Goodbyes Are The Worst!!

Coucou à tous ! J'espère que vous allez bien ! 

Ok, comme d'hab this week has been an absolute whirlwind, but one of the greatest whirlwinds ever ! 

I love the people in Toul so much! More than I can ever justly express. In last week's update I mentoined that I would be getting transferred to the North of France, to Villeneuve-d'ascq ! When I learned that I was getting transferred my heart immediately broke because I had no idea how I was going to say goodbye to the people in this secteur. I immediately started crying because I didn't think I could do it. Needless to say, this past week was full of saying goodbye to people who mean a lot to me and who have made a huge impact on my life. 

Monday night we went to the incredible Tahitian family's house that I have mentioned in almost every update! 😂 We ate dinner, we talked, they made us sing for them, (comme d'hab 😉) and as we went to take some final pictures together, I tried desperately to hold back tears the entire time. Then, right as we were about to head out the door they all kept saying "les soeurs, attendez !"  As some of you know, a common tradition in Polynesia is to give good friends and those you love coquillages! (the long seashell necklaces...I don't know the name for them in English 😂) We turn around to see all four of them, the parents and the in-laws, all holding coquillages for us. I couldn't hold it in any longer and I began to cry. We went up to each of them individually as they placed strings of coquillages around our necks. I was so incredibly touched! This family has shown unconditional love and have been so incredibly kind. They have seriously treated me like one of their own and I have no words to describe my gratitude and love for this family.  As we got into our car and pulled away, the family stood outside to wave us off! It was such a sweet experience!

Tuesday and Wednesday were also full of goodbyes as well. We made scripture covers with Tatie and had dinner with her. The covers took a bit longer than planned! 😂 Sadly my sewing skills are not the best, and after two tries... first putting the zipper on upside down, and then not putting it on centered, Tatie decided she would do it herself! 😂  It was actually very sweet because she ended up making a silver one for me. It was so cute, she said that it comes with a lesson, no money - golden nor Silver, could ever replace the scriptures. So cute and so true! Saying goodbye to Tatie was another hard goodbye. She is another special person that has made a huge impact on me. I may have cried while saying goodbye to her too.😅 She kept saying that we would see each other again, which I am counting on! (FYI: she was baptized by Ryan Murphy... the director of the Tabernacle Choir! CRAZY) 

Soeur Letourneau and I also had our last restaurant outing with the Clauses - Yep, we again had 24 lessons! It was such a good night! President Claus shared some mission stories with us that were super cool and we were able to just talk and enjoy each other's company and have a good time! Then came the goodbye, yet ANOTHER hard goodbye. I may or may not have cried a bit...again. The Clauses are incredible people who have made another huge impact on me. We said goodbye with some good long hugs, handshakes, and tears, also parting with an invitation to be able to stay with them if I ever visit France. Never have I ever felt so much love and support in an area as I did in Toul! So sad to say goodbye, but I know I will for sure see them again on day, whether virtually or physically! The members in Toul truly love Christ, are so humble and kind, and are so incredibly willing to help with the work because they know the blessings that are possible! What an incredible area! 

Thursday was the big transfer day! Transfers are always weird because you wake up in one side of France, then go to sleep in another! But the in between can be so fun as you are trying to take three suitcases, full of your life, with you across France. 🤣 You never know what can happen! Luckily for me everything was pretty much smooth sailing! Soeur Letourneau and I were able to fit all our suitcases in the car (poor little Bibble) and get to Paris without a single thing broken nor anything stolen! There we said our goodbyes to each other, which was so weird, as I felt like we had so little time together! We seriously would have loved more as it was so fun to be together! It was cool to see her growth in just 6 weeks, and I know she will grow in leaps and bounds as she serves at the temple! 

With sad goodbyes, comes happy hellos! Soeur Reynolds and I found each other in Paris, (again! Whoop!) and off we went to Lille! The train to Lille with the Elders and our other Sœurs (I'm back to living with 2 other Sœurs! On est quatre!) was a fun ride as we all talked, played games, then made the crazy dash to get all the luggage back to the apartments! Don't worry, it was a success! Not too much happened later that day, as we were all pretty tired from all the travel,  but, Wow! I am loving being here! 

As I mentioned in last week's update, my area also covers a bit of Belgium and....I WENT THIS WEEK! I crossed the border! 😳 The difference between Belgium and France is so interesting! France has more of the classic European architecture that probably comes to mind when you think of France, but Belgium's architecture definitely contains more brick. I also had my first Belgian gaufre... which was INCREDIBLE! I don't think I will ever see waffles the same way again! 😂 But, while we were there it was pretty crazy, everyone kept coming up to us to talk about the gospel! Not the other way around! When they say the people in Belgium are really nice, they weren't kidding! 

We actually live outside our area (we live in the area of the other Sœurs in our appartment) so we are on public transport a lot! I so missed the metros, busses and trains, so it's been fun being back in a big city! I currently live in Lille, but my area is Villeneuve-d'ascq all the way to a little bit of Belgium! It's been so cool traveling to our area everyday; we leave either right before lunch or right after and are gone until 21h! Even though it's so tiring, it is so so fun! I have been feeling so much joy in the work! I love being a missionary, I love being a servant of the Lord, and I love the people of France! Life seriously is just getting better and better. 😁

We also had a pretty cool lesson the other day! His name is Hitou and he is seriously ELECT! He was found through Facebook from filling out an interest form on a Facebook add we posted. Seriously so kind! We had our first lesson with him this week with a member who is also a returned missionary, and we talked about the restoration of the church. WOW! THE SPIRIT WAS INCREDIBLE! He was eating up everything we were saying and then at the end he asked about baptism! DÉJÀ! Soeur Reynolds, the member, and I all just kept looking at each other! Our heads were spinning! Wow! He is so sincere and he had already started reading the Book of Mormon! INCROYABLE! Not even a full week here and the amis are incredible! 🤣 We of course answered his questions and we talked a bit about baptism too! I am really loving this area and I know I am going to love it more and more! 😄

Spiritual Thought

This week I read a scripture in the Book of Mormon that really stood out to me! It's a really strong invitation that I want to share with you all! 

"And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen." 

(Ether 12:41)

This week, seek Christ so that He can forever be with you! I love you so much! Have an incredible week! À bientôt ! 🥰

-Soeur Hansen