From Another Life!

Sunday we were at the Bishop's home for conference. So much fun but they fed us sooo much junk! haha Their kids are so cute.

                                     

Yep, aren't they just sooo adorable?

This week was our district leader's birthday. Somehow, all mission birthdays never seem quite that incredible. However, we purposefully made it the biggest deal ever and he had like 3 unexpected birthday celebrations and invitations from all the members. Birthdays are a pretty big deal..

This weekend was wonderful! We actually found out that they only have

one session of general conference broadcasted at the church, so we had

to go over to our ward mission leader's home one night and the next at

the bishop's. They pulled it up on their t.v. and I could compare it

nothing other than a spiritual super bowl. It was so good spending it

at their home, playing with the kids and having a wonderful time. (I

think I'm going to have to register to it with the combination of

children playing and screaming and a voiced over translation in

French. Haha

This week on Tuesday, Soeur Waite and I went to see a member in our

branch. As we were making our way to her house, we saw a girl up ahead

of us walking in the distance towards us. As we were approaching her

to speak with her, she pulls her earbuds out, looks at us and asks,

"Hey, how are you?" My first thought was, "Do we know each other?"

Because I didn't have any recollection whatsoever. Her name is Marie

and it turns out that she's from Lorient and goes to school here in

Vannes. As we got talking with her, she told us about how she recently

discovered Christianity and it has changed her life. She was just

beaming as we stood there talking. We exchanged numbers and set up

another rdv with her.

The next rdv, she showed us her new apartment, played some piano with

us and we shared a message with her. But it was just incredible to see

how her life, because of Christ, as she said, has become full of joy.

"Something," she said, "was missing." She's an awesome girl and we're

so excited to visit her more. But, honestly, I'm under the impression

that she must have seen the sisters in Lorient before. Whatever the

case may be, I'm certain we knew each other somewhere from before this

life!

Today, I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Alma 26. Ammon is

rejoicing for the success of their preaching to the previously wicked

lamanites. He said that everyone had 'mocked' them to the point that

when they left they thought they might convert 'a couple' of people.

And, in the end, they converted thousands. I love how he humbly

recognizes God's hand in it all. He is grateful to have merely been an

'instrument' in bringing about this wonderful miracle.

When the apostles were interviewed in a press conference this weekend,

someone brought up the question of their ethnicity and how they are

all from Utah. Someone asked, "How do you think you will be able to

relate to and respond to the various and diverse needs of members

around the world whose experiences and life circumstances are nowhere

near the same?" I loved Elder Redland's response to that.

He explained that Christ, himself, came from a very small geographical

region in the world. However, as the savior of the world, he took on

all of the sins and difficulties of life of every that ever has and

ever will live. All this so that, he might know "how to succor them."

And as disciples of Jesus Christ, he could give them the kind of

understanding necessary for them to reach and touch all of god's

children.

And since coming to France, I thought that maybe after I had mastered

the language or after I had been here long enough, I might finally

come to understand the people here and what troubles their hearts and

what they stand in need of. And although that has come along with

time, I was reminded by Elder Rasband that Christ's Atonement covers

that. He can help us to know and understand and lift God's children in

the best way.

At the end of Alma, Ammon teaches, "Now my brethren, we see that God

is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he

numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth.

Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give

thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

Christ-like love can reach across any kinds of barriers that exists

between us and those children of God around us.

Love you all! Have a great week!

Soeur Hopkins