Life Is Always Better With Your Momma October 23, 2012

Well. Even though the subject of this email is true for our real moms, it also has to do with your trainer in the mission, as long as you had a good one. Yes, yes, the rumors are true. I am in GRENOBLE. Hometown of Mélanie Lala Hariniaina, my trainer. I am serving here with Soeur Nish, from British Columbia, Canada, but Mélanie will be our third companion. Last night we had FHE with the young single adults and it was soooo good to see her and spend some time talking and catching up, in french. That was a pretty big deal because we would never speak french with each other before it was always english. Haha one of the first things she said to me was, Speak french! Then later on she was just amazed... Sister Addis, you speak french!

Anyway we had a great time laughing and catching up. We will be going to eat with her and her family tonight. One brother I will not meet because he is in Africa on his mission and her dad lives in Madagascar but I will meet the rest of them. Grenoble is a pretty city. Its surrounded by mountains. Literally all over and not far away at all. It kind of reminds me of Utah, however it is more green here with more trees on the mountains. I have noticed some differences between France and Switzerland already but I will have to write them down and give you a list next week.

Okay so I said I am serving with Soeur Nish but who is she? Well the first day Sister Nish arrived on her mission was the start of my third transfer. I was the one that took her out to go contacting in Geneva. Its kind of fun that now we are together because I saw her in the very beginning more timid and scared to talk to people and now shes contacting people like crazy. She is great. I miss Sr. Tinorua and speaking french all the time but Soeur Nish and I try to speak half and half. Sometimes english just gets spoken more because it is our native language. This morning however was a different story. I have such habit now of speaking french that this morning right at 6:30 when the alarm went off the first language I spoke was french, when I asked if I could turn on the light, when she said "pardon?" I realized I should probably speak english with my companion when we first wake up. Haha it was too funny. It really showed me how much speaking french has become a part of me, a second nature. I still cant write for the life of me but speaking I can handle.

My last week in Switzerland was memorable. My birthday was good. We went and ate at our favorite restaurant, owned by a member. Sr. Nunez. It is a Chilean restaurant and so good, en plus, we ate for free. Sr Nunez is probably my favorite member from the Lausanne ward and she and her son, Hector, will be coming to visit me in America! She said to me before i left that I was the first missionary in a long time that she has gotten so close too and that she was really sad to see leave. I love that woman. She was a missionary a long time ago in Chile and she has such a passion for missionary work and a very strong testimony. She is quite the fireball too, we had great laughs together. Hopefully there will be two baptisms this week in Renens. I left that ville on fire. We have lots of great amis there and the work is pressing forward. Grenoble is going to be great I just know it. I had been praying that Heavenly Father would help me to be more motivated and boy oh boy have I found motivation here. I think its a combination of changing companions and cities but also being with Sr. Lala. It gives me the fire I had at the beginning of my mission and now I actually have the confidence to talk to people. I was telling Soeur Nish today how much I have come to love my mission. I know there is not anywhere in this world where I would rather be at this very moment. Its going to be hard to come home and get back into a normal life, but thats a long ways away anyhow.

I hope you all are doing well and remembering to read your scriptures and say your prayers everyday. This gospel is the key to happiness. I know it. I live it. I love it.

Love,
Sister Addis

P.S. Got letters yesterday from Whitney Kelly, Sarah Gambles, and Gramma Addis. Thanks, love you, will write soon. Also last week got birthday cards from Grandma and Grandpa Fendrich and Mom. :)

New Address:
Les Missionnaires
Soeur Addis
12, Boulevard Maréchal Foch
38000 Grenoble
FRANCE

 

A Cow East 100 kg of Grass Everyday October 15, 2012

Today its clear that I celebrated my birthday by going to the Gruyère cheese factory. I know I went there a couple of months ago but I didnt get to go on the tour and see how they actually make the cheese. Little fact for those thinking of coming to Switzerland, Chocolate factory was cooler. It was very interesting and I learned about cows and milk :) and Cheese of course. Did you know that there is cow stomach in cheese. Gross huh? All in all it was a good day. Gruyère is up in the mountains and there was already some snow up there. It was pretty cold.

Otherwise it was a good week. Still doing the same old thing. Need prayers for Mickael and Paddy who have a date to be baptized the 27th. Still some important lessons to teach and testimony building for them. But with the Lord it is all possible. That I know for sure.

I realized this past week how much I love my Heavenly Father. He is so incredibly patient with me and just wants me to be happy. He doesnt ask very much and yet when I am struggling He understands and He helps me. Where would I be without a knowledge of my Heavenly Father? I don't even like to think about it. I also realized how stinking blessed I am to be a missionary. I love my mission so much and it is a sacred time for me. It is a time for me to learn how to teach so that when I am a mother I will be able to teach my children. Caroline and Allie, I am sorry you missed out, but you both have wonderful husbands who served missions. I used to think that going on a mission was a punishment from the Lord. That I was the only Addis girl that had to go on a mission because I wasn't wife or mother material. I see now. My eyes have truly been opened and I am going to work my hardest these next six months to be the best I can be for my Father in Heaven. I love Him.

Another huge blessing I have from my Heavenly Father is my family. I love you all so much. For the past 22 years you all have been there for me every step of the way. Even when I was a in my awful teenage years. I know I was not fun to deal with and you were all very worried about me but you loved me no matter what. I remember when I was 15 and I had given myself a second piercing in my left ear. Allie was home and we were doing yard work when she asked me why I did that and what I was thinking. I told her it was only a piercing that it wasnt a big deal. She then told me that it doesnt matter that its only a piercing it was the fast that the prophet of God asked us not to have more than one piercing in each ear. Although I got angry with her and stormed off that conversation stuck in my head for quite sometime. I realized later that I should take out the piercing. That my sister was right. I have so many more stories like this that prove to me how much my family loves me. I am seriously so blessed and I love you all with all my heart. Thank you for always being there for me and taking care of me. I will always be your sweet girl, your little sister, your lambchop.

I wish you all a wonderful week. Reminder that next monday is transfers so not sure when I will be emailing.

Love,

Sister Kimberly Addis

One Delicious Conference October 8, 2012

Oh goodness family. Please tell me that you enjoyed conference as much as I did. How amazing are the leaders of our church? So in tune with the spirit to say exactly what the Lord wants all of us to hear. We truely are so blessed to be members of the Lords restored church on the earth and have a Prophet and apostles to teach us and guide us in our daily lives.

We were not able to see the sunday afternoon session because it was broadcasted here at 10 pm. I wont have time to watch the whole thing but I am listening as I write. My favorite session was the Saturday Morning. No I cannot believe the new missionary age. Its amazing that 18 year old elders and 19 year old sisters will start coming into our mission before I go home. I wrote about my feelings in my journal because I realize it is a historical moment. While reflecting on this announcement I realized that when I was 19 I was living at Belmont, in my second year at BYU, working as a nanny for the Karpowitz family. I would NOT have been ready, nor did I have a desire to serve a mission at that time. But times are changing. As Elder Cook said, the youth are better prepared to go and serve the Lord than in passed years. I think that much more young women will be serving missions because they can go at 19 and then when they get home they are still very young. It was super funny to see the reactions of both the young men and young women, The young men with their jaws dropped and the young women with beaming smiles. This work is truely pushing forward and amazing things are going to come forth. The end is nigh.

So this week. It was a good one. We also had Zone Conference, Interviews, with President. I love President Roney and Sister Roney so much. They are such wonderful people and President Roney is truely an inspired servant of the Lord. We talked about prayer and having more faith and praying more fervently. This is something that I am trying to better understand. How to really pray. To really try and get intune with the spirit. To really communicate with my Father in Heaven. I know that through prayer all things are possible. Family, I am learning so much about faith and so much about really living the gospel. Its not always easy, but its what the Lord wants for us.

About our amis. They are doing well. We were only able to see a couple of them this week. Two of our amis have a baptismal date for October 27. They will hopefully hold this date and work hard to be ready. We will as well work our best to teach them to an understanding but it is up to them to repent and have a true change of heart.

Thats all I really have time to say. Hope you all put in application the things that you have learned from conference. Sister Teixiera said when she was here that it was not a good conference if you do not put into application the things that were taught. So don't just say it was a good conference, prove it, change your life. Repent!

Love you all,

Sister Addis

11 Months, but who's counting? October 1, 2012

Hello family of mine. And friends...if they are still faithfully reading...

How are you all? I enjoyed the pictures of baby Savannah. However I dont see the resemblance with Addison. I dont see it with anyone actually. Allie are you sure thats your baby? JUST KIDDING.

Mom, you spoiled Relief Society Conference for me. It is being broadcasted here Saturday before the first session of General Conference. You have no idea how excited I am for GC, well return missionaries yes, they understand but I dont know about anyone else. I am looking forward to soaking up the words of the prophets and apostles of our day. What a wonderful blessing. Next week will be happy to hear which talk was your favorite and why. Don't forget! Also I invite you to go to at least one session at church, in your sunday clothes. Before my mission I am pretty sure it had been around ten years that I have watched conference at home or in the conference center. But now, I have no other choice. Therefore I want you to suffer like I am. No just kidding, I want you to do this because I want you to tell me if you notice a difference from watching conference from the comfort of your own couch and watching conference at church as if it were your normal church meetings.

Anyway enough babble. This week was okay. Rainy and cold. Autumn is here. Winter is coming. Maybe I will go to the south of France before winter can catch me. That would be nice. Transfers are October 22. We will see what happens.

Okay but seriously. Last Saturday we went to visit a less active. We had never met her before and decided that it would be a good time to go see her. She was happy to see us at her door and we scheduled a RDV for tuesday afternoon. Then of course, before leaving, asked if we would see her at church the next day. She said yes and that she and her son would be there. Well Sunday they were there as she said they would be. The ward was happy to see them and they even stayed for the ward meal after church. Tuesday we had our RDV with her and her son and it went so well. We talked to them about their conversion story, which was not too long ago and that opened her up to tell us that in fact saturday when we stopped by she was in the middle of praying and telling God that she was done. She did not want to go to church anymore, she could no longer handle all the trials in her life and that she was just threw with it all. Then we rang the doorbell. Wow! The Lord really has us in the right place at the right time. She said that us being at the door was a sign to her, or an answer to her prayers, that the Lord loves her and that she is on the right path and she should continue on this path. I had really been praying that I would be able to be an instrument in the Lords hands and do what he wanted me to do, and without even knowing it, I was!

Another story from being in the right place at the right time. We have a new family we are teaching. They are amazing! I think I mentioned them last week, peruvian family. Anyway, we met with them again this past thursday and had a quick but great lesson with them. We then asked them if there was anything we could do for them. They then told us that they were looking for a new apartment and that if there was anyone we knew that could help, that would be great. I then asked if one of the parents had a permit for renting an apartment here. Clara, the mom, then went on to explain that no, they didn't have a permit and in fact that was a big problem right now. She said that last Saturday the kids were on the bus and they got controlled. They had forgotten their bus passes and any type of identification at home. Well this to the controllers is a huge red flag. They not only gave the kids fines for being on the bus without a pass but they also took them to the police station. Clara then went to go pick them up and when she showed them her passport and that she only had a tourist visa, the policeman gave her a deporting slip, for her and the two kids. Well long story short, she said that she knew God sent us to their family just two days before this horrible situation because He knew they would need extra support. I was shocked. Normally people blame these kinds of things on us. Saying that their life was great before they met us and ever since then is when the problems came. I loved her attitude and I know it is true what she said. The Lord has sent us to this family so that we can help them and give them the love that they need in this difficult time.

Cool stories right? You could have stories just like me. Just pray and then go and do what you think Jesus would do if He were here on earth and you will be able to have experiences just like it!

 

Anyway I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful week. Don't forget the most important day of the year is in two weeks from tomorrow :)

 

Love you all,

Soeur Kimberly Addis

 

P.S. Love that Addison sings Justin Beiber... did I ever tell you how I cried when I heard his new song while shopping on p-day? Haha so ridiculous i know.

 

Also CANNOT believe that Lisa will be home so soon. I miss her lots. Mom give her a huge hug from me, okay thanks!

 

"Tes yeux, ils sont faux" September 24, 2012

Soooo fam bam...how are ya?

First and foremost: subject line. So within the past several weeks if not months I have had tons of people comment on how beautiful my eyes are...not to sound concided...and the other day the funniest thing happend. We were going to church,it was yesterday, and we were on the bus. It was around 8:30 because church is at nine. So we are on the bus when a drunk guy... yes there are tons of boozers sunday morning that are just finishing their party from saturday night. Anyway this guy was still pretty drunk and he comes up to us and starts talking about his religion, futbol (soccer in english) and how he watches it on sundays and its the greatest thing in the world. Well then he stopped talking to us and told us to have a good day. About 5 minutes later we got off the bus and he got off too. He comes up to me and tells me, "Honestly, you have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen, they are fake right? They are contacts." I replied no, they're real. But he persisted that they had to be fake because he had never seen eyes so beautiful. Haha too funny. He would not believe me that they were my REAL eyes. Oh drunk people.

So to answer the commonly asked question. I dont want more skirts. I will just wear out the ones I have so that at the end of my mission I can leave them here or donate them. Dont ever want to wear these clothes again. Second thing. I dont know what I want for my birthday. As mom can see from my account I bought myself an expensive perfume for my birthday because I am almost out of the one that Caroline sent me in the MTC. I counted that as a birthday gift. Oh and a scarf too. You guys are going to think I am crazy when you see how many scarfs I have bought on my mission. Also I bought a hand mixer because the mission does not pay for that and I have been making myself fruit and spinach smoothies for breakfast. Great investment.

Sounds like the Steeles and mom had a great week together. Savannah has seen so much of the world already. Shes two weeks old? and already been to Disneyland. Sounds like the twins had a fun birthday. Caroline if you want the doctor to write down the sex of the baby and then send it to me in the mail that would be great. I promise I won't tell you. Michael, keep going strong, this is where it counts the most :) Dad, Hi, are you alive?

This week we started teaching even more spanish speakers. We have a family that is totally going to get baptized. They are so wonderful I already love them so much just after one rdv. The wife and mother is actually a cousin of a family that was baptized around two years ago in the ward. They are super open to the gospel and want to come to church but the parents work sunday morning. What is this with all of our wonderful amis not being able to come to church? I hate it! Anyway I dont know their family name but their names are Danny (father), Clara (mother), André (son 13 yrs) and Camilla (daughter 7yrs). André was at church on sunday with the Alayo family-the cousins of Clara. It was pretty sweet. Then we had a wonderful miracle happen. There is a sister in the ward who is now less active (also because of work) that was baptized two years ago but the rest of her family, husband, two sons and daughter were not. Well we were sitting in our spanish gospel principles class when the father, Segundo, and oldest son, Christian, showed up! We had met Christian one day when we were visiting his mom but had never met the husband. It was so wonderful to see them there even though the mom, whose a member, was not! We will be seeing them later this week and hopefully we can restart the lessons with them. Didnt know I was called to serve spanish speaking but thats cool!

I love being a missionary and doing the Lord's work. It is VERY hard, don't get me wrong but it is so wonderful to help people come unto Christ and change their lives. I just pray that I will be able to see a lot more of that here in Renens/Lausanne.

I wish you all a safe and wonderful week. Please keep praying for me and all the other missionaries around the world. Specifically for protection in our mission, we have been having problems with Muslims after that movie that has come out in America.

I love you I love you I love you

Soeur Kimberly Addis

onwards and upwards September 17, 2012

Hello Sweet Cheekers,

Thank you for your prayers this past week. I am doing better. Not everyday is perfect but nothing really is perfect in life. I have some things that I want to tell you that a took note of this week so that I would remember.

First off, Mom the tomatoes are splitting because of too much rain. Asked an expert gardener in the ward about that. Next thing. I am sorry I forgot to say happy birthday to the twins this past week. I hope they had a very happy 2nd birthday and that little Charlotte is healthy and well now. Next thing I want you all to be really jealous about. I have an authentic pizza dough recipe from a TRUE Napolitan. That is something that I will be making with you when I get home, Caroline. Maybe if your lucky I will share it with you. This leads to something else about food. Last week I made homemade bread for the first time, by hand. As I was not feeling great, and as you all know, that something that makes me happiest is to cook. Well that was probably one of the best things to do. Yes it took a lot of patience but I loved working with my hands and really kneading the heck out of that dough. Its hard work by hand but it was so therapeutic at the same time. It was very good and healthy as well, a cereal bread, which I am pretty sure in english is a whole grain bread, with sunflower seeds and oatmeal and all those kinds of goodies.

Next I want to tell you all a joke that I think is hilarious. Okay well the second one is a joke but the first one is something that Elder C.  and I laughed about pretty hard. He has been home for a little over a transfer now but I remembered it this week and thought it was funny enough to share. Okay I am not going to explain the story but please just think about how funny it would be if a missionary was teaching someone that was Siamese twins and one accepted the gospel and the other did not. How do you baptize the person that accepts the gospel?
Oh my gosh I am so immature and such a missionary but I think this is one of the funniest things and I laugh about it still. Even right now.

Okay this second part really is a joke. That Sr. Jaquet tells and I am pretty sure I was the only one at the dinner table laughing but maybe its because I thought of little Addison. Here goes:

A little girl is at a wedding with her family and she is wearing a very beautiful dress. There are lots of other kids playing and so the little girl goes to ask her mother if she can go play with them and do her favorite thing, kart wheels. Her mother says, "No, no honey, everyone will see your panties. The little girl pouts and walks away with her arms crossed. She comes back ten minutes later, Mommy can I please go do kart wheels. Her mother repeats, "No, everyone will see your panties, and that is not polite." She sadly walks away a second time. The third time she walks back to her mom and excitedly says, "Mommy, Mommy, I did a kart wheel. Her mother replies, "Oh no, did everyone see your panties? The little girl innocently replies,"No of course not Mommy, I took them off!"

Haha if that does not remind you of Addison I dont know what else would. Oh I laughed so hard. The family thought i was giving pitty laughs but no, I think its truely funny.

Anyway. This week was good. We have been super busy all the time. We spend a lot of time visiting less actives. It is really sad how many there are here. It might be the same way in NJ and I just never noticed it. Sundays are good. I love the Renens ward. The spirit is always so strong and the members are so full of love. We start with RS, have Gospel Principles in Spanish and then Sacrament for the third hour. The kids in the ward are always crazy for the third hour and there are wood floors so EVERYTHING echos but ça va. C'est pas graves.

French is going well. I am now reading the Book of Mormon all the time in French because I have noticed that if I read in english, my french gets worse. I have also started highlighting everytime the Book of Mormon says, Lord, God, the Lamb of God, Messiah, or any other name there is for the savior. It really is amazing how much the Book of Mormon talks about the Savior even when we wouldnt think it would. ANOTHER TESTIMONY of JESUS CHRIST, I think so.

I ran out of time because I had so many cute pictures to drool over and so many lovely emails to read. I love you all very much and pray that you are doing well. Please keep the prayers coming my way as I am sending blessings in your direction as well.

Love you all,
Soeur Addis

P.S. Cant believe that Julia Santiago is engaged. Please tell her congratulations for me and that I love her so much and she MUST write to me and tell me who, what, where, when and how?

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