Bonjour everyone! So, this week was a bit tough. I'm not a fan of weeks where I'm out of my sector for a long time. And this week we had a district meeting all the way in Genève, and then I went on exchanges in Annemasse for the rest of that day and the whole next day. So I felt like we got really behind on our own work. And then tonight I'm going back to Genève for another exchange, and won't be home until Tuesday night. And then on Thursday we're going to Lyon for a Zone Conference. So it's been crazy traveling all over! I feel like I haven't been able to give my sector all the concentration it needs. But, what little time we did have here we tried to take complete advantage of! Highlights of the week... we brought our favorite member, Frère Munn, with us to give our Albanian amis, Nijazi, a priesthood blessing to help him stop smoking. What a special experience that was! Nijazi was grinning from ear to ear the entire time. It was such a beautiful blessing, one full of strength and encouragement, that if he would put his faith in the Lord, he will be able to overcome this addiction. Afterwards he said he felt so good! We went back to see him the next day, and he said he had cut down his daily cigarette intake by half, just like we had set the goal with him to do. I promise you people--there is so much power in the priesthood! It is literally God's power that He allows worthy holders to exercise to bless the lives of others. It is a very REAL power. It changes lives; I've seen it first-hand. It's also really great to know how much people here really love us. When we told them we were going to Annemasse, they almost had a heart-attack, and so we reassured them we would be back in a few days, and their sweet hearts were put at ease. By the way mom and dad, they would like our family to make a trip to visit them out in Corsova when they move back...so start saving up ;) They are some people that will be heart-breaking to leave whenever I get transferred from here. A funny thing that happened after that lesson, we have such a hard time leaving their house, so we finally got out, knowing the last bus going back to Chambery was leaving in literally like 2 minutes. We sprinted to the bus stop, and got to it right as it was pulling away. So, we had no clue how to get home, and it was dark and cold, and it is not safe to be on the streets at night for us. No one was outside in this part of town though. So...we said a prayer that someone would be around so we could ask them to help us find the way back. We prayed and started walking, and lo and behold, here we were in the middle of no where, this nice young girl comes out. So of course, we ask her where to go and she directs us. A little over an hour later we made it home safe and sound. God answers prayers :) So, also, how is everyone doing with the goals they set after General Conference? How are the improvements and changes that you're trying to make going? Mine are definitely still a work in progress. But, God doesn't expect immediate perfection. He expects immediate progress. Our exchange was really great, but it made me realize how much Chambéry feels like home. I missed my comp, the other sisters, my cute little ville, and my amis so bad! When I got home, all 4 of us sisters just ran into each other's arms and were like "I missed you sooooo much! It wasn't the same without you!" Haha very typical cheesy girly stuff. But they said there was a totally different spirit without me there. That made me feel so good! Those 3 are such a great example to me and I'm learning so much from them everyday about how to be a better missionary and person. They're some of my biggest role models. God didn't put us together on accident! I love these 3 sisters so much, and they have really become acutal sisters to me. That's the great thing about missions... You expand your family big time. Well, I love you all so much! Please keep praying for all of our other amis who have seemed to drop off the face of the planet momentarily. But I still have faith that they will remember what they've felt and come back! I know though that I am just here to invite them to come unto Christ, and then they have the right to make up their mind to do what they want with that invitation. Gotta love agency... haha. Let's pray and have faith that they choose the right! Have a fantastic week! Love, Soeur Shields
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