Christmas Miracles and Stuff

Location: Rennes

HI FAMILY!!!

HOW ARE YOU!?? There is NO way it is already the 15th of December! Christmas is in 10 days!!! So exciting! We get to sleep in as long as we want and watch an animated movie. How fun is that?!!!

This week has been AMAZING!! First off, I got the best package EVER (Jake and Matt). Thank you so much for your testimonies. You will never ever know how much that meant to me! I mean, I'm excited to open the presents, but that was the best present I could ever ask for! THANK YOU everyone!! I love you all!

This week I think I felt the true joy of missionary work! I mean, I feel way too much joy everyday, but this week we were working SO hard running around like crazy, and Heavenly Father truly blessed us!  Soeur Whistler and I have decided this transfer to really focus on less active work here in Rennes because none of the other missionaries here really do! We spent one afternoon going through the ward list and marking all the less actives’ addresses on our map. We had some rendezvous that evening, but the next day we decided we were going to see at least 5 of those less actives before dinner. So we packed our lunches, and began our less active search. (On our way out the door we checked the mailbox and there was a letter from DOUG with Nate's email in it!! He talked about having 8 less actives at church. I read it to Soeur Whistler and we both got so excited to go and find our less actives! So, thanks Elder Back!! Also, I really need to learn how you share Graham’s story!!)

Any way... our journey began...On our way, we were contacting everyone we passed.  We talked to some awesome people, and of course the other kind of people... jk. Our first less active on the list no longer lived at that address, so we were on to the next stop! We walked all the way up the rue, searching for this apartment. We walked a little further and decided to say a prayer that we would be guided to find this family! We decided to turned around and go back down the rue! We turned around and there was a lady with her little boy walking up the rue!  So, of course we Christmas contacted her. (Bonjour Madame. je m’appelle  Soeur Back! Je viens des Etats Unis mais je suis ici pour partager un message de la naissance de Jesus-Christ! Comment est-que vous vous souvenez Jesus-Christ pendent cette moment de Noel? “Hello Madame. My name is Sister Back! I come from the US, but I'm here to share a message of the birth of Jesus Christ! How do you remember Jesus Christ hanging at Christmastime?)   We had an awesome conversation and  then she invited us into her apartment right then!!!! She lived just right across the street!

We went and had an awesome lesson about the Plan Du Salut (Plan of Salvation)! We are seeing her on Sunday again!! How cool is that!? She is amazing! I know Heavenly Father blessed us because we were searching for less actives! In fact, after our rendezvous, we went back to find the less active’s home.  It turns out we were standing right outside of it the whole time, and they also didn't live there anymore. We know we weren't there to visit them; we were there to meet Sylvie!

SO, you are all asking about our 2 baptismal dates... Marie-Bernadette's son called us to hang out one night... We had to tell him NO, obviously, but I don’t think Marie-Bernadette was too happy about that, because 2 days later we called to confirm our rendezvous, and she told us she didn't really want to meet with us any more.  She is no longer on date for baptism! It is so sad, because we were really starting to see a change in her countenance. I know she knows these things our true! She even told Soeur Whistler on the phone that she believes all the things we have taught her.  It is okay. She will come around one day - I have faith!

Our other amis (investigator), Rosa, is a law student and is super busy.  She couldn't make it to our rendezvous this week! We talked to her, and she is reading the BOM and praying and doing everything she is supposed to be doing!!! She is awesome! BUT, listen to this AWESOME MIRACLE! Saturday night we decided to make cookies and just take them to Rosa with a cute Christmas note and scripture! So we made cookies during dinner made a cute card with John 3:16 and the website for the video on it! We started the trek to Rosa's and contacted a few awesome people on the way! We got to Rosa's.  She lives in student housing, so we couldn’t get up to her apartment! We decided to port (knock) around her apartment because she wasn't answering our calls. So we ported (knocked) some buildings with little success.

It was getting later, so we checked to see when the next bus came! We had 15 minutes so we said a prayer. We felt like we needed to port (knock) a couple more houses, and then we came across this really cute house! SO, we rang the doorbell! A 23 year-old boy came outside, and we asked if we could sing a Christmas hymn for him! He said "no," but then I offered him a cookie. We started talking, and he became very interested in what we did as missionaries and where we were from! We ended up having an awesome lesson with him, and leaving him the whole plate of cookies, the note and a Book Of Mormon! We asked if we could return, and he said "Why not!" So we went back Sunday night and taught the Plan du Salut to him, his mom, and his step-father!! They are awesome! Totally don't believe in God, but are willing to listen to our message, so we will take it!!! We were supposed to knock on that one last house, and we were supposed to have that plate of cookies for Nicholas and his family!

This week has been so fun and full of Christmas Joy and Christmas Miracles! An awesome single lady in the ward had a Christmas party at her home last night! She invited the Sister Missionaries,2 less active families, 4 non member friends, and then a couple families from the ward! The missionaries gave a spiritual thought, Santa came, and then we ate lots of good food, made rendezvous (appointments) with 2 less active families, and a rendezvous with one of her non member friends!!!! MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE!!!! The members here are amazing!!!! I LOVE it in Rennes!!! This week has been amazing!!

So, fun fact! Everyone, except for me, is sick in our apartment!! Who would have ever guessed I would be the healthy one?! NOT ME!! Heavenly Father is truly blessing me with more and more energy each day. I feel so blessed!! I read "Our Search For Happiness" this past week and came across one of the most true statements! Elder Ballard calls it “an eternal truth.” He said, "You can never do more for the Lord than He can do for you."  How true is that?!!! Here I am in France, just trying to serve Him! But he just keeps serving and blessing me MORE and MORE!!!

I love you all!! I love my Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ!  Have the best week or whatever before Christmas!! I LOVE YOU and can not wait to talk to you all!!!

Soeur Back

Castle Mont St. Michel

Location: Rennes

(This letter was transcribed from a letter that Whitney photographed and e-mailed).

December 6, 2014

Hi Family-

How are you all? On Monday we are going to see the Castle Mont St. Michel, so we won’t have tons of time to e-mail and I thought I would just send you a picture letter! Hope that’s cool!

Dad asked for a clarification on Rosa. Rosa is another investigator who is from Africa! The Elders met her on a bus and we planned to meet her at church the next day, our first week here! So, we have been teaching her since week one! She is awesome! Golden, in fact. (People here say “en fait” (French for "In Fact") ALL THE TIME) So, now I just say "in fact" all the time in French and English! Rosa is awesome. She is the investigator who already believes everything before we teach it! We hope to have her on date for Baptism for the 28th! We will keep you updated.

Sara just kind of wants to be friends and hangout. It is hard to say "Sorry. We can’t hang out with you Saturday night, but we we’ll teach you a lesson at church if you want!" Ha ha. I have faith she will come around one day!

Awen is super busy with school, but we run into her everywhere!  She always stops us and talks to us…. You guys - Rennes is not small, you don’t just run into someone 5 times on accident. The last time we saw her, she was a little drunk, but was excited to talk to us on the 20th after exams.

We are teaching a lot more than these three. I will send you a picture of our board! Right now we are teaching this old lady Marie Bernadette! She is older, but so open to everything we teach. It is amazing! She is also Golden. We are hoping she will receive answers to her prayer and be baptized on the 28th also! We met her outside the mental hospital we live across from, but don’t worry! She is not crazy! She has a son who is probably about 20 something, and is always home hanging out and smoking with all of his friends. But, like, I think he might have a little crush on us. It is soooo awkward. We were teaching like, in the middle of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he walked out of his room and just started doing pull ups. Then he turned to us, and was like, “Quoi de neuf?” (What’s up?). Marie- Bernadette just starts laughing and Soeur Whistler and I just felt AWK….. Then, last night at midnight we get a text that is like “Hey. What’s up? It is Thomas, the son of Marie-Bernadette." LOL! So, that’s the fun story of the week!

We are teaching lots of awesome people and trying to find new awesome people each day! The work is awesome here in Rennes! We have the hardest working Elders! They are AWESOME!

Another funny story. We were teaching Sikila and her two daughters! (This is a little African family who are awesome. The little girls are so smart and remember everything we teach. They read the Book of Mormon and all the brochures we give them! They are only 5 and 7, but there is no way! They seem like they are 8 and 10, but it is fine. Anyway... in the middle of the lesson, the youngest girl was like “Wait, look at this. What is this?” She pulled out a Jehovah's Witness booklet! We told her that that was a different religion! Shje walked over to the garbage, threw the booklet in, and said “This is not my religion!” Ha ha!

Anyway, life here in Rennes is always great! It is a college type town, so the weekend is always interesting! This morning we got on the bus on our way to church with Book of Mormon in hand, and what did we find? A bunch of possibly still drunk, hung over college kiddos, heading home for the night…. After a few minutes a man smiled at me. He was probably 25! He said something about how I was a beautiful girl and then asked what was in my hand? I quickly responded  “It is the Bible” He then quickly walked away! Ha ha We are not allowed to talk to men, so it is always awkward when they approach us, but I guess I’ll just always have to have my quad in my hands, because the Bible seems to scare them away! Ha ha!

Dad asked about the ward. The ward is awesome. There are about 150 members, but everyone is so involved! There is a good mix of all ages! The old ones, young families, lots of youth and a good little group of young adults! The Bishop is probably in his late 30’s. He and his wife met at BYU! They are awesome!

It is starting to get really, really cold, but ca va! There are Christmas Lights all throughout the town - it is fun! Google Sainte Anne and Republique, Rennes during Christmas! It is so pretty! It is my favorite place to contact because everyone should just be so happy because the lights are so fun….  But, they are not always. Ca Va! It really is so pretty here in Rennes. I feel so lucky to be here each day! 

It is so fun living with four sisters too! I feel so lucky! They are all so awesome! Sometimes I worry we have too much fun together, but it also can get a little emotional sometimes… ha ha. But ,what do you expect! I would like to announce I have not cried yet... minus feeling the Spirit! No tears for me in Rennes. Just feeling the joy each day! Well, I will send you a spiritual thought on Monday. Oh! Listen to how fun this is! Tonight all 8 missionaries are going to sing together in Republique (all 8 together) I will report on all the joy we bring! Ha ha! I love you, I hope this works and is okay! I love you. Have a great week! I love being a missionary. Yes sometimes it is hard, but it is always worth it! I love you all!

Mom- I hope you had the best B-day Ever! Je’T’aime

P.S. I straightened my hair for the 1st time today… yeah, it doesn’t stay straight here just in case you were wondering! Ha ha!

Also will you send me Nate Backs Email?

I LOVE YOU ALL

-Whit

December 7, 2014

Hi!! I love you all!!

So, last night was the best Sunday night ever!!! We gathered in Republique, also known as centre ville! We just started singing, and some people stopped, but it was kinda awkward. So we decided we needed to approach people as they came, and ask if we could sing for them! So, that is what we did! We ended up spreading lots of joy and praying with 3 groups of people! We even got some numbers! It was a great night to be a missionary! There truly is power in hymns and especially Christmas hymns!! It was so fun to spread the message of joy and the birth of Christ through the hymns! I love this time of year! There is not a better time to learn more about our Savior and share it with others!  

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

Soeur Back

Happy Birthday Mom!

Location: Rennes

Hi!! How is everyone?!! How was Thanksgiving!? It’s kind of an American holiday, but don't worry, we still celebrated! On Wednesday we had district meeting and then we ate a nice big Thanksgiving dinner with our district! It was fun! We made a cheesecake! It actually turned out! Everyone was very impressed! Haha. I've actually been quiet domestic this week! While my companion was writing her essays, I slaved away in the kitchen making chicken pot pie and cookies. I also studied the language and read the Book Of Mormon of course!!

This week was awesome! I love being a servant of the Lord!! I try each day to be worthy to be guided by the Spirit! Even though we spent a lot of time inside this week... we still had lots of rendezvous and met lots of people! I have a strong testimony that the Lord truly does concentrate our time and efforts as missionaries!

Sometimes during personal study I look at the time, worried that time is up, and that I won't have time to study everything I want, and then I look at the clock and I still have a solid 30 minutes to study!! It is the best!!  During language study I will learn a certain amount of words for that day and somehow, in some way, those words are put to use that day! Whether it is on a sign on the street, or a member uses it, or I have to use it during a lesson, our Heavenly Father finds a way for me to use and learn those words!! It truly is incredible!! It is a testimony of the importance of this work! WE CAN NOT WASTE A MINUTE!! The language is coming slowly but surely! I can not wait for the day it just clicks! I know if I keep working at it, it will come!! I can always use your prayers! In fact, if you want to pray 3 times a day for me to have the gift of tongues, it would be much appreciated!

So, this week, like I have said was a little different! Sara didn't come to PPP (pancakes, ping pong, and penser spiritual (spiritual thought))! It is a fun activity for all the young adults in the ward on Wednesday night! Sara said she was going to come but then never showed up! I called her and left her a message and she never called us back, and then our other awesome GOLDEN investigator, Rosa, wasn't returning our phone call either!! We were so sad, but just kind of confused more than anything!! We never lost faith! we kept praying for them and thinking about them!! And then, GUESS what?? We woke up Sunday morning with a text from Sara!!! She had to move that week, and was just really busy, but wants to meet with us this week!! SO, we were like super excited about that, and then we were planning that night, and guess who called us! Yep, ROSA! She had been super busy with work!! We are seeing her this week!!! I know our Heavenly Father is preparing them and helping them understand the importance of his message!! I know that if we have faith and righteous desires, and we act upon those righteous desires, he will bless us and those we are praying for!!

I love Gratitude and I love Thanksgiving because it reminds us to be grateful ALL THE TIME! Have you seen that amazing HE IS THE GIFT video!??? I love it!! I know this video will change lives! While I was in the MTC, the head over Mormon Messages came and talked to us about the whole "He is The Gift Initiative." I know it is truly inspired and will bring so many unto Christ! I challenge all of you to share that video with a less active or non member!

This week was Stake Conference, so we got to go to Nantes! It was so beautiful!  We drove with the Alliot's (the one who calls me her daughter and gives me hugs). Haha - they love us!  It was about an hour and half drive through the country during sunrise!!!! It was Heavenly Father's Gift to me that day!! I really needed to see the sun, and, I mean, the sun rise is like the best!! I am so grateful for the beauty of the Earth! It truly is another testimony of God's love for us!!

I love being a missionary!! I am so grateful for my Savior! I want nothing more than for him to fully trust me! I want to show him that I am listening to his promptings! That I will talk to whoever he wants me to talk to! Walk wherever he wants me to walk! I pray each day to let him show me my weaknesses and to help me make them strong! I know through Him anything is possible! I Love you all!! Have the best week ever!!!

LOVE YOU!!

Soeur Back

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!

HI!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!

So, I will start with the fun questions! The food is great. The bread is amazing, even the Sacrament bread! Haha. The pastries are to die for, but it's fine... I can refrain! I had my first macaroon the other day... yeah... you guys have never had a real macaroon! They are so GOOD here!! I have had one meal from the members after a family night, but other than that, we eat the most random food we can find in our apartment. So... Ça va!! (It's okay!)

The ward here is AMAZING!!! It is a ward of about 150 members! They are all so supportive and awesome! It's just a big family!! 

Everyone here in France gives the "bises," (a greeting kiss). You think it would be more personal than a hug, but it's not! There is this one member who really just loves Soeur Whisler and me! We were supposed to have a lesson at her house, but our investigator canceled last minute, so we still went over and visited with her! She was showing us all these fun pictures, and I think I just kind of put my head on here shoulder like, "Oh, you are the best. I love you," head on the shoulder thing. She was so happy and was like, "Oh, will you hug me??" (in French). I was like, "Yeah, of course." She was so happy because she says that her daughters won't let her hug them! So, now every time she sees me we both get SO excited to give each other a BIG HUG!! It's my favorite. She is my favorite. She tells me I'm her favorite, so it all works out! Haha. 

On a more spiritual note! This week has been full of miracles again! First: Elder Cook came to our mission and the whole mission gathered to hear him speak! It was the coolest meeting I have ever been a part of! He shook all of our hands! Elder Wilson, (Zac's brother), and 2 other Elders played Danny Boy! It was one of the coolest musical numbers ever! The Spirit was so strong! Soeur Whisler and I just both felt that the meeting was directly for us! I think that is how the whole mission felt! Elder Cook talked about everything we had been talking about the past week! It was very reassuring! It was like our Heavenly Father wanted us to know that we are on the right track!! But, of course, there is always room for more growth!

One of our transfer goals is to have Faith and Gratitude, and to see them work hand and hand together! This week we have seen exactly that! We see so many miracles each day in the people we contact on the street, in our studies, in the bus schedule, and just in all these things that I know Heavenly Father is doing for us! After each time that happens, we say a prayer of gratitude because everything good comes from him! 

Back to faith! So, I think I called Awen on Tuesday morning! She didn't answer, so I left her a message! I knew she would call us back! Friday came and we still hadn't heard from her, but we still didn't doubt she would call us back! We had so much faith! Then, we were sitting, waiting for one of our amies (Investigators: friend of the church), and we got a text from AWEN! She invited us over the next day for tea.  We went and taught her all about the plan du salut! (Word of Wisdom).  She is awesome. She might have a long way to go, but I know she can do it! Heavenly Father is giving her all these signs. She just needs to realize they are from Him! In fact, we ran into her again right as we were walking into the email cafe. She said, "I can't wait to see you this week again!" YAY!! 

But my favorite miracle this week was with Sara! We had just finished our meeting with the Ward Mission Leader, and Ward Council was right after.  One person from each companionship was supposed to stay, so we were like, "Okay, let the ones who actually understand what's happening stay, and the Blues (Greenies) will go on a Blue exchange!" So, Soeur Ellis and I headed out to go contacting!!! Keep in mind, we do not speak French yet!! Haha. So, we just started walking!  We finally ran into a women! We talked to her... it was a struggle... We asked her if we could pray with her, and she was like, "No, I have to go.." So, a little discouraged, we kept walking around! It was later, and not many people were in the area, so we decided to head back! As we were walking back, I saw a shadow in the distance! I turned to Soeur Ellis and was like, "If this is a women, we have to talk to her. It will be a struggle but we have to!" 

It was my turn to contact this time! She got closer, and I got more nervous. I even began to doubt. Honestly, I don't even think it was me who stopped her. I know I had help from someone else! We talked to her for a minute and told her God loved her!  Then, she stopped us and said, "Wait, where are you from again?" "The United States," and she was like "Oh, so we can speak English?" We were like, "YES!!!!" We continued to talk, and she stopped us and said, "Can I give you my number so we can talk about this another day?" We were SO EXCITED! She gave us her number and then we asked if we could pray together! She said "Of course!" I asked if there was anything in particular she wanted us to pray for, and she simply said, "Happiness!" I said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help her feel His love and to bless her with happiness! 

At the end of the prayer, Sara had tears running down her cheek and said " Thank you so much! You guys were my Angels tonight!" We had another lesson with her yesterday! She is so prepared for this gospel! I know Heavenly Father is placing people like Sara in our path every minute of everyday! It is just up to us to BE BRAVE and talk to them! Despite the language barrier, Heavenly Father will find a way for them to feel His love! I love being a missionary! 

I feel our Heavenly Father's love every minute! I know He is guiding this work!! I love you all!! 

Soeur Back


Whitney's weekly letter to her Mission President:

Bonjour President!

This week has been amazing! We have seen so many miracles each day! I love it here in Rennes. The ward is AMAZING! There are such awesome members. I am learning new things each day from my trainer, from the people in Rennes, from our Amies (investigators), from the other Sisters and Elders, and of course from the Spirit! Yes, the language is hard for me, but I have faith. I know if I study and just open my mouth, my Heavently Father will help me. 

President, it makes me sad. I feel like the people here in France just don't smile as much as their Heavenly Father wants them to! So I have made a goal each day to make at least 30 people smile!! Soeur Whisler and I count all through out the day! We have found that it engages us in everyone around us, brings joy to our day, and hopefully brightens other's days as well! I know we will see success here in Rennes, but I also know I am here to brighten people's days just by a simple smile! We have a Light that we need to share, and a smile is a great place to start! We are really just trying to focus on "BEING THIS MESSAGE," like Elder Cook said! 

The Cook conference was amazing!! I loved every second! I felt like it was directly for me! Thank you for your remarks! Also, will you thank Soeur Babin! You two are truly amazing disciples of Christ! Thank you for all you do and for your love! 

Much love, 

Soeur Back

Area - Rennes

Hi so much to tell you and no time and also a new keyboard, so this will be fun! Bear with me my friends!!

First off, I LOVE it here!!!  So, I will try and start from the beginning! We landed at the airport in France at 10 am! The 10 hour flight maybe felt like a flight to California to me! I took a little pink pill and was out! I also didn't have anyone sitting next to me, so that was nice! We started to descend, and I happened to be sitting right next to the bathroom. There was a 19 year old boy waiting for the bathroom, I said, "Hi," and began to talk to him.  He was from France and was totally awesome! I made him sit down next to me and I told him all about the Book of Mormon.  That was my first BOM give-away in France! I was pretty excited about it! He gave me his number, so we want to get the Elders over there soon!!

We landed, and President Baban, Souer Baban, the AP's, and the office Elders were all waiting for us! We then were handed our Metro ticket and a Book of Mormon.  We were then told to hop on and give away our BOM's... We tried our hardest... We then got to the church in Paris, and the very first person I saw was LAUREN ANN ANDERSON!! So exciting! (Lauren is Whitney's friend, with whom she played soccer for many years).  We had our interviews with President, and then I was sent with a Sister to contact the streets of PARIS!! It was so fun!! We talked to so many awesome people and prayed with a few! It was kind of scary but I was having way too much fun to care!

We then had dinner and some awesome food, and spent the night at the mission home! We woke up, and the AP's picked us up and took us to the Hill of Consecration! It was so beautiful!! While looking over Paris, we took time to set individual goals and remember our purpose as set apart missionaries! It was very cool. I will write more about it when I can send pictures and explain the symbolism. We went back to the church, and then we went to Notre Dame. It was so cool! You guys - there are the coolest things here! You have to come! Ha-ha

We then went back to the church and received our trainers!!!! YAY!! My trainer's name is Soeur Whisler. She is from Nevada and her dad's name is Doug, and she has a sister named Angie! So, we are also soul mates! I feel so blessed! She is truly amazing!  We are opening another ville (area) in RENNES! Life could not get much better! We are living in an apartment with 2 other Sisters. In fact, Soeur Ellis, one of my roommates in the MTC, is here with me. It’s the best deal and it is so fun! My companion is amazing I am learning so much from her! The Babans are amazing. I feel so blessed! Life just couldn't get much better!

You guys, miracles are real and they are everywhere! Soeur Whisler and I are opening this new ville, so we didn't have any appointments or anything, but we received a phone call on the train ride to Rennes. The Elders wanted to pass along a lady and her daughters they had taught once before! It was so amazing and humbling to see how other people live! We have met with her one other time and she came to church with her girls this Sunday! So awesome!

But on top of that, we have just seen miracle after miracle! All your prayers are being felt, so thank you! I don't have time to share all of them, because there are way too many to count, so I will just share my favorite story of the week!

Saturday night Soeur Whistler and I were about to go and drop by this girl's house we had met on the street! But, we both just didn't feel good about it, so we decided to go and visit a less active! We had a list of 3 the other Sisters had given us, so we said a prayer to know where to go! We both had a strong feeling to go to this one less active's house. We pulled out the map, and figured out we had to go all the way to the end of the Metro. We hopped on the Metro, got off at the last stop, and then realized that we didn't have time to go to the less active's house if we wanted to make the last bus home!

This area was kinda sketchy... but we just both knew we were supposed to be there. We kept saying over and over we both felt so strongly to come here there has to be a reason. We said a prayer asking for direction and faith. We walked down the road and talked to everyone we saw. We finally turned back around and hopped on the Metro. We get on the Metro and there was this girl standing there. She looked like it had been a rough day. I smiled at her, and then she approached us. She was taking surveys. She took our survey and then we just kept talking to her! While we were talking to her I had this strong feeling that we came all this way just to talk to her.

As we were getting off the Metro, we handed her a Pass Along Card, and just thought "Well, you know what, we left her smiling, and that's exactly what we are called to do. Share God's love and brighten people's day!” We left the Metro feeling accomplished even though we didn't accomplish anything we had planned.

But, listen to this!! Sunday night the Elders wanted to pass us another investigator! (They are the best and so awesome. We are so grateful for them.) We were supposed to meet them at a bus stop we had never been to, so we had to figure out our bus times. We had decided on the later bus, but for some reason we decided that maybe we should just leave and catch the earlier bus! We walked to the bus stop, get there right as the bus is pulling up, and guess who we saw?!! AWEN, the girl from the metro! She got this big smile on her face, and then just started talking to us in English when we got on the bus! She was so excited to see us, she even said “This is a once in a million chance!" We continued to talk to her. She is so awesome! She has traveled the world and is just super cool! We talked for awhile, and she asked exactly what our job was. We shared our purpose, and then we gave her a BOM!

Our stop was coming, so I was just like, "Awen, I want to see you again. Can we get your number?" She gave us her number, and then even said how she was very interested in reading the BOM!

I KNOW HEAVENLY FATHER IS GUIDING US!!! We just have to have faith! He placed Awen in our path twice now! She needs this message, and I cannot wait to share it with her!! I HAVE NEVER FELT SO MUCH JOY AND EXCITEMENT as I did in that moment! I feel so blessed to be a missionary and feel the love of our Heavenly Father every minute of every day! I'm sorry I don't have more time!  I love YOU all so much! Have the best week!

Soeur Back

OH MAN MY LAST WEEK IN THE MTC!!!

November 4, 2014

I'm kind of sad to leave! I have loved it here, but we are on a the direct flight to Paris! We leave the MTC Monday afternoon at 11:30 and our flight leaves at 5:30 PM!! I'm travel leader, so hopefully it isn't too crazy and I have plenty of time to call you all!! We land in Paris the next afternoon at 11:30, so a full 24 hours of traveling. I'm so excited to be out in the real world! Plan on phone calls some time between 12:30-4:30 on Monday!! Hopefully I will be able to call all of your cute little families individually for a few minutes! Mom and Dad, I guess I'll call you and bother you on your exhausting vacation in Hawaii... You little bums!! Catch some rays for me, alright Dad??? lol

This week has been SO AWESOME! It is amazing here at the MTC. Sometimes a day could feel so long, and sometimes you could have many doubts running through your head throughout the day, but by the end of the day, you somehow can only remember the good things and remember exactly why you are here and how much you truly love it. I was kind of having a hard time this week because I felt as though I was so focused on myself. I was kind of bugged at the MTC because I was like, "I left on my mission ready to serve others and just forget about myself, but then I get here in the MTC and I'm focused on ME. How am I going to learn this language? How can I become a better teacher?" Then I realized after much thought, "How selfish am I?... I'm not here for me... I'm here for my Savior! I'm here to learn of Him. I'm here to learn how to love and teach as He did for HIM. So He can use me to help others." I hope I can never lose sight of that that. It is not about ME. This is NOT MY mission! This is His mission. I am only His feet, His hands, and His mouthpiece.

Our lessons this week were amazing!! They all went so well!! We taught all about the Plan de Salut (The Plan of Salvation), loi de la chastete (The Law of Chastity), et la parole de sagesse (The Word of Wisdom)! Not even mad about it! We planned the best we could, but for the most part we kind of went into each lesson with the faith that the Spirit would guide us. That is exactly what he did!

Our TRC this week was so fun! We Skyped with a 19 year old member in Paris!! It was so fun!! I am so excited to finally be in Paris and interacting with members, investigators, and, of course, the randoms on the street! I'm so excited to talk to everyone, with my really great French. Haha! It’s coming along though, and I'm very happy about it! Chaque jour (daily) learning new things!

This week we have infield orientation! Also, the MTC asked Soeur proudfoot and me to be the missionaries in People and our Purpose, which is this roleplay thing they do for all the new missionaries! (Sorry, that was a bad description.)  So excited about that... No, it really will be fun! It's kind of crazy though! Our time is so short here!

We probably won't teach any more lessons with our investigators. I know they are just my teachers, but it is so fun to teach and see their progress! I really am going to miss my teachers so much! They are such amazing people with such a strong spirit and light about them always!  

Yesterday, Frere Pistorius had the quote of the day, and yes, it was when he was making fun of me. As we all know, I say "Riddle me this," every once and awhile. So Frere and I were talking about this evaluation I took one of the first days and then again a few weeks in. My scores the first week were super high, and then the next week, let’s just say I was humbled. So, Frere and I were just having a little conversation about my humbling experience, and he just starts yelling, "Riddle me this. I dont even need to be in the MTC. I'm perfect 5,5,5"  So it’s the joke of the week.I'm always everyone’s entertainment here!  Not even mad about it!

This week we got all the new missionaries! They are all amazing! We did our orientation and it went very well. I am so excited for them! We had the chance to interview the sisters all individually and it was so fun to get to know them and learn a little bit about who they are and where they come from! Awe man am I so grateful for all of you!! I have the best FAMILY around! You see families that are broken and hurting, and this week I saw some of that heartbreak. So thank you! Thank you for being my number 1, my A team! You are all truly amazing individuals, each with qualities I have tried to emulate ever since I was just a little one following you around in all your big kid activities! So, thanks for being you!

It’s been so fun to see Brother Justice up here on the main campus! He hooked me up with a SUPERFOOD Odwalla! BEST DAY EVER!! He also informed us that Elder Holland was supposed to come today but was reassigned... saddest day ever!! ELDER HOLLAND!!! You know how great that would have been! But, it’s fine. I'm not dwelling on it! I'm sure whoever they got to replace him for tonight’s devotional will be awesome! We had an additional devotional today at the Marriott Center. It was fun to exit the gates of the MTC and see BYU students! Kind of made me feel like a real person again. Haha exit one bubble to a little bit bigger one! I kind of like the bubble! It’s not that bad!

Today was our last trip to the temple for a little while! As I was walking into the temple this morning at 5:15, I was feeling pretty sad that I probably won't be able to attend the temple for a whole 17 months! I continued to think about it as we sat in the chapel, but I realized it was going to be okay!  I get to spend the next 17 months of my life striving to be unspotted from the world, striving to make MY body a TEMPLE where the Spirit can dwell, where I can feel the constant love, direction, hope, joy, and knowledge the Spirit and drawing closer to our Heavenly Father bring! I hope I can truly make my body a Temple where the Spirit will dwell chaque jour (every day), so I can share that love, peace, and joy with others.

I am so happy to be a missionary! I love it! I cannot wait to finally be in PARIS!!! This gospel gives us so much hope, so much joy, and all I want to do is share it!! I feel my Savior’s LOVE each day!I am so grateful for it! I am never alone! He will never leave me comfortless! He will never leave you comfortless!!  

This was just a letter I had to send to my Branch President so I thought maybe I could share it with you too!

I LOVE YOU ALL MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW!!!

Have the best week ever!!!

Love,
   Soeur Back
   

President Merrill,
My experience here at the MTC is truly helping me grow and understand the missionary I want to become. The past few days, having a chance to sit down and talk to each sister individually was something I truly loved! In my life, I have come to learn that if you can come to know someone, it is very easy to truly love them! I have loved the opportunity  to feel the Savior’s love for these amazing sisters. I have learned so much from their examples. I hope, as a missionary, I will come to know many people and learn to love them as our Savior does. I have seen the Spirit guide me in conversation and in action. I continue to learn each day how vital the Spirit is. I am so grateful for the amazing spirit I feel here in the MTC. I know it will be a little harder in the Mission Field to feel that constant spirit but I know, if I work at it each day and turn to my Heavenly Father in all things, I will feel the Spirit as I have here in the MTC.

I have always had a testimony of this gospel. However, I have not always been truly converted to this Gospel and my Savior Jesus Christ. Before deciding to serve a mission, I came to know how important this Gospel is to me. I came to realize the amazing gift of the Atonement and what it really meant to be truly converted unto our Savior so that he could heal me. I learned that I should be repenting each day, drawing nearer and nearer to my Heavenly Father and Savior. Here at the MTC my conversion has only become more solidified. I have felt more fully my Savior’s love for me and for all those around me! I am grateful for the comfort this Gospel brings. I know I can pray to my Heavenly Father and he will hear me and answer. My conversion to this Gospel grows every day. That is something I want to never lose! It truly is a quest of a lifetime!

Soeur Back

Halloween! We matched! About as close to costumes as we could get!

Travel Plans!!

MTC Week 4

HI FAMILY!! 

Guess what??? I get my travel plans on Friday!! Crazy huh!!? Time is flying by here! Each week has its challenges, however each week gets a little better and goes by a little faster! 

My heart broke to hear of the news of Grace Holland. It makes me wonder if I would have tried a little harder to share the knowledge I have, would she still have been in that situation. She is an awesome girl and I'm sure she is learning and accepting the Gospel as we speak. My heart hurts for her Dad and Mom. They will most definitely be in my prayers. 

All the little one's Halloween costumes are way too cute!! I love to see pictures of them. Eden is getting so big! Please tell them all to stop growing! Thanks. 

No scones this year?... Come on Doug and Denise - fight the old! jk I guess that just means it is Heather and Jake's turn to take the tradition back to Iris Ln. where it all began!! Dad - I will be singing John Denver on Halloween! Don't you fret.

I still love the MTC!! Each morning on the walk to breakfast I sing! 

"Its a great day to be alive. 

The sun still shinin' when I close my eyes. 

We got hard times in the MTC 

Why can't everyday be just this gooooodddd!!!" 

It has kinda turned into one of those things where all the sisters in our zone join in and we start the day off right each morning. SO, that's fun... So, like, at 7 a.m., feel free to sing along with us! It's a pretty happy way to start a day. 

This week has been a little crazy. It's been a tough week with the language... It's kind of an every other week thing! Sometimes I feel like I'm progressing and I can kind of speak a little French and understand most people, but this week, I swear people were speaking to me in Chinese not French!  My brain was not even going to try to turn on French mode. BUT IT'S FINE!!! I HAVE FAITH!! 

This week is going to be awesome! I cannot wait for these next two weeks to just dive in 110%, and apply every French rule I have learned in the last 4 weeks and speak French! I know through the Spirit I can learn this language! My Heavenly Father has promised me I can, so I'm trusting him! 

This week's TRC experience went A LOT BETTER!! I was able to share how I decided to go on a mission, testifying that God hears and answers our prayers. So, that was fun!! I decided to look at TRC as a time to have other members help me improve my French - which is really its purpose, so it was good! 

Wednesday - Saturday was just a pretty typical week! I don't like to say typical, because I think any week you are able to feel the Spirit 24 hours a day is pretty awesome!  I also love that it has become typical in my life! It is something I hope to never lose! I know outside of the MTC it won't be so easy ,but hey, "It's the quest of a life time!" 

Saturday was one of my favorite days so far in the MTC. Our teacher's lesson kind of took a turn, and we suddenly started talking about the importance of sincere prayer! Soeur Coleman, (my teacher), and Frere Adams, (another teacher who was just sitting in on our class), both shared awesome personal experiences about prayer! On a scale of 1-SPIRIT the Spirit was definitely at SPIRIT! Soeur Coleman then had us go with our companions and pray out loud together. Soeur Proudfoot went first. She said her prayer in French and the whole time she was praying, the only thing I could think about was, "HE IS HERE WITH US." With tears running down our cheeks, we thanked our Heavenly Father for His love and asked Him for His guidance and comfort. At the end of prayer, we both stood up and gave each other a hug and both knew we were not alone alone in that classroom. I am so grateful for the love I felt from my Heavenly Father in those moments, and always! He wants to hear from us. He wants to comfort us, and He does exactly that. 

Sunday was also an awesome day, just as Sundays are! Soeur Proudfoot had to teach at district meeting and spent all morning working on her lesson while I sat back enjoying my Sunday. We got back to the classroom for our little break before lunch, and our District Leader, (who is great, but he kind of struggles... but, like, we love him soo much!), turned to Elder Smith and said, "You are ready to teach on faith, right? And Soeur Proudfoot, you are ready to teach of the Holy Ghost, right?" Soeur Proudfoot said "Yep." Then Elder Smith, with a panicked look, turned to Elder Brill and said, "Elder, what are you talking about? You never asked me!" So, there was some disputation about that. I finally said, "Elder Smith, I read some cool stuff on faith the other day I'll share it with you. If you like it, you can teach it!"  I went over and read the end of Moroni 7 with him and shared an experience I had while reading the chapter! 

We went to lunch and then met back for district meeting. We had a member of our Branch Presidency, his wife, and also our District President, (so like the big guy on campus), in our meeting. Soeur Proudfoot taught an awesome lesson. The Spirit was at a SPIRIT level!  Then it was Elder Smith's turn to teach! He stood up and said "Before we came to lunch Soeur Back shared with me Moroni 7. She taught it to me in a way I don't think that I could do justice." He then asked me to teach what I had shared with him! So, it's fine. I did it! 

I shared how that week I read this chapter and the Spirit taught me something that I hope the Spirit will teach you today as it taught me! I went on to share how if we don't have faith, miracles cease because we are choosing not to see God's hand in our life. We then continued and read the last 8 verses of the chapter together. I challenge you all at home to go and read Moroni 7. It is one of the coolest chapters out there. 

I'll give you the summary of my lesson!--- I know that if we have faith and put our whole trust in our Heavenly Father and His plan for us, we will be humbled. When we are humbled and meek we can then have charity! Charity! It all comes back to CHARITY! Charity is the pure love of Christ. This gospel is the pure LOVE of Christ. If we continue to strive to have charity for everyone and everything in the last days, we will KNOW our Savior, and we will be purified as he is pure! How many times have we said "I can be perfect just as Christ is?" Now I know how. Yeah, it is through baptism and repentance, but the first principle in the gospel is FAITH! If we can have faith, we can have charity, and if we have charity, we CAN become pure as Christ is pure. 

So, there is your Soeur Back devotional for the day! Oh, and get this! The District President taught after me and taught about teaching. Luckily, the only thing we forgot to do was leave them with a commitment. Other than that, our lessons went pretty well! The Spirit was there to testify of the truth of these gospel principles and I am so grateful for that! 

Just some dumb things. We moved to a new classroom yesterday. The district that welcomed us left yesterday, and we have 19 new missionaries coming in! So, that is going to be fun! Lots of changes! It was sad saying bye to the Canada district - they have become some of my closest friends, but I'm so excited for them to start their adventure! 

Our new building is beautiful! The Spirit in the building is so strong. I am so excited to learn about the Gospel and French there each day! I cannot wait to welcome the NEW Elders and Sisters. We are in charge of their first night orientation. Hopefully we can help them feel a little less confused than we were that day! Haha. 

I love it here I love being a missionary!! Heavenly Father continues to confirm my decision to serve a mission. 

JE VOUS AIME!!!

Soeur Whit Back

Oh, and I need more pictures of Alice, Claire and Eden! I see Porter each week! And, like, maybe a letter from Kate... John sent me a good one! Thanks dude!! Jake sent me a kind of letter... Still waiting on the real one... but Kate?? Where you at dude?? Just kidding. I love you all I feel your love even if you don't write me!!! I love you!! 

Week 3 and Not Even Mad About It.

Time is flying by here in the MTC - especially this week.  I still love it here.  My day is still the same old same old, full of the Spirit and learning. SO MUCH LEARNING! I LOVE KNOWLEDGE!


THANK YOU all so much for the packages.  I feel so blessed. Caramels, Snickers, muddy buddies, M&M's, Aunt Marcy’s Rice Krispies!  My Zone and District LOVES YOU ALL!  Mom - your caramels were a hit! Everyone loved them. One Elder even said "What kind of angel made these, and how can I thank her?" So, everyone here agrees you are an angel.  Thank you, thank you everyone.

This week was awesome. I had many growing experiences and I'm sure next week there will be many more.  We went into Wednesday feeling refreshed and ready to learn, however, it was probably one of the hardest days for me here at the MTC.  

We had TRC, which is just a block where we meet and teach other French speaking members who live in the area.  One of them was Connor Haller's cousin, who had served in the Lyon Mission, so that was cool.   It was just one of those days.  Soeur Proodfoot and I were teaching a lesson at 2, TRC was at 1, and we only found out about it 15 minutes before. We let the stress get the best of us.  (We forgot all about "No Stress Stay Blessed!”) We went into TRC flustered and unable to feel the Spirit.  It was so hard.  I could not say one word in French.  All I wanted to do was cry... I was just so frustrated, only making the problem worse.  

When we are frustrated, doubtful, and even nervous we are unable to feel the spirit.  All good things come from God, and doubt, fear and frustration are not good things, and they DO NOT come from God.  

We returned to class and Soeur Proodfoot and I talked about what had happened and how we are never ever going to let it happen again. For the rest of the week, all of our lessons went AMAZING! Never as we planned, but only as the Spirit guided. THE SPIRIT IS THE ONLY WAY, I'M TELLING YOU.  Through the Spirit I am learning so much, sometimes a lot slower than I wish, but, as Elder M (the Hawaiian Elder in our Zone) would say, "Inch by inch life is a cinch." 

Sundays truly are beautiful days here at the MTC.  We wake up, eat some cereal, go back to the classroom for some personal study, go to Music and the Spoken Word, and then the Sisters listen to a speaker while the Elders are at Priesthood.  We come back, go to lunch, district meeting, then Sacrament.  

This Sunday, however, was a little different.  Soeur Proodfoot and I walked into our classroom to find a member of the Branch Presidency.  He asked the rest of our class to leave, and then asked if Soeur Proodfoot and I would be the Sister Training Leaders for the Zone. So, we went to beau-coup meetings on Sunday.  I am very excited to serve the sisters in our Zone, however, I feel very inadequate for the job. I know that this particular assignment is more for me than for the sisters I am serving.  They truly are so amazing! 

In the past few days since we have had our assignment, my love for them has grown more than I thought possible.  I know we have only been in our calling for a day and a half now, but we have already had to take care of some things. I have truly seen the Lord guiding and directing both us as Sister Training Leaders and the Zone Leaders.  I know our Heavenly Father is guiding this church.  His hand is truly in the details of our life and for that I am eternally grateful.  

In class the other day we read 1st Nephi, Chapter 1.  Our teacher told us to highlight anytime that you feel the Spirit speaking to you after we talked about the power of personal revelation. He said something that made me feel so grateful for this gospel and the knowledge we have. He said “Every day when you receive REVELATION, YOU are partaking of things the rest of the world does NOT believe exists." I cannot imagine a life without believing in personal revelation and modern day revelation through prophets.  Heavenly Father has a plan for us and he gives us promptings and guidance each day. It is up to us to notice them and most importantly, ACT on them.

This week I have thought a lot about the love and comfort we can feel from our Savior.  I know in my life one of my favorite things is getting to know people for who they truly are.  I love to learn why they are the way they are, and the amazing things they have accomplished and overcome.  I have learned that when I come to know someone well, it is so easy to feel LOVE for them, because just maybe you can taste Christ's love for them.  Think about this... Christ knows everything we have ever been through. He knows everything we have ever felt; every joy, every tear, every frustration, every fear, and every laugh. I cannot even begin to imagine the LOVE he has for each and every one of us.  HE WILL NOT LEAVE US COMFORTLESS. I cannot wait to share his LOVE in France!

I love you all.  I am so HAPPY to be a Missionary. I FEEL THE JOY OF THIS GOSPEL and I cannot wait to get to France and share it!

Love you all,

Soeur Back

P.S
Katie and I now live on the same floor. It is so nice to see her smiling face every day.  I have not used my debit or credit card... I’ll get on that. Oh and I got a little sick this week... Our whole Zone is struggling, but I’m taking lots of vitamins and fighting off the worst of it. I did not get the little ones cold, SORRY I NEVER ANSWERED THAT QUESTION YOU ALL ASKED.