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 

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