Bonjour mes chères,
Another week has gone by, and good things are happening here in Melun. Despite the fact that we may have had a mini breakdown yesterday in the ghetto. And when some creepy guy asked us if we spoke English Soeur Johnson muttered under her breath, "Oui, je parle anglais. Est-ce que vous comprenez le mot pepper spray?" But it turned into a hilarious laugh attack/I can't believe this is our life right now moment and all is well. This week Marie Dumas' daughter who got baptized in Canada moved back to France! Miracle of miracles. it was really neat to hear her daughter talk about how she had been trying to find a way to get her mom to know about the church and had even contacted some members in our ward to go over there and talk to her. Mais voila, she didn't need to because God sent us on over to knock on her door. If you could see the obscure ville/building/corner of our area she lives in you would realize what a miracle it is that we knocked on her door. We taught her a few times and she is doing really well. Her daughter was able to be there to sit in on the lessons and it is so good to have a support there for her. My favorite thing about Marie is that she just laughs and laughs at the littlest things and she has one of those laughs that just fills up every corner of the room and you can't help but laughing too. Whenever we go there I leave feeling so happy. She promised to teach me how to make Haitian food soon which I am pretty stoked about. The only thing with Marie is getting her to come to church which we are hoping will be more doable with her daughter here now.
We taught Petula as well and she is really progressing with her faith in God. She has not always believed, but told us of the instances in her life when she knew that God was there. She told us that when she was first married and living in Centre Afrique she didn't have any food or money. She was desperate and didn't know what to do. She remembered her family talking about faith in God and so she prayed. She said that the next day someone showed up at her door with milk and bread. This morning I was studying and I found this scripture that I loved:
"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them." — ISAIAH 41:17
I have seen and heard so many examples on my mission of when people have been—literally or spiritually or emotionally—starving and desperate, and faith has 'fed' them. God doesn't forget us or forsake us, even in the times when it seems impossibly hard. That is why I know the poor and humble people are more receptive to God. They are humble and know that they have to rely on Him. I learn so much from them every time I am with them—their simplicity and solid faith is humbling. What is cool is that Petula has had multiple stories like that, and it is amazing to see how her faith is growing. She also talked about how she has observed her friends lives and those who have a firm faith in Christ are happier, and their children are much less likely to get into crime or bad things, and have more direction. Her kids are just about the cutest thing in the world, and they all have American names that she found online and it is hilarious to hear them with a French accent.
I feel like all these things happened this week, and now that I am sitting in front of the screen my mind is blank. Better luck next week perhaps. I love you and will be thinking of you this week! Say hi to the beach for me.
Love
Olivia
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