Bells of Normandy

Coucou !

I hope you all are doing absolutely amazing! This past week was so crazy and it again went by so so fast! I started off the week by visiting Le Mont-Saint-Michel! How cool is that! Soeur Beckwith and I went with our friend, Michelle, who we baptized the week prior. It was such a fun day! For those who aren't familiar with it, Le Mont-Saint-Michel had an incredible history dating back to 708. En brief it started out as a sanctuary which was built to honor the archangel Saint Michael, later became an abbey and village, and finally became a military stronghold during the Hundred Years War and a prison during the French Revolution. In 1874 it was classified as a historical site and has undergone renovations since, and today is a working monastery and open to visitors from all over the world. I invite you all to look it up! It's super interesting!  We spent the day with Michelle and it was so fun! It was sad to say goodbye to her at the end, as I knew I was being transferred out of Rennes, but I am so grateful for the time we
 had together! 

TRANSFERS! 

That word brings a lot of mixed emotions for missionaries. 😂 It means either you are getting moved to a different area of your mission and will get a new companion, will stay in your area with your companion, or will stay in your area with a new companion. A lot of missionaries don't enjoy transfers, but personally I think they are so fun! This time around I happened to get transferred to a new area! It all began last Tuesday night when we had EIGHT Soeurs (including Soeur Beckwith and I) staying in our apartment. Most of us where getting transferred to a new area and the others were baggage support (lots of soeurs=lots of suitcases 🥴) Four of us slept in the bunk beds and the others made a mega bed in the kitchen by pushing all the spare and blow up mattresses together. It was so fun! 

The next morning, the adventure began: You know in the movie, Home Alone, how the day they leave for Paris they wake up late and are scrambling all over the house to get ready on time? That was pretty much us, except we did wake up on time. 😉 For every transfer all the missionaries go to Paris as the central meeting point. Our train from Rennes left around 8:35 am, so in order for all of us to make it on time we had to leave EARLY. After a bus and metro ride with the Elders, we made it to the Gare and off we went to Paris! Although, it was a bit of a scramble trying to find room for everyone's suitcases on the train. I now wish I played Tetris more when I was younger. 😉 

Once we reached the Gare in Paris, that was where the real adventure began. The metro system inParis is full of underground tunnels, with tons of stairs. Stairs and suitcases.... all we could say was, "Let's do this thing!" After a long trek, we finally made it to transfer central! While there I was able to see all my friends from the MTC and meet my new companion, Soeur Reynolds! She is so cute! We had some time before we had to leave for our train to Caen so we went to a boulangerie, got some lunch and brought it back to Saint Merrie (transfer central), then ate lunch with a few other sisters. Soon after, it was time to gather up my suitcases and begin the voyage to Caen, my new area!  The train ride to Caen was absolutely beautiful, lots of trees, forests, and the countryside! The French countryside is absolutely gorgeous and one of my favorite things about France. 

So, after that whirlwind of a day, we finally arrived in Caen! My apartment is right next to a chateau and a gorgeous cathedral! We hear the cathedral bells every day from our apartment and we casually enjoy a run around the castle each morning! I know, it's a little rough here. 😉 It's a bit colder here than in Rennes as we are closer to the ocean, but there has been a lot of sunshine! The ward here is wonderful! A lot of people speak English, but it's nice because they help us with our French. They correct us a lot, which is actually great, and Soeur Reynolds and I always appreciate the corrections. It was really funny, Soeur Reynolds and I where on a call with one of the members and we asked them to repeat something they had said.  They immediately started speaking English and Soeur Reynolds and I immediately went "No no no! En Français! En Français!" 😂 

Overall I love it here so far! I am now part of the RRT (Rapid Response Team), which means whenever a reference comes in from Facebook, Soeur Reynolds and I contact them as fast as possible and pass them on to the missionaries in their area. It's been pretty fun! We talk to a lot of interesting people. I am so excited to see what incredible things this transfer will bring! 

I also had the wonderful surprise of receiving emails from some of you! It is so fun to get emails from you all, I love it so much! I know it takes me a gazillion years to respond, but I will as soon as I can! Thank you! They always make my week! 

Spiritual Thought

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:17) 

Confide in the Lord and He will confide in you. One way I confide in Him is by turning to the scriptures, His word. His words are there to help guide us in all we do. Also turn to your Savior in prayer. Confide in Him personally through prayer. When we do so with confidence and faith, He will be there to help us in all we need. I love you all so much! Bonne semaine! 

À bientôt ! - Soeur Hansen