Natalie June 10, 2013

Hello everyone!

It was so good to hear from everyone. It sounds like everyone is doing great. I'm not going to lie, i got a little misty eyed when I read about rusty leaving us. I've had a lot of fun adventures in that little car! He's served us well hasn't he? Em i loved the pic of you on top of the car. 

The work is still here in Tours. It's not easy work! But it's good work. And it's the Lord's work so it's the best work. This week after all I've experienced, the biggest thing i've learned is how grateful I am for where I come from and the blessings I have.  I have never been so grateful.  So Tours is a HUGE city.  It has several sub cities each with thousands of people.  My area is really big.  I wish I knew the exact population.  Within all of those thousands of people, there are around 20-30 active members in our branch.  They have so much faith and they amaze me.  Most of them are women who come without their husbands or families. They are very french! And things happen a lot different than I'm used to. I'm still getting used to that. Their mannerisms are hard to follow sometimes but I love them. And I'm trying to learn french for them! So I can communicate with them.

We had a meeting with the Branch President this week talking about our investigators and how we can bring them into the branch.  Because of past experience, he was a little hesitant to find solutions.  Our investigator Anne Marie is around 38 years old.  Her husband was killed in the war in Africa recently so she moved here with her son William who is 11 years old.  I have never met a more believing woman.  She knows God and when we found her on the bus my first week here she said she was looking for more.  She is living with a random kind lady and babysits for work.  She doesn't have a job.  Her son doesn't have a bus pass so it's hard for her to get to church which is about an hour away.  I remember leaving the meeting we'd had with the branch president, feeling discouraged and wanting help! Anne Marie wants to come to church and I felt like  we were stuck in trying to figure out a way, just as many missionaries face this every week. 

I will never forget it.  We were walking on this road to our home. It's about a 45 minute walk.  I remember thinking about our home ward and the church house 3 minutes away.  Feeling so blessed and sad at the same time that these people didn't have that.  My companion and I were discouraged.  As I walked these words came to my mind like an old friend, "Don't you quit. You keep walking.  You keep trying.  There is hope and happiness ahead.  Some blessings come soon. Some come late, and some don't come till heaven. But for those that embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.  It'll be alright in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come"  Oh Elder Holland.  His words have rescued me many a time.  But at that moment it was exactly what I needed.  I know and testify that this is God's work.  I know that one day, all things will be made right.  He knows our hearts and what we're willing to do.  And I know that everything always works out even if it's hard. I know that He not only knows me and my heart, but He knows my investigators too! What they don't realize is that they've had a relationship with Him since before this life. He knows them so personally and individually. He knows them because He led us to them. And I know that I can do all things through Him and so can they! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever and He is a God of miracles. He orchestrates the missionary and the investigator! It is HIS work. Ah what a blessing.

I love France and I love Tours. It's been quite an adjustment coming from Utah though. I know I say that a lot. But Europe is just different! haha culture shock everyday. No one knows who we are. People stare at us everywhere which I'm used to now, high school girls will laugh at our clothes or give us fun looks, haha which makes me laugh, and babies love us! it's weird. everywhere we go babies just stare and smile at us. But one day me and my companion were just feeling kinda alone.  We realized we were probably the only members in that city of thousands and thousands that day. No one knew who we really were or who we represented.  As we were on the bus, there was a handicapt man in his wheel chair.  As we got on, he didn't even say anything but he looked at us in a way that made our hearts full.  I dont' know how, but I knew that he knew who we were! It was a special experience. We helped get him off the bus and he looked up at us and for a moment I think he knew.  Moments like that mean the world. I love testifying of Christ. Any time I bring Him into the conversation, the Spirit enters. And just simple looks from people help me to know that He's with us.

As I have had experiences like that, I have gained such a huge testimony of prayer, and God's presence here. I was studying in the bible dictionary and found this: 
"Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondance with each other.  The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them.  Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them.  Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings" BD pg 753. 

I loved that! Isn't it incredible to think of all the blessings that await us? And sometimes, all it takes is a prayer and the faith that is needed to receive them. What a powerful and loving Heavenly Father we have.  I know that He hears and answers my prayers.  I have never felt it so strong than here on my mission. There are times when He answers immediately! So fast that it blows my mind. And other times, it takes longer and my patience is required. But there is never a prayer left unanswered. "Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea rejoice everymore and in everything give thanks; waiting patiently on the Lord for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord and are recorded with this seal and testament-the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted. Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and ALL things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good and to my name's glory saith the Lord" D&C 98:1-3 He is so aware of us and our everyday lives.

What an incredible blessing it is to be a missionary.  It's the hardest thing I've ever done! But it's also the greatest thing. I can feel myself changing and growing and learning life long lessons that will help me forever. I have learned so much about motherhood and being a wife! How to work with people and have patience and love and humility.  How blessed we are to have the Atonement and the power of the gospel in our lives daily! 

Well I hope you all have an incredible week. You're in my every prayer. I am so grateful to come from a family who believes and you live what they believe.  I'm so grateful to come from a country like the United States! I'm so grateful for the freedoms we enjoy and the experiences I've been able to have because | grew up there.  I'm grateful for the Savior. And I know He lives! I see His hand everyday here in Tours.  Elder Busche said, "that when you can't love someone, look long enough in their eyes to see the hidden rudements of God" I testify that this is true! As I look at the faces of these people I see Him. 
I love you all and hope you have an incredible week!
Love,

Soeur Cameron

100% NO REGRETS! I've promised to give MORE

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