Week 15 (5/6/19): 3 screaming soeurs later, and the spider is dead

Hey y'all!
This week has been crazy, but good. We got transfer calls on Thursday. My entire district was expecting to stay together... and then we didn't. One of my colleagues is going to Montpellier, and one of the Elders is going to Bordeaux. And I'm going to Perpignan! That's as far south as you can go in my mission (without going to Corsica, which you can't do as a sister missionary), so that's exciting! It's right on the border with Spain, how cool is that? I'm actually on the train right now, because a three and a half hour train ride sans wifi is a good time to write emails.
Transfer calls were a shock to all of us (it took a long time to fall asleep that night), but then there were several different times later this week when God unmistakably put us in specific places at specific times so we could talk to specific people. It was such a powerful testimony to me that God knows and loves all of His children, and that He directs His work. And if He's directing me to Perpignan... well, I guess I'm ready to go!
One particular time really struck me. There was an old woman that we saw from a ways off, and we decided to talk to her. It turns out that her son died a few months ago, and most of the rest of her family is gone too. So she's having a really rough time, and we ended up just talking with her for about an hour, and we were able to testify about the plan of salvation, and the potential for families to be together forever. It was a beautiful conversation. The soeurs that will still be in écully are going to see her in a couple days. I hope she keeps listening, the gospel could give her such hope and purpose in her life!
I was studying a few of the Isaiah chapters in 2 Néphi this week, and it honestly was so terrifying and exciting for me! We are living in the latter days! The last days. We are the laborers at the very end, and as President Nelson said in general conference, "time is running out." Whoa. What a privilege to be a missionary now! Reading those chapters just gets me so pumped, like, let's go talk to everyone, we're running out of time!
Have a great week!
Soeur Cate

Week 14 (4/29/19): "French people have like, a spidey sense for when to j walk, so I just follow them"

Wow, so I barely even know what happened this week, but another week is somehow over. I'm still in a trio in écully, but transfers are next week, so who even knows what'll happen. That is a warning that I may not be able to write much though.
So, highlights. The weather was insane. The week started out steamy hot and humid, moved to like, the windiest weather I've seen in my life (so grateful for pants), to frigid and raining. It's been an experience!
We played soccer on Saturday, which was fun. Mostly. I accidentally blocked a goal with my face... and it was one of the elders that actually knows how to play soccer. On the other hand, someone was filming the game, so I have a video of my glorious Scott Sterling moment (if you don't get that reference, YouTube it), so that was exciting!
We spent a lot of time talking to random people this week (I mean, we are missionaries...), and I really had my testimony strengthened of how the spirit works through us. I'm starting to get better at testifying, which has been really cool. It's amazing how simple and powerful a lot of gospel truths are. Even if people don't believe in God, they can still feel the influence of His spirit. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share what I know to be true, and for the confirmations I receive when I share it,  even if people don't always listen.
Today we played basketball, which was super fun, actually. I usually hate basketball, but it was cold enough that I pretty much had to play to stay warm, and then I actually had fun (even though I really don't like shooting. But that's the same in soccer, really, it's just easier to only play defense in soccer).
Then we went to the ruins. It was cold earlier today, but by the time we got there, it was gorgeous. I definitely recommend treking through Roman ruins with your friend groups, specifically the ones that know all the best things to look at. 10/10
Love you all!
Soeur Cate

Week 13 (4/22/19): Happy Easter!

So the life of a missionary continues to be insane. Yesterday we knocked on every single door in a building (somewhere around 50 doors). In like, the fourth door we knocked, there were four girls around our age. Long story short, I taught them about the book of mormon and two of them wanted books. So that was really cool! We also met another guy who wanted to see our chapel, and a cute little old lady who showed us all her paintings and books (with Mozart playing). What a boss way to age.
We had exchanges, and then my companions went to Aix en Province for legal stuff, so I was hanging out with the STLs a lot this week, but they're awesome, so that was fun!
Basically, life is good and crazy, and there are dozens of stories, but no time to write!
Love y'all!
Soeur Cate

Week 12 (4/15/19): What even is the missionary life?

Wow, what a week! It started with us eating a giant snickerdoodle cookie (courtesy of the district leader), and ended with us watching the APs (assistants to the president) dunk a coconut. I promise lots of actual missionary work happened in between. Including helping a member with cleaning. I got 2 star wars mugs in payment though, so that was excellent.
We had zone conference this week too, which means we had eight additional soeurs in our apartment, bringing the total number of soeurs to 11. Slumber party, missionary style.
This week we met with a man and his two kids, and showed them around the chapel. I really enjoyed seeing him feel the spirit, and his kids really enjoyed playing the piano. I'm going to teach the older one to play "I am a child of God." She's already learning to sing it! So cute. And we work with Manon a lot still, because there's still so much for her to learn, but her testimony is so inspiring. I'm so grateful to have her in my life!
So yeah. I'm still alive, and life is crazy, but beautiful!
Love y'all,
Soeur Cate

Week 11 4/8/19: We are not, in fact, cornflakes

Salut everyone!

So spring is showing up, with a wild variety of gorgeous weather, rain, hail, and snow. I didn't see the snow, but apparently that happened.

General conference was AMAZING, seriously, I'm going to reread so many. Partially because I watched half of it in French, so I didn't necessarily understand everything, but I really felt the spirit. Watching conference as a missionary is so cool, because you spend all day, every day thinking about these things, and then you get added revelation, and you appreciate it that much more! Also, all the other missionaries are super hyped, which is infectious. Our visiting friends must have thought we were crazy. 

We spend a lot of time testifying of simple truth, and it really helps me realize how simple the gospel is. God loves us and wants us to come home to Him, so He gives us a way to get home. We just have to follow Him. I'm so grateful for that truth and the opportunity to give other people the chance to come closer to Him.

I love you all, and hope you're doing well!

Soeur Cate

Week 10 (4/1/19): New buddies!!!

Mes amis, frères, soeurs, et inconnus...
So it's been a crazy week! We spent more time out talking to people than I ever have before, which was a little scary, but also really fun! I'm getting over my fear of talking to people, and I'm having fun hearing what they believe.
The best news is that Manon got confirmed yesterday! She's worked so hard and overcome so much, and it's incredible to see how far she's come. I'm grateful to have been a part of it, in a small way.
My new companions are super cool! Soeur Evans is so brave, and talks to literally everyone. She's also British, which can be super entertaining. The accent, the random phrases, the vocabulary... truly it is glorious. Soeur Robert is more experienced, and is super powerful in lessons. She also understands French really well, which is a huge blessing, because sometimes people have the weirdest accents.
We have our preparation day with our entire district pretty much every week, which is really entertaining. We showed them that giant cathedral in Lyon, and ate tacos, and played basketball. What a great day 😁
This week I really studied faith and hope, and I really focused on how much they're a choice. Some people may be more inclined towards it than others, and we all have different trials, but I know we all still have the choice to have believe, and when we trust in Him, we have access to a power that can help us to change our lives if we let it. How cool is that???
Anyways, I love you all, and hope you have a great week!
Soeur Cate

Week 9 (3/25/19): Whoa, I survived a transfer

That's actually an accomplishment guys, and even more so surviving transfer day.  I'd almost rather be attacked by a bear than navigate for like, 7 sisters while hauling their luggage through metros and buses, the odds of survival don't sound that different... other than that God is majorly strengthening us. Thank goodness for that!
Manon got baptized on Saturday! It was such an incredible experience, she was nervous and excited, but afterwards she just glowed. Even her grandmother (who isn't religious) commented on it. I was thinking about what she was like when I met her 6 weeks ago, and how much she's changed and how much happier she is now. It's a pretty incredible change, and it really helped me see the difference the gospel can make in someone's life.
I had to say goodbye to Sœur Turner today. That was really hard. Even though it's only been 6 weeks, we've shared so much and learned so much from each other. She's going home now, which is kind of surreal to me, because I just got started. But she was such an example of working hard until the very end- she was setting up appointments she wouldn't be going to and handing a book of mormon to the guy next to her on the bus on the way to the office. Going out strong!
Well, it's transfer day, so I don't have like, any time, so sorry that I wasn't able to respond to people. I love you all!
Soeur Cate