I Too Must Give

Christmas is next week everybody! I'm so excited to talk with my family! Also just a quick heads up, my P-Day next week will be on Tuesday so I'll be sending emails out on that day. I love the holidays! The spirit of Christmas is everywhere and #lighttheworld, or in French #eclairezlemonde, has been a fun program to do this year! I love it and not only has it made my holidays fun, it definitely brings happiness to the people we serve and do acts of kindness for.

Last week was such a touching week for me. Sunday, we had a baptism for the branch president's son who recently turned 8. After church, there was a branch lunch and then the baptism started an hour and a half later. For lunch, we made sandwiches and I ended up making two. By the time I was done with my first, I was full and I didn't know what to do with my second sandwich so I was going to give it to a member but I had a feeling to save it for later. I wrapped it in paper towel and put it in my bag. We stayed for the baptism and then went over to Herve's for some language practice and his mother made a delicious quiche for dinner. She is such a cute lady! She gave my comp and I beanies and a scarf as a Christmas gift and it was perfect for the weather that night so we left the house bundled up nice and warm. On the way home, a man was walking up to us asking if we had spare change because he hadn't eaten all day. As soon as he said that, I immediately gave him the sandwich I saved from earlier in the day. He took it and I could see the gratitude in his eyes. He thanked us and we continued on our way home. #lighttheworld folks!

Another thing I love about the holidays in France is the Christmas markets! We have been to the market so many times already! There are so many cool things and the food there is super good! My comp and I are loving this one stand where they make Belgian fries. Soeur Gallant started her mission in Belgium so she was able to see if these fries were really Belge fries. They were and we ended up eating so many! The hot chocolate from that stand is delicious too! I hope I get to serve in Belgium but if not, then oh well. One time, we were with Herve looking at some new stands that were up and we passed one that was selling Russian nesting dolls. The man saw us looking so he explains to us the meaning of the nesting dolls. Each set of nesting dolls is different and unique because it represents a family and as he's saying that he takes a set of dolls and starts showing us all the family members. When he was lining up the little nest family, it made me start to think about my family and I started to get a little homesick until the Russian man interrupts my thoughts and asks what church we represent. I showed him my plaque and read the name of the church to him. He smiles and goes on to ask my comp and I where we're from and what our favorite colors were. We told him that we came from the US and Canada, our favorite colors are blue and red so he goes through a little drawer, takes out two small keychains with mini Russian nesting dolls, and gives them to us! He looks at us and says, "your families are proud of you" (in French). I was astonished! We thanked him and he wished us luck for the rest our missions. I went home that night feeling so loved. There's more to the story though. The elders came into town for an activity that I'll speak about later on in the email. We took them to the market and we showed them the Russian nesting doll stand first. One of the elders starts a conversation with the Russian man and they all tell him where they are from. This time we get another surprise from him, he asked us about our branch president. My comp and I looked at each other both thinking the same question, "How does he know our branch president?" Well sure enough he saw the surprised look on our faces and he explains to us, "Je suis un membre de l'eglise en Russie." My mind was blown! He looks at all of us missionaries and goes on to tell us that we are doing important work. He gave the elders each a keychain as a gift from him. I asked to take a picture with him because he became someone memorable on my mission. This guy seriously made my week!

My comp and I decided to get creative and make Christmas cards for members and amis. I'm not very creative with my hands so I would write messages after my comp would design the card. It was a fun process and before she would design the card, we would think of a design together that would mean something to that specific person. Throughout this week, we'll be dropping off the cards to our amis and members before Christmas day. We had a mangez-vous with our member Rachael and taught her son again. She planned to have a burrito party with us and her little boys were so excited for that! I love this family! Her second son absolutely loves to wear our mission plaques. One time at church, he was wearing my plaque and almost ended up taking it home until his mother told him to hand it back to me. We had our branch Christmas party on Saturday and it was enjoyable! The branch did a little series of sketches. My comp and I had to help out with the Relief Society and Young Women sketches but luckily they were both small roles. For the RS sketch, they did a small sketch about a Christmas carol and I was the ghost of the present, I just had one line to say :) and for YW we just had to share a spiritual thought of hope because the girls did a sketch about Pandora's Box. It was fun to spend time together as a branch. Even though it's a tiny branch, everyone was enjoying each others company and the Christmas spirit was there. We also went caroling at the gare as a branch! It was so much fun! The train engines were so loud so we had to move around in different places so that we wouldn't be screaming. While we were singing one song, the gare went completely silent and our song was echoing throughout the entire place. People gathered around and listened. We handed out little chocolates to those who stopped to listen. It was so much fun and a great way to spend a Sunday after church!

Our district did one last activity together before the transfer ended. The elders came to Tours and we did a service project. Over the week we were to collected some clothes that the members donated to us, bought some small snacks, and put together small bags to give out to homeless people out on the streets. Credit goes to Elders Crane and Hamilton for planning this project! We spent about an hour and a half putting together the bags and then we were out on the streets giving them out for the rest of the time. We had a total of 10 bags to give out so we went down our shopping street and we were able to give out 8 bags! It was such a neat experience! I'm not sure how long it will take, but Elder Crane is making a video on the activity and posting it on Facebook so keep an eye out for that.

As we were handing out those gift bags, I couldn't help but think of the church hymn, "Because I Have Been Given Much I Too Must Give." That hymn is so true to me. I have been so blessed in my life. When I gave my bag to a man he kept thanking me over and over again. I was thinking that must've been how people reacted when Jesus healed them and showed them kindness. Because I have been given so much happiness in my life, I want to share that happiness with others. Even after the Christmas season passes, I want to do as much as I can to share the happiness of the gospel with others. I'm so thankful for this Christmas season, for the gift our Heavenly Father has given us, the birth of His son Jesus Christ. Today, He is our hope and guide towards our heavenly home.

Thus ends another email of...oh wait I'm forgetting something! Guys, I wouldn't end this email without telling you about what's happening for my 5th transfer on my mission! So today was a unique day. The alarm goes off at 6:30 as usual but then we get a text about 8 minutes later saying that the repertoire was already out. Sure enough we got wifi later on and...I'M BEING TRANSFERRED! Wednesday, I leave Tours and head to my new ville which is called Rouen! It's a mixed bag of emotions because I've come to love Tours so much and I'm sad to be leaving but at the same time I'm excited to be exploring and working in a new area!

My new companion's name is Sœur Hatch and I'm excited to meet her! I'm thankful for the opportunity to have been in Tours for 6 months of my mission. Until next time then Tours! I'll be back! I said my goodbyes on Sunday and took some pics with some people. When I was taking a pic with V_____, he messed my hair up haha! I sure will miss that dude along with the whole branch. I came to have such a huge love for them all!

Now thus ends the email of Sœur Sami Hopkinson! Have a very Merry Christmas everybody! I love and miss you all!

Love,

Sœur Hopkinson

samantha.hopkinson@myldsmail.net