Joyeux Noel à tous!!

This week was woonderfulll!! (imagine me singing that, because apparently i sing my words all the time haha never noticed that..) anywho. 

Thursday we went to Paris for our Christmas conference with President Teixeira. It was lovely, they gave us tons of great instruction, they were VERY bold and very blunt, definitely not the usual "aw love you missionaries you're doing great" but very much a firm "you can do much better" which is great and definitely motivated Sr Walton and I. We worked SO hard last week that by the end we were SO exhausted. I napped all day today after making cinnamon rolls haha

On Friday night we met with the members from both wards in Centreville and while the members sang hymns the missionaries contacted everyone around them. It was AWESOME. So successful. we met so many great people, everyone was so touched by the beautiful music that they were more open to stop and chat with us. We shared so many brochures and contact cards and prayed with people right there on the street! it was by far one of my most favorite evenings as a missionary. We talked to two Polish sisters who at first werent super interested but then they kept asking more and more questions and by the end they happily gave us their number and names! it was so cool to see the Spirit work through them and soften their hearts! Then we talked to a girl named Jessica. She had gages in her ears and a cigarette in her hand but we stopped to talk to her and she said wasnt very believing so Sr Walton told her that she knew God was there and that He loved her. and Jessica started to cry! Spirit punch! (as Sr W always puts it) I knew she felt God's love for her and that He used us to reach out to His daughter! It was amazing. We said a prayer with her and she cried the whole time, she is so sweet I cant wait to meet with her again! 

Also this week we found not just one or two new amies but EIGHT. Eight new amies! probably one fo the craziest experiences of my mission. So we had called a woman named Ornelly to fix a rdv. The soeurs before me had contacted her on the metro but were never able to meet with her so we called her on a whim and voila she set up a rdv! so we showed up to her house and we walk in and there are people everywhere. it was total chaos. Ornelly invites us to sit down and explains everyone there is her family, so we're uh okay not exactly the best environment for the Spirit but we'll make do. And then the one man that was there calls EVERYONE over and says hey come listen to the missionaries they're going to pray with us and teach us. So a bunch of the people went upstairs but eight of them stayed. And we taught them how to pray and gave a brief overview of the retab. it was SO cool. They were all so interested and asking so many questions! we are going to see them again on Tuesday! I cant wait to go again and teach them all!

I loove the Christmas season. It is so lovely, especially as a missionary. It is the best way to spend Christmas, just sharing my testimony of Christ everywhere I go!  I feel so grateful for the time I have had here and especially for all of my companions. When I was set apart so many months ago I was promised that each of my companions would be a bright spot in my life and that has been absolutely true. God has given me the sweetest sisters to serve with who teach me so much and help me to grow. Each of my companions have changed my life and made me such a better person! Every one of them have been a gift in my life and made life as a missionary the best. I have found some of my best best friends out here in France and Belgium and I am so so grateful for each of them. I am so grateful for all the people that Heavenly Father has put into my life to love me and to help me. He really is so kind to each of us! I am so grateful to know that God lives and that He loves each one of us. Merry Christmas :)

avec beaucoup d'amour soeur hawkes

For God so loved the world..

So this was definitely quite the week. I have never felt so much heartbreak before. Leaving Liege was really hard, I loved those people so much. Monday night we had an FHE with the Scheurchs, Soeur Quarre and our recent convert Patricia and her husband. It was so much fun. I adore them all. The Scheurchs drove us home and thanked me for everything and told me to come visit them if i come back to Belgium. I adore them so much. We walked back into our apartment and I just cried. Tuesday was really really difficult. We met with our amies and a few members to tell them goodbye and I felt like my heart was getting stomped on! I cant believe the beautiful wonderful people Heavenly Father put into my life and all the unforgettable experiences I had in Liege. That ville completely changed me. I love it SO much.

But I love Villeneuve D'ascq now too :) My companion is Soeur Claire Walton, she's 20 from Colorado, in her 3rd transfer and hilarious! i love her so much. We get along so great already i know this transfer is going to be really fun. The members here are wonderful. Friday night we had dinner with the Family Stagno. They are wonderful! we sang songs around the piano and ate a yummy dinner. On Saturday we saw our amie Julia from Nigeria. She really wants to get baptized but has to get a few things figured out, she is great. On Sunday I introduced myself and the members were so kind and welcoming. It is a HUGE ward here so that is exciting. We have a ton of rdvs for the Holidays which I am excited about. I really love it here. It will take some adjustment but already this has been my easiest transition for sure. Heavenly Father has been helping me out a ton.

My favorite scripture right now is John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whoso should believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." God loved us so much that He sacrificed His Son for us, and because of that we can have peace in this life and the life to come. I have come to know my Savior so much more on my mission. Especially this last week, I have felt Him right at my side every step of the way as I left Liege and adjusted to V D'ascq. Even though it was really hard to leave the place that had become so dear to me I know that I am doing exactly what He needs me to do. He knows the pain of my heart, He knows how much Liege meant to me and He knows what will make me happy and help me the most. And that is why I am in V D'ascq. I love this place so much already and I am so excited to spend the next few months here sharing the "glad tidings of great joy" The Christmas season is the best for missionary work and I absolutely love being able to share my testimony that God loved us so much that He gave us Jesus Christ who makes every thing all right. I am so grateful to be a missionary and to be back in France!

avec beaucoup d'amour soeur alicia hawkes

 The woman in the floral dress is our lovely amie Enza. 

Soeur Hosking!

Soeur Hopkins (the redhead) served in Tours as well so we bonded over that. She is wonderful! 

My favorite less active Soeur Walmag. I ADORE her.

Sr Quarre :) i love her so much. she taught with us all the time and she was my grandma in liege! she bought me a ton of my favorite chocolate to take home with me :)

 Soeur Walmag. she's a gem :)

The woman in the picture with the Christmas tree is Sr. Bougnet. I love her! she is a branch missionary and did soo much for us.

I was able to see Soeur Bennion right before she went home and also Soeur Hosking! 

My new comp at a beautiful parc here in Lille! 

Tis the Season

Oh my lanta! I am leaving my beloved Liege in just two days! and my dear Soeur Clawson is going to be training a new missionary! I am so excited for her, she is going to do an incredible job, I know she will take great care of Liege. 

On Saturday morning we went to Marinela's baptism. She is the other soeurs amie. It was a wonderful service and afterwards we had samedi sports with the Kenndrick family and we had a nerf gun war until noon when the list came out with all the new changes. My heart was beating as we all crowded around the computer searching for my name. Finally we found it. Villeneuve d'asq. I am going to Villeneuve d'asq!!!!! It is in the very north of France right next to Lille, actually I'll be living in Lille with two other soeurs, so I'm staying in a four man! yay! At first I was a little disappointed because it wasnt at all where I expected to go but I feel...at peace. I really feel that I am needed there, I love Liege so so much I think my heart is going to break but I know that I have done what I could here and now I am needed somewhere else. I am so happy that Heavenly Father is helping me to let go of Liege, and to love my new ville! Liege will always hold a very special place in my heart but I am so excited to have a new adventure and to discover even more people to love!! Every time I move villes I always think it will be impossible to love it as much as my last one, but every time God expands my heart and somehow I am filled with even more love than ever before. 

This last week we began the Christmas contacting and porting and we had SO much success!! We got let in so much this week it has been unbelieveable! I loved being able to sing Christmas songs for them and helping them feel the true spirit of Christmas. Being a missionary during this season is straight up the best! What could be better than spreading Christmas cheer and sharing my testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ everywhere I go?! I am so grateful I was able to have two Christmas seasons on my mission. 

So. We wanted to visit a less active but on our way there we realized we had forgotten to write down her address, we knew the street but forgot which house number. we racked our brains a little bit and both thought it was number 86. we were convinced it was that and it never crossed our minds it could be something else. When we got to her street we literally could not find 86. It jumped from 96 to 82. we were exasperated. So we decided to porte instead and we found Odette!! We sang for her and she invited us back another day. As we continued we were invited back several times and we also sang for an adorable Syrian family. It wasnt until we got home and checked our less actives address that we realized it was actually number 269. But I honestly believe God made us think it was 86 so we could find Odette and our little Syrian family. miracles :)

avec amour soeur hawkes 

my new address! 

105 Boulevard Montebello D404 59000 Lille

Look at this creepy tunnel we found!

Saying goodbye to the members was so hard! plus I wasn't able to get very many pictures but here is one with Rachel Kappepula. She's actually in the other branch but I was able to get to know her well when i was working with Soeur Hosking. I adore her. 

Last night at our Christmas concert in Brussels. It was amazing!! the missionaries did a few numbers, a few different black sister groups did some gospel music that blew everyone away, an adorable american family did a number together, a Belgian piano prodigy arranged a Christmas medley, a Liegoise opera singer and a Norwegian woman sang Breath of Heaven. It was wonderful.

District photos

And there are decorations in the elevator!

Bonjour à tous!

Well today there is a huge strike throughout Belgium so there are no buses, no open stores, no trains but the Christmas market is up and running so I guess that's something. But we have a rdv this afternoon, a member has invited one of her friends to meet with us and today was her only day off so I am really excited to meet with her and share our message! Needless to say, my email will be really short, sorry!

Our week was really good, we were able to do a lot of finding so we have lots of potential amies that we are hoping to meet with this coming week. We were porting one afternoon and an old man walked by and gave us candy telling us, bon courage! haha it was great. We met a lot of really great people this week so I am excited to be able to teach them soon!

We had two Thanksgivings this year. On Tuesday we went to Bruxelles for our district meeting and ate Thanksgiving lunch as a zone. Our homemade pies were a huge hit and everyone had brought lots of delicious food. Then on Thursday we went to the Family Scheurch and it was wonderful! We met their extended family and they loved us! The food was amazing and we were able to go around the table and talk about the things we were grateful for, it was really cool because their extended family aren't members and a few of them said they were grateful to have met us the missionaries! I of course talked about how grateful I was to be a missionary in Liege and for all the people I have met and the things I have learned. It was humbling to really examine my life and realize how blessed I've been and how incredibly grateful I feel for  these past 14 months as a missionary. I cant believe all the things I have learned, the people I've met, the ways I've changed and the enormous amounts of love God has shown me. I am frankly very spoiled. Heavenly Father is definitely way too kind to me. Especially for the wonderful family and friends that I have!! I am so grateful to have such a wonderful support back home :) I love you all sooo much!!

avec beaucoup d'amour soeur hawkes 

Exchanges 2 weeks ago.

Sweet is the Work

oh la la. this week was WONDERFUL!!! minus the fact that I was out of my beloved Liege fromTuesda evening until Friday afternoon but it was for a good cause. 

We had a beautiful miracle Tuesday morning. We had a rdv set with Enza and had invited a member, Soeur Quarre to come with us, she actually showed up before us and they hit it off really well. Get this. ENZA READ THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!!!!! considering that just a few months ago she was too sick to read, I practically leaped out of my chair when she told us she had read the verse we had given her. And then we had a beautiful discussion about having faith and praying sincerely. Soeur Quarre shared her conversion story and the Spirit was SO strong. i cant wait to see her again because every time we go she is doing better and better. I cant believe how much Enza has changed since I met her. it has been such a blessing to me to see the Gospel bring a light and joy to her life she has never seen. 

Tuesday night we hopped on a train to Paris and stayed the night in St. Ouen and Wednesday morning headed out to take care of my French legality. Thankfully, everything went smoothly and we back in St.Ouen early afternoon to do some weekly planning. I was really sick that day so it was nice to be able to just relax and do planning and studying all day in preparation for the mission conference the next day. 

Thursdaymorning we arrived in Versailles for the mission conference with Elder Cook and I cant even describe to you how absolutley incredible it was. First off I was able to reunite briefly with my favorite human Soeur Abigail Hosking. I almost died of happiness, i have missed her so much and I was SO excited to get a chance to catch up a bit. And then Elder Cook came in and we were all able to shake his hand. The Spirit emanating from him was so powerful, it was really cool to shake his hand and feel of the power that he has as an Apostle of the Lord. He had a lot of really wonderful advice for us that would take me days to write about but at the end he left us with a blessing that left us all crying. He promised us that we would come to understand the impact of our missions. He promised that EVERYBODY we loved would be blessed because of our service and I felt so grateful to know that everyone i loved is being taken care of while i'm gone. He also talked to us very honestly about his feelings when he was called to be an Apostle. He was so humble and so faithful as he accepted the calling and it was a huge testimony to me that Heavenly Father can truly take flawed and weak people and if they are willing, He will make them mighty instruments in His hands. He gave me a lot of hope for myself :) We sang I believe in Christ for the closing hymn and everyone was sniffling through the whole thing. We stood 280 strong as Elder Cook left the chapel and the Spirit was so powerful it was almost tangible. I felt like Heavenly Father was standing there with us so proud of the Paris France Mission, not because we were perfect missionaries but because we were trying so hard to bring His children back, it was a beautiful moment. 

After the conference I went with Soeur Pettingill to Bruxelles for exchanges. It was really fun and she taught me a lot. Finally Friday afternoon I was back in my Liege to take care of my favorite people! That night we went to see a less active family and they suprised us with dinner! So we were stuffed by the time we left because we had already eaten haha but Soeur Matagne was so excited to have us and she had spent so much on the meal we couldnt say no. I absolutely adore the Family Matagne, they were baptized only three years ago and they have such solid testimonies, its just difficult for them to make to church all the time because they are often sick. (like everyone else in Liege, might i add we had yet two more amies go to the hospital this week...) We took the bus home and they watched us from their kitchen window to make sure we made it safely onto the bus. they are adorable. I am so grateful for all the people in Liege! I love the people so much here I feel like my heart has just expanded like 10 times since I arrived!

Quote time: “I am a witness,” Elder Ballard said, “that there is a spirit attending the administration of the sacrament that warms the soul from head to foot; you feel the wounds of the spirit being healed, and the load being lifted. Comfort and happiness come to the soul that is worthy and truly desirous of partaking of this spiritual food.” I felt my wounds being healed and my burdens being lifted as I partook of the Sacrament yesterday at Church. Elder Holland says the Sacrament can be a "holy communion" with God and I truly felt His love and the cleansing and enabling power of His Son's Atonement while I sat as the Sacrament was passed. It was a liberating experience for me to feel my mistakes and anxieties of the last week being washed away and the hope of a new one ahead when I could try again. I have always taken the Sacrament for granted but it is such a huge privilege for each of us to truly renew our covanents with God and to experience the Atonement in a very real way. I am so grateful to be able to go to church every week and partake of this "renewal of the soul." 

I feel so grateful today for this beautiful mission Heavenly Father has let me experience. There are a lot of bitter moments but i love the phrase, sweet is the work. Although its not always easy, I have gained so much from these experiences. So many, many precious friendships and so many wonderful lessons learned. I cant ever thank my loving Father in Heaven enough for my mission! 

avec beaucoup d'amour soeur hawkes

Soo we made apple pie and also pumpkin pie from scratch for our Thanksgiving lunch with the district tomorrow. It was so much fun! Soeur Clawson and I made our apple pie might I brag for two seconds about the fact that I made pie crust from scratch? Haha I felt so domestic! 

Reunited at the Cook Conference.

My dearest beloved Soeur Hosking. I miss her already.

Great Challenges Make Great Men

This week was absolutely beautiful. We had so many miracles and I just felt an immense peace and happiness, it was so great. 

On Thursday evening we were finally able to meet with a woman we had met porting last transfer. She had been in the hospital (just like everyone else in this town) but she was finally better and we were so excited to finally meet with her! She has an 8 year old daughter who loves religion. She was really excited when we started talking about Jesus Christ. She said He was the king of love. totes adorbs. We told them about our purpose as missionaries and explained prophets and a little bit about the Book of Mormon and they were SO excited. It was wonderful, the Spirit was so strong and they were so open and ready! We will see them again this week and hopefully they can come to church! 

Friday morning we went to see Enza, i love her so much but she really hasn't been progressing at all towards baptism but we decided to go over the Restoration again. We retold the story of Joseph Smith and asked her if she believed it was true. She said "I want to believe it but I don't know for sure" it was perfect. We explained she could know for herself through the Book of Mormon and she got SO excited and promised she would read and pray about it. and get this. She said she would come to church as soon as she was feeling better!!! We had already invited her several times but she always said no! it was such a miracle rdv! The Spirit has really softened her heart. 

 As I said in an email a few weeks ago the majority of our amies were in the hospital and that number keeps getting bigger and bigger! I don't know what is going on but its great for the Elders because we just go around with them and visit everybody so they can give them blessings. It is really cool to witness the healing power of the priesthood. I know without a doubt it truly is the power of God. On Thursday we were able to go one of our less actives with the Elders and they gave her a beautiful blessing and I have never seen her so happy in the four months that I have known her. They brought her a light and a joy she hasn't felt for a really long time and it was so cool to witness that. 

 I feel that while I have been here in Liege Heavenly Father has really tried hard to teach me to trust Him. Sometimes bad or stressful things happen and I have a tendency to start panicking but I wonder if that's why Heavenly Father lets them happen, so that I can learn to trust Him...after all He says "I having provided some better things for them through their sufferings for without suffering they could not be made perfect." (Heb. 11:20 JST) It is through our struggles that we truly "come unto Christ and are perfected in Him". And it is when with Job we say "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" that we can know Him better and feel His love more constantly. 

I read a great talk by Elder Hales about Waiting Upon the Lord this week. He says, "the Lord knows your sacrifices and your sorrows. He hears your prayers. His peace and rest will be yours as you continue to wait upon Him in faith." As we wait upon the Lord and keep our vision fixed on Him we will be able to overcome all challenges and grow to become more like Him. I know that even when it doesn't look like everything will be okay, it always turns out just the way He wants it to. He loves each of us and He wants to take care of us, He wants to help us if we would just turn to Him.

 

avec beaucoup d'amour soeur hawkes 

That my friends is a meat triade(translation:machine gun. no joke). It took the both of us to finish it and we still felt sick afterwards. but worth it. 

Sharing the Gospel everywhere we go...

From Trial Comes Refined Beauty

A new transfer has begun!! It will only be four weeks long so I have to work so hard to fortify my Liege before I leave! 

Tuesday morning we headed to the gare to catch a train to Bruxelles, where we would have our last district meeting and then head straight to Paris. However while waiting for the train we realized that Soeur Clawson didnt have her passport which needed to complete her legality. Our train was 15 minutes late so we thought if we hurried we might make it. so we took of running home, halfway there the Soeurs call and say its now 22 minutes late, we run into the apartment and back out the door to hop on a bus. They call again and say the train is now 33 minutes late, as soon as the bus pulled up to the gare we flew off and arrived at the same time as our train. miracles :) 

After a lovely last district meeting we headed to Paris. oh I adore Paris! it is so magical! that evening we had crepes for dinner and saw Notre Dame and the lock bridge. Then we went to stay in the Paris STLs appartment where Soeur Bradley and her companion live too. I was so excited to see Soeur Bradley again especially since she is finishing her mission this week. We had a beautiful talk about our missions and the things they've taught us and how much we have changed. It was like taking a great big breath. I felt so light and lifted after talking with her. She told me that it's not really glorious if it's not hard. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy and that absolutely describes a mission. This has been so hard. So heart wrenchingly difficult but it has been so gloriously beautiful. I have never experienced so much happiness and so much love, and that makes up for every hard moment I have had. I am so grateful for Soeur Bradley and for all the people that God has put into my life during these 14 months. They have changed and shaped me and truly helped me to become who I want to be. People come into our lives for a reason and we can learn so much from them.

Being in Paris was so much fun, we were able to see so many gorgeous things! The entire time I felt so awestruck and soo spoiled. I cant believe Heavenly Father would let me come serve a mission for Him in Europe! I live in Belgium and I visit Paris! Is this not the dream?! Heavenly Father is way too good to me. I loved being in Paris, there is so much history and so many, many people. And the French accent! oh la I have missed it! Dont get me wrong I love my Liegeoise but their accent is terrible compared to the beautiful French of the Parisiens. It was a wonderful trip. Even though I did lose my wallet on the train back to Bruxelles, that has been stressful but luckily I will be able to replace everything inside, it'll just take time. 

While in Paris, I chatted with Soeur Hopkins who is serving in Tours, she was telling me about a lesson they had taught for FHE a few weeks ago. they talked about the Brother of Jared and how the Lord told him to build the barges to travel across the sea but left him on his own to figure out how they would have light throughout their journey. And the Brother of Jared brought him some rocks. Soeur Hopkins said, "sometimes all we can do is give God our bag of rocks and say, well this is what I have, will you make it into something useful?" Our abilities can seem so limited and our offerings so small but because His grace is sufficient our efforts can be enough. Even though I am far from perfect "the Savior takes my sincere but imperfect effort and turns it into something that is just right, indeed, into something that is perfect" Despite my weaknesses and I can be made strong through the enabling power of my Savior's Atonement. I am so grateful for this truth and the hope and happiness it offers. I am so grateful to know that I have a loving Heavenly Father is so mercifully kind and patient. I know that although we have hard times and we may have to take a leap of faith He is always there, I love Him so much and I am so grateful for the miracle of my mission that He has given me. and I am so grateful for each of you , for your support, your encouragement and your prayers. i love you so much!!

avec amour soeur hawkes 

The Fabulous Foursome

Because it was Soeur Bingham's last p day eve with us we took all our mattresses into the front room and had a party. we took jumping pictures and laughed until we cried. I am going to miss Soeur Bingham sooo much!! 

Paris holds the key to my heart!

The Lock Bridge!

Everyone from everywhere puts the locks on the bridge to seal their love and drop the keys in the river it is so cool! 

L'Arc de Triomphe

Crepes and Frozen yogurt

Le Louvre

 Notre Dame! You can't really see it but use your imagination haha!

Three Hundred and Seventy-Four Steps

soo there's this staircase in Liege....

The district

Sacre Coeur