In Which I Address My Agonizing Sorrow of My Departure of Clermont-Ferrand

In Which I Address My Agonizing Sorrow of My Departure of Clermont-Ferrand


I'm assuming that those who read this can infer the events of these past couple days and my thoughts on the matter. I traveled for seven hours yesterday to the hamlet of Montauban (which is actually a lot more beautiful than Clermont...but that's beside the point). Ripping away from the ward in Clermont was so, so hard. I told them I was going to finish my mission there, I loved them so much. On top of that, THE WORK WAS GOING SO WELL. Figures that I'd get transferred right before we have three baptisms. God did this to me because I was starting to blend in with the young adults probably haha. Oops. 

My new companion is the first to be from Utah. That's uncommon. Not the Utah thing, but the fact that I've never served with someone from there. It'll be interesting. Montauban has a branch with fifty members. I'm playing this new experience by ear, so let's hope I can learn a thing or two.

FACTS I LEARNED:

• French is easy. Just speak it. All the time.
• Spanish is less easy. Speak it. As much as possible.
• Montauban has the most beautiful apartment in the whole mission. Pictures to be sent later.
• I love Germans.....I miss my Germ.....

So a chapter has finished another is starting...didn't realize how much I hate finishing books. It was so great to live in the story. The ending isn't satisfying for me, really. I prefer the process. "To be continued" is a far more pleasing phrase to me than "The End". This past Sunday, I got to talk to the lady that was the miracle reactivation Sœur Hiltunen and I had the pleasure of witnessing, the one that left the church for twelve years and came back because of a hymn book she found in her closet.  We listened to how much she appreciates the sisters for knocking on her door and inviting her back and that she can't believe the both of us are gone now. I didn't have a baptism in Clermont, but hearing her say these things felt even more rewarding than having the outward appearance of success. 

And...the young adults....they were my family. They helped us so much with the work and are literally the coolest members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yes, literally. Cooler than Gladys Knight. I will never forget the amazing Christ-like examples I've befriended and the crazy experiences I had in that ville; Now's the time to go and seek out more. God has blessed me so much, I can’t even articulate it. I pray that you all enjoy the blessing of living in a state of complete contentment. I know the gospel provides that for people, regardless of whether or not people think they have found it elsewhere. Have a great week.

Sœur Green

Two crazy ladies.  The one on the left is such a rascal...:)

Our miracle, Bérangère :) The most spiritually sensitive woman alive.

Good-bye lunch with my favorite Tahitian family.
They're having a girl, woot!

Our little investigator, Ryan, and his family.
Pray for them, please. He is incredible.

A couple of young adults came to the train station to say bye to me and one of the elders. Mes frères!

Ignore my face in this one and focus on the adorable Tahitian ball of energy.

Two of my favorite members!
I'm coming back to France for their wedding...whenever that may be...

Dropping a Word From My Homegirl, Mama T

This week was interesting, to say the least. Our investigators are all going through rough patches at the same time. The two kids we are teaching are understanding the lessons really well, but one of them has no support from his family and the other has too much, which means he's feeling pressure rather than the desire actually coming from him. Another one, and I cannot believe this, lost contact with his family in Africa after his father got assassinated at a political event. Scary. Sœur Grunke and I are kind of at a fork in the road where we need to start making some big decisions to either continue pestering them with our calls and appointments or letting them focus on other things for a while. It's not easy letting go of people, especially when you've seen principles of the gospel help them already. I'm going to call this following week "prayer week," because, for now, that seems like all we can do within the spectrum of our own power.

FACTS I LEARNED:

• I can jump pretty high…I will include evidence along with this.

• Standing on a mountain for an hour and then going indoors will make your hands burn. Badly.

• Trying to teach a ten year old about the gospel after three hours of church will not go well. FACT.

I'm going to jump right into the spiritual stuff by sharing a quote from one of my biggest inspirations in history.

"God loves a cheerful giver. She gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to except everything with joy." -Mother Teresa

I am NOT a perfect example of this, unfortunately. However, I can think of several amazing ones (and I will refrain from using Christ because that's the five year old kid obvious answer). I think of Thomas S. Monson. I think of my mother. I think of those who had influenced me so much in my adolescent years. I think of the one missionary from Scotland who had been through so much in her life, but still laughs about everything. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!! My forced profound message today is to keep the trend going. The world is a lot cooler with people like that in it's population.

Peace, mis amigos. Go be Mother Teresas!

Sœur Green

We got to plant potatoes with this happy couple on Wednesday.
Farm work brings warmth to my soul.

Went for a lil' hike today.  Felt like we were on the Great Wall of China.

Be a MAN!!!

Sorry, family. I'm still not going to marry young...but this little one is really cute.

Happy Mom's Day

This weekend I got to Skype with my beautimous family for a little bit and eventually end up on the phone because a snow storm didn't want the house to have any power. Snow in May? God bless France. Even though it's been more than a year since I've seen any of them, it felt like I had never left.

We had the lovely opportunity of going to Lyon for Zone conference and learn about all the new changes the First Presidency is deciding to make in our teaching manual. Lots of big things are going to be happening this summer!! Hopefully there will be more happy people drowning in blessings because of it, woot woot!!

Our little investigators are moving along in the lessons. Our ten year old, Ryan, who is in a wheelchair and has never walked in his life because of a nerve disorder, loved learning about the resurrection of Christ and what that meant for him some day. Can't even think about it or I'm going to cry!! Please pray that he will be able to come to church with his family. He is a very special boy.

FACTS I LEARNED:

• Germany is the America of Europe. This is serious. After being surrounded by French people and serving with a Finnish person for three months, Sœur Grunke might as well be from the States. Hooray for thinner culture barriers and people who actually laugh at my jokes!!! 

• Renewing legality in France is the most painful process a human can endure.

• When a man that you are talking to about Jesus on the street stops you in mid-sentence and holds up a "rock on sign," that means he's a Satanist who is not actually agreeing with you and telling your that your message is rocking. I will not detail the experience...

I just want to wish all you moms, soon-to-be moms, grandmas, great grandmas, guardians, etc. a wonderful Mother's Day a day late. You are very special people and I actually found a quote on the wall the other day in someone's home that said:

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take."-Cardinal Mermillod

Though I've never been a mother and probably won't be for a little while, I just want to express the love and appreciation I have for you all. Your families want you to know that as well, even if they drive you crazy sometimes. The longer I'm in France and the more lessons I teach, the more I realize that I brag about my mom an awful lot. She's pretty cool, not going to lie. And now there are probably about five-hundred Europeans that could agree with me too :) Thank you so much for all that you do, mom. I love you more than German chocolate, and judging from how many pounds I gained after Easter, that's quite a bit.

Have a wonderful week, mes chers amis. A la prochaine.

Sœur Green

This one's for Trevor:
Does this remind you of the Legend of Zelda just a lot?

Celebrating our beloved Yan Ming's new life in China as
a certified French business woman. She will be missed.

I just had the best P-day ever. Not really, but this a pretty cool photo :)

Here a beautiful picture of my companion.
And yes... her face is always like that.