Oh The Weather Outside...

March 24, 2014 

Dearest family!!! This week was crazy. We did many fun things and met loads of great people. We saw loads of member families this week. Which is a great thing because...that’s what we have been asked to focus on. It is really tough at times...especially because I love teaching. But sometimes that’s just the way things are. You have to trudge through mud to get to pretty views (am I right Soeur Beeny? hahah #snowshoeing #round1) 

Monday was spent hanging with the Sisters. We dwelled in the sunshine and acted like we were on summer vacation! You know....as missionary appropriate as that gets!! Basically we enjoyed the sunshine and laughed till our tummies hurt! I absolutely love the Sisters in my apartment! Soeur Witt, Soeur DeO, and Soeur Obel. We are a great combo!! I just know Soeur Witt and me are going to remain great, great friends after the mission!! (She is from SLC, which makes things easy!) We have started an apartment family night. We all cook/eat dinner together, play a game, spiritual thought, the works. We do it at a time where it doesn’t interfere with missionary work of course and it’s so fun to share and create memories together!! We laugh way to hard. Me, Soeur DeO and Soeur Witt are going to have a real, real, hard time splitting from each other!! We call each ourselves the Chambé Angels. #cheesy We had an absolutely perfect day Monday. The weather was FABULOUS. 

Tuesday we did exchanges in Lyon. Sigh...I love Lyon. It made me really miss big cities...missionary work goes so...smoothly. I think of the Cover Girl commercials. Easy, Breezy, Beautiful. Of course missionary work isn’t every super easy but...It is nice when you don’t see the same people 6 times a day :) I was definitely out of practice as far as transport contacting goes...I used to be a master ;) hahaha! But really...I was slightly disappointed in my performance.  Thank goodness for Christ’s atonement!! You live and you learn. I did have some great conversations and got to teach a couple times. Exchanges are great but difficult as far as teaching situations go. You never know if you should but in and talk loads because they are technically not your amis...you don’t know the worries and problems of each ami before going into the situation so its hard to find a medium. I love Lyon. It’s a beautiful city! I got to go running with Soeur Luthi and it brought back Toulouse memories all over again! We ran by the river in Lyon and looked at a gorgeous cathedral. Goodness France is gorgeous. Overall, the exchange was great. I was with Soeur Carter and she is nice. My exchange in Lyon just made me miss Toulouse all over again. #toulouseforlife But I love where I am and the opportunity to support my little branch!! The branch is starting to joke that I am going to break Soeur Thompsons record (8 months...) Hahaha! Wouldn’t that be an adventure.....But lets get real, this branch is fabulous. Each family inside of it is so strong and willing to do what they can. Since arriving it is a black and white difference! We have been getting invited over to eat, share spiritual thoughts, and meet friends. Their love for us is soooo sincere. I am blessed. We ate at the family Gonons. Soeur Gonon opened up like I have never seen before. You could tell she just felt confortable and really started to open up and joke around. They are the cutest couple in the world. We visited the Family Billaz. THEY ARE BOMB! They have strong testimonies and are sharing the gospel with loads of friends!! Asking us what steps they need to take and where to go from where they are at. #powercouple They bore such power testimonies of the Gospel to us and how important we are as individuals and the things they loved about us that it brought my to tears. The Munn Jr’s invited us over for Sunday dinner. And it was such a party. They are HILARIOUS! They loved having us over and joking around with us! The kids....ADORE us!!! We were able to have such a spiritual discussion with Fr Munn Jr. and Sr Munn Jr. Frere Munn bore testimony on his appreciation for us and how he LOVES us sister missionaries. Even more than the Elders! #booya But it is true, we bring a love, sincerity, and passion that Elders just can’t bring #girlpower. Went snowshoeing again. My comp has never been in the mountains...it was an experience hahaha and extremely magical!!! We were walking through snow-covered woods. We accidently were following these extreme snowshoeing people...and they were taking us on the unbeaten path. It was amazingly fun!! I just love our members!! Fr Munn Sr. is going to Japan for 2 weeks...sigh I am really gonna miss him! He promised us pictures of the Blossoms so that eased the pain haha So blessed to have such great members!

We also saw loads of less actives. Soeur Tabka is making huge progress. She is sooo sweet and asked...."what is going to happen when you leave me?" We worked it out so that I would continue writing via email and all was well in Zion! She made huge strides this week. We are making dinner together and seeing each other more often throughout the week. She....CAME TO CHURCH. Yes you read correctly, SHE CAME TO CHURCH. She just surprised us out of the blue!!!! Of course we have been inviting her but it has been the same story over and over. Well, you could tell she was just waiting to see our facial expressions. She is adorable. I love her so much. We also so a less active named Patience. She also made huge strides and is very open to talk about spiritual things. We had a great RDV and scheduled another for the next week. He 3-year-old son Michael came to church. We are planning on keeping him coming each week to establish a good pattern in his life and be an example for his Mother. Yes, he is THREE years old. But you know what Jesus says, be as a little child. He sat next to us during sacrament meeting sooooo reverently. We taught him that we fold our arms, bow our heads, and say "amen" at the end of prayers. He was so determined to do a perfect job. And you know what, he really did!! He would occasionally peek just to be sure he wasn’t the only one still in prayer mode but he did such a great job! So proud of our little Michael!!! People have been receiving callings in our Branch #finally Soeur Billaz is a Primary instructor and Arsène is a branch missionary. Arsène ( a recent convert) was SO excited. He pulled me aside and said, "don’t tell anyone but I’m getting a calling as ward mission something or other" hahaha. We looked at each other and just laughed!!!! He was soooo worried because he didn’t know what was expected of him and he wanted to do his best. I assured him that whatever his call was, it was a call from God and he would do a fabulous job! Arsène and me are getting to be best of friends. He is so funny. Such a strong converted member. 

In other news....I lost the cell phone. hahah whoops. It somehow stayed on the bus that took us to Annecy. (aka I’m blonde and left it on the seat next to me) After traveling from Chambéry to Annecy to Lyon to Annecy to Chambéry to Annecy. A worker found it and happened to live in Chambéry and brought it back to us that night. How lucky are we!!!!!!!!!!! #MIRACLE The weather was literally perfect...up until Friday. Now we are in rain, wind, and snow. Sigh. I hope it does not continue!! People are going back into their winter depression!!! But life goes on and we are keeping smiles on our faces!! We are also super excited for this week!! There is a 5-zone conference!!! I get to see missionary friends!!!! (Soeur Pape, Elder Happi, Elder Du Pre, etc.) Yupee!! Also a Seventy is going to be there--Elder Lund, Do you know him Dad??? 

Love you all!!

Pray we find new amis!! 

Cheers!

Soeur Richardson