High on Miracles

Bonjour à tous!

J'espère que vous allez bien! This week was a wild one! Crazy busy, full of appointments, metro rides, and rearranging our schedule 5 times everyday! 😂  Even though this week was filled with appointments we still managed to have some fun! 

This week I want to highlight the little things that have brought me joy. It's easy to get caught up in the big miracles that happen and to push the small things aside, but I want to recognize the small things too because those are just as important. There are miracles every day, big and small, and they come in all shapes and sizes!

In our Mission we use a lot of social media. Half our success comes from social media, so as missionaries we are required to spend about an hour each day working through social media. It gets pretty routine, so this week we decided to spice it up a bit by doing a lot of our work at a museum! It was so fun being able to sit in a real French museum, enjoy the art and culture while also getting our work done. We have gone to this museum a few times, and I think that I can say that I now have a new found appreciation for museums and art, not to mention that it's been an awesome way to experience the French culture! 

We were able to ride the metro a few times this week, which was really fun! In my area we don't use private cars, but get around completely through public transport, which can get interesting at times. 😂 On this metro ride my companion and I stood at the very front where we could see the metro track and the tunnel. Turns out, metros are just big underground cars! It was funny because as we looked out the metro window at the tunnel, we noticed that there are animated graphic animals that move on the walls! We would randomly see camels or bears walking along the walls as we rode quickly past! 😂 That was definitely a first!

On Fridays we usually have institute, which is like a Bible study class,  with the JA (young adults ) here in Rennes. However, little did we know that it was canceled! So instead of institute, my companion and I decided to join the Relief Society sisters in doing yoga! My chakra felt quite renewed afterward!  

  One thing you should know about Britagne France, is that there is never sun in the winter. Constantcloudy grey skies and the humidity cold is quite bitter! I never thought I would miss the sun this much! In missions across the world where there are long periods without sunshine, the Church as provided the missionaries with sun lamps we call "happy lights". Basically they are these super powerful lights that mimic the sun and help regulate our chemical balance, an artificial sun! These lights can definitely blind you if you aren't careful!  My companion and I find ourselves turning the happy light on for most of the day trying to soak in as much "sun" as we can! We will even stand in front of it saying "make me happy"! Joking aside, we have actually been praying for some sunshine this week, and on Monday our prayers where answered! We had sun! Our miracle this week is the sunshine! There where a few hours here and there where the sun broke through and it felt so nice! Each time the sun came out, we would stop on the sidewalk in the city and take a few moments to absorb as much good old vitamin D as we could!  The other night we went street contacting at sunset and it was absolutely gorgeous! A good sunrise and a beautiful sunset does wonders for the soul! I am so so thankful for these "sunny" miracles I have seen this week. 

This week I begin my second transfer in the field! A transfer is only 6 weeks, about a month and a half, and in each transfer there is a possibility you will be moved to a different area of your mission. However, this transfer I am happy to say I will be staying in Rennes with Soeur Beckwith! I am still in training so we weren't expecting to get transferred anyway, however, President Hansen called us the other night to check on us and to get the full scoop on all the miracles happening in Rennes. He then told us that he isn't splitting up the "dream team" this transfer, but that we should enjoy every moment we have because next transfer there will be changes. We are taking his advice and enjoying every millisecond, and will continue to look for and expect daily miracles! 

This week we also found out who our new mission President will be when the Hansens go home this summer. His name is President Ryan Munns and he is from Florida. He will be coming with his wife and 2 of his 5 kids in July! We also found out he is a lawyer. None of us have met them yet, but the Hansen's seem to really like them. It will be about halfway through my mission when they arrive, so I will spend just about half my mission under each President, so it will be interesting! 

    

I know this week's update was little different, but I wanted to take a moment and talk about the little miracles I have seen and express my gratitude for the little joys in my life. Recognizing the little things in our lives are just as important as the big things. My invitation to you all is to take time, preferably everyday, and express gratitude for the little miracles you see throughout your day. Live in thanksgiving daily and find the beauty in small things! Take time to enjoy the sunrises, the sunsets, and soak in as much of the sun as you can! 

Je vous aime!  À bientôt!  -Soeur Hansen