Perpignan 5:2

I will start by saying that this week was the nicest week weather

wise. It was AWESOME! It rained, it was glorious, we didn't have

umbrellas so we got all wet and I loved it, for once I felt close to

being cold. Best day ever. And then for the rest of the week it stayed

cooler. In the night it cooled down enough that I woke up and turned

the fan off because I was cold.

But then it got hot again to day, but it's summer, in the south of

France, what else could I expect?

This week we went to an outer vile called Canet, it's by the beach. We

had no idea what bus stop to get off at, so we just got off where we

saw some houses and hoped hat we had picked the middle of the ville.

We didn't, so we walked a while to get to the people we were trying to

see. But it was nice, there people there were much more receptive to

and willing to talk to us, and we had a little miracle. We stopped to

contact this girl, about the same age as us, and it was awesome! So we

start off, ask her about her family, and she says that her dad was the

most influential for her, but then we find out that he died about 4

years ago. She said that when she was young she was very active in the

Catholic Church, but since her dad died she said that she found it

very hard to believe, and she had drifted away. We talked about how

are faith helps us, and how we know that even when life is hard God is

there to help us. She asked us a good question, she asked if we ever

had doubts. And it was wonderful because we were able to bear simple

testimony of how doubts come, but that when there are doubts going

back to the simple truths, or facts, keeps us true to our faith. For

example I can always turn to the truth that I am a child of God and

that he loves me, always. I know that is true, and so when hard this

in life come, the trials that could turn is from him, that can make us

question if he is really there, I remember the moments when I have

turned to him in prayer and have felt is love, and even though I may

not understand, I may have a doubt about something else, I never lose

faith because I KNOW he loves me. We were able to talk about that, and

as my companion was talking I had the impression that I should share

with her the Book of Mormon, but I was nervous because the

conversation was going so well and I was nervous that she would get

turned off by it, but the impression persisted, so I just went for it,

and it was really cool, because she said she was really touched and

really thankful. She said we were the nicest people she had ever met

in her life, and that we had helped her immensely. She said she felt

something in her heart :) we got her number and called and fixed a rdv

for next week. And on the phone she said that she had started reading

a bit. MIRACLE OF MIRACLES!!

and yes, I'm case you were wondering, my eyes watered a little, but

only a little. No large tears.

Then this week we had a surprise. Lucie, the recent convert who went

to the temple last month has us over every Saturday night for a little

dinner party with other members and recent converts, and sometimes

friends of hers. But this week, one of the other members that gets

invited often did it at her house. And so we go thinking it would be

the normal group, but as we walk in there are 3 people sitting on the

couch we had never met before. A man, a woman, and a nine year old

girl. (And then The normal group too) We go through the night, get to

know them, eat, and the. The time for the pensée spiritual, and it was

awesome! We really were inspired in what we had planned because we had

no idea they would be there, but it was awesome. We talked about the

family and why it was so important for us, and then for God. We showed

pictures of our families, I showed my family book, and as they were

looking through it when they got the picture of mummu they paused us

and said how beautiful she was and asked if she was an actress. That

was fun for me, but anyways, at the end, the woman said she was very

touched and that she admires us so much and what we are doing. We gave

our numbers and she said that she really wanted to come to church the

next day. Sister staples and I both felt like we really needed to ,eat

her. It was cool. She wasn't able to come to church though, she called

the member in the ironing saying that something came us and she wasn't

going to be able to come, but that she really wanted too. Hopefully

next week :)

Also one cute thing at church, there is this family with the cutest 2

girls, and they just have a new baby sister, they have cute curly

blonde hair and remind me a lot of maija and I because the younger one

just follows the older Around and does everything that she does :) but

anyways the older one came into my row at church and went down the row

kissing all the others on the cheek, and all I could think is, awe so

cute, but I had never really been around her, so when I was next I

thought, oh she'll stop, but she didn't she just looked at me add

leaned in to give me a cute little kiss in the cheek. It made me

really think about what it really means to love others and not deny

others of little acts of love and kindness, which is something little

children are really good at. If that had been an adult going by I

would have been skipped over or just give a hand shake, but with

children the thought was, I'm just going to show I love them,no matter

who. I think we can all do a bit better at doing little acts of love

and kindness, not because we necessarily love the others and are close

to them, but because we should always we striving to make others feel

better, feel loved, feel important.

It's funny at the beginning of my mission I knew exactly how long I

had been out, I knew what transfer I was in, it was easy, now... I

have no idea. I have to remind my self all the time because I just

have no idea. The time is going by too fast. I forget everything about

time.

This week we lost a few Amis, a few we passed to the elders, and a few

we just have not been able to contact. It's sad, but just in this week

we have seen miracles. Is really is the Lord's work.

Love love LOVE!!! Sister Christensen

Sorry I haven't write much about my companion, her name is Chanda

staples, she is from the states, she spent a lot of time in South

Carolina, but also lived in Virginia, Idaho, and Japan. She is a

student of OPERA, that's in caps because you need to imagine me saying

the word opera, in an operatic voice :) anyways, she sings like an

angel, but not a wimpy one, a really loud gusto-y one. She loves Harry

Potter too, and she has a nice accent. She's 3 transfers a head of me.

I love her. She makes me laugh because her goal is to be more

Day like, but already she's very proper so she will make a sound and

the. Say, I'm sorry that wasn't lady like of me. It's funny. And

whenever she is happy about something but doesn't want to say it she

just looks down but has this adorable little half smile that she tries

to hide. It's really funny. I love it.

Sent from my iPad

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.