Salut MY sweet family!
It has been another crazy week and we have even a crazier one coming up. Here's a little bit of what happened.Tuesday we were soooooo blessed to attend the "bleu" conference in Lyon. It was so amazing. Not only did I get to see my MTC companion, Soeur K., but Elder C., Soeur C.and Soeur B. were all there also. The other half of the group that came at the same time had their conference in Toulouse or something. I was sad that I didn't get to see them but hopefully sometime soon we will reunite!! Anyway it was so great. The Assistants taught us a lot and so many of my prayers were answered. I was really strengthened from this conference and felt like it was a great growing experience. Soeur B. and I got to go out contacting with each other before Sr. Lala and I had to take the train home. It was so fun to see how much better our French has gotten and what great missionaries we are becoming. It's amazing how when we pray for Miracles the Lord is so much more willing to bless us with them. I love this work.
Wednesday we had an exchange with the other Sisters that are here in Geneve. It was pretty cool. Again we saw Miracles. Sr. M. (unsure of the spelling, she is Mongolian) and I were here in the Saleve area. It was pretty cool because I was the companion that knew the area and kind of had to direct everything. That night we had a manger-vous with Sr. Humez and then afterwards were going porting. Sr. M was not too sure about us going porting because Sr. Humez doesnt live in our sectour and it takes so long to get back. We have to be home by 9 and it was already a little passed 8. By the time we would get to where we wanted to go porting we would only have about 15 mins or so to go porting. Logically it wouldnt be very efficient however if we went home we would be home 45 mins early. I told her this and we decided it would be best to go porting. The building where we went porting Sr. Lala and I have been wanting to finish for over a month. We only had two floors left but we have never had time to do them. Well Sr. M and I got to the building and the first door we knocked on the lady LET US IN!!! This has NEVER happened. If anything people talk to you for maybe ten mins but NEVER let you in. It was funny because the lady at first didnt open her door. She asked who it was and then we said les Soeur Missionnaires. C'est qui? Les Soeurs Missionnionaires de l'eglise de Jésus-Christ des Saints des Derniers Jours. She opened the door and said, vous parlez espagnol? Sr. M then just said Hola, Buenas Noches. And she said passe, passe. And waived us in. We were both baffaled but entered. We then got talking to her, in French, and found out that she was living here only for a short time. She would be moving back to her home country, Peru, but was here working. Her whole family back in Peru is members and she in fact was baptized but has not been going to church here. It was such a little miracle. There are so many lost members that when they move they dont go to church any longer but the Lord wanted us to find her. I am not sure if she went to church or not because she was going to attend the spanish ward but I know that Heavenly Father wanted us to find one of his lost sheep and bring it back to the 99. I am here as a representative of the Lord and because he cannot be here on the earth to do His work he has missionaries here to do it. The cool thing is however that members can be doing this work as well. All of us know someone who is less active. Please reach out to them and bring them back to the fold. I know that some have been offended, some are not in compliance with the commandments and some have just moved to a new area and no one knows about them. But the Lord knows them and he knows what they need. Find a way to help.
Saturday there was a baptism for a little girl in our ward, Marissa. It was so sweet to see a little 8 year old make covenants with her Heavenly Father. It made us very excited for Tatiana's baptism this coming saturday, and Edouardo's the 16th (I know it changed again.) We have another busy week with preparing for the baptism. We have zone conference tomorrow and Sr. Lala and I were asked to teach a 25 minute workshop so we have been busy with that. Then right after zone conference we have another exchange with the Annecy sisters and I will be going there until wednesday late afternoon. Then on thursday we have district meeting and were asked to do the little lesson for that as well. And then saturday our BAPTISM. Its great to be busy because the time goes so fast but at the same time it is a little frustrating because we can never do all the things that we need to get done. For instance today because of complications we have not yet been able to do laundry and wont be able to until tonight when we get home at 8. Its those little things that Satan uses to get under my skin. How clever he is.
Okay so Caroline asked about cultural differences. A couple big things that I have noticed.
1. Families stay VERY close. Our ward is made up of like three or four huge families. The Relief Society president is the Sister of the Young Mens President. Her mother in law teaches Seminary. The Stake Primary President's daughter is the ward Primary President and her Sister is also in our ward, with her daughter. Then there is the Bonny and Oguey and Denina families. Its way to complicated to explain but simply put, you stay close to your family. There is no moving far away just for work. You find work where your family is and that is that.
2. People are quiet. I think I have said this before. Public transportation is very quiet. Not many people walk around talking on their cell phones. And if they do they are so quiet. 3. At the end of sentences they say quoi, which means what. It is one of the weirdest things. They will just say a normal sentence and then add quoi to it, even though it makes absolutely no sense. 4. EVERYONE smokes. Including 12 year olds. Okay that is kind of exaggerated. But not really. I saw some kids who looked 12 or so smoking. Its bizzare. 5. beaucoup des peuple speak english. Its like everyone is at least bi-lingual. I guess it is kind of like a lot of americans knowing how to speak spanish, but it just seems like a lot more here. I dont really know what else yet, I cant think of anything right now but I will keep my eye out and write them down.
The new mission president will be coming in the beginning of July. And yes I did know he was the President of NuSkin, benefit to living in Provo for 3 years, I guess. Its funny, I actually know where he lives, and one of my friends was dating one of their daughters. It will be fun to talk to them about haha. We got to see a picture of them. She looks very young, and in the biography it says he is 53. It will be interesting to have a mission president and wife that also have their kids here. Sister Murdock is so good at taking care of us missionaires as if we were her own children it will interesting to see the comparison to someone who still has to take care of her kids. I'm sure it will be great.
I got a sweet letter this week from Lisa Adams, thank you!! Mom I am excited to get my package. I have been looking forward to it for quite some time. Michael and Allison keep your eyes peeled. Caroline your time will come dont worry :). It just so happens that I owe Allie Swiss Chocolat and my big brother has a birthday coming up. I love you all a lot and think about you as much as my time permits. Just kidding, I think of you everyday. You are always in my prayers and I know that I can count on the Lord to be watching over you.
Please send a little shout out to Kim Bitterman. Tell her I love her and I think about her a lot. Well also to pretty much to everyone from Resto, Susan Starr and Leshah as well. Also Trevor Sandberg. I think about him every now and then and hope he is doing well, Mom please send my love. Tell him I miss our talks giving each other advice.
Lots of Love from Geneva,Soeur Addis
P.s. Pictures are from a bus stop in the city center. That little building i think is a restuarant or a musée. And then i just took a picture of the water to show how clear it is. I am pretty sure that is the rhone river but I am not sure because there are two rivers in Geneve.
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