Dear family and friends,
I gotta scurry really soon here, but this week was pretty good. We had a lot of lessons. A bunch with this vietmanese guy, who, after I told him that he has a nice backpack, gave us an extra leather bag that he had hanging around his house. So Soeur jesnsen has a new bag. He speaks french fluently, but he has the funniest accent. All of his sentences end an octave higher than when it started. :) And we taught Joël twice in front of the bar. Its not extremely spiritually condusive ( we are trying to find a time when we are both free not in front of the bar), but we get a lot of coordonees from his friends who will come up and interupt or join in on the lesson. We also taught José who bought us flowers. He buys a lot of things for everyone. He always has something in hishands that he is about to give someone else. And we taught a new ami who is named Olivier and is so cool. He is a fashion photographer ( intimidating huh?) and he is super beleiving, but he feels like he still hasn't found what he is looking for and is struggling to feel the spirit. He was really excited about the Book of Mormon and is so respectful. He had so many questions and said that he has been praying to know the truth. We are so excited about him. Oh and I gave and prepared a 25 minute talk in French with 2 days in Sacrament Meeting. Somebady pulled out last minute, so I got to do it. :) It was slightly scary, but I loved studying the topic, which was unity. One thing that struck me is that being together is one of the ways God blesses us. I have met so many lonely people during my mission ( for many its self inflicted) and it makes me realize xwhat a blessing it is to have family, friends, the church. We really should treasure that. God truly loves us!
I gotta go storm a castle! (literally)
Avec amour,
Soeur Russell
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Forts, grilled pineapple, and another long walk
Dear Family and Friends,
Soeur Jensen and I are staying in Valence for our last Transfer! :) I'm glad because it probably would have been a little strange to go to another ward to leave them after a few weeks. And I love Soeur Jensen a lot and it feels strange to spend just one transfer with companions. It is really strange also to be at this point on the mission. I really don't know what to think about it. I usually try not to think about it.
Anyways, this week, We ate lunch in this gorgeous town named Aoust, right after we taught a really good first lesson. It was so beautiful and right after, we got on a train to got to St Etienne to drop off soeur Jensen for exchanges there and to pick up Soeur Pape, to do exchanges in Valence. I love Soeur Pape so much, she was in Aix at the same time as I was and we had so much fun together. We helped a family move and ate lunch and contacted and made spatzle for dinner and ate an entire mango and then met the other sisters at the gare. The other sisters actually forgot to get off at the right stop, so they had to take a train to come back, poor things. But we did some calls and soem contacting while we waited for them. The next day, We had district meeting in Grenoble and had an island bbq with grilled pineapple ( I love grilled pineapple!!!) And Soeur Jensen and I made a fort using sheets that night, just for fun. :) So that was a good day. Forts and grilled pineapple are great things. The next day we got our transfer calls and played and sang some music for a members and her neighbors. ( we have been doing stuff like that a lot lately) And that night we ate dinner with a member and had this delicious chicken mushroom dish. Saturday, we did some contacting and talked with people from about 7 different countries within a 30 time period and played some more music for some members and last night we walked across two towns to get home because there were no buses and I wasn't even too tired. I'm impressed with my mission walking muscles. Oh and yesterday, the elders gave me a planner they made for my last transfer. its really Cool and really funny. I'll tell you about it more next week beacause I gotta run!
Quickly know that The gospel bring true and lasting happiness! How cool is it to know that!?!
Dieu vous aime! Moi aussi!
Soeur Russell
Soeur Jensen and I are staying in Valence for our last Transfer! :) I'm glad because it probably would have been a little strange to go to another ward to leave them after a few weeks. And I love Soeur Jensen a lot and it feels strange to spend just one transfer with companions. It is really strange also to be at this point on the mission. I really don't know what to think about it. I usually try not to think about it.
Anyways, this week, We ate lunch in this gorgeous town named Aoust, right after we taught a really good first lesson. It was so beautiful and right after, we got on a train to got to St Etienne to drop off soeur Jensen for exchanges there and to pick up Soeur Pape, to do exchanges in Valence. I love Soeur Pape so much, she was in Aix at the same time as I was and we had so much fun together. We helped a family move and ate lunch and contacted and made spatzle for dinner and ate an entire mango and then met the other sisters at the gare. The other sisters actually forgot to get off at the right stop, so they had to take a train to come back, poor things. But we did some calls and soem contacting while we waited for them. The next day, We had district meeting in Grenoble and had an island bbq with grilled pineapple ( I love grilled pineapple!!!) And Soeur Jensen and I made a fort using sheets that night, just for fun. :) So that was a good day. Forts and grilled pineapple are great things. The next day we got our transfer calls and played and sang some music for a members and her neighbors. ( we have been doing stuff like that a lot lately) And that night we ate dinner with a member and had this delicious chicken mushroom dish. Saturday, we did some contacting and talked with people from about 7 different countries within a 30 time period and played some more music for some members and last night we walked across two towns to get home because there were no buses and I wasn't even too tired. I'm impressed with my mission walking muscles. Oh and yesterday, the elders gave me a planner they made for my last transfer. its really Cool and really funny. I'll tell you about it more next week beacause I gotta run!
Quickly know that The gospel bring true and lasting happiness! How cool is it to know that!?!
Dieu vous aime! Moi aussi!
Soeur Russell
Rugby, washing walls, and Uno
Dear Family and Friends,
Today we are going to a rugby match with two of the members in our wards playing on opposite teams. Exciting!!!! I actually like watching rugby, its fun. Oh and exciting news!!!!!!! Estelle is back in action! She had been on vacaction in Spain with her family and she even got her parents to pray before meals with her. She also said that she has been reading the Book of Mormon and getting answers to queastions that she has been having and she found a new apartment and is in the middle of moving in. We helped the other day by scrubbing the walls ( during which I told Soeur Jensen about my childhood) and we had a lesson afterwards. During church, Estelle said that she wanted us to help her think of ways to help teach her children the gospel. She is so great!!!!! And we do nothing, it is all self motivation on her part. One can just tell that her personal relationship is so strong and it just keeps growing. She is so great :)
On tuesday we had our Zone conference with Interveiws with president. It was great! We were in Saint Etienne, so I got to see a tiny bit of the city again and I saw a few members I know, so that made me happy. And interveiws also make me happy. And zone conference. There is this one part where all the departing missionaries bear their testimonies. We have some amazing missionaries in our mission. On Wednesday, We palyed Uno for an FHE with members and I not only lost everytime, but I was forced to draw 16 cards at a time at one point. 16 cards! I stink at Uno. French people love Uno. Tuesday, we had one of my best meals in France. It was at this really old and big house out in the country. The walls were covered in gorgeous paintintgs ( I loved that) and guns and wall paper. For Lunch we ate cheesy potatoes, and a special type of chicken, and salad, and cheese and tart. Very french. And delicious. This sunday, we ate giant salads members house. It was probably the first time that we ate just green salad for a meal in France. It was yummy.
Lately, I've been thinking about light. And how all light comes from the gospel. As missionaries, we have been in a lot of members homes and a lot of non members homes and every home you can think of. The difference between a household that follows the gospel and others is huge. I can feel the difference every day, the spirit there is so noticable and I am so grateful that we have the chance to be homes where the gospel light shines. It is such a relieving feeling.
Je vous aime!!!!! Et dieu vous aime!!!!
Soeur Russell
Today we are going to a rugby match with two of the members in our wards playing on opposite teams. Exciting!!!! I actually like watching rugby, its fun. Oh and exciting news!!!!!!! Estelle is back in action! She had been on vacaction in Spain with her family and she even got her parents to pray before meals with her. She also said that she has been reading the Book of Mormon and getting answers to queastions that she has been having and she found a new apartment and is in the middle of moving in. We helped the other day by scrubbing the walls ( during which I told Soeur Jensen about my childhood) and we had a lesson afterwards. During church, Estelle said that she wanted us to help her think of ways to help teach her children the gospel. She is so great!!!!! And we do nothing, it is all self motivation on her part. One can just tell that her personal relationship is so strong and it just keeps growing. She is so great :)
On tuesday we had our Zone conference with Interveiws with president. It was great! We were in Saint Etienne, so I got to see a tiny bit of the city again and I saw a few members I know, so that made me happy. And interveiws also make me happy. And zone conference. There is this one part where all the departing missionaries bear their testimonies. We have some amazing missionaries in our mission. On Wednesday, We palyed Uno for an FHE with members and I not only lost everytime, but I was forced to draw 16 cards at a time at one point. 16 cards! I stink at Uno. French people love Uno. Tuesday, we had one of my best meals in France. It was at this really old and big house out in the country. The walls were covered in gorgeous paintintgs ( I loved that) and guns and wall paper. For Lunch we ate cheesy potatoes, and a special type of chicken, and salad, and cheese and tart. Very french. And delicious. This sunday, we ate giant salads members house. It was probably the first time that we ate just green salad for a meal in France. It was yummy.
Lately, I've been thinking about light. And how all light comes from the gospel. As missionaries, we have been in a lot of members homes and a lot of non members homes and every home you can think of. The difference between a household that follows the gospel and others is huge. I can feel the difference every day, the spirit there is so noticable and I am so grateful that we have the chance to be homes where the gospel light shines. It is such a relieving feeling.
Je vous aime!!!!! Et dieu vous aime!!!!
Soeur Russell
Rugby, washing walls, and Uno
Dear Family and Friends,
Today we are going to a rugby match with two of the members in our wards playing on opposite teams. Exciting!!!! I actually like watching rugby, its fun. Oh and exciting news!!!!!!! Estelle is back in action! She had been on vacaction in Spain with her family and she even got her parents to pray before meals with her. She also said that she has been reading the Book of Mormon and getting answers to queastions that she has been having and she found a new apartment and is in the middle of moving in. We helped the other day by scrubbing the walls ( during which I told Soeur Jensen about my childhood) and we had a lesson afterwards. During church, Estelle said that she wanted us to help her think of ways to help teach her children the gospel. She is so great!!!!! And we do nothing, it is all self motivation on her part. One can just tell that her personal relationship is so strong and it just keeps growing. She is so great :)
On tuesday we had our Zone conference with Interveiws with president. It was great! We were in Saint Etienne, so I got to see a tiny bit of the city again and I saw a few members I know, so that made me happy. And interveiws also make me happy. And zone conference. There is this one part where all the departing missionaries bear their testimonies. We have some amazing missionaries in our mission. On Wednesday, We palyed Uno for an FHE with members and I not only lost everytime, but I was forced to draw 16 cards at a time at one point. 16 cards! I stink at Uno. French people love Uno. Tuesday, we had one of my best meals in France. It was at this really old and big house out in the country. The walls were covered in gorgeous paintintgs ( I loved that) and guns and wall paper. For Lunch we ate cheesy potatoes, and a special type of chicken, and salad, and cheese and tart. Very french. And delicious. This sunday, we ate giant salads members house. It was probably the first time that we ate just green salad for a meal in France. It was yummy.
Lately, I've been thinking about light. And how all light comes from the gospel. As missionaries, we have been in a lot of members homes and a lot of non members homes and every home you can think of. The difference between a household that follows the gospel and others is huge. I can feel the difference every day, the spirit there is so noticable and I am so grateful that we have the chance to be homes where the gospel light shines. It is such a relieving feeling.
Je vous aime!!!!! Et dieu vous aime!!!!
Soeur Russell
Today we are going to a rugby match with two of the members in our wards playing on opposite teams. Exciting!!!! I actually like watching rugby, its fun. Oh and exciting news!!!!!!! Estelle is back in action! She had been on vacaction in Spain with her family and she even got her parents to pray before meals with her. She also said that she has been reading the Book of Mormon and getting answers to queastions that she has been having and she found a new apartment and is in the middle of moving in. We helped the other day by scrubbing the walls ( during which I told Soeur Jensen about my childhood) and we had a lesson afterwards. During church, Estelle said that she wanted us to help her think of ways to help teach her children the gospel. She is so great!!!!! And we do nothing, it is all self motivation on her part. One can just tell that her personal relationship is so strong and it just keeps growing. She is so great :)
On tuesday we had our Zone conference with Interveiws with president. It was great! We were in Saint Etienne, so I got to see a tiny bit of the city again and I saw a few members I know, so that made me happy. And interveiws also make me happy. And zone conference. There is this one part where all the departing missionaries bear their testimonies. We have some amazing missionaries in our mission. On Wednesday, We palyed Uno for an FHE with members and I not only lost everytime, but I was forced to draw 16 cards at a time at one point. 16 cards! I stink at Uno. French people love Uno. Tuesday, we had one of my best meals in France. It was at this really old and big house out in the country. The walls were covered in gorgeous paintintgs ( I loved that) and guns and wall paper. For Lunch we ate cheesy potatoes, and a special type of chicken, and salad, and cheese and tart. Very french. And delicious. This sunday, we ate giant salads members house. It was probably the first time that we ate just green salad for a meal in France. It was yummy.
Lately, I've been thinking about light. And how all light comes from the gospel. As missionaries, we have been in a lot of members homes and a lot of non members homes and every home you can think of. The difference between a household that follows the gospel and others is huge. I can feel the difference every day, the spirit there is so noticable and I am so grateful that we have the chance to be homes where the gospel light shines. It is such a relieving feeling.
Je vous aime!!!!! Et dieu vous aime!!!!
Soeur Russell
rugby, fiddling, and Johnny Cash
Dear Family and Friends,
This week, for pday, we went and saw one of our members play rugby. That was fun. Rugby is pretty exciting. We had a music night this week at the church, the church wasnt overflowing, but a bunch of members came and All of them had a wonderful time. Soeur Jensen fiddled and played some classical pieces and the elders did some johnny cash and I sang a little; And we baked about 100 cookies and all of them were eaten. Oh and this week, we learned how to use a turkish toilet. Some sisters in the ward were describing in much detail how to use them. Soeur Jensen and I were trying so hard not to laugh. I actually don't remember too much of what happed this week, but it was a good week I remember that. I really have gotten to love the members here. Transfer calls are coming up this week, so who knows if I will stay or leave. I could either be staying for my last transfer, which is logical, or I could go to some random little place in the middle of nowhere for my last transfer, that sometimes happens for last transfer missionaries in this mission.Its crazy how fast time goes by. I swear I just left for the mtc. We gotta run and help a family move, mais sachez je vous aime si forte que meme une foule des joueurs de rugby peuvent m’empêcher...... (I dont really know what to add at the end, but the sentence is great up until then, maybe being with you for eternity? giving you a hug?) anywho, je vous aime! Dieu vous aime aussi!
Soeur russell
This week, for pday, we went and saw one of our members play rugby. That was fun. Rugby is pretty exciting. We had a music night this week at the church, the church wasnt overflowing, but a bunch of members came and All of them had a wonderful time. Soeur Jensen fiddled and played some classical pieces and the elders did some johnny cash and I sang a little; And we baked about 100 cookies and all of them were eaten. Oh and this week, we learned how to use a turkish toilet. Some sisters in the ward were describing in much detail how to use them. Soeur Jensen and I were trying so hard not to laugh. I actually don't remember too much of what happed this week, but it was a good week I remember that. I really have gotten to love the members here. Transfer calls are coming up this week, so who knows if I will stay or leave. I could either be staying for my last transfer, which is logical, or I could go to some random little place in the middle of nowhere for my last transfer, that sometimes happens for last transfer missionaries in this mission.Its crazy how fast time goes by. I swear I just left for the mtc. We gotta run and help a family move, mais sachez je vous aime si forte que meme une foule des joueurs de rugby peuvent m’empêcher...... (I dont really know what to add at the end, but the sentence is great up until then, maybe being with you for eternity? giving you a hug?) anywho, je vous aime! Dieu vous aime aussi!
Soeur russell
weird food, rain, contacting
Dear family and friends,
This week, Soeur Jensen and I were planning for the week and we realized that we have a lot of men amis, which are hard to teach, because we always have to find female membvers to teach with, who are always really busy, and we talked about how good it would be to have more female amis. That day, we were contacting, and we talked to one lady that just soaked our words up and talked about her struggles and how she wants to meet our prophet personally :) So we are going over some day to talk about Thomas S Monson. Then, the next day, we missed a bus for a mangez-vous and did some contacting while we were waiting for the next one. And we contacted a really cool girl with dreadlocks that said it would awesome to have a prophet today and that she would love to see us again :). In less than two days after saying we needed more women amis, the Lord blessed with two awesome potentials :) I don't really know what I did this week, I can't remember. But today, we went to this fairy tale village and ate a sit down lunch at a cute little restaurant. It was so yummy!!!! And it felt so wierd to be sitting there, eating as a missionary. It still hits me randomly sometimes that we are in France. Tomorrow, we have interveiws with President, I love interveiws! President and his wife are so great! I'm not exagerating when I say they are the best Missionary president couple ever. Just talk to anyone that knows them. They are outstanding. Oh and the other day we were contacting and then it starts to drizzle and then pour and then hail ( at this point we found shelter under a shop sign and then We couldn't see more the two inches in front of us, it was raining so hard and the streets were literally rivers. It lasted 20 minutes and then an hour later it was mostly clear and sunny. Wierd weather.
Je vous aime!
Dieu vous aime!!!
Soeur Russell
This week, Soeur Jensen and I were planning for the week and we realized that we have a lot of men amis, which are hard to teach, because we always have to find female membvers to teach with, who are always really busy, and we talked about how good it would be to have more female amis. That day, we were contacting, and we talked to one lady that just soaked our words up and talked about her struggles and how she wants to meet our prophet personally :) So we are going over some day to talk about Thomas S Monson. Then, the next day, we missed a bus for a mangez-vous and did some contacting while we were waiting for the next one. And we contacted a really cool girl with dreadlocks that said it would awesome to have a prophet today and that she would love to see us again :). In less than two days after saying we needed more women amis, the Lord blessed with two awesome potentials :) I don't really know what I did this week, I can't remember. But today, we went to this fairy tale village and ate a sit down lunch at a cute little restaurant. It was so yummy!!!! And it felt so wierd to be sitting there, eating as a missionary. It still hits me randomly sometimes that we are in France. Tomorrow, we have interveiws with President, I love interveiws! President and his wife are so great! I'm not exagerating when I say they are the best Missionary president couple ever. Just talk to anyone that knows them. They are outstanding. Oh and the other day we were contacting and then it starts to drizzle and then pour and then hail ( at this point we found shelter under a shop sign and then We couldn't see more the two inches in front of us, it was raining so hard and the streets were literally rivers. It lasted 20 minutes and then an hour later it was mostly clear and sunny. Wierd weather.
Je vous aime!
Dieu vous aime!!!
Soeur Russell
Umbrellas, chocolate, and creepy puppet ladies
Dear Family and friends,
This last week was very cold and then very hot. I liked the cold part. I pulled out my scarves and drank some hot chocolate. It was nice :) yesterday the email place was closed and then we went to eat unlimited amounts of expensive french chocolate, so I didn't write yesterday. But I still love you more than choclate though. Especially right now because even thinking about chocolate makes me feel wierd. ( we ate a lot) This week, soeur jensen fiddled for me, we got to see Fireworks for the 14 th of july ( with permission with president) which was really well done and had this giant puppet creepy lady and a band with a bagpipe. This week we also found some new amis, ate some awesome lasagna and ran around in the rain, trying not to get our shoes wet. Funny story yesterday. Soeur jensen and I walked past a kebab shop ( those places are usually filled with scetchy characters and hungry elders) and I hear a man say, bonjour, excusez moi. I keep walking ( Its become reflex) but soeur jensen is suddenly no longer behind me. So I turn around to she talking to and easing away from this sketchy man that is standing way to closely next to her , asking her where she is from and saying he would like to buy her something and talk. So I speed walk on over holding my umbrella and i put the cloth of the umbrella ( not the pointy parts though, I'm not that mean) at the exact level of his eyes and make him back up a foot, all while acting like it wasn't on purpose and extracting Soeur jensen from his date asking. The look on his face as the umbrella was practically in his eyes was priceless. We had a good laugh about that afterwards. I got to be a knight with shining unbrella. Now we are going to head to mangez vous. I hope it is not chocolate. Maybe I can eat some again in a week. I love you all!!!!! et Dieu vous aime aussi!!!!
Soeur Russel
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