Soeur Sarah Hunt France Paris Mission: A week full of crazy, weird, miracles and more crazy!

Hello, Hola, Bonjour... yeah sorry that's all I know. Boy oh Boy, this week went by fast. Full of crazy, weird, miracles and more crazy. I loved every second of this week. It's been way different from these past few weeks. I learned so much and experienced so many amazing things. It's all thanks to the Lord. Alma 29:8-9and13-14. (One of my many favorite chapters)

Mother, thank you again for the necklace and the little lamb you sent me back in the MTC. I sleep with the baby lamb every night. It brings much comfort to me and has a lot of symbolism. Every time I need my mom for the day I just wear the necklace you bought me. I love you very much and I sincerely thank you for all the things you do for me. I should've said this a long time ago... but thank you so very much for always having our house clean. It is so very nice and non stressful to be in a house that's not messy. Mother, I'll say this, you have never seen a nasty, messy house before. I won't elaborate. You have taught me so well and I am so incredibly blessed to have you. Thank you again.

Some people here don't have a good relationship here with their families, and they live alone and don't really get in contact with anyone that their close to. I feel for them. The loneliness it brings. I honestly can't imagine life without my family. Even when I'm not with you guys all the time I like having the feeling that someone is still there for me. I'm glad families are a thing and now I see the importance of families more in this grand plan of happiness. I'm glad you, my family, give me joy and assurance that I'm not alone in this world. Love you!

The members here are so amazing. Even if they intimidate me to the point of breaking spoons... they're faith is so strong. I say that so much so now let me explain why. Because there aren't as many members here as there are back home where you are, there isn't as many chapels. Everything here is very spread out. I’ve had to take trains to visit members. 15-20 minute train rides. Some members I can’t even see because they're way too far and we have to have a car because the buses don't go out that far and we don’t have a car. Some travel an hour just to come to church. THEY understand the importance of this gospel and what it means to them. I never understood the importance of this gospel until now. I knew it was important, but I didn't realize the extent of its importance. My eyes have been opened so much. Even just this morning a thought came to my mind... I get slapped in the face every once in a while with the reality of this gospel. NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING is possible without God. Everything I look at reminds me of God's role in all of our lives.

Tuesday was a wacky day. We had a lot of time to go finding. So we went and we talked with some people. We gave out 2 Copies of the Book of Mormon. Then we went to get Wi-Fi at the mall right next to us. We sat down to download a couple videos for our rendezvous. We sat right next to where you pay to go to the bathroom. If I had known that that spot was so entertaining I would've sat there at least once a day! It was kind of distracting. So many people were putting the € coins in the bill slot. Like they were trying to really see it they could make it fit! Like shoving it harder is going to work. Since when do you ever put a coin in the bill slot! Boy it made my day better. Then there was this guy who was paying to go to the bathroom when this other older man came running up behind him. He was doing the pee pee dance for sure. He was holding himself and jumping while the other man was putting his coin in the bill slot. Once the paying man went through the dancing pee pee man tried to sneak through with him. So at this point I figured out two things about him. 1. He really, really needed to go to the bathroom and 2. He didn't have any money to go. He couldn't sneak through and he was running out of options very, very fast. He finally came to the conclusion that he either breaks the law or embarrasses himself horrifically. He decided the latter of the two. He turned around right into a corner and was really trying to cover himself with his fleece shirt. Sorry, I don't think that really works. My comp said she was going to go and give him 50 cents, but when he turned around it was too late.Once he turned around, his whole front side was soaked. There was a puddle beneath him. I was very sad. It really sucks to have to pay to go to the bathroom here. In the moment, me and my companion were laughing so hard not at him but because of all the weird things we were witnessing. Afterwards, I thought to myself, why didn't I think of that? It probably was a really difficult moment for this man and I could've helped him. Next time I’ll be more prepared. Always be prepared to help someone. Open your minds and focus on their needs. I still have a long ways to go.

Isn't it weird to think that most of all this that's happening to me, is happening when you all are asleep? (Since you go to bed when I’m waking up)

Wednesday we were reading in the French Book of Mormon for part of our language study when all of a sudden I had a feeling to go outside and find someone right now to talk to. I didn't know what to do. We only had 10 more verses left but I'm a slow reader when it comes to reading in French. Also we had already decided to go finding after language study so we didn't have to leave yet. I was very distracted by my thought but I didn’t want my comp thinking I was being weird and making stuff up. So I thought to myself, after we are done we’ll hurry and go out. Once we were done I told my comp that we needed to go out right now because I had a feeling we really needed to. So we hurried and got ready to leave. I have never had this feeling to go out before. I was excited and very prepared to find someone that the spirit was guiding me to. So we went out and I was so intent on trying to find someone. I would talk to people walking by me and no one was interested at all. The intense feeling was starting to go away. I was really flustered. I know I needed to find someone! So eventually the feeling left and I was starting to think that I lost my chance. So then my companion said, it's ok, let's just go down this road. So We did and then there was this lady coming down towards us, I didn't necessarily have a huge feeling to stop her but I probably would have but my companion got to her first, she said she thought she had a thought she needed to stop this lady. We did and 10 seconds into our conversation the lady said she wanted to meet with us again. She gave us her number and we gave her ours. She said her husband has heard about us. She thinks about and is really into religion and would love to learn more. I testified of the Book of Mormon and gave it to her. She said thank you, and that it was a beautiful gift. She's not wrong. She said this was not by coincidence that we were able to meet and I'm thinking YOU'RE NOT WRONG. We had a long chat and talked about her life and family and it was so awesome.

After we left, we were so incredibly happy. I was so happy that the spirit worked through me and my companion to find her. We called her Friday to fix a rendezvous and she was happy to hear from us. She then proceeded to tell that she was talking to her husband about us and said that a very long time ago her husband was a member of our church. So he's a less active. COOL!! We're so excited to teach her. They're both looking forward to learning more and seeing us. I'm so incredibly happy for this opportunity. Let's hope they don't decide anything rash!

After we saw the lady (Caroline) we continued to contact. We came upon another older lady. She seemed really friendly. I stopped her and then she got really close to my face and started talking. I didn't really understand her but then later I asked Sœur Giles what she said. The lady was born in to the Catholic church but if she could choose, she would be protestant because the priests can marry.... OK. So, while we were talking to her she stopped abruptly, grabbed my face in both her hands, and then caressed my face full on. She stopped and then came closer... I'm thinking to myself, if you kiss me I'LL SLAP YOU. She came really close turned my face slightly and kissed my cheek and did the same to the other side. Then she went over and not as dramatically kissed both Sœur Giles’ cheeks before saying, "bonne chance!" (good luck) And walked away. Boy was I utterly shocked! Oh well, it just adds to the wonderful experience here! I love it all HAHAHAH.

Another very cool opportunity that has been brought to our attention was a referral from Temple Square! This couple, Bryan and Mariam Abraham, were on vacation to Temple Square and live here in Nancy. They're Jewish but don't really practice. They promised to meet with us when they get back. We sent them an email and our number to let them know were here. So that'll also be really exciting to build on!

Because transfers just happened we got a new Blue! (a greenie) He's in Épinal and his name is Elder Andersen. We were all betting to see who would be right in guessing where he is from. I Won! I guessed Utah, because 80% of the missionaries here come from Utah. He's from South Jordan. He's awesome and is not afraid to talk. He knows a lot of my friends from Hillcrest so it was fun to just chat for a bit at district meeting.

I would like to share an experience of mine during personal study that will help lead me into the next topic. I found it very edifying and inspiring in certain ways. Gives you a real perspective of things. So I was reading in Alma 30 and then reading in the manual under the section of The Teachings of Ecclesiastical Leaders which says, "...But the choice not to take prophetic counsel changes the very ground upon which we stand. It becomes more dangerous. The failure to take prophetic counsel lessens our power to take inspired counsel in the future. The best time to have decided to help Noah build the ark was the first time he asked. Each time he asked after that, each failure to respond would have lessened sensitivity to the Spirit. And so each time his request would have seemed more foolish, until the rain came. And then it was too late." -Elder Eyring.

So I think it's very important that we follow prophetic counsel because they get their counsel from God. Already as it is we are distant from the Spirit, so we need to do all we can to keep it with us. Now is the time to prepare to meet God. Not when we decide it feels good to kind of do it.

General Conference was pretty dang awesome. I absolutely love Elder Holland. He's funny and so powerful when he speaks. I did see Stuart a couple times and many others from school and the stake. It was a very nice opportunity to experience that. The main thing I got from conference was, finding a bigger perspective, being happy in times of hardship, and helping others who are struggling.

1. Bigger perspective of this gospel and why you are here...

2. Your attitude in times of trials and hardships, you define your experience's outcome

3. Always serve and strive to become like Jesus Christ.

That was the theme I got. I really enjoyed it. I was able to watch the Saturday morning, in the evening... live! Then Sunday we watched it all day long. So that was a total of 24 hours of general conference. Very good but my eyes couldn't take much more. I hope next time I’ll be able to tell you more about what I thought of their talks. But I'll tell you I really enjoyed listening to President Uchtdorf and Elder Holland in the Saturday morning and Elder Bednar on Sunday morning. They're such powerful men. I really learned a lot and I hope you did too. We watched it on a tablet in a room separate from the French members so we could listen in English.

A funny thought; Here's Sœur Giles and I were rushing in the rain to get to the church so we wouldn't miss the opening session and you guys are probably home eating crepes for breakfast then sitting on the sofa for general conference all nice and cozy. HA! My experience is really eye opening and I absolutely love it.

This week I’m going to Paris! Isn't that funny to say... “We’re staying in Paris to get away from your parents”... haha, well it's weird, When I’ve sung that I was in Utah doing whatever, but this time I'm actually going to Paris. It's time for OFII (French Immigration Office) and I'm going to do my legality papers! Yay. It'll be a nice adventure. Tomorrow we have interviews with President Sorensen and have Zone Conference on Wednesday and then OFII and Paris Thursday. It's going to be a crazy week. I'm excited!!

Thanks for everything you do for me. I'm thrilled to be here as always. I can’t express how much I learn in a day. God is real, He is the center of everything. Never forget, you are nothing without Him. Everything is made possible because of Him. EVERYTHING. I love this gospel with all my heart and I will do all I can for it. People need this in their life. It's extremely important. Study it and learn why it's so important. You'll understand why. You never cease to learn. It's beautifully magnificent, this plan. We are all so blessed.

Love always,

Sœur Hunt ( Sarah, sister, daughter.)