April 28, 2013

so it turns out it's cold here...

Orrrr, I may just have turned into a whimp when it drops into the low 70s high 60s and I need a pull now. Mais vraiment, j'ai froid. But really, i'm cold.

Ma chère famille! 

Combien je vous aime! Je ne peux même pas dire! How I love you! I cannot even say! This week was the craziest week of my mission to date. But I'm sure there will be more in the future! hah. First off, the zone leaders called Thursday morning and told me to pack my bags cause I'm going back to Paita where I will be comps with Soeur Tere, who is the other STL. The bad news? I had to pack up my stuff, and I wasn't even home when they told me, I was in PK7, another sector. (More on that later.) And also, I had to leave Soeur Lamb :( The good news? I have a parter in crime now, which I am ever so grateful for. Soeur Tere is the BEST! She's basically my Tahitian twin. First off, she's as tall as me, we're both obnoxiously optimistic, and she may be more stoked about this work than I am. We're a great match. And also, I heart Paita. And I'm eating like a queen again. So yah, they called Thursday, and less than 36 hours later, I was in Paita. Oh. one more bad news, no more free internet. But really, the goods outweigh the bads. Je suis contente. I'm happy.

And, the earlier part of this week, I was with Soeur Bellais and Soeur Tupai. They are the Soeurs of PK7, just next door to 6eme. And we covered both sectors Tuesday through Friday. Lots of walking. And running in some cases. Like when we were SUPER late for our last lesson Thursday night. hah. But yah. The reason we did this was because we had two Soeurs leave this week. Soeur Madsen went back to Idaho Tuesday, and Soeur Bellais left Wednesday night. So, Soeur Lamb went to Magenta with Soeur Hall, who was with Soeur Madsen, and I stayed with Soeur Tupai so she'd have a comp after Soeur Bellais left. It was cayafou. But good. We were house jumping most of the week, 6eme, PK7, 6eme. But the funnest day was Thursday, where we had lessons back and forth allll daaayyy longgg. Looking back, we probs should have tried to switch some stuff around, but it was good! Next time... 

And! Miracle de la semaine: Thursday morning in 6eme. We had just talked to an ancien ami and we were supposed to have a lesson with her, but we couldn't. So, we left, and Soeur Tupai and I both felt like we should stop just next door and talk to whoever was there. We found Celine, a half Tahitian half Fijian, Protestant. She has a large family and at first she seemed very content and happy. And then Soeur Tupai asked her an inspired question, "If Christ was standing right in front of you and you could ask Him anything, what would you ask?" And then she started to cry. She cried for a bit and then she said, "I would ask Him to change my life." And that's when Soeur Tupai and I got to testify of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. How He can, in reality, change our lives. And it was incredible! The Spirit was there. We also testified of the Book of Mormon and how if she read, meditated, and prayed about it, her life will change. Soeur Lamb and Soeur Raney are going back to see her this week, and I'm stoked for her. I realized again how the Lord, in reality, prepares His children to hear this gospel. 

Also, the work is going well in Paita! We had a bapteme this Saturday. Pierre! The frere brother of one of our amis, Timpanier. And it was good to be there! He was brilliant after. And we got to sing. And also, I got roped into a solo like an hour before the baptism, the crazies. It was actually a duet. Oh! But mom! You would have been so proud of me. Doing our répétition just before the bapteme, we were rehearsing, and we decided to sing another song in place of one of them. Au jardin In the garden. 95. It doesn't exsist in English. Anyways, I was pounding out parts on the piano for the Elders so that we could do it. I was laughing inside... I am my mothers daughter.

As far as the new calling goes, it's going well! I conducted exchanges for the Soeurs Friday night, and Soeur Tere and I are going to talk to a companionship after this who need some help. But keep praying please! I need them.

Also, I ate ESCARGO this week. LEGIT. hah. I had to do it. It actually isn't too bad. It's just chewy. And it tastes like butter.

Anyways, sorry, I'm a bit scatterbrained. But! I love you all! Thanks for your love and support and prayers! Je les ai besoin! Et, sachez, ma chere famille, que vous etes dans mes prieres! Je vous aime! ÉNORMÉMENT! I really need! And know, my dear family, you're in my prayers! I love you! A LOT!

L'evangile est vrai!

Love, Soeur Santos