Days in the Sun

Desert log #42: It was about 3-4 days ago when we found out how French people will stall a conversation to make you wait for about 5 minutes after you ask them for a bottle of water. The result: I received a bottle of lukewarm water which only ended up getting warmer and warmer as the day went on. We were blessed with a miracle that day when the sky decided to turn gray and rain came out of nowhere. It was all wonderful up until the hail came crashing down but other than that, still wonderful. Sœur Fears and I are survivors of the heat and we are getting prepped up again to face more days in the sun this next week.

Besides the heat blazing down on us for two days straight and an old man being a little stubborn to give me a bottle of water, the week was pretty fantastic! THREE times, not one or two, but THREE times this week we got to go to the temple which was a huge blessing. There was a musical fireside yesterday at the temple and missionaries in nearby areas were allowed to sing and participate in it as long as we brought an investigator to come and watch. Tuesday was the practice day and the music we practiced was so beautiful! I was excited for the rest of the week to be singing with other missionaries that I love! If you want to watch a love recording of it, a member in the Evry ward live streamed it on Facebook and I shared it on my mission Facebook account. Feel free to watch and pinpoint me out! So Tuesday and Sunday were spent at the temple so that leaves my temple story for Saturday. We went on a temple trip with two recent converts to do baptisms for the dead for their first time and it was so touching! One of our converts misunderstood though and had thought that she was going only to watch the baptisms be done and not perform them so she just ended up doing confirmations. We are planning another trip to go with her again so that she can do the actual baptisms. The temple is a huge blessing and I'm so thankful that we have so many all around the world with more under construction and more to be finished and dedicated.

We went to visit a member and share a spiritual thought with her because her husband went through surgery. We came into her apartment and the first thing that happens is her granddaughter that we are teaching runs up into my arms which was completely unexpected so that was a wonderful surprise. We were able to share our spiritual thought with the grandmother and have a lesson with the granddaughter which was a bonus! She is such an intelligent little girl and we are so excited for her baptism on the 18th of August!

I'm getting so antsy and sad about nearing the end of my mission. One thing that Président Sorensen told me is to have an image in my mind of  the end of my mission as fireworks. End your mission with a bang is what he told me. The last couple of months is where you let it all go and do the best that you can until the end. I love my mission and everything about it! The people, the country, the ward, all of it! It'll be sad to leave but for now I'm doing the best I can to share my testimony with the people of France!

I love and miss you all! Have a great week!

Love,

Sœur Hopkinson

samantha.hopkinson@myldsmail.net