When a missionary arrives in his or her first area they are assigned a trainer to help them settle into mission life including service, teaching and working with members. They are no longer to be considered to be in training when their first twelve weeks (two transfers) are complete. As such Soeur Atkins finished her training this week- she has grown into such an independent and spiritually powerful missionary. I have been so honoured to pass these 12 weeks with her and overwhelmed by the trust of her training that Heavenly Father and President Herrington gave to me. She is an asset to her Saviour, her calling and her family. I have no doubt that she will see lots of miracles in her new area.

Spoiler alert for transfers which happened on Wednesday 29 November. I am staying in Guyane and serving with Soeur Reep. I am excited- not what I expected but I love Soeur Reep and am happy to be spending Christmas in Guyane with these amazing people. Other news: Soeur Atkins is going to Baie Mahault in Guadeloupe with Soeur Moore.

There was still a week of service in Guyane with Soeur Atkins before we get to the transfers though. Last pday wasn’t the greatest! We didn’t do a lot but the evening was much better- we (the missionaries with Soeur Wilna) had organised a FHE with all of the young single adults to watch the face to face with Elder Ballard and Oaks together whilst eating pizza. It was really good- lots of people came including Sandrine! I didn’t really get much out of the face to face because we were in another room making popcorn but what I saw was good- they seemed to really address questions relevant to today’s problems.

Soeurs Holt and Atkins continue with their exercise regime. Tuesday morning we got up at 5 to meet Sandrine at 5.30 to go jogging with her; we run every morning but let me tell you this girl is fit! It was a really amazing way to develop our relationship and friendship with her and we hope to make it a weekly thing!

That afternoon some contacting port a port using the Book of Mormon specifically, we met a lady from Haiti, it blew my mind but she is really kind and bore her testimony of Jesus to us. We read together in 3 Nephi 11. We then met a lady from English Guiana- she invited us in and we had a short lesson introducing the Gospel to her. We also contacted a young man who is atheist- after reading Alma 30.44 and talking for a while he said that he would pray for the first time and ask God if he was there; super cool!

We went to see the Lazou family- we sang carols together and shared the light the world campaign with them.

During weekly planning on Thursday it was really strange to weekly plan on week 6 because we have no clue what is going to happen!

We had a lesson with Trinity and Charlanda about the plan of salvation- they are still preparing for baptism which is really exciting.

Soeur Holt ran out of time with her emailing but we were pleased to hear that a lot of her birthday post arrived this week: birthday package number 3 turned up, package from Christine Paul, a package from the Ashtons, and another from Helen Toogood. Thank you so much to everyone who remembered her- we really appreciate your love, letters and prayers.

Also the Advent package arrived safely; I loved the candle! The elf is so cute!! This builds on a tradition in our home of Elliot the Elf who visits from the North Pole during Advent.

Spiritual insights? Soeur Atkins shared a scripture during a few of our contacts this week- I really loved it: 3 Nephi 9.14:

“Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.”

The beautiful imagery his arms of mercy extended towards us.

I studied about the sacrament this week, often times I forget about it within the teaching of baptism and confirmation it seems to get lost; but I liked the scripture 1 Corinthians 11.23-25 which reminds us that in partaking of the bread and water we are doing it in remembrance of His sacrifice.

In my personal study I read in 2 Nephi 2 a chapter filled with teachings about the Saviour- I loved it. I was also touched by verse 28- as we turn to the mediator we will receive eternal life.

Something ironic- I was cutting a melon to eat while I studied and due to struggling I asked sarcastically why is life so hard? I found the answer in a verse that daddy had sent me a few months ago 2 Nephi 2.11:

“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.”

Just a reminder as we move towards Christmas that her address remains the same:

Soeur E. R. Holt
La residence les jardins du mahury.
Bat F appt 43
Route de Rémire,…
Rémire-Montjoly
97354
Guyane-Française
FRANCE