So this week we went into Paris for legality for Elder Mosley and I and it was quite the adventure. Tuesday afternoon we ran home from Brussels to pack our bags then we got ice cream with the Elders. On the bus to the gare to catch our train we realized we had two minutes to catch the train. So we busted out the doors as soon as the bus arrived at the stop and we booked it into the gare and we missed the train by a few minutes. So we ran to the info desk and learned that if we caught a train to Brussels that very moment we could catch a train from there to Paris, so we ran to our voie and jumped on. We joked and laughed until Brussels where we once again ran for our train, only when we went to get on the train we realized the tickets were GONE. So the Elders ran back retracing our steps to find them but to no avail. So we ran along the train with only two minutes before it left looking for the manager and explained the situation all of us sweating and heaving. He looked at us and told us to get on. It was a miracle!! We spent the first 20 minutes of our train ride discussing the probablity of him being one of the three Nephites, I mean he had long hair and a very kind disposition. We said a prayer of thanks for being able to be on our way to Paris. Once we arrived, we parted ways and got to the Versailles Soeurs apartment around 11. We fell right to sleep and the next morning headed into Paris for legality, but once there we learned that they wouldnt be processing my type of paperwork on Wednsdays. But a very kind worker helped me put all my papers together and we dropped them off at the Church's visitor center so the Paris Elders could take care of it for me. We ate tons of delicious food and then Elder Mosley, Soeur Hosking and I followed Elder Strauss around while he shopped and we told embarrassing stories and laughed our heads off in the middle of Nike. I am so grateful that we had those Elders with us, they took care of us and made sure everything turned out allright despite all the unexpected changes that kept happening.
When we finally got back to Belgium we started exchanges right away and Soeur Whisler and I went to see Gwen and Prince. We began teaching the Plan of Salvation and they were so excited about it! Prince kept saying that he believed there was something after death but he never could figure out what so he was thrilled about the brochure we gave him. I adore them so much, they just eat up everything we give them and they are so excited to get baptized! I cant wait!!
Sarah is doing well, she is still on track to be baptized and she seems excited about learning everything. We have an FHE set up with a family in the branch this week so I am excited to begin integrating them into the branch.
So Thursday evening Soeur Hosking were waiting at a bus stop and we started singing a Relient K song to ourselves because we were bored and talking and laughing in English and an older couple came up and asked us in accented English where we were from! We explained we were American missionaries for our church and they started asking us questions. When they found out we were the Mormons they told us they always thought Mormons were straight faced, straight laced closed doors people. But because they met us they know we are happy loving people willing and ready to answer any questions about our beliefs! Singing songs is a great way to get contacted haha and that wasnt the first time either and probably wont be the last!
Saturday we went to the Fete de Wallonie which is basically a county fair, there were concerts and lots of booths selling so much Liegiose food, it was so great! We ate a lovely dinner there and our waiter was Tony from Italy. He asked us where we were from. (sometimes I am really grateful for our thick American accents!) We explained who we were and what we were doing and he took a seat to talk to us about Jesus. He was so hilarious! we gave him a plan of salvation pamphlet and he remarked the beautiful picture of Jesus on the front and explained to us that because Jesus was a jew he could not have been that beautiful. He was a real riot but he promised to read the brochure, planting seeds! I love it :)
It was a lovely week full of great adventures and wonderful miracles! At the beginning of the week I was stressed out of my mind wondering how the week would go and praying that everything would happen smoothly and that I would be able to take care of our amies. There were certainly stressful moments but God was with me every step of the way and He strengthened me when I seemed to falter. Elder Holland talks about trusting God even when it is hard and submitting to His will even when it seems painful to us. He asks, "When we see the Savior again will we be able to say, that we yielded to a vision higher and holier than our own even when we may have seen no vision at all?" I absolutely adore that. Do I yield to a vision higher and holier to mine? Do I trust Him even when I can see no way out of my problems? Do I follow His words even when I cant see the reason why? I feel like since I have been in Liege I have been learning more and more everyday to trust my Heavenly Father. To trust that He knows better than I and that He can take care of me and my family and my amies better than I could. Sometimes things happen and I dont know why. Doubting thoughts creep into my mind and I find myself wondering why God would let something like that happen but then I remember alll the times He has helped me in the past and I look at my life and all I see are His tender mercies and evidence of His love and I know that He will take care of me just as He always has. I know that God is there. I know that we are His children and He wants so much to take care of us if we only let Him. He is always there waiting for us with open arms to come to Him.
avec amour soeur hawkes
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