Singing to old french people, being a stalker for a little bit and avoiding bizing old men

Dear Family and Friends,

This week went by fast.

 We have eaten a lot of chocolate and nuts and dried fruit. (French people eat that a lot during christmas, that and sea food and that wierd ground up meat stuff and cheese and meat and soup etc. There are all these stands around Centre-ville that toast chesnuts and I've been wanting to try them since forever because they smell heavenly, but I didn't want to buy a whole package because I probably wouldn't eat it all and people say that they don't taste as good as they smell. You can see the big dilema( how do you spell that?) I had. Luckily, I asked a guy we contacted what he was eating and it just so happened to be roasted chesnuts and he let us try some. They were pretty good, I'm glad I finally got to try them. It made me very happy. This week we were on the bus feeling especially exhausted when I look out the window and ask Is that Kéjain? There he was crossing the street. it had been hard trying to meet up with him again so it really suprised me that he was right there. So I sprint to the front of the bus and jump off at the stop, I pull my companion behind me as we are sneaking behind our ami (after we caught up to him) trying to figure out how to talk to him without seeming creepy (which we were) I did feel like a stalker for a bit. Eventually we just walked up to him said hi, he jumped a little and said I was just about to respond to your text and how did you find me. We ended up having a lesson on the bench right next us and it turned out great. We also saw jacqueline this week, who is already in love with the Book of Mormon, which is great and the ward loves her. We also contacted this 100 old guy who wanted to talk about american politics and ended our contact with a suprise biz on the cheek. He moved fast, so far I've been able to avoid the bizes of men. I feel like I've lost a tournament or something, I was hoping to last my whole mission without that happening. Oh well, he wasn't creepy at all at least. We also had the ward christmas party, where the ward gave us huge boxes of food to take home. and we also sang at some old folks home. It was fun to sing in french and we sang white christmas in english. It was funny to hear the members try and sing the words.

I gotta run

I send pictures next week and info for skyping

Dieu vous aime

Soeur russell

Tango invites, missed trains, and another transfer in Aix

Dear family and friends,

I'm staying in Aix with Soeur Bowman! It feels kinda weird to not be changing things up, but I'm excited to see what its like to stay in one place more than one transfer. And I'm happy to be with Soeur Bowman for another transfer, she is great. :) This week I had an exchange with the sister from Toulon, so in the morning, I got on a train with Soeur Bowman to drop her off in Toulon with Soeur Kupfer to be her companion for the day. And we arrived just in time to see the that I was supposed to return on drive away, with the other sister on it by herself. So I spent some time in toulon and got on the next train an hour later. So that was a weird experience, being in my old ville in a trio and then on a train by myself. The rest of the exchange went great though. The rest of this week was a lot of contacting. Right before going into the church, we had a great conversation with a man who used to be a famous soccer player who tried teaching us spanish and french and said he could teach us and all the other missionaries how to tango in the church parking lot. We'll see what happens with that.

This week, we met with one of our recent converts who is the sweetest women I have ever met and she is such a great example of someone who has embraced the gospel and became a better person because of it. The gospel really helps us in every way, in every aspect of our lives. I've definitely seen that on my mission.

I gotta go mais je vous aime et que Dieu vous benis!

à la semaine prochaine

Soeur Russel

weird miracle fountains, I love chocolate cake and being drafted into solos

Dear Family and friends,

This week has been really cool because all of a sudden, we have been able to meet with amis that we have been trying to see all transfer and we found a golden ami just a couple days ago. We were finally able to meet with an old ami named antionette, who came to the Elder's baptism and also church this week. And were able to meet up with an older lady named Jacqueline, who  wants us over all time and wants to help us plant wheat (its a french tradition) and is just a cute person all together. This week we also got to go to the Zone leader's Amis' baptisms. Two of them got baptized and throughout the entire meeting, everyone had a huge smile on their face and I could not keep from smiling, There was such a feeling of happiness in the room. Right afterwards, Soeur Bowman and I were contacting and we stopped at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to turn red and a guy pulled up on his bike next to us. I gave him a smile and he smiled back and then the light turned and he rode off. I could hear Soeur Bowman next to me saying over and over " I want to talk to him, I want to talk to him" and we happened to see him one minute later looking at a new statue. Both of us instantly felt we had to talk to him, so we went and stood awkwardly in front of the statue with him, trying to figure a way to start up a conversation. Thankfully he started it first, by explaining to us what the statue  meant. It was a really wierd statue. It had a few dates on the pedastal and it had half of a cougar on top who had water coming out of his mouth and there is a thing on the pedastal that sometimes is on fire and the cougar is hollow and it has a man upside down inside of it. Its a wierd statue. And he said its in memorial for some war and how it is always remembered in the cougars heart or something like that. He read it off of a sign. We kept talking and we invited him to church and he came and we are seeing him later this week! His name is kéjain and he is chinese and he asks the best questions ever. So we are really excited to teach him. 

my english is slowly getting worse and worse I have found. Especially today, I was trying to read something out loud in english ans I was replacing words with french words and giving things accents were there aren't supposed to be any. And I don't even Have an excuse because my french is by no means astounding. oh well. I got your package mommy and we loved the little christmas tree, its already decorated with the lights. This week we had thanksgiving dinner with some members at a restaurant and we had a thanksgiving lunch with yummy pie and homemade stew at our apartment with the other sisters. We loved the stew so much that we are making it again this week. I forgot my camera so I can't send any pictures mais la prochain foi. for the dinner with the members, we went to a restaurant where the server actually ended up being our neighbor and we had some of the best chocolate cake ever. It was great. We were there with two other elders and a member couple. the wife is american and her husband is from Belgium, but speaks perfect english and he is hilarious, between the six of us we were laughing all throughout dinner. 

Lately the ward has been volunteering me to sing at things. Sometimes I'm not even paying attention when they volunteer me, but next thing I know, I being told when we will be rehearsing this song or this thing. Its funny because there are other people in the ward that sing as good if not better than me. And it will be sad if I have to leave next week, because I won't be able to do all those things for them. Next time I'm writing, I'll be letting you know if I stay or not.

I gotta run, but I love you all and so does God!

Toute est possible avec dieu!

Soeur Russell

Happy late birthday to Zach and Happy early Thanksgiving!

Dear family and friends,
So has Zachy asked anybody out yet? Let me know when he does. This week, we didn't have very many lessons, but we did a singing streetboard for the music night that was on thursday, and made a lot of cookies for the music night. On thursday, we were helping everyone prepare for the activity, when suddenly, the elders in charge of it, came up to me. they are elders who want to become broadway stars and concert pianests and such, so we were all pretty excited to hear it as well. But apparently a couple of members were supposed to be a part of it and they didn't show up, so they asked me to be in a duet. So we ran through it once, and luckily I was just singing the melody, called it good and later, I got to sing in the soirée en musique in front of all the ward and their friends. I thought it was just ok, but now the ward is asking me to sing in retirement homes with them and to sing at the ward christmas activity. If I'm still here next transfer. But the rest of the activity was great. The elders did a great job. Poor things though, this is the eighth time they have done it and the elder who sings probably has the most sore throat ever. Other than that, we contacted a lot and had a crepe night with a french family. It was funny because half of the family spoke english as well as french, so every once in a while, a family member would launch into english, and half of the family members would join in with fluid english and the others would alternate between spitting out every english word they know and telling the rest of the family to speak in french. One of the family members is our dmp and he served in england. So he has a kinda english accent from his mission, a kinda american accent from the missionaries he served with and currently works with and of course, a french accent. We taught on the way home what the phrase rev' your engine meant. He wanted to talk about drag racing. That is so cool how many awesome things are going on in the Powell ward. This is definitely God's work and he knows what he is doing.
This week, we have really enjoyed eating lots of soup and hot bread and hot chocolate. This week we are going to try and make a pot au feu, a pot of fire, which is basically a really yummy stew. We will see how that will turn out. :) But we are very happy to have eletricity.
I love you all Happy thanksgiving!
Dieu nous aime plus que nous pouvons comprendre! Il vous aime!
Je vous aime aussi!
Soeur Russell

Our electricity is back on!

Dear family and friends,

This last week, we have been going between our apartment and the other sister's apartment a lot, and this very morning we got electricity turned on. So we did a lot of shopping today and got a bunch of stuff to cook and to put in the fridge.  yummy :)

The reason I'm writing on tuesday and not monday is because yesterday we had zone conference (which was awesome) and interveiws with president. So our p-day was moved to today. This week, we have found a few potentials to start working on, one of which called us from a card we handed out (I've never had somebody call from a pass a long card) and another one that a member at church towed over to us for us to get her address. This week we also have been working on hyping up the ward and people we meet about musical night we will be having this thursday. Some elders this transfer have been assigned to do a tour of the mission, doing a music night so members and nonmembers can come. Apparently, these elders are supposed to be really good (like concert pianist level good) at music, so I am really excited to go. We got to teach some less actives and recent converts as well. One Less active is an old asian lady who isn't able to come to church because of her health. She is so cute because she will randomly launch into prayers in the middle of the lesson and says amen after every sentence so the only way you she is finished is if she says in the name of jesus christ of latter day saints amen. But she does it so calmly that it never interuptes the lesson. Those lessons always feel so calm, at time we will be sitting there saying nothing for like two minutes, but it feels really natural. And she doesn't talk a lot so the lessons never drag. She is great. I also had an exchange with the sister training leaders this week in Montpellier. They are great. I don't know how they work so hard all the time. In our ward we have this one member, who is amazing, we were stuck waiting at the church for a while, so this old lady stayed with us and told me to stop cracking my knuckles or she would write my mom and investigated the creepy sounds coming from the elevator with us and even did a little dance for us in order to emphasize something. We were laughing the whole time. I'm so glad that my french is at the point that I could understand all the funny things she said. Right now the elders are ussually teaching the english classes because mostly men come to them. Its a bit cold here, especially when there is wind (it can get really windy here) but it not like the north for sure) This week during zone conference, the stake president said something I really liked. It sounds cooler in French especially with his really low and dramatic voice but it means, carry the thoughts in your heart that will pick up your spirit. We are not perfect, but that does not mean we should degrade ourselves. God is on our side. With him, we are the strongest. No man on this earth is stronger, more powerful than the one that walks with God. 

I love you all

Je vous aime Beaucoup!!!!!

Soeur Russell

gypsy clans, tasteless fish deaths, and ripping up cardboard

Dear family and friends,
 this week, I got inivited to join a gypsy clan!!!!!!!! The story goes like this. Soeur Bowman and I were just finishing up our nutella crepes (that we were having for dinner, we don't do that every day, I promise) on a bench in front of the gorgeous aix fountain, and while I was telling a really exciting story about whitewater rafting, a man walked past, remarked that we spoke english, and asked to speak some english with us in a heavy accent. We find out that he is from greece and I dont remember his name (soeur Bowman and I have nicknamed him esmeraldo) but he started off by asking us about the missionary program and how it works, We explain a bit and try to steer the conversation in a missionary direction with some religous questions. That worked for like 2 minutes and then next thing you know he is telling us about how he lives at a tent down by the river, he doesn't work, he doesn't have any money, but he wants to start a community of gypsies here in aix. He then tried to convince us that we would save more money by becoming gypsies as well. He told us that every two days, he can make a phone call to a certain number, requesting food and telling them where he is and fifteen minutes later, a bus will appear and give him enough food for two days. He didn't go into any detail into who does this or why, but he called that number right there and then a started ordering food for both him and us.  So we excused ourselves and got away, even though we were really curious as to whether a bus really does come. Sounds like secret combinations to me. As missionaries, we really go through some of the strangest situations. This one was really a first for me.
This week we got to see a bunch of members and less actives and new converts. One of the new converts we saw is named Andre. He is an older french man, who loves the church. he loves it more than elvis, which is a lot( he has elvis pictures all over his apartment) He gives all the sister missionaries that teach him nicknames ( the last two sisters were his blonde and pitbull) He hasn't picked a nickname for Soeur Bowman yet but he picked one for me. I actually don't know what it is he said but it started with a B or C and it has something to do with singing. Him and the other recent convert that we are teaching are great. They love the gospel. The other is named Suzanne. She got baptized just a few weeks ago even though she is  afraid of water and she got to go to the temple to do baptisms just a after her baptism.  We had laguage study the other day with a sister over hot chocolate and we were trying to practice teaching The gospel  and one moment we were talking about the holy ghost and next thing I know  the member starts talking about food in asia. And apparently there is a pool somewhere in china or japan that has more fish than water and for some reason they don't have a taste so they add lots of tomato sauce to add flovor to their products and lots of people die. Either I didn't understand part of the conversation or what she was saying made no sense.
We have been able to meet a lot of really cool people lately while contacting. Not all of them were interested but we had some really quality contacts. We have few potentials that we are really excited about. Also this week, we got to teach two diferent amis. Stephen and Abdoulaye. Stephen is interesting, I dont know what to think of him yet. Abdoulaye is muslim, but he is really interested in learning more about the gospel, he has already done some reading out of the book of mormon which is awesome.
We still haven't gotten any electricity, but everything else is going fine. We have finally started ripping up the huge mound of cardboard in the corner of our living room that was left over from unpacking stuff. We have to rip it all up to take to the recycling so we spend a good amount of time every night ripping up cardboard.  Its pretty fun though. I like the thin cardboard because I can rip through it really fast and I feel really strong. Our neighbors must think we are really wierd with the ripping sound going on every night. :)
Je vous aime tous!
Et n'oubliez pas que Dieu vous aime aussi!
Il est la pour nous et Il veut que nous avons la joie dans cette vie!
à bientot!
Soeur Russell

Canned beans and corn and green beans and lots of contacting and an amazing ward

Dear family and friends,

 It is so exciting to hear about people's new mission calls and that amazing family getting baptized in powell. The Lord is pouring out miracles. It so exciting to be a part of it.
 Aix is gorgeous and the ward here is spectacular. We have eight missionaries in total in the ward and all of the members, especially the bishop, have a huge desire to be a part of missionary work. We so far have only had a lesson with a less active, and a lot a lot of contacting, but this next week, we already have a lot of lessons planned with less actives, recent converts, and non members. So we are really excited for that. 

My companion, Soeur Bowman, is a little trooper, this last week took a lot of energy. What with the large amounts of straight contacting each day, lack of electricity and only canned food, she just keeps moving forward. She has awesome french, which helps me because I have a lot to work on, especially grammer wise. And she is really funny. So this will be a great transfer. :)  I haven't gotten to try much food here yet besides a burrito and a crepe and absurd amounts of canned food, but I looking forward for when I will be able to eat some of the food here. It is supposed to be pretty famous.

Well gotta go. (sorry for the short letter)

God loves you!!!!!!!

Vraiment!!!!!!!!!!!

Je vous aime tous!!!!!

Soeur Russell