Last year while in Abymes Soeur Holt used to visit an older lady called Soeur Naffer each week. She was suffering with cancer and this week we received the news that Soeur Naffer from Abymes passed away; not sure if you remember her; I loved her so much, I cried. This was such sad news and Soeur Holt was blessed to be able to attend her funeral on Friday.

A busy week for the Sisters too with many different opportunities. There was also a very big goodbye to say. On p-day we went whizzing round Carrefour for the weekly shop including 5 baguettes as our contribution to the zone picnic (Soeur Moore wanted a calm final p-day!)…

Tuesday morning we had district meeting- the last one for Soeur Moore, she shared her testimony wearing a flower crown made by the one and only Soeur T which was followed by a trip for bokits with the Abymes sisters…

On Wednesday we went back over to Abymes to drop Soeur Moore off at the airport and to pick up our companion Soeur Atkins until Soeur Hansen was able to arrive the next day. We did face masks and ate chocolate that night a true sister missionary sleepover (Soeur Atkins has picture!)

On Monday evening we had FHE planned but on arrival, with our Victoria sponge, their home was all locked up. We called her and in the moment of despair rang the emergency helpline i.e. we prayed to know who we could share the cake with that evening. We thought about a family who I had contacted with Soeur Krusher last week and headed over. We had initially been speaking with the father but he wasn’t in so we had the opportunity to talk to the mum and play with the three children. She was a really kind 24 year old who is training to be a gendarme. We spoke about how the gospel can bless families and taught the three toddlers how to pray, such a sweet moment.

Lots of lessons this week. One young man had been on the receiving end of some bumps in the road- he told us that his first thought was to leave it all behind him but he then thought about all of the blessings that he has received from living the commandments and reading the Book of Mormon. He has a testimony he knows it is true and he cannot deny that even with the opposition he is facing- just now is not the time.

Wednesday morning is market day so we went contacting and along the way collected two watermelons and a sack full of herbs all for free. Banane pesee for lunch from the market stalls. Studies and then a trip to the family Desir. We shared the story of Abish and how we can follow her example in being missionaries, this past Friday we had a branch cinema activity and so we invited them to think of one person to invite each. We also met a cool young lady called Stephanie who had read in the Book of Mormon and took some guavas that Soeur T had collected along the way.

The cinema activity was to watch Coco the new Pixar movie that mummy and Martha watched this week- huge turn out with 14 amis there, but the missionaries had to run when the film started, after we had the chance to share a spiritual thought about family history of course!!

One aspect of personal study -I had another really powerful experience with the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 20 verses 40 to the end:

And then shall they say: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings unto them of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion: Thy God reigneth! And then shall a cry go forth: Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch not that which is unclean; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. For ye shall not go out with haste nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rearward. Behold, my servant shall deal prudently; he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. As many were astonished at thee—his visage was so marred, more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men— So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him, for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Verily, verily, I say unto you, all these things shall surely come, even as the Father hath commanded me. Then shall this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people be fulfilled; and then shall Jerusalem be inhabited again with my people, and it shall be the land of their inheritance.

I prayed for confirmation that the Lord accepted my feeble efforts as a missionary, sometimes you just feel like you are going through the motions; I am a covenant woman He remembers me, my feet are beautiful, I am doing his will, He is with me always and I will be exalted.