"The Gospel is not weight; it is wings. It carries us."

Bonjour à tous!! 

This week was full of adventures and miracles!! 

On Thursday, it was the holiday for work. So there wasn't a soul working. which means no public transportation. So we decided to walk to all of our appointments! It was actually pretty fun until it started pouring rain. Then we couldn't stop laughing as our makeup dripped down our faces and our boots filled with puddles of water. We ended up walking about 1 1/2 hours in the rain to our amies Nancy and Frank. We showed up at their door, soaking wet and all they said was, 'where's your umbrella?' haha we had left early that morning when the sky was clear and blue so obviously didn't think about it! But we had a great rdv with them and walked the hours home to curl up in a blanket and get warm again! It was a great day.

Tuesday we met with Chantal, a woman we had met Easter Contacting. We taught with a member, Ghislaine whom I absoltuely adore. Her testimony is so strong and she brought the spirit so quickly so strongly during our lesson with Chantal. We were able to commit her to baptism that day and I know it's because of the amazing spirit that Ghislaine brought. We really do need members in order for this work to progress!!

This week I studied a lot about gratitude. Trying to implement it more into my life, because I've noticed that each time I look for the things to be grateful for in my life rather than at the things I feel I am lacking,  it helps me feel lighter and opens my eyes to God's love. I read a talk called Gratitude: A Path to Happiness and it was amazing!! She asked a question that pierced me. She asked, "Adversity compels us to go to our knees, but does gratitude for adversity do that as well?"

I sat and thought long and hard about that question. And honestly in some many cases I'd have to say no to that. As humans I think it isn't our natural tendency to be grateful when we are struggling. But it's through our struggles that we come to know our Heavenly Father and to really feel of His love and peace. I know that it has been through my struggles that the Atonement of Christ has become more than just a story but an actual reality and a source of power that I can access everyday. Today in studies I read 3 Nephi 8-11. I absolutely loved it. My favorite was in 9:13-14 the Savior said, "O all ye that are spared, will ye not now return unto me and repent that I may heal you? If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Mine arm of mercy is extended towards you and whosoever will come I will receive." And of course the entire chapter 11. I felt the love of the Savior for me personally and I knew that He is waiting for each of us with open arms to accept His sacrifice and come unto Him. I love the Book of Mormon so much. It has helped my testimony of Christ grow so much. I know that Jesus Christ really atoned for all of our sins and that He truly is our Savior through personal prayer and study of the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for the scriptures that we have and the peace we can find there. Each time I feel stressed or worried or homesick I just open my Book of Mormon and suddenly I know somehow it will all work out. It brings a peace I can't find anywhere else. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and the Spirit I can feel reading it! 

thanks to all for your prayers and support! I love you soo much!

avec amour soeur hawkes

p.s. we have no details about when we'll call on Mother's Day, our branch president is trying to figure something out for us and will let us know thursday night...so I will probably email you fridayor saturday to let you know the plan! I am SO excited!!! 

Lenaig came to see me in Tours!!