Soeur Sarah Hunt France Paris Mission: Hello from Provo!

This week has been so much better than last week. I've grown so much since the beginning of the month and I can tell that I’m making progress. I still can’t do direct objects and the house of Être. Passé compose is very difficult as well. We got more missionaries this week but no new Soeurs. It’s crazy. There is like 25 Soeurs and 80 something or more Elders in our zone. But it’s all good because usually it’s more girls than boys, so I’m not complaining. I’ve gotten to know the missionaries in my zone so well. They all have a place in my heart. It’s going to be so sad to say goodbye in a couple weeks. There are 4 Soeurs that are not in our zone that speak French already but are taking English who will only be here for 3 weeks and will leave with us when we do.

Thank you for the package! A ton of people loved the cookies and I really love the lamb I sleep with it every night now.

On Monday, Pioneer Day, we had Family Home Evening with just a couple other districts, the ones that came in with us on the 5th. So my comp and I scrounged up some treats from other sharing bins from other Soeurs and my comps mother gave her a package of American decorations for the Holiday. Then we went to the 6th floor of the new building to look out over the valley to watch fireworks and eat our treats. Afterwards we sat in a circle and whoever wanted to bare their testimony (in English!) could. That was how we spent Pioneer Day. Of course I bore mine, because I had such a strong feeling to do so. Those who know that feeling know what I’m talking about. I cried and it was awesome. I didn’t know what I was going to say, but the Spirit took over. I loved hearing the other Elders cry too. Sounds weird, but its nice seeing them so in tune with the spirit and acting a little bit more mature. One Elder is always so in tune with the Spirit he cries every time he bares his testimony and when we went to the temple he cried in the celestial room. I just love that he feels so strongly the spirit of this gospel. I never realized how great Pioneer Day was until now. Before I was just thinking it’s a cool day Utah celebrate because of the pioneers. But what did the pioneers do?? They walked thousands of miles because of their testimony of this gospel. LIVE LIKE PIONEERS.

I finally was able to go to the temple this morning because it’s been closed. It was very beautiful and special to go with my whole zone. We woke up at 5 to meet at 6:15 we finished around 9:45 and then we went to the basement to help with the laundry as part of our service. Afterwards we went to eat in the cafeteria there and stood in line for 1 hour before we finally got our breakfast. By the time I got my food they only had scraps because breakfast ended at 1030. Super sad. But I was able to eat and experience a session in the temple.

So as you heard our vocal group was chosen to perform in the Senior Missionaries Assembly. Again, we performed a Childs Prayer and it went super well. I think I loved it more than I would have if we had sung at the regular devotional. The senior missionaries cried, lip sang along with us and were rocking in their seats as we sang. The spirit was very sweet and it was an amazing experience.

This week we listened to a recorded talk by Elder Bednar on Teaching by the Spirit. I LOVED IT. Some things I got from it were:

*Is it me or is it the Holy Ghost?

* "QUIT WORRYING ABOUT IT, stop analyzing it."

* You do it even if you don’t know why.

* Keep your covenants and commandments and you will feel the spirit.

* "Its press forward, not sit still."

* "Be a good boy, and be a good girl and dontwait for some miraculous spiritual experience. You will feel the power of the spirit when doing what you’re supposed to."

* "QUIT WORRYING ABOUT IT"

I just love Elder Bednar. He teaches with such authority and power from the spirit. I could watch him all day surprisingly.

So Tuesday and Wednesday morning were the days we woke up at 5:50. Tuesday to do a yoga class and Wednesday was cardio. Tuesday was good. Wednesday was more difficult. If it has to do with cardio it’s always a no. I hate the feeling but most the time I do it anyways because It’s good for your body, you know the struggle I’m sure. Anyway, we woke up to do the cardio class and I was not in a good mood. Again I was doing it for my comp who loves to exercise. The instructor kept yelling at us to keep pushing and keep the knees up and don’t stop, keep going. In my head I was thinking of something rather unpleasant to do to her. IF she yelled at me to run one more time and to sprint ladders I was going to do something I’d regret. JK! But I wasn’t very happy. I don’t feel like sprinting at 6 in the morning. But every time I looked over at my comp she always had the biggest smile on her face. That made it a little bit more worthwhile. Afterwards my comp stopped me in the halls in our residence, and told me how grateful she was to have a companion like me. She was so happy that I was willing to do these exercises for her and that I am so easy going to do whatever. That made my mood increase from sad to pretty much happy. Just a little more sleep and I would’ve felt perfect. I know that doing something for others even if you don’t like it makes their day so much better. Again it’s not about you; it’s about the people around you. Look for a chance to serve someone even if you really hate the thing you’re doing because I know you’ll learn so much from the experience and grow that much more too. I know that the Lord was helping me to be more Christ like. I also know that if we don’t work out my comp hates life. I found out the hard way. So it’s best that I keep her happy. Plus I like seeing her happy and full of the spirit.

Another funny thing that my comp and I have going is every time I insult myself she hits me and every time she complains I hit her. I get hit more than I hit her. One time she said she didn’t really like the sweats she was wearing because it made her butt look weird. I didn’t think so, so I just said, "No you look great, but as for me I just accept the fact that I’m ugly either way." I couldn’t resist. Right after I said that I started running. She chased me down 4 flights of stairs all the way to the gym before I stopped and let her hit me. It was funny. We had a good laugh.

Speaking of staying happy and controlling your anger, my comp shared with me during personal study something she found in the student manual for the new testament that that I thought I’d share with you:

“A cunning part of [Satan’s] strategy is to dissociate anger from agency, making us believe that we are victims of an emotion that we cannot control. … The Lord expects us to make the choice not to become angry. … When the Lord eliminates the phrase ‘without a cause,’ He leaves us without an excuse. …

“Anger is a yielding to Satan’s influence by surrendering our self-control. It is the thought-sin that leads to hostile feelings or behavior. … Understanding the connection between agency and anger is the first step in eliminating it from our lives” (“Agency and Anger,” Ensign, May 1998, 80–81).

President Thomas S. Monson reminded us that we can choose not to become angry:

“To be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice. If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry. I testify that such is possible. …

“… We are all susceptible to those feelings which, if left unchecked, can lead to anger. We experience displeasure or irritation or antagonism, and if we so choose, we lose our temper and become angry with others. Ironically, those others are often members of our own families—the people we really love the most. …

“May we make a conscious decision, each time such a decision must be made, to refrain from anger” (“School Thy Feelings, O My Brother,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 68–69).

I just loved that. Hope you think it’s just as interesting as I do. I challenge you all to try and be patient, and understanding as you go about this next up coming week with anything you are about to do. I know it’s hard, but here a little there a little.

I saw Braden on Thursday at lunch. He saw me and we chatted for a little bit. I really needed to see his face. I’m not really homesick at all. I mean I think of you guys from time to time but I know I’m doing the Lord’s work so I’m good. I’m kept pretty busy so I don’t think too much of outside things but I needed to see a little bit of home. I prayed to be able to see Braden. My prayer was answered when we were put in each other’s path. He teared up when he talked about when Zac bore his testimony at his setting apart. I loved seeing him and I know we’ll have more time to see each other.

REBECCA! Thank you so much for writing me a dear Elder. I really loved hearing from you and how your life is going. It made my day. Hope everything is going well for you and please keep in mind that if you need to ask me anything I’m always willing to do my best to answer your questions. Thank you again for writing me!!

I just want to say, mother I love you and thank you for all that you do for me. I’m not sad that you haven’t been writing me I totally understand. You’re all busy with the move and such. You are in my prayers and I hope everything works out fabulously. I’m glad you’re all safe and doing well. I always think of you guys as well and I love hearing the stories. Again that picture of Maddie made me laugh out loud. I love her and I can totally picture her whimpering as she’s trapped in the hamper.

Is it weird that I'm not afraid to leave the MTC? I'm actually very excited. Excited to leave everything and move on to something new. The others are nervous and little excited. Am I missing something? I know it's going to be very difficult, but I know that with the Lord on my side I can do anything; at least that's how I feel.

I love it here and every time I say my prayers I thank the Lord for this opportunity to be here as a missionary and then for my family’s safety. I love everything! I’m so blessed. LOVE YOU ALL so much.

Love Always,

Soeur Hunt