(Soeur Oulés and Soeur Amott)
Like, everything. Literally everything. Croissants, cigarettes, bread, perfume and cologne, mildew and old stone and buildings, the mall we went to today had two butcher shops and a fresh fish market and a lot of bakeries, but more on that later. On the plane ride they served croissants with jam with breakfast, and my clothes and hair smelled like them for the whole day until I could shower that night. Thankfully, I haven't actually encountered one since then. I think my animosity towards croissants probably stems from motion sick plane rides and being handed a strong smelling, buttery, greasy croissant. They're always really lovely when I actually eat them, but... still.
That's my only complaint, though, and its about my general dislike of a specific pastry, so take it for what you will.
If anybody sees my wallet traveling around SLC sans moi, I could probably use that here, as it has my debit and credit card. I'm more miffed about the paper crane that went rogue inside the wallet, though. I can replace a card eventually, and the wallet once I get a card, but I can't do anything about the crane. I just hope whoever got the wallet also enjoys the granola bar they took with it. Got us a great opportunity to meet with several sweet people in Atlanta, though, and a good workout in the airport, and I didn't buy all the junk food I'd planned on, so I'm going to count it as a hidden blessing I'll figure out eventually.
Everything has been taken care of so far, even the tights that didn't fit at the start of the mtc fit now so I don't have to replace the ones the ice chewed up yet, and the Soeur Closet coming by last night with a wool scarf. A sweet Elder going to Argentina didn't finish his sushi and offered it to me at the airport and I didn't have to borrow any money. Everything works out with the Lord's help and the kindness of other people. And, on that note, I'm making an effort to share what I can, too. We've all been given talents and time and a little extra of something in our lives that we can share, even if it's a hug or Soeur Bossel just now playing music we all love.
(a snowy morning from the apartment)
Challenge #1 for people at home: Find one thing to share or way to serve this week, write it down when it happens, and then if you feel like it send me or another missionary am email about it so we can learn from it too. The Lord often acts and blesses people through the actions of his children on the earth, so you never know what little thing or paper crane is going to change somebody's day.
I'm writing this right now from the tiny room in the VC where we get to talk to people around the world by chat and phone. Ive almost got the French keyboard down, but luckily most of my chats are still in English. A lot of people like to ask deep questions in the middle of the night, which is our early morning, so that works perfectly. We're the only ones in the entire world online for an hour a day so that's a little crazy sometimes, still a good time though!
(Visitor Center chat room)
My trainer companion, Soeur Oulés, is from the south of France and has been out for four months. She's a big fan of superheroes, loves captain America and Wonder woman, makes weird faces, and cooks the BEST roasted sweet potatoes with "bacon fumé."
Her only flaw is that she likes Zucchini, which seems to be a common issue in France. Naming it a courgette doesn't make it any tastier. We eat a lot of it with rice, corn, and beans canned in tomato sauce.
So, in France they call les nouveaux missionnaires "bleus," not "greenies." The french army would historically issue beautiful blue uniforms to new soldiers, and you could tell the new apart from the old because their uniforms weren't faded or stained or worn. We're still clueless and blue, but it's a good time!
Running out of time again, but challenge #2 is to invite somebody you know and love to meet with missionaries, go to an LDS visitors center, or read the Book of Mormon. Families should take a family night at the Visitor's center and bring a friend! It's a good time! Show people you love them!
(Visitor Center missionaries and open temple model)
Little kids are very solemn about their grown up privilege to shake your hand at church on Sunday. The Versailles ward is the biggest in France, we have three sets of missionaries here! It's awesome!
Thanks for the emails, cat pictures, and prayers. I love you all, and I'm glad I'm out here. We promised to find our brothers and sisters and bring them closer to Christ, and we full time missionaries can't do that alone. I'm grateful for all my friends and family I have at home, and I miss you. I'm out here because I know our heavenly father loves his children and wants them to come back to him. Even if that means I need to eat zucchini and have my hair smell like croissants.
À bientôt, je vous aimons, tout le monde!
Soeur Amott
Soeur Amott
(our apartment)
(plenty of light is a blesing)
(McDo, tastes a lot healthier here.)
(After healthy groceries, we got snacks for the week and raspberry-and-some-sort-of-flower body wash. "Spicy" flavor chips for me, "northerner" for Soeur Oulès)
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