that lifts the down trodden and broken hearted.
After we returned home that day to Vannes, we got a text from the Soeurs in Nantes telling us that Sylvie (the woman above) had just called to thank Sr Bingham and I for helping her feel so much better. Miracles.
I would like to share more but honestly...my brain hurts from staring at this computer screen. haha Pray for me this last week. I have a TON of stuff to do. Including, writing a talk and writing sheet music for this Sunday and teaching Sr Mason how to drive and in general getting everything ready for next week. I found a pretty sweet deal that I can send 2 kg of books home through the mail for just 5 euros. So I might do that to save on weight in my plane bags.
Haha I don't know why I updated you all on that administrative tidbit but have a great week and I will tell you more next week!!!!
Love you
Soeur Bitter
THANK YOU THANK YOU TO: Howard and Julie for the super nice card you sent me and CONGRATS on the new grand baby!!! And thank you so much to Jim & Carolyn for your card and birthday surprise :) That was so nice!! I've already been using the stickers like crazy. I'll Make sure to take a picture of whatever I use the birthday money for and then I'll send it to you :)
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| We went to this SUPER cool small town next to us called Auray |
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| Who could forget the spontaneous Breton choir with accordian included! |
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