Forgotten Oil Lamps

Frenchie Fact: BBQs in France means sausages, not burgers and hotdogs. I went to a ward BBQ last week, which consisted of the Rutilly family and friends, a less active woman and her son, and six missionaries. We had fun and almost won the ping pong tournament. Vive la France.

To Montpellier we went, exchanging with the STLs there. And by STLs I mean Soeur JONES and O'Conner. Our train was stuck in Avignon for a few hours, so we explored and met the missionaries there. Then we got into Montpellier late late late. On our exchange, we had a solid chat as per usual about how to fix all the problems in our mission. Still waiting on our call as Sississtants 2014. Jokes. 

Frog Legs

We met with a sweet recent convert named Fany. She lived on the streets age 14-19, and was one of those hoboes with dread locks and scary dogs. She's still friends with all the hoboes. She also got into extreme self-defense at this time. Then she married a Muslim and converted (veiled and everything!) and they had a child together. That lasted four years before they divorced. She moved in with a friend who is a high-class prostitute and joined the work force for a year. Then she met the missionaries and is currently the most Christlike and most anxiously engaged person I've ever met. If you think you are active in the church, you are nothing compared to this woman. She has done more in the last week than I've probably done my whole life. Yikes. I also owe her a debt of thanks for personally carrying Soeur Jones to the hospital when her leg swelled up and got infected. 

Later, while contacting we met two guys and had a great discussion which ended with the African man awkwardly telling us he didn't approve of us. About ten minutes later, we met an amie, Gopali at the bus stop and she was talking to the African man! Turns out they were collegues. He asked us tons of questions and was extremely satisfied with our answers. Occasionnally he spoke in english when he didn't know the French words. Before he got off the bus, he said You know if I speak in English, that means I want to see you again. Done, my friend. 

Escargot= snails

New friends at a playground

The Cannes Elders were late to district meeting because they had to go back to their house and get the dessert they made. Or as Elder Pettingill said, they forgot their oil lamps. The desserts they brought were banana bars and cheesecakes. They gave us all huge pieces of both and we were all concerned that we would start sweating out frosting. 

We then visited Soeur Lapierre, a wonderful less active, who is such a rock for her crazy children. She came to the activity Saturday. When we got back, I had to make some phone calls, so Soeur Schreiber contacted people in the Gare. After a few people, she started to feel uncomfortable about it, so she just stood next to me as I was calling a bunch of members and amis. Then a guy across from us started to ask questions and we had a lovely discussion with him. I like changing people's pre composed assumptions about Mormons. They have a really rough reputation here. 

We visited another less active, Soeur El Klai, who doesn't really remember what Mormons are, let alone that she is one. But she's nice. And promised she'd start reading the BOM again. On the way back, another guy came up to us and started asking us questions. He found out we were Mormons, and he said well, maybe I don't have so many questions...But then we told him what Mormons actually are and he lit right up and said oh man! You have to come over and explain this to my brother and I! Done. 

That night, we went to Valloris, which is technically red zoned, but well, we can go. You have to call the bus in advance and reserve a spot. We know the substitute bus driver pretty well, so we can also call him and tell him we're going to be late and he waits for us. Which is nice. We went to the Turner's house for dinner, where her son had prepared us a delicious meal of snails and frogs. That's right. Moi, je suis française, moi. And it was delicious. 

Dessert?

Sunday, we had to contact two more people to meet our weekly goal, so we went out to do that and we were able to teach lessons on the street from it. Miracles. The church is true.