hi kids its me :)

Well my sweets. Its me again.

I know I am a day late. You might think, as mom did, that they celebrate Memorial Day here in Switzerland and France but no. Definitely not that. Its because it was pentecôte. A silly excuse to have a day off and everything be closed. Therefore we changed our p-day to today so we could email and buy groceries and other things.

Today has been a good day. The picture of me eating ice cream at the fountain was taken a couple of hours ago in the center ville. The sun was shining and and heat of summer has arrived. Well maybe not in full blast but it is starting to get hot. The sun is up even before we get up in the morning and goes down when we have our nightly planning so the days are very long. I love it though. Its kind of a tease sometimes because I feel like I am on vacation and then I remember I am here to work :) Its wonderful though. Switzerland in May is amazing, I am sure all of Europe is. Love it. Suggest it to everyone. Maybe one day we can all come and enjoy the Movanpick ice cream looking over the beautiful lake. That is a favorite for Sr. T and I. The ice cream is sooo good. And when the weather is hot like this we cant resist. Plus we only have this week to take it all in because starting saturday evening we will be starting work in Gex, even though for the time being we will still live in Geneve. The office elders are in the process of finding us an apartment. That means saturday we will be getting a car as well. We will see how that goes trying to park in the city at night. Its nearly impossible to find a place.

Seeing as though this is our last week in Geneve, I had my last sunday in the Saleve ward on Sunday. It was sad because this is my first ville and I have been here for five months, but its great. I am ready for change. I will be sad to leave so many people that I love but its part of the life of a missionary. So this week is going to be full of eating with members and saying goodbye so I am sure there will be more photos next week with more members. The photos this week are with Sr. Humez, the sweet sister who doesnt know that I peed in her bidée, and then the Spirigs, Catalina and Olav--side note, she is the one who wants the brown sugar, and other american goodies--. I love that family so much. We were with them last night for FHE and had so much fun eating and playing scrabble, in French, I won!! I guess my french is improving ;) We laughed a lot and really enjoyed our time together. I have already planned to come back and stay with her after my mission, she said my husband is welcome too... haha.

Speaking of my french improving. I am getting more comfortable and am not affraid to speak now. An elder in my district, from Paris, told me a couple weeks ago that my accent is getting pretty good. I was pleased. I know I still have ALOT to learn and to master the grammar, and writing I cant write for beans, but its nice to see the progress.

Before I leave you on a spiritual note I have a couple questions, comments for the family. How is Michaels internship going? He should write me next week because I have some business to write him that I wont have time today. For Allie how is the bun in the oven? Any news if its 100% girl, haha. I want to see videos of all my sweet babies, I am pretty sure I will be able to open them here. How Caroline and Devin enjoyed Seattle. When I was there last year I always wondered why we never went there for family vacation while growing up, thats a trip for the fam when I get back! It sounds like mom has survived her time with the twins and Dad has survived without mom being home ;) Love you mucho famille. I'm tri-lingual.

Okay now my sweet revelation moment. I was studying in Preach My Gospel, the missionary training book, this morning and was studying Chapter 1 My Purpose, as I felt that this was something I wanted to better understand. I read a line that had touched me before but touched me again more deeply this time. It said, "As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase." This has been so evident in my life. When I was deciding to come on a mission it was my understanding of the Atonement that gave me the desire to serve. I wanted everyone to have the same knowledge that I had about the Savior, Jesus Christ. Then as a missionary I have seen this more and more as I study the Atonement, usually once a week. My desire to share the gospel increases. I have come to love and really cherish my mission. I love having the opportunity everyday to share my testimony with these people and to teach them more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that every member can have this experience as well. This quote is not just for missionaries. As you study the Atonement, I mean really study it,  your desire to share the gospel with others will increase. I promise you that as you work hard to understand our Savior and his life and suffering that he went through for each one of us, it will not only become a desire to share the gospel but it will become easier and you will find that you have more opportunities to share the gospel. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, it is our responsibility and a promise that we made to God that we will share the gospel with others and help them to come unto Christ. What can you do to improve in this area?

With that I leave you Mosiah 4:20,"And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy." My scripture of the week.
I love you all very much and hope that you are having a wonderful day and will continue to have a joyful week. Gros Bisous.
Soeur Addis

Do What is Right and Follow the Light

Oh my sweet family. I love you so much and am so happy to be able to be writing you at this time. My heart is full of love for you as I think about the things that you are doing and how the Lord is watching over you and protecting you while I am away. I dont know if you will ever be able to understand my love for you and how much you actually mean to me, even if at times I may not act like it. I know that I was sent to the family of Brad and Kathleen Addis for a reason and that we knew each other before we came to this earth. Thank you for your love and support that I feel every week when I read your emails. Also, so sorry to mom and dad for not wishing you a Happy 30th Anniversery last week. Hope it was a good one!

My week in one word was "long". It was a tough week for the work here in Geneva. We were not able to see many of our amis for variable reasons and it was rainy off and on, so that combination was just kind of long. I am sure this week will be better. It will be one of my last weeks here in Geneva, seeing as though in less than two weeks will be starting to work in Gex. Of course once I have started to be able to communicate and build relationships with members is when I have to leave. I guess thats the life of a missionary though. This coming sunday will be our last in the Saleve ward. I really have come to love this place, despite the fact that it is one of the harder areas of the mission, I have seen the Lord work miracles here.

Things with Miryam are going well. She really has the desire to know that the Church is true and the Book of Mormon is really the word of God. She has a lot to understand still and she is the type of person to really study something out first before making a decision before doing something so her baptism may be farther in the future and maybe I will not be here for it but despite that I am so grateful that I have been able to start her on her journey towards our Heavenly Father. In fact, yesterday during sacrament meeting I was sitting next to Miryam and Eduardo was on the other side of her and then Tatiana had come to church by herself so she came and sat on my other side. As I was sitting there I realized that I was sitting with the three people that I have helped to come unto Christ over these past five months. It brought tears to my eyes and does right now as I think about the joy that they have brought to my life. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father has blessed me to meet his elect and let me participate in their learning process. I have learned so much from them and know that they will always be dear to my heart! This work really is so rewarding! I am so grateful that I listened to the inspiration of the spirit and chose to serve my Heavenly Father.

A brief note from my studies. This morning I was studying Alma 37-42. And after reading 42 I gained a greater understanding of why the atonement was necessary. I know the plan of Salvation, of Redemption of Happiness, is a perfect plan and it is the plan of Our Heavenly Father. We were also listening to a talk by Brad Wilcox, "His Grace is Sufficient". It was a BYU devotional so I am not sure how you can find it but everyone should listen to it. It is one of my favorite talks every. Its kind of funny that once you think you understand a concept completely you continue to learn even more about it and gain a deeper testimony of it. I dont think I will ever fully understand everything about the atonement but I know that my knowledge of it will help me through my whole life.
I am going to have to leave you here but I hope you all have a good week and are continuing to fortify your testimonies. Do what is right and follow the light :)
Love,
Soeur Addis

P.S. first picture is of the bus stop near a members house where we were this past weekend. Isn't beautiful? Second picture is Sr. T [companion]  Elder H. and me. Elder H. just went home this morning. He was an office elder for the last six months of his mission and extended his mission for two weeks to help the office move to Lyon. He was awesome. We love him and he will be missed here in Geneve.

"when you care enough, you are willing to give your best"

I heard that quote this morning while getting ready and I just loved it. The person, from The District DVD, then said that our Heavenly Father cared so much that He sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Ah, how profound that is! I love it!

Okay so it has been a wonderful day, and obviously a wonderful week because I was able to talk to the fam bam yesterday. Missed Dad and Devin but there is always Christmas... I guess. The weeks go by faster and faster every month. Things are going well and my french is getting better. I still have a LOT to learn but since my sweet Sister Lala left me I have had to come out of my shell somewhat and talk more. I have missed her SO much but I am so grateful that I was able to spend three wonderful transfers with her. She really taught me so much and has instilled in me very good habits. Since it has been my first companion change in the field its been a little difficult just getting used to the way someone does things but its great. I know that the Lord knows each one of my companions and knows why we are together.

Its really been interesting for me to see that even though I am SO far away from my family and only get to write or read emails once a week, I feel like I am getting so much closer with them. Those who write at least ;) ...kind of random but I just re-read emails to know what more to talk about.

Okay so I sent a lot of pictures and majority of them are from the past week. And a couple are from today. The weather was beautiful and after doing our three hours of work Sr. T and I went shopping, no I didnt buy anything, and then walking by the lake. The random picture of the fountain I took because the flowers were so beautiful! Then there is one of me and the famous jette d'eau and then of the lake, oh yeah and then there is a picture of me with some show boards and a HUGE umbrella, it was like a tent. And the first picture, sorry i am doing this kind of scattered, was two weeks ago at district meeting. It is my district and the zone leaders. The only people that have changed is one of the zone leaders, Elder Moore gray suit next to me and Sr. Lala, next to me as well. And I promise I wear my tag and I love my tag a lot but for some reason it likes to hide during pictures.

Somehow I ran out of time really quickly again. The hour goes by soo fast, especially on skype yesterday. I wish i had an hour to talk to each one of you. There is so much I didnt get to say and that I didnt get to hear about. Caroline asked if I was distracted after the phone call. Getting to sleep last night was kind of hard but I am good and back in the work today. I seriously love my mission so much and realized as I told you last night that this 18 months will never come back again, and I only have 11.5 months left. I just want to give my all because I know the Lord is counting on me. He is counting on me to be the missionary he knows I can become.

Last week Elder Claflin, an assistant said to Sr. Lala while we were at the gare sending her home to Grenoble, you didnt serve a mission, you became a missionary! I loved that so much!! Ah people are just so full of wise words lately.

 So I dont have time to talk about it but I want everyone to study what I studied this morning, Alma 27-30. So much good stuff in there. I wrote all over my scriptures but I dont have them with me. I was amazed at the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis and the Nephites and how willing the Nephites were to accept them and to help them when not long before they had killed their brothers!! What a great example of love and forgiveness. Study 27 with those thoughts in mind. Chapter 29 was especially sacred to me as it is Alma speaking about his time as a missionary. Oh my goodness I couldnt get enough. Alma 26 is also a good chapter but 29 was new for me in this way. Verse 13 was very special for me because I realized that the same God that delivered the Children of Israel out of Egypt and and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has called me, Kimberly Addis, to be a missionary here in the France, Lyon Mission. What a wonderful privilege that is! (Alma 30:9). Aye. I loved it so much. The scriptures are so freaking cool. Read 'em.

I need to leave you now but I love you all so much. Keep doing what your doing and ALWAYS work to strengthen your faith. Perfection is a process.

Love,
Soeur Kimberly Clarkson Addis

P.S. New Mission Address, I dont know the Gex address yet so I am still at the 17 rue de la Prairie till the end of the month. If not send things to the following address. They will get the mail to me at zone conference.
La Mission Française de Lyon
Lyon Business Center
59 rue de l’Abondance
69003 LYON, FRANCE
Office: +33 4 37 51 18 20

Another Transfer in the Bag

Bonjour ma famille,

C'est une belle journée ici a Genève. Le temps est très beau est je suis très heureuse. This week has been a great one and although it has been very sad to have Soeur Lala leave, I know that my companion Soeur T. will be great! She just arrived a couple of hours ago but it wasnt the first time we met. She was actually here in Geneve when I first got into the mission field but the other ward, the english and the other french ward. So when she was still here we did an exchange together. She is also an islander. She is from Tahiti. But also lived in Hawaii so she speaks english fluently but french fleuntly as well, so again I am very blessed. She served three transfers in Geneve and then a transfer in Toulouse and then one transfer in Pau and now she is back.

 But heres the thing. In a month, we will be moving to Gex, a tiny city outside Geneve but in France. The assistants to the president are there right now but because the mission home and office is moving to Lyon they could no longer serve there. Therefore we will be going to Gex and there will no longer be sisters here in Saleve.  It is going to be very hard on the ward, they already are not that happy, and very hard for our amis as well, Miryam est pas contente. Mais c'est la vie. It will all work out. Apparently Gex is a great ward and the members are wonderful there. It is however very residential so we will have a car because it is so spread out and there is not much if any public transportation there. So thats that. Only four weeks left in Geneve. We are supposed to be moving the 4th of June, we will see when the actual fixed date is though.

In terms of work this past week it was somewhat hectic. We had many manger-vous with members since Soeur Lala was leaving and they all wanted to say goodbye. It was actually a lot of fun because we got to eat with members who we have never seen outside of church so it really helped to build a stronger relationship. Miryam had a going away thing for Soeur Lala, with the permission of president, with some members who helped in Eduardos journey to baptism and the Elders as well. It was so good. Sr. C., a member, said to me while looking at all the food, Wow, she really loves you sisters. And its true. We love her so much as well. We have become very close to Miryam and Eduardo it is going to be hard to part. We took many pictures this week but I totally forgot my cord so sorry! Next week!!

Besides the chaos of saying good bye and sending a missionary home it was a tranquille semaine. I never want to "kill" a companion again. Its not fun. Its too sad, especially because Sr L and I have been together so long and she has been my only companion so far in the field. I am really interested to see what the rest will be like. I feel like now I am more of a missionary because I am finally changing companions, but I will feel even more like a missionary the first time I am transfered to a new ville.
Okay now for the information I am sure you are excited to hear. I will be calling at 20h ici a Genève. So for my east coasters, thats 2 EST, 12 MST and 11pacific coast, I dont know the code for that, PST? No I am pretty sure thats just the radio station at home. Anyway I will be able to Skype and I will be calling at 8 pm so you all better be on and ready to chat, I have an hour. I will just log in with my skype account that I have from home, if I can remember everything. I dont know what I am going to tell you, I feel like I pretty much tell you everything in these emails. But come with questions so we dont waste time :)

A highlight of this week was that I received a letter from Hermana Wadsworth, with pictures!! Its the second letter I have gotten from her since I have been in the field. I just love that girl. The week before I forgot to say I got a letter from Irma Welch, and I love her to death too. So grateful to have such amazing friends. Now I just have to find time to write them back!

I need to get going but I will talk to you all on Sunday, not all but the fam! Sorry if I am making you miss some of church or something but this will only happen now and christmas and then its done so you better all be able to talk to me! Anyway I love you lots. Happy Anniversary to Caroline and Devin, cheers to six years! Thanks for being such great examples to me.

Love,
Soeur Kimberly Addis

How Great Shall Be Your Joy!

Oh my sweet family. My joy is full on this monday afternoon. I love you all so much and am so grateful for your love and support. It really means a lot to me. I know that through your prayers I have been lifted up to work hard for the Lord. Thank you.

As you see from the pictures Eduardo was baptized this weekend!!! It was amazing. Don't get me wrong there was a lot of opposition but it was a wonderful experience and I would do it all again just to be able to witness a child of our Heavenly Father making sacred covenants with him. There is way to much to explain about the opposition and it doesn't even matter because its over now but I know that Satan is real. I know that baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is really the only way that we can enter into the gate to God. I know this because I have seen Satan trying to prevent Heavenly Fathers choice sons and daughters from receiving power through the gift of the Holy Ghost. Eduardo has great things in store for him and he will forever be a wonderful influence on his friends and family. Thank you for all your prayers for him. I know it truly made a difference. When Eduardo bore his testimony after he was baptised I was so full of joy especially when I heard him bear his testimony and quote president Monson, which was one of the things that he was struggling with before his baptism. I know this work is the Lords work and that because of that he is willing to work miracles.

We see so many everyday as long as we open our eyes and look for them.
To answer moms question that apparently I havent answered before, Yes I dream in French but honestly I dont remember even dreaming lately. Or maybe I have dreams but there is no talking. I dont know. I think i would dream more in French in the beginning when i first got here. Sometimes I cant even tell the difference of what language is being spoken i just know i understand it.
Sounds like Michael Allison (and baby in oven) Tom and Addison are having fun together for Michaels little trip. Remember last summer when i got super burnt and my face was swollen. I am pretty sure allie has pictures. DO NOT POST THEM.

I wish Caroline and Devin and the babies a wonderful time at the beach. I am very jealous. I will be missing my tanning season very much so this summer.

Now something that I wanted to share with mom and dad, and to all the mom's and dad's who read this. Thank you SO MUCH, seriously SO MUCH for teaching me the importance of going to church every single week for all three hours. From a very young age I remember the importance of going to church. It has always been something that was required. And even though sometimes I felt I was forced I cannot tell you how grateful I am to know how important it is. Even when I would sleep over at a friends house on a saturday and Mom would pick me up at 8 or so the next morning to go to church, I wasnt always happy about it but that is something that seems to be lacking with some people here. They dont know why the sabbath day is so important and why we go to church and Sr. Lala and I are running out of ideas of how to teach them the importance of it. So thank you.

Okay just to explain the other pictures. The second one is the three legged chair in front of the United Nations. We didnt go inside but just took some pictures outside the front. The purpose of it doesnt really make sense to me so I am not going to try and explain it. The third one is a photo of forget me nots, they are SUPER tiny and so pretty. We went to a botanical garden that is right by the United Nations and walked around and had a little picnic, with the other Sisters that are here in Geneve and Soeur Murdock, the mission Presidents wife. It was so fun. We really enjoyed ourselves. The Murdocks are so wonderful, its going to be hard to see them go next transfer.

Alright well I need to wrap this up but I love you all and wish you the best week. Help the missionaries in your ward this week. They love you and want to know how to help. Give them a helping hand, even if its not someone for them to teach.

Love always,
Soeur Kimberly Addis