I know He loveth His Children -1 Nephi 11.17

Bonjour à tous! What a marvelous week!! 

For starters, do you remember Reine? Well we met with her again on Saturday to see how she was doing and it turns out she is making plans to move out. Glory hallelujah. keep her in your prayers please! we had planned on doing a short lesson about faith and repentance with her but she kept flipping through the brochure and asked us if we were going to teach her about baptism! She has been baptized three times and asked us if they were valid. We kindly but firmly told her that we must be baptized by someone holding the proper authority of God. She got really quiet, and Soeur Walton asked her if she wanted to get baptized by someone holding this authority and Reine looked at us and said "I want to be baptized by someone who has the power of God, so I can be clean from all my sins and my past just like you said." we were so excited. she will be getting baptized on 4th April! She has a lot to learn before then but I know that Heavenly Father is excited for her decision too so He'll help us help her for sure :) 

Also this week we had zone conference. my last one. what the what. it was so sureal to stand up and give my "dying" testimony but i was grateful for the occasion to share just a teeny tiny bit of what I've learned and how much my mission means to me. We had interviews with President and Soeur Babin and they gave me some really good advice for my last few weeks in the field. Soeur Walton and I work so hard every day trying to help our amies and others feel God's love and recognize the truth of our message. I'm trying every day to cherish every moment and enjoy living in France and speaking French and eating crepes and pastries and talking to strangers on metros and testifying of the Savior's sacrifice for everyone. It is so hard to believe that in just a few short weeks i'll be back in the States. But until then we are working hard every day! We have four really solid amies right now. Reine who has a baptismal date! We're also teaching an adorable young French girl named Anais. She was born and raised Catholic so she believes her baptism as a baby was valid but she loves learning with us and she adores all the members and coming to church. Then we have Asia, our muslim amie, she is such an honest seeker of truth but she is so fixed on logic and facts it is really hard for her to have faith. We're trying really hard to help her find a testimony of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. And then we have our lovely Vivian. She does not have any Christian background but she loves the Gospel and has really learned to believe in God and His love for her but the language barrier is a huge obstacle and she is a crazy busy student. I just really pray that this week Heavenly Father will help us know specific ways to address their concerns. We are working a lot with the members trying to get them to FHEs and integrate our amies to I think that will really help them a lot. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people. My companion, Soeur Walton has become one of my very best friends and she is the best last companion i could have asked for, she is so patient and so kind and she just loves everyone. She is so amazing and i am so grateful Heavenly Father let me finish my mission with her. The members in our ward are out of this world incredible. They are so supportive and they always make our amies feel right at home and so loved. They are so helpful and so kind to us. And our amies. i just love everyone of them! I am so grateful Heavenly Father put them in my life! 

Also. I received the best news today. Our Australian amie who moved back a few weeks ago? She emailed us today. The Elders showed up at her doorstep last week and she had a lovely long chat with them. She thanked us for making sure she wasnt forgotten and expressed how grateful she was to be able to meet with missionaries. She said 

"The work that you girls do really is incredible, I'm so proud of you all! You've helped me in so many ways by restoring my faith and belief in God, ultimately leading to a more worthwhile and wonderful life. Thank you so much!!"

Soeur Walton read her email and just started crying we were so happy. I am so excited for her to keep learning with the missionaries and Sr Walton and I intend to fly to Australia for her baptism whenever that may be! 

So yeah. i feel super blessed and super happy. It's strange to be so close to the end but this week I studied a lot about faith and I loved the scripture in Ether 12:4 that says, 

Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

Faith truly is our anchor and ties us to Christ. Faith is what keeps us going in the hard times, it is what assures us that all will be made right and that Someone much grander than us knows what's going on and He always has a plan. If we truly believe that God and Jesus Christ love us than we never have reason to panic or worry or live in the past. Faith is always pointed toward the future and we can live joyously knowing that because of Him and His sacrifice every day can be a new day and we can try again and again and again. And that. is why I believe in a loving merciful Heavenly Father because He gives me hope that even when I don't know what is going on or how I can help those around me, He does. And He will help and guide me always. I know He loves each of His children so much because I have felt it time and time again and I am so grateful that I have been able to be His instrument here in V D'ascq and I am so excited to continue working hard and seeing miracles for the next few weeks :) 

avec beaucoup d'amour soeur alicia hawkes