Week 25: Did Anyone Know that Luxembourgish was a Language?

Haha well hello hello there everyone!

So I feel like I'm a bleu (new) again... Ha, I can't understand anything that is going on around me because everyone speaks 800000 different languages here. Ok, so are you ready for some info and this SUPER unique country?

-Everyone speaks at least 4 languages but almost everyone speaks 6 or 7. From ages 3 to 6 the kids speak luxembourgish at school... ya its on the endangered language list so that's why they make the kids speak it. It's the language that the old people and the children speak and also the common language. It's like german.. Kinda weird sounding. But then the kids at school get immersed into German. Then a few years later they start to learn French and English. There are 3 official languages; German; Luxembourgish; and French. Then since they know so many languages its so easy for them to speak Italian, Spanish, and PORTUGUESE! THERE ARE like a million Portuguese speakers here. Its so hard to understand people because they mix the languages sometimes. Our ward is mostly Americans who are here for a few years working with their company. Most of them work for Amazon or some accounting company. It's nice to have people that understand you around you; but my french is really suffering because of it. However; I did translate at church into English and sometimes I feel like I can speak french because I'm speaking with people who aren't native french speakers and they make mistakes and talk slowly like I do! Its great!

- We have a duke. How cool is that. And a royal family.

- You can drive across the whole country in like an hour

- Everyone walks around with tuxes and they all drive Audis or BMWs. Its cheaper for them to buy a new car rather than a used car; so you rarely rarely see junky cars. Mostly convertibles and woman in high heels. Ha its so funny. But they aren't as skinny as french people, they look more German and so I don't feel as fat haha that's kinda good I guess.

- The missionaries who are normally sent here speak multiple languages are sent here... why me? I think I know why...

So my companion is Soeur KaLene Smith from Alaska. She will be 20 in about a week. She had a REALLY REALLY hard time with her last companion and this sweet sweet girl was literally like emotionally scared. So I know that I am here to help her. It's hard because I don't know the area at all, but Soeur Smith has been making a lot of progress and really stepping up. Shes teaching me a lot as well. She TALKS TO EVERYONE even though she can't speak super well and it motivates me and I love it!

Soeur Smith and I helping someone move!

- The people are pretty darn nice here and actually stop when you contact them on the streets. Ive already been let it knocking doors and its only been a few days here. It was the first time ive been let in.

- It is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS here and its super green. I wish I could send pictures but it won't let me!!!

Well we already set 2 baptismal dates this week with the only amis we have. Were going to have to do lots and lots of finding and ya... I guess that's what we do here in Europe!!

I cried and cried and cried when I left Rennes. Tugsuu was extremely hard for me to leave. I love her muchooooos.

Right before I left I had a cool experience:

One night I thought to myself.. what would I say if someone asked for my testimony on a certain subject... and so I thought of the response. And then the next day, my last day in Rennes we had a lesson and the guy asked me my testimony on that subject!! and I was so prepared to answer!! But then get this... he then bore his testimony and IT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME and we were able to relate and he said he'd continue reading the BOM and I was so happy.

God preapares his servants

I love you all and pray for you!!

Address once more

6 rue Arthur Herchen

1727 Luxembourg

LUXEMBOURG

Love

Soeur Kohlert