We've had another great week! Last Monday we were able to go and visit lots of World War I sites. This area of France suffered a lot of damage during those years and most of the places are preserved. We got to go up close to so many remnants of buildings and churches. We also went to see the trenches! Walking through them was so interesting! It was thundering while we were there which made it feel more real. Each year French and German students come together and clean them. We also saw an american cemetery and monument. The Americans were able to do a lot of good over here.
We had a fun rendezvous with our amie Chloé! We went to the church and made cookies together. She loves american cookies haha but we also showed her around and talked about the restoration of the church. She was very interested in all the classes we have and all the activities we do. She does not have a big religious background so she thought it was so cool that our church is a big family and help each other out. She works on Sundays but she will come to some young adult activities!
We had a good rendezvous with Cyril also. We talked about the atonement of Christ and how much it can help us. He took it really well. Unfortunately he lost his phone and didn't show up to church. Hopefully we can find him around town!
So we visited this young couple in the ward last week and we ended talking about how they want to share the gospel with their friends but that they are pretty nervous. Since then, we have thought of a few ideas of how to work with them. Then yesterday during fast and testimony meeting, the husband, a convert of about 4 years, got up and bore a 1 minute testimony on the power of missionary work. It was so powerful and so meaningful knowing that it is something hard for him but he did it anyways!!
I read a great talk today from the April general conference about the role of the Holy Ghost. With this gift we can be warned of danger, comforts us, and testifies of truth. As we seek for God's help and ask for it, He will help us along the way. I know it!
Have a great week!
Sœur Giles
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Letter to Mom and Dad,
Looks like you had tons of fun! Gramma did alright? Thanks for the pictures!
These past 2 weeks have been crazy! We have had lots of lessons, amis and less actives. Its going well! Most everyone is on vacation though. People here leave for a whole month so church has been pretty empty! But they are starting to trickle back in, thank goodness!
Last Monday was super awesome!! Frère Houmeau took us all over! He has such a cool story and speaks about 6 languages, he does some translating for the church as well. We started in Pont a Mousson, a smaller town north of here. We learned about some architecture-old buildings from the renaissance and before. In the main town square they designated whose shop was whose by a head on the arch so I took a picture of one haha then he showed us the little statue for the american ambulance drivers. They were very crucial in this part of France. We also went and visited some destroyed villages. One had a replica of the church and some remnants as well. One of the towns was all mapped out! We then went and saw some areas where Germans had blown up some trenches. They were just huge pits in the earth, cool! Something interesting is that there is still no grass there. I took a picture of the chart describing the effects of the bombs. Finally we went to the trenches! The Germans build some nice sturdy ones with rocks while the French just settled for lumps of dirt piled up. It was so weird walking through them. It was thundering a little bit while we were there...that made it feel more real! When we went to visit the American monuments, we saw a group of bike riders riding up the hill as well and we talked to them a little at the top and they took a picture for us! One of them had been to Utah before. Its a pretty steep hill so I was impressed. I'll give you full details of pictures when I show them to you in person!
I did a good study on gratitude and why Heavenly Father needs to be thanked. Its kind of a crazy circle. But I found that when we are grateful, Heavenly Father promises us so many blessings! He made this all for us and and wants to help us progress and being thankful allows that. When we are grateful for the Spirit, he blesses us with it more and we are able to become better and align our will with his. Then I thought about how it is His work and glory for us to progress. So in turn, He progresses as we do! It makes it way more meaningful to be thankful to think about how much good comes about because of it.
In addition to that , I have been thinking about the scripture Matthew 7:7. It is the ask and ye shall recieve verse. Heavenly Father doesn't hide anything from us, his mysteries can be unfolded as we seek them. I love this concept. Nephi experiences this a lot in 1 Nephi. He desires to know what is father had seen and he was filled with peace and belief in his father's words.
This is the last week of the transfer which is super weird to think about but here we are 6 weeks later! This Saturday we will find out what happens to our dear trio. We have so much fun together and it would be super awesome to stay together another transfer. But most likely at least one of us will be transferred. With our new president, anything could happen!
Here are tons of pictures!
Love you!
Sœur Giles
Pictures from WWI memorial sites
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