Well I'll start off with the obvious. There were terrorist attacks in
Paris Friday night. We got a text like 10 minutes after waking up on
Saturday morning saying no one should be traveling to or around Paris
because of some attacks. Didn't have many details and seeing as we're
out in the middle of nowhere here in Toul, we felt pretty safe. Then
we started studies, in the middle of studies we got the text saying we
had to stay in the apartment all day unless we had a rdv. We had one
rdv fixed Saturday and it was for 7pm, so we called them and moved it
to 11am. So we went visited a less active that lives around the corner
from us then came back to the apartment. We got a call from our
district leader telling us all the details. So basically we had to
stay in the apartment all of Saturday and Sunday except for church.
Sunday we ate with a member anyway because they live in the tiniest
village in the middle of no where and we have a car... And we ended up
teaching two other rdvs we had planned that day but came home before
it was dark. So there you have it. That's the update.
It's so sad the attacks that happened and we prayed and fasted A lot
this weekend. One thing that makes this situation even more sad is
the opposition us as missionaries have had.
Our ward was doing a fast for missionary work this past weekend. And
last week President babin gave to us a challenge that we were
supposed to start this Saturday . The whole France Paris mission was
supposed to start a "40 day fast", but instead of fasting we're
finding, counting up before Christmas. So starting this past Saturday
we were supposed to be praying every hour from 10am to 10pm. And our
goal each day: find a new ami. So by the end of the 40 day fast we'll
have 40 new Amis
Well we still prayed from 10am to 10pm... But we didn't find a new ami
neither Saturday or Sunday because we were in the apartment all day...
So that's sad that none of the mission was able to start the
challenge.
But I'm still super excited to start this challenge this week! I also
realize how much work and how much faith it's going to take to
accomplish that in a small ville like Toul. In fact when I was in my
interview with soeur babin she said the first thing she thought when
president told her about this idea was "that will be really hard for
the small villes!" But then she said that president had prayed long
and hard for this and if he felt inspired to do that and ask that of
the missionaries, that means that God would provide a way. Which
reminds me of my favorite scripture at the moment, 1 Nephi 3:7 "And it
came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the
things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth
no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way
for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
I'm so excited to give Christ a gift in this holiday season! I know
the lord is with us here in Toul!
Had exchanges in Paris Wednesday night to Thursday night! But we were
back in Toul safe on Thursday night. Don't worry.
So for exchanges I was with soeur Tippett again! And I was actually
her last exchange on her mission :( but it was such a fun exchange!
We got into Paris and went to teach a new ami, her name is Laura and
she is so golden and sincere and curious! I loved teaching her! And I
loved teaching with soeur Tippett, we teach well together. Then the
next day soeur Tippett and I went to go pick up my titre de séjour. So
I'm officially legal with the card to prove it! While there we ran
into a lot of other missionaries. Including the office elders, so they
drove us to the mission office from the prefecture. Then we went and
got crepe genia, which is one panini, one Nutella crepe and one drink
for only 4,50€ yeah it's definitely a missionary spot. Then we went
contacting. Or was so fun! Contacting doesn't really work in Toul, and
I realized that I do everything a lot slower... Soeur Tippett was
almost pouncing on every person in our path and here I was barely
keeping up with her... Anyway, it was fun talking to her and we got a
new ami potential and brightened a ladies day, so it was worth it.
then we ran back got our stuff and went to catch our train. We ended
up getting hot chocolate from Starbucks in the gare, which was my
first Starbucks in France meaning first Starbucks since I left on my
mission, meaning it's been 16 months. That's a long time quand même.
So there you have it, that was our week...
Tuesday we had interviews, it went well. I realized it was my last
normal interview in a zone conference so that's sad and weird.
President gave me some advice on finding good activities to do at
night in Toul because everything closes by 7pm and we haven't been
feeling like we're being efficient with our time. So that was good.
And zone conference was the next day, so that was good! It was all
about working with members. I really liked it! At first I thought it
was going to be another training on how to fill out the progress
record or what to do in ward council. But the trainings were actually
on how we can just be better friends for the members and just gain
their trust. So that was nice, I really liked it.
Friday we had the soirée and it was good! Serges wife and daughter
came! And some other Amis and non pratiquants. Serge also had his
interview. So they started 30min before the soirée and actually missed
the first 30 minutes of the program. He had an hour long interview. So
let me explain what happened. So serge had smoked the day before his
interview. We told the zls and asked what they thought, they said to
pray. So we prayed and felt like he was ready as long as he stopped
right then. So we get to the interview and serge told us he had smoked
just before... So we told the zls, they said they'd still go through
with the interview. Well the elder that did the interview said he went
into it thinking he wouldn't pass him. But as he talked with him he
said he felt he was ready and could be baptized as long as serge quit
right then and there. So we saw serge on Sunday and he hasn't smoked
since the one before his interview! So the elder passed him on
condition that he never smoke again, and we're going to have the
branch president interview him right before the baptism to be sure. So
as long as serge doesn't smoke this next week, he'll be baptized this
Saturday!!!
Well that was our week. Sorry this is so long, since we were stuck in
the apartment I had more time to draft up emails. On the bright side I
wrote in my journal for the first time in like months so that was
good. Well I'm going to finish this now. Have a great week I love you
and miss you!
Gros bisous!
Soeur Farmer
P.s. Sorry there are less pictures. I've been trying to take them with
my camera more than the iPad...
1. Zone conference
2. In the office elder car
3. What soeur Clements and I do when we're bored on a Tuesday night
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