Logan May 31, 2013

Hello Family!

Wow I cannot believe it is here. Thanks so much for all the support. it was fun to see  you guys yesterday and hard to say goodbye. i have a letter coming for mom dad and em.

everything is going well. i don't do anything with french though. i am kind of sad about that part. my entire district is english speaking but we are all going to a different language mission. it is because we are fast tracking. we just get the 2 weeks of english. My companion is Elder Jenkins. he is from Florida. we have a lot of fun together. thank goodness for p day. just doing my wash right now. i met sister tribe who was with natalie. she loves her. i will be flying out with her. I get my travel plans tomorrow so in a week i will let you know what is happening. I am having some trouble attaching my pictures to this email. Not really sure how it will happen. I will ask around and hopefully get you some pictures before i leave a week from Tuesday.

How is everything at home? how was your birthday mom? get any good presents?

We went to the temple today. what a blessing. it was so good to go and just relax a little bit. I am in a classroom for a really long time. like really really really long. and you know me I can hardly sit still for long. thanks for the emails. I noticed i got mail but i can't read it until tonight. I haven't got natalies package yet. we keep missing the elders. i will probably get it today. we go to the french district a lot because they are fun to talk to. Everyone here is talking about my graduation. i think i am the youngest person in my zone, and possibly the mtc. all of the guys in my district thought it was the coolest thing that i hadn't graduated yet.

When i got back from grad yesterday i had to tell the branch president and his counselors and their wives all about it. the men didn't really care but their wives were so funny. they kept saying how proud they were to have me in their branch. it was funny.

is it possible for you to send this to everyone? i will try and email everyone separately but it will be good to get a list going. It is weird seeing so many familiar faces. Elder Savage from American fork is in my branch. I have seen all of the sisters in our ward here that are still in the mtc. I will most likely see dani next week. too bad i will be gone before david bean comes in.

How is summer break mom? i know you are probably revealed as ever. how is jean's family and baby porter? My thoughts and prayers are with them.

sorry i am having trouble uploading pictures. it is dumb i can't figure it out.

thanks for sending that email to madame. I say her at graduation and thanked her. She is a great lady. I am excited to go to Montreal. it could not come any sooner.

em what are you up to now? keep playing music on your guitar. mom loves it. and she will need it. you will probably have to play louder and longer to compensate for the lose.

Oh i remembered what i need. an alarm clock and a sewing kit. just in case my button comes off or my pants rip or another such problem.

I am glad that i get to travel with a lot of missionaries. well more then just me haha. i have counted 4 of us. and 3 are sisters. i have to find my elders! good thing i have my etch a sketch. though i cannot use it here.

mom i am trying to keep my room clean! i don't really want to unpack all of my stuff because i will just pack it back up in 10 days. I am starting to like the mtc but i am really glad that i only have to stay here until the 11th. Dad thanks for being my companion yesterday! i am also starting to get used to having a comp all the time. Once you get used to it, it is not so bad. elder Jenkins is pretty funny. he was a swimmer for byu and is quite toned. i am the youngest and also the smallest elder in my zone haha. there are some big boys here. I was eating breakfast one morning and i sat next to my comp and this big Samoan guy. he looked at me and then said you don't eat much. then everyone started laughing haha it was funny. we are having a good time. My comp and i refuse to sing the hymns in English. i bought a french hymnal and some stamps. i am getting used to everything. all of the buildings look the same but i am starting to get it

My comp and i went for a run this morning. it was really nice. We both are kind of a.d.d. so we have to go running. tomorrow we get gym time so we are going to go kick some missionary heiny on the pitch. that means soccer field mom. Ah i miss you guys but It is starting to get better. the card em made for me nearly had me crying. the elders in my room were looking at me funny. thanks em it meant a lot. there is more in a letter about that.

mom sorry i forgot your birthday! it was a crazy day. unless you want like a french book i don't have a present yet. but it will come.

Mom i am trying to think of everything i have done so this email looks long. haha the food is alright. don't get your hopes up. that's something that i had to learn the hard way. We have some pretty funny pictures to send. i am mad i can't figure out how to send them. i am going to go see if i can't figure it out.

it is fun to be in a ESL district because i get to learn Portuguese, Spanish, french, and i guess English. sometimes we say to the Italian elders rivaderchi! i don't know how to spell it but sound it out. It means see you soon but we say it to greet them. they get so mad at us and we just laugh haha. oh good times with the Italians. the Chinese speakers are fun to.

well lads and lasses it is time to get my warsh. haha warsh. i will talk to you in a week. i will write some letters and send them off. i will need to send some books home before i ship off.

elder cameron

tout est bien, tout est bien

I haven't really got a theme or whatever yet... it will come

i will try to get you some pictures mommy!

Logan's Graduation

Logan had the blessing of "walking" in his graduation as a missionary. It was a special memory he will cherish.

Natalie May 27, 2013

Dear family,

Wow it was so great to hear from everyone! Sounds like an incredible week. I was thinking about you all yesterday all day and could feel you. I have never felt that before like that. it was such a blessing and tender mercy. Loge it sounds like you did incredible. i read your talk and loved it. i was waiting for the LOLR reference and sure enough you didn't' let me down. Loge you're going to be unreal. I'm so excited for you. Can you believe this is it?? 

This week in Tours has been great.  The work is still tricky trying to get everything going, but it's been awesome. It has been a testimony to me that God is here in Tours, France! We had our first district meeting on Tuesday. So we took an hour train to the city of Poitier.  We had to buy some eclaires for it so we went into this little bakery.  We got all the way in there and our American cards wouldn't work.  But there was this random lady in there who came up to me and asked if I was a mormon.  That was insane! Seriously, most people here don't even believe in God let alone know who the mormons are.  But i was able to tell her that yes i was and i was a missionary.  Turns out she had visited Utah with some friends and had seen Motab and loved it there.  We talked with her and she was interested in learning more.  She has member friends and wanted to know more.  So we gave the reference to the elders in that city.  Another experience we had this week, we were going to a rendez-vous with a lady and for the 3rd time she wasn't there.  So we were walking out of the apartment and this random lady passed us by.  My companion grabbed her really quick and asked her if she believed in God and she said of course! We talked to her for awhile and she asked us if she could come to our church on sunday.  Things like this happened over and over this week. Such a testimony to me that God is on our left and right hand.  This is His work.  Sometimes we may not know why we go to a random patiessirie but God does.  He is putting people in our paths all over.  The trick is being worthy to have the Spirit with us to know who they are. I love it though. It's been such an adventure of a lifetime already.

This week i get to travel again for district meeting.  Then I get to go to PARIS on Friday and Saturday for exchanges!!!!!! I"M SO EXCITED> And guess who I'm doing it with?? SISTER HOOVER! you'll have to tell the Benches.  My companion and I will arrive on Friday then stay the night in Paris and go tracting under the Eiffel Tower. It's cool because they just opened Paris for sisters so we're the first sisters to do exchanges there in awhile. I'm so excited. So expect some cool pics hopefully!

This week has been a huge wake up call for me.  I am SO grateful to live in the United States of America. I went to my first branch council on Sunday and it was very different.  The members don't really understand their relationship with the missionaries and there was a lot said that opened my eyes.  Church here is very different.  It's still the same gospel, but the church is a little different. haha Each sunday my companion and I say a prayer of gratitude for the homes we've been raised in and the wards that we grew up in. I'm grateful for the freedoms we have at home.  My companion and I were talking yesterday while we were on the bus.  Europe is great and so fun! There are a lot of interesting people everywhere. But there is a different feeling here.  It feels different and it's hard to explain. But it has made me so grateful for the people we live by and the things we've learned from growing up there. 

I've been reading Jesus The Christ and it's been so incredible to see that He is our unifying factor.  Sometimes it's hard to find similarities with people here. But honestly when you stop and think about Christ, then you see similarities everywhere.  I know that He lives and testifying of Him has brought me the most joy out here.  He is why I'm here.  Today this cute little old french lady starting talking to me on the bus.  We had the funnest conversation.  She'd heard my companion and I speaking English and said she could understand a little! i told her that I'd just been in France a few weeks and couldn't speak french very well and told her that I could teach her English and she could teach me french. it was funny and she laughed.  We talked more and she gave me her info! She noticed that we were different and she said she was shocked to see such young women be so impressive.  It was a fun experience and a blessing that I could actually speak back! Hopefully I'll be able to contact her this week and meet with her.

Well mom happy birthday this week! i haven't forgotten about your package. I'm going to Paris and will hopefully send it this week. 

i love you all so much and miss you! but am so grateful for your love and support.

good luck this week with all the crazy changes! loge you will be incredible! excited to hear from you.

LOVE YOU ALL

Sister Cameron

100% no regrets i've promised to give more

Natalie May 20, 2013

My dear family,

ah it's nice to hear from you. Thank you so much for your letters and your love. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Loge and Em. I really missed you guys yesterday and hope you had a great day.  I'm trying to send your package this week. So look for that! Thank you so much for your prayers and love. I can feel it. Wow so much has happened since i last talked to you on the phone. I feel like it's been a few months. haha let me catch you up to speed.

So we flew into Paris and arrived in the morning. It was pretty crazy to actually be here in France.  We met President and Sister Poznanski and immediately felt of their love for us. They're incredible. They loaded up our luggage. we tried our first pain au chocolat (which was incredible..) and they handed us a book of mormon. We got on the metro and handed them all out. I gave mine to a lady after a cool convo I had with her. Then she kissed my cheeks and I knew that I'd arrived in Paris. I saw Notre Dame and the famous bridge with the locks.  The city is pretty incredible.  I can't believe I'm here.

We went to the chapel in Paris which is the most expensive piece of property that the church owns. it was built in 1650 and was pretty crazy being inside. I'm going to try and send pictures of it. That night we stayed in a cute little hotel and the next morning went to consecration hill.  It is a beautiful hill overlooking all of Paris.  We sat there and all decided what we wanted our missions to be.  We set goals and prayed and had a moment to be alone.  It was great and a cool way to start my mission.

When we got back Sister Hafen was there! I got to chat with her for a bit. I also met cute Sister Hoover and chatted with her.  She just got called to be my Sister Training Leader and I'm really excited to get to know her more! 

So we went inside the chapel and on one side of the room they had the trainers, the other side all of us blues.  One by one they announced where we were going and with who.  I got called to open the city of Tours (which was a huge shock) and my trainer is Sister Miller from Texas.  She is incredible and has been such a blessing so far. We get a long really well and have a lot in common. 

Tours is about an hour away from Paris. so we got all of our luggage and trecked to the Metro. it was crazy. but by some miracle and some incredible APs we made it to the station to take our train to Tours.

Our ZLs were there to meet us at the station and we took a bus to our apartment and walked our luggage to our building. Our apartment is incredible and huge! It's been fun to decorate it and make it feel like a home. We have two french terraces and a fun area. I feel blessed to have it!

So far it's been really rainy.  But I guess Tours is known for its castles and history.  We haven't had a chance to go out and see any of them. But there's a rumor that the castle in beauty and the beast is here.  I want to go see it! 

So because we're opening this city, we don't' really have anything to work with. So our first day we just jumped in and started to find.  We try to talk to everyone we see. I am praising Madame's name night and day for her help with my french.
Loge you will feel the same. we're pretty blessed. \it's been a blessing because most people think I'm french at first! Then they hear me talk and ask what 'm doing here.  It's been a great tool. The members all think I'm from the south of France.  Our landlord thinks we're nuns...haha we're debating on whether to tell him we're not because we get all these nice perks.
We try to talk to everyone we see and get to know all we can. So it took us about 30 people before we had 1 who was willing to listen.  We were on the bus and we started talking to her.  Her name is Anne Marie and she's incredible.  Her husband died and her and her son live here in Tours.  She is very believing and religious and has a testimony of God.  We met her Saturday and invited her to come to church with us the next day and she said yes! So Sunday morning she showed up and stayed for all 3 hours.  She loved it and couldn't get enough.  We have a rendez-vous with her tomorrow.  She's my tours miracle.  

Church was very interesting. Relief Society consisted of 5 women including us.  There was a sweet spirit there though and it was cool for Anne Marie to see.  In Sacrament meeting about 5 minutes before it started, they knew i was from Utah so just assumed i played the piano. haha so i got to play the piano then bear my testimony as well.  

Afterwards this cute family invited us over for dinner.  The Kehli family has 2 daughters.  They're 10 and 6 and so cute.  We taught them some english words and they did dances for us and tricks.  They were so cute.  It was a tender mercy to be welcomed in so well.  They told us that we were the first sisters to be in Tours and they've been waiting for us.  I'm excited to work closely with the members and build the branch here.  

Elder Bednar came to our mission awhile ago and gave an apostolic blessing on the missionaries and their french.  He said if you and your families prayed 3 times a day for the gift of tongues for the right reasons, then we could become fluent.  So I'm doing this and for Loge too! And i have already seen miracles.  French is a beautiful language and I love hearing it everywhere I go.

Europe is very different than the Untied states.  There are buildings here older than our country.  Most people are very kind, some aren't so kind. haha but I guess that's the same wherever you go. My first porting experience was quite an adventure.  We got all pumped up and walked up to the door and this crazy old man ran out yelling at us! He looked so scared like we were the police or something.  He told us to leave and then his wife came out and started screaming in this crazy lady voice.  We quickly ran away. I turned to my companion after we'd settled down and we just laughed. haha 

I'm so excited to be here in France.  I know it's where I'm supposed to be.  I can feel your prayers and I'm so grateful for them. 

This week we already have 5 rendez-vous's set up.  And I'm excited to see what the week holds for us!  We finally got a ward list and there are quite a few names on there that aren't active.  So we got a map and color coded our ward and our goal is to visit every person's name on that list before we leave.  I know there are miracles waiting to happen and people waiting to be blessed! What an incredible and exciting time to be a missionary. 

Thank you all for your support and love.  I feel it! I am praying for all of you and thinking of you often. 

I hope you all have a great week. Know that I love you all and miss you! We are all so blessed to live where we live, and to have grown up in our ward, area, and our family.  I am so grateful for you all.

LOVE YOU!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK

Soeur Cameron

100% no regrets. I've promised to give more.

Natalie May 13, 2013

Dear Family,

Well this is it! Can you believe it?? I'm heading to Paris TODAY!!! I can't believe it. I'm so so so so excited and ready to go.

This past week has been so much fun, and I've realized how much I've loved the MTC. Seriously it has been incredible. I've loved every minute of it.

I want to tell you a bit about my last Sunday. It was incredible. Janice Kapp Perry came to Relief Society. And boy, let me tell you, I don't know if I've ever felt the Spirit so strong.

She directed us and all 1,258 sisters sang a medley of all her primary songs that we've known since we were born. IT WAS POWERFUL.

We all realized that the songs have become a part of who we are.  It was incredible.

Then, she told us that she had written lyrics dedicated to our generation of sister missionaries.  She wrote "As Sisters of Zion" and we sang the normal song when we walked in.

Then at the end, she pulled up these new lyrics that she wrote specifically for us to the music of As Sisters of Zion. She changed the title to The Sisters of Zion. We all stood and sang it. And there was not a dry eye in the building.

I am surprised you could even hear voices singing. I have never felt such power. I was trying to write down as many lyrics as I could.

Things like "The angels of heaven are walking beside us" "We go forth, enlisted with Helaman's army" Things like that. There was an orchestral accompaniment and I have never been more moved.

I think she's going to release it soon. We were the very first group of people to sing it. Crazy huh? It was monumental moment in my life.

Also President Littlefield came that night. He's the President that I worked closely with with LDSSA. IT was so special and neat to see him my last night.

Well I have to go get packed and finish getting everything squared away. But I love you all so much.

I have loved the MTC with all of my heart! It was one of the happiest places on earth and testify that it is inspired.

Loge I cannot wait for you to get here. there are many elders and teachers waiting for you:)

So we're taking the front runner and leaving here at 11:30. So I'm not exactly sure when I'll get to the airport.

But as soon as I can I will call so I can talk for as long as I want. I have like 500 minutes. I'm assuming I call like Mom's cell phone maybe?

Maybe I'll do that then you can tell me if I should call a different phone.

SO EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU!!!!!!

LOVE YOU SO MUCH

Soeur Cameron

Natalie May 11, 2013

Thank you SO much for the package! It was absolutely perfect. Seriously I can't thank you enough. And for the
package last week!
Everything was perfect and I was dying over the plan of salvation and the talks and notes and everything. I'm so
excited.
So I'm getting packed and ready to go today so I had a sec to e-mail you and make sure that you knew I'm
leaving Monday. Our itinerary changed
a little. So we're leaving the MTC at 11:30 and taking the front runner to the airport. (fun...haha) Then our flight
departs at 4:50 I believe.
So I will be able to call when I get there. I'm planning on going and getting Cafe Rio in the airport for my last
supper then grabbing the phone while
I eat so I can chat with you for as long as I can. Will anyone be able to talk? I know you'll have work and Jean's
gone Mom so not sure if it'll work.
Should I call separate phones? What phone should I call? home? cell? let me know. I have like 500 minutes so
it'll be all good.
Oh before I forget! I found the Nalley's and they were SO kind! I thanked them for our fam and they totally
remembered Loge and the situation and
Sister Nalley told me that when a young man or woman graduates there should be trumpets and music and a
fun. My district was all trying to help me find them. it was fun President nalley said !t was too bad I wouldn't
be here to see him. He's such a nice man.
I also got to host for Whit! That was awesome and a tender mercy. Told Braden to te1l you all hi. Love that fam.
Also the Privett's sent me the sweetest package! I couldn't believe it. Will you tell Mckayla it made my day? I
am trying to get a note in to her before I leave.
Also our Aunt Sue sent me yet another package this week. She has been unreal! She has sent me one every
single week I've been here with loads and loads of food and candy!
And this week she sent me cadburry eggs and $50 for a rainy day? Can you believe that? She's so kind.
Mom I'm sad I can't be there for Mother's day tomorrow. But just know I'11 be thinking about you.
I'm trying to send home a package today of stuff I don't need. So be looking for that.
Gosh can you believe ifs here? I honestly can't. I'm going to PARIS in 2 days!!!
It's been pretty fun because one of my teachers just got back from our mission. His name is Skyler Mayne and
he was the AP for the last 9 months.
He planned for our arrival over there and then he got to teach us here. Pretty cool huh? But he's pumped us up a
lot and got us really excited! I can't wait.
He filled us in on what we'll be doing there and it will be so great. there's 40 of us in our group flying on the
plane together. (!) cool huh! And we'll arrive, stay in a hotel in Paris.
Have our interviews with the Pres, place a book of mormon in None Dame. haha yeah I can't wait. I am already
in love with it.
Also the pic I sent you is of our other teacher Frere Wilcox. He's unreal! He served in New Caledonia and is
such a great example.
The other pic is of Brianne Baugh! See her a lot around here. A lot of familiar faces. It's pretty fun. If you get a
chance will you send that to her mom some how?
If not I can figure out a way to get it to her.

Seriously thank you so much for everything though. I can't thank you enough for all of your love and support. It
means the wodd to me.
I am SO excited and honesfly, I have no fear, None whatsoever. Which is super weird for me because I've
always been miss worry. (remember mom)
But I feel your prayers and I feel the weight of my calling and the narne I wear on my heart. I know that I am
supposed to be in the France, Paris mission.
I know there are people waiting for me and I can't hardly wait to find them. They are already a huge part of my
heart.
I'm so excited to speak french over in France and I testify of the gift of tongues! It's conditional on your
obedience and willing to worlg and I testify that it's real.
Ah well hopefully you'll get this this morning!
And hopefully i'll be able to talk with you on Monday. Monday around 2 or 3I'm thinking?
And I should be able to check my e-mail on Monday morning as well. Sorry about my e-mail last week. I have
no idea what happened.
But hopefully you got some of the e-mail i was trying to send. I think it might've been too long.
Anywho. love you all lots and lots and lots.
you're always in my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks for everything!
TALK TO YOU MONDAY!!!!!
PARIS HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Soeur Cameron
100% no regrets I've promised to give more
LOVE YOU ALL

Natalie May 7, 2013

Me and my travel plans

My dear family,

Wow it's hard to believe another week has past. I loved all of your e-mails and letters and about DIED when I read Logan's news! I got the shivers. haha (Yes I'm 90) I told my district and there were a lot of tears shed and shivers felt. Loge I don't know if you realize how cool this is. I'm sure you do but literally everyone that I tell her starts to cry.  We feel the power of missionary work and you are an example to us all.  It is a testimony to us that you are willing to put the Lord first.  And we're all hoping you can proudly where your tag when you walk that stage! Will they let you? I sure hope so. What an incredible memory. I want tons and tons and tons of pictures.  I don't know if you remember me chatting with President Nally at Hobby Lobby before I came in here.  I framed a picture for him and he was soooo nice.  He's incredible here! He'll always come eat with us and he and his wife are so kind and caring.  I am going to find him this week to tell him thank you for what he is allowing you to do.  That's just insane. I can't get over it.

This week has been so incredible! So it sounds like you already heard, but I got to host this week! I was at the perfect place at the right time and I was able to host Jess. So I was the missionary that met them at the car grabbed their luggage, helped them say goodbye and gave them a hug and left. Pretty cool huh? So I saw the Carlson's car and ran down the hill to be there.  IT was pretty incredible to see them all! Especially Jess and Shan. Just was even on the phone and I got to yell in it. Hope ya heard it J. But it was pretty symbolic and a cool experience to be on this end of things.  I got to give her the tour of the MTC, help her get her books and stuff and take her to her room, and her first class.  We had a lot of fun and it was a great memory. So then I ran back to the line to take my next sister. I was looking for the Squires because I knew Jen was coming in.  So I looked down and saw Jen with her luggage.  Another sister had already taken her.  Jen was crying and pretty sad to say goodbye.  I gave her a huge hug.  Then the host takes the luggage and the missionary goes and gets their tag and stuff like that.  So her host was taking her luggage after she left and I begged her if I could switch her.  So i took her luggage and surprised her on the other side.  IT was really fun. haha She was shocked.  But I hung out with her for awhile and tried to take her mind of her fam.  We had a blast! I showed her all the secrets of the MTC and did the same for her as I did Jess. It's so fun. I see them around and they're both doing incredible.  Tell Stacey that yesterday I was sitting behind Jen at a devotional and she didn't see me. I was watching her and her comp and they were laughing and smiling and getting along.  They were planning a lesson in spanish and my heart was full! She was in her element and was a missionary.  It made my day.  Jen will be incredible.  We have an incredible ward.  I'm excited for Dani and all the other girls to come in.  I think Dani comes in the week after me. I've been thinking about her! Tell Wendy to tell her hi for me;)

So I hit my one month mark this week! Crazy right? i also got my travel plans. Woot woot! Paris here I come! So I have a direct flight.  It's  Delta flight #89 I believe.  We leave at 4:50 pm on Monday ( a week from today ) and it's direct (YES!) So we leave the MTC at 1:30 to go to the airport.  I bought a calling card with like 500 minutes and will be able to talk as long as I can.  Will any of you be home? I can't call on mothers day :( miss it by a day. sorry mom. But hopefully we can all have a chance to talk then. Is it still early out so you'll be home? Let me know:) I'm excited to talk to you. I will probably e-mail you that morning too if I get a chance.  I'm starting packing today I believe.
So you may be wondering why I was wearing the hideous dress in the above picture...well let me tell you a little story. so that dress has been passed on from generation to generation of french speaking sisters. it's so ugly! But every sister in your district wears it one day of the week and you don't tell the elders. haha it was really funny.

We all wore it though and it was so funny! The elders died when we told them.
So the devotionals this week were incredible. On Tuesday Elder Packer's son came.  We sang Precious Savior Dear Redeemer in the choir and it was so incredible! The spirit was strong.  There was also a special musical number of This is the Christ.  The guy who conducted got up to start the meeting and with tears in his eyes told us that Elder Moody (the man who wrote that song) was in the congregation going on his mission! He stood up to wave and we all died. He reminded me of dad.  It was pretty cool though.  That's one of my favorite songs.
Chad Lewis came last night and blew us all away. He's incredible and it felt like he was just giving us a huge pep talk.
So this past week i've noticed a lot of improvement in my comps and in my district and it was a little frustrating because it's harder to see improvement with my french and the language because i knew everything we have learned here. I was feeling a little discouraged and had a feeling to write down everything that I've learned in the MTC and had a cool experience.  Loge I've been thinking about you a lot and the next couple of weeks. 
Here are a few lessons I've learned from being here and some advice people have given me:

• My mission isn't about me- "lose yourself in the work.  Giving up insecurities and fear of leaving your family will help you focus on why you're here.  If we leave  all of that behind, and humbly do His will, He'll let us."  President Nally.  Each day focus on your investigators in the field and what their needs are.  You'll learn to teach people not lessons.
• Sacrifice and Obedience bring forth the blessings of heaven- "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that very moment God will give you power"  As you consecrate every moment in the MTC and your mission miracles will happen. 
  
• We're learning 2 languages-French and the language of the spirit.  The moment you realize the language of the spirit is more important, you'll be able to speak french

Natalie April 29, 2013

My dear family,

Well I can't believe another week has come and past in the MTC. I absolutely am loving every minute and can't get enough of it.

Loge this one's for you: Bilbo Baggins once said, "If I take one more step, it will be the furthest I've ever been away from home" ( or something like that ) Well folks. It's happened. As of last Tuesday, it's been the longest I've ever been away from home. Me and Elder Stucki were talking about it and it's pretty crazy. He did HT as well and we were talking about it this week. This will be the longest we've ever been away from home. We wouldn't want be anywhere else. 

This week has been incredible. They changed our Pdays to Monday as you can see... and I just got back from the temple.  My companions and I did sealings. (my first time!) and I LOVED IT. And guess what? They were all french families.  The temple sealer told us that we would go find their families that are still living there and make it possible for the chain to be continued. it was a really special experience! I loved it. Also the couple was probably around 112 years old...and you know how I love my oldies. I pretty much almost cried looking at them. Ah I love it.

I don't know if you've noticed but the weather is UNREAL. I've pretty much done all of my personal and language study outside. I can't get enough of it. Vitamin D is my best friend. LOVE

Well loges, today is the month mark. can you believe it? are you feeling ready? I'm so pumped for you and have a package for you the first night you'll be here. I just said goodbye to all the sisters and elders that are a transfer ahead of you! They're all looking out for you. How cool is that? You'll love it here. I'm so excited for you. 

So I can't remember if I told you about our progressing investigator Christopher. So we started teaching him like the second day we were here. We thought he was just a random person but turns out he was our teacher! Which was cool. So we continued to teach him and stuff and we had that neat experience with him. So after we had all taught him. Our teacher Frere Mayne told us the story of Christopher and a lot of neat things.  He told us that some of our companionships taught him the same exact things that he taught him.  And it was testimony to him that the Spirit can work through all of us to know what that individual might need. Then he told us Christopher's story.  He lives outside of Paris and played soccer professionally for France. (cool!) He lived with his girlfriend and they have the sweetest little girl. They have this crazy story about how they found him and his girlfriend who he'd been separated from at the same time in different cities.  They began to teach him and his testimony grew and he wanted to get baptized.  In order to be baptized he had to marry his girlfriend though and things began to come in the way and stuff.  Frere Mayne was in his last transfer and came home before they could get married.  crazy right? So guess what? I'm going to go find him! I'm so excited. I feel like I already know him so well. It's pretty crazy. but a cool story.  I have a testimony of miracles and missionary work. it's so real here!

I loved the packages you sent me! Thank you so much. I DIED when I saw your little puppy mom. So thank you thank you. My comps and roomies died too. And the outfit was perfect and the food! Loved it. and thank you so much Jess! the sock things were much needed and appreciated! I needed them. And the treats and everything.  I feel so loved. So thank you so much.

We had TRC's and the cutest old German man came. (again tears...) He was so sweet and helped us with our french. haha I loved it. Can't wait to meet people like that out in the field.

So every Sunday night you go to a movie/talk.  Last night we went to Characters of Christ by Elder Bednar. I'm sure you've heard it but I never had. It was a Christmas devotional he gave in the MTC a few years ago. If you can go watch it this week. it changed me life. Probably the most powerful talk I've ever heard! I don't want to tell you about it so you can watch it. But let me know what you thought then I'll share you my thoughts. 

I can't believe I only have 2 weeks left. It's pretty crazy to see how time flies out here. I'm so excited though. I'm ready to work hard and finish strong in the MTC.  I am studying diligence this week and it's helped me a lot with staying focused and being willing to give up what I need to in order to have the spirit with me. I love it. 

Here are some funny things that happened in the MTC this week:

• One night we all hurried super quick to be in bed early.  Everyone was in bed, the lights were off and I was saying my prayers when all of a sudden we here this, "KAMA TAY KAMA TAY KA" Or whatever it is...All of the Poly elders decided to have a little cultural celebration outside of our residence. It was SO loud and kinda scary! They did the Haka for like 10 minutes and all the Polynesian sisters did their little screamy thing too. We were all laughing so hard. We'd gotten ready as quick as we could just to lay in bed and listen to them. Oh the joys of the MTC. haha I love it.
• So In class this week we practiced contacting on a bus with our teacher.  So he'd just come up to us randomly and we'd have to start a convo. I was talking with him and stuff and he was a french 22 year old on his way to a concert.  We got talking and he invited me to go to the concert. I told him I couldn't but thanks for asking. He asked why I told him I was a missionary and we got talking about the church.  I was bearing my testimony and meant to say Dieu vous aime. (God loves you) But i said J'taime instead!!! ( I love you). the whole class burst out laughing. My teacher was laughing hysterically. I got all blushy and embarrassed (thanks mom) and we got a good laugh.
• Also my teacher Sister Cutler just graduated from BYU so she doesn't teach us anymore. I miss her! She was a great teacher.  But before she left she was telling us a story about her roommate and said "Do-FREAKING-mage!" We laughed so hard! it reminded me of Holes when the granddaughter is like "grandpa I'm tired of digging holes" and he says, "Well that's just too dang bad!" I thought of Justin saying it and laughed so hard.

Well everything is going just great. I'm getting ready to leave to France this week and I think we'll get our travel plans sometime towards the end of the week. I'm so excited! Can you believe it? I love the MTC. I love this work and I know and testify that the Lord is hastening His work.  He loves us each and He wants us all to return to Him and His father.  What an honor it is to be a part of it. 
Let me know what's up with everyone. Just and Shan moving? Jess and Ammon? Loge AP french yet? you'll be so ready to jump in and speak! Em almost summer time? Dad gardening? mom finishing work and such? Let me know. I think of you all each day:)
I love you all so much and I pray for you every chance I get. I feel your prayers and I feel so blessed to have such an incredible support system. I know I'm so lucky and blessed.  
Let me know how things are going and such! And If I can do anything or say any extra prayers.
Love you all so much
Sister Cameron
100% No regrets. I've promised to give more

Natalie April 23, 2013

My dear family!
It was so good to hear from you and I was so excited about Logan's news!!! HOLY COW. Do you realize that we're missing each other by about 2 weeks?
And you'd be in my zone and I'd see you everyday all day pretty much? your classroom is next to mine. haha that's pretty cool.
So on Sunday I met with President Zimbleman my branch president and told him all about you guys! He's excited to have you here Loge. He already knows you.
While I was having my interview I got called to be the sister zone leader for my zone! I'm super excited.  This means that my stay here at the MTC just got a lot busier
but I"m really humbled and excited to serve.  One of my responsibilities will be to love and comfort the new sisters that arrive each week. I get to give tours of the MTC
and give the low down of what to do and stuff.  This is a huge tender mercy because I know what it feels like to go through this. I"m excited to share God's love with them
and help them feel welcomed and loved.
This past week has been pretty incredible. Gosh i don't even know where to start. Elder Richard G. Scott came to our devotional last Tuesday and i got to sing in it!
It was an incredible devotional and pretty unique.  At the end of his talk, he said that he felt prompted to give us an Apostalic blessing. WOW!! Everyone gasped and the room went quiet.
Logan this blessing applies to you. so listen close! it's pretty unreal.

• Those who struggle with a foreign language will be blessed to learn from the Holy Ghost. He'll help you master the language
• Not everything will work out with your companion.  He knows that.  Pray for guidance and you'll be blessed.
• This will be a rich and rewarding blessing and experience in your life.  Record these principles and experiences on which you'll grow and develop
• Sisters you made the choice to come.  It will enrich your life.  Record the things you learn.  It will enrich your life as wives and mothers (husbands, fathers) These challenging experiences will enrich your life with your husband and you'll be able to reach your children.
• A blessing of peace.  You were called by inspiration and you won't be asked to do anything you can't do.
• you'll be blessed for your efforts with the language.  The challenges will be eased and remind you that the Lord has called you to your mission for a specific reason.  You want to learn the language because you want to serve God's children and bless others and preach His word.  He'll bless you.

So we were all writing like crazy trying to write this all down.   he closed then sat down and we sang the closing hymn.  The girl got up to say the prayer and Elder Scott stood up really quick!

This is what he said:

• Remember that the Lord has called you. He's called you! He's called you to succeed not to fail.  He will never abandon you.  He knows what you  need, He knows who He needs you to become.  You will do the things you never knew you could.  REMEMBER you have been called of God Himself.  He will fit your tasks to your ability.  He knows who you are and why you're here.  He's given you this opportunity to know things about yourself that you never knew. And to become closer with Him.

Crazy right? The spirit was so strong we were all in awe.  I testify and know that He is called of God! We felt His love for us.  He said that he wanted to take each of us individually and talk with us one on one.  Sharing, weeping, laughing, learning together.  He said that although this wasn't possible, we have the Heavenly Father who can do this everyday all day.  He loves us.

Pretty incredible.  Loge I know and testify that this blessing applies to you.  I thought of you the whole time! And i know that you will HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.  I read your letters to my district and they all freak out.

You have a way with words that will change. the. world. hope you know that. Gosh I'm so excited for you to come feel this. We're preparing for you.  You will walk the same halls as me. You'll probably be in the same classroom as me. I'm going to leave you secret notes and stuff.  It'll be cool. YOU WILL LOVE IT. The MTC is the happiest place on earth.  I love it with all of my heart and am so passionate about it.

I got the sweetest packages from Jean & Dale and also Janessa! I was in heaven.  They are so sweet. I physically feel the love and support and prayers from all of you. I'm so grateful.

So I want to tell you a little about my district. They're unreal. So I love my companions! Soeur Smith and Soeur Lefrandt.  We get along really well and are a great team! We have no issues and feel like we're best friends.  It's such a blessing.  The other day i was doing  some yoga and missed home and Sister lefrandt came and asked me if she could paint my nails.  reminded me of something jess would do.  I love them! They're hilarious. The others sisters, Soeur Elliot and Soeur Hilton are incredible too.  They're from Highland and Salt Lake area. We all have a lot of fun.  So we have 2 sets of sisters and 3 sets of elders.  Elder Ganjanakrit is from Thailand and he is pretty incredible.  He is 25 and is a convert and has probably the strongest, most simple testimony i've ever heard.  He doesn't speak very good english, or french, but he definetly speaks the language of the spirit.  Whenever he speaks everyone gets quiet and we listen with our hearts.  He's incredible and funny.  He teaches us Thai phrases all the time.  HIs comp is Elder STucki from AF. I was friends with him in high school and he's a year younger than me.  He's stellar and I learn from him all the time.  We laugh a lot and love to joke around.  Elder Turley and Elder Saffell.  They're hilarious.  From Orem and Tremonton.  They have Loge's sense of humor and make me laugh all the time when I try not to.  They have a lot of inside jokes and bring a lot of joy to our district.  Elder Eldredge and Elder Bates. Eldredge is from Hawaii and he's hilarious.  He played football at SUU and is convinced that I have a G side to me.  He said one of his goals for the MTC is to bring it out of me...haha if only he knew how right he was.  Don't worry mom I try to keep it under control bra? Shaka. hahaha Elder Bates was our district leader but he and Eldredge just got made zone leaders so i'll be working closely with them. They're hilarious, humble, and awesome elders.  

Sundays are now my all time favorite days.  In RS Sister Esplin came from the General primary presidency as well as the new General Yw's presidency! IT was pretty powerful singing As Sisters in Zion with a full gym of sister missionaries.  They were all bawling and overwhelmed.  You never get used to people's reaction to our numbers right now.  It's so powerful and I love it. I got to meet her and she's so kind! I loved it.

So some funny moments at the MTC this week:

• Showing up to sacrament meeting this week. haha One of the elders was asked to play prelude and he got up and starting playing "Too late to Apologize" by one republic.  We all looked at each other then burst out laughing.  Bless his little heart. hahahah
• Watching the Testaments.  You RM's probably know what I mean.  It was all the elders quoted for the next few hours. "Where is the place of the records" hahaha
• So Jess convinced me to have chocolate milk right? haha So i ate healthy all week and was doing great and had some chocolate milk for breakfast one day! Well it just happened to be the same day as one of my blood tests for dear old Belgium.  They took my blood and it had too much fat content so I had to come back and do it all again the next day. haha I was laughing pretty hard. Gosh dang it.  I better serve in Belgium after all they've put me through! 
• So our teacher just got back Paris like 1 month ago.  aka still in awkward missionary stage am i right? Well we've had some fun moments with them. He's so fun and really nice. Not sure if I told you this story, but He was speaking french and said that he was going to go home for the night.  When he said that he looked at my comp Sister Smith.  She didn't understand him and thought that he said "Will you say the prayer" So she stood up and said SURE! and followed him. his face went really red and we were LAUGHING OUR HEADS OFF> haha he claims there are no awkward moments as a missionary...somehow I have a hard time believing that....haha
• Got to play in a soccer game and was on Cloud 9! best hour yet!

I absolutely love the MTC. I love being here. I love learning!! I love it.  Everyday, every hour! I learn something new about french of the spirit or who I am.  I love it. I miss you all a lot but it's a good miss.  I know this is where I'm supposed to be and i know that this will help us all! I go running outside, go to the classes in the morning and am loving it! I'm healthy and happy and doing good.

Mom. bad news. so i carried my little rock around with me everywhere! everyone made fun of me for having to be close to my mommy. but i set it down somewhere and someone took it or it fell or something and i was devestated. i went to every single lost and found in the mtC and looked everywhere!! everyone looked at me like i was crazy asking for a little black hawaiian rock with Christ on it. But i was wondering if you could make me another one? it helped me so much with more on the back. i'm so sorry i lost it. i think i have a hawaiian rock in my room you could use? i would appreciate it so much. thank you thank you.

OH and loge! Did you hear about Cree? if you can will you let him know I'm thinkin about him and want his address or something! All of us missionaries here lept for joy when we heard:) Let him know! AF is well represented here. it's like a HS reuinon. I eat with ARI and Mikelle, see Dave Clarke daily, and tons of people we know. it's pretty fun.

Well I love you all with all of my heart. You are all in my thoughts and prayers every hour! I miss you. But it's a good miss. And I know and testify that missions are huge blessings.  I feel myself change everyday! And i'm so excited to go to France to give them my heart. Let me know if I can do anything for you! Your names are in the temple:) And always in my prayers.

Love you so so so much. Send me dear elders with good news! or anything new going on. 

Dad mom thanks for your love and letters! Loved hearing from ya. Loge so pumped for you. Em loved hearing about your life and baby and lessons learned. So stoked for Just and Shan's new adventure! So grateful for the support of jess and ammon and the prayers you all offer. you are my life and i'm so excited to tell the world about you and the blessings of eternal families. love you with all of my heart

L'eglise de Jesus-Christ est vraie!

Avec l'amour

Soeur Cameron

100%. No regrets. I've promised to give more

Me and My Companions

Paris, here I come!