Was It All Just A Dream?

Hey everybody! Last week just felt like a dream that I never woke up from. So many things happened but I only have a little bit of time to tell you just a few certain highlights of the week! I apologize that this weekly will be a little short but I promise the pictures will make up for it!

I can't remember how many weeks ago it was when I mentioned the story in my weekly but it was when Sœur Erichsen dared me to contact an African man. So to pick up from that point of the story, the guy isn't even African...when he started speaking to us he had a British accent and he isn't from Africa...but he's a cool guy overall...until we found out how crazy he is in our rendezvous with him last week. Even though he spoke English, my brain was just drained with everything he was telling us. It was hard to keep on topic because this guy is SUPER religious and he kept going off on a different tangent when we would try to explain something. My mind was starting to hurt and at one point he told us that he has the power to raise Jesus from the dead...it was a good thing he wasn't looking at me when he said that because I'm sure I had on expression on my face that said, "You have the power to do what now??????" It was a pretty bizarre lesson, probably one of the weirdest ones I've had but at least it will be a funny story to tell later on in the future!

Yesterday was an amazing Sunday! We had stake conference, so on Saturday night, we spent the night in Paris and I even got to pass by the Eiffel Tower on the metro during the night! The next day we traveled to a ville called Versailles and it's a pretty place! We had the Sunday session in the Palais des Congrès de Versailles and we heard President Sorensen and his wife speak along with the stake president and Elder Joaquim Moreira from the seventy speak to us. One thing that stood out to me was when Sœur Sorensen talked about how we can be our own spiritual guides and for others as well. Of course my comp and I were sitting in the section where a ton of babies were crying, but it was ok because a baby started playing peek a boo with me and was so smiley hahaha!

It was a good stake conference and towards the end I was getting so antsy because I was just anxious to go somewhere that I've longed to see since I arrived in France 9 months ago.

We left the Palais des Congrès and took a 30 minute walk to our destination. As we were going down the street I was trying to walk as fast as I could because I couldn't wait any longer. We walked next to some building offices, apartments and then there it was...I turned the corner and I see the PARIS FRANCE TEMPLE! When I first saw the temple, the sun was out and the building was just glowing! All I could do was stand there and stare in awe, it was like one of those "pinch me I must be dreaming" moments. I was able to check out the visitors center and walk in the garden behind the center. My favorite part was standing at the base of the Christus and looking up at it. I admit that I almost cried a little because it at that moment I truly felt at peace on my mission. Being on the temple grounds on my mission meant so much to me and I was so happy to be there! It's as beautiful and magnificent as everyone says it is!

I'm thankful for the chance I had to go and see the temple yesterday. The temple is a place where you can truly feel at peace. It's a blessing to have one here in France. I encourage you all to always go to the temple when you have a chance. Like it says in the primary song the temple is "a place of love and beauty". We are all so blessed to have temples all around the world!

I love and miss you all! Thank you for the emails, letters, and prayers you send! I can feel the love and prayers from you guys! Oh and one last item of business, today I found out that I will be staying in Rouen for another 6 weeks with the same comp! Can't believe I only have 5 transfers left on the mission! Have a great week!

Love,

Sœur Hopkinson

samantha.hopkinson@myldsmail.net