24 or 48 hour exchange??

Bonjour!

First off, I’m going to give you a little bio on my amazing new companion

Soeur Skouson is a very smart woman who loves Calais so much. If she could, she'd stay in Calais her whole mission. It's apparently bigger than her hometown!

She’s from:         IOWA!

Her companion: The one and only, ME!

Interesting fact:  She can play the organ and piano very well!

Amazing talent:  She can put up with me.

Life ambition:     To be able to whistle.

She's awesome and I love her!

This was a crazy week of Exchanges, Trainer’s Meeting, and District Meeting! and not to mention all in a row!  What made it worse is the fact that France had a greve. What’s a greve? Well, It’s a strike.  French people can be very dramatic  which means they sometimes need to get their point across in a very inconvenient way. Like not having as many trains run or any buses run the whole day.  Sometimes they last for many days. So, the greve happened when we were in Lille with the STLs. 

This is how it all played out…

Wednesday morning, we headed down to Lille.  We had an amazing exchange as per usual.  They’re the best people and they’re such great friends.  They give the best advice and all they want to do is help because they truly care.  Together we came up with some great thoughts. Soeur Nielsen told me, "...how when times get hard and the waters get rough, it's important to focus on the spiritual or uplifting experiences you've had in the past, which will act as a buoy when you feel like you're sinking amidst the waves..."  During the exchanges we were thinking a lot about remembrance. Because it’s very hard to remember the things you go through especially with all the things that happen in life.  We need to remember how we feel and what we experience because those are the things that matter and the things that strengthen you in times of hardship.  Those experiences, if you remember them, will help you to overcome your obstacles. 

Moving on. The next day, Thursday, we were planning on leaving early for Dunkerque for district meeting with the STLs and the ZLs, but Thursday was the day France decided to have the greve.  There was no train from Lille to Dunkerque because it was cancelled.  The ZLs who were on exchanges with the APs in Paris were stuck there for a while because there wasn’t a train for them to get to Dunkerque. So, the district meeting was moved to another day. It was also the end of our exchange in Lille and we were supposed to go back to Calais, but there was no train until 5 that night. So, we had to stay until the evening and that was the beginning of our 48hr exchange. Again, it was a very amazing exchange, very edifying.  It gave us the drive to continue!  It came time for us to go to our train at 5.  There were so many people out on the strike that it was very chaotic.  We caught the underground metro, but it was stuck for a little while which made us miss our train back to Calais. We ended up having to stay the night again in Lille, plus it was easier at this point for us to take a train to Paris from Lille the next day than from Calais at 6 in the morning. So yeah, it was nuts and there was a lot of stress.  I thought it was so funny because everything that was supposed to happen, went wrong and didn’t happen. I laughed a lot.  You either laugh or you cry and to me laughing sounds better!

We had a great meeting in Paris with the other trainers. We were strengthened and edified and reminded of our missionary purpose. It was wonderful.  I think President is doing his absolute best in leading us. I'm sure it’s not easy so I’m grateful.

Saturday, we had district meeting, so that finally happened.  Next week we’ll have it with the STLs and the ZLs. LOL. So, as you see we were barely in our sector this week, but we met some very cool people on exchanges and learned some very valuable things for the weeks to come.

I'm grateful to be out here in the mission field, learning the things I’m learning. I'm grateful for the people in my life and things I learn from each one of them. Thank you for everything you do for me! keep up the hard work and have a fabulous week!!

Soeur Hunt

Happy Easter from Soeur Skouson and Soeur Hunt!!

Exchanges in Wimille

Soeur Nielson

Soeur Barraclough

  Wimille is a beautiful little coastal town situated south of Calais.  Population about 4,500

God hears us

So many things happened, I’m excited to share what I experienced!...

I made it from Paris through the maze of metros to my specific gare to get back to Calais with my new bleu. I've never done that before, nor have I even tried. I felt very accomplished.  I know I didn't do it alone. My Father in Heaven was with me the whole time. He cleared my mind and showed me mercy. I'm forever grateful for him and his help that he provides me.

So now on to my new companion! Soeur Skouson is here straight from the MTC and she’s from Iowa! she’s super sweet and smart! she knows a lot! She studied music in college, so she plays the piano which was like Christmas for the members once they found out. It was great.

Work is going very well here! We’re loving it. I was hoping for another opportunity to see Sabrina.  So, I texted her Thursday, she answered and said she thought she was available Saturday but wasn’t sure. She said she'd let us know. Saturday comes around and no response until Saturday evening at like 6 saying she was home. We left right then and there to her place.  We had to leave right then because we had to time the rendez vous precisely for the last bus of the night. We got there and went in and it was so awesome.  She talked the whole time.  She was telling us all the things she had been doing.  She was busy with court and her divorce from her husband.  She cried a lot and she was so stressed out.  I felt so bad for her.  The weird thing was it felt like she was confessing to us and to her friend who was there who happened to be a pastor for an evangelist church.  I think we were there for almost 2 hours just listening to her vent.  We finally had to tell her we needed to catch the last bus of the night, but we could talk some more another time. I asked her to come to church and she said she would. Her friend, the pastor, said he was going to come too. I think he had a car, so he was going to drive her.  We left very quickly to run and catch our bus. Next day rolled around and Sabrina said she couldn’t come to church because there wasn’t a bus. I thought she was coming with her friend.  It was a sad moment.  Never give up the faith! She still wants to be baptized, but I’m afraid she doesn’t understand much, which granted, we haven’t had an opportunity to teach her a whole lot yet, but we'll get there. Pray for her! She’ll get there!

So, the thing I learned this week was that if you ask for miracles and tender mercies, you will get them. God answers prayers. I never really asked for miracles because I thought you just had to be lucky to get some.  Because you never ask for them! I mean heaven forbid! But, I was wrong. if you ask, the Lord is waiting to give them to you. I mean, he does it even if you don’t ask anyway! The Lord wants to bless you and give you everything he has. Let him in. He loves us so much. I know because I can see and feel it now in my life and I can’t deny it.

Love you all so much and I hope you have a great week!

 Soeur Hunt

Soeur Hunt with her new comp, Soeur Skouson

(grandma) Soeur Giles, (mom) Soeur Hunt, (daughter) Soeur Skouson

Decorating the apartment for Soeur Skouson's arrival

Welcome to Calais Soeur Skouson

First taste of a patisserie

Paris wall art

You can call me Mother now...

How’s life for you all? I like to ask myself that every once in a while.  It really gets me thinking.  There are so many things that happen. Lots of hardships, but also lots of wonderful things as well.  What’s our individual purpose in this big crazy world? The more you get to know a person the more you realize how completely different their lives are.  Yes, obviously their life is not the same as yours but still, it’s interesting to hear about the things they go through. Everyone’s struggles are so different than yours. Elder Shenkal was telling me that you will never understand the struggles I go through and I will never understand the struggles you go through no matter how difficult either situation is. Whatever you go through is hard for you and whatever I go through is hard for me.  We each have our trials and struggles that are meant to help us grow individually into the person Gods wants specifically for us to become.

It’s so crazy the things you learn about yourself on a mission.  I think it’s amazing what you’re faced with every day.  You may not know what some things are meant for, but God does and it’s a perfect plan.  So, put your trust in him and everything will work out in the end. Its everything, but bad.

On P-day we had the wonderful opportunity to go to Boulogne and see an incredible Aquarium called Nausicaa.  Don’t hold me to this, but I hear it’s the largest aquarium in Europe. So yeah it was amazing!  I loved it.  My district is the best and they made it that much better of an experience.  It was a full day.

We had exchanges this week with the STLs in Villeneuve-d'Asqc and Lille and it was excellent. I absolutely loved it.  There are so many people there and it’s so big!  I love big cities.  I was with Soeur Danes this time.  She’s so full of energy and she’s so genuine.  I loved every second with her.  My STLs are legit the best in the mission haha ;) I kid, I kid, don’t worry Soeur Giles.  We met some cool people.  In the morning I had the chance to go finding with Soeur Meredith because Soeur Danes wasn’t feeling super well.  She felt better in the afternoon, so I was able to finish the exchange with her. I learned a lot from Soeur Meredith.  She’s going to do amazing things in life. I always learn a lot on my exchanges!

Anyway, life here is quite chill, but don’t worry it’s about to get pretty pumped up! This NEXT transfer is going to be awesome! I guess you can call me mom now because I’ll be going to Paris to pick up my daughter to train! YAAAY! Well, we'll see how it goes haha...

Have a great day and a great week! I love you all so much! Thanks for everything you do for me!

THIS CHURCH IS TRUE!!

Soeur Hunt

So long and good luck with transfers Soeur Hacker

Exchanges with Soeur Danes

Exchanges with Soeur Meredith

On exchanges in the lovely city of Lille (lee-L)

Goodbye hug for Soeur Meredith

 Our amazing district

End of transfer district photo 

(Elder Shenkal far right is finished and going home and Soeur Hacker is transferring out)

Porting (door knocking)

The walk of shame back from missing the train.  (Sarah is in the background.)

The walk of shame. In the rain.

Members from the ward

A few more beautiful aquarium shots.  

If you didn't see last week's post, it has a ton of amazing photos

Photo Week!!!

We received a quick email saying she's been having a hard time with her tablet working properly and wasn't going to have time to send another email.  The week before she had to re-write her email three times because it would not actually send the emails and it wouldn't  save them in the sent file nor the drafts file.

She said she is doing great and was able to have a District P-day where they went to the beautiful city of Boulonge-sur-Mer and to Nausicaa, the biggest aquarium in Europe.  Luckily she never has trouble uploading photos to the drive.  So this week, enjoy all the fun pics!

Boulogne is an ancient town, and was the major Roman port for trade and communication with its Province of Britain. After a period of Germanic presence following the collapse of the Empire, Boulogne was at the centre of the County of Boulogne of the Kingdom of France during the Middle Ages, and was occupied by the Kingdom of England numerous times due to conflict between the two nations. In 1805 it was a staging area for Napoleon's troops for several months during his planned invasion of the United Kingdom.

The Notre Dame Cathedral (not the same one as the famous one in Paris) was founded at the time of William the Conqueror in the 11th century. The port of Boulogne was the starting point for the invasion of England in 1066. The Cathedral is also famous for a spectacular crypt.  It is the largest crypt in France and extends to more than a hundred meters. The walls of the crypt support many frescos, art features and sculptures which have been delicately preserved and are marvellous to see.

Going through one of the entry gates

The old town is ornate and polished set atop a hill and protected by substantial medieval ramparts. Public access is provided by four entry gates along the surrounding lower streets.

Outside an entry gate

The location of the first branch of the church in France established by Elder Howell, which opened missionary work in Europe.

District p-day lunch

Located in Boulongne-sur-Mer in France, Nausicaa is the largest public aquariums in Europe.  Nausicaa is described as a center of scientific and technical discovery of the marine environment, focusing primarily on the relationship between man and the sea. 

"I spy two stick bugs"  I can't find them. Can you?

Electric jellyfish

Elder deGeus is 7'4" tall.  Can you guess which one he is? :)

 Petting the stingrays!!

Check out the cool fish camouflaged in the sand

District name tag photo

Missionary work!!!!!

Checking out the beach at Boulongne-sur-Mer (German WWII bunker in the background far right)

Elders Cheng, deGeus, d'Anjou, Soeurs Hunt, Hacker and Elder Shenkal

Elder Shenkal goes home at the end of this transfer which is next week. 

Sarah loves the ocean