Great Weather Follows Me - January 13, 2014

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.

CHA CHA LE ROOOOOIIII! -- January 6, 2014

HELLO HELLO!!

I can't believe it's Monday again. I can't believe I've already been in Belgium for a month. Things are really turning around for the better here. WOHOOOO! We're finding some really amazing amis.

Last night was our last night to do Christmas Caroling (what our Mission president asked us during the Christmas season) and there were several people who let us into their homes to pray and sing with them. One of the families that we met the mom kept saying things like,

"So you do this all the time??...That's such a beautiful thing"

"I've never met people like you before. What you do is such a beautiful thing"

"Are you going to knock on all the doors?? You should!! People need this!!!"

When we asked them if we could return all their answers were always "WILL YOU REALLY?!" So we're really excited.

Chantelle is doing amazingly. She loves church. She loves the members. And she loves the Gospel. We gave her the film Finding Faith in Christ as a Christmas present. :) We saw her for the third time this last week and when we asked her about the film, it went a little something like this:

Soeur:    "How did you like the movie about Jesus Christ"
Chantelle: "It was sad"
Soeur: "That's true but-"
Chantelle: "but then he comes back in all white. I loved that part. It was so beautiful. I felt so good."

We went on to talk about the power of the Holy Ghost and his role in testifying. That everything that is or leads to do good is from God. She then interrupts us and said "And it's that feeling that I get at church. That feeling that after, I feel so much better than before and I want to be better than before". She is so humble and so teachable. It's crazy to think that we have only been teaching her for a few weeks. This last week we fixed a baptismal date with her for the 15th of febuary!! Wohoo! I haven't checked if that day is free with the building and what not but if it is, then our Chantelle is getting baptized next month!! So much to do before then. But I'm so excited for her :)

New years and new years eve were great. We spent New Years eve with a recent convert and her two little girls. Her girls are ADORABLE! I love the members here so much.

The problem with Belgium: the Chocolate is just too good...and the people are just too generous. Between the two of us, we have pounds and pounds of gourmet chocolates at our apartment...and I'm turning into quite the monster. It's grave really. Sigh. Such a difficult life I lead. muahaha

Happy New Year Everyone!!!
I hope all your new years resolutions still exist...or were even created haha

Know that I love you and pray for you often! Especially you Elder Bitter

Soeur Bitter

Christmas Fun - December 30, 2013

Hello,

Talking to all of you on Christmas was such a highlight. I am glad that everyone is doing so well. When Zoe said "I love you Kari" I almost started crying!  I am such a baby. 

Well this week was...different, mainly because of the holidays but we were still able to see a fair number of people. Christmas eve was really awesome. we went to several of our amis or less actives and we read the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Every couple verses, I played on the violin (while they sang) the hymn that went along with that particular part in the story. For example, after it says "and she brought first her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." after that, we sang/played silent night or Away in a Manger. It was so great and it was the best way to pass the day :).

But...at about 4, we had only 1 rdv left with one of our amis. After that, we would go to the Ypersier's and have Christmas eve dinner. So we get to the bus stop and it was FREEZING!! The wind was probably about 20 mph and it's raining pretty hard. We wait for the bus (scheduled to come at 4:12)...and it doesn't come. So then we wait for the next 4:42...still doesn't come. So then we wait until 5:12...still not here. So at 5:25, after waiting in the frigid cold, we decided to call Fr. Ypersier. He is our DMP and we were normally scheduled to be at his house at 6:30 but with the way things were looking, I didn't think we would ever get there. Of course! He comes zooming to our rescue and when we got to their house, Sr. Ypersier handed us blow dryers and took our wet coats away. After that, Christmas eve was magical. The Ypersier's took such good care of us. We were spiritually and physically nourished and they even gave us wonderful christmas presents! The missionaries of Charleroi 1 say it all the time---they are our Belgian Grandparents. and it is true! I love them so much.

Our lesson with Claire was really good. For those of you who don't know/remember who Claire is, she is an ami. She met the missionaries about 3 years ago. She comes to church every sunday. Loves church. Loves the members. Adores the missionaires. When we looked over what lessons she has been taught and when, I noticed that it had been a long time since she had been taught the basic lessons. (i.e. The Plan of Salvation). So we decided to start again with the lessons--and a good thing too! Even though she has been coming for over 2 years to church, she still had a ton of questions and a lot of confusion about Jospeh Smith and the Restoration. It was a really good lesson and she really opened up as to why she ins't baptized. She has no problem with what we teach and say but being baptized would be a form of betrayal to her to her family. So we're working with that and focusing on what her Father in Heaven wants for her. We asked her to bring a question like that to church last week to which she replied "I'm not comfortable doing that if you're not going to be there." I thougth that was kind of sweet :) Since we were at Charleroi 2 ward last week, she will be bringing a question to church this Sunday. We're really praying that when she receives her answer, she will have the courage to move forward.

Funny ancedote for the week: So this transfer, I have been really pushing that we get to know the members. Charleroi is a little tricky with that actually because we are over 2 wards--and they meet at the same time on Sundays--on opposite sides of town. So what we have had to do is really take advantage of the time we do have with members...or just invite ourselves over (more sneakily though)--during the holidays, that has been easier :). So it's coming along!!

Anyway, to the ancedote. So last Sunday (like 8 days ago) I scheduled a couple visits throughout the week with members in the Charleroi 1 ward. The family Rasolo, when I talked to them, immediately invited us over for dinner the following Sunday (yesterday). Well Yesterday, we were at the Charleroi 2 ward so I didn't have to chance to confirm with them to their face but when I called they were still planning on us coming and they were excited to see us. Bon! So we head to the metro and we see that the metro is coming in about 20 minutes. "Mince. I forgot that metros on sundays were so infrequent. I'll call the Rasolo's really fast and tell them we'll be about 10 minutes late". Of course they were completely understanding. Well...20 minutes passes...then 30 minutes. Needless to say. The Metro came VERY late. We FINALLY make it to our destination and at this point I'm pretty stressed. We're super late and we're going to a members house...of which I only have a vague idea of how to find their street.

We step off the metro and this man pops out of nowhere and says hello. We say hi but just continue on our way. We find the exit and we noticed that the escalater isn't working. Fantastic. It's only like 3 flights of stairs. Then that same man pops out of nowhere and tells us to take the escalator on the other end and that that one works fine. At this point I'm both confused and grateful. We head up the escalator and kind of distance ourselves from this reappearing man. We come out at a huge round about. I look at all the streets and try to figure out which one the Rasolo's were trying to describe to me. That same man pops up and says "no no! You have to cross here!" and points to the cross walk. I kind of smile to myself and cross the crosswalk and head over to the other side of the round about. We get to the other side and I start eyeing the street signs trying to find the right one. One again the man appears and this is how this conversation went:

Man: "No No, It's this way! This is the way to where I live."

I thought "well that's cool but I want to get to a different street" So I decided to take advantage of this moment and ask this nice man where this rue was.

Man: "Right here! That's what I'm saying. You're coming home with me."

Suddenly all the gears clicked together. This was the member!!!! Haha he had come to find us at the metro stop and we kept leaving him every time he reappeared. I felt so bad. Luckily, he didn't seem to notice. And that is why missionaries need to get to know their members!!!

We then had an amazing visit with the Rasolo's. They have SUCH strong testimonies of the Gospel and are incredibly proactive about missionary work. It has been really great getting to know all the members in these two wards. We haven't gotten to meet all of them yet but we have a really good start.

Well, I wish all of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I hope you made a new years resolution to do some more missionary work :) Find a less active! Have them for dinner! Invite your neighbor for an FHE! Help the missionaries in your wards touch the people in your area. That's the way it's supposed to be.

Love you

Soeur Bitter

Christmas Eve With Ypersiers

PDay in Brussels

More Brussels

Two Words: Belgium Waffle

Beautiful Brussels

Warm Christmas Eve

Christmas Cheer in Belgium - December 23, 2013

Hello hello! 

First off, so excited to see all your faces Wednesday!! I'm thinking 5pm my time should work just fine. The family said they have everything to Skype...but it case they don't the DMP has 2 computers with everything set up so we'll just skip over to his house if need be.

This week was really awesome. I can't believe all that has happened actually. Wednesday we went to Versailles for a Christmas conference. There were about 5 zones there so it was HUGE. It was so amazing. President and Soeur Poznanski really took care of us.

Highlights: When we showed up, under each chair was a large vanilla envelope (yes I know it's a manila envelope but seriously. What the heck is a manila? Vanilla makes so much more sense) and a small Christmas envelope that looked just big enough to fit a credit card in. After many beautiful uplifting words, we watched a slide show of photos of the people who have baptized and confirmed this year. Well naturally every missionary was feeling pretty fragile at the end of that. Then Soeur Poznanski tells us we can open the small Christmas envelope. Too excited to contain myself I rip it open. What is before my eyes? A temple recommend holder with the France Paris Temple on the cover. On the inside was written a quote from President Monson and then a message from President and Soeur Poznanski that said

"Nous prions pour que vous puissiez vous trouver un jour dans le Temple de Paris avec ces âmes si précieuses".

Translation: We pray that you may find yourself one day in the Paris Temple with these very precious souls.

My eyes filled with tears as I immediately thought of Prisca and Sophie. (Side note-Prisca's husband is getting baptized soon and Prisca is stronger than ever. They are planning to go to the temple to be sealed to their little girls a year after her husband is baptized). These people have become a piece of my soul and the idea of leaving here one day tears me up. I pray that one day I can find a way to come back after the Temple has been finished and re-find my best friends inside the walls of the Lord's House.

Second highlight: At the end of the conference, the Assistants opened up 2 LARGE boxes and Soeur and President Poznanski reached in and pulled out hundreds of red and green envelopes. My heart skipped a beat as I instantly thought. "No. Could it be? Are those letters from our parents?! Did they arrange to have our parents send letters to us?!" Sure enough that was EXACTLY what it was. Naturally my name was the 5th to last called. I hurriedly took my envelope and found a little corner in the church to read my letters. Hot tears rolled down my face as I read some of the most loving words from the most amazing parents. Thanks mom and dad. It was exactly what I needed at the exact time.

Highlight from Charleroi: So on Saturday, we went to go see Chantel. This was the first time I have ever met her so I was pretty excited :). I love new people! Well we get to her home and she lives in incredibly humbling circumstances. We sat down on the only two chairs she had (while she stood-even though she has a bad back-she insisted we sit. SUCH NICE PEOPLE!). The house was dim and her daughter (during the whole lesson) was in the process of silencing their loud and vicious GIGANTIC dog. Theoretically this would not be the best atmosphere for inviting the spirit. But I just thought "Tant pis. We told her we would teach her about Jesus Christ and that is EXACTLY what we will do." 

We decided to teach the Gospel of Christ. We started (naturally) at the beginning - faith. As soon as we started testifying of what faith in our Savoir meant, the spirit filled the room. Throughout the lesson, the dimness of her home and her humble circumstances seemed to wash away. Her dog that, if left to it's own devices I'm pretty sure would lunge at my throat, didn't seem so intimidating and instead of another stranger, I saw standing in front of me, a humble, searching, beloved daughter of God.

We invited her to church and when we called her the next morning (at 8am) to tell her we found her a ride, she told us that she was already ready and she was excited to come to church. When she arrived, I asked her how the rest of her Saturday was. She said that after we came, her day was so much brighter and she was just so excited to come to church. The members showered her with attention and love and I loved watching her throughout the meeting as the members testified of the Birth of Christ. Needless to say, we love her and I'm so excited to see her this week.

I stink as a daughter/sister. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH, STEVEN AND PAPA!!!!!!!! I'm sending you all personal emails as we speak. I'm cutting this email short so I can :) feel special

Anyway, I will see you all soon :) I'm so excited to skype with you.

May your Christmas be centered on the true spirit of Christmas and may you hearts be filled with thoughts of our Savoir and his birth.

Love love love you

Soeur Bitter

Big Move to Charleroi Belgium - December 16, 2013

Hello hello hello! 

I have officially left the countryside of France for the inner-city Belgium. Mmmmm waffles. Yum. It really is a COMPLETELY different country here. Same language but the people in beglium are most definitely not the French haha.

So I'll give the highlights of both Rennes and Belgium.

So I received the news Monday that I would be leaving Rennes. Not going to lie-biggest shocker of my life. I was in the middle of training and usually, you will stay with your blue. But anyway, I decided to wait to tell Sophie that I was leaving until our RDV -- which was Tuesdaynight--my last RDV in Rennes. (Couldn't have planned that better).

We went over to Sophie's and right away I told her (mainly because there was no way I could make it through an entire lesson without). She was SO SAD. She said when she imagined her baptism she thought of her best friend being there too. :( Sigh. She understood though and in her prayer, she asked Heavenly Father to help me find Sophie #2 in Belgium haha. So cute

So for our lesson, we went through the Baptismal questions and just made sure that she was completely ready for Baptism. It was an AMAZING experience. I got to hear her bear her testimony of each of the things that we had taught her. At first she was nervous for the questions but half way through it would go something like this:

"Do you believe that Jospeh Smith was a prophet and restored the true Church of Jesus Christ on the earth again?"    "OF COURSE!! no problem. PASSED!!"

Then we asked her what these things meant to her. It was amazing to watch her search her thoughts and try to explain what she felt. One of my favorites was her describing what it meant to her to have a modern day prophet.

"To me it means....that Jesus sent someone...for us...so we could know Him better. Someone that talks to God and leads the church..." She said some more things like that and then turned to me and asked "And for you? What does it mean for you?"

It then turned into a testimony meeting of all the questions. Her bearing hers first and then me sharing mine. Definitely one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

That next day, she came to the Train Station to see me off. She bought all the missionaries breakfast patisseries and we took tons of pictures (naturally). I'm going to miss that girl so much.

Update on her: We set up an FHE the Thursday after I left and Sr Barton said that it went amazingly and (of course) the members just loved her so much. I'm excited for her to be a member. I know she will be such a support to the Rennes ward and that her testimony will bless SO MANY.

Now to Charleroi.

So We got our work cut out for us! That is for sure. We are over two wards here...unfortunately those two wards are in different buildings across town so we only get to see the members every other week--which really inhibits my endearing sense of charm. But We'll just have to work double time with the members. There are not a ton of amis right now so this is going to be the transfer of FINDING!! WOOT WOOT!! And actually we had an amazing finding experience last night.

We went to the Christmas broadcast to see if any of the less actives were there. We showed up in time for the last speaker (which was really good by the way). Well, none of the less actives were there but as I was sitting there, I was thinking of where we could do finding in Charleroi. I really didn't know the ville at all and there were really no sections that were more family oriented. it was all old--in fact it kind of looks like Brooklyn NY--no skyscrapers though. Just lots and lots of brick 2 or 3 story buildings all squished together. Some buildings are abandoned, some are nice, some have young families some have older people etc. It's just kind of a mix all together. Another problem-from our apartment, it takes a bit to get to proselyting areas. Around us has DEFINITELY been done and also around the church. Everywhere else takes like 45 minutes. I looked around the fireside and realized -- WAIT, this room is full of members!! They can take us to their neighborhoods! So Afterwards, we ran up to Soeur Wery in the ward and asked her if she could take us to their neighborhood to do some finding. She was thrilled. We drive over there and Sr Mangum has the great idea to make it a power hour.

Power Hour definition: You go to a members house, pray with them and tell them that you will be finding in their area and you ask them to pray for you while you're out. If they have ideas of specific places in their neighborhood, that's great too.

The Wery family told us of their neighbor who had received a Book of Mormon and a less active down the way. They said that the neighbor had already turned away the Elders but that we should try anyway. We try the less active first-not home. Tried the neighbor-fixed a lesson for the next day (tonight). AWESOME!! Well...at that point we had only used like 5 minutes of power hour -- so on we went. Well needless to say, I have never seen such an amazing finding miracle in my life. Not only did their neighbor and his whole family invite us back. But we also found 2 other families and single woman who we fixed lessons with this week. AMAZING!! It really is amazing how much working with members speeds up missionary work. I am so grateful for this ward and their faith and prayers. Needless to say, we're going back to that neighborhood to finish porting it (and also to teach the lessons we fixed haha).

Well, that's all I have time for. Wish us luck in Belgium!! This week is going to be crazy.

Also, going to Paris on Wednesday for a Christmas conference. SO EXCITED!!

Also, don't know when we will be skyping the family but I'm assuming it will be Christmas night time. So Christmas morning for you. We can try google hangout again so we can have many of you peeps on at a time :) It's up to you!! I would love to see Zoe and Callan and Jon and Sarah as well as you guys :)

Love you mucho!!

Soeur Bitter

Last RDV with Sophie

Tugsuu Sending Saying Farewell

Barton and I at the Coast

Goodbye With Sophie (and Breakfast)

First Day in Charleroi 

With Soeur Barton at the Beach

New Comp. Soeur Mangum

Leaving Rennes Before Christmas (Arghh) - December 9, 2013

Hello,

The saddest news ever- I'm leaving Rennes two weeks before Christmas. So...don't send anything more here. I'm really sad but I know that where I'm going is where I am meant to be. I'm headed off to Charleroi so....SEND ME SOMETHING WARM!! 

Other news: Sophie is getting baptized- the 21st (dad's birthday!). It's such a bummer that I won't be there but I'm so excited for her.

Here's the story: So last week, we talked about baptism but she said that she didn't think she was ready. She said maybe in two months. I thought that was acceptable so we left it there. That next morning, she sent us a text and said that she had woken up "really sad because I don't have a baptism". We had told her to pray about it to know which day would be good for her. When we got to our RDV, she told us:

"You know, I've been reading this book for two hours now."

At this point I whipped around, "QUOI!? Which book? The blue one??!"

Sure enough she had been reading the Book of Mormon for two hours straight. Best. News. Ever. And in her words "I really like this book". Her favorite chapter is still the one "about the seed that you have to water and then it will grow into a strong tree. I love it because it's like my faith" :) Love it.

We then talked about dates and we decided that the 21st would be the best :) I'm so excited for her. Since then, she has been sharing the Gospel with EVERYONE. She'll ask me often things like:

"How do you say the name of our church in French? I'm talking about it to my French friends."

She's is already such a great missionary and I know that she will be such a strength to this ward. I'm excited that Rennes gets to have her and I'm excited for how much love she'll receive from these wonderful members.

In all honesty, I'm really distracted by the news that I'm leaving Rennes so I'm having a hard time writing about the week. So that's all I'm going to say.

Have a great week everyone

Soeur Bitter

p.s. I received this morning the Christmas Package from everyone. I opened the letter to see if I could open the presents early. I was shocked to see everyone signed it and then I remembered when we all sat around the table last Christmas and signed the cards. Dad's made me laugh super hard "I know you miss me!" hehe it's so true.

p.p.s I received the cutest package last week from Aunt Maria and Uncle Craig!! I read all the cards and they made me SO SO happy! The stocking is sitting proudly on my desk :) I'm excited to check out the goodies inside.

Love From Craig and Maria

Sophie's Growth in the Gospel - December 2, 2013

Hello,

So it's week 6 again and we're at the end of the transfer. I'm pretty sure I'm going to stay here in Rennes because I'm in the middle of training...but really, you can never know haha. It's crazy how quick this transfer has gone. But since it's week 6, we have a ton of things to do on our p.day and we still want to go to St. Malo so this is going to be a quick email.

So today I'm just going to give an update on Sophie. So this week I really felt we should teach the Word of Wisdom. , I was nervous. She's a 25 year old college student so this could go SO many ways. We get to her lesson and we just ask her how she has been and then I say "OK awesome. We we brought a message but we would love to start with a prayer. You can choose who will give it."

"Me. I want to give it!"

I was a little surprised since with her, she usually gives the closing prayers but I didn't think anything of it and just bowed my head. She then gave the most beautiful prayer about how thankful she is to feel His support in her life especially as she is choosing to follow His path. The spirit was incredibly strong. She finished her prayer and then started to bear her testimony of the influence she has felt of the Lord in her life. Once again she mentioned General Conference. She talked about how before, she really didn't understand what we were describing when we described the Holy Ghost (which is interesting because I could have sworn she did...opps haha).

Then she said "but then you asked me to watch that Conference and...and...it was like there was a wall that I wasn't aware was even there-and someone knocked it down, and I saw for the very first time. Ever since then, I have felt someone behind me, pushing me down this path. I can see it and it's so clear to me".

She then continued and described how good it feels to have someone who supports her. Haha at this point she back-peddled a little and said quickly  "But I know you support me too! It's just, someone on the other side, someone bigger than me. When all my friends are telling me one thing, I know what He wants for me".

We then segued into the Word of Wisdom.  After the lesson she looked at me and said "you always bring the perfect things to teach me. This is exactly what I needed. It wasn't a coincidence you brought this." It was such a testimony to me that the commandments that the Lord gives us really ARE for our good and that telling others to keep them, telling others to repent. While scary, it WILL make them happier. I love that she sees that too. I love that she sees so clearly how she needs to change because she knows how she feels and she knows what we teach will bring her more of that feeling. 

Anyway, that's all I have time for. I can't wait to see all of your lovely faces on Christmas...or Christmas eve. Whichever works best for you. We need to arrange with members when we can be at their house on Christmas to use their skype but we will let you know. Which day is better for you? The 24th or the 25th?

Love my package. Also! This morning I got a package from Grandma Weber! What the surprise!! I'm so excited!! Although, I'm guessing I can't open it until Christmas.

Sending my love!!

Soeur Bitter

French Pastries -- Baffling to Say the Least