Mikayla on a Mission: Week 10: 187

187 is the number that has been haunting me - for lack of a better word - since I arrived in France.

The week before I arrived in France, President Brown set a goal, to find 187 engagés (people who had committed to baptism) before the Elder Christofferson conference -- which is tomorrow. It has been so so so stressful and in my ward and area and zone, there are very very few progressing amis (investigators).

It was frustrating and terrifying because I didn't really think we could make that goal and I didn't like the idea of forcing people to choose a baptismal date to try and fulfill a number. So that was bad on my part -- in not just trusting and having faith -- but on Saturday, as a zone, we found six engagés who were ready and Sunday we found 4 more!

It was insane! And that was just our zone!

As a mission, in one week, we found almost 100 engagés! President promised that we would find those who were ready and we found them and even more! As of right now we have 249 engagés and that number is the highest it's almost ever been! Normally it's around 80.

This was so hard and super difficult and stressful because missionary work is so much more than just the numbers -- but with this promise I have been able to see that just asking someone to pick a date, while a huge step in the right direction is still special and you can't just ask them willy nilly -- you need to wait until it is the right time. If you mention it and they are not ready, then you need to back off, but a date is just that -- a date.

Picking a date gives some amis a goal to work towards and remind them that they can do this, because for some they need to quit smoking or drinking and if they don't have a date they won't progress because they can always put off stopping until tomorrow. Then, there are others who don't pick a date, who just need to realize that we are friends but we are also trying to show them that God loves them and wants to bless them. Baptism is the first step onto the path filled with even more blessings!

God did not put us on this Earth to suffer as He tests us, He is constantly supporting us and sending us tender mercies and He wants to bless us.

This week was insane, but we did it and I am relieved and scared for the next challenge we are going to have to face, but as one of the zone leaders said at the last training we had, France has had seeds being planted for years -- now it's time to look for and find those opportunities to reap some rewards.

It is such a different mission than I expected but it's such a wonderful thing.

Hopefully I explained how I was feeling, my brain is so scattered -- I don't know what I would do if I didn't have a planner.

This week we had three exchanges, one of which was down in St. Etienne. It was so fun. We taught English class and that was an absolute blast! It was so fun. Because there are so many équipes (companionships) here in Lyon we don't get to help with English class here, but I definitely will in other villes.

This week we also had three miracles from our area book (listings of previous investigators) which was super cool! The first miracle was when we were able to fix a rendezvous with an old ami after we texted her. The second miracle was when we left a voicemail and like five minutes later the lady called back, and even though she moved she missed the missionaries and let us give her information to those sister missionaries near her. The last miracle was when we got in contact with a really old ami who let us email her because she doesn't have a real phone and we are working on setting up a rendezvous soon.

Most of these people were lost in the area book after having gone on vacation and other things, but it was such a huge miracle we were able to find them and from our comfortable couch too, it was all around just wonderful!

I sound lazy! haha

I promise I'm not, but it's super nice to rest sometimes -- we are constantly running to catch a bus, train, metro, or tram! And in the morning we do Mangos with Matthew, Mangos is an acronym that basically says we are "motivated to workout in the mornings" and Matthew is the dude on this fitness app that was approved for us to use. It is hard -- my word -- it is difficult -- the past few days have been push up routines, but we need to keep off the patisseries somehow or else I won't fit my clothes!

Things are pretty good here, and the Elder Christofferson conference tomorrow - it is so exciting,

I love you all and hope you have a good week.

Soeur Beatty :)