May 15th, 2017

It feels like winter jumped to summer. Where's spring?

What a week this one has been! It started off with exchanges on Tuesday. I lead the lesson for Iman, it was on keeping the Sabbath day holy. We helped her make a list of things she could do to make Sunday more special and more focused on God. She's doing so great!

Wednesday was zone conference here in Nancy. It was fun to meet so many more missionaries and hear from President and Sœur Babin. They talked about how important it is for a missionary to be consecrated and really focused on the goal of why we are here. To help others be happy for eternity!

Thursday we went to Paris and did some legality stuff. It was mostly just so fun to see my district from the MTC and hear how they are doing! Had some great time catching up with Sœur Daines, miss her for sure!!

One of the best times of the week was the train ride home. We were in a car with a bunch of high schoolers on a field trip so the teachers asked if we wanted to switch into another car. So we did and we ended up sitting across from the coolest couple in the world!! He was born on France and is an engineer, he helps to design and build bridges all over France. She is from South Africa and has been in France for about 4 years. They met last summer when she was living in a tent on the border of Germany and France and while he was staying for work. I think he has a motor home or something. Well they met but he doesn't speak English and she speaks a little French but he wouldn't let her just stay on the side of the road! So they've been traveling together ever since and are now engaged! They're both around 45 or so. She is Buddhist and was willing to just talk and talk. She has a great perspective on life and on that we all need to help each other. She also believes that anything life gives us will make us stronger. When she found out that we were Mormon she said that she has a cousin in New York who is too and that we have very beautiful beliefs. So basically when she gets the chance she's going to accept the gospel. She's so close to being prepared!

On Saturday we were also asked to help out with a primary activity for mothers day so we took a picture with some cute girls in the ward!

Also the past few days have been SO warm!!

This week I loved a line in 1 Corinthians 14:26 "Let all things be done unto edifying". A good reminder that what we do matters! Go help someone out today!

Sœur Giles




Nancy Zone Conference - May 2017

We were able to have a video call with Soeur Giles on Mother's day. She is so happy and loves serving. She has a wonderful companion and they are working hard every day!

May 8th, 2017

Miracles are everywhere!

1. We watched 17 miracles with recent convert Iman and she loved it!!
2. Had Domino's pizza at district meeting
3. Met with a less active who has such a strong testimony but has a hard time coming to church. She also has the cutest daughter ever!
4. Met with our ami Giselle and she said she was open to coming to church next week
5. Met with a less active Clara, who recently changed around her life to be focused entirely on Christ and sharing his love. We can't wait to see her again!!
6. Our mami ami made us African beignets, so delicious!
7. We didn't get lost going to that same members house for dinner on Thursday
8. She made us crab and garlic stuffed chicken with curry, one of the best meals I've had
9. We went running one morning through Place Stanislaus and saw some beautiful trees
10. Met with our ami Elizabeth who said she would read the book of Mormon. We read the conference talk by Elder Costa to the amis of the church and she really loved it. We are bringing it to her in Portuguese this week so she can understand it even better, that's her first language
11. Met with a less active who has a handicapped son and can't come to church. We shared conference talk perfect love casteth out fear. We think it really helped her feel calm!
12. A less active's 10 yr old grandson is really interested in the plan of salvation. He believes God is our heavenly father!
13. Did some area book work and found an old ami Queen. We had a rendezvous on Saturday, she said they would come to church. She was very accepting to the restoration
14. Sacrament meeting ended and they hadn't showed up... thought they weren't going to show but then walked out into the foyer and there they were!! Queen, her husband, her daughter, and her brother!! They are from Nigerian and don't speak a lot of french so we had to translate Sunday school and relief society but she said they'd come back.
15. Had a wonderful salad for dinner on Sunday
16. Each day Sœur Warr is so motivated and helps me so much to be brave and talk!
17. Two potentials that we haven't talked to in a while CALLED us to meet, hopefully that goes well!
To finish off a week full of awesome experiences, we went bowling.
I know that the gospel has the best message of eternity. It is a message of joy and hope. Through Christ we can overcome all!
If you have time watch the Mormon message "A Shower of Heavenly Blessings".
Keep looking up!
Sœur Giles



To finish off a week full of awesome experiences, we went bowling.




We got caught in a rainstorm one day!








Had a wonderful salad for dinner on Sunday





















Letter to Mom:
Literally everyone we talk to is talking about the election, everyone was so scared and so many hate the woman that ran. But she didn't win so that's good! Macron won, I think he's pretty middle.
The language is definitely coming, slowly but I can understand mostly. On Sunday we had an English ami come so I had to translate the gospel principle lesson from French to English for him, I did okay I think! He was also reading the English book on my tablet.
We teach a good amount of lessons, since they don't count that as a stat anymore I have no idea how many we teach but they've been pretty good! I've been adding to more of the lessons we go teach. I love the people!!
Sounds like the parties were fun, tell everyone you meet that I say hi and that I'm doing well. AH I miss our stake. I'm excited for the spectacle on the 20th (Paris Temple), to see so many members! We are also going to all three sessions of the consecration, woo!
And those verses are so true. In the end we will be judged on who we have become not what we have done. We have to become like Christ and be so humble to do that. It's awesome to read the scriptures and pick those things out that directly apply to us and help us. Thanks for helping me!
Hmm what else...i don't know it was just a great week! As always! :)
Hope you get my card, love you!!
Hannah
Also what's grandma' s address? I found a cute card to send to her too!




Letter to Dad:
I knew missions went by fast but it's going by too fast!! There's never enough time to get everything done. My French is definitely coming. This past week I held a few conversations but it's still hard to understand people. It's definitely gotten so much better though.
Right now we actually have more investigators than Sœur Warr has ever had in her mission! Pretty cool! We're booked this week so we won't see very many members.
We have exchanges on Tuesday, zone conference on Wednesday, and we're going Paris on Thursday for legality. It'll be busy!
We usually only have one big meal a day, sandwiches for lunch and then a member for dinner or chicken and rice. We had a great salad last night :D also the patisserie for the week was a Paris Brest, filled with lots of good cream!!
Hmmm- favorite family...probably the Couteriers! They have 3 boys, 16, 13, and 7. Enzo, Louis, and Yan. They are half Italian and half French. So awesome!!
Looked like some good bike rides!! The weather has been the same here. Just so misty and foggy and cold. Come summer please!!
Elder Christofferson sounds awesome!! Cassidy is for sure blessed.
This week was normal, rendezvous and studying and finding, it's going well!
Thanks for all the pictures, I love them!
Love, Hannah

May 1st, 2017

There are at least four Émile Gallé streets

There were a few good/crazy things that happened this week! On tuesday we met with a lady in our ward, sœur N'goyanadji from central Africa. We shared a thought about Joseph Smith and personal revelation with her. We asked her how she had seen God answer her prayers. She told us of a few experiences she has had. When she was a little girl in Africa, there was a huge storm in her village and her family was praying super hard because their house was not very strong and they did not have enough money to build another one. She remembers praying all together and pleading for safety. When the storm passed, most of the houses around were destroyed, but their little house was protected! Also about a year ago she was wondering why she wasn't doing anything in the church, she didn't have a calling. She prayed to God to know why she wasn't helping in His church. That very day she received a calling as a primary teacher! She is amazing!

The next day we had a mangezvous with Maité, ami Mami Irène, and recent convert Iman. We had a great time laughing and talking about Utah, Maité's dog zuzu, and grandchildren. We then shared the video, Because of Him and talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ, each of us personally can feel loved, feel hope, and be given strength. He is the greatest gift!

Thursday was just crazy. We tried to visit a member family who lives on the edge of Nancy but we were lost for 2 hours. We had their address but walked to that address in the village next to them. Well Gill, the man, had to walk and come find us. It was an adventure! But we did miss our rendezvous that was supposed to be after them..

Saturday we had a mini finding day in Épinal! There is a team of elders there in our district. So we went porting and talked to some nice people. We also found them a new family to teach! They accepted a book of Mormon and were open to meet again. The picture of the river is in Épinal!

The gospel is true and changes people's lives. It is the way to happiness and joy. Look for the ways Heavenly Father has blessed you, I promise He has!

Sœur Giles

another birthday party with Maité!

It was the birthday of an elder in our district so we made a banner!

Classic missionary railroad picture.

The picture of the river is in Épinal!

Letter to Mom:


Good morning!! Busy weeks makes time go by fast. I felt like it was just p day! This definitely was a crazy week. Lots of plans changed and things like that. We are doing very well! It really feels normal to be here. Whenever we travel outside of Nancy, coming back into the Nancy gare feels like driving down the grade. Almost home!
You can do everything you need to do, sorry you don't have a little fairy helping you with everything but ask the missionaries if you do need some help, seriously any little thing is good. As a missionary, I AM SO HAPPY when members ask us to do things. Yesterday our ami Mami Irène (mami means grandma :) left her bag at the church so Maité, a member called us because we have the keys. So they picked us up and we went back to the church to get. Mami Irène was so worried so when we found it, she gave us huge bisous! It was so cute :)
Sad about your tooth! I'll pray for you. Doctors will take good care of you!
Go Clay!! Is he playing well? Is he enjoying it? Did he get my letter? How's school going?
I have received those letters, I love it!! Thank you so much!! Also I love those pictures, so cute!! I love the tandem, can't wait for when it's my turn! :)
But the mission is so awesome. My favorite thing to do is hear the members talk about their experiences and their conversions. It is so powerful. Also I played the piano in sacrament meeting yesterday! Thank goodness I wrote down some easy ones to play because I haven't been able to practice at all.
So only sœurs who are leaving after this transfer are helping at the open house. We just got to go one time, but we are going to watch all 3 dedication ceremonies and watch the spectacle. Woohoo!
Love you!!


Letter to Dad:


These past few days have been SO nice. The weather feels like Camarillo., except today is raining. But it's been wonderful. I've heard it gets really hot here in the summer and I'll probably be here another 5 months so I'll really get to experience it! Paris was so awesome, so many people. I got to see a few people from my group in the mtc, which the mtc feels like years ago. I told mom too, but coming back into the Nancy gare in a train feels like coming down the grade into Camarillo, almost home! The eclairs here are so good. We also ate macaroons this week. I had raspberry and sœur Warr had chocolate. They were so soft and delicious! Also we ate a croissant with an almond frosting and almond slivers. Super good!! And for dinner last night we had nutella crêpes. This week we will eat more healthy but I have try everything first! You'd love it here hahaha. This week I did try cheese with real mold in it. The kind that is furry. I haven't died yet so it's probably fine!
Nancy is definitely a beautiful place, lots of crazies, lots of cats and dogs, lots of busy people.
My comp thought it was so nice that you waved to her house! Glad the car worked well. There are a good amount of Audi's here. Seeing them reminds me of the two times I got to drive yours :D
Woohoo mission prep!! Such a great thing. That's actually one thing I really love about the book of Mormon. There are so many regular people who are awesome tools for the Lord to use because of their dedication. My mission president sent me this quote in his email to me. Elder Neal A Maxwell said "God does not begin by asking our ability only for our availability and if we prove our dependability he will increase our capability" .It's so cool how the more we act on promptings and when we become more reliable , we become such a better tool for the Lord. The sons of Mosiah continued to be strong in the Lord and helped so many people. I will study that chain of Ammon this week.
I can't wait to hear the Joseph Smith experience! These past few weeks when we visit members, we talk about him and how we can also receive personal answers. I had a cool experience last week. I as reading in John when Christ appeared to Mary at the tomb when he was resurrected, and I had the thought to just ask if it was real. So I did and I felt such a strong confirmation of the Spirit that it is. Christ lives and he loves us! Have a great week!
Love, Hannah

April 24th, 2017

Baguette vending machine

So the vending machine actually makes the baguettes during the day all by itself, what a genius invention, I might need one in my house!

Anyways this week was super good. First district meeting was on Tuesday, and I learned a lot! It was about being a more consecrated missionary. As a zone, this transfer we are really focusing on working hard but also working well. It should be an awesome transfer.

 
Thursday we went to the open house of the Paris temple!! It was absolutely beautiful. It is truly the house of God! It was a lot of traveling but very worth it. We also went to Chipotle, a good taste of regular food!

After that we went to the Couturier's home for dinner. We had a barbecue! We then ate an awesome cake, it was chocolate but also had olives on it so strange combination but good, with the coolest candle ever!!! I know its a bad picture, from a video...

We taught a lesson on the Fall and Adam and Eve to a recent convert, Iman. We were able to teach about the importance of choosing between good and evil. It's the greatest gift. Iman really understood and appreciated Adam and Eve. Because of them, we have the chance to have everlasting joy.

Other than that the week just flew. I am so happy to be a missionary and I love that Heavenly Father is always finding ways to bless his children. He loves you!

Sœur Giles

Paris Temple

The Avenue des Champs-Élysées 

Couturier's home - really cool candle!

Letter to Mom,


Ah mom that's so awesome. Glad you're doing well :) honestly doesn't feel weird to be 20, it's just weird to talk about it haha. So cool that Elder Christofferson is coming, he will for sure enjoy the choir. Also Cassidy is singing in the choir?? Cool cool. She sent me a picture of her dress, so pretty. Also tell me about the dress you wore to the wedding!!
I love that analogy with the salt. I really in Ether 6 this week. Read it and apply it to life. Why doesn't the Lord just push the jaridites with a nice breeze? Think of the boat as the Holy ghost and the stones as Christ.
Glad Clay is enjoying baseball and that his team did well. Is anyone playing catch with him? :) tell him I would if I could!! Also I had the thought yesterday for him to start reading the tennis shoes among the Nephites books! I remember reading them in middle school and really being interested in the book of Mormon after that. It made the characters come to life. Also I remember reading one of them in the bathroom late at night, yes I did that a lot haha, and being so touched by the spirit when Christ came to the Nephites after he was resurrected. Anyways just a thought for him!
I loved walking through the temple and remembering the covenants that we make. Honestly God is giving us so so much. We are promised so many awesome blessings when we obey.
Keep it up mom, I love you so much!!
Hannah


Letter to Dad,




Ah Dad I know im so sorry for not emailing you back last week!! I really appreciate hearing about your week! I wrote a draft for last weeks as well. Here it is.
Thanks so much, especially for the birthday cake emoji, just delicious!! It's been pretty cold this past week but I think it's supposed to warm up this week and start spring. It's only rained one time. So my comp had a baptism the Saturday before I got here so we have been reteaching the lessons to her. Right now we have lots of potentials but only one progressing ami. We are working hard for more!
Sounds like work is getting pretty busy! Has the USC deal been finalized or is that more of a continual process? #3 exec though!! Go dad!! I'm sure he enjoyed your new car.
I'm glad all the reception turned out well. Have you used the new smoker yet??
I haven't had snails yet! Closest thing was snail butter but not too many weird foods yet. Something different here is that they eat vegetables by themselves, not in a salad. Almost everyone for dinner has a bowl of cucumbers covered in sour cream, another bowl of tomatoes with olive oil and spices, and another bowl of shredded carrots. It's interesting!


The temple tour was amazing. There was some cool sun, moon, star Stain glass window pieces. Also the chairs are very comfortable. So the Chipotle we went to after the temple was on the Champs...we were there just a few hours before the terrorist attack. Heavenly Father takes care of his missionaries, we were long gone on a train by then. We were supposed to have exchanges in Paris this week but that got changed, they will be here in Nancy the next week I think. We have quite a few meetings with new amis this week, I'm excited to start teaching.
Here they only bisou 2 times, the left then to the right. It's just pretty normal now. Unfortunately the Harry Potter store isn't open on Mondays and we don't really have time during the week so we just look in the window sometimes!
Have another great week! Love , Hannah

April 17, 2017

April 17, 2017

Lots of Kinder Chocolate!

My bleue ville is Nancy! It's on the east side of France, a few hours from Paris.

The flight here was long, I sat next to a guy from Holland! President and Sœur Babin picked us up and drove us to the mission office where we started contacting. I contacted with Sœur Bishop who has been out for 11 months, we gave out a few copies of the Book of Mormon. This is what I contributed in all our conversations combined : 3 Bonjours, and one 20 second prayer. She was a fearless missionary!!

The next day we met our trainers, mine is Sœur Warr from Santa Clarita, California! Every where I go I meet someone who knows where Camarillo is, small world. We took the bullet train to Nancy and quickly changed into normal clothes. Nancy is awesome because they have young adult activites ! The ward is here relatively big. So Wednesday night we had a sports night with a few of the members and some Amis. The next day we had a mangez-vous with a member Maité and her friend Irène. They are both old ladies and love the missionaries, we had a great time with them. Maité actually knows my teacher from the MTC Sœur Kitchen, that was a nice tender mercy!

I'm not sure why people think French people aren't very nice because almost all of them are so kind and encouraging!! I love them! On Thursday we did some finding and my goal was to start some of the conversations. The first woman I talked to, Charlotte, was so receptive and nice!
A lot of the contacts we do, we share the Easter video. It is awesome, definitely watch it soon please! Each time I watch it, I feel Christ's love for the whole world. He truly lived, died, and lives again so we can have eternal joy. Through Him we can have peace!

The bizarre event of the week was having dinner with the family Nisse. They are less actives. I don't really know how to describe them...definitely French! They fed us lamb covered in snail butter. Meals take a really long time here, we had at least 4 courses, we started at 7 and we had to rush the desert out to finish by 9. They just don't stop talking!

Church yesterday was very refreshing! The members are so fun. An elder that just finished this past Wednesday actually came with his family to visit the ward, it was nice talking to them. Actually his brother served in Taiwan with the Blickenstaffs, their last name is Long! I don't think the world could get any smaller.

I absolutely love it here. I'm so grateful for Sœur Warr, she works so hard and is very dedicated to bringing this happy message to everyone around us. She's a great example to me.
One scripture that i loved this week was Psalms 62:8. A lot of people we talk to say that God is all around us but he can actually be with us! He answers our prayers because He loves us!

Have a great week!

Sœur Giles





Gratitude Wall, at the MTC




Bus ride to the airport from the MTC

Arrived at the airport in Paris!




Breakfast at the mission home




meeting their new trainer today




dinner at the mission home




First trainer, Soeur Warr!










Consecration Hill

Seour Warr, from Santa Clarita, California - Hannah's trainer




We heart attacked Maité to thank her for lunch.

Yummy pastry!

President and Sœur Babin





























Letter to Mom:


That sounds incredible Mom!! I cant wait for the pictures! Also tell me about the dress you were wearing for the wedding?!? It's beautiful! Not the one you ordered right?

It has been quite the week, most of it is in the group email but I just wanted to tell you that I love you and I am so grateful for all your help in preparing me for this! You've always been a great example to me and I see how strong you are and how much you love the lord. Keep it up mom! Also you'd be proud of me, I'm not really that scared to go up and talk to random people! A lot of them do say I don't have time but a lot of them do talk about their beliefs. You could totally be a missionary!
The transportation system is really confusing for me and I usually have no idea where we are but I know which bus to take to get to the church and how to get to a grocery store! 

We talked to such a nice lady yesterday at the bus stop. The bus was really late so we got to talk for a long time! She was interested in life after death because her husband died 20 years ago but she says she can still feel him here. She's been prepared! Sadly she wouldn't give us her number so hopefully she will call us sometime. We gave her a Book of Mormon too! 

We haven't taught many lessons, just little thoughts for the families we visit. They had a baptism last Saturday, her name is Iman and she is the cutest Armenian lady ever to be seen!!
We get to go to the Paris temple on Thursday,part of the vip open house, the most perfect birthday present. Thanks for your package! Greatly appreciated mom :) I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Hannah

We heart attacked Maité to thank her for lunch. Picture from consecration hill. Our gratitude wall from the MTC. Bus ride to the airport. And a random building!

April 7th, 2017

10 hour flight here I come!

This week has flown by! It started off great with general conference. Those prophets have been called of God and do speak his word. I am so grateful that God loves us so much that he would provide a way for us to come to learn more about him and learn more how to have happiness in this life. Fun fact Elder Costa and Elder Palmer each came to the MTC and spoke to us the past two Tuesdays! Everyone cheered when they walked up to talk. I loved President Monson's talk about how important the Book of Mormon is. Seriously, read it every single day!!

Sunday night vocal point from BYU came and sang. It was awesome!!! Listen to Nearer My God to Thee by them as soon as you can. It is so powerful and awesome and inspiring. Please listen to it!

This week was a little crazy. On Monday we had TRC with a real person this week! His name is Adam from Bordeaux. It was super cool. He likes to ride his bike and he delivers pizza!
Tuesday and Wednesday we taught our last lessons and had some really fun times with our teachers, they told awesome stories.

Thursday was in field orientation and we did a lot of contacting. They also talked about how important the members are in helping people have a good experience at church and can help support their testimony as well.

I am super excited to get to France and spread the joy of the gospel. I may not be able to speak much but through God anything is possible.

Sœur Giles

*******************************************************************************Letter to Mom,

Mom you are awesome!!! There are so many tender mercies here. I absolutely love studying and planning lessons. Often my questions are answered when I study for my investigators.

Can't believe Lucas is getting married tomorrow, I'm glad everything is working out.
I'm so excited for Ruth!! I can't wait to see her. Soooo many people have or are or will serve in paris. The work is hastening for sure. I can't wait to get out there. I have been reading a lot of my teacher's emails from when he served, he has them all printed out in a binder . They are hilarious! The members are so kind and there are so many opportunities to teach people.

Also I love your tandem bike poem, it's such a good analogy. I miss Grandpa, he was so kind and gentle and loving, can't wait to see him again!
On Monday, we leave for the airport a little after 12, so I will probably be able to call in-between 2 and 4. Hopefully you won't be going through a bad cell phone area...

Also thank you so much for the package and thank clay for his letter, I'll send him one back!
I'll talk to you soon! Love you so much!

Sœur Hannah Giles