a street in my new sector!
TRANSFERS.
First things first, after 7 transfers and 11 months.... I'm actually leaving Versailles ward and I am really, really sad about it, since I love all the people there, our sweet new member M just started bringing her extended family to the temple, the bishops wife just had a baby I haven't seen yet, and an amazing member invited us over for Christmas eve more than a month early so we'd know we had someone to visit! This is the BEST ward!
And next week I'll say the exact same thing about Mantes-La-Jolie, my new ward and sector! I'll be in the Paris district with the Zone leaders and my old district leader, Elder Cheng! Plus it means "the beautiful Mantis," so that's neat.
I'm switching stl companions, so I'm staying in the same apartment and still at the temple visitors center half the day, which is interesting since the edge of Mantes ward is at least a 45 minute drive from the center. We'll spend a lot of time in the car, but I've met Mantes ward members and most of their amis already on exchanges and they're awesome! It's where we had that really interesting Bible discussion. They've also only had sisters in the sector for less than a year, so I'm the first Utah sister to serve there.
THE REAL BAGUETTE.
Speaking of Utah. Yesterday in Relief Society a sister gave us a wonderful analogy.
"One time I went to visit Utah. There were baguettes in the grocery store, and people were so happy to buy them! They felt so French! They'd buy these baguettes and bring them home and cut them for their family and they were very satisfied and happy, they thought they had the real thing. They'd never had a real baguette! They were tough, like they were four days old, and strange and puffy and *shivers* but you'd never know if you hadn't been given a real baguette, and you'd never seek for one if you thought you knew a real one already! But once you've had a real one, and tasted the real happiness, the real joy, of a warm, fresh, true baguette, you can't go back! You know the truth, it's right before your eyes and you can't deny it! Americans can't be blamed for eating fake baguettes, nobody has ever shown them the better way! Sisters, it's like people and their faith. They're proud of it, they love it, they're satisfied, but they've never tasted the real baguette, the true gospel of Jesus Christ. We can show them that real joy, the good bread, and invite them to taste it.
My apologies to any American sisters, but you know it's true..."
I couldn't even get down the whole thought and people were shouting agreements like a revival camp. Nothing impassions our ward like food analogies. It was hilarious, but everyone (especially the Americans) agreed that the thought was accurate. The Gospel is the real baguette. As soon as you really bite in, you can taste it.
AMI B AND HER BEST FELLOWSHIPPER
Our ami, B, has a slow and steady progression. We've seen some quiet miracles with her lately, and à consistent change that is amazing to see.
She also has this 6th sense that every time Bishop Causse of the presiding bishopric is at the temple, she somehow gets there too. This has happened every time he's come, at least 3 or 4 times. She has no idea who he is besides that he's her new buddy and she's offered to tell him about the church and introduce him to the missionaries. I love ami B.
Anyways, yesterday B came to the correct sacrament meeting for the first time in months. She was a little nervous, very shy and didn't know many people and looked like she might slip out... When who comes in? Her buddy. She waved at him on the stand and really enjoyed his talk about service, charity, the pure love of Christ, his testimony, and the importance of baptism. Normally she's a little lost during talks, but this one she listened to the whole thing! She was also happy to know he's already a member, and that she knows his grandkids.
It was a strange but cool proof that the Lord knows all of us and will give us little presents like seeing the one person you know at church if that's what helps you stay.
I told Bishop Causse that he's accidentally becoming part of her fellowshipping family and he seemed pretty happy, though he's usually in Salt Lake. It was a good day.
A REFUGE AGAINST THE STORM
I really enjoyed Bishop Causse's talk, which is good since I was the one translating it. He talks REAL FAST so the missionaries played hot potato with the microphone and it landed with me, which turned into a blessing since I understood a lot more than I should have, even country names that just made sense while I was translating, or phrases that don't have a direct translation.
He just got back from visiting refugees on the Syrian border and a few other places. He talked about what our fast offerings go to, from rebuilding the inside of bombed out children's hospitals and wards for premature babies, to English classes that give hope to people who didn't have any left, to schools and daycare that allows kids to have a moment of a normal childhood in the middle of war and chaos.
He talked a lot about the senior couples that are the face of the church there, and by extension the representatives of Jesus Christ.
There is no proselytizing there, but that's not what's important right now for these people. What's important is food, and band-aids, and à place to sleep that won't fall down, and vaccines, and to live our religion by loving and serving those who are in need. The senior missionary couples are there to serve as Christ would, and many are on their 3rd or 4th mission!
He talked about Israel, and BYU Jerusalem center, and the hundreds of people that come to listen to the couple called just to play music when they give organ concerts. He talked about the district conference that had 15 people there that came across borders and paid bribes and sometimes risked their lives so they could see other latter - day saints, and how they usually met by themselves in their apartment since they could be arrested or worse if they're seen meeting. There are latter-day saints in Syria, and they're all still children of God.
We serve where we're called, lift where we stand, and do whatever we can. So, my invitation for this week is to go to "iwasastranger.lds.org" and find something you or your family can do. It might be big, it might be small, but it does make a difference. Pennies make a difference, paying your fast offerings makes a difference, caring for your neighbors makes a difference, donating your old stuff to Di instead of throwing it out makes a difference. We might not always see it ourselves, but somebody does.
And also this video is really good: https://www.lds.org/
And song of the week, if mom can find a really good version of "a poor wayfaring man of grief?"
OH! And one more important fact: we met a wonderful little pomeranian named Joyce who barks very conversationally every time we pass her until her owner stops. She doesn't bark aggressively, it's literally a conversation.
" Bonjour, Joyce ! "
" Aif ! "
"comment ça va ?"
"Aif !"
And so forth.
And there's a pomeranian named Domino next door.
And "Bonjour Dog," the little terrier who drags on her leash to say hi.
And Donut.
And Cookie.
And Leroy.
The dogs here are determined to get their owners contacted.
Alors, love you all, have fun, make good choices, say your prayers, read your scriptures, give somebody a hug, etc. And I'll see you soon!!
Pictures : the cake the elders made, the day the elders spotted a rat and surrounded it, and a picture of a street in my new sector!
the day the elders spotted a rat and surrounded it,
the cake the elders made
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