Joyeux Noël Everyone!!!
This past week has been pretty eventful...Soeur Tippett, Soeur Ficquet and I have been going all around Vannes trying to do some caroling and we actually ended up having a really cool experience...
So...we were doing a pass-back one afternoon in a batement and working our way from top to bottom we just figured we would knock on all the doors and see if there was anyone that would let us share the "He is the Gift" message with them. We did a ton, but nobody was letting us in! But on the second to last door as we were getting ready to leave...a lady answered and just basically said she wasn't interested...but right before she could close the door, we were like "Can we sing for you?" And the lady, her name is Nathalie...was super surprised but ended up inviting us back later the same night when her kids were home. So, later that night we went back and had the opportunity to sing some Christmas carols with her and her two little kids. She actually got so touched that she cried. It was SO cool! She invited us back at the end of the week too! Miracles all around!!!
There was also a Christmas Conference for all the missionaries this past week. We had the opportunity to listen to President Teixiera the zone president for our mission. It was wonderful! He said something that I really loved and wanted to share with you...he said: "The mission is hard, it's supposed to be hard. It's a time where you find out who you are and who you want to become. It's a time to change not your BEHAVIOR but your NATURE. Always remember that through the good days and the bad...'The best part of your mission is walking beside you all the time'. I loved that! I made me think back to the "He is the Gift" message and how Christ knows everything that we have, are or will go through. He never loses patience with us no matter how many times we mess up and even though I am nowhere near perfect...He has given me countless blessings and opportunities to feel His love and right now He has given me the wonderful opportunity to share His love with the people of France. I am loving every minute of it even though it's not always fun or easy...
After the conference...I got the coolest experience! I got the chance to sit next to Soeur Teixiera while we were eating lunch. Another miracle right there! She talked to me for awhile and even thought I am pretty sure she doesn't even remember my name out of all the missionaries, it was uber cool to get to ask her questions and talk to her. I took the opportunity to ask her what was the best way to learn the language and she looked at me for a long time before she answered and finally said..."Soeur Nelson...there are a lot of different things that I could tell you-it's important to speak and mess up so that we can stay humble. But after talking with you, I want to tell you that even though speaking is important; it is not the only way to teach. You can teach with your actions and by being who you are. It's nice to be able to say how you feel but you can touch somebody's life by being you." It was SO AMAZING!!! And then right after that we ate lunch and I dropped tomato on my dress. Not the ideal first impression when sitting next to the wife of a member of the seventy, but hey...I had an awesome talk with her! Another miracle in the book:)
Well...sorry this is kind of a long email, but I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Remember the true meaning and find a way to keep Christmas centered on Christ this season. I love you all!!! Joyeux Noël from Vannes!
Je vous aime!
Bisous,
This past week has been pretty eventful...Soeur Tippett, Soeur Ficquet and I have been going all around Vannes trying to do some caroling and we actually ended up having a really cool experience...
So...we were doing a pass-back one afternoon in a batement and working our way from top to bottom we just figured we would knock on all the doors and see if there was anyone that would let us share the "He is the Gift" message with them. We did a ton, but nobody was letting us in! But on the second to last door as we were getting ready to leave...a lady answered and just basically said she wasn't interested...but right before she could close the door, we were like "Can we sing for you?" And the lady, her name is Nathalie...was super surprised but ended up inviting us back later the same night when her kids were home. So, later that night we went back and had the opportunity to sing some Christmas carols with her and her two little kids. She actually got so touched that she cried. It was SO cool! She invited us back at the end of the week too! Miracles all around!!!
There was also a Christmas Conference for all the missionaries this past week. We had the opportunity to listen to President Teixiera the zone president for our mission. It was wonderful! He said something that I really loved and wanted to share with you...he said: "The mission is hard, it's supposed to be hard. It's a time where you find out who you are and who you want to become. It's a time to change not your BEHAVIOR but your NATURE. Always remember that through the good days and the bad...'The best part of your mission is walking beside you all the time'. I loved that! I made me think back to the "He is the Gift" message and how Christ knows everything that we have, are or will go through. He never loses patience with us no matter how many times we mess up and even though I am nowhere near perfect...He has given me countless blessings and opportunities to feel His love and right now He has given me the wonderful opportunity to share His love with the people of France. I am loving every minute of it even though it's not always fun or easy...
After the conference...I got the coolest experience! I got the chance to sit next to Soeur Teixiera while we were eating lunch. Another miracle right there! She talked to me for awhile and even thought I am pretty sure she doesn't even remember my name out of all the missionaries, it was uber cool to get to ask her questions and talk to her. I took the opportunity to ask her what was the best way to learn the language and she looked at me for a long time before she answered and finally said..."Soeur Nelson...there are a lot of different things that I could tell you-it's important to speak and mess up so that we can stay humble. But after talking with you, I want to tell you that even though speaking is important; it is not the only way to teach. You can teach with your actions and by being who you are. It's nice to be able to say how you feel but you can touch somebody's life by being you." It was SO AMAZING!!! And then right after that we ate lunch and I dropped tomato on my dress. Not the ideal first impression when sitting next to the wife of a member of the seventy, but hey...I had an awesome talk with her! Another miracle in the book:)
Well...sorry this is kind of a long email, but I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Remember the true meaning and find a way to keep Christmas centered on Christ this season. I love you all!!! Joyeux Noël from Vannes!
Je vous aime!
Bisous,