That was my week and I loved every second of it

This seemed like a very long week, but just in the sense that there was a lot to do. The week actually went by very fast because I had lots to do. It was an amazing ride, figuratively and literally. I enjoyed every moment it brought me.

I'll start with my last lesson with Brian. It was the Tuesday right before I left Nancy. It was a short lesson, but we got right to the point and it went very well. I asked him what he wanted to get out of our lessons in the future. He said he didn’t know. Soeur McBride and I knew what he needed to do. Frankly, he knew what he needed to do. He has been reading and praying which is an amazing start.  I was so happy to see him finally doing it. Little by little eventually little things turn into big things. He’s going to continue to do those things and keep working up and up. I heard he came to English class, this last Friday, super awesome! I'm so excited to see what he does with his life. His future looks very bright.  I can already see a change and I'm so happy to see him so happy. 

It was a hard goodbye with my roommates. They're amazing people and missionaries. They will be missed, and I know they will kill it wherever they are. The people in Nancy need them. 

From Paris I took two different trains that took about 3 hours to finally get to Calais. It’s very far up North and incredibly beautiful.  This is a very small ville. There are amazing people here that I can’t wait to meet and talk to. 

My new companion is Soeur Hacker and she’s from Illinois. she’s been out for almost a year and this is her 7th transfer. she studied at BYUI for a year before she came out. She didn’t study French before she came, in fact she studied German. She speaks it very well.  It seems like she’s been studying it for a while now.  I'm looking forward to working with her. 

You know, when I was back home, I always thought that missionaries were so awkward... well, more those who were speaking a new language. I told myself that I would never be a weird missionary. I TAKE IT ALL BACK, I HAVE REPENTED. I'm an awkward missionary and I understand why. I can’t exactly help it.  When you don’t speak the language its harder to communicate; in case you didn’t know. I see the members asking me things and I just sit there and give short answers and sound like a robot. No wonder they look at me weird. At one point the Bishop asked me something and I sat there for a sec and then answered. Then he responded by saying in English, "Do you speek gud Fwench yet?" I answered back yes, he just nodded, smiled and walked away. Boy, sometimes I don't like learning a new language. It’s all good though! I'm in it also for the learning experience. I realized that I got used to my ward back in Nancy when they spoke but here its different because I don’t know them so I'm trying to get used to the way they speak so I can understand them better.  It'll get there. 

There are a lot of Seagulls here. Every time I hear them I think of the ocean and it makes me so happy. I went to the English Channel yesterday and it was cold. BUT it was absolutely gorgeous! You can smell the salt air. If it’s a clear day, you can see England from afar. I also hear that if it’s a clear day, you can see the white Cliffs of Dover. There are so many cool historical sites. I love history.  It’s just wonderful knowing that you're standing where your ancestors stood at one point. It holds a lot of stories and memories. 

Part of this town makes me think of a quaint little beach town. Where everyone knows everyone, and everyone is 40 or older. There’s not a ton of people walking the small main streets, so we end up going porting, but no one seems to be home, or they just don’t answer.  Which brings me to my question, WHERE ARE ALL THE RETIRED PEOPLE GOING?  So, the work here is a little slow, it’s very humbling and it'll be good for me. it'll help me see things from a different perspective. 

We volunteer once a week at L'auberge.  It’s a place run by a group of people from England. They accept donations and distribute them to the refugees in France.  So, we go to sort the clothing or make food or sew or whatever they need at the time just from 9-12.  Everyone around you speaks English, you know, with a British accent, and you would think that it would be no big deal because you’ll be able to understand them, well yes and no.  They have their own set of vocabulary.  They’re very strict about sorting clothes.  I try to sort things properly but it’s hard!  I don’t know what a jumper is!  Then they start yelling at you in their thick British accent and it just becomes a funny situation.  After a while their accent starts rubbing off on you and then you start speaking with their British accent as well and you know you don’t want to be one of those people who starts speaking with an accent when you’re not even from there...  

Every now and then you’ll see a group of English tourists and a few English things hung up around the city.  Sometimes I also think that I’m in a little town in England.  It’s all fun.

Church was an interesting and fun experience. Like I said, there are a lot of older folk in this town, so this ward is older.  It’s quite funny, each person has their own quirky personality. I don’t know how to explain it.  I guess almost like the Andy Griffith show.  You have the quirky, you have the sane, you have the one who always gossips, and you have the one who just does what she wants no matter what.  Each person brings something to the table and I love it!!   Maybe this will help you understand how this ward is a little better.  When we sing, it’s a cappella.  So, imagine singing a hymn in sacrament a cappella.  Especially with elderly people singing.  The ward just waits until they get a missionary that can play the piano, so they won’t sound bad, but all they need to do is just call someone to play instead of waiting! Maybe nobody can play. Anyways, this one sister is the one I would classify as the one who just does what she wants no matter what.  She’s a recent convert as of last June.  While we were singing you have those people who are just flat or loud and off tune it’s just so funny. This particular sister is sitting in front of us and she’s just laughing her head off at the whole situation and the people around her are trying to keep her quiet, but they're all laughing as well.  At the end of the hymn we all had tears running down our faces. I'm already looking forward to next Sunday’s a cappella session. 

Yesterday we visited an older man who I think is 80 and he’s a member.  His name is Serge and he's the cutest old man ever.  He is sick right now and it has to do with something in his lungs.  He's never smoked or drank so it’s just old age health issues. His wife died of cancer a few years ago so he’s all alone, but his family lives really close to him.  They all live in trailer homes right next to each other. So quaint :) He really is struggling with health and he really misses his wife, so he doesn’t exactly want to be here anymore, but he loves the Lord and he knows he’ll see his wife again. Every time we go over there he gives us a snack to take with us and he said he always prays for us. I got so emotional being in his little trailer home. Just seeing him struggling to breath and walk and yet still trying to do things for us.  It made me so sad, it was just the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life. He loves missionaries. I’m so blessed to know him, he’s such a light and I know he’s still here just to strengthen me. 

Anyways, that was my week and I loved every second of it.  I hope your week was amazing and I wish you all another amazing week.  Thank you for your prayers and love. I pray for you all always. Read your scriptures and pray, the little things matter!

Love, 

Soeur Hunt 💙

Sarah's new companion, Soeur Hacker

The beach at Calais

Much colder here than in Nancy

The wind off the Channel is freezing

Calais is a quaint coastal fishing town.  Most of the city was destroyed in the German invasion in WWII in 1940

CALAIS THEATER

The first stone was laid on 9 July 1903 on the site of an ancient cemetery. The theater was inaugurated on 1 October 1905 by the president at the time and ranked 3rd monument of France through its architect, Malgras-Delmas, who copied the facade of the Paris Opera. This work of art has two floors and is decorated with beautiful statues and 930 decorative places in a horseshoe shape around a stage of 100 square meters. The room has great acoustics and scenery.  This is considered one of the most beautiful in France!

LA TOUR DU GUET "WATCHTOWER"

The Tour du Guet is a 13th-century watchtower in Calais. Located on Place d'Armes behind the Hotel de Ville.  It is 128 ft in height, and features a dovecote for carrier pigeons. The tower dates from 1214, when Philip I, built fortifications in the town.  Damaged by a 1580 earthquake, it was used as a lighthouse until 1848, when it became a watch tower.  During World War I, it served as a military post.

You can see the belfry in the distance adjoing Calais Town Hall, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the country.

Ferry landing from England in the distance