Perpignan 5:1

This week had some really cool things, and some half disasters too. So

I'll start with the half disaster, it's called soirée film, aka,

activities are stressful.

So the ward planned this great activity called soirée film, or cinéma.

Basically all the ward got together to watch a movie and then potluck

after. So basically we did all we could to get as many members there

as we could and then our Amis too. So we sent out reminders, we called

people and we told all our Amis, and set up a meeting time to go

together.

In the end only one of our Amis said they could come, but that was

fine, one is an improvement. So we planned on meeting him at the bus

stop and then we were going to go together. All was well planned out.

So Friday came, and we had 2 rdv set up right before we would meet up

to go. So we had a lesson with one of the other Amis, it was good, but

it went over time because he was late, so our next rdv was with a less

active recent convert, and so we started that one late, and he wanted

to buy us diner, so we went to quick (burger joint) and he bought us

some food and then we started, but by the time we started we only had

like 20 minutes, so we felt really bad that he had bought us all this

stuff because we only had a few minutes. But anyways, we finish the

lesson and he says he will wait with us for our Amis. So we are

waiting together, and our ami isn't showing up, the only bus we can

take comes and goes, and still no sign. Finally, with only 10 minutes

to get there ( and the church was 30 mins away walking) our ami showed

up, yay!!! And he brought a friend, double yay!!!!! This is where our

less active saves the day.

There are only 2 buses that go to the church, and the next to come was

in 30 mins, so Eduardo offers to run to his friends house, and pick up

his car then drive us all there. But in the end that would take about

as much time as the next bus, but then we decide to take a different

bus which takes us half way there and then Eduardo would get the car

and we would go. So we jump on the bus, and our Amis have no money for

the bus... So what does Eduardo do? He buys their tickets and then

drives like a mad man to get us to the church on time.

So finally we get to the church and we are only about 10 mins late,

but in the craze of getting there, we didn't have time to explain that

we couldn't stay with them. So we run inside together, and then get

them in, and then pretty much just ditch them saying we would be back

at the end (lie, the movie would end after curfew, but we hadn't had

anytime to explain anything else so it was all we could really say)

So pretty much we go in a room in the church and die, because it was

such a disaster, and we were freaking out because we didn't have a

chance to talk to anyone about driving them home, we couldn't

introduce them to anyone and they really had no idea why we couldn't

watch with them. Disaster. But atleast they were there and there were

Lots of members too. So we were okay.

But then, I thought I heard someone in the hall way and hoping it was

a member that we could talk to about our Amis I looked out. Not a

member, it was the friend of our ami, she said she couldn't stay and

so we asked why, and she said that she thought it was going to be a

movie about God and it wasn't, so she needed to go hope and finish

packing because she was leaving the next day to see her mom....

DISASTER!!!!!

We profusely apologized for the lack of communication, we had no idea

they were expecting a church movie, we thought we had explained that

it was more a party to get to know everyone...but I guess not. And so

they left, maybe 15 mins into the he movie, and then our ami didn't

show up to the rdv we fixed with him for the next day. DISASTER!

But the silver lining, Eduardo the recent convert who helped us get

our Amis there brought us a calzone for dinner. And it was delicious,

we ate it for breakfast. :)

And then Saturday the whole day was full of tombez-vous, which means

all our plans fell through and we had nothing to do and the whole day

to do it.

Now for the good things, we met with a couple, they have been less

active for a while and the wife has been a member for 2 years or so.

We were talking and as we talked she said that she had a lot of

questions about certain things, and she didn't understand the plan of

salvation. AT ALL. So we were able to have a really good lesson with

them and help her sort through some concerns. We're going to too

restart the lessons with them. She said that she wants us to be there

when her and her husband are able to be sealed in the temple :) it was

very sweet,but she really doesn't understand the gospel, so we have a

lot of work to do. But I'm excited.

And also we had lunch after church at Another less actives. She was

baptized about 5 or 6 years ago and went inactive right away. She has

really started to open up to us and we really hope to help her come

back, lucid invited her to lunch on Saturday too, and so I hope with

time she'll feel the love of the members and come back, because she

definitely has a testimony of the restoration, and she really relies

on Christ, so we have hopes.

Aaaand, this last Sunday the son of one of my most favorite people

(boltor's) came to church out of the blue. And it was awesome because

everyone talked to him and the boltor's were really thankful. She said

to me look look, my son is here, and then after I talked to him, frére

b expressed a lot of gratitude. I hope he starts coming back for real.

The boltor's are the greatest.

So all in all, kind of a crazy week.

I read something that I really like, it's a quotation by president

hinckley. He said concerning words or phrases that impress us during

our studies, "write it down, reflect upon it until we savor the depth

of its meaning and have made it apart of our lives."

I really love that because I think that is something I really need to

work on. There are reasons certain things we here at church or

conference of when we study the gospel stick out to us, and as we take

those things and really focus on them I think we learn and become who

God wants us to.

Avec beaucoup d'amour!!!!!!!!!!

Sister Christensen

Sent from my iPad

Can we take a minute to talk about the worst thing in the world. I
don't even know how to express the feeling I get when I go to a
members home and the salad ends up being tomatoes, straight tomatoes.
Can you imagine that feeling of having a plate full of he worst food
in the world in front of you, knowing you have only one glass of juice
to help you scarf it down...

I have eaten more tomatoes in the past week then I have ever eaten in
my entire life.

I am really trying to like them,  but I am so far completely
unsuccessful. Completely.

Perpignan 4:5

Wow these weeks are flying by!

Something's from this week:

1) we met President and Sister Brown on Wednesday. And... I LOVE THEM!!!

They are full of love, and they have the feel of wise grandparents.

Sister Brown gave a really touching testimony, and she reminded me of

mom because she showed us pictures of her grandkids and you could tell

how much them mean to her. And when we met President Brown he knew all

of our first names as well as last names, which I LOVED, because it

made me feel like he knew me, not just the missionary me, but Camrie

too. It was nice. And I felt so much love from them. I was so happy

after the conference with them that all I could say was how wonderful

they were, every second, all I could think of was how wonderful

conference was and how much I loved them. That was definitely the

highlight.

2) we sang in church. Divin amour. I sang alto, sr.staples soprano,

and the elders did tenor and bass. It was okay... Sister staples sang

the first verse by her self, and it was AMAZING! And the we all sang

for the last 2. It definitely could of been worse.. But. Haha. There

was one part I kept messing up, and we all kind of got lost once, but

it was okay.. Soeur staples saved us.

3) July 14th is their national holiday. Bastille day, I think it's

called, but anyways. We went to this outer ville with the elders and a

member and we met the ami there. It is seriously the cutest place.

It's in the middle of these little mountains, everything is green. And

we had a picnic in this little park, there were swans swimming in the

little pond. So nice, I just want to move there!!! It's called verné

le Bain . Or something like that. On the drive over we passed the most

stereotypical French countryside. We passed so many small villages

with a big chateau. It was really cool, but I didn't take any

pictures:( I was kind of stuck in between my companion and elder

Bryce...so not much room to get my camera out and snap some pics. :(

4) Chinese buffet!!! it was elder peterson's birthday, so we went out

for Chinese. So good. So so good. And I, pretty sure I ate more than

everyone else. But it was so good. They had everything! And I told my

self I had to try it all... So I did. No regrets. And then at the end

the member we were with paid for all of us! He said he really really

wanted to, and I said we could but he just really wanted to, and so it

happened, and I almost cried because he is the nicest person ever!!!!!

(Jean brousse, if I ever say a member did a nice thing for us, it was

him, it's always him)

5) bananas. So this week was filled with bananas. I think we made

banana bread 4 times, and we made banana cookies, and banana pancakes.

So delicious, all of it, but I do not want to look at another banana

for atleast 2 weeks. And with that in mind, guess what our ami showed

up with to give us... Yes, a nice big bunch of already ripe bananas.

I'm out of ideas. Banana muffins next maybe. Even thinking about it I

almost gag. No more bananas

6) also this past week 2 of there recent converts in the ward went

through the temple!!!!! YES! I really love them! ( Jean brousse, the

nicest person in the world, and lucie the one who has us over every

Saturday for this dinner party thing)

7) we were finally able to meet with one of our Amis this week, it's

been the whole transfer that we haven't been able to have a rdv, and

as we were talking she said, she had a friend that might be interested

and asked us if she could come and talk with us. Obviously we said

yes! So we were sitting there all excited, no one ever gives us

referrals, so we were jumping in our seats, the friend arrives, and...

Not at ALL interested. Haha, but our amid aid to her friend that she

needed to listen because it's the truth,"c'est la vérité" so we didn't

get to teach her friend, but we did get to hear our ami testify to her

friend that our message is true:) that was nice

8) we live right by this "Palais de la majoric" I'm not sure how to

spell the last word actually, but every evening it does a concert and

this past week they did les mis! It was so fun, we could hear it from

our apartment :)

9) one of the new Amis that we have read almost to second nephi in the

Book of Mormon. It was awesome!! But the weird thing is that he

doesn't like talking about it until he finishes it.. So it's kind of

lame, but not because atleast he's reading! He says he will be

baptized when he knows more. So there is potential!! Especially if

he's reading the Book of Mormon!

I can't believe calls are this Friday! Ahhhhh

10) quote of the week: elder Peterson really wants to train this

transfer. And we were explaining to a membe and ami that when some one

trains he or she is the dad or mom, and their blue, the one being

trained is the son or daughter. And so then we say how we will know by

this Friday, but that his new call could be decided already. And so he

says, who knows, maybe I'm already pregnant... But in French, "peut

être je suis déjà enceinte!" So funny.

So all in all good week, except for the bananas.

Also this week I had some one tell me I had Sami eyes. The Finnish
people Sami. That was cool.

Perpignan 4:4

Okay. So another week has passed. And based on some questions this

email is going to be very honest about what I think about my mission.

Here I go.

First things first, I love my mission, and I'm pretty happy, but, not

everyday is easy.

When I wake up in the morning, usually my first thought is, here we go

another day and I'm a bit bummed out, but then once I actually get

going it's fine. I'm working on changing that, but like I said, in

this email of honest soul sharing, it's hard. Right now not many of

our Amis are progressing, and not many people talk to us. It's

discouraging. The days when all we have planned is walk and walk and

try to find people, waking up happy and excited for the day is hard.

And the days, well more, everyday, when someone looks at the name

Jesus Christ on our plaques and says how they want nothing to do with

us, that's hard. Feeling inadequate in my abilities, and in my French,

that's hard.

BUT

It is all completely worth it.

No matter how hard the mornings are, or the negative feelings I have,

I smile and I work, and with out fail there is something everyday that

I look back on and say, today was worth it. What I have learned and

felt so far on my mission far outweighs any negative things that have

happened. I think about my future, and I am overcome with how much I

will need the things I am learning on my mission, and how thankful I

have for this time to learn, to go through hard things, to be

rejected, but also to see the changes that happen in people's lives

when they let God and Christ become a greater part of their lives. As

a missionary I am learning and seeing in my life and the lives of

those around me the importance of things that before, I might have

taken a bit for granted. For example, we have an hour for personal

study and an hour to study to get her each day, I always knew it was

important to read and study the scriptures each day, but right now,

there is something different in my day if I don't get those studies

in, I need them, and I rely on them. We can not progress with out it.

Also, with having companions I have realized how important good

communication is. For me, I don't get mad or frustrated with other

that easily, I can get over things fast, and I'm not that picky, so

I've always just kind of ignored the things that bug me, I just figure

I'll get over it and I leave it there. but I have noticed with the

companions that I have talked to, openly and honestly about the things

I am thinking and feeling in regards to our relationship and I guess

who they are, that more good comes from that open conversation than

from trying to just ignore and get over it. We need to communicate,

otherwise, we can't teach, we can't have the Spirit, we are not

effective. (I'm a huge fan of comp inventory now, I know, it's

shocking, me expressing my feelings! I have made so much progress :) )

and don't even get me started on goals. When I say goals you say

planning, GOALS! (Planning) GOALS!! I hope your saying it! At the

beginning of my mission I had no idea what to do with goals, I had no

idea picking goals took forever!!! Now, I have too many tags I want to

make goals about and get better on. You know that scripture about

being shown our weaknesses... Ya, it's very true, I have realized so

many weaknesses, was I really just blind before? I don't know, I just

have anol of work today. And it's awesome, because that's what life is

for, becoming someone better. And it's awesome when you can look back

at a week or two weeks 7 months... And see the changes that have

occurred. Seriously so cool.

So, yes, life is hard right now, but there isn't any other way I would

have it. :)

Now, back to Perpignan. This week,

I will start with the weird experience. We were walking to a rdv doing

some contacting, so I stopped a man and asked if we could ask him 3

questions about the family, he looked at me and without saying

anything slowly turned his whole head, not just his eyes down to my

shoes and stood there, regarding them very pensively,  very very

pensively and then without looking up he said no and slowly turned and

walked away. Weird. But funny. We had a good laugh. It was the first

time I had ever been rejected because of my shoes. And they aren't

even that beat up yet.

The cool experience of the week, a few weeks ago we talked to this

lady named Claire. We walked with her as she was going to a bus stop

and then waited with her and taught her about the restoration, and

what we're here as missionaries doing. She gave us her name and

address and said we could stop by. We had spent the last few weeks

going over, but never being able to see her, she wasn't home I guess.

And then during the exchange we we just walking by her house, and in

my head I though, I guess we could see if she's home, but I was a bit

skeptical, because we had tried so many times before and nothing. But

just as we get to the door, sister Stapley got a phone call, so we

paused out side her door, and then as we are standing there guess who

walks up. Yes! CLAIRE!! She looks at us and says with the biggest

smile, your coming to see me!!! We go inside with her to her apartment

and he whole time all she is saying to us is at she is so happy to see

us, "vous pouvez pas imaginer combien ça me plais!" And then to top it

off, I ask her if she read the brochure that we gave her, and she did!

I asked her what she thought, and the first thing she says it that

it's true. And how it can't be a lie. I was so stunned. So stunned.

That has never happened too me before, never! Np one ever actual

reads, let alone likes it and thinks it's try! And thenwe spent the

rest of the rdv answering her questions. So cool :)

Another cool thing this week is a conversation that we had with a

woman on the street. She said she didn't have much time, but let us

ask the questions,  it before we could even finish, she asks us about

what we are doing, who we are etc, and so we had a good conversation,

she believed in God and had a lot of faith that he guides her and

plays a large role in her life. So we had a lotto talk about, and we

asked her if we could pray with her, she didn't know how we prayed, so

we gave her a quick lesson, and then I said the prayer. At the end she

was even more interested in us and asked about church, when where...

And the she said how she really needed to talk to us, and how much

good it did her, and how she wants to see us again because she really

thinks it'll help her. :) so we got her info and will hopefully see

her soon.

Also, this week we gave the relief society missionary minute and I

talked about the joy that comes from member missionary work, I showed

the pic maija sent of ashel and fleur and how important they are to

us. I was a living sprinkler, with ugly sound effects and all. (Okay,

that's an exaggeration, but not that far from the truth)

:) love  sister c

Sent from my iPad