Bonjour à tous!

 

I am now in my second ville!! I am writing this email from an Internet Cafe, that is a new experience for sure...but Tours is absolutely beautiful!! I love it so much already!! It is really different than Angers but I know that Heavenly Father put me here for a specific reason so I'm really excited!

My last day in Angers on Tuesday was really great! We went porting in a neighborhood and found a new amie! Her name is Abou and she is so sweet. We knocked on her door and I explained we were missionaries here to help strengthen her faith in Christ and then asked her who was Christ was to her. She was stumped by the question and admitted she didn't know much except He was the Son of God. We talked a little more and then she let us in. The longer we stayed the more comfortable she felt, and she opened up about her testimony of prayer and expressed her desire to learn more about God and Jesus Christ. It was so cool! We prayed with her and set up another RDV! That night we went to the Family Regnier's with our amie Danielle and had an FHE. It was SO fun! We watched the Retab movie and talked about it then ate quiche and cake and played games! It was so much fun and I absolutely adore the Regnier family. It was so good for Danielle to feel the wonderful Spirit that was in that home. And now she has a baptismal date!!!! Soeur Denning set it up a few days after I leftI I am so excited for her! I was so so sad when we left but I know we will always stay in contact!! It was the perfect last day in Angers!

On Wednesday, I met Soeur Bennion at St. Merrie and we went off to catch our train. We got just a tad bit lost though and finally found the train station and we were booking it for our train with all my heavy bags and suitcases, I was running so hard and panicking because I didn't want to miss it so we were running and praying and just as soon as we hopped on the train started moving. So we started our transfer out with MIRACLES!! and it just keeps going!! We have so many amies and we are getting so many lessons it is absolutely nuts!

Tours has a branch, not a ward so we are few but strong. I love our Branch and I can't wait to help it grow and grow!! We are having a baptism this Saturday. Her name is Maria and she is from Portugal and doesn't speak any French. The last sister missionary who was here would speak portuguese with her and translate at church. Unfortunately, I don't speak any Portuguese! So our last few meetings have been interesting, it was really cool to see the Spirit work with us and even though we couldn't communicate very well we could all still feel the Spirit. We are working on finding translators so I pray all goes well this week!

The sister missionaries have only been in Tours not about 10 months now so there is a LOT of work to do. This ville is booming with people to talk to and places to see! We are seeing so many miracles everyday and although adjustments are hard I have seen Heavenly Father's hand in every day. He is helping me out so much! He has helped me out so much with the language and all of the sudden I'm not stuttering or searching for my words in lessons as much anymore. He has really blessed me to be able to help the people here! I miss Angers a lot. It was my home for so long and I loved those people with all my heart. But I know that I am supposed to be here in Tours and Heavenly Father has given me a love for these people already! And before I know it I'll be homesick for Tours instead of Angers! Soeur Bennion and I were joking and said by the end of our missions all our heart will be here in France!! It's so true though that we really give our hearts to this work as missionaries and what a blessing that is! I am so grateful to be a part of this work and I am so happy to be in Tours!

Thank you so much for your support and prayers! I love you all so much!!

avec amour soeur hawkes