Christmas in France

Jenni and Soeur Brunt visiting Soeur Nazeroff (she is 90). The Bishop and his wife and little girl also dropped by to see her.
The missionaries visiting with Sr. Garcia and her two granddaughters. She is an amazing woman.
The missionaries eating Christmas lunch - an all American PB & J sandwiches!
Soeur Brunt and Soeur Lake - great companions

December 28, 2009

During the week we had found some clothes that other missionaries had left in the apartment and put ribbons on them, then prepared some cookies to give out to people on the street. Then as we were walking we gave them our to homeless people. There was one guy that I was really touched. He was sitting on the side of the road begging for money. That day it was really cold. He had a skimpy jacket, a t-shirt, and a pair of jeans on. That day we actually didnt have anything but Sr. Brunt saw him as we passed took off her purple gloves and went and gave them to him. since that day I have thought about how Christ gave everything. She showed me such a great example that day. She was cold yet she didnt care he needed them more than she did. The real spirit of Christmas wasnt in those big fancy meals. They were in the little moments with Sr. Nazeoff, the homeless people, talking to you.
We had some really cool experiences this week. We were able to go to Toulouse for our Zone Conference. The morning was the usualy meetings and very spiritually up lifting in the after noon we had a talent show. Then we were able to go caroling. There were about 40 of us missionaries in a huge park. It was so much fun to sing for the people . i dont know if we really sounded good but really did make some noise. it was fun to watch the people that stopped and listened.
Yesterday we had the coolest thing happen. Sr. Brunt has a super bad cold and could barely talk yesterday but still wanted to work so we were doing some pass backs. We had planned to go and see this lady but when we got to the corner of the road we saw her husband and little girl coming out of the bread store. He doesnt really like us so we decided we would wait and go to see someone else. We had turned the corner and ran We contacted this lady. At first she said in english I dont speak French. We were like oh well that is ok we speak english. As we started to talk to her she. she saw our tags and was like "normally I wouldnt have stopped to talk to you if I would have seen you tags. and if you would have been two men I would have just ignored you, but I guess you talk about Jesus. What is it you do exactly?" We ended up talking to here for bout 20 minutes. Her name is Hieka. She has been here for 4 weeks. inthat for weeks she has been thinking a lot about Jesus Christ. She said that she was glad to have talked to us. She isnt too sure about what we said but she said she feels good about it. It was such a cool experience. And amazing to see how Heavenly Father helped us to find her. He knew we needed to turn and go down the other road and not follow what we had planned.
I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost who helps us along the way that even with little things he helps.

December 21, 2009 - Merry Christmas!

A man that we contacted during the week we gave the Restoration lesson on the street. He was a little skeptic; but in the end he wanted to know more and said that he would come to church yesterday. And he did. It was the coolest thing. He didnt understand much of why but he said he was willing to keep his promise and he came. The funny thing was he and his girl friend came in in the middle of sacrament meeting and sat on the front row. There were a few members that went and talked to him after because they thought he was a member. He fit in with the members.
I am learning a lot about myself. And Heavenly Father is really humbling me and helping realize that I need him more than i realize; So many times I think that i can do it myself i get too confident. I still have a long way to go but i am working on it; He helps me.
I dont know how much i have told you about the Oger family but I absolutelly love them. They take good care of us missionaries. and spoil us to be honest. They ahve a little girl that is severly handicapped. It is hard for them when it comes to coming to church because one of them has to stay with her at home so they take turns eah week coming. We were at their house on Friday and Brother Oger was talking to us about the plan Of Salvation. he said that in the beginning it was really hard that they cant go to the temple together, they cant come to church together, but then he said that They accepted it. That as much as it maybe a trail during this life they wont complain becasue they literally have and angel living with them. And Every day she is a reminder of their eternal goal. she cant talk to them in this life but after this life in the celestal kingdom she will be able to. But that means for them they have to live worthy to get there to talk to her. Their house is a house of the Lord the spirit is there. I feel different when i am there I feel like I am home.
It was a great testimony to me of the importance of doing our very best everyday and keeping and eternal perspective.
I Love you so much. I want you to know especailly with this week being Christmas that i know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. That in humblest of circumstances he started his life. I know that he died for us that his is the only way we can return to live with our Heavenly Father again.

December 14, 2009

Soeru Brunt is from West jordan. She is absolutely amazing. We said in the MTC that it would be so cool if one day we got to serve together but didnt really think that it would be possible since se got here about the same time. But you know what we were wrong. She is so strong. I cant tell you how good it is to be with an American. I will admit we have spoken a lot of English together but it has been so good. I dont know how to explain it but it is like we have been friends for a long time. And when you are friends with you companion and can talk about anything the work goes so much better. I can testify that this week I have seen the hand of the Lord helping us and leading us to people. I can honestly say that I love being a missionary. Not that i didnt like it before but really i love this work. We laugh together and work well together. It has been hard for me to contact people. Just to stop them on the streets and talk to them but with her we have fun with it. We have had all sorts of people this week. A guy that didnt want to talk to us and kind of screamed at us but we didnt understand anything he said as soon as we turned around we both started laughing. Then there was an afternoon this week that we were contacting and no one wanted to talk to us. We both said we are going to keep trying there will be someone that will listen to us and just then a man came into view and we started talking to him he was really nice and wanted to talk to us again. random side note we met a guy with a monkey yesterday. It was the funniest thing the money even shook our finger, then tried to bite Sr. Brunt's finger.
The work is moving forward we are finding new people all over the place. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father let me stay here. This a city of many miracles just waiting to happen. And with Christmas in the Air people seem to be more willing to talk to us or maybe it is just that I want to talk with them more. Which ever it is I like it.
It is kind of different to hear about all the different traditions here. We have many members that want us to celebrate with them. to be honest I was so confused at first because here you celebrate the 24th until midnight. From what i understand the 25 is just the relax and chill day; I am excited to see it in action.

Jenni with Brother and Sister Oger

And Soeur Lake gets to....?

I get to stay in Perpignan!!!!! I have literally been praying for a couple of weeks to stay. There is something inside me that I dont feel like i have accomplised what I need to here. I felt like I would change cities because I have been here for 3 transfers already. But i exercised faith and you could say I had a heart to heart with Heavenly Father. But in the end I said I know it is in your hands. After that i waited. THe entire last week I worried about it but prepared myself to accept to leave. And Friday came and President finally called around 4 and he only talked with Sr. Royer. When she hung up she started crying and said, "you are staying and Sr. Brunt is coming. And i am being sent to Marseille to be in a Trio." I literally wanted to jump up and down. I was so excited. I thank my Heavenly Father to be able to stay. And with Sr. Brunt. She was in the MTC with me for 3 weeks. I love her. This is going to be a good transfer!! I am so excited!!!!!! I love this city and I love the people here. I know that Heavenly FAther has prepared people for us to find and to teach and it is up to us to work hard and to find them. And with it Christmas time what better message to share than the true meaning of Christmas. I have really realized this week that I have been selfish and until the last few days have not really thought about the true meaning of Christmas. It has hitme in the face this week as we have contacted a couple of different people one man has been homeless for a long time. We passed by him not really thinking to talk to him but something pushed us to turn around. a memeber had given us some packaged soup and we gave it to him. He was very grateful. He told us a little about him that he has been on the street since his mom died a couple of years ago. He has nothing he lives on the street and sleeps where he can finda place. As I walked home i thought about all the blessings i have more than anything i have a family who loves me a I have somewhere to call home I have food to eat.Another time day we were contacting and ran into another man who 2 weeks ago had everything. A job, a wife, a home and now he has nothing. he is sleeping at the red cross and has one sack of belongings. He didnt have much hope, There wasnt much we could do for him.And encore we have a lot of single sisters in the ward and amis as well that will spend Christmas by themselves. They dont have family close so they will spend Christmas by themselves. I really got to thinking. Christmas is the time to celebrate the birth of Christ and to think of all the things he has done for us. To do something for someone else; to look beyond what we need or want and find someone who could use a helping hand. We have decided I dont know how we are going to do it but we are going to do some kind of christmas meal at the church and invite these people that are all alone. I realized i dont need anything i have all my needs taken care of. It took seeing so many people who have nothing and who are alone to realize that is the reason for the season. the lights the decorations add to the atmosphere and remind me everyday that there is so much i can give to others. more than anything I have the opportunity to share the gospel.I love this time of year. I love what i am doing. I am so excited for this new transfer. TO continue to serve the Lord and to share the real meaning for the season!Have a good week!

Work hard and travel safe!

Jenni