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

Week 58:The Lord shows His power in so many different ways

Wow! What amazing weekend filled with the spirit. The prophets words were so refreshing, inspiring, and uplifting!!! 

Monday was April first! In France instead of being known as April fools day it is called Poisson d'Avril and the little children go around sticking fish on eachothers' backs! Well we sure woke up to a surprise to find that our door had been decorated by our neighbors and investigators Alexandra and Logan with fish!! It was so cute. Alexandra's birthday was the next day so we couldn't help but play back and decorated her door with pictures and balloons.. picture attached. We were able to celebrate her birthday at Marie's where she broke into tears by the love and kindness that she felt. We also had a great lesson of the restoration and they promised to watch the DVD last night! We also invited them to the carnival activity this Saturday.. and guess what? They are coming and with half of their extended family! 

Fish and Birthday Greetings

Making Alexandra's Birthday Cake

This morning we helped a less active family move, the same family that we tore down the wallpaper earlier this week...... we ended up sharing the gospel with the moving truck driver. He asked US about it. I love how many prepared people are, we just have to find them! We should all try our best to invite 4 people a year to meet with the missionaries like Elder Ballard asked us to!

Removimg Wall Paper

Isabelle, our lovely investigator who is planning on being baptized this Saturday is doing well! We taught her the last three lessons in about two meetings and she took it all like a champ. She has some questions on tithing and the Word of Wisdom, I mean I dont blame her, but she said after watching the women's session she feels much better about it. Pray that she will be ready for this Saturday!

The beginning of the week was definitely rough with the whole no sugar thing. (Im gave up sugar to help a friend give up smoking). I was dying at about Wednesday so I had to call my friend to see how she was doing because boy oh boy if she cracked I was sure going to walk into the next boulangerie I saw. Well she told me that she had only had 3 puffs and that it made her want to vomit and it disgusted her. MIRACLE! So cool!! I ended up cracking and eating sugar this weekend, but she only smoke 3 cigarettes all week when she normally does about 7 a day!! WOW so amazing. The enabling power of the atonement sure is wonderful isn't it?

God is funny. And sligh. I love him. We haven't really been able to see a non active named Olivia this transfer... but as we were walking home from the church we ran into her and were able to chat a bit! We didnt think anything of it until we mentioned it to our member Marie. Marie had actually invited her over for a lunch. While at lunch Olivia explained that she used to run into the former sisters frequently and took that as a sign that she must really need them in her life. Since we have arrived we havent really seen eachother in town and so she took that as a sign that she must not really need us! Well... guess when we had run into her?? Only 2 minutes after she left Marie's! I think she may need us in her life and God is making sure that she knows. Too cool. Too cool.

I pray that one of these experiences that I have shared with you from my week has helped you along your journey of life, no matter where you find yourself in these short "4 minutes".

I love you all so much and I appreciate ALL that you do for me! Eternal families are the center of the gospel.

Sisssta Kohlert:)

P.S. As I was watching conference and Elder Cook started to talk I was shocked by his first name. I mean I always knew that his name was Quentin L. Cook but it didn't hit me that I am serving in is town!! Saint Quentin! Pretty sweet if I can say so!!

Week 57: OH did we sure SPRING ourselves into spring forward

This week was pure craziness. Time flew and we shot ourselves into spring! We did set the clocks back... but the alarm clock didn't go off an hour early; and therefore, we did NOT loose an hour of sleep :) Thank you Heavenly Father. However, we did wake up to our phone ringing off the hook... there were some crazy problems going on with getting our investigators to church! What a way to start spring!!!

Alphonsine and Jenny are serioulsy rockin' it. We were so blessed to have knocked on their door that one night. On Tuesday, we taught them the Plan of Salvation. We had to restart three or four times because people that she invited to the lesson kept showing up. It was a full house! We were teaching the Plan of Salvation to so many people. The coolest thing about it was was that they were all listening so intently with huge eyes. They were litterally drinking our words. Later on in the week the confided in us. They told us a very personal problem and Soeur Vance, Maire and I were so blessed by the spirit in guiding them to find help through the Savoir. It was a beautiful experience and I am grateful for our priesthood holders who know how to help us in such critical and sensitive situations.

President also has had us put in Easter flyers in maiboxes before we go to knock on them... so inspired. We found four new investigators this week by doing it. Three of them was an adorable family that let us in to pray with them. They said they just felt our warmth. We will be seeing them, the family LeRoy this Wednesday! I'll let you know how it goes if it goes!!

Logan's birthday was on wednesday. We decorated his door and we were invited to his birthday party. I made brownies and everyone was sooo excited to eat homemade brownies from an American. We got to meet the whole family and everyone really enjoyed talking with us and about what we do!! They also lost there uncle this week so we made lunch for them. They were really grateful.

Our amie Isabelle with a baptismal date had a break through this week. It was such an amazing lesson. I litterally felt guided by the spirit in asking her questions to help her realize the truth of what she's been studying. There was one point in the lesson where we were asking her about her reading her prayers... she went off about how she loves reading and makes resumés of the chapters.... just really intellecutal stuff and didn't even really mention anything about her prayers. So we asked her specifically about her prayers. She told us how she was really stresed throughout the week about her baptism and that at one point she just felt calm and just good about it. The member looked at her and said
"you felt peace huh?"

Isabelle: "Ya I did"

The member looks at me wided eyed like: YOU GOT THIS. 

I asked her: Do you realize that that was God answering your prayer?

Isabelle looks at me puzzled and said.. "Yes. As you were saying that I recognized that that was God speaking to me."

I love the Holy Ghost.

Niamke' Family

Sunday was a wonderful day. After teaching the family Niamké the 10 commandments with hand signals to help them remember and playing DON'T EAT PETE with them, we went to a less-active members house to create a plan with her to stop smoking. In order to help her I told her that if she gives up cigarettes, ill give up sugar.... I know that its not comparable but its already kicking my trash. I am so glad that I am not addicted to anything and that I was able to follow the Word of Wisdom. I hope that I can continue to abstain from all of the goodies around me in order to support this wonderful girl.

Well I love you all. I love the Savior. I am SO STOKED for general conference this weekende. I hope that you all prepare yourselves to listen to God's messangers. Dont miss a second. Im excited to find the answers to my quetions.

Enjoy life

Soeur Kohlert

Week 56: 5 plus 6 equals 11

What a wonderful week in paradise. Well freezing cold paradise. God just teased us with the good weather last week.

CONGRATS to my b-e-a-u-tiful ANNE!! Ah im just so happy for you! I hope that your baptism was wonderful and renewing as Im sure it was.

We were blessed to have been able to go to Paris to be eddified by our dear mission president and his wife. We made a new goal to baptize 125 of God's children before the new mission president comes at the end of June! Can we do it? YES WE CAN!

We have been setting personally family missionary goals with each family in the ward lately. Its insane to see how ready and willing the members are to share the gospel even though its not normally taken well by those around them. I also love hearing the miracles that they live. One of them was not able to have children after their first child. After feeling sick for a few months they went to the doctor to find out she was pregnant. That same daughter who was miraculously conceived was also miraculously healed after weeks of prayer on fasting on the wards behalf. She was to be operated on on her throat to permit her to talk, but when they go to the day of the operation, the surgeon said that there was nothing to operate on. Then 3 years later the dad accepted the gospel and they we sealed as a family a year after. He is now the elders quorum presidetn. Trop fort.

Unfortunately our March 29th baptism date was dropped. We found out that she is not legally married, only married in Africa... so hopefully there will be a marriage in a few months? On the other hand we fixed a date with Isabelle, an amie that the elders so graciously handed to us. She is so willing and cute. She has concerns like: is the water chlorinated? do i have to be plunged backwards?.. shes really understands what she is doing and she is a bit nervous so PLEASE PRAY FOR HER!!

The lessons have been continuing on with Alphonsine and Jenny! They are so cool. They weren't able to come to church because their uncle found out they were meeting with us and came to their house yelling and screaming that they were joining a sect. Alphonsine is so cool. She just said, "there is nothing mysterious about them. You just go to church and pray and find out for yourself." We asked her how she felt about her baptism. All she said was, "Im worried because I dont know if he will be there," as if she wasnt even second guessing her decision. We seriously found gold. She is also having her friend and her whole family come to our next lesson. Oh and her nephew that she introduced to us that we passed to the elders also has a date. Knocking on door works.

Heavenly Father really blessed me this week. I have been a stress case trying to have you guys find apartments for me. At zone conference there was a sister who was looking for someone to live with so we decided to go into it together and she said the only time she could look for apartments friday morning. We started with a prayer and the first apartment I saw was the apartment in condo row (the area that ive so desperately wanted to live in). It had only been online for a few hours and since it was 5 am utah time as i was emailing him, we beat everyone else who was interested and WE GOT IT! The Lord surely does bless us. Apartment found in ONE day. I know that he guided us to look at that specific time. 

Well off to start another week serving the Lord whom I love so much. He takes care of us!

Love you all and I love hearing from you! Thank you for spending the time to keep me updated with all of the things going on in your lives.

Sister Kohlert

Week 55: I'm Still I'm Still Jenny from the Block

Man I am tired ha.

Thanks to my former companion missy Sister Henson, my title for this email has been the theme song of our week.. you will soon find out why... dun dun duuuun!

We had a pretty crazy week and even if I took all of the time in the world I would never be able to explain everrrythang. DONC ill just get started with the most important and go till the time runs out!

So Tuesday was a glorious day. After a fabulous district meeting with some mean chocolate cookies that I had to strap myself down to stop myself from eating 40, we went to go see Alphonsine, an investigator that we found knocking on doors about a month ago. We've been teaching her quite regularly and we decided that this was the time to set a baptismal date with her! However, when we got there we werent quite feeling it... and Sister Vance and I looked at eachother like "should we do it???" we both shrugged and decided to just continue with the lesson and we invited her to read the heading for 3 Néphi 11. She read... "The Father testifies of His Beloved Son—Christ appears and proclaims His Atonement—The people feel the wound marks in His hands and feet and side—They cry Hosanna—He sets forth the mode and manner of baptism—The spirit of contention is of the devil—Christ’s doctrine is that men should believe and be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. About A.D. 34."  As she pronounced the baptism words my soul was PIERCED. Then we asked her what she remarked about the introduction and she said BAPTISM and continued on talking about other things she remarked. Everytime she said the word baptism my heart was pierced again and I KNEW that I had to ask. Ive learned well to listen to that feeling and I asked. And of course she accepted. 19th of April.  What a beautiful experience the Lord blessed me to have.

Two days later we taught her faith and repentance. She was so sincere and asked questions like, how do I know if God is speaking to me? how do I make restitution? how do I forgive my abusive ex-husband? Marie did an amazing job testifying of the atonement of Christ AND because we had given a lesson in RS on repentance a few days earlier we knew exactly where to find the answer to one of her questions. Its cool that Sister Vanaqer was inspired to ask us to teach on that subject and in turn it ended up helping an investigator!!!

On Friday we went over to teach her and her 17 year old daughter was there named.. JENNY :) Well she said she was interested too and ended up setting a baptismal date with her for the same day!! We then invited her to play ping pong with us the following even...

So on saturday she was anxiously awaiting us. We gave her and her mom and her cousin a tour of the church and then had a blast playing ping pong and eating crepes. The party was hoppin ha. There were so many investigators less actives and members. So fun. Definitely a hit. Of course we invtied them to church... and...

THEY CAME :) but they came in the middle of the first hour and everyone was in their respective classes. We didnt see them and they didnt call and they didnt know where to go so they left.. BOO. BUT Alphonsine came back for sacrament meeting!! (Which was SO FULL by the way thanks to the work of the members! I played my violin and so many people came out to support me as well. I was soo grateful. Thanks mom again for having me bring it!)

Well Im exhausted. Looking at the screen is so hard for me ha and time is short but Im so grateful for my mission. It kicks my rear end but Im growing and learning so much! Its crazy that Ive only got more or less 4 months to go. Im cherishing it. Not to mention my companion is just like the best thing that ever happened.

I love you all and GROS BISOUS

Soeur Kohlert

Week 54: SOCCER... I'm so happy happy happy

So I have no time so sorry. But I'll just have to tell you a little bit about this wonderful week of SUN. Isn't it just wonderful how the sun can just change everything? I'm so grateful for it. 

Marie took us to see a cool castle that was destroyed in WWI. It was cool. The prison was only accessed by a hole, like 50 ft above the prison ground. The guards would attach the prisoners to a rope and lower them down and they literally had no way to escape. haha so cool. Maybe I'll have to make a dungeon in my house like that for my kids when they get bad.

Tuesday we went to Paris for more legality stuff. It was cool because it was the same day but one year later that I arrived in France. I took pictures from the same spot i did a year ago. So cool.

THEN Tuesday night we got our neighbor Logan and his friend to come play soccer with the ward! And we also got a few other less actives and it was a BLAST!! Everyone loved it and the boys couldn't stop talking about it to Alexandra when they got home. The coolest thing was that Logan asked who Mormon was on the car ride home and we got to talk a bit together!!

The Elders had a baptism that was so beautiful. We tried to do a musical number, Savior Redeemer of My Soul... it didn't quite work out. We tried.

We also got to do some yard work/service for the bishop. Their backyard was like a forest and by the time we were done it was some pretty dirt ha. It was funny because bishop was like... How in the world do you sisters know how to do yard work? Don't you guys have Mexicans? Every time I go to Utah there are always Mexicans working in your yards..... Haha....thanks mom for teaching me how to weed.

Sister Vance and I got back into our teaching swing! We have been teaching so powerfully together! We had a few lessons where we so happy with how well the spirit worked and how open our investigators were to receive the spirit. Its incredible the things that the Lord can do based on pure feeling. We asked one woman what it would mean to her if Joseph Smith was a prophet and she said, "I'd need to follow him and be baptized." Ding ding ding we've got a winner.

OH I almost totally forgot! The elders passed us an investigator named Isabelle who is just ROCKIN! She is a 24 year-old farmer came to church and wants to be baptized. The whole ward wants to have a FHE with her because she is just so normal and cool. She is so strong! Pray for her!!!

I love you all. I know that this is HIS work!!

Week 53: I Wouldn't Touch that Cheese with a 9 1/2 Foot Pole.

Salut :)

So I just HAVE to tell you how we started off our week. So there are like 450 different cheeses in France and our bishop had us try the most horid one in existence. It was like red and it just smelt like ... i don't know how to describe it. It was just like a strong cheese at first and then WABAM the taste just hit you like a ton of bricks all at one and IT DIDNT GO AWAY! I dont know what its name is but it should be a crime to give it to someone. 

BAD CHEESE!

Bah dis donc WE FIXED A BAPTISMAL DATE!!! Ah we're so excited! It is with a recent convert's friend, her name is Isabela, I'll attach a photo of her. It is for March 29th. She has a hard time understanding so I hope that we will be able to get her ready!! Also the elders have a baptism this saturday! They found him like 2 weeks ago and he bore his testimony on sunday! so solid. hes a funny guy. 

Yesterday was crazy though! So It is vacation week so no one was at church AND some of the bigger families were sick and or late. Ha we had a random couple show up to church, a member brought their friend, the elders had two investigators there and we had one! There were more investigators than members at first. Ha and we were stressed trying to get them all there and taken care of. Luckily we have some incredible members who really help us out DESPITE the craziness/sickness going on in their lives! I was a bit stressed because we  had to teach thesunday school lesson which we didnt know about till saturday, AND i had to play the piano. Anyone that knows me knows that I dont play very well, especially site reading. So it was such a blessing when i flipped the pages open to see that all of the songs were in keys that im extremely comfortable with. THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER!

We also did some crazy finding in the rain. We were able to go do some work in a gorgeous ville called LAON. There is a gorgeous cathedral that you have to like hike up to! so incredible. Ha we also had a Kebab with a Kebab man that loves missionaries. Way too funny.

Unfortunately the family that we found called and dropped us... :( One of their mothers came into town and is totally against relgion  and talked them out of seeing us. The dad seemed so sad to tell us that we coulding come back... We also had a lesson with an investigator. We had brought a member and when we got to the door, there she was, standing with the book of mormon and all the pamphlets in hand. She opened the door and just handed us the material and said we couldnt come back. It was rough.

On the other hand we started teaching a new mom and 3 kids and we got to have a lesson with our neighbor!!! IT WAS SO AMAZING! We gave her a BOM and she said that she is just SO EXCITED to start reading it. She has troubles with smoking and normally she has to smoke every 45 min... but we were with her for about 2 hours and she didnt smoke till 30 min after we left... so if we do the math thats 2.5 hours without smoking! She said that it was a miracle and she could feel that the spirit was helping her! so cool!

Sister Vance and I thought for sure that one of us would be leaving this transfer... but no. President strikes again with his surpirses. Ha so we will have been together for 2.5 transfers! LONG TIME but Im so happy because i love it here and i love my companion and I know well see some great miracles together.

Ha some TJs showed up in the middle of one of our lessons this week.. oh dear thats a whole other story in itself!

Well I know that Heavenly Father loves us. I know that through the power of His son we can be changed. I felt the spirit testify of this truth to me multiple times this week and its just so true. AS WE SERVE HIM, WE BECOME LIKE HIM!

I love you all!!!!