Soeur Sarah Hunt France Paris Mission: Many Changes

Ok, I'll say this was a very busy week. So much has changed along with so much fun. I'll start with moving all our stuff from our old apartment to the Elders old apartment. No one was here to help us so it was just us and the Elders. The thing with moving stuff here in France is people don’t have moving trucks. Also a lot of buildings here don't have elevators so we end up carrying refrigerators and couches down spiral stairs and down the streets to the new place. It's weird and very hard/inconvienent, but it's all part of the funny memories.

So here you see 4 young adults carrying chairs, book cases and suitcases through centreville (downtown). Boy what a site it was. I guess here it's not totally out of the normal, but it is, after all, downtown. Then we had to go back for the dryer because the dryer the Elders had didn't spin so it was useless. Ours worked better so we wanted to switch it out. The Elders still needed to pack and so while they were packing we decided we could carry the big thing 4 blocks through downtown Nancy all by ourselves. Regular walking takes about 5 minutes to get to the Elders apartment but this thing took 30 minutes to carry all the way to their place. We would take 30 steps and then take a 3 minute break. Boy I wonder what people were thinking when they see two young girls in dresses carrying a dryer down the street. We're strong. At the same time, it was kind of like a social experiment to see if anyone would stop to offer to help. Only one guy did but we were pretty much already there so we said we were fine. Interesting huh... oh well, it was fun and I'll never forget it.

Later that night (Tuesday) we all went to the Couturier family’s house. They're such amazing members. They have 3 boys ages 8, 14, and 16. They're so cute. The parents are so relaxed. On Sunday they invited us four, us and the elders that were leaving, over for the last time since they wouldn't see the Elders again. (the Elders were so sad.) They asked us what we wanted to eat and gave us two options. Tart de flet or Raclette. You can never say no to Raclette. So we had Raclette and of course it was so good. They were so surprised when they found out that I ate Raclette back home. They asked me, “You can buy that cheese there??” I said "yes of course!" They just argued saying that it's not the true French Raclette cheese. They're awesome haha.

Next day we helped the Elders get to the gare (train station) and they were so, so sad. They absolutely loved this place. Elder Currie was expecting to stay here for the rest of his mission. Elder de Geuse really loved his ami who is getting baptized December 2nd because he started teaching him when he got here 3 transfers ago. Finally when his ami picks a date to be baptized he is transferred but they might be able to come back for the baptism. So now we’re taking over for their ami to get him prepared for the baptism. His name is Rafael. He's 22 and has a girlfriend who is LDS. She introduced him to the church and so he agreed to see the missionaries. He's super excited to go to the temple. The ward does this thing where they travel together to have a temple day. So he picked a date to be baptized before then so she would be able to go. Another thing is when your ami goes to the temple for the first time you're allowed to go with them. So we'll most likely be able to go Paris with him when they decide to go! I miss the temple. Anyways, Rafael is so awesome. I'm excited to get to know him more and help him with anything he might up until his baptismal date.

So yes the Elders are very, very sad to leave. The Sœurs arrived from Mulhouse and they're the ones who switched places with the Elders. It was a last minute change that the president decided based on security problems down there. It's all good though! So we said goodbye to them and showed the Sœurs the new place and got settled.

We spent all of Wednesday cleaning and trying to get settled. The place needed deep cleaning. Major deep cleaning. We threw away 9 large trash bags and even filled old suitcases with bags too, to throw away as well. So, so much junk that needed to be thrown away. So we cleaned and rearranged the furniture I mostly rearranged the furniture and I tried to use the skills my mom has taught me ;) I wish I had taken before pictures. It was awful. But today we even got light bulbs, wash clothes, pans, blenders, and a shower head. This place is super, super old, but it's so much homier now. I love it so much better. We also set up decorations. We have Thanksgiving, Christmas and Fourth of July all set up right now. It's pretty festive...

The new Sœur's names are Sœur Neistadt and Sœur Bell. Sœur Neustadt has been here for 17 months now and will be heading home back to Las Vegas after this transfer. She speaks so well, she knows so much and is so, so energetic. She's so awesome and experienced. She's the only member in her family. Her parents are divorced, but her mom is super supportive of her. Anyways, I'm honored to be able to room with her. Now Sœur Bell is from Utah as well and just graduated from Olympus High! We have a lot in common because we have a lot of the same friends. It's really fun getting to know her and to just chat. She's still a blue (a greenie) and this is her 2nd transfer. It’s weird thinking I’m not a blue anymore! Guys I’m a big girl now!

Just today we went to get a little lunch us four. Sœur Bell and I were laughing at Sœur Niestadt about something and she got fed up in a joking way and told Sœur Giles to leave us and let me and Sœur Bell pay for ourselves and see how we do all on our own. They left to go to another store and I was left with Sœur Bell, the blue, to pay and then head back to the house. It was actually really fun and we had no troubles whatsoever. The cashier even asked me why we were here or what were our name tags about. I told him we were missionaries for our church. It was fun being the older missionary in the situation and do all that.

Anyways, we're back to work as missionaries after trying to get things rearranged, unpacked and settled. Winter is finally here. Christmas decorations are up. It's windy and it's rainy. Where's the snow?! If you're going to be cold and dark, you might as well snow!! Anyways, yes I miss the snow, it makes Christmas! Anyways, I'll be happy either way because I love Christmas as is. They're starting to set up a big tree in Place Stanislace. I'm so excited!

Well, it's time to pull out the ear muffs, gloves and sweaters. What's hard here is that it rains a ton. Like, this past week, it rained nonstop, I kid you not. Today it’s finally sunny and the clouds are gone! It's so bright and pretty in our apartment. I'm excited for another week of finding and studying and teaching. I find it not as stressful to go out anymore. Well, I mean now I can speak without having to think a ton about it, I mean, I still have a long ways to go, but I'm saying my language is getting so, so, so much better.

Yesterday during church, I was mostly by myself without my companion around because she plays piano for the primary and they're preparing for their program. So I was in the amies class with three of our amies. I was very stressed and nervous, but it went well. I find now that people are talking to me more. I'm able to understand them so much more and I’m able to speak in return as best as I can. I mean it's not the best, best, but they understand me and I feel very accomplished. People weren't kidding when they said by your 3rd transfer you are able to comprehend so much more. I thought I'd never be able to understand, but ever since this transfer started, it was like a light switch. It just clicked. My confidence is building so much more now too. I find myself speaking more even though I know it won't be the best. But I've come to the point where if I talk more, the more I'll be able to progress... Well yeah duh! I know, I know. It just took a while for me to realize it for myself. But it's getting so much better.

Anways, love you all, so much, I'll send you my new address! Thanks for all your support. It really means a lot. I love you family, seriously thank you for your love and prayers. I feel the love and I know I'm not alone. Even with all this change in such a short amount of time, I know it's going to be ok and life is going to move on. Of course the Lord is always helping me. He never leaves my side. I found this quote in the Elders apartment and I have it stuck on a sticky note on my tablet to always remember:

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon

as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and

with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I live by that now. I love it. Anyways, love you all and talk next week!!

Love always,

Sœur Sarah Hunt