We have a countertop and lights=)

January 16, 2012

This might well have been the longest week of my entire mission. But the good news is, we are finally moved in!

I know that I told you last Monday that we'd be switching apartments after I emailed you. But with a couple things having come up, and Sister Ingraham being sick enough that I didn't want to drag her all over the city, we spent the night in our old apartment. Packing up that night and the next morning, we took our luggage to district meeting and then the elders who used to live there helped us home with everything.

So...finally, we were mostly moved in -having just left a few odds and ends in the Louise apartment. However, having Sister Ingraham still being sick, moving was not exactly the kind of physical stress that her body needed. So, she's been pretty out of it the past couple of days. It was semi perfect timing though because we had a man coming to check our heating and for him to do so, we weren't allowed to leave the apartment between noon and five pm, giving Sister Ingraham plenty of time to just sleep and I got to basically rebuild the apartment. The electricity in the bathroom has been out for about a transfer. There should be six working lights in there, but instead we had extension cords running through the hall and a small desk lamp lighting the room. The vacuum stopped working the day before we moved in. The electricity for the washer and dryer...also out. The kitchen sink was plugged with a moldy bucket catching the water below the pipes. And the dishwasher wouldn't drain or start. Yeah... It's a beautiful apartment in an adorable neighborhood. It's just that the interior needed a bit of time and work. So I more that appreciated being "forced" into having the time to get it all in working order. I was exhausted by the end of the day, but we now have two of six lights working in the bathroom (we just need the zone leaders to buy new bulbs to replace the ones that had burned out.) A working vacuum. A working dishwasher, dryer, and washing machine. And a drain able sink minus the moldy bucket! =)

We love the apartment. And all the elder's surprises that they left for us were...fun to find. ;) I.E. root beer flavored hard candy in the freezer. Apparently eating it cold is like drinking it out of a can. Balloons all over our study room. Water balloons in the sink in the bathroom. Regular and water balloons in the freezer. Tortillas in the microwave. And toys on our desks -complete with a smurf giving a blessing. ha ha As I said, we love the apartment. It's incredible! It's by far the biggest one I've ever lived in with the most amazing kitchen I've had. Not only do we have a counter, but we've got granite counter tops, a dishwasher, french doors, a water closet, etc and a rubber scrapper (you'd be surprised, it's a rare commodity to come by.) I was floored when I saw the apartment for the first time. The elders were right. They totally have been covering up the best kept secret in the mission. We are SO not complaining. I hate moving, but now that we're moved in, I'll happily stay. =)

With all the moving, Sister Ingraham being sick, Sister Murray and I needing to go to Lille to renew our French legality and...everything else, it's been a long, weird week. And after having gone through boarder control twice in two weeks, all I can say is I never want to be an alien again. Being a resident is just so much easier. ha ha

But despite everything we were able to still get in a bit of real missionary life. Sister Murray and I taught a Romanian girl Thursday afternoon after getting back from Lille. We were a bit stunned. Seriously, we have NO problems in our lives. She's 22 years old. She has a 5 year old and an 18 month old boy with chronic bronchitis. Her husband has Hepatitis B, as do her in-laws who also live with them. He father died when she was 10 years old, and when her mother got remarried shortly after, her new step father wouldn't let Paula nor her three siblings live with him. So she's basically been begging ever since then. She's been in Belgium for six years and despite constantly trying to get her visa, they won't grant it to her. So now having lost her job, running out of money - not being able to pay rent anymore, they may be kicked out of their apartment tomorrow. She's terrified that if that happens, being on the street, the cops with deport her. But her sons were both born here. So they would be put in an orphanage. Yeah...and that's just the tip of the ice berg or her story. It's really sad. She's incredible. And she loves the church. She's been reading the Book of Mormon and came to church for the first time yesterday. Before the meetings had even started, having just sat down for sacrament meeting, she leaned over to me with tears in her eyes, amazed at "how kind everyone is here. It really feels like a family. Like, I don't know how to describe it, like, they care about me." By the end of the first hour she again leaned over to me and said, "I don't understand this. I love it here. I've never felt like this in my church. I just feel...good here." The second hour was a class for all the amis. The teacher taught about the Plan of Salvation. And even got into the fact that we believe Satan is God's son and was in the preexistence with us (generally not something we teach right of the bat to investigators.) While Paula had a few questions about that, by the end of the hour all she could say was that "for some reason, I just...believe it. I believe everything she said." Paula is SO ready, but in such a hard situation that we have no idea when she'll actually be able to be baptized. She the walking proof that your spiritual needs can't be met until your temporal needs are taken care of. Luckily, not matter what happens over these next few days for her, the Church is global and no matter where she ends up, she'll be able to find it again. Personally, I've decided that I hate feeling like there's nothing more I can do that pray for some of these people. Sometimes waiting upon the Lord is one of my biggest weaknesses, I think. I just want to be able to pray for them and then go out and fix everything for them and make her life easy. But...I just don't have that power. Oh well. I know the Lord will take care of her. She just needs to keep trusting Him to do so.

As I said though, Sister Murray and I left that rendez-vous feeling so blessed. This girl is younger than both of us and has a life like that. We have nothing to complain about. We really are more blessed than I think we realize.

There's the sum total of our week. As I said, it's been a bit different. I'm just happy that we should be getting back into the flow of normalcy again.

I hope you had a great week. I love you!

~Kim

Happy New Year 2012

So I have been severely neglajent in posting Kim's e-mails on her blog, with all of the Holiday activities.  So suffice it to say, things have been very busy for her and the time is swiftly passing.  We were able to SKYPE on Christmas day for three fabulous hours.  She is doing well and is now serving in Belgium.  Here is her latest e-mail as of today.

Happy New Year!

What a week! I am so tired and it's not yet over. 

It was SO good to talk to you last week! =) It's was just a great week over all. Last Monday morning, we went over to the Strombeek sisters apartment and had lunch with them. So having basically spent all weekend with them, we thought we would quickly be getting back into our normal routine and only see them (maybe) once a week. Wrong. Due to problems with their apartment, they had to spend the night with us. We got a call from them late Monday night and they were escorted by our zone leaders to our apartment around 10:50ish. 

They have been living with us ever since. I love that apartment. It's cute. And it's perfect for the two of us. However, it for sure was not built to house four of us ha ha. So it's been a bit cramped. Sister Smith has been sleeping on the floor between mine and Sister Ingraham's beds; our kitchen table has become their desk; and luggage has been strewn about across our floor. However, it really has been fun to be back in a four man set up again, despite the less than perfect size of the apartment. 

With all of that drama, it was a bit crazy knocking out our exchanges for the transfer. But we got that taken care of (finally!) on Wednesday. It was a bit of a surprise to tell Sister Bell that we'd actually be going home to the Strombeek soeurs as well. ha ha But what are exchanges without at least a couple surprises tossed in. 

Since that adventure wasn't exciting enough, our water heater, which also heats the entire apartment, turned into Shamu, screaming like a Killer Whale, and stopped working. So we've been heating our apartment by turning the oven on full blast and leaving it open. We've also been boiling water every morning to try and shower in non-arctic waters. It is quite the sight to see these pots and pans of boiling water in the bathtub with two of us washing the hair of one of the others while she is sitting on the floor, towel around her neck, leaning her head over the rim of the tub ha ha. Like I said: adventure.

AND transfer news. Sister Ingraham and I are staying together in Louise. However not to break my tradition of having something new every transfer, we're moving. Yup. Since I love packing SO SO SO much (especially with all the added Christmas stuff,) we're moving. It's complicated to explain all of the details, but because of the issue with the sister's apartment, they are moving into ours and we're moving into the elder's apartment that they just moved out of this morning. The problem with the sisters has been discussed by president and the assistants and they let everyone know where they'd be moving to. (Three companionship is total would have to move.) But in the beginning, Sister Ingraham and I weren't supposed to be moving. Sister Smith was packing up this morning using my suitcases since hers were full, and -since we don't live very far away- she could use them and return them later. Right when she finished and zipped them shut, Elder Gubbay called and told me that we would be moving as well. Great...So the Strombeek soeurs went to their apartment to clean it up for the elders while we packed as quickly as we could (the senior couple had offered to use their car to help everyone get around today.) We didn't get much of a start on packing our stuff before Sister and Elder Hall came by, but at least something is over there already. In the mean time, I was also dealing with the repairman that finally made it to the apartment to fix the water situation. After the Hall's came, we went to the sister's old apartment to help them clear everything out (and they can't go over there alone.) It was SO weird turning off the lights, walking out of that apartment, and locking the door behind us knowing that we'll never go back. Sister Smith said she felt like it was the "Friends" finale and we all needed to set our keys on the table and walk out. I love that apartment. It holds SO many wonderful memories from my first transfer and this last one. But...ça va. It's not a big deal, we just felt like we were saying goodbye to one of our best friends. (As dumb as that sounds.) After taking care of that, we ate lunch, drop of the last bits of their stuff in our old apartment and...now we're here. Still needing to pack and move, we all needed an email break before moving some more. But it may not have been the best idea because as soon as we sat down, we all started falling asleep. Yeah...like I said, I'm tired. ha ha Luckily we've got incredible elders who are being so sweet and helpful with this whole situation. So we should have all the help we need for the rest of the night. It's just going to be a long one. And it doesn't help that Sister Ingraham got sick last night. Of all days to come down with a cold...

On a more normal mission related subject: Diamondo. We saw him on Saturday. We had a quick lesson about the sacrament and our reasons for going to church and then made sure that he and his daughter were ready to start the stop smoking program the next day (yesterday.) They were. =) And they seemed really pumped about it. But we got worried yesterday when we didn't see them at church. So I called Sara and asked if she still wanted the elders to give the two of them a blessing. She said she did, so we passed by with two of the elders after church. When we walked into the room, something just felt...different. They gave them both really lovely blessings, but something was still off. So even though the elders were ready to leave, the two of us just sat their for a moment or two...then Diamondo and Sara started talking. They were struggling. Diamondo, who is one of the happiest people I know, broke down. He's talked to us a lot about how his wife died when she was 35, but always in just a factual way. But yesterday...he was missing her. Apparently holidays were her thing. She loved them. She would cook all day, have decorations everywhere, and she was the glue that brought and held everyone together. He told us that even today, he misses her and can't understand why she had to die leaving him with four young children. At the time, he questioned God's existence, but has changed and "come to peace" with what happened, even if it is still hard. He and Sara just sat and cried and hugged each other. The four of us (the two of us plus the elders) shared a couple scriptures with them, bore our testimonies to them and just...listened. The most incredible part was that in the end, I knew Diamondo's wife was sitting by his side. It was practically like I could see her. It's such an incredible blessing to know that we are never alone. There is always someone who loves us by our side supporting us through the very most difficult moments. I just love that. 

In addition to that, I've fallen in love with priesthood blessings all over again. After witnessing five in four days, it's just incredible. The spirit that comes when these young men place their hands and these people's heads is just...beyond words. I love those moments where you can't question how much Heavenly Father loves you. =) 

Well...like I said, it's been a crazy week. I can't even begin to give you all the details, but I hope you get the picture. 

So I'm staying in Brussels. In a different apartment (the elders that moved out were heartbroken to leave it. That should be a good sign. ;) We have yet to see it. But we'll be there soon-ish...I hope.)

I would tell you more, but I just don't have the mental energy right at this moment. Just know, life is busy but good. =) It'll be that much better when all of this craziness is out of the way and be can go back to normal life again. 

I love you. Have a wonderful week!

Love,

~Kim

I did speak english once, right?

November 5, 2011

Happy Halloween! Following the suggestion of Soeur Emilcy, she and I had themed costumes this year. We decided to dress us as Mormon missionaries -name tags and everything -we went all out. ;) And then, as par tradition, at the end of the day we even went trick-or-treating. A.k.a. we went porting. ;)

Sunday we had a weird "coincidence." Soeur Emilcy and I'd planned to go contacting, but when the hour arrived, felt contacting on the street was not what the Lord wanted us to do. We thought about porting. Also not it. In the end, we decided to go to the apartment and call the people in our area books. I love area books. The first thing I do when I get to a new city is to go through the book and see if there is anyone who is no longer being taught that may still have potential. However, there are a few pages in there I don't like to deal with: potential investigators. Whenever we contact someone who gives us their name/address/phone number etc, a member gives us a referral, or the church sends us a name, they are entered into the "potential amis" page. From there, if lessons are started, there's a spot to mark that they've been taught. Generally, if they are still on the list and were never taught after being contacted, there is a good reason for that. Like...they tell us never to call them again; we're a sect; they gave us a fake number; etc. So...not my favorite list to blindly call. I just don't have a testimony of it's success. But, we felt it was what the Lord wanted us to do. So...we did it.

There are several pages of names in the book. There are a couple pages from the summer of 2010 that have virtually no information/commentary about the people, nor anything stating if they were passed to other missionaries, taught, etc. So we figured half of them had probably been passed to other missionaries around Paris, but we needed to call them anyway just to be certain. One of them is named Jean. Soeur Emilcy called him. She stated who we were and asked if he remembered meeting the missionaries. He said, "Yes. I actually have a couple of the brothers here. I think they are in your ward." "Oh really? You're sure they are members of our church and not Jehovah Witnesses?" "Umm...yeah I think so. I don't know them very well though. Their names are Elder Hall and Elder Duarte." Those two elders happen to be the assistants and are most definitely members of our Church and in our ward! Soeur Emilcy just laughed confirmed that he was right. Then told him that we'd love to see him at church and that that was proof that we were doing our best to take good care of him ha ha. Hanging up the phone, knowing Jean was a single man, I just assumed that the sisters passed him to the assistants a long time ago, but forgot to write it down. We laughed for a while about the coincidence of that timing, but moved on thinking nothing more of it. About thirty minutes later the elders called. "Did you just call someone?" (Yes. Quite a few people actually.) I told them what we'd been doing and that I figured the sisters forgot to mark that they'd passed him. Then, not believing in coincidences, I was curious about Jean. So I asked about him and their side of the story. When Elder Duarte got to the area, he flipped through the area book, found Jean and noticed that he was from the same country as Elder Duarte's father. So...sure why not. He wrote down his information and planned to contact him some day. He's carried that piece of paper around with him for three weeks now and felt impressed to visit him Sunday night. They had never met him before. They knocked on his door. He let them in. They talked for a couple of minutes then started with a prayer. Right at the end of the prayer, Jean's phone rang. "I'm sorry. But I have to answer this." Jean picked up the phone and guess who was on the other line! The sisters! God was making sure Jean had contact with the missionaries that night. He told the elders that he's very active in his church, but if this church is true, his ties to his current church don't matter and he'll join. He explained to the elders that they couldn't convince him to join though. He'd have to pray. "I know God will tell me if it's true." I love when investigators "teach" us what we'd planned on telling them all along. =) So now it's up to Jean. He could be a major miracle story as long as he does his part and listens. If nothing else, both the assistants and Soeur Emilcy and I had our testimonies of God directing us and this work strengthened that night.

Tuesday marked the beginning of a new month (Where did October go?!) Meaning, my eleven month mark. To "celebrate" we had our regular transfer exchange. This time it was with the sisters in Louise -the other ward in Brussels. (I haven't served there, but it's where Sister Woodruff was trained.) I didn't realize until our train was pulling into Brussels and I saw that city, how very much I've missed it. I felt like I had gone home. =) Walking though that gare and that city again felt so surreal. It was like this fictional city and story I have in my head; a story that says that I used to live there suddenly became real. I told Soeur Emilcy it's probably a small fragment of how I'll feel when I actually go home. I feel like everything about home could just been a story I've created, or a film I've seen. It's a story I know really well, but...is it really true ha ha? I LOVE Belgium. =) It was just wonderful to be there again. And there were so many little things I'd forgotten that just made me smile when I saw/heard them again. (Most of them are French words or phrases that no one else says outside of Brussels, or I'd explain them to you.) I was with Sister Woodward and Sister Ingram. What cute girls! They are just dolls. It was just an amazing exchange. But, one flaw: English. They are both American. I'm American. They speak English. Doesn't sound like there's a problem there. I know. But there is. Problem: apparently I can't speak English. Not speaking it anymore has absolutely destroyed my ability to speak! I was having the hardest time staying in English - constantly slipping in French words or phrases, or just altogether forgetting how to say certain words in English. It was ridiculous. ha ha Honestly, eleven months into the field, several months left to go -there is absolutely no hope for me when I get home. ;) "I am just a disaster!"  ha ha

Last night we had our first rendez-vous with a lady named Rita. She is one of the people we found during our Sunday "finding" session. She was another person that had no information next to her name other than her number and address. She was more than willing to meet with us and fixed a rendez-vous right away when we called. We got talking with her and I honestly expected that she'd had contact with the missionaries that just hadn't been documented. Nope. Apparently, the sisters contacted her on the street, and (African that she is) she was more that happy to give them her information knowing that they wanted to talk about Jesus. But that was the last contact she'd ever had with the missionaries until now. So we got to start at the very beginning with her. I love those rendez-vous. When you get to really set the foundation without any preconceived notions from their past lessons, it's just...wonderful. =) We talked to her about the restoration of the church and the Book of Mormon (typical first rendez-vous.) I invited her to be baptized when she has her own testimony. She gladly accepted and begged us to tell her how and when she could get her hands on a copy of the Book of Mormon so she could start reading it as soon as possible. She was thrilled when we told her she could keep the one she was holding in her hands. She's fantastic! She's from Congo Kinshasa -just like Philomene. And boy is she ever like Philomene! She's toned down in personality, but her mannerisms, style of speech (not just accent), her openness to the gospel, etc. It was such a flash back to my Paris Lilas days to be with Rita. And that is never a bad thing. =) I just really hope I get to be here when we teach her about temples and can tell her there will be a new one in her home town! I'm so excited to work with her. She's going to be incredible. The only down side to that rendez-vous was leaving it. We went out and waited for our bus with two very drunk men. The one was at the point that he was struggling with his aim in getting his can of beer to his mouth (never really succeeding the whole time we were there.) In between attempts to take another drink he was doing his best to show off his German Shepherd to us. The alcohol in his system could be smelled from a mile away, but otherwise, he was pretty harmless. However, our other sauced friend was convinced he had to tell me about everything he knows about Jesus. He got down to the details of Greek vs Hebrew words. Sorry frère, the French you speak combined with the alcohol you've ingested causing you to slur something fierce, coupled with your logic about the existence and deity of Christ are more or less lost on me. But...I'll give you points for persistence. I was SO happy when that bus finally showed up. That may have been the longest four minutes of my life. We got on the bus. I greeted our bus driver and thanked him (he'd seen the situation.) He just smiled and said, "I'm sorry. I got here as fast as I could." ha ha

Last thing to tell you about from the week was our P-day today. I love today. We did our shopping then quickly ate lunch. Soeur Emilcy laughed at me a bit for my choice of how to pass my lunch hour, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Nothing beats Mango nectar, French cheese/bread, apple sauce and an episode of The District. (The District has become my favorite series! Possibly because it's the only one I can watch -not being allowed to watch TV, but I love it! They use it for training purposes with us. It's made up of clips of a district of missionaries in California. So you get to see them, their investigators, etc.) I realize it's kind of lame that training videos have become a highlight in my life, but...what can I say? ha ha =) After that, we finally went to the Chateau. Wow. Honestly, there aren't even words. It was breathtaking. Pictures just don't do it justice. I can't imagine living like that. Marie Antoinette had such a bizarre life that I will never be able to relate to (and I'm SO okay with that. If nothing else I'll pass on that whole death by guillotine thing.) I wish you could see it. It's just...amazing! Soeur Emilcy wants to go back again next week. ;) I would send you pictures, but my camera can't connect to the computers here. Maybe later.

Well, there's my week in a nutshell. I love you! Have a wonderful week. =)

Love,
~Kim

THE LATEST NEWS FROM VERSAILLE

OCTOBER 15,2011

Starting where we left off last week: the first three of our baptisms for the month. It wouldn't have been a normal baptism if it hadn't been coupled with the normal stress of having forgotten the video to watch while the family changed, not knowing where the tv was, etc ha ha. But in the end, everything went over rather smoothly. And it was SO African ha ha. I think I told you about our rendez-vous several weeks ago that we had with Ann where we were teaching the word of wisdom. The member we had with us was an older African man (actually he and Ann come from the same part of The Ivory Coast.) He just went off telling her all kinds of stuff. A.k.a. thinks like the needed stamps for sending a letter to Africa from France. We're still not really sure how he did it, but by the end of his tangent, Ann agreed to live the word of wisdom. Seriously, it's like they speak a different language than us. ha ha. Well that same member was who they choose to baptize them.

The font in our chapel is attached to the bathrooms -like normal. So Soeur Barros and I were standing in the door way next to the stairs down to the water with Ann and Karen. Frère Ya was already in the water and we could see Benjamin across the font standing in the doorway of the men's entrance. As we stood there and Frère Ya just stared at everyone watching the baptisms, Benjamin wouldn't go into the water. I signalled for him to go ahead and he just smiled at me but still didn't move. Then...Frère Ya, in the most epic voice he could muster, shouted "Koudou-Benjamin" Benjamin answered "Oui?" "Viens" (come) Then he entered the font ha ha. (Maybe you had to be there.) Having never baptized anyone before, Frère Ya had received a lot of instruction from the elders before hand. Yet, not unlike any other baptism, it often takes more than once to get them totally under the water. At first Fr. Ya struggled getting the wording right ( he was putting his own interpretation on it, but the witnesses insisted he stop) but then did just fine. Then he dunked Benjamin. That was the moment that Ann told us how scared she was. What?! She'd never mentioned a fear of water to us before. We did our best to quickly comfort her and promise her she'd be just fine. In the mean time, the witnesses noticed Benjamin hadn't gone totally under the water. Thus...he had to try again. Ann freaked out. "A second time?!" We explained why, but now super freaked out she told us she had to pee and ran to the toilet. While in the stall, Frère Ya had to dunk Benjamin for the third time. Now terrified Ann shouted (I'm sure loud enough that everyone in the chapel heard her ha ha) "Encore?!?!" ha ha poor lady. The third time was the charm. Karen was second. At that point Frère Ya was a pro. He got her under in one try. Ann followed and did great. Again, only needed to go under once. She was SO relieved to have it over with and was just shocked at how easy it was. Baptisms are always an adventure. =) The best part is, despite everything: it happened! The three Koudous where confirmed the next day and are now happily members of the church. And now Ann can't wait to have a calling so that she "can be a part of this work and give back a little of what (she's) received." They are doing SO well.

Then...much sooner than I ever wanted it to come, Wednesday came. Sister Barros and I left the apartment and headed into Paris to meet up with everyone at St. Merri. Soeur Emilcy got there around noon. Then the three of us along with a few other sisters headed over to my favorite panini shop to grab lunch. As much as I love the food there, it was not a lunch that was crazy fun to sit through. It was very much like when we went out to eat before you dropped me off at the MTC. It's kind of hard to enjoy lunch with this ever present clock ticking away over head. But, again, c'est la vie. We ate lunch, went outside, hugged, cried, said goodbye, hugged some more, still crying ha ha, then ripped of the band aid. I walked away with Soeur Emilcy and Soeur Barros stayed behind. And life moved on. I'm going to miss her, but I'll see her again. So...back to work.

Soeur Emilcy is great. She's super happy all the time, but wow is she ever a change from Soeur Barros! It's SO different. Absolutely everything has changed, more so than any other transfer change I've experienced in the past. We for sure have very different cultural bases too. We literally just live differently. There's no other way to put it. And we're got some very different personal bubbles. After being in theatre I figured I could handle anyone. Apparently I've still got a cross-able line. ha ha This is turning out to be quite the interesting experience. The speaking French 24/7 has been a lot easier than I expected it to be though. So that's good news. Don't get me wrong. It's not easy, but it's doable. There are still language barriers. I don't speak the language perfectly (far from it) and she doesn't speak English. So we do a lot of defining of words and phrases. But, we're getting by. However, I'm just mentally tired from it and it's only been a couple of days ha ha. There was a time with Soeur Barros and Soeur Moraga where we tried to speak French inside the apartment. This is SO not the same thing however. You know how much of a morning person I am...not. Holding conversations in English in the morning is difficult for me. Well, she is a morning person. So she starts talking the second she's out of bed...and in French. Oh heavens, does my brain ever hate me in the early morning and late at night now. It's just not at all willing to help me function in French. ha ha But, like I said, all in all, we're getting by.

The next big project we've got to work on are the three baptisms next Saturday for Rayna and her two daughters. From time to time I've felt a little like we've been pulling teeth on this one, but it's slowly coming together. Getting them to church is just a nightmare sometimes. They live too far away to be able to make it to church on their own. So they need a ride each week. Rayna is working on building up a budget to be able to by train tickets to be able to come on her own, but in the mean time, they need help. The problem with that is, everyone who lives by her, already carpool. So each week we have a project of pulling strings to get her there. She really wants to come, but just can't without help. This week especially they have to be there because they are going to have their baptismal interviews during church. After panicking a little because we weren't finding anyone, the ward council pulled together and worked it out. Next problem: I called to confirm with Rayna that someone would be picking them up, and the told me that Carla (her younger daughter) can't come. Carla's father insisted that she be with him this weekend, and they are currently in the middle of getting a divorce. So apparently Rayna can't say no. So now, I'm a tad bit stressed about that one. She'll be fine for Saturday. We just have to get her interview out of the way and I have no idea when every one's schedules will line up so that we can. Bawh! You know sometimes I get ridiculously frustrated with the stumbling blocks Satan puts in the way of baptisms! I know it will all work out. I know God will help us with this one. I would just do so much better if I could see how! ha ha But the saga continues. I'll have to give you the update next week.

It's really incredible to view the people that are completely converted. Nothing pulls them away. It was the same thing with the Koudou's and now Rayna and her family. Nothing can pull them away, but that sure doesn't stop Satan from trying his hardest. But ça va. We'll win out in the end. =)

I love you. Have a wonderful week. =)

Love
~Kim

YAY!!! A TEMPLE IN PARIS FRANCE=)

Message body

October 8, 2011

 

I love General Conference. =) It's such a wonderful spiritual boost. But I have to tell you one of the most incredible moments came with the announcement of the new temples. The missionaries and members here have been on the edge of our seats for months now waiting for that news. (Or for many members -it's been years.) They had a French translation broadcast in the cultural hall, but in the Relief Society room and the room directly beneath that they had the direct English broadcast. Most of the missionaries were in the Relief Society room, but knowing this building, serving in this ward, we knew the set up. Wanting the less crowded room, Sister Barros, Elder Gardner, Elder Draleau, Elder Godfrey, Rémy and I watched it from downstairs. When they didn't announce any temples at the beginning of the session we were all a bit surprised assuming that meant there would be no new ones. But when President Monson stood up our heart rates shot through the roof. Then the choice words..."Paris France." We all cheered, echoed by the much louder shouts upstairs. =)

 

What an experience it is to be in a place where shouts of joy were heard at the announcement of a temple. It's a huge blessing to have the temples that we have and sometimes I feel like we forget what a big deal it is. At least I think I do. I've always appreciated having so many temples so close by to my home. We read the stories of the people who travel for days after years of saving the needed money just to finally go to the temple. But I don't think I ever really had much of a perspective on the matter. But now knowing these people and having faces to place with the stories...we are SO lucky in the states! I'm really grateful that I got to be here just for that moment -to see the joy of these people at the thought of being able to have a temple near them. AND one of the other temples: Congo Kinshasa. That's Philomene's home town! It's where her kids still live. I so wish I could have been with her for that one to hear her default "Eh!" response =) And Star Valley Wyoming...that's Soeur Moraga's home town. Gotta say, not too shabby of a list. =)

This weeks has been a bit of a surreal experience. They started working on the transfer board on Monday. (Normally they don't start until the end of the week, but due to interviews and other conflicts they started early this time.) Sister Barros and I had to go into the office for some reason on Monday. When we walked in, her card was sitting on Elder Gardner's desk. (The transfer board has a card for every missionary with their name, picture etc.) Seeing it sitting there, having been removed from the board with the other "dying" missionaries, was...weird. In our heads, (depending on the day) it feels like she's never leaving. So knowing she's been officially removed from the board...bizarre! I've known the majority of the week who was currently on the board as my new companion, but until the repertoire is typed up, nothing is official. So I didn't think about it too much. But then yesterday Sister Barros and I got a call telling us officially that my companion will be Soeur Emilcy. Knowing who was coming in made it feel real finally. That's the moment it hit. =( I am really not excited for Soeur Barros to leave. I'm going to miss her SO much. But in the end, I'm just glad that I've gotten the chance to serve with her at all. We've decided that we have to stay best friends forever ha ha. But that doesn't mean saying goodbye is going to be easy...at all.

As for Soeur Emilcy, I can't tell you much about her. I met her on her first day, but otherwise, that's it. She's only in her second transfer right now. (I'll have to give you more of her story when I actually know it) I believe her family lives in France, but originally they are Haitian. As of three months ago -and it's still pretty much the same according to the office elders -she spoke no English. President told her to learn it "because it's the language of the restoration" and Preach My Gospel says the same thing. But that's not super easy for missionaries to do always. Especially since they get NO language training when they are francophone other than having anglophone companions. Not going to lie, I'm pretty stressed about it at the moment. I can get by in French, but dealing with amis, members, people on the street, etc, is not at all the same as not being able to speak to my companion in my native language. I don't have any doubt that I'm supposed to be with her. The Spirit has confirmed that one to me. It's what the Lord wants. So I know I'll have his help in the matter, but all the same, I'm a bit stressed.Oh well. What would life be if it didn't throw these adventures at us, right?! So...on we go. =)

As always, I've got to run. Ann, Benjamin, and Karen are getting baptized in about an hour. =) So...we've got to run and take care of these last minute details -getting them dressed, filling the font, etc.

I love you. Have a wonderful week!

Love,
~Kim

My Fabulous 22nd Birthday=)

September 17, 2011

How can I ever being to explain how much I love knowing that God looks out for me and is aware of me?! Wow is all I can really say. Life is just wonderful! 

Okay Mom, you asked me to tell you what I did for my birthday. So...the day started out very normal. Typical waking up well before the sun, studies, etc. You know, just the same old same old. We had to run to the chapel a bit later to go let the Nogent soeurs in, along with the nanny who cut our hair. (the trend is going around ha ha. Natalie agreed to cut their hair too that day.) Then on the way home we went and bought a couple pizzas for lunch. As we took that round about way to get home, somehow the topic came up of our last couple days in the "real world." So a bit later, after we'd finished lunch, and Soeur Barros went to take a nap, I worked a little bit on finishing up a tape I'd been meaning to send to you. That's where I got a bit trunky. I really think it's hugely to blame that I'd just spent the last 30-45 minutes talking about saying "goodbye" to you, but that coupled with the fact of knowing that this was the first birthday in  22 years that I wouldn't be spending with you really kind of increased the feeling. It was a good day. I was happy to be where I was, but I just missed having family with me. After finishing the tape, God and I had a bit of a chat. I just asked him to help me enjoy the moment and not be fixated on what I was "missing." But I told him, happy though I was, if I could change anything it would be to have my family with me. But, since that wasn't changeable at that time, just...help me not "survive" the day, but rather enjoy it. I mean hi, who gets to say that for their birthday they ran around Versailles France after all?! ha ha

Anyway, after my momentary homesick couple of minutes, Soeur Barros woke up and we went out to do some street contacting. We were even able to get in our second lesson of the day doing so. We talked to a man who used to be Christian, but currently believes that God is just a figment of our imagination. So...it wasn't the happiest lesson, but it was a lesson all the same. When we set goals, we can't always anticipate how, but God will help us achieve them.

After that was the more exciting part of the day that we'd both been looking forward to. We ended the day with a rendez-vous with Remy. Now, at the same time, as happy as I was to be seeing him, it had also been causing me the most anxiety. You know how much I just love being the center of attention...not. So knowing that he was planning...something, was causing me a bit of stress. But all the same, I was just flattered that he cared enough to do anything at all. So I was perfectly happy to go with a smile on my face and just play along. But...wow. He is such a good friend. I was absolutely floored with what he's put together. My head is still reeling.

We had told him the night before that we were struggling to find another sister to teach with us. (And boy were we! I swear we practically called or talked face-to-face with everyone imaginable, but to no avail.) Knowing the missionary rules better then we do, he knows very well that we can't enter his apartment without a third party. So when we showed up at his door and rang the sonnet, he answered with "Are you two or three tonight?" Getting the response all three of us had basically been expecting, that we were alone, he came down to join us. We found a bench just around the corner that was actually really nicely secluded for teaching a lesson. Sister Barros and I've used it before when we've gotten to the city he lives in a few minutes early. We'd normally sit on that bench for a couple of minutes until it was actually time for the rendez-vous. But, I'd never thought to use if for a lesson. It was kind of perfect. And it has an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower. Yet again, my life is pretty enchanting. =) 

As we finished the lesson, he said, "I know you can't come in, but I have something in my apartment for you. Can you just come to the door and I'll bring it down." As we rounded the corner, Nicole, an absolutely adorable young single adult that we have had come with us when we taught Remy, was standing there. She'd just gotten off work and came straight over (part of Rémy's plan.) He grinned at me and said, "Now there are three of you. So you can come upstairs." Soeur Barros knew that Rémy was planning on inviting Nicole so that we'd still be able to go inside and eat some sort of cake or pie that he planned to make. But both of us were shocked when we walked in and all of the office elders were in his apartment. As expected, hidden behind a door with the light turned off, once opened, they all jumped up, shouted "Surprise" and sang "Happy Birthday." Caught off guard as I was, it was an amazing experience. Not because I just love having the entire focus of the room on me or anything like that, but because in that moment and throughout the rest of the evening, I repeatedly felt the love of my Heavenly Father and realized, the one thing I was certain couldn't be changed about that day, was. Granted, the three of you weren't there. But the overwhelming feeling came over me that, I had a family with me. Cool, huh? God cares about even little things like birthdays. =) I couldn't have asked for a better night. It was so wonderful. And Rémy had gone all out. He bought drinks, made guacamole, cubed cheese, and made these things called "blinis" that very much resemble miniature pancakes. The blinis were used like James uses the rings of bread in his hors d'oeuvres. He had smoked salmon, caviar type stuff, three cakes, the works. He said he'd stayed up until one in the morning cooking and then finished up during his lunch break.  It was the first surprise party Rémy has ever planned, but it was the classiest birthday party I've ever been to. He really put his whole heart into it. Like I said...I was just floored.

I went home from that just in shock. It was just so...perfect. How could Rémy have known that apparently the one thing I "needed" was exactly what he did in bringing that group together? Especially since I didn't even realize that need within myself until I was at the party.

We had another lesson with him last night. (He even ended up being our joint teach at a lesson with an inactive member right after that ha ha) Before our lesson he handed me a folded up piece of paper and told me that there were things he wanted to tell me on Monday night but didn't get the chance. So he'd typed them up. In this letter he'd written me he explained that he knew I wasn't a fan of being the center of attention. But he still had wanted to do something for me. So he'd planned on Soeur Barros, myself, himself, and some sister from the ward sharing a cake after a rendez-vous. Simple. But then, feeling like there was something more, he prayed and asked God what I needed. And he got the answer "It'll be better if all the Elders are there." So he went to work. He walked up to them at church, handed them maps, codes to his apartment complex, the key to his front door, everything. The elders were super surprised by the meticulous detail he'd put into it. When they got to his room there was a sign on the door that said "This is it."

Seriously, every elder in our district is now just in love with how awesome this kid is ha ha. But, back on topic, as I said, I was stunned all night long after getting home Monday. It was just...perfect. And just as that amazement was starting to fade a bit, Rémy let me understand why. He prayed. God answered. He listened. He acted. And then he became the tool in God's hands that I needed that day. It's just a miracle to me that God cares so very much about us. And he totally takes care of us. I just can't wrap my head around the personal miracle I got that night. And Rémy played such a major role, all because of his humility, sincerity and willingness to listen to the spirit. 

All in all, no matter how many years pass away, that was a day I will never forget. I couldn't if I tried. =)

I'd love to tell you more about the week, but I've got to run off to a rendez-vous. But, until next week, know that I love you and pray for you all the time. Have a wonderful week!

Love

~Kim

A Fabulous 22nd Birthday=)

September 17, 2011

How can I ever being to explain how much I love knowing that God looks out for me and is aware of me?! Wow is all I can really say. Life is just wonderful! 

Okay Mom, you asked me to tell you what I did for my birthday. So...the day started out very normal. Typical waking up well before the sun, studies, etc. You know, just the same old same old. We had to run to the chapel a bit later to go let the Nogent soeurs in, along with the nanny who cut our hair. (the trend is going around ha ha. Natalie agreed to cut their hair too that day.) Then on the way home we went and bought a couple of pizzas for lunch. As we took that round about way to get home, somehow the topic came up of our last couple days in the "real world." So a bit later, after we'd finished lunch, and Soeur Barros went to take a nap, I worked a little bit on finishing up a tape I'd been meaning to send to you. That's where I got a bit trunky. I really think it's hugely to blame that I'd just spent the last 30-45 minutes talking about saying "goodbye" to you, but that coupled with the fact of knowing that this was the first birthday in  22 years that I wouldn't be spending with you really kind of increased the feeling. It was a good day. I was happy to be where I was, but I just missed having family with me. After finishing the tape, God and I had a bit of a chat. I just asked him to help me enjoy the moment and not be fixated on what I was "missing." But I told him, happy though I was, if I could change anything it would be to have my family with me. But, since that wasn't changeable at that time, just...help me not "survive" the day, but rather enjoy it. I mean hi, who gets to say that for their birthday they ran around Versailles France after all?! ha ha

Oh side note I spaced. The package. I love that fabric! The summerish warmth has been holding on here, but it couldn't have been more perfect when it suddenly cooled down just enough that that outfit was perfect for the weather on Monday. Thank you! New clothes are always life savers out here ha ha! We ate the brownies after our pizza. The candles posed a bit of a challenge getting them to not fall over, but since our apartment complex didn't burn down, we seem to have succeeded. ;) And we love the shoes! You're right, I can't really wear them super often, but trust me, I will happily find plenty of excuses to do so all the same. ;) I have gained a whole new appreciation for non-ugly shoes after wearing sister missionary shoes every day.

Anyway, after my momentary homesick couple of minutes, Soeur Barros woke up and we went out to do some street contacting. We were even able to get in our second lesson of the day doing so. We talked to a man who used to be Christian, but currently believes that God is just a figment of our imagination. So...it wasn't the happiest lesson, but it was a lesson all the same. When we set goals, we can't always anticipate how, but God will help us achieve them.