This week was amazing!! Soo many miracles!! The baptism yesterday was absolutely beautiful. Lenaig was just glowing, she was so happy! I am so grateful Heavenly Father let me be a part of this! Being able to see her grow and progress has been incredible, her testimony and her faith have grown a little every day and being able to witness that has been a huge blessing! The Baptism was wonderful, the Zone Leader's investigator Wilfried got baptized too so it was great! The missionaries and Kahaia, Natasha, Emma sang I like to look for Rainbows with Emmanuelle on the saxophone and Elder Payet playing the guitar. We suprised Lenaig with our little performance during the program and she loved it. It was so incredible to be a part of the baptism! The spirit was so strong the whole time and I couldn't help but tear up as she came out of the water. It was an amazing experience!
Also we met the most incredible couple this weekend! Saturday we received a referral from the office and felt like we should contact her right away so we went and met her boyfriend Cedric, he's French but his English is really good, they met in Hawaii last summer and really hit it off. Turns out Liz is from Utah and she's been here living with him since November, her family is all LDS and she asked her Mom about the missionaries here in Angers. We invited them to church and the baptism and they invited us over to eat the next day! On SundayI was walking into the Chapel and I saw someone waving at me, I look over and there they were!! I was so thrilled they came to church!! That night when we went over, she said that was the first time she has been to church in 20 years. She said she's not sure what's she's looking for right now but she's willing to put forth the effort to find the truth. And Cedric was very impressed that I was playing the piano during Sacrament Meeting, Liz said don't be so suprised, she's American, they all play the piano over there haha. So we'll be seeing them twice a week until she leaves in February to go back to the US to get her visa! I'm so excited. We asked Cedric if that's okay with him and he's like yes yes of course you come all the days, anything for Liz she is the best. it was so great spending time with them, I love them so much! Yesterday they fed us snails!! Oh my gosh they were so good! I don't know why we don't eat them in the US they are delicious! You'll have to try them someday for sure :)
This weekend, Soeur Foster lost her grandpa and grandma. She was able to talk to her Grandma Saturday night before she passed but her Grandpa passed away Friday night. But she was able to talk with her Mom twice so that was a blessing. It's been difficult for her but she is so strong and you can see that this experience has strengthened her testimony a lot. She has turned to her Heavenly Father for comfort and the members have been absolute angels to her. It's been really cool to see everyone's support and love for her. So please keep her and her family in your prayers. She has been a wonderful example to me and I really look up to her so much. This experience has emphasized to the both of us the truthfulness of the plan of salvation and how grateful we are for that knowledge and the opportunity we have to share this truth with the people here in Angers!
On Thursday we had a zone conference in Nantes to learn about the new theme for 2014. Which is D&C 64:33-34.
"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days."
It's really good and absolutely perfect! It really helped put things into perspective for me. Our will, our hearts are the only things that are truly ours to give. And I want to give that to Him. I want to be 100% obedient all the time so I can be a useful instrument in His hands! I'm really excited to spend the entire year as a missionary striving to be the best instrument that I can be for Him.
Also the other day I was having a bit of a hard time so I was looking through my scriptures and I found this one and it really touched me. D&C 78:18-19
And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.
I loved it because many times in our lives, we can't bear all things but that's why we have the Savior. He will bear our burdens, He will help us carry our load and that gives us reason to be happy. Because we don't have do this alone, He will lead us along. He will show us the way and He will be with us every step to help pick us up when we fall. It's important that we don't magnify the negative as well. Many times at the end of the day, it's easier to see all the things I did wrong or where I messed up but if I look a little closer I can always see the times when Heavenly Father blessed me, when His hand is evident in my day when his tender mercies were apparent. We can be so much happier when we look for the good in our days! As I have to tried to do that more, to look for His hand and receive all things with thankfulness I have been able to see His hand more and more. I have felt so much happier as I dismissed all the negative and focused solely on the positive things each day. An attitude of gratitude really is the happiest way to live!
Being here in Angers is the biggest blessing. I get to see so many miracles every day and so many experiences that strengthen my testimony!
Thank you so much for your support and love, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!!
Avec amour,
Sœur Hawkes
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