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.

Beautiful forest, but spiders?

I was a bit rushed last week (due to my own fault.) So practically the second we left the mission home I thought of loads I'd not told you about the week that I initially intended to. So this week I'm going to try to catch you back up to speed. So, as always ha ha, sorry in advance if it's a bit scattered.

One of our baptismal dates, Ann, and her husband came to church last week (the 14th.) It was her first real time being there. She had come once before with her husband, but they missed their first train. So they only made it for the last half hour of church. So, like with any one else, we just hope and pray it goes well. The first time there can make such a huge impression. Sitting in Relief Society on either side of her, both Sister Barros and I were just praying that she would feel the spirit of that lesson. The lesson was great, but it was on family history. Now I've found that sometimes amis, especially Africans, tend to come to church expecting to here nothing more discussed that Christ. So they can be a little surprised to see we discuss all kinds of different aspects of the gospel. Family history is majorly important and has eternal significance, but we just really didn't want her to see the lesson as just a logistical lesson full of statistics and websites. Well...like always...prayer works! When we talked to her a couple days later in our rendez-vous she would not stop talking about Relief Society. "It was all good, but the meeting that really hit me and touched me; touched my heart, was the lesson on family history." Cool, huh? Maybe just a coincidence, but we're counting it as prayers answered yet again.=)

really didn't want her to see the lesson as just a logistical lesson full of statistics and websites. Well...like always...prayer works! When we talked to her a couple days later in our rendez-vous she would not stop talking about relief society. "It was all good, but the meeting that really hit me and touched me; touched my heart, was the lesson on family history." Cool, huh? Maybe just a coincidence, but we're counting it as prayers answered yet again.=)

FYI fact of the day: Mick Jagger freaking lives in our area! Crazy right?! ha ha. Sister Barros and I contacted a guy last week who basically told us his life story. It really was kind of a sad contact. This guy is just SO lonely. He went running into his house and brought out pictures of his kids and grandkids and any time we told him that we needed to go, he'd bring up something else at random to stop us from leaving. We were honestly heart broken for him when we left. He was just so sweet and so so sad. Anyway, tangent over, in his rantings about life, he told us about Mick Jagger. Apparently he lives (or maybe not "lives" but at least owns a château) near that man's sister. Ha ha, never know what you'll learn when you just go out talking to people at random!

Wednesday this week was such a packed day! We started out the morning taking a couple of hours from our P-day and got our hair cut by an American girl who is here as a nanny. She got her license just before moving to France a couple months ago. Oh my gosh. I missed bangs and not having split ends! Hair cuts are basically one of the most wonderful things in the entire world! After Wednesday I am thoroughly convinced of that fact! ;) If nothing else, change it wonderful.

After that we went to tract down a referral we'd gotten from the Salt Lake Temple visitor center. The little town it was located in  like a "U" looping around a forest. Our referral was pretty much a straight shot through the town from the gare to her home. Aka we had to cut straight through the forest. No problem, right? Forests are lovely and it was a lovely day. One problem: I hate spiders (surprise!) I don't really get it, but I have never seen so many spiders (big ones at that) in all my life as I have seen here. They are just everywhere right now! My spider spotting skills are getting so well toned it's ridiculous! Well, their population isn't exactly diminished in a forest. At on a rather skinny part of the trail I had Sister Barros walking in front of me. I'm SO glad I did. Out of nowhere she freaked out and stopped dead in her path. Directly in front of her was a massive spider sitting right in the middle of his web which completely covered our path from one side to the other. Umm...yeah...forests are lovely, but I was so happy to be out of that one!

On the way back to the gare we opted to take the bus rather than hike through the forest again. Best. Idea. Ever. We got to ride a short handicap bus that looked like it belonged on The Magic School bus 2.0!

On Tuesday our entire zone came out to Versailles, we went on splits and did contacting for an hour. I can't really explain it, but it was so neat. Even though Sister Perez and I were by ourselves, just like any other day for Sister Barros and myself, there's just something cool to know that you aren't the only ones there. There are other people united in the same cause as you and there, in a way, working side-by-side with you. Obviously, directly tying into our work as missionaries, but it kind of works for every member that way too. We're all asked to do the same things and work for the same goal. And no matter how hard or monotonous that may get, we can always know there are a whole lot of other people working right along with us. Like I said, hard to really put into words (and quickly at that -I've got to finish up fast here) but it was just a cool experience/"ah ha" moment.

I'm (as always) running short on time. But last couple thoughts really quickly: we got transfer news today and...Sister Barros and I are staying together in Versailles!!!! We are so super stoked!!! =) still have SO much I could tell you, but I just don't have time right now. Sister Barros and I did our exchange with Caen yesterday and I came up to Normandy to meet up with her this morning. Someone she's taught (and someone I taught with her on our exchange my third transfer) is getting baptized today. So we've got to run off to the church here pretty fast. SO...have a wonderful week. I love you!

~Kim

The Pink Umbrella =)

August 20, 2011

I forgot to tell you about it last week, when we went on that tour in Paris, our tour guide asked us to take a picture with him. William tried multiple people to try and get them to take a picture of us. No luck. After the first three he just turned to us and said, "Typical French." ha ha It was so nice to know that even Parisians have a hard time with that and it's not just us as missionaries that struggle to get people to be willing to take a picture ha ha. He asked for "funny" ideas from our group. The first idea was, "Um...we could like, sit down and pretend to be reading." We were all a bit lost on the humor of that one, but we did it anyway. And jumping at the chance to steal as much publicity as possible, we just happened to be reading the Book of Mormon. AND Sister Barros whipped out her pink umbrella to draw even more attention to the book. ha ha Anywho...it's posted on facebook now. So here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.230722780300948.62049.169076223132271#%21/photo.php?fbid=243487982357761&set=a.230722780300948.62049.169076223132271&type=1&theater

Great news! Ann, one of our baptismal dates, her daughter AND husband now want to get baptized too!  So they are a ways off, but we're looking at four baptisms in one month now! How cool is that?! =) And we LOVE families getting baptized together. Nothing gets better than that. =)

This week really has been pretty lovely. There's always the hiccups along the way, but overall, wonderful. We had zone conference on Tuesday. I just love zone conferences. You get so super charged afterwards to go out and be the world's best missionaries ha ha.

Oh my gosh. On Thursday we had a crazy day! Sister Moraga's companion finally made it to France. So we said goodbye to her in the morning and sent her off for the mission office to wait for Sister Johnson to arrive. And they  shipped out to Nantes. We then had a rendez-vous in the afternoon with Ann. Another a little bit later on the other side of our area with a new amis and then an hour later with Remy. Okay. So I know that doesn't sound crazy, but it SO was.  There was no way, with the trains and buses we'd need, that we'd be able to make it to everything. So we asked one of the office elders if we could borrow a car for the day. We got the approval. Initially we were pretty thrilled. We'd be able to accomplish otherwise impossible rendez-vous and pass-bys. So it seemed like a brilliant idea in the beginning. Oh my heck. I wanted to KILL that GPS. Driving was SO not fun that day. I thought we were going to die. Everything was going wrong. And just when I thought it couldn't get worse, I got pulled over. Imagine how much getting pulled over in America stresses me, but now it's in French. Panic mode! But this power happy cop pulled me over to tell me that I had cut him off (I promise you I didn't!) When he told us that Sister Barros and I both had that "Seriously?! You have got to be kidding!" moment in our heads. He told me then how turn signals work in France (seriously! I'm not retarded) And then told me that Americans are calm drivers and I need to go be an example to the French. Oh dear... As soon as I pulled back on the road, he pulled up on his little motorcycle to the car in front of me at a light and chewed them out too. After a very stressful driving day, I was SO not in love with cops like that. But, all is well. I didn't get a ticket (I didn't deserve one in the first place) and we made it to all of our rendez-vous! =) Happy day.

Today's been a bit of a weird P-day. We spent the morning in the chapel decorating for a wedding that happened at one this afternoon. We finished a bit after noon. The sister we were helping (our bishop's wife) was SO stressed. Listening to the guests filtering in talking about how tired they were and tried to figure out what they were going to eat for breakfast brought back so many memories. It doesn't matter where you go in the world, weddings always have their common theme. ha ha

After finishing that, we spent the rest of the afternoon playing tennis with the elders on the hottest afternoon we've had all month. But it was so fun all the same. I'm about out of time, but I'll have to tell you next time about our super hero project.

Sorry this email is so jumbled and short. I've been stealing music from the elders and it's cut in a bit. Sorry again. Have a wonderful week!

~Sister Jorgensen

Hey nice skirt=)

Message body

We're doing emails from the mission office today. So I'm using one of the elders' computers. Next to me on the desk is a note pad. The top page of the pad is dated and says "Salut tout le monde," (his greeting line to the letter) and that's it. Ha ha that's kind of how I feel. I could start this and just say "HEY!" and have no idea where to go from there. It's funny how that works. Some weeks, I just have copious amount to say and then others I don't even know where to begin.

I guess last week's baptism is as good a place as any to start. It was just wonderful. =) Dorothée was so happy. And you know how I've told you that they are the living proof of the gospel's power to bless families. It was lovely. Knowing where I saw them come from as a family, but especially as a couple, it was more than just that "oh how cute" moment when Christian pulled her up out of the water and very tenderly kissed her on the forehead. It's really hard to truly explain what a miracle that is without having personally witnessed it, but you can trust me, it's literally a miracle. =) And if that wasn't good enough, it was so funny being there with Sister Barros. Sister Barros served in Valenciennes from five months. So that ward knows her super well. They talk about her all the time still. Yet none of them knew she was coming. They were all freaking out when they saw her. It was literally like being with a celebrity.

Sister Moraga, Sister Barros and I try to say "Bonjour" to every one we pass on the street, especially around our apartment. We've gotten to the point where most of them will even say hello back to us. So that's good news. =) But on Sunday, it paid off even more than our neighbors just liking us. On our walk home from church, a woman walked up behind us and said "Bonjour" a couple times, finally she caught up to us enough to really talk with us. She told us that we had said hello to her the day before and she wanted to know what we do and asked if we'd be willing to come over to her home for tea, cake and to talk. Umm...heck yes we'd love too!!! We never complain about people setting their own rendez-vous from us. ha ha. She's awesome! Her name is Olga. She's originally Russian. Her mother was christian, but had to be so in secret. And her father was a communist. She's studied out a lot of different religions, but she'd only heard of us and not much more. We told her a bit about the restoration. She was totally cool with it and asked us to come back. (One of the coolest bits of that rendez-vous: she showed us her and her father's old Soviet Union passports! We SO felt like we were like FBI agents or something ha ha)

As always, members are honestly the key to missionary work. If I learn nothing else while I'm out here, it's how very crucial members are to this work. We got a referral the other day that we went and tracked down on Wednesday. I've gotten several referrals while I've been in the field, but none of them have ever amounted to much. Normally, the phone number doesn't work, they address is wrong, they really don't want anything to do with us, etc. But this time was a bit different. We had a bad address, but miraculously we were able to find the real address AND he was there AND when we asked if he was interested in learning about our church he said, "Oh of course!" Sister Barros and I freaked out a bit because neither of us have ever had a referral work out. As we were walking home we repeatedly discussed the fact that we don't know where to go with a referral past the "Are you interested in learning more about our church?" "No, oh okay, well...have a nice day" ha ha But he immediately set a rendez-vous with us for the next day. When we taught him, he explained that he visited America with some friends who took him to Church, Temple Square, the Conference Center, gave him a Book of Mormon with their testimony inside, and asked if he'd like to see the missionaries in France! Members make ALL the difference. Members get into places that we as missionaries never can. Members are absolutely essential!

Tuesday night was a bit of an adventure... We were teaching English class when a recent convert came in. I've met him before, but only a couple times. The first time was in the visitor center with Sister Williams. At that time he was a little...excited to get married...Well nothing changed in the time I was gone. When he came in he asked Sister Barros how to say "jupe" in English. She quickly told him it's "skirt" and went back to the lesson. Right after learning that new word, he recommenced awkwardly starring at me and said, "I like to see your skirt." Oh be still my trembling heart... ha ha Probably the best pick up line I've heard in a while ;) It's a mystery as to why I ignored him when he told me "I would very much like to marry you" right after the skirt comment. Oh dear...ha ha

Today for P-day we ran off to Montmartre to see the Cathedral up there called Sacre Coeur. It's the only cathedral here dedicated to Christ rather than one of the saints. It was beautiful. It was still very much a cathedral, but it was one of the brightest inside I've ever seen. It was just a lovely day that I don't have tons of time to tell you about right now. Sorry...I'll have to manage email time better next week.

Well, yet again, a very choppy letter. I'm sorry. I'm just not good at fast emails anymore. But, it nothing else you know a bit of our past week now.

I love you. Have a great week!

Love
~Kim

News from Versailles=)

July 23, 2011

Bawh! I literally have no time today. But luckily it's for a good reason. Sister Barros and I are on our way to go to Dorothée's baptism. We really lucked out in being able to go. President is cracking down on missionaries running all over to attend baptisms, but since it's our P-day, we've both taught her, we're not taking proselyting time, we're paying for it ourselves, and Sister Moraga (our third companion) doesn't need to be with anyone since she's a senior sister, he gave us the green light! Best part is, Dorothée has been praying and praying and praying that Sister Barros would be there, but since that didn't look like a possibility until late last night, she has NO idea we'll be there. We're pretty stocked! =)

Is it winter where you are too? Middle of July and it's just dang cold here. Oh well, it's better than being gross and sweaty while trying to get people to talk to you about Jesus.

Tuesday this past week we had our last district meeting of the transfer. Valenciennes used to be an elder only ville. So there's some very elder-ish things in that apartment (like an extra suit, shoes, weights, etc.) Along with that, we had two bikes in the basement that we weren't allowed to use. We told our district leaders about it one day and they'd been asking for them ever since. Well Monday night they called us and asked us to take the bikes to district meeting so they could have them. Wow was that ever a feat. We had no idea what we signed up for when we said "yea" ha ha. We had to be up pretty early Tuesday morning to check out of the hotel and be back over at the apartment for yet another appointment with out plumber friends. While running around dealing with them we had to get these two bikes to somehow fit into our little Chevy.  We were quite the sight, standing on the street talking to plumbers, wearing sister missionary clothes, talking to a whole ton of random neighbors who were sure (for some odd reason) that we should know endless facts about the inter workings of the neighborhood, and crawling all over our car trying to make those two bikes fit! ha ha Finally after, twenty-five trips up and down the elevator, two very disassembled bikes in the back of the car, a working shower and toilet in our apartment, we were on our way to Lille. All before ten in the morning. That may be one of the most jam packed productive mornings I have ever lived through.

And to end that day/transfer with a miracle, I got all of my stuff packed and somehow it took up less space and less time than last transfer! I tell you, I'm going to be the world's best last minute packer by the time I come home.

Wednesday was the big switch. With our alarm clocks ringing at a very unholy hour of the morning, we got all my stuff out the door and into Paris (even if we were about an hour and a half later than we intended to be...oops) Sister Rowley picked up her new companion. Sister Barros, SisterMoraga and I met all the new sister and then we headed out for home. Oh. My. Gosh. Versailles is beautiful! This city is SO much more concerned about aesthetics than anywhere else I've served. It's definitely not something to complain about looking at for six+ weeks. =) The work is a bit slow though. There in a bit of a slump and with everyone and their dog on vacation right now, that doesn't help much. I don't think I've really explained vacations season to you here yet. So... In America we get summer vacation for all the students. For everyone else, stores, pools, movie theatres, etc usually extend their hours. Not in France! In France, practically everything shuts down for about a month or more. If you've got clothes at the dry cleaner and you don't pick them up before they close for vacation...too bad. You'll just get it when they get back. Vacation is a big deal here. So, with all of our amis and a big chunk of our ward out of town for the next while, we've got a major change of gears in the works. Looks like we'll be doing a LOT of contacting this transfer. But, c'est la vie. =) There are still people here. We've just got to find them now.

We had our DMP meeting Thursday night. I told you (I think) we're in the same ward as the office elders. So we've got nine missionaries plus the mission president's family all in our ward. Oh heavens, I forgot how much I love missionaries. Valenciennes, love it with all my heart though I do, gets really lonely sometimes being the only missionaries in the middle of nowhere. Driving home with the elders was just hilarious. They recounted their story to us of chasing this pigeon out of their apartment. (They were all rather traumatized by it's surprise visit ha ha) At one point one of the elders showed us a picture of this "pigeon." Yeah...it's a dove ha ha. They even tested it to see if it's a carrier pigeon (during one of it's many visits to their window sill.) One of the elders wrote (in French) "Hello. I see your bird often." on a little piece of paper. Signed it. And set it next to the dove. When their "pigeon" didn't take the paper, they decided it probably wasn't a carrier pigeon ha ha. Sister Moraga was dying in the back of the car laughing at them. I'm so happy to be around other missionaries again. =)

We had a rendez-vous with practically our only amis not on vacation yesterday. Wow. She's incredible. She and her husband are from Côte d'Ivoire. She's experiencing some major (and pretty scary) adversity as she's been and continues investigating the gospel. Satan is pulling out all the stops on this woman to scare her off. But when Sister Barros told her it was because Satan didn't want her to find the truth, she just very resolutely and more determined than I've ever seen many people be about anything, she just told us, "No. I'm going to find it. I'm going to find it. I'm going to find it." You can't help but stand in awe of her when you meet her. She's just incredible. With the spirit she already carries without the gospel, I can't even begin to imagine what she'll be little in the future. People like her just take your breath away. Yet again...I love Africans. ;)

We then finished off the night with a less active member from Columbia. She fed us dinner while Sister Moraga taught a lesson...in Spanish. It was amazing to see with English and French in our pockets, how much of the lesson we were able to follow. I always love that, whether we understand all the words or not, the spirit is still the same. And even in that lesson, never having taken a Spanish lesson in my life, you can't help but know it's true. Gotta love days like that. =)

Well like I said, we've only got a couple minutes today. So I've got to run. I love you. Have an amazing week!

Love
~Kim

Kim with a couple that she worked with.  We didn't get the exact information on this picture.   

Kim and Sister Rowley caught in a major down pour.  They got soaked all the way through.

What to do in the rain?

Well...why not!!! So Kim danced in the rain.  You go girl=)

Kim and Sister Rowley decided to make smores by candlelight.  It doesn't take much to have a down right great time.

Yum!!! Smores in France