November 27, 2018

Bonjour famille! This week has been such a normal missionary week (meaning every odd thing that could possibly happen totally happened.) We had some really discouraging days and also some super stellar ones too! There was one day this week where we had five appointments and every single one of them canceled or just wasn`t there. It was rough. We didn`t really know where to go or what to do, but we know that it is always better to "go and do, not sit and stew" so we chose a person and went! He wasn`t home either. (go figure haha!) But looking back it was such a blessing because the next day we didn`t have a lot of appointments, just visit with Kaite, a returning member who is one of my favorite people ever. We had a nice visit with her and she prayed at the end of our lesson and asked very out of the blue that people would flock to us and want to hear this message. I knew after she said that, that something amazing was going to happen. After her lesson, we went to visit this sweet sweet family that i absolutely love to death! They are a cute family with 4 of the most presious little children. We have been really focusing on the 12 year old daughter, Solange beacuse she is just so solid. Last time, we asked her to read 1 Nephi 1 and she did it!! (I cant even explain the joy we feel as missionaries when people actually keep commitments. it seriously makes us so so happy!) and she also marked all the words she didnt know. we were able to go through each one and define them for her, to help her understand. We also had a little "story time" with the kids using the child book of mormon (which is like my favorite thing ever) we read through the 1 nephi chapter which was a good review for Solange and really fun for the kids. I am was so impressed. These kids just absorbed the story into their little hearts! By the end they knew all the names of all the characters and could repeat the whole story back to us! There was such a feeling of love in the room with all of these sweet little kids, gathered around us on the floor, listening intently and eagerly. They flocked around us like a bunch of babay chicks, just like Katie asked. I have a lot of love for those children. 9 year old Zanabab prayed for us at the end. It was the first time she has ever prayed and I got to witness it. She reminds me of little Annaleigh. Just the sweetest little thing. After that beautiful lesson, we decided to visit a woman that hadn't been taught for months named Christina. We had a super awesome chate with her. we showed her the "He lives" video. she loved it so much she asked us to send it to her. We got a return appt. after that, we visited this super cute family that we had met really close to where we live. The mom`s name is Marianne. She was so so kind! She said that we were very brave to be serving missions. we shared "Beacuse of Him" with her (we love showing videos haha) as soon as it started, her four children came out of the woodwork and flocked to the video! (again, just as Katie said) It was so cool. She invited us back again and said that she wanted to feed us dinner which we are always grateful for! haha it was such miracle filled day! I am so grateful for the trials of the week because I appreciated that one day so much more! The worse things you go through, the greater your capacity to love the good things the come. I love being a missionary. I love these people with more love than i have ever before experienced. I know that trials make us stonger, and help us feel love more deeply. And i know that they help us draw closer to our Heavenly father. I know that just 5 minutes in His love makes the whole trial worth it 100 times over. I love my Savior more than anything and I love Him more and more each day I serve in his name. I love in mosiah 9:18 the simple phrase, "and we did go forth in His might". I know He gives us the strength we need when we need it. He did not send us here to fail. I know that. I love you all and hope you are well and happy! Love, soeur Bates