Bonjour ma famille!
I love Soeur Carter! She is my new companion and is so kind and sweet and I love working with her! She is the oldest of 4 children and is from Highland, Utah. She has such a strong testimony of the Savior and his Atonement. She has such a desire to learn French, so we speak it everytime we are outside of our apartment! That's amazing for a new missionary, because I know all of the other American missionaries speak in English all of the time, unless they are speaking to a French person. I was so excited when she told me that was her goal, because I loved getting in the habit of speaking French all of the time with Soeur De Santis. Her French skills will definitely come a lot faster than mine did as result of this. Ryan I did meet Soeur Martin and Soeur Emilcy! They are adorable and they were so excited to meet me and tell me that they know you. Soeur Martin showed me her picture with you; you look like a missionary! and you look older and taller. They both laughed as they imitated how you walk with your broad shoulders; they said that you remind them of Rocky the boxer. They also told me what an awesome district leader you were.
Well, sad news I had a bad cold when soeur Carter got here, we were able to go teach a lesson that night, but then Thursday I had to sleep almost all day. I'm feeling a lot better now, only thing is that I passed it to Soeur Carter! Isn't that horrible, it's her first week here, but she's so good at putting up with it. We got 2 new amis last week! Claire and Rolland. Claire met the Chinese Elders on the metro and then they passed her phone number to us, since she lives in our area. She is from Gabon and has 4 children, but her oldest daughter passed away last year, so we talked a little about the atonement and how through Christ we will all overcome death. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she's excited to start reading it. We're planning on teaching her the Plan of Salvation tomorrow. Rolland met with the sister missionaries about 2 years ago, but quit taking the lessons after they were transfered. Hopefully as we start teaching him he will feel the spirit and realize the importance of the gospel, and not just want to talk with us (we're going to try and pass him to the Elders), but it was a good lesson.
Mom that story was so awesome about the 3 contacts you made when you were in New York, I love your example. Even before you and dad served in Riverside, you were always an amazing missionary!
I'm so grateful that everything is solved for Jessica and I'm grateful you're on the uphill now! I love you! Continue to feel better!
Bisous à tous!
Soeur Reeves
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Surprise Visit!
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| Rachel Miles, one of Soeur Reeves' best friends since kindergarten, contacted one of the Elders to find out when she would be at the Visitors' Center and decided to surprise her! Rachel is studying Music in Paris right now and will leave on her mission to Rome, Italy on August 31st! |
Week 21
Well, first things first... we have transfers on Wednesday and all I can say is that I am humbled and excited and I hope that I will be a good example to my companion. I'm training!!! Soeur De Santis is going to Luxembourg, since it is now in our mission. My former companions, Soeur Larsen and Soeur Murray are also training. We have 5 new soeurs coming into the mission and two are francophone, so we will see. I of course do not know yet who my companion is since President Poznanski decides where they are going after he interviews them, but Soeur De Santis and I are meeting all of the new soeurs tomorrow to go contacting with them in Paris. When new missionaries arrive the very first thing they do after meeting the mission President at the airport is go straight to Paris with a Book of Mormon and do contacting. That will be fun, I remember my first time contacting in Paris, ha, I was so nervous, I probably only talked to two people and was short of breath as my heart was pounding, and I'm not sure they even understood what I was saying.
As far as our missionary work, Kamla got baptized on Saturday! She was just glowing afterward and couldn't stop smiling. It was actually kind of funny, because frère Leconte who baptized her is really tall so he had to bend down to get her into the water and fell in with her! The bishop joked that two people were baptized. I'm so grateful that I got to help teach Kamla and will continue to teach her as she learns more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." 3 Nephi 5:13
We've been declaring his word among many people and have gotten lots of numbers, but the work has been kind of slow lately, I'm hoping that as we call our potential investigators this week we can get some rendez-vous, but I know that if we are diligent we will find those who are prepared.
On Thursday I was sitting at the computer at the visitor's center looking at the geneaology site, when I heard, "Sister Reeves?" I turned around and who was there? Rachel Miles! I covered my mouth with my hand as I gasped and sat there for about a minute in shock! I knew she was here in Paris, but I didn't think I would have the chance to see her! I then jumped up and gave her a hug, it was so exciting to see her! Weird too; I felt like I was in a dream. I was excited to introduce her to Soeur De Santis, who lives in the Rome mission, so I told her she will have to go on exchanges with Rachel when she is there. We only had about 15 minutes to talk, and she asked me how the mission was and what it's like to be a missionary, but I didn't know where to start. I would start talking about one thing, but then I would say, "oh but you're going to love this and that..." It was kind of a mixed up conversation, but it was still fun to talk to her. I know that she's going to be an amazing missionary!
I love you all and I'm praying hard for Jessica and for each of you every day! Happy Birthday by the way to Caden!
Bisous, Soeur Reeves
As far as our missionary work, Kamla got baptized on Saturday! She was just glowing afterward and couldn't stop smiling. It was actually kind of funny, because frère Leconte who baptized her is really tall so he had to bend down to get her into the water and fell in with her! The bishop joked that two people were baptized. I'm so grateful that I got to help teach Kamla and will continue to teach her as she learns more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." 3 Nephi 5:13
We've been declaring his word among many people and have gotten lots of numbers, but the work has been kind of slow lately, I'm hoping that as we call our potential investigators this week we can get some rendez-vous, but I know that if we are diligent we will find those who are prepared.
On Thursday I was sitting at the computer at the visitor's center looking at the geneaology site, when I heard, "Sister Reeves?" I turned around and who was there? Rachel Miles! I covered my mouth with my hand as I gasped and sat there for about a minute in shock! I knew she was here in Paris, but I didn't think I would have the chance to see her! I then jumped up and gave her a hug, it was so exciting to see her! Weird too; I felt like I was in a dream. I was excited to introduce her to Soeur De Santis, who lives in the Rome mission, so I told her she will have to go on exchanges with Rachel when she is there. We only had about 15 minutes to talk, and she asked me how the mission was and what it's like to be a missionary, but I didn't know where to start. I would start talking about one thing, but then I would say, "oh but you're going to love this and that..." It was kind of a mixed up conversation, but it was still fun to talk to her. I know that she's going to be an amazing missionary!
I love you all and I'm praying hard for Jessica and for each of you every day! Happy Birthday by the way to Caden!
Bisous, Soeur Reeves
Monday, July 11, 2011
Week 20 - 1/3 of the way!
I can't believe that as of tomorrow I will have been on my mission for 6 months! The time passes too quickly! Jessica I was sorry to hear about your appendix inflaming and your surgery; and now that you're back in the hospital I hope everything will be okay! Know that I am praying for you! I'm glad mom can come and help you out.
By the way the only person who sent me their address was Carrie, it would be nice if I could have all of yours, so if you have the time... Thanks :D
Allyson that's so exciting that you're going to Jerusalem and that Jaclyn will be there too! I'm very excited for you, what a great experience that will be! I remember Julie coming back and giving all of us our little purses she bought while she was there. That's fun Ryan that you get to go out contacting in Madrid, it's true that a lot of people won't listen, but it's partly a culture thing. I realized when I would go contacting with the sisters in Riverside people would at least listen to what we had to say and then tell us whether or not they're interested. Here if they don't want to talk to you they won't listen, but that's okay, because you can be sure that those who are ready and are interested will listen to you. (I don't know if its the same case in Spain, but here in France there are a ton of Jehovah's witnesses, so almost half the people we contact think that that's what we are).
We had sister exchanges this last week. Soeur De Santis went up to Caen with Soeur Edgerly and Soeur Woodward came down to Nogent with me. She is such a great missionary, so sweet and wants to put her all into the work. She got her 2 transfers ago so she's still nervous with her French, but when we went to teach Kamla I had Soeur Woodward speak more than she thought she could. We taught about fasting and soeur Woodward wanted to share the story of Alma the younger and how he had changed because of all of the prayers and fasting of the people. She started then kept looking at me like she was waiting for me to take over, but I kept my mouth shut and let her keep talking. It was simple and short, but she did a good job, and it's actually best to teach that way with Kamla, because she learns slower.
Kamla's baptism is coming up this Saturday! She was supposed to have her interview Saturday but called us that morning and said her foot was swollen so she couldn't come to the church and she was going to go see the doctor. She said she would call us back, and she never did so we called her multiple times but she never answered. We were worried, because at the end of last transfer she got sick and disappeared for two weeks. We decided to go by her place and see if she was there. We said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to at least help us get ahold of her; there was no answer when we knocked on her door and we waited for about 5 minutes. Just when we were about to leave she came out of the elevator! We were very grateful that we had been there just at that moment. Thankfully her foot got better quickly (we told her she needed to put ice on it, because she had been out walking around thinking that would help the swelling and pain), she came to church yesterday and had her interview yesterday evening and it looks like everything will work out.
We got a referral last week from the church; a girl named Emily who speaks English requested a Book of Mormon. We called but the phone number doesn't work, so we tried going by her place but there's a code to get it and no one was there; so, I sent her a letter on Saturday telling her who we were and that we have a Book of Mormon for her and I gave her our information. Hopefully we will get a call from her this week... or we will try going by her place again and pray that someone opens the door.
I'm grateful that I have this opportunity to be a missionary and do the Lord's work, helping build his kingdom here on earth. I'm grateful for all of you and love you soooooooo much!
Bisous, Soeur Reeves
P.S. If you look of lds.org there is an article about the mission president's seminar and if you look at the photo gallery there is a picture of President and Soeur Poznanski as well as Uncle Robert and Aunt Janet talking to Elder Nelson, I think (although whoever took the picture titled them as President and Sister Andersen).
By the way the only person who sent me their address was Carrie, it would be nice if I could have all of yours, so if you have the time... Thanks :D
Allyson that's so exciting that you're going to Jerusalem and that Jaclyn will be there too! I'm very excited for you, what a great experience that will be! I remember Julie coming back and giving all of us our little purses she bought while she was there. That's fun Ryan that you get to go out contacting in Madrid, it's true that a lot of people won't listen, but it's partly a culture thing. I realized when I would go contacting with the sisters in Riverside people would at least listen to what we had to say and then tell us whether or not they're interested. Here if they don't want to talk to you they won't listen, but that's okay, because you can be sure that those who are ready and are interested will listen to you. (I don't know if its the same case in Spain, but here in France there are a ton of Jehovah's witnesses, so almost half the people we contact think that that's what we are).
We had sister exchanges this last week. Soeur De Santis went up to Caen with Soeur Edgerly and Soeur Woodward came down to Nogent with me. She is such a great missionary, so sweet and wants to put her all into the work. She got her 2 transfers ago so she's still nervous with her French, but when we went to teach Kamla I had Soeur Woodward speak more than she thought she could. We taught about fasting and soeur Woodward wanted to share the story of Alma the younger and how he had changed because of all of the prayers and fasting of the people. She started then kept looking at me like she was waiting for me to take over, but I kept my mouth shut and let her keep talking. It was simple and short, but she did a good job, and it's actually best to teach that way with Kamla, because she learns slower.
Kamla's baptism is coming up this Saturday! She was supposed to have her interview Saturday but called us that morning and said her foot was swollen so she couldn't come to the church and she was going to go see the doctor. She said she would call us back, and she never did so we called her multiple times but she never answered. We were worried, because at the end of last transfer she got sick and disappeared for two weeks. We decided to go by her place and see if she was there. We said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to at least help us get ahold of her; there was no answer when we knocked on her door and we waited for about 5 minutes. Just when we were about to leave she came out of the elevator! We were very grateful that we had been there just at that moment. Thankfully her foot got better quickly (we told her she needed to put ice on it, because she had been out walking around thinking that would help the swelling and pain), she came to church yesterday and had her interview yesterday evening and it looks like everything will work out.
We got a referral last week from the church; a girl named Emily who speaks English requested a Book of Mormon. We called but the phone number doesn't work, so we tried going by her place but there's a code to get it and no one was there; so, I sent her a letter on Saturday telling her who we were and that we have a Book of Mormon for her and I gave her our information. Hopefully we will get a call from her this week... or we will try going by her place again and pray that someone opens the door.
I'm grateful that I have this opportunity to be a missionary and do the Lord's work, helping build his kingdom here on earth. I'm grateful for all of you and love you soooooooo much!
Bisous, Soeur Reeves
P.S. If you look of lds.org there is an article about the mission president's seminar and if you look at the photo gallery there is a picture of President and Soeur Poznanski as well as Uncle Robert and Aunt Janet talking to Elder Nelson, I think (although whoever took the picture titled them as President and Sister Andersen).
Sunday, July 10, 2011
A Note from Allyson
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| I was able to go to President and Sister Staheli's homecoming in Valerie's (Soeur Reeves') place. It was fun to meet all the missionaries who served with her - and thus were confused to see Soeur Reeves' face at the homecoming. I was also able to see lots of the missionaries that I knew from the Paris ward while studying in France last year. |
Monday, July 4, 2011
Week 19 - Miracle Story
Bonjour ma famille!
Wonder of wonder! Miracle of miracles! 2 weeks ago Soeur De Santis and I met a woman named Jeanne after getting off the bus. It was a quick contact, but she gave us her number and said she would be happy to talk with us sometime. We called her last week, but she was out of town, so she fixed a rendez-vous with us for this past Thursday. We arrived at her place Thursday evening and she said, "So what is it that you preach? You're not, Catholic, you're not Protestant, you're not Evangelical, and your church is actually called The Church of Jesus-Christ." She told us that normally she's tired when she gets home and she wouldn't give strangers her number just after getting off the bus, but she felt good about it and was excited to talk to us." She asked us how she could enter into our church, so we explained our objective with her and that we teach people the gospel of Jesus Christ and prepare them for baptism. She then said, "If I wanted to could I be baptized this next Sunday?" Soeur De Santis and I were both shocked, but smiled. Soeur De Santis explained that we normally like people to come to church a few times before, and we invite people to pray about our message and ask Heavenly Father if it's really true. We talked about the Savior with her and shared Alma 7:11-12 and talked about how it's through him that we can repent and be baptized, being washed clean of our sins. We gave her a Book of Mormon and explained it's history. She said she felt good as she read the scripture in Alma. She then told us that she's going to take it with her to work, so that she can read it during her breaks, because she's usually really tired when she gets home and sometimes gets home late. I can't even get members to do that! She said that she wanted to come to church, and she is so lucky because she only lives 2 blocks away! After our lesson Soeur De Santis and I were so happy and excited! Jeanne was definitely prepared before hand, we were just blessed to be there and contact her so that she can have the opportunity to be baptized into Christ's church. Sadly she didn't end up coming to church, we tried calling a couple of times and she finally answered; she was in the hospital! I hope everthing is okay. Maybe it's because she's so ready that all of the sudden this opposition has to pop up. We're going to try and see her this week though, she told us to call her today.
We met President and Soeur Poznanski on Friday! They are wonderful! They have two daughters here with them, Marie who is 19 and Mona who is almost 15. The whole meeting and the interviews were all in French! It was great! I understood everything and I know it's really going to help all of the missionaries; Soeur De Santis definitely loved it. They are going to start doing everything in French and President Poznanski wants us to do our President's letters in French. His hope is that it will help the missionaries get over the barrier of not being able to express themselves, and if we don't have to worry so much about the language we can focus more on the spirit.
I love you all! I hope you're transitioning well mom and dad. Are you going straight back to Bountiful or traveling around first?
Bisous,
Soeur Valerie Reeves
P.S. CAN EVERY ONE SEND ME THEIR ADDRESSES PLEASE? THANK YOU!
Also, I think I missed your birthday Jon. Sorry. Happy Late Birthday!!!
Wonder of wonder! Miracle of miracles! 2 weeks ago Soeur De Santis and I met a woman named Jeanne after getting off the bus. It was a quick contact, but she gave us her number and said she would be happy to talk with us sometime. We called her last week, but she was out of town, so she fixed a rendez-vous with us for this past Thursday. We arrived at her place Thursday evening and she said, "So what is it that you preach? You're not, Catholic, you're not Protestant, you're not Evangelical, and your church is actually called The Church of Jesus-Christ." She told us that normally she's tired when she gets home and she wouldn't give strangers her number just after getting off the bus, but she felt good about it and was excited to talk to us." She asked us how she could enter into our church, so we explained our objective with her and that we teach people the gospel of Jesus Christ and prepare them for baptism. She then said, "If I wanted to could I be baptized this next Sunday?" Soeur De Santis and I were both shocked, but smiled. Soeur De Santis explained that we normally like people to come to church a few times before, and we invite people to pray about our message and ask Heavenly Father if it's really true. We talked about the Savior with her and shared Alma 7:11-12 and talked about how it's through him that we can repent and be baptized, being washed clean of our sins. We gave her a Book of Mormon and explained it's history. She said she felt good as she read the scripture in Alma. She then told us that she's going to take it with her to work, so that she can read it during her breaks, because she's usually really tired when she gets home and sometimes gets home late. I can't even get members to do that! She said that she wanted to come to church, and she is so lucky because she only lives 2 blocks away! After our lesson Soeur De Santis and I were so happy and excited! Jeanne was definitely prepared before hand, we were just blessed to be there and contact her so that she can have the opportunity to be baptized into Christ's church. Sadly she didn't end up coming to church, we tried calling a couple of times and she finally answered; she was in the hospital! I hope everthing is okay. Maybe it's because she's so ready that all of the sudden this opposition has to pop up. We're going to try and see her this week though, she told us to call her today.
We met President and Soeur Poznanski on Friday! They are wonderful! They have two daughters here with them, Marie who is 19 and Mona who is almost 15. The whole meeting and the interviews were all in French! It was great! I understood everything and I know it's really going to help all of the missionaries; Soeur De Santis definitely loved it. They are going to start doing everything in French and President Poznanski wants us to do our President's letters in French. His hope is that it will help the missionaries get over the barrier of not being able to express themselves, and if we don't have to worry so much about the language we can focus more on the spirit.
I love you all! I hope you're transitioning well mom and dad. Are you going straight back to Bountiful or traveling around first?
Bisous,
Soeur Valerie Reeves
P.S. CAN EVERY ONE SEND ME THEIR ADDRESSES PLEASE? THANK YOU!
Also, I think I missed your birthday Jon. Sorry. Happy Late Birthday!!!
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