Week 59: What a better way to celebrate a baptism than a CARNIVAL!?

So yesterday we arm wrestled to see who would stay in St Quentin since transfers are on wednesday..

Arm Wrestling to See Who Stays

Soeur Vance won so she was to stay .. but... we got SURPISED by a phone call from President last night. Soeur Vance has been called as a Sister Training Leader in Paris! So crazy. She is going back to her same area that she came from!!! like literally!! So cool. I am staying here and my new comp is SIster Kimball :) She lived in the apartment next to me sophomore year in Liberty Square so cool!!!! I am in my villes forever! So far over 5 months in every ville!

This week started out with an AMAZING sisters conference where all of the sisters in the mission got together. Soeur Poznanski did a great job putting it together. She is incredible. I wish you could all get to know her. There was one point where she told us that she wanted to give us each something special... but the mission couldn't just spend money on something like that so she asked the sisters in two stakes if they would be willing to give some old jewelry, bags, and scarves to us.... THERE WAS LOADS of stuff. We all got to choose a few things to take home... What an incredible way to feel the love of the sisters here in France for their sister missionaries. I just cried. I love these people....Miracle!

Jewelry Donated to Missionaries from French Church Members

Sister's Conference

A Group of Future Paris France Missionaries at BYU

The Same Group of Sisters at the Paris France Sister's Conference

The rest of the week was just as hectic as ever. We had a baptism to plan on Saturday and directly afterward would be a huge carnival that Soeur Vance and I, with the help of the DMP and the elders put on. We made garbage bags full of popcorn, at least 100 cookies, and decorations for "la fête foraine". There was fishing, bobbing for apples, beanbag toss, face painting, a photo booth. It was SO INSANE trying to get it all prepared. It was a hit!!!! There were people everywhere and so many members brought their friends!

The night before the festivities as we were walking into our apartment comlex, I saw our neighbor named JP and the idea just came into my head to invite him! So I did! He said that he would come! I thought to myself... sweet... thanks Holy Ghost. Then, on the big day, as we were walking out to go set up for the party, we saw him and his bud, who we had never seen. We waved and said see you tonight!

Well... at the carnival there was a guy talking to the elders. Wondering who it was, we asked! It was JPs FRIEND. JP never showed but he invited his friend, Axel, who came by himself! He started talking to one of the members and was so fascinated and interested by our religion. Axel is starting the lessons with the elders on Tuesday!! MIRACLE!

Carnival

Our other neighbors, Alexandra and Logan, came with the their grandma and friend to the party. As we were answering questions about the church we explained the restoration, baptism and baptism for the dead. Alexandra said that they would like to start Logan on the discussions so that he could be baptized! MIRACLE. Then the grandma said... I WOULD LIKE THAT TOO!! MIRACLE!!!! The grandma was like "Im coming to church tomorrow! I will be there!" By the end of the night Alexandra added, "You know, I was thinking and I would really like to be baptized too. I have been reading that book you gave me and I think it would be good for me too!" MIRACLE.

Isabelle's baptism was just prime. She showed up already to get her hair done in a beautiful white dress. She was so happy. She said that the night before she was so scared and nervous, but she prayed and knew that it was the right. For the first time in her life she believes. MIRACLE. She confied so many wonderful experiences to me as I was doing her hair. She is such a beautiful daughter of God.

Isabelle's Bapstism

The next day she was confirmed a member of Christ's church. Right before the sacrament meeting started she started to cry and ran out of the room.... Everyone was like WHA??? Dont worry... she had just read our testimonies that we had written to her in a little journal that we gave her. She said that she was just so touched by the spirit that she couldn't help but cry. Her blessing was amazing and the testimony that she shared with the words afterwards was even more touching. She is so sensitive to the spirit. Miracle.

I love my mission. It's been an incredible 2.5 transfers with Soeur Vance. When I found out she was leaving I just cried. It's so hard, the mission, but its so beautiful and so worth it. I love it. I'm so sad, so sad to see Sister Vance go. I can't imagine St Quentin with out her, but Im excited to start a new adventure with Sister Kimball on Wednesday.

I love you all so much!

Sister Kohlert