Hives

Coucou à tous ! Comment ça va ? 

This week was definitely way better than last! 🤣 I am still a bit sick, but definitely back in commission, and have hit the ground running as I had 3 exchanges pretty much back to back this week, which was a bit insane!

On Monday we had a district p-day, and it was so fun to see everyone! Elder Schmidt and I were in the MTC together and now he is my District Leader! We also have some new soeurs in Valenciennes so that has been a blast too!  We decided to keep the Christmas Spirit alive and have a Secret Santa! It was so cute to see what everyone got for each other. Elder Jones had me, and he said because I'm ending my mission soon and heading back to be a college student, he decided to give me a college survival kit! It was so cute! I got some Oreos, a pink piggy headband (because I like pink and pigs) to use when washing my face, and some singing soap (oh yea 😎). The best part was that he even wrote me an "Adjusting to Normal Life" brochure and it is the greatest thing ever! It's a play off of the "Adjusting to Missionary Life" booklet all missionaries get to help us adjust to missionary life! It's full of mental, physical, and emotional tips and tricks for really any big life adjustment! It honestly was my lifeline during training! This cute brochure he wrote for me is honestly spot on and something I will definitely keep forever! We have been trying to urge him to send it to Church headquarters to get published! 😂 It seriously is the cutest, and one of the greatest things I've ever gotten! I love this district! 

I also started the week in exchanges with the Paris STLS! I was with Soeur Wilson and we worked out of Paris. It was an awesome exchange! We talked to a lot of people and had some pretty cool conversations! We talked to a physicist on the metro about science and religion. It was super interesting! It made me think of my grandpa the entire time, so it was a really neat experience for me. We also gave a Book of Mormon away to the last person we talked to and have been in contact with him ever since! Crossing our fingers he reads it! 

#Miracle

We have a miracle ami! Her name is Rita and she is a reference we received from the missionaries in Portugal, and guess what?? She already has a baptism date!! C'est vrai! She literally came to us with a baptism date already on the books! It was originally suppose to be the weekend we got the reference, but that was a bit to soon to get everything put into place, so it'll probably happen in February. We met her for the first time this week and she is the cutest person ever! We met her at her house and she told us pretty much her whole life story and how much she loves to cook, and that she cooks with love which is what makes all the difference! She also shared with us that she has wanted to develop a personal relationship with God, and how much that means to her. She has attended other églises, but truly loves learning and being active in our church because of how close she feels to God on a personal level. She shared with us that her whole life she has been going to church because she had too, not really because she wanted to. Now she is ready to make the choice for herself, and to attend church because she wants to, not because she is expected to and wants to be baptized as part of realizing her goal to deepen her conviction and relationship with God. Incredible!  

We are planning on going over one day and she is going to teach us how to cook! 😂 She also speaks English, which was a bit of a surprise. Sometimes I forget what it's like to connect to someone in English. It was kind of nice, but at the same time a bit weird to speak English. 😂 Rita is seriously incredible! She is also pregnant with her first child, and their excitement is so cute! I'm so excited for them! It was cute, because she and her husband live with her mom for the time being, and as we were leaving we asked if we would see them at church. They asked what time, we said 9h (yea, it's a bit painful, LOL but it"s worth it!) and both her and her mom gave an oh geez kind of look then said, "Well, we have to sacrifice for the Lord!" Good answer!  😂 When Sunday came, we didn't see her because she got the flu! I definitely know how that feels and am very much hoping she feels better soon!

This week I also had exchanges with Soeur Taylor from Arras and Sœur Stevens from Lille and they went super well! To be honest, not a whole lot happened. We did a lot of calling old numbers, which actually turned out pretty incredible since we were able to teach a lesson on the spot and get a new friend in our secteur! #Miracle 

Soeur Stevens and I also went to go visit Julian. Unfortunately, we couldn't find another woman to join us, so we couldn't go into his appartment for a lesson, but we stilled stopped by to say hello. He seemed a bit sick himself, so maybe it was for the best, but he still appreciated that we came by! 

While we were there, we decided to door knock in his apartment building for a bit. Not a whole lot of responses. One person even seemed very confused and didn't want to talk, but we did have somewhat of a conversation with another lady! However, in the middle of our conversation with her, her neighbor came home and they just started having a conversation themselves...while we were standing there... at the door... in between them. It was sooooo awkward! We pretty much just stood there smiling, waiting for the lady to talk to us again. 😅 She finally did, and then gave us five reasons to say no, so we gave her five reasons to say yes! LOL! In the end, she wasn't too interested anyway. Ça va ! It was still a good exchange! 

We also had a mangez-vous this week with two of my favorite families ! The Gouttin's and the Duez ! It is always so much fun at their house and they also cook really well! Definitely a plus! It was full of laughter as President Duez shared stories from his mission and us from ours, while we enjoyed watching the Gouttin kids do what siblings do! 🤣 Honestly, always a highlight to be with them! Moments I never wanted to end! 

Okay, so my medical mysteries continue this week! I woke up twice with hives all over my legs! I know! So weird! We have no idea where they came from. I texted the mission nurse and she told me to take Benadryl. Heureusement, (fortunately) I did as I was told, and the hives went away super quickly, but as we all know Benadryl makes you want to take a nap! Malheureusement, (unfortunately) we had a few meetings via FaceTime....and yes, everyone saw me fighting to stay awake! Yep, that was a fun experience! 😬 Luckily though, after about 2 weeks, I was finally able to talk to the regional doctor for our mission, and he was able to put me on some antibiotics and give me some other medication that has really helped so I am FINALLY starting to feel better! 

Spiritual Thought

There is one scripture that kept coming to my mind this week. As normal, everyday and easy paths seemed like an absolute trek while I was sick, I was very much relying on the power of the priesthood and prayer. I want to express how thankful I am for the priesthood. While I have been sick I have asked the Elders on two different occasions for blessings. They said yes without thinking twice. Even though they were strictly blessings of health, they were beautifully given. I am so thankful for the priesthood in my life because it really does make that much of a difference! I am also thankful for the Elders and for my friends who I serve with! They really are incredible! They remind me of a scripture in Ether. I know I've probably already shared it before, but it seems fitting! 

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." ( Ether 12:27) 

When I was super sick, I was incredibly weak. It was hard for me to do almost anything. But in taking time to rely on those around me, as I rely on the power of God, I was able to be supported and find strength in their strength. They made me strong. It was a moment where I had to quite literally stop everything I was doing on focus my efforts on what was truly important. Those of Christ. I am so thankful that Christ has invited us to come unto Him and partake of His power because even when I am weak, I know I can be strong! 

I love you all! À bientôt ! 🥰

- Soeur Hansen