Week 16: P Day Again!

It is crazy that it is pday again already! We did so much this week but it flew by! We had an exchange, took a trip to the countryside, had a four zone conference as well as a fun little miracle,

We had an exchange with the Val de Soane equipe -- the sisters who are still living with us -- and that was fun because neither of us had to move or pack to do it haha -- but we went and realized that neither of us completely know our area boundries! We walked out of one of the metro stops and Sister Tauira said we were just walking across the street to visit one of their less actives and I just had to stop and stare because across the street and right next door to their less active was one of our members... haha it was funny!

We spent quite a bit trying to figure out whose secteur we were in -- but, it's all good, right? But it was a super fun exchange! And that night we played loups-garous, which is like a french version of mafia, and I'm probably buying it because it is really fun and you need at least 8 people to play and you can go up to like 20! It is really fun though :)

We ended up taking a trip to the countryside with one of our members to visit an elderly lady and help her clean her windows. We ended up going with the three year old granddaughter too and that was just really fun because she was super cute and talkative, and little children speaking French is just so absolutely adorable! She also spoke Russian and already knew the differences between the two languages and that was intense... haha her name is Yeva:)

The conference was amazing -- it the two Swiss zones and the two Lyon zones and that was a blast! We got to watch the missionary parody of Adele and it was absolutely funny and amazing! As well as hear the departing missionaries testimonies.... Their testimonies were amazing and Elder Berry made me cry -- since we have now served together two, my first two transfers and his last two and yeah... Sister Kelley was sitting near me and she cried during his testimony too and it was funny because as she was wiping her tears away she was like "I don't even know him!"

We also did a game where they had all of us go into the parking lot and put on blindfolds and then said follow the sound! So I got with all the sisters and we were a little blob and we were chasing these clanging bells and running around trying to find these bells and it was so frustrating, We chased the bells around the hill and when we got to the bottom we heard a very distinct and different sound.

It was a single chime and all of a sudden we walked into Sister Brown and she took each one of us and our hands and said follow the rope and put us on the rope and had us follow it to the end where President Brown greeted us -- we took of our blind folds and everyone was humming "come come ye saints"... It was super intense because I have planned these before, but never been thrown into one -- but I loved it so much because I am not a convert and I have never been so far away from everything in the church -- but when I realized what was going on -- and I didn't realize any of it until I actually got the rope -- it was incredible because it is the closest I have ever felt like an investigator, who really truly knows nothing about God's plan, who doesn't know we can talk to him and he will listen, that he is there and watching out for us, past the grave. That he gave us a plan and we aren't forgotten.

It was just surreal, because we were so lost without any direction because there had been literally no directions given before our blind folds went on and I loved it. Because even if I can't relate -- I can now understand what you say when it all clicked because that one chime in the middle of all the clanging bells was an instant click in my head.

And our fun little miracle for the week was a few weeks ago we traveled to Dardilly to try and find a less active -- and for the life of us we could not find her house because her address was literally 2\3 rue something or other, and we found 1 and 4 but not 2\3, and we looked everywhere!

So, at ward counsel we told them her house doesn't exist and they were like yes it does, and then proceeded to explain how to get to her house and gave us the code to get in, So we took an afternoon to travel to Dardilly and when we got there the code didn't work -- so we stood there and before we said anything.

Sister Fagg said we were going to pray and ask for someone to come open the door for us so we can at least leave a note on her door. So we prayed and decided we would wait five minutes. And at literally the last second this lady starts walking towards us and it was our less active! She had gotten off work early that day and normally wouldn't have had time, but her meeting that night got cancelled and we were able to meet with her and set up another rendezvous with her! It was absolutely amazing! And she gave us the new code and it just was absolutely great:)

The work has been slowing down a little but we have so many potentials and that little miracle was super great because it's a very easy way to see that God still remembers us here in this little ville in the world trying our hardest to just share what has brought happiness into our lives.

This week was pretty good I hope you all had a good week too!

Love,
Mikayla:)

Mikayla and Soeur Grant

A game they play.

A local Vietnamese restaurant.

Mikayla made Korean food for the sisters.

Week 15: Halfway Done with the 2nd Transfer

In French transfer is "mutation" which the direct word in English is like change haha. It's kind of funny to me because each one, even in the same city, is so very different and in it's own category.

There will, I think,  always be a theme or something that will distinguish each transfer from the other, which is cool, but also a little difficult because we really have to be prepared for anything -- because there is no normal or expectation, anything could happen at anytime and so we are always on our toes, but its fun! :)

This week we had an amazing district meeting where we talked about our new challenge from president to baptize 91 people by the end of the transfer. At first I was a little upset because I don't like missionaries who rush people into getting baptized but I counted the amount of people who have accepted baptismal dates before then and there is well over 100 who have dates before then -  so I am going to have faith that we will meet this goal and we will.

This really seems impossible,  but we talked a lot at district meeting how all these challenges that they have had, which is way more than I can count have all been trials of our faith and if we do everything we can then we can meet our goals!

We have one ami who has been coming to church by choice for 3 years so maybe she could be baptized before then, but I don't know if its time for her to or not so we will all see and trust God :) We are his missionaries and doing his work so it'll all work out if we pay attention to the spirit,

After district meeting we went on an exchange with Sister Goreeba who is from the Réunion Island - that was funny because I took two native French speakers with me to go teach English to the L kids -
and that was really fun!

This week we had so many rendezvous and they were all amazing! We are helping all the members make personal mission plans and identify at least one name that they can share the gospel with or just help brighten their day and it is all great! :) So many of our members are already great missionaries, I could just give them my plaque.

The Open House for Meet the Mormons and on the Book of Mormon went super duper well and I think it looked great if I do say so myself - since I did all the decorations and planned it out. haha :) It went great and we will have another one in a few weeks I think!

This upcoming week we are going to have a multi-zone conference and I am so excited to see my old trainer and Sister Robb! It will all be so exciting :) It will be a great end to this week!

Love you all,
Sister Beatty:)

The elders were here. haha.

pockies!! 

Sister Cochaine and Sister Fagg

Exhcange with Sister Goreeba and Sister Cochaine

The trio.

Sprained ankle! 

Meet the Mormons activity at the institute.

Sisteres Tupuato, Tauria, Fagg, Cochaine,and Mikayla. 

Next Transfer's Planner.

They bought matching shirts - I speak fluent Disney.

Love this joyous face.

Sisters Fagg, Tauria, and Mikayla

Week 14: Trio Life

Hey everybody :)

So I'll start off with today, we went to the zoo at Parc Tete S'or for P-day and got a supersized cotton candy -  and it was giant!  And me and Soeur Fagg ate it all in like half an hour because we didn't want to take it on the bus. haha It was so funny, but I think I have eaten enough sugar for the next transfer!

This week we had Missionary Leadership Council and I went on an exchange with the wonderful Sister Robb which was super fun, We did our studies together and she's the best! :) <3

Then that we saw N and that went well. We helped her finish her closet and now she is all moved in and settled down and on the right track -- which is just perfect!

Wednesday was crazy because we had to be in Lyon at 11 so we left way early to take all the buses and we got our bleu - Sister Cochian, She is 26 and a physiologist. She is great! She has not been to the MTC yet because she is visa waiting and when her visa comes she will go to the temple square mission. She is so funny and her accent,  when she speaks English, is just the cutest!

We had zone training this week too and that was great, I made the dessert for everyone and it was crazy! We have one of the biggest zones - with almost 30 people in it, I had to make four cakes! But it was yummy -  we had strawberry shortcakes and everyone loved it :) I was worried the non-Americans wouldn't like it, but they all liked it, which was great!

On Friday we went to the doctor to get a vaccine for our bleu since she needs all of them for the US, but one of the Val-de-Soane sisters has a really bad ear infection - her ears got swollen and she couldn't hear, so we took her with us and Sister Brown came along and everything got sorted out. Then Sister Brown bought us lunch and pattisseries, She's the best! :) And we get to hug her! Everyone bisous here - so no hugs. It's funny, because the French think hugs are too personal. haha It's not bad, just very different!

We saw M, another of our amis, and she made us an amazing meal, but she is pretty content with her life and doesn't see the importance of the Book of Mormon, Hopefully she can learn to find its importance.

We weekly planned on Saturday because Friday was too busy and then we were able to pass a bunch of less actives (drop by unannounced) and actually had a rendezvous with one of them - which was great but super awkward because the dad was happy to see us but the mom was not. But, we still got to share a message which was cool anyways!

And then church on Sunday! I fixed so many rendezvous with members it was insane but good. We had a less active show up and were able to fix a rendezvous - so hopefully it goes well! And Saturday we have another open house at the institute and I hope that goes well too!

This week went by so fast and now the transfers almost halfway done! It is crazy how time flies but I love the mission and everything I am able to learn and appreciate on my mission.

Hope you all have a good week:)
Sister Beatty

splits with Soeur Robb

They just found out they get to wear sandals this summer. yay! 

Dinner with Slyvana Bayart

Mikayla, Soeur Cochain, Soeur Fagg and Sylvana

Soeur Cochain, Mikala, Soeur Fagg and M

Mikayla, Soeur Fagg and Soeur Cochain

at the zoo

haha. Cotton Candy. They ate the whole thing!

Sister Brown bought everyone lunch!