This week has been absolutely WONDERFUL!! I think I've really gotten accustomed to the MTC and I really do love it. My companion and I are growing closer everday! There are four elders and just us sisters in our district. (the pic of the group of us in front of the temple) I love my district so much! I really feel like we're a family. On Tuesday night after the devotional we all did preisthood blessings within our district. The Spirit was so strong and I absolutely know that the priesthood is teh power of God! I'm so grateful for my district!
Every day we get up at 5:45 and have breakfast at6:30then at 7 we study until 8 where we have class until 11. at 11 we have lunch and then more studying, one hour of gym and then dinner at 4. After dinner is more class and then more studying!! At first I was overwhelmed with all the time I had to study but now I feel as though I don't have enough!!
We have two teachers, Frere Laguan and Frere Blosil. And they're both incredible! I love them and they are so patient with my French! The French is coming along well. I've been able to speak and understand more each day. I am always afraid to speak up in our lessons because I know my French will be wrong but at our devotional, Elder Clark said that if you open your mouth He will give you strength so that's my goal!
This week with our lecons with Sebastien I was able to bear my testimony quite often and one time he asked me why the SAvior would suffer for us. I was prompted to share Alma 7:11-12 with him (a new favorite, definitely go look it up!) and testify to him of the love the Savior has for each of us. I've never felt the spirit so strong! It was amazing! I know he knew then how much the Savior loves each one of us! One thing to know is that our investigators aren't real. Frere Blosil was roleplaying Sebastien and now we're finished teaching him and we'll have new investigators this week played by our teachers!
I absolutely love getting all the dear elders! They make my day so much brighter so please continue sending them!!
So on Thursday we flew to San Francisco! We woke up at 1:30, went to the travel office at 2 and then they dropped us off at the Front Runner (train) at 3 however, there was a miscommunication and they were supposed to take us to teh airport not the train! So we were stranded in the freezing cold for over an hour! Fnially we got to the airport and made our flight. It was fun because everyone who saw us recognized and was like hey where are you serving and wanted to talk to us! Flying is the Bessst! I love it so much I can't wait to fly to France!
So we got to San Francisco an hour early so we sat in Starbucks for an hour because it was freezing cold! Then we went to the French Consulate and it took 20 minutes for the nine of us get our visas, they just took our pictures and fingerprints so we still had three hours until our flight! So we went to Fisherman's Wharf-Pier 39 and walked around. In the picture of all of us you can see teh Golden Gate bridge in teh background! We also saw loads of Sea lions just hanging out. We had lunch and went back to the airport for a while.
Then we flew home took the train to provo and a bus back to the MTC we were back by seven and absolutely STARVING. I had never been so exhausted in mylife and we still had two hours of studying! I didn't like San Francisco very much it was SOO busy and crowded and there were people swearing! haha it totally took me off guard! I was relieved to back at the MTC where the spirit is always very very strong.
Thank you so much for the package by the way. Everything is perfect!
You know when you're at church or at a meeting and you're on a spiritual high and everything is wonderful? That's what it's like at the MTC. I'm always feeling the Spirit and learning somehting new about the gospel!
My anxiety is so much better. I've been taking the Omega 3s and although it tastes like fish I really feel like it helps quite a bit. I've been able to focus on why I'm here and study my heart out! My favorite part is class and also teaching teh investigators. The worst part is gym time. I hate exercisng! haha Soeur Mason and I just jog and walk the whole time!
Also. Soeur Mason and I are the new Sister Training Leaders in our zone! Woooooo! Actually it isn't that big of a deal because now we are the only sisters in our zone ha but we will be getting more in October but this new calling means that Sunday is FULL of meetings and not much study. :( but it's okay because I love serving anyway I can!
Frere Laguan said something that jus completely changed my perspective into the right direction. He said, " You are not learning French for you. You are not studying this gospel for You. YOu're doing it all for the people in France that you will help. Everything you do is for them." ANd instantly I forgot about my worries and I just knew that None of my worries matter. My homesickness doesn't matter. None of it. I am here for THEM. It was incredible!!!
Every monday we get to go to the temple and I absolutely love it. The temple is a place of such peace and I feel so strengthened after going!
On Saturday in class we had a discussion about Stress Management and we watched a video and teh lady said We can only live one moment at a time. This really struck me because it's honestly so true! we try so hard to plan out every moment and worry and wonder but in reality all we really can do is right here right now.
As I've struggled these week with the French I've relied heavily on My Savior and the scripture in Ether 12:27 (Which I've now memorized in French yay:) and I know with all of my heart that it is true. Heavenly Father has given me weaknesses that He will make strong. He will give me the strength I need to accomplish my tasks. He has sent me to succeed! He will never ever give us something that we cannot do. His Atonement will give us the grace sufficient for our needs!! I know that He is always there for us. He knows what we go through and He cares deeply for each of us. This knowledge gives me so much joy! and I just want to share it with everyone!
At devotional yesterday Brother Brady said Let go of your doubts and let faith fill your hearts. You never have to be afraid. Let go of the fear you hold on to and cling to the Savior who will help guide and strengthen you!
I have to send the pictures in a separate email. pictures are here are so complicated! But I'll send them I promise :) Congrats Dad on teaching the combined lesson!! I'm sure it was fantastic! Thank you so much for that Dear Elder, it helped me so much! I love you! :)
Please send my love to the Stewarts. I am so sad to here about Brother Stewart. I'll make sure to keep them in my prayers!!
Tell Meg that I completely FREAKED OUT when I read she got asked to homecoming and by none other than Nathan Love!! I'm SO happy for her :)
I hope I told you everything it's hard to think of everything when I'm pressed for time but I love you all please send more Dear Elders and I am doing absolutely fantastic here!!!
I love you all so much and I can feel your prayers!!
Avec Amour,
Soeur Hawkes
oh also they call me Soeur Ox here because the French can't make the H sound haha!
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