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

November 30, 2009

This last week was a little weird all or our amis were really busy and we didnt really get to see or teach them :( but like last night we stopped by to see a sister in the ward that is active but who I have never talked to. It was the best visit of the week. She told us a cool story of when she was at the temple one time ther temple president had spoken to a group that she was with. she said the meeting was absolutelly amazing and as they were leaving a brother said to her "i wish that he(the temple president) could come to Perpignan. We need someone like him there." After he had said that the temple president who was just behind them siad "you know what you dont need me to come there, you dont need to wish to be like me. You can be like me. All the good that you see in me you can create and be yourself." - Sister Meunier went on to say that she had never thought about it like that. but how true it is that we need to be the positive change we want to see in the world. I was so gald that we had stopped to see her last night.
It is interesting at this moment in time all of the new converts here in Perpignan are having a trial of their faith. We had the chance to visit with celine this last week. And I thought that she was doing well. But come to find out she is having a hard time too. All that to say that I realize that Heavenly Father will try our faith just to the point when we dont think we can handle it anymore. The cool thing is he never forgets us and he is always there. But like Sr. Royer keeps sharing that if we are being faithful to our covenants and all that Heavenly Father asks of us we have every right to ask for specific blessings.

Pictures - Yeah!

Sister Oger cutting Jen's hair

Final version of the haircut and showing her Christmas spirit.

Jenni modeling her new coat!

Ward Mission Leader who reminds Jen of Gramps!

November 23, 2009

We have been so busy this last week we even had to start making appointments with people for the next week because we didnt have place. It is such a blessing to be busy and working hard. I am learning a lot about repentence and forgiveness this transfer. Everyone has the chance to repent and to change. There is no exception to that Christ doesnt tell us that only a certain number of people will be allowed to repent but rather each of us can and that if we have the desire and are silling to change he is willing to forgive us. Sister Garcia is an amazing example of forgiving others. She has suffered a lot in her life and when we were talking to her the other night I was near tear just listening to her story and how she has changed.
On top of weing busy I dont think we have had so many rendezvous cancelled at the same time. There were 2 days that almost every single one of our Rendezvous was cancelled just minutes before or a couple of hours before. It was frustrating at first but then as we worked and went with our backup plan to go see other people or to talk to the people on the road we were blessed. I cant remember which night but our Rendezvous was cancelled and as we were walking to go see one of our other amis we were stopped 2 different times by men who wanted to know what we were doing. It was really cool to see that there are people all along the way. That Laybe it was in heavelny Fathers plan that what we had planned was cancelled so that we could talk to the other people. One of the men was actually the man that owns the cyber cafe where we do our emails. We got talking and he said that he has never met someone like us that wears a badge that is not nice, polite and humble. He is muslim and not really interested in changing he beliefs right now but I really believe that he will always remember those missionaries.
We havent been able to meet with The girl that we contacted at bus stop last week. She was sick one day and something happened with her daughter the next but I have a lot of hope for her.
I dont remember if i have told you much about Rose-Marie one of the less active sisters we have been working with for quite a while now; But she raelly is an artist. She has showed us a lot of paintings that she has done and last night when we were there visiting she actually gave us one. well she gave me two. She is the sweetest sister. She is amazingI dont know anyone that prays as much as she does for other people. And when she gets tired she reads the book of Mormon.
I am so grateful for good people around me. I have been thinking about my blessing with it Thanksgiving this week.(its sad they dont celebrate thanksgiving here but we might do a little celebrating as missionaries) I really am so blessed and protected. I am have great family and so many great examples.
I hope that you have a good feast this week! I love you lots!

November 16, 2009

This week was good. We had our Zone Conference in Toulouse Wednesday and the theme that our zone leaders have chosen for this transfer is "open your mouth and see the miracles." In conjunction with something that Elder Holland had taught us "teach the byt the way lesson" where ever we are teach find someone to teach. It was so cool I had decided that I would do the very best I could to talk with the people where ever we are. and I have been praying that Heavenly Father would help me to see the miracles each day. He hads done just that. One really cool miracle was on Friday we had just left the church to catch the bus. (The bus stop is right next to the Church.) At the stopThere was a girl about 25 sitting there and asked us what time it was. her simple question started a conversation. During the conversation she said that she was from Africa, the same country as a brother in the ward. Long story short we talke about the church just briefly and as the bus arrived i asked if she would like to talk more another dayShe was excited and said oh ya I will write my address doan when we get on the bus. As we continued to talk she asked lots of questions. I feel that she is really prepared we are going to teach her this week. Heavenly Father really does guide our words if we put our trust in him and open our mouths.
Another miracle was Gabriel and Marcel both came to church yesterday. Gabriel is amazing since he had already been taught a few years ago it is cool to see the spirit work on him and help him remember the things he felt and learned before. for instance we were reading a scripture and at the end he said i remember that verse. i remember having read it before.
Honestly it is the little things that are the biggest miracles. Heavenly Father gives us miracles everyday And I have found that I need to pay more attention.
This work really is amazing! There are oppontunities all around to teach and to help others. But not everyone is willing to listen or to accept help that is why we have to continue and try again or try in another way. When we show Heavenly Father that we are willing to work and submit to doing what he has asked he is there and will help. I know that he loves each one of us. He is there for us.