soeur johns had a great fall

THE MOST JAM-PACKED WEEK OF MY ENTIRE LIFE. We did not have one normal day this week, no not one.

On Monday night we had our usual FHE with the Tomadon family. Everything was going great and then all of the sudden I looked down at my watch and realized that it was already 9:30...they live a solid 45 minutes away, and on top of that we had the Mulhouse sisters staying at our house. WELL WHOOPS. Turns out the Mulhouse Soeurs had called our district leader because we wouldn't answer the phone and we live in ratchet St.Ouen, so naturally they were worried about us, and then our district leader called us and we didn't answer our phone, and so they called the zone leader's who called us and we didn't answer and then they all went into uproar assuming that we had died. Well, we didn't. We made it back alive and restored the peace in the land.

Tuesday was our Sister's Conference. Aka. all 70 something sisters in our mission gathered together for a special conference with President and Soeur Poznanski. I was thinking that it was going to kind of be like the General Women's Meetings in the church where they were going to spend all day telling us how wonderful we are and how we can't beat ourselves up and how we are a force for good in this world. Well, it was that. And so much more. The morning started with a spiritual pump-up where they broke apart the song "As Sister's in Zion" and talked about all of the special things we bring to the mission field. Then, it got crazy. After we ate a delicious lunch of chicken salad croissants and chocolate macaroons, we broke apart into three stations. Crafting station...where we made picture frames and embossed cards for our amis, Make-up station...where a professional make-up artist taught us how to clean our skin and do our eyes for the nighttime, and Clothing station...where Soeur Poznanski taught us how to accesorize and then gave us free reign on jewelry, scarves, bags, sweaters, and clothing that members from all around France had donated. Haha. It was just ridiculous enough to be the greatest thing ever. My favorite part was how much President looked like a fish out of water in the sea of screaming soeurs. Le pauvre. He sat in on our make-up lesson and the artist told him with kind of colors would go best with his skin tone. It is just a manifestation of his love that he even allowed this day to happen. I really love those two people. They are so wonderful. That night we taught Therize and she cried when I told her that I was leaving. That woman will be a member one day. I have no doubt about it.

Wednesday. Oh Wednesday. We have this RM in our ward named Ovoh who got back about three weeks ago from her mission to England. She has been our third wheel since the day she got back and has been showering us with people to teach. Which means that we are obviously OBSESSED with her. Well, on Wednesday morning we went with her to visit her sister who is going through an extremely hard and depressing time in her life right now. On the way over there we walked with a beautiful woman named Francine and were able to teach her the whole restoration, pray with her, and set up another RDV. I don't really want to go into details of the actual RDV with her sister, but it left me feeling so sad. Not because her situation got me down, but because her free agency is holding her down. Sometimes I just want to make people's choices for them, but then I remember who's plan that was. I do know that Ovoh was inspired to bring us over there and that she will be blessed for following the Spirit. Right after this I had a total...kales moment. Walking in the gare in Sarcelles...and I just eat it...and fall head first down an entire flight of stairs. Did I scream...yes. Did it hurt...yes. Do I wish I had a video...yes. haha. I really felt like angels were protecting me though because despite a sore back and neck for a couple of days and a few scratches and bruises I am almost back to normal, and it didn't stop us from having a great rest of the week. I'm not going to lie though, I had a freak out that I was going to get AIDS because Sarcelles is so sketchy. I pretty much took a bath in hydrogen peroxide. Felt so right.

Thursday I said a heart-wrenching goodbye to Catherine Michel and the Lubanzadio girls. i don't think I have ever testified so hard in my life. I want them to stay so strong in the church more than anything else!!! I know they will!!!

Friday morning I get a call from President asking if I would mind having a sister stay with us who had just gotten back from her mission to Singapore. She wasn't going to be able to get released until Saturday, so she needed some companions for the day/night. Little did I know that I was going to be meeting one of my favorite people on this planet. Soeur Pettitt. Let me just tell you about this girl. Her mom is from Switzerland, her dad is from New Zealand. She was born in America. She grew up in France. (hence speaking perfect English and French, no accents) and just got back from her mission to Singapore where she spoke Malay. From our day with her I can just tell that she was one of the most amazing missionaries to ever grace this earth. I was so inspired by her! And so sad to see her leave. Basically, we are spending P-day with her today. Haha. We had the most amazing miracle ever too. I won't go into super huge deats, cause this is already a novel. But basically we found the most beautiful Armenian family who were baptized over there 4 years ago, but have never been to church here!! They lived right across the hallway from our ami Doris and we knocked on their door looking for her!! I feel like I was being trained this week on how to be an awesome RM.

Saturday morning we sent Soeur Pettitt off in the car with her parents to go get 'released' ...which was so trippy. Then we had like a million lessons. Akossiwa and her family are coming along so solidly!! She has a testimony of Joseph Smith!

Sunday we showed up to church and President and Soeur Poznanski were there for their granddaughter's baby blessing. It was so fun and a little stressful. They met Catherine Michel and Scott and it was so fun to be able to introduce them to Therize and the Moundayas! The rest of sunday was pretty chill.

BREAKING NEWS. The family that I wrote about a couple of weeks ago that we found is GETTING BAPTIZED!!!! ON THE 29TH!!!! I feel so blessed!!!! My mission is so PERFECT!!!!!

Also on the news front...I am being transfered to Rouen. The capital of Normandy. I will be serving with Soeur Berge. I have only heard good things about her, AND she's from the South. I am beyond excited!!! I was just told that you can see one of the largest cathedrals in France from the window of our apartment and we live on the Seine river. Our address is: 39, quai du Havre 76100 Rouen. I'm most likely dying here, soooooo write me or sometinng. Soeur Hosking will be serving with Soeur Hafen. She is from my MTC group and such a sweetheart. They are going to light this place on fire. I am so sad to leave my baby girl, but I know that she has BIG things ahead of her.

Ah, man. Long one today. I love y'all so much. I am so excited to be seeing you soon :)

Bisous, Soeur Johns

MEETING WITH ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SISTERS OF THE FRANCE PARIS MISSION !!!! UNFORGETTABLE DAY !!

Even President and Elder Harward have helped us !!! They were so pleased doing that 

All the beautiful gifts coming from the members of 2 stakes and 3 wards of our mission for the missionaries !! We thank them so much !!!

Displaying all the gifts from the sisters of our stakes for our missionary sisters !

Training by the sister training leaders

Sister Harward and sister Prince preparing a beautiful buffet and healthy food.

Cards and Frames!

Here is a picture of some of our great sisters, the picture in white and black has been taken some months ago, before their mission. During our sister training they all met again and we took the same picture (almost the same ... you notice the elder behind is missing !!! )

General Conference

my mind has been blown

It's only been about 4 days since I last emailed, but as always so much has happened. So I could talk to you this week about how we had an awesome lesson with our new portugaise amie Sandra, or how Soeur Maigret fed us healthy food and then gave us sweaters so we wouldn't be cold on the walk home, or how Jean François baptized the love of his life, or how we ate free Chipolte. But let's be real: GENERAL CONFERENCE.

I really felt the overarching themes of this round were pure discipleship, the blessings of burdens, and storms. As always, all of my questions were answered and I have about a million new self improvement projects going into action. I find it hard to answer the question, "What part of conference did you like the most?" because let's be real, it's 10 hours and that's a lot to remember and I love everything. But I can say that my favorite part is the feeling of edification and uplift that it brings. I don't remember everything, but I remember how I felt. I think this principle is why people ever even join the church after meeting with the missionaries. The Spirit is the one doing the teaching. I was having a fear of missing out every time I saw the #LDSconf pop up in the corner of the screen, alas my conference tweets:     

*Thomas S. Monson: You gotta finish what you've already started before you can take on more. #parisfrancetemplecomingsoon

*Jeffery R. Holland: Rejection is a cost of discipleship. Yes it is worth it. #dontiknow #mashedpotatosforlater 

*Ronald A. Rasband: Love. Prayers. Appreciation.

*Carlos H. Amado: Christ heals us one by one. #newfoundappreciationforthickaccents #heyitsme

*Linda S. Reeves: We must make sure that our personal filter is the strongest. #keepitclean 

*Neil L. Andersen: Marriage is not only designed to satisfy adults, but to create families which are the treasures of heaven. #traditionalmarriage

*Henry B. Eyring: Oh, things will work out. #motto

*Russel M. Nelson: Courage not compromise brings the smile of God's approval. #50millionpeoplecanbewrong #totallywrong

*Richard G. Scott: Always seek to strengthen families. Always try to help families be sealed in the temple. #workingonit #janenneshoutout 

*Robert D. Hales: Obedience motivated by true love is what the Lord is looking for and what we must strive for. #ctr #comewhatmay #sensingatheme 

*Claudio D. Zivic: One day we will fall in love with the Gospel and we will no longer run away from lessons, but enjoy them instead. #washescottishorsouthamerican?

*W. Craig Zwick: Let's be real, I probably would have jumped out of the car too. #whatareyouthinking 

*Quentin L. Cook: And the prisoner shall go free. Isn't this a glorious doctrine? #baptismsforthedead #firstcorinthiansfifteen 

*Deider F. Uctdorf:  There is something in us that resists endings because we are made of the stuff of eternity. There are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings. #gratitude #probsmyfav 

*M. Russel Ballard: If we follow-up the Lord will not let us down. #rmdatinghabitsmakesomuchsensenow

*Jean M. Stevens: The Gospel is not weight, it is wings. #heartwrencher #sheissandrabullockofftheblindside

*Gary A. Stevensen: The 4 minute race of life. #goforgold #iwaswaitingforakatehansenshoutout

*David A. Bednar: Is the load I am carrying allowing me to create spiritual traction to get back to my Heavenly Father? #happybirthdayjesus 

*Thomas S. Monson: I've never yet felt a tinge of regret for being a little too kind. Amen to that. #ourbelovedprophet #LDSconf

I am so grateful we have a prophet on this earth. The entire time I was watching conference I was just thinking, "what would we do without him?". Ah, it is just a blessing to know what we know!

Otherwise, I am doing great. Transfers are coming up next week. I kissed the Eiffel Tower goodbye this morning, and went and saw the Tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte at Les Invalides. I am already bracing myself for my next companion because I don't know how I could have more fun with anyone! We are a dream team. But I know that anything is going to be great and I am ready to take it on. :)

Love you all. You are always in my prayers! 

Love, Soeur Johns

 les invalides. the french museum of war

les invalides. 

the tomb of little nappy himself

the beautiful soeur hosking 

I'm going to miss ma fille. 

goodbye my love.  

it was on my bucket list to lick it. it tasted like little Asian fingers. 

look the eiffel tower...again. 

the Poznanski's and I at General Conference 

Sister Andersen and I at the baptism

the day jimmy drowned scott

As you may have noticed I did not email home on Monday. Wellll. It's because we got permission to change our P-day in order to go see the Palace of Versailles. I promise I am not trying to invoke jealousy in your souls, but I may or may not have driven a golf cart around the Gardens. And it was perfect. Not only that but the workers loved us and let us skip all of the lines and get in free and drive the golf cart even though I was supposed to be 24. It sure pays to speak French. :) 

Basically, I haven't had any time to write my email home this week, so I am just going to send the one that Soeur Hosking sent to her family. This is great because, a) you get to hear about my week, and b) you get to get to know my companion. Right? right.

Our week from the mouth of Soeur Hosking: 

This week has been quite a crazy one. So crazy that I had to bring my journal to remember it all. As you may have noted, I did not email Monday. We changed our P Day to Thursday so that we could see the Palace of Versailles!! Oh man was it worth it, but that is the end of the week. All things must start and the beginning *cue really awesome going back in time music*

TUESDAY: This was a struggle morning. We just seemed to be forgetting EVERYTHING. I think we made it out to the bus stop three times before deciding to just leave with what we had for District meeting. We rolled up like 30 minutes late. On the train I told Soeur johns, "Watch this be the day the Zone Leaders come" I am basically a psychic. SO naturally they gave us a hard time for not only being late but forgetting one of the Sodas. Well Whoops. Good thing we are their favorite. For our meal we had hot dogs, I don't know if anyone really knows thig but I LOVE hot dogs. My mom only every bought the healthy kind so when I am presented with regular, I go ham. Elder Eldrige and I have a bond as we basically ate our selves sick to "take one for the team" and finish the hot dogs off. I love hot dogs. Then we got to teach Scott the lesson on Chastity... That was fun... Talking to an 18 yr old about chastity... Good thing I'm not awkward at all! (please note the sarcasm)

WEDNESDAY: Just another crazy day here in Saint Ouen. It was a sack lunch kind of day where we left our house at 11h00 and weren't home until 9h30. But it was a day full of so many amazing people. I feel so blessed to be able to be in the lives of these humans as they come unto Christ. There is nothing better than that. Nothing.

THURSDAY: Soeur Johns had to sign up for her BYU classes. This means we were in Paris by 7h00 to get to a computer. I just want to point out that the McDonalds by our Internet Cafe lies. Their sign says they open at 7h30 but we stood there until 7h45 and nothing came of it. All we wanted was the Breakfast of Champions, is that so much to ask? Then we went home to do some baking for the baptism before meeting up with the Elders for Scott's interview. This kid is such a gem. Thursday night was CRAZY AWESOME. So we had dinner at the Stake Presidents house, of the Paris Stake. Still unreal to me. But anyway, they are just so funny and they spoke in English a bit so I could actually joke with them. Plus for some reason they thought everything we said was the funniest thing every, not that I am complaining. If that were not enough their daughter invited over her best friend and she was ADORABLE. I have no doubt she will take the lessons one day, I just hope to be the missionary! Best night.

FRIDAY: Not a ton went down Friday. Soeur Johns and I got matching sweaters and we basically got stalked by one of the crazy members in our ward, the norm.

SATURDAY: SCOTT'S BAPTISM!!!!!! Oh my gosh it was the best. Scott doesn't show much emotion normally but he was just BEAMING when he showed up to the church, it was so amazing to see. So if that couldn't get better Jimmy preformed the baptism. Recently Baptized, this is his first baptism he has been to after his own Jimmy. I was DYING. Oh Jimmy is the best. Picture this: Our two ami's in the faunt together. Jimmy doing everything so right then placing Scott into the water. On noticing he is not all the was under he pushes him down more! Then he looks  up and goes, "C'est bon?" (good?) Scott was still in the water!! I seriously thought I was going to have to jump in and do CPR on Scott(Don't worry I always carry my CPR mask in my bag) But it all turned out all right. Catherine Michel gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. I could not stop smiling and giggling the entire day. It is so amazing to see this family coming, they aren't all there yet but I know they will be.

SUNDAY: Day light savings. Ben and I are NOT on good terms. We were dragging the entire day. We can not afford that hour. But we lived. I had this moment on the way to church when we were on the train. On stumbles two really drunk girls who sit accross from us. They look about our age and have obviously not been home yet. It was crazy to see the paralell. We are at the same stages in our lives but we don't even live in the same universe. I wonder if that would have been me without the Gospel. Thanks to the Gospel I was sitting on the other side, on my way to church in a country that is not my own where I came to share the gospel. The gospel blesses our lives in so many ways that sometimes we forget how lucky we are. So during Sunday school this rando shows up and we have her sit with us. Afterwards she turns to us and goes "Wait, you guys are the Mormons? Bye" and like runs out. Kay bye! Catherine was made president for our Ami class!! Oh that was the best. Accidentally crashed an African Birthday Party and Doris's house. Oops.

MONDAY: Just another day in the life. Not P Day. Pretty sure members think that we starve because they ALWAYS try and laden us down with food. One of them even tried to give us shoes. Are they trying to say something? I mean I know we look kind of homeless sometimes....

A really recent RM sent us to her sister and there is some serious potential!!!!!! RMs are the BEST.

TUESDAY: APRIL FOOLS. Soeur Johns and I matched HARDCORE. Down to how we did our hair. It was so fun. District meeting meant everyone was on their guard for pranks. So fun. I am loving this place and this district. So much laughter and I love it.

WEDNESDAY: DAY OF FINDING. Our whole Zone took this one day to just go out and find. We prayed for each other every 30 min and it was amazing. You could feel the prayers and support of the other missionaries. We went contacting with this member who we actually thought was really shy. WRONG. She was on FIRE. She had no fear and would stop everyone, no matter what. It was so amazing!!!!! We also had some cool miracles.

           Miracle of the Magnet: Soeur Johns lost her tag. So she was using the magnet of my second tag to hold up her only one left. This means we were both down to only one badge. Walking down the street her badge falls off and the magnet is gone. We can no find it anywhere. that night I was lying on the floor. I know for a fact that it was not there before. That was a miracle. 

           Notebook Miracle: Heading out the door for Ward Counsel I just felt like I needed to bring my notebook. I never bring my notebook. I rationalized that I might want to make a list of something. It sounded so dumb and weird but I felt like I needed to. Turns out a list I had in it was actually needed. Not a miracles are big, a lot of them are small, regarding a notebook or a magnet. But I know if you keep your eyes open that they are there. 

THURSDAY: Now for today. BEST DAY EVER. So basically the Palace of Versailles is so amazing, we could hardly take in all the beauty. The line to get it is about a million years long, but we were asking a guard guy if our passports would work (as our visas generally get us in places free) and he had to ask his supervisor, so he took us to the front. Not only did they work but he said there was no point in going back to the end of the line. SCORE. They like it when you speak French to them. Then we were in awe as we walked through the Palace. Could our day get any better? Yes. Yes it could. WE RENTED A GOLF CART TO DRIVE THROUGH THE GARDENS. It has been my dream to drive a Golf Cart. Today, today that dream was realized in the Versailles Gardens. The man said that you had to be 25 to rent one, but that he could make an exception for Jesus. Literally everything went right today. So we are just driving around, making friends with other Americans in golf carts, basically living the dream. We come to this path with a ton of students and these potholes on the sides. So we have to go other the potholes. they are more like little hills with ditches on the other side. We are driving over them and acting like we are in a huge roller-coaster (but lets be real this was the slowest golf cart ever) To make things better the students begin to cheer us on as we go over these. Yea, we basically had our own fan club.

Hey, it's me again. Soeur Johns. So yes, basically this week was wonderful. Especially the fact that Scott Michel is now a member and that it was Jimmy who baptized him. I am just beaming with happiness and the good kind of pride for all of our recent converts. They are so strong and nothing could make me happier.

I LOVE YOU ALL. 

Soeur Johns

the palace.

living the high life. 

just some more in case you miss my face. 

yeah no big deal just driving my golf cart around the palace of versailles. 

jimmy and scott!!

after the baptism Jimmy took one of the sheep and said "scott" and put it into the fold side. that kid is a crack up. 

another day in the life

these shoes have served me well. 

la vie parisien

I'm trying to figure out my class schedule for BYU today...wait WHAT...so I don't have a ton of time to detail all of our activities of this past week. But I am sending loads of pictures to make up for it. I love y'all with all my heart. && Scott Michel is still doing great and getting baptized this weekend which is just an awesome miracle and a long story.

Bisous, Soeur Johns

Paris is a stunna

My kingdom

My child

Myself

Be our guest

The blood of the martyrs will water the meadows of Franceee

Soeur Hilton and I reunited

Paris zone conference