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