Wow, another transfer is wrapping up already! It's crazy how fast they go! This is the end of my 2nd transfer, which means after this I will no longer be considered a "bleu" (greenie) anymore and will technically be out of training! We get transfer calls this Friday, and next Monday is transfers. I just have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I think about this possibly being my last week in Chambery with Soeur Cherry. I just love this area and my dear companion so much! I would gladly serve the next 14 months here with her if it were possible! But, I know God needs me in other places too, and I will go wherever He needs me to go. I've had requests to start sharing more details from my daily life, so I'll try including more this week!
So, this was quite a cool week! Let me just tell you about all the little funny things that happened this week first...because there was quite a bit. So, I had my first proposal this week. The sisters here have told me it would only be a matter of time, because the men here see these young American girls and apparently are attracted to that. So, on a bus this week a man came up to me and asked me who I was, and why I was here. We get that question a lot, so I told him I'm a missionary here for my church for the next 14 months. His response was that that was plenty of time to get to know each other so that afterwards we could get married. Hahaha oh my days, it took everything in me to give him a polite "no, that doesn't interest me, sorry" and not just laugh because he was very serious, so I tried to be serious back.
I also had my first dream in French this week, two nights in a row in fact. It was really weird. But contrary to what you've said dad, no, that does not mean you've mastered the language. Because I am FAR from that. haha
Also, my family and friends will be pleased to know that for the first time in 14 years I tried a hot dog, and I actually liked it. Everyone keeps asking what the weirdest thing I've eaten here is, and for me, that's it. Haha. Everything just tastes better in France!
The last weird thing from this week is that we were out contacting one evening, and I have made it a goal to contact the people who don't look like your typical person you'd want to contact. In other words, people who are a bit on the strange side. You always find interesting things in those situations, and usually end up having great conversations because those people tend to be very humble and open-minded, whereas a lot of the "cool" people are very set in their ways. Not always, but typically that's the case. So, we contacted this one guy who fit our description of what we were looking for. We get into the conversation, and he's really cool and willing to listen. Next thing we know, he flips a switch and starts going off about demons, then a second later, he's happy and willing to talk, then a second later, he's saying how evil God is and how he loves the demon inside of him. Yep...we contacted a possessed guy. That was slightly creepy, but I really did want to help him, I just didn't know what I could do. We bore testimony and gave him a Book of Mormon, and left him with a prayer. I hope that we helped him in some way. But there's just a little example of the very interesting things you see when you literally talk to everyone. So many people in the world who need our help!
Also, with all of the chaos that's going on in the Middle East, we are no longer letting people know that we're Americans. We stick out like a sore thumb here, but with the demographics in Chambery, it's safer if we go "undercover" for a while. We are now telling people we're from England. I'm fine with that, since you all well know that I love that place, and have a smashing good accent. Haha. We get asked all the time though when we speak french if we're English, apparently in French we already have an English accent. Works out well in our favor!
Now for the super crazy awesome stuff for the week. We gave our two awesome African amis a baptismal date, and they accepted it!! We have been meeting with them frequently and they've been good about coming to FHE and English class and our RDV's. They just didn't come to church yesterday, which was a disappointment, but they said they accidentally slept through it. But, they came to a member's house with us for FHE later that evening and it was a powerful and wonderful experience and I know their testimonies were strengthened. We will be working hard to get them to work towards their baptismal date in October.
Also, I had the blessing of being in one of the most beautiful and powerful lessons of my life this week. We are teaching an Albanian couple, the husband is the one that I mentioned that we met on the street while contacting. We went and taught them the Restoration this week. The wife doesn't speak anything but Albanian, so everything we said we had to pause, let him translate for her, and then continue. Well, when we got to the first vision, I recited it, and as I was saying it, she just started crying. She didn't even know what I was saying yet, since her husband hadn't translated yet, but she could feel the Spirit, and she could feel the truthfullness of it. It's true what it says in PMG, that if you testify of the First Vision, it will bring in the Spirit faster than almost anything else. Both him and her both were extremely accepting and receptive to everything we taught them. We're going to invite them to be baptized this week! They're very humble people, and that's the key. The humble have open hearts. We asked why they didn't come to church, and they said it's because they only receive 14 euros a week, and it's 6 euros for a buss ticket to the church, half of their week's income. As they were telling us this, we were drinking juice and eating cookies that they had prepared for us. I literally wanted to spit it out of my mouth right then and there because I felt so guilty for taking what little they had. It's incredible how giving and kind-hearted people can be, when they have nothing themselves. I love those two with my whole heart! I know God will provide a way for them to find a job and be able to come to church. He is in charge of this work, and His purposes will come to pass.
I love you all and thank you dearly for your prayers and support! This work is fantastic and I love being a part of it!
PS I hope you're all getting prepared and stoked for General Conference!! Can't wait!!
Love always,
Soeur Shields
So, this was quite a cool week! Let me just tell you about all the little funny things that happened this week first...because there was quite a bit. So, I had my first proposal this week. The sisters here have told me it would only be a matter of time, because the men here see these young American girls and apparently are attracted to that. So, on a bus this week a man came up to me and asked me who I was, and why I was here. We get that question a lot, so I told him I'm a missionary here for my church for the next 14 months. His response was that that was plenty of time to get to know each other so that afterwards we could get married. Hahaha oh my days, it took everything in me to give him a polite "no, that doesn't interest me, sorry" and not just laugh because he was very serious, so I tried to be serious back.
I also had my first dream in French this week, two nights in a row in fact. It was really weird. But contrary to what you've said dad, no, that does not mean you've mastered the language. Because I am FAR from that. haha
Also, my family and friends will be pleased to know that for the first time in 14 years I tried a hot dog, and I actually liked it. Everyone keeps asking what the weirdest thing I've eaten here is, and for me, that's it. Haha. Everything just tastes better in France!
The last weird thing from this week is that we were out contacting one evening, and I have made it a goal to contact the people who don't look like your typical person you'd want to contact. In other words, people who are a bit on the strange side. You always find interesting things in those situations, and usually end up having great conversations because those people tend to be very humble and open-minded, whereas a lot of the "cool" people are very set in their ways. Not always, but typically that's the case. So, we contacted this one guy who fit our description of what we were looking for. We get into the conversation, and he's really cool and willing to listen. Next thing we know, he flips a switch and starts going off about demons, then a second later, he's happy and willing to talk, then a second later, he's saying how evil God is and how he loves the demon inside of him. Yep...we contacted a possessed guy. That was slightly creepy, but I really did want to help him, I just didn't know what I could do. We bore testimony and gave him a Book of Mormon, and left him with a prayer. I hope that we helped him in some way. But there's just a little example of the very interesting things you see when you literally talk to everyone. So many people in the world who need our help!
Also, with all of the chaos that's going on in the Middle East, we are no longer letting people know that we're Americans. We stick out like a sore thumb here, but with the demographics in Chambery, it's safer if we go "undercover" for a while. We are now telling people we're from England. I'm fine with that, since you all well know that I love that place, and have a smashing good accent. Haha. We get asked all the time though when we speak french if we're English, apparently in French we already have an English accent. Works out well in our favor!
Now for the super crazy awesome stuff for the week. We gave our two awesome African amis a baptismal date, and they accepted it!! We have been meeting with them frequently and they've been good about coming to FHE and English class and our RDV's. They just didn't come to church yesterday, which was a disappointment, but they said they accidentally slept through it. But, they came to a member's house with us for FHE later that evening and it was a powerful and wonderful experience and I know their testimonies were strengthened. We will be working hard to get them to work towards their baptismal date in October.
Also, I had the blessing of being in one of the most beautiful and powerful lessons of my life this week. We are teaching an Albanian couple, the husband is the one that I mentioned that we met on the street while contacting. We went and taught them the Restoration this week. The wife doesn't speak anything but Albanian, so everything we said we had to pause, let him translate for her, and then continue. Well, when we got to the first vision, I recited it, and as I was saying it, she just started crying. She didn't even know what I was saying yet, since her husband hadn't translated yet, but she could feel the Spirit, and she could feel the truthfullness of it. It's true what it says in PMG, that if you testify of the First Vision, it will bring in the Spirit faster than almost anything else. Both him and her both were extremely accepting and receptive to everything we taught them. We're going to invite them to be baptized this week! They're very humble people, and that's the key. The humble have open hearts. We asked why they didn't come to church, and they said it's because they only receive 14 euros a week, and it's 6 euros for a buss ticket to the church, half of their week's income. As they were telling us this, we were drinking juice and eating cookies that they had prepared for us. I literally wanted to spit it out of my mouth right then and there because I felt so guilty for taking what little they had. It's incredible how giving and kind-hearted people can be, when they have nothing themselves. I love those two with my whole heart! I know God will provide a way for them to find a job and be able to come to church. He is in charge of this work, and His purposes will come to pass.
I love you all and thank you dearly for your prayers and support! This work is fantastic and I love being a part of it!
PS I hope you're all getting prepared and stoked for General Conference!! Can't wait!!
Love always,
Soeur Shields
We ported this really cool area
We went to the Munn's house for FHE yesterday and this is their beautiful property in Aix Les Bains
Soeur munn, my comp, arsene ( we brought him because he's also congonese like our amis that came, tony and bienvenue)
The beauty of my mish
My first plan of salvation!
Soeur cherry hit her year mark this week! so we celebrated with patisseries and kebabs! and cokes that said "soeur" Crazy!
The wonderful albanian women, Adifete, who said she wanted to take a pic with us before we left. So cute! (I was on exchange with Soeur Pagano that day)
We had smores in france! yes that's why my cheeks are so chubby!