Monday, November 18, 2013

Natalie November 18, 2013

What a beautiful week. Thank you so much for your prayers and your e-mails. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family! This week I stopped stressing about things I couldn't control and just enjoyed the beauty of the life of a missionary. I enjoyed talking with so many different people and just saw the beauty. We saw a lot of fun things this week:

We were doing some porting in Fontainebleu in a beautiful area just next to the castle that i showed you last week. We were having so much fun and kept having the funniest moments. We walked past a house and this woman was outside on her porch. I contacted her like normal and she said, "oh dears i know! wait one moment and i'll come out" we looked at each other and were like hmmm ok? haha that normally doesn't happen. She came out and told us it was way too cold to be outside and that we needed to come in! We kept saying we were missionaries and she said oh i know i know; haha well turns out her husband was in the house, and she definitely had alzshymers (sorry don't know how to spell). We got a good laugh out of that. It felt so good to be welcomed...even if she thought we were someone else. 

We also had a neat experience with out Muslim friend we met a few weeks ago. She is our age and we have become great friends! We contacted her one night and she cried because she was so touched by our message. This week she gave us a referral of a friend she has who is Christian and has two children. She thought our message might help her! She took us to dinner the other night and we had the coolest lesson! Her friend just kept looking at us and saying that she's made a lot of mistakes in her life, but she could see the virtue in our eyes and really wanted that. She texted us today and wants to have lessons with us! What a miracle. If you can, please pray for her and her children! Her name is Nicole. 

We also had a surprise conference with President Osguthorpe (general Sunday school president) and Brother Ridd (First counselor in the General Young men's presidency). Our area authoirty Elder Boutoille came too. All 4 paris zones went to Versailles and we got to meet them and shake their hands. When they walked in we were all singing hymns standing in line. The spirit was so strong. We got to shake their hands and talk with them one on one for a bit. They are the kindest men ever. Elder Ridd talked about having real intent in everything we do! Praying, working out, even eating! It took on a whole new meaning and I've been trying to apply it in my missionary life. It makes such a difference and I've learned we can apply it to everything in our lives! President Osguthorpe talked about having desire and determination to do the work. He shared a quote from Elder Maxwell that says, "We all need more deserved specific praise" So I'm taking this into affect! And i just want to seriously thank you all for the amazing people you are and the difference you've made in my life. I love you so much! Today's challenge: give deserved specific praise!
Afterwards, they talked to us and mingled as we ate. President Osguthorpe was talking with my companion and told her that we as the missionaries, are the most prayed for people on this earth. He told her that one of the first things we do when we teach children to pray is to pray for the missionaries. He told her to take advantage of those prayers and show these children that miracles come from prayers in our behalf. It reminded me of a quote from Elder Holland:

"Live now for these generations. Live now for the deacons and beehive girls who will one day have you return and sit up and watch you in sacrament meeting, who don't have a blessed idea what a mission is and have no idea what it means to go to Manaus or Belem (or Paris or Canada!) And then you look them in the eye and say that they too can serve. that they've got to take their turn in the relay race of eternity. you live right now in a way that you can pierce their hearts and touch their lives"

I totally believe in the power that comes from prayers--especially those of the children of our church! This week in our ward was the beloved primary program! the best day of the year. When we walked into the church there were our children there to greet us running to show us where the best place to sit was. This year we had our annual pouters, criers, and the ones who forget their lines. But for fun we had a great arrangement of the army of helaman on the tuba and called to serve on the trombone. That was a real crowd pleaser! The coolest part of the whole thing was the spirit we felt. I have a dear friend in our ward who's husband is not a member. We met with her this week and challenged her to pray to know how to invite her husband to come to the primary program to see their kids! We prayed for her like crazy and were so surprised to find him there on sunday! The first time ever! he camee!!! An absolute miracle. We watched him throughout the program and he was really moved and had tears in his eyes. THAT is the power that comes from children. They basically taught him the first 3 lessons and even talked about baptism. I was blown away. I think they should just go ahead and lower the mission age all the way down! We could use some of their testimonies out here. 

I have such a testimony of this! And we as missionaries are living for them. For those deacons and beehives who will be at our homecomings. For the little primary kids who pray for us everyday! We are living and praying for miracles to show them the faith of their prayers because THEY ARE REAL. I am so grateful for all of your prayers and they are felt.

This week we visited the Paris Opera house! It was absolutely UNREAL. Here are some pictures that we took there.  And here I am eating the last gaufre of Soeur Cunche. We said goodbye to her this morning as she heads to Texas then onto Canada (logan's ward) for the holidays. I will miss her so much and will never forget the impact she made on me! Say hello for me loge!

Well I love you all. i am praying for you and working hard for you! 
Hope you have a beautiful week.
Love
Soeur Cameron
100% No regrets I've promised to give more



























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