Soapboxing on a Train!

Coucou ! 

Cette semaine a passé très vite ! (This week has passed very quickly!)

I swear, these weeks just go by faster and faster! 

Well, you have probably read the title of this week's update and are now thinking, "Soeur Hansen, was it you who soapboxed or some crazy person on the train?" .... Yep! I was the crazy person on the train that soapboxed, and let me tell you it is probably a once in a lifetime thing! 😂 

The idea started Wednesday morning at district council when one of the Elders was telling us about when he did it on a train. We all where kinda laughing about it and not giving it much thought. However,  I then went on exchanges with Soeur Cook, (which was so fun!) and we got talking about it. Starting off with a, "could you imagined if we..." quickly turned into a "No, but actually. We could." We actually started contemplating whether or not we where going to soapbox, half kidding but also serious. You can probably tell by how I'm telling this story I was questioning so many things! 🤣 

We decided to go street contacting on the RER (a public transport train used in the Navigon zone in Paris). When we go RER contacting we just ride the train back and forth between 4 stops. It's actually pretty entertaining and you always find pretty interesting people! We get on the RER and we decide we are actually going to do it! Our reasoning- why not! It would make for a good journal entry at the very least. 😁 

We sat there FOREVER trying to build up the courage to do something totally outside both of our comfort zones. We made our way to one of the cars and as we walk through it we notice that everyone is facing the other way so we walk all the way back through the car to get to the front. with 5 seconds of courage, (yes, name the movie!) I turn around to face everyone, hold up The Book of Mormon, and I start talking. Not gonna lie, I don't remember what I said, but I really do think that the spirit was driving this experience. All I remember talking about was how à cause de le Livre de Mormon I know Jesus Christ and I have felt HIS peace and the joy and if anyone is interested to let us know. I finish talking, in shock with what just happened, and Soeur Cook adds that we have free copies for anyone interested. No one really paid attention to us, but all conversations stopped and everyone looked out the window until we were done,  except for one man in the back of the train car. He physically removed his earbuds as we spoke and gave us his full attention. 

After we finished talking he raised his hand and said that he had a copy or our book. Immediately Soeur Cook and I went over to talk to him. We talked for the remainder of the train ride, as we got off the train, walking up the stairs, and as we headed into the centre of the gare. Turns out, this man had been in contact with the missionaries a long time ago and had lost contact with them, but he still had a Book of Mormon. 

We had a really really good conversation and he continually expressed how important missionary work is. We agreed - quand même 😉 and then invited him to begin reading again. We gave him a little défi of the Book of Mormon so he would kind of know where to start. He took our phone number and we parted ways. He was so nice, and honestly that whole experience was one of a kind! Definitely out of my comfort zone, but it résulter in an opportunity to talk to someone we otherwise would never have spoken to and hopefully rekindle this man's desire to grow closer to Christ! Who knows what will happen later down the road!🙃

This week I was also sent back to the MTC! Sorry, no, not in the way you think. 😉 This weekend was a multi stake activité MTC workshop talking about the "love, share, invite" initiative, as well as using social media with the gospel. Each topic was covered by an équipe of missionaries along with a ward member, and we taught for 25 minutes to four different groups and everyone rotated through each section. It was so cute, because the stake actually organized everyone who attended into mini districts! It was so fun! (Plus there was food after so mega points!) Soeur Thurgood and I talked about how members can share the gospel in their everyday lives naturally because speaking from experience, sharing the gospel isn't always the most natural thing...especially in a different language! I was also able to see some of my old friends from the MTC too, so that was a bonus! Seriously so fun! 

Ahh Paris!

Quick Paris update! Last week went up to the second story of the Eiffel Tower! I actually touched the iconic essence of France! 😂 And this week we enjoyed seeing Paris from the top of the Arc de Triomphe! I am definitely taking advantage of being so close to Paris while I am here, since I have no idea how long that will be.  

In all seriousness though, this week was so good, with so many new and interesting things, and was definitely a fun one! (I do realize I say that almost every week! 😉) I am loving my new area and the members of the ward here in Torcy are amazing! France is just so incredible and it is absolutely taking my heart! 

Spiritual Thought:

A scripture I really liked this week talks about the secret to receiving answers to our prayers: 

"Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee 

answer to thy prayers." (D&C 112:10) 

So, what's the secret? To be humble! The Lord works through our humility and through humility there is hope, and through hope there is faith. A lot of times the answers to our prayers don't come overnight. They come in time and that is where we need to be humble and keep the faith. Be patient with yourself and the Lord. Remain open to Him and be humble. That is my invitation for you all those week! Be humble and allow the Lord to guide you! I love you all and I hope you have an amazing week! 

À bientôt! 💕

-Soeur Hansen

I'm 6 Months Old! Oh, and Elder Uchtdorf Says Hello!!

Coucou !

As you can probably tell from the title, this was a big week! Plus, I may or may not have either shaken hands with, or bumped knuckles with not one, but two apostles! 

So, who casually crosses paths with the legend himself, Elder Uchtdorf!?  Let Alone in Paris?!    

MISSIONARIES, APPARENTLY! 

We were in Paris for district council and had just finished our meeting and were standing up to go to lunch, when all of a sudden we see a group of men standing outside the family history center. Then, through the window I see Elder Uchtdorf! All I could do was say "it's Elder Uchtdorf!" All of us missionaries didn't know what to do! We didn't know if we could stay in the center or if we had to go! Some Elders started heading for the door when Elder Uchtdorf began to make his way into the room with his wife, the head of the Society for the Northern Europe Missions, and other area leaders. 

He stood at the door with the biggest smile on his face looking at every single one of us - and we all stood there quietly with the biggest smiles on our faces, waiting to see what he would do next. He then went around the small room, full of 8 missionaries, shaking our hands one by one, reading our tags aloud, saying hello to each of us by name, looking us in the eye as he did so, still with a great big smile. Harriett Uchtdorf was close to follow and we were lucky enough to shake her hand as well, following suite with her husband! He then asked us one by one where we were from and how long we had been serving. We had some Elders in the room with us from Switzerland and so we also got to hear Elder Uchtdorf and his wife speak German with them! We then casually made some small talk and then Elder Uchtdorf suggested that we take a picture together! We made our way outside and took a picture, for which I of course offered up my phone! 

After the picture we talked with him some more. He told us to enjoy being in France and to have fun while being missionaries. He thanked us for choosing to serve a mission and shared that what we are doing is so important, and that he, and the other general authorities were proud of us. He also wanted to extend a thank you to all our families back home for all your continual support and love as we are out on our missions. We then talked a little about planes, of course, 😂 and then he gave us some words of wisdom: He said, "Don't be preoccupied with the dark. Be preoccupied with the light." 

And then he expressed how we can be and are the light. He expressed his love for us again and then went one by one shaking all of our hands again with Sister Uchtdorf not far behind him. A black car then pulled up and he hoped right in and drove away - casually! How cool was that! 

I met Dieter F. Uchtdorf as a missionary in Paris! To say the least, I was excited to write in my journal that night! 😄

The excitement isn't over! Saturday we had a Mission Conference with every single missionary serving in the Paris France Mission in the city of Versailles! However, this wasn't like any normal Mission Conference. This one included yet another apostle... Elder Ronald A. Rasband! Two apostles in one week! 

I was actually able to hear Elder Rasband speak twice; once at the Mission Conference, and then at a Stake Conference the next day, both in Versailles! It was so much fun to see all my past companions and friends at the conference and to catch up a bit. 

But most of all, what an experience it was to hear an apostle of the Lord speak directly to us missionaries! The spirit was so strong in every moment of the conferences! The Stake Conference with him was held in a pretty nice convention center - and the chairs where the comfiest chairs I've sat in, in a long time! It was super fun to see members from my old areas too who were in attendance.   

He talked to us about how important the Book of Mormon is and how it truly is the most important gift we can give to someone. 

I am a witness of that statement! 

One way I introduce the Book of Mormon to a lot of people is that it is a book that will change their life. It has changed my life. In more ways than I can explain. 

Elder Rasband testified that the testimony we gain while on a mission will be with us for the rest of our life. I have seen this truth in my own family from my parents, cousins, grand-parents, and even friends who have served missions. Not only will it influence us for the rest of our lives, but our testimony is also one of the most precious things we have in this life. To testify of something I know to be true with my whole heart and to share and enjoy these experiences with others is more special than I could have ever imagined.  And I get to do it for a whole 18 months of my life! 

This week I actually hit 6 months, which means I am a third of the way done! I only have 12 more months to testify of what I know to be true, but I know that I am not limited to the time I have left on my mission, this is just a springboard for a lifetime. 

An Invitation 

If you have not read the Book of Mormon I invite you to begin reading. I know its words to be true, as it is another witness of Jesus Christ. It has truly helped shape me into who I am today, as well as given me guidance, peace, and joy in times of need. If you are currently reading, I encourage you to keep going! I just finished a challenge our Mission President gave us to read it in 100 days! 

I finished it in English, and guess what?! I'm starting again, but this time in French! No matter how many times you have read it, there is always something more to learn. 

As always, if you wish to learn more about The Book of Mormon and why it is so special to me, feel free to reach out! I'd love to talk about it! 😁 

This week truly has been incredible! I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to learn from these apostles. Experiences I will truly treasure! 

I love you all! À bientôt ! - Soeur Hansen

What Am I Training For?

Coucou !

What a week it has been! 

For p-day on Monday I was thrown into the history books in Normandy! I had the amazingopportunity to go to Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, the American cemetery, Saint-mere-eglise, and also another church that was used as a hospital during WW2! A retired US Navy Captain, Dennis Benson, who is an old friend of the missionaries and happens to work for the Canadian and American governments in war gaming, volunteered to give us a personal tour of these historical sights. He comes to Normandy twice a year for three weeks to conduct research, and while here he loves taking missionaries out on our "diversion days." He thought us some very interesting history! 

Did you know that at the cemetery, the crosses with gold letters means that particular soldier received the medal of honor? Also, the battle fields and churches in Normandy are pretty much the same as they where back then, so all the bunkers, trenches, fields, beaches, and churches that we walked through where well préservés pieces of history! It was such a cool, and even reverent experience! An amazing day that I am so grateful I had the opportunity to have!

I am especially grateful for that opportunity, as this week was transfer week, and I am now no longer in beautiful Normandy!  I am now serving in the city of Torcy, which is just barely east of Paris! Disneyland Paris is just one RER stop away from us, but I have yet to visit. 😉 It seems like we go into Paris on the weekly for different meetings, so I am sure I will eventually have that opportunity. Plus, I have a special transport pass now called Navigo that allows me to go to Paris every p-day! So technically, I am now serving in Paris!  

I am living in an apartment with 3 other Sœurs; my companion, and then the STL companionship for this zone, and it is an absolute blast! Seriously a party every night! 

One of the main reasons I was transferred from Normandy so quickly, as I was only there for one transfer which is pretty unusual, is because I have now become a trainer.  My companion is so cute! Her name is Soeur Thurgood.  She is from Utah, and we are pretty much almost the same person! I even found out her favorite movie is American Outlaws too! (We were both so shocked that we actually found someone else who knows that movie since it isn't particularly well-known. We now quote it religiously...amongst other things! 😂) She is in her second transfer of training, so she has already been here for 6 weeks and President asked me to finish up her training. To be honest, I was so nervous about taking on such a big task, especially still being so young in the mission myself, but so far it hasn't been too bad. Definitely testing my French skills and abilities, as well as my knowledge of being a missionary, but so far we are still alive and people seem to understand us. 😉 It has been so fun though, and I absolutely love my new companion! 

The past few days have been full of rendez-vous, getting to know our amis and the area, and even teaching some English classes! We go over to a family's house every Saturday to teach the children English. The dad is actually a photographer for Vogue 😳.... woah, I know! He is actually pretty cool! All our amis I have meet his far seem so fun and I am excited to get to know them better.

I hope you all had an amazing Easter weekend! We went to church Easter Sunday and had an amazing program, then went home with the Crucy family for an Easter lunch! We got to help make some of the food and their family is so fun to be around! The parents kept messing with each other and it was so funny to watch. Brother Crucy kept cracking the funniest jokes and saying the best one liners! They also speak, German and English as well as French so we kept switching between languages in our conversation - except for German of course! Not gonna lie, it's hard to switch between languages constantly! My brain can't keep up, I barely know French as it is! 😂 It was so fun to be with them and they gave us each a giant chocolate rabbit and chicken. 🤣 Definitely one of the best Easters ever! I am loving Torcy so far! It is so pretty here and the work is so good! So many opportunities and incredible things ahead! I am so excited to see what happens during my time here in Torcy! 

"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." 

(Matthew 28:6)

I know Jesus Christ lives! I hope you all were able to take time to truly reflect on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; His love and His sacrifice for each one of us. I know that it is through Him that all things are possible. He is there. 

And He lives! 

I love you all so much! Have an amazing week! Remember the Savior in all you do and know He is always there.  

À Bientôt ! 

Souer Hansen 

The Power of Google Translate

Coucou ! 

This week was incredible! A bit of a longer update this week, so let's get rolling...

First off, we had district council in person and it was so fun! The Elders and two of the Sisters in our district had a cook off. We had the Elder's curry dish against the Sister's dish from Switzerland (because one of them is Swiss)! ...Sorry Elders, but I think the Sisters had ya beat on this one! 😂 It was so fun to be with everyone and we even got Normandy district T-shirts! 

We all had fun taking pictures of our équipes while everyone else enjoyed jumping behind trying to get a good photo bomb. 🤣 It was great to all be together, especially since it was our last week before transfers. Yes, I did get my transfer news -  but I am going to leave you all with a cliff hanger again until next week... Will Soeur Hansen stay in Normandy? Or will she be leaving? I guess we will find out next week! 

Miracles in Disguise...

Never underestimate the powers of Google translate! 

It may not be the most reliable translation source, but it sure does get the job done! This week Soeur Reynolds and I had an incredible experience...

On Thursday we had a rendez-vous fall through, leaving us wondering what to do. We had about 3 hours before we where suppose to go to our cute Ukrainian family's house, so we decided to go street contacting. Within the first 10 minutes we crossed the street and found a lady who looked very lost and a bit distraught. We stopped and asked if she needed help, only to be met with a bunch of mumbled words and the lady pointing at her phone trying to show us something. Confused, Soeur Reynolds and I took a look at her phone only to discover that she was trying to tell us something through Google translate! She was translating Ukranian to French to communicate with us. We quickly pulled out our phones so we could do the same, and from there we began to have a fluent conversation. 

We figured out she needed help finding a bank to see how much money she had on her card, but she doesn't speak any French, so she needed help translating. We told her we could call the number on the back of the card to see how much she had. She quickly pulled out a second phone, ok well more of a brick, and handed me her card and the phone. While I called the bank, Soeur Reynolds continued communicating through Google translate to get to know her more and see how else we could help her. 

After getting her card settled we found out that she is super religious and has actually been trying to find a church to attend here in France! If only you could have seen our faces! We then explained to her, very simply, that we are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ and we would love to share more with her! She then asked if she could see our church... OF COURSE! She then linked each of her arms in ours and together we walked to the church! On the way we got to know her more as she shared her story, and how she is a refugee from Ukraine. Keep in mind, we were still only communicating through Google translate. 

But... during this entire exchange, Soeur Reynolds and I experienced something truly extraordinary! We didn't need to communicate with each other using a single word, and often times found that the very thing we were thinking, the other had already typed into Google translate. We would just look across at each other and nod. We were truly communicating through the spirit! The whole walk to the church, our sweet Ukranian lady, Martha, kept saying "merci beaucoup" and that God sent us to her. It was so sweet! 

We got to the church and immediately this sweet lady dropped to her knees in prayer. Soeur Reynolds and I stood there in awe, all the while feeling the spirit so profoundly. We then gathered together on the couch and sang hymns. Martha sang Ukranian hymns for us and she sang with her whole heart! We then sang some to her in French, and after she said she had one more song she wanted to sing for us. Soeur Reynolds immediately recognized the tune, and together, in both Ukranian and French, we all sang "Nearer my God to thee." Words cannot describe how strong the spirit was! Even though Martha is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, we were still connected through Him. No matter the faith or belief, we all are connected through Christ, who is the center of all Christianity. 

When it was time to go we asked Martha if we could help with anything else and she just said she was walking back to the bus stop. We offered to walk back with her and she got so excited! Before we walked back, she grabbed each of our faces one by one and planted the BIGGEST kiss on our cheeks and then placed one on each of our hands! 😂 We then walked, arm in arm, back to the bus stop. We got her number and have been texting in Ukranian since (thanks to Google translate)! She said she will join us for church next Sunday! So exciting! 

That night we had a rendez-vous with the Sprencinat family, who are also from the Ukraine, and we told them all about this miracle! They first responded with wide eyes and a "good job!" 😂 But, they then were quick to offer help with lessons and translations, and both the family and Martha are excited and eager to meet one another! Later that night, as  Soeur Reynolds and I were reminiscing about our day, we came to realize why our original rendez-vous was canceled and the true miracles we had expereinced... we had to meet Martha! 

Spiritual Thought

This weekend we had the amazing opportunity to enjoy our semi-annual General Conference and hear from the Prophet and his Apostles! Even though I am tuning in from across the world and watching at different times than I am accustomed to, I am so thankful for all the messages that were shared this past weekend. For those of you who have not yet had a chance to watch, each session is available on the church website. During this Easter week, I want you all to center yourselves on Christ; His sacrifice but also His peace. 

"The Savior knows that all of Heavenly Father’s children yearn for peace, and He said that He could give it to us: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27)." 

- Henry B. Eyring (April 2023) 

A bit of an update and some changes...

I also want to update you all on a new regulation for missionaries. Missionaries aren't able to communicate with friends via phone or FaceTime. We can only communicate with friends via email or letter now. (Family members...you're safe 😉) So, if I have taken FOREVER to respond to you on messenger, it is because I can't respond on there anymore. It may take me even longer to respond now through letter or email, but I will respond at some point! I am still able to view  messages sent on messenger, but I can only respond back via letter or email. So, feel free to send me messages on whatever platform is easiest for you, but just a heads up that I'll be using email a whole lot more to communicate back. 

I love you all dearly! I am so grateful for you all and for all your love and support. Have an amazing week and be sure to look for Christ daily, and really take to heart the meaning of this Easter season! 

Bisous! À bientôt! 

- Soeur Hansen