Hello!

Hello dear family and friends!  I hope you are all doing well.  I just want you all to know that you are amazing and I think of you often and pray for you.  Thanks for supporting me, I love you!

So, this week was a little up and down, a lot of cool things happened!

On Tuesday we had a rendez-vous fall through, so we jumped at the opportunity to go try a find a church headquarters refferal.  We drove out to this tiny tiny little town called Monterfil.  It was pretty surreal.  You know when you are in a place so beautiful, you get frustrated because there's know way you can take it all in?  That's the French countryside...gorgeous...we spent the ride singing that "Provincial Life" song from Beauty and the Beast.  I really felt transported back in time!  We tried to find our refferal, but no luck.  We met some other nice people though.  We really really want to go back because no one has ever seen missionaries out there, and there are tons of young families.  My companion and I have a feeling that there are people there who are ready:)

That night we had a fhe with Shaina, her mom, grandparents, and the Arnaud family.  It was really fun.  Shaina is just the cutest little girl ever.  I'm so proud of her decision to be baptized.  She's such a good influence on her mother, telling her not to smoke in front of the missionaries etc.  I think that Carine really wants to change, but is worried about how hard it will be.  I know she'll get baptized though:)

Thursday was really good!  We had a rendez-vous with this funny old cambodian lady in the ward - Simone.  For the past couple of weeks she's brought corn on the cob to church and given it to the missionaries.  She's really quirky, you'll see in a second what I mean.  Anyways the night before the rendez-vous Soeur Bitter and I were joking around, saying, "think simone will give us corn tomorrow?"  Well, after our little spiritual thought, she went into the kitchen and came back out with the silver, thanksgiving-sized platter filled with...corn on the cob!  We each had to eat two and then she packed up a bunch more that's currently sitting in our fridge.  It was hilarious.  Then she said she made us a gateau (cake) and brought out what looked like a meat pie with neon pink streaks of something gross running through it.  Turned out to be rhubarb, it was really acidic.  But the best part was that she cut it for us with...scissors... yes...it was the strangest thing I've ever seen! haha and to top it off she had this stuffed Santa Claus in her living room.  We love her!

Then that evening we had an appointment with the Grenal family.  They are amazing and want so badly to be involved in missionary work.  For a long time I've wanted to find someone for them.  Well we got to their house about 15 minutes early, and even though Frère Grenal popped his head out the window and waved to us, we decided to go porting instead.  They live in a really nice French neighborhood, not usually the greatest for finding.  After being rejected a couple times, I said a little prayer in my heart that we could find someone here in their neighborhood, to build the Grenal's faith.  Afterwards I felt sure that we'd find somebody.  I think it was the 2nd porte--and we found a family!  Young, open and we are going back this Thursday.  We told the Grenal's and they were really excited.  It was a miracle and I know that it was for the Grenals, to build their faith that there are people, right in their neighborhood!

The Grenal's are awesome.  We had such a wonderful evening with them.  Soeur Grenal served a mission in Temple Square and Frère Grenal told us his conversion story.  He has a strong testimony of following the Spirit, because otherwise the missionaries wouldn't have contacted him.  Haha he was so annoyed with the missionaries when he first met them.  One of them felt he should talk to him, and said the first thing he could think of..."Does it always rain in Brest (rainiest city in France)?"  He responded, "Is it raining right now?!" haha.  But appartently one of the missionaries had the same birthday as him, so they became friends haha.  Frère Grenal really warmed up to us and is very proud of being French.  LOVES bread and cheese.  Also, Soeur Grenal bakes....like amazing french patisseries and vennoiserie....yumm

So the Delacourt family was robbed twice this summer, so we went over on Saturday to see how they were doing.  Claire had'nt even started cleaning up and bawled when she saw we were there.  We helped her get started...We are going to go back this week and help some more.  It felt good to do service, people here are really hesistant to accept our help...I think this was like the second time I've done service.

Then sunday, Sunday is always awesome!  The new mongolian couple reffered another mongolian family of seven, the Elders are going to go see them this week! The Patea's have an American exchange student staying with them.  We are going to see her this week:) We ate with the Chève's again this sunday, I love them and their adorable little blond boys:)

Well, stay tuned for more exciting happenings next week!

I love you so much:)

Soeur Hilton

Now that I believe in Him, it's like I've known Him all along

Wow.  This week was just bursting with miracles...the perfect ending to the transfer.  I love my companion Soeur Bitter, we've seen some amazing things together.  This is definitely the Lord's work.

On monday we took a long drive to Chateaubriant to see the chateau and the Pahio family.  The drive was pretty magical, (through the countryside).  The chateau was pretty cool, but I liked the one in Fougères better.  The Pahio family though!!!  They. are. incredible.  I just felt surrounded by faith and love the moment I walked into their home.  Soeur Pahio is seriously the most loving person I've ever met.  She was also the first convert in her country of Dominique (an island in the French Caribbean), that was 11 years ago, and now there are two branches.  And Frère Pahio, he's legit.  He kept on looking at the clock so that we would leave on time, he was very concerned about making sure his family helped the missionaires be obedient.  He said that his parents taught him to really respect missionaries as the representatives of Jesus Christ.  They sent us home with so much food :)  Soeur Pahio walked us out to our car, I could tell she didn't want us to leave.  One of the most touching moments of my mission was when we looked back and she was standing on the corner, sadly watching us drive away.  And then she called us later to make sure we got home safely...so much Christlike love...incredible.

So last week I'm pretty sure I wrote about how we found a family when we were 15 minutes early for dinner with the Grenal's?  Well on Thursday night we went back for our rendez-vous.  I was worried that the family might forget or that the lesson wouldn't go well, especially because the Grenal's were so excited about it.  Soeur Bitter and I were almost hoping that we wouldn't see the Grenal's on our way to the family, but sure enough, they were outside doing yard work.  We said hello and they were so excited!  Soeur Grenal told us to come by afterwards and she'd give us homemade pain au chocolat and vennoiserie.  I was nervous as we walked to the house, but I had this feeling that it would.....

-------We interupt this program for an exciting announcement: transfer emails just came in and yours truly, Soeur Lorraine Hilton, is leaving behind not just Rennes, but the nation of France and heading off to... Leige, Belgium!  To serve with Soeur Johns, a fellow redhead.  And now back to the story-------

Where was I?  Oh yes, I just had this feeling that it would all turn out fine.  We got there and walked up to the door, the father, Sebastian, answered and immediately said "entrez," so casually.  We got to know the family.  They have two adorable little kids, three-year-old Nathan and six-year-old Ilene.  Nathan was hilarious, he kept on saying "Bah oui," emphatically.  I gave them stickers and they loved them.  We ended up only teaching Sebastian because Morgan, the mother, was putting the children to bed.  Sebastian had a bunch of questions about why there are so many churches and if there really is truth.  We were just like, "that's exactly what we wanted to talk about today."  We taught him the Restoration and he was very interested.  It was so funny, we told him about how there is a living prophet today, and he said, "Oh, so I could be the prophet."  Soeur Bitter and I both just laughed for a second, and then got serious and said "non."  He thought that was hilarious.  Anyways we left him a Book of Mormon and set a return visit for the next Thursday.

We went to the Grenal's straight after and they were so excited. They couldn't believe it!  "And they really want you to come back?"  "Do you think we can, I mean if you want, teach them with you?"  It was so cute, and we played it off so cool, even though inside we were very excited too.  They showered us with food and love.  It was great.  Frère Grenal gave us some of his favorite bread and Soeur Grenal sent us home with lots of delicious pasteries.  But this story leads into another, even better story.

So when we were chatting with Soeur Grenal, she asked us about Fatima.  We haven't seen Fatima in weeks, so we didn't have much to say.  She told us that Fatima had asked how to become a member when she came to church a few months ago.  What?! I didn't know that.  So we called her up right after we left the Grenal's and set an appointment for the next day.  We went and Soeur Marie Chève came and taught with us.  We felt impressed to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ (faith, repentence, baptism, Holy Spirit, endure to the end).  I didn't know how this was going to go because Fatima is a non-practicing Muslim.  Does she even know who Christ is? How is she going to take this lesson?  Will she be confused, or even confrontational?  Oh soeur Hilton of little faith.  This is the Lord's work and the spirit told us to teach this lesson.  Well, it was the most beautiful experience I've ever had on my mission.  Fatima basically bore us her testimony of Jesus Christ.  She said she didn't even know who he was until Soeur Kohlert and I found her.  We only taught her one real lesson during those months, but apparently she's been doing a lot of research on her own, on the lds website and in the Book of Mormon.  She told us that she believes in Him, has faith, and she even accepted an invitation to be baptized.  She said, "Now that I believe in Him, it's like I've known Him all along."  In Preach my Gospel it says that as missionaries we are not teaching people new information, but allowing the spirit to remind them of what they already know.  That is so so true. I witnessed that last Friday afternoon in Fatima's kitchen.  The way she describes how she feels the spirit is so beautiful, how she feels like she's floating when she prays.  She has even started to share the gospel with one of her friends.  Incredible, absolutely incredible.

Well friends, that's not even the end of all that happened this week!  Friday night we went and saw Sophie.  She is a cute Chinese student that Soeur Kohlert found our first transfer.  She back from two months of vacances, so we've started teaching her again.  We gave her Alma 32 last week and she LOVED it.  She said that it took something so abstract (the idea of God and faith), and made it very concrete (she is highly intelligent, getting a master's in mathematical finance) so she really likes logic.  She even said, I think this is good (what we are teaching her), I want to continue and see if I can grow a beautiful tree.  "So, what's the next chapter?" she asked eagerly.  She has really found faith in God and Christ since we met her.  I feel so priviledged to see things like this:)

Then the next day we went to Paris!!  There was construction on the line, so it took FOUR hours to get there.  But we had a fun little picnic on the train with our awesome elders:)  That night we just meandered by the Notre Dame, it was magical.  There is something very energizing about Paris.  I just really felt alive, I don't know how to explain it really.  Soeur Bitter took me to an awesome crepe place too.  We stayed that night with the Paris Lilas Soeurs, a trio.  They are great!

The next day was the big conference!  We saw two prophesys fulfilled.  In 1978 President Kimball prophesied that one day the nation of France would be covered in stakes and that a temple would be built there.  Well France officially in just stakes, the last mission district was closed and put into the newly created Rennes stake.  And then a third stake was formed in Paris.  Elder Oaks spoke, and said that the temple is now under construction.  The foundation was laid this week!

President Pozananski told us that this week we would see miracles because 

1. Only stakes in france

2.  There were two apostles, Oaks and Ballard, on French soil all week

3. The temple foundation is being laid

And wow did we see miracles.  I felt so honored to be with the French members yesterday.  They are so strong and they are going to receive so many blessing from the temple soon.

THEN THE BEST THING EVER HAPPENED.  This is a big big shoutout to my dear dear friend ANNA JOLY.  We met up by Notre Dame after the conference yesterday.  She was looking adorable in her cowboy boots we bought together last summer and her beautiful smile.  It was a fairytale.  She is one of the most loving/Christlike people I've ever met. I'm so happy we got to see eachother.  We'll be friends forever:) She is headed off to Germany this Friday for university( so excited for her), so I'm really glad I got the chance to see her, especially now that I'm to Belgium.  Love you Anna! and p.s. I listened to your voicemail and it was super cute, haha.

Well everybody, that's it for this week, that's it for Rennes...I guess that's it for France for awhile too.  I'll post my new address asap so you can drown me in letters (hint, hint).  I love you all!!

Vacation is officially over

YAY!!  I have never been so happy that vacation is over!  We have sooo many rendez-vous planned for this coming week, I'm so excited.  The early french migration has finally come to an end.  Shops are opening back up and the city is flooding with students.  The only person who isn't back yet...is our bishop...haha I wonder where he is...

So on Monday, I think I wrote about this last week, we went to the castle in Fougeres and had dinner with the Moquard family.  Soeur Bitter showed a lot of enthousiasm for their gigantic boxes of cereal and asked where they found them...Then yesterday at church they gave us 3 huge boxes of cereal.  Seriously the members love us.  Frere Mocquard, in front of a bunch of people, announced loudly, "Mes Soeurs, on vous aime!" (my sisters, we love you!)....so cute.  Then the ward was taking a picture after church and we weren't sure if they wanted us in it, but everyone started chanting and yelling for us, we ended up front and center!  Such a great ward.

What else happened this week? We ate gallettes with the Trahmel's.  We wandered around their garden eating rasberries and then had a wonderful, powerful spiritual thought.  These older couples are truly truly pioneers.  Their conversion story is amazing.  They told us that frere trahmel quit smoking in 8 days.  After they learned about tithing, the were worried about making ends meet, they were young and had lots of little children.  But they found a paper route to supplement their meagar salary.  Frere Trahmel described it as a miracle, a blessing for paying tithing.  They worked from 3am to 10pm everyday for years.  And they both had major callings in the branch.  Their faith is amazing.  We played our violins for them and Frere Trahmel said we were angels.  I think they are the angels.  I'll never forget that night.

We also visited a less-active named Jocelyne.  It's always a little wierd with less-actives because you don't know if you are welcome there or why they don't come to church.  But with Jocelyne she was literally just forgotten about!  It was heartbreaking.  She feels lost and confused at church.  Looking at the teaching record it looks like the missionaries taught her quickly and then promptly forgot.  So sad!  President Hinckly was right, new converts need a calling, and a friend!

Dang, there's so much more I'd like to say! I have to go though.  Have a wonderful week everybody!

Member missionary work

This week!  Wow, it was really really good. I'm just flipping through my planner and it is just filled with names of some really wonderful people.  We are just running around France, spreading the gospel...it's the best.  My companion, Soeur Bitter, is just the greatest.  So upbeat, so happy...so funny--we are always laughing!  I'm so grateful for good companions.  Her birthday was this last Thursday.  So I got up early and made her crepes--actually only one crepe, because it's been a crazy month and we are out of money, haha.  Speaking of which, the scripture where the disicples are admonished to take no thought of the morrow, what they will eat etc., is so true.  We've been getting food out of nowhere.  On Soeur Bitter's birthday our ami, Mme Sissko randomly fed us a fish tail (Tilapia), and we got like a seven course meal that night from some other amis Jean and Marie.  The whole week's been like that!  The Lord takes care of the missionaries:)

 

This week has been member week.  They've been referring people, feeding us, fellowshipping our amis and just being all around amazing.  First of all a MONGOLIAN couple just moved into the ward.  Seriously a huge blessing...and so unlikely.  They are super strong too, both are returned missionaries.  They've already helped out so much with Mandal.  Also, Oyun said she wants to get baptized in October, so it will be really nice to have them help us with the language barrier.  The Elders even found some Mongolians last week....Rennes Mongolian Branch 2014...It's going to happen haha.  And not to mention Tugsuu!  She was all alone before, and now there are two awesome members who speak her language.  I still can't believe it, what are the odds?

 

Then there's Lodelia.  One of our Young Single Adults, JeanChristophe, invited her to Family Home Evening and she loved it!  Then we all had a rendez-vous together and she is so excited about the church and the Book of Mormon.  And guess where she is from?  PERU!  Our recent convert Lucy flipped when she found out.  Apparently she's only ever met one other Peruvian in France, and Lucy was the first Peruvian that Lodelia has met.  They became instant best friends and I even saw them walking out of church together.  The work is exponentially better when the members are involved.  We've only had one meeting with Lodelia and she already has two great friends in the ward.

 

This last Sunday was just incredible.  Lots of members are getting back from vacances and for some reason are really fired up about missionary work.  Quite a few came up to me and offered to help teach, or asked if we could go visit less-active with them etc.  Members drive this work.  So I guess my message this week is "get involved!"  It's amazing what members can do.  I was really touched by this one Soeur, soeur Aubain.  She lived in Rennes about nine years ago and just moved back here with her family.  She told us that she thought it was a good opportunity for her to try to bring back some people who had fallen away since she left.  She's been praying and a soeur's name came to her mind.  She asked for our help in bringing this woman back.  That's huge!  And everyone can do that, pray to know who we can help and how (whether inviting someone to learn about the gospel, or reaching out to less or inactive brothers and sisters)

 

Hmm, what else happened this week?  Oh we taught the Houmed family the Plan of Salvation!  yay, they are progressing:)  Also we went to Fougeres yesterday for P-day, the chateau there is sooooooo coool.  I'll send pics soon.  Also we played our violins in Sacrament meeting because one of the young adults, Rebecca left on her mission to Greece this week!  All the members loved it and said "so is it a rule now that to serve in Rennes you have to play the violin?" (because Soeur Kohlert played too) haha.  I'm so glad I brought my violin:)

 

Well that's it for now folks, I hope everyone has a great week especially with school starting up.  Bisous!

 

Soeur Hilton

1 Kings 19:12 "And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."

This week I'd like to talk about following the Spirit.  Our traing last week was all about the spirit, it was amazing--how to recognize it, why we should follow it etc.

Our district leader Elder Thomas sent us a talk and I loved this quote, because this week I LIVED it this week.

President Thomas S. Monson, who said: “In the performance of our responsibilities, 

I have learned that when we heed a silent prompting and act upon it without delay, our 

Heavenly Father will guide our footsteps and bless our lives and the lives of others. I know of no 

experience more sweet or feeling more precious than to heed a prompting only to discover that 

the Lord has answered another person’s prayer through you.” 

After the training I was really pumped up to follow the spirit and see what would happen.  By the time Saturday rolled around I was feeling a little down, like I couldn't feel the Spirit.  We had been porting (tracting) all day and I really really wanted to have an impression where to go, or who to talk to, but I just wasn't feeling it.  Soeur Bitter had a definite prompting though, and we ended up talking to a cute old man.  We were then headed home, but I was still feeling uneasy.  We were starving and thirsty and tired... but the thought popped into my head to go see Fatima.  It had been awhile and she had kind of been a little snappy on the phone the last time we called.  My mind came up with tons of excuses not to go.  It would delay our dinner another hour or so, she's never there in the late afternoon, she probably doesn't want to see us...  But I felt very strongly that we should go.  So I remembered the district meeting training about following the spirit, and we decided to go pass by.  And she was there!  She seemed so happy to see us.  She said three times, "I was thinking about you today."  It was one of the best visits we've had with her!  She has started to read the Book of Mormon and we were able to set up another rendez-vous with her:)  I can't tell you how important it is to feel the spirit.  You never know what will happen, so if a good thought comes to your mind, just do it!  You may be the answer to someone's prayer, and nothing feels better than that:)

Well, I promise a longer email last week!  I love you all and I'd love to hear from you:)

I love mattress room

Yes, I'm coming to live from Rennes...on a Thursday!  Sort of fun, no?  Yeah, the last little while has been kind of crazy!  Last week was transfers and my dear dear trainer Soeur Kohlert left me and went to Luxembourg!  She was so so excited. She is with Soeur Smith, who was in my MTC district.  They are going to be so great together!  Soeur Kohlert was devastated to leave Rennes though.  The worst was when she said goodbye to Tugsuu.  Tugsuu is so so special to her, and to me.  I don't ever want to leave Rennes :)

So last Wednesday we went into Paris to switch companions.  It was really really fun to see all of my friends again.  My new companion's name is Soeur Bitter.  She is from Southern california, and--you won't believe this--she plays the violin too!  The ward is so thrilled.  They love love love the violin.  So, I had been with my new comp for a few days, and I just had this feeling that she reminded me of someone, like from a movie, but I couldn't figure it out.  Finally on the metro one day I just turned to her and said, "you look just like a Disney character, but I don't know who..."  She just laughed, and said, it's Tangled.  Yes, my friends, I'm living with Rapunzel.  It's kind of scary how similiar she looks, and she acts like her too!  So fun:)

So this last monday she had to go to Belgium for legality with all the other fourth transfer missionaries (they've already been, but it didn't work or something, also, they've decided to stop doing that...so I don't get to go to Belgium:(  She did bring me back a delicious Belgian waffle though!)  I spent p-day with two of the most wonderful sister missionaries I've ever met, Soeur Garrett and Soeur Lai.  We had the most lovely exchange ever, so many miracles!  We were pretty exhausted by the end though.  Our companions got in pretty late, and since interviews were the next day (tuesday), here in Rennes, we had a slumber party!  Six sisters in one apartment...sooo fun!  We had to go get a bunch of matresses from the elder's apartment.  (our front room was "matress room" for a few days...I loved it so much)

Then we had zone Conference and interviews.  President and Soeur Pozanaski are so inspiring.  Soeur Pozanaski told the story about Annick.  It was amazing.  So appartently Soeur Pozananski finished her mission here in Rennes.  The week she got transfered here, however, she found out that her younger brother had passed away.  She was given permission to leave that Monday for the funeral and return the next Monday.  She really really felt that there was someone waiting for her in Rennes though, so she came back early, the Saturday before.  She didn't even unpack, just grabbed her companion and went out looking.  That was the night that they found Annick.

Then, just a few weeks ago, Soeur Pozanaski was talking with the President about all the miracles that the missionaries are seeing here in the mission.  She asked him, don't you think we could pray for our own miracles?  They prayed for their families and friends, and they also prayed for Annick.  Two days later they got the call that she had decided to get baptized...  The Lord really does direct this work.  And miracles can be brought about through faith...sometimes we wait two days, sometimes thirty years.  Do you have a miracle you want to have happen?  I encourage you all to pray and ask God to bless those around you.  I know He will answer our prayers!

Anyways, president's brother owns a French Pizza truck, so we all enjoyed delicious, organic pizza afterwards.  Then we went out and did some finding.  I had president's words in my mind, "Allez, cherchez!" (Go, find!)  There are people out there, there are families waiting for us!  So august is a weird month in France, pretty much everyone takes off on vacation for the month.  So all of our amis are gone until September.  So I've been getting good and street contacting and porting:)  Ooooh and my French is getting so much better. It's amazing, literaly in the last week.  I think it is because I can't rely on my trainer anymore.  Oh and I pretty much understand everyone now.  It's so nice:)  Things are a lot more tranquille now.  And the weather continues to be gorgeous.  Yep, this is finding month.  I pray that we will be guided to those who are prepared, and that they will be guided to us.

I love you all, and I'll write you in just three days!

The day I let my companion cut my hair...

Yes it's true.  Today Soeur Kohlert and I cut eachother's hair!  I didn't tell her I've never cut anyone's hair before.  I messed it up pretty bad at first, but I figured it out eventually and it actually looks really good!  I'm pretty proud of it.  She cut my hair too and she did a pretty good job...  At least it's still long and red:)   haha no she did a good job.  It was an absolute necessity though.  Our hair was getting really long, and I was worried that we were reinforcing "polygamist" stereotypes, haha.  So yeah, that was quite an adventure, took us a good three hours..

Well, this week was amazing as usual.  We seriously saw some incrediible things happen.  I've learned a lot about faith this week, and also the power of prayer.

From Tuesday night to Wednesday night we had our exchange with the Nantes Soeurs (our sister training leaders).  Soeur Alley came here to Rennes with me and Kohlert went to Nantes with Roney.  Interesting side note, Soeur Alley looks very very similar to cousin Ali!  (It's funny because their names sound the same, hehe)  Very tall, blond hair, blue eyes, similar personality..

The exchange was really really good.  I heard that Soeur Alley was really good at porting, and that is something that Kohlert and I have avoided because we aren't good at it and it's terrifying.  So we went out porting together.  She is so good at it.  But I was able to see how she did it.  It isn't super complicated actually.  And it can be a very very spiritual experience.  The night was winding down and we weren't having any sucess.  A building caught my eye, but I was just going to keep walking.  Soeur Alley saw me look at it and we both turned around and went back.  We rang one of the sonnets and no one answered, but the door to the building unlocked.  We had no idea which porte was hers, so we went to the top floor and started ringing every doorbell...no luck.  Then on the bottom floor we found her door!  I felt really good about this one.  This young woman opened the door and she hung up the phone to talk to us.  We tried to give her a Book of Mormon but she didn't want it.  Soeur Alley asked if we could pray.  She let us in and we prayed with her.  I felt the spirit unusually strong and when I looked up after the prayer this lady was in tears.  Soeur Alley asked if we could come back and she nodded her head while drying her tears.  It was beautiful.  I know that God loves that woman and that we were meant to find her that night.

After we left the building Soeur Alley and I just stared at eachother, laughing and crying as we walked down the street... she said, "see why I love porting?"  "All the rejection doesn't matter when we see miracles like that."

Soeur Alley is amazing!  I hope I can be as good of a missionary as her soon.

And that was only the beginning of the week.  After the exchange we had a "mini-missionary" for three days.  A young adult from our ward, Melanie Bonhomme, came and was our third companion.  Trio's are fun!

Soer Kohlert and I had been praying and praying for her.  We really wanted her to have a good experience.  I just knew we would see some miracles, but what happened was more than I ever expected.

The first day we did a "contacting scavenger hunt" at the Parc du Thabor.  We set some goals like, "contact three people with strollers," "give away a Book of Mormon,"  things like that.  And then if we got our goals we could go buy ice cream cones:)  We ended up giving away three Family Proclamations, three book of Mormons, teaching a lesson and finding three new amis!  I was astounded.  And the ice cream was delicious.

Then that night we had nothing planned so we decided to go porting.  I followed Alley's advice to the letter.  I've never felt so confident on my mission.  I felt the Spirit guiding us very strongly.  Within an hour of porting we taught three lessons and found a beautiful young french family to teach!  The husband, Christoff answered the door and we said we were here to talk about families.  He asked if we were Mormons.  Turns out he knows a Mormon who lives in Utah, through work or something.  While we were chatting his wife and children showed up.  Three cute little kids.  Christoff asked his oldest son, Do you believe in God? (because we had asked that question earlier, haha)  His son replied "Oui!" almost like "duh"  Anyways, we prayed with them and we are going back this week:)

The next day we had a lesson with Loma (remember her, the Chinese student?)  We haven't had a lesson with her in awhile, but she's been coming to church every week.  We found out that she is feeling the spirit everytime she prays.  She also asked if she could get baptized while being a member of the communist party (the answer is yes), so she is obviously thinking about it:)  Then on Sunday I saw her holding her Book of Mormon and casually asked if she's started it.  She said yes!  And she really likes it.  I tried really hard to contain myself.  This is all very exciting:)

Then on Saturday we went porting again.  We weren't having as much success as Thursday night, and some people were down right rude.  We were also trying to get Soeur Bonhomme to knock a few portes, but she was really nervous.  She finally got up the courage and I was so proud of her!

Anyways, we had been going for about an hour and the bus was coming soon.  We walked through a little path and ended up in a cul-de-sac.  I felt immediately that someone was there for us to find.  But there were so many houses and too little time.  I knew that we couldn't do this alone.  I turned to Kohlert and said we need to pray!  She said, "I know, there's someone here."  Soeur Bonhomme was pretty incredulous, "you really know there's someone here?"  We picked two portes and knocked them.  The first one--nothing.  We went to the second one and there she was, Linda.  Cute, young, french girl, maybe 18.  We taught her briefly the Plan of Salvation and prayed with her:)  She gave us her number and hopefully we were see her soon...  it was a miracle....

Well, I can now say, like Soeur Alley, that I also love porting.  It is just neat to be led by the Spirit to those who God has prepared.  He really knows and loves his children and wants to bless them. I'm so grateful that I can be an instrument in his hands.  Yeah, porting isn't terrifying anymore:)

Well that's it folks!  Until next time.

Soeur Lorraine Hilton