Hello ! Salut !
Wow this week was so fun. Seriously we witnessed SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS. very grateful.
To start, we went to a member's association for sewing, she owns the shop and basically hems dresses and skirts for free for others, well she let us stop by and start to make skirts so that's super, she basically picked out my fabric because she was like THIS this is the style, but it's still beautiful even though.
Then the next day we had Zone conference in Rennes, and wow we had such a time getting there, first off the night before was super busy, we were teaching a lesson and got home just in time to edit our talks for zone conference ( every zone conference you have to prepare a talk on a Christ-like attribute, this one was on diligence ) and at 22h00 I get a call from the zone leaders asking me to give a 5 minute talk on what we learned last zone conference. No it's not that big of a deal, but at the same time I was like I'm doing so much, given I was also in the choir.
Anyways, we left early that morning to drive to Nantes, and then make our train up to Rennes, each city is about an hour away from each other. Well on our way to Nantes, we ran into MAJOR traffic, 45 minutes... inch by inch... or I guess I should say centimetre par centimetre. But basically we missed our train by 1 minute. Literally 1 minute. So we ended up having to drive all the way to Rennes in order to make the choir practice. It was a very long morning.
BUT nonetheless, zone conference was sooo enriching, sooo good !! I SAW SOEUR BAKLY, she is in my zone and I cannot express how happy I am to have her, she is the most. It was hilarious, she forgot her plaque again, so she was "Soeur Packard" for the day.
Her new companion is a francophone, and she is the sweetest thing ever so I know she is in good hands.
OKAY. So. After zone conference, we felt powerful to kick in diligence and really take on Cholet. The weather has been incredible, just the start of Autumn, everyone is out with their dog and there are leaves everywhere, making it perfect contacting time.
We met some amazing people this week, to start, OPHÉLIE. This sweet single, young, mom, oh how I love her. We were walking back to our car from the association, and she was just getting out of her car, I told Soeur Peterson ok were going to talk to her. As we started the conversation she was not at all interested, kept saying she doesn't believe in God or in joy and happiness in this life, we were like OPHÉLIE we have the happiness in our hands !! She was super intrigued.
After testifying of the plan of salvation, she looked at me squared in the eyes and asked is this something that really brings you peace in your life?
I replied softly, this is why I left my family, to share the peace and joy that I have DURING my trials. Then I shared Alma 36: 20-21, she quickly took the book and asked if we could come next week, SUPER PUMPED for her.
Wednesday night we met with our sweet member Ven Phen and Simon. TWO OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. Simon goes finding with us a lot, he speaks French, Cambodian, and English. Lo as the gospel and is super gentil. Ven Phen speaks little French and pretty much only Cambodian, so it's always fun to teach her because she also talks forever. She made us noodles and was stunned that I put so much hot sauce on mine, yes well Ven Phen, my girl, I am from Texas.
After the repas, we were refreshing back to the lesson that we gave, and we asked her where she was in the Book of Mormon. She pulled out hers and showed us the book mark. I was dying laughing, it turns out she had finished the book of Mormon 2 weeks ago, and she was now in the topical guide. She literally was like I thought it was just another way of testifying scripture. We were all laughing so hard. I gave her a big high five and said you did it Yen!! She held my cheeks after and it was a tender moment that's for sure. We surprised her with flowers later on in the week.
Then we met with mamadou this week, and oh my gosh he has really brought out my competitive determined missionary side. Haha
He is completely athée, atheist, and says he wants to find nous from men not God, he doesn’t want to go through Him to be happy. This man is so kind, but is also a little stubborn (:::::
Ça va, because the gospel will change his life. He's still willing to meet with us, and listen to our message. He expressed he does need to change. We are willing to work with that.
Another person that comes to mind is Anthony. We met him last night. Another athée en fait. He was also super not into our message, but then something randomly changed in this countenance, we were talking about the plan of salvation and I asked if he wanted to live with his family forever he said well... yes .. how ? WELL WE WILL TELL YOU HOW !! After testifying he said I would love to hear about this plan actually , we were like okay!!!
We scheduled a time for the WHOLE family to meet. This Thursday. PRAY FOR THEM. it's going to be magical.
Currently, I am sitting on a train, headed to Angers for district p-day (: bowling and Chinese food. Doesn't get more missionary than that. I will send pictures today.
But hey! Everyone ! This gospel is so real. And also, the plan of salvation is so real. I cannot stress it enough. I thinking meeting all these people this week made me realize the veracity of God. How much he truly wants all of his children to know. And that's why we stop everyone and talk to everyone.
OH that reminds me, I forgot another miracle. We're driving home from Ven phen, and we had to make a U=turn in a parking lot, there was a super old beetle that caught my eye and a cute couple sitting on the gravel next to it. So we thought we would stop and talk to them, I wanted to know more about the beetle lol. After a couple minutes of discussing who we were and also the origin of the car, we fell onto the subject of the Book of Mormon. We testified of its truth and of it’s simplicity in understanding God’s nature and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Laura and Jordan both accepted one and exchanged emails to hear more. It was a very special moment because when you testify to people your age, there is a certain genuinity that comes out. And they really become really receptive to the Spirit that you bring. It was also super beautiful outside as we all sat om the gravel watching the sunset, reading the introduction of the Book of Mormon. Will never forget that moment.
Super fun week, SUPER grateful to be here, and I cannot express the joys I have felt from the diligence and faith we have exercised. I think the theme of my time here in Cholet has revised into the verses I shared with Ophélie. Alma 36:20-21, I cannot describe the joys I have felt, and it is because we have worked through the hard times.
It's so worth it.
Have a fantastic week tout le monde
Je vous aime (:
Soeur Dunkley
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