It’s my Last Week!

[And so the second blog post of my Sunday begins with Caytee’s official last week of the MTC. I’ll just go ahead and let Caytee start us off, because her sentiments were echoed strongly by her family.]

Qu'est-ce que le heck! [What the heck! Caytee seriously kills me with laughter sometimes.] It's my last week ici! I have so much to say it's insane!

So, where to begin? I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS LAST WEDNESDAY!!!! We have a direct flight from Salt Lake to Paris...14 hours? Our flight leaves Salt Lake at 5:36ish at night.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving was amazing! While a lot happened, I’ll just say that I got to be in the same room as ELDER BEDNAR, and I was in the choir that sang Come Thou Fount for ELDER BEDNAR, and then we had a Q&A with ELDER BEDNAR, and then we watched MEET THE MORMONS. Also, our Tuesday devotional was Elder OAKS! And then on Sunday we heard from SHERI DEW [Okay, Caytee didn’t officially capitalize this one, but I thought it was important] in Relief Society, and then VOCAL POINT came for our Sunday night devotional.

So, with all of these devotionals, I have been on kind of a spiritual high this week. The coolest thing I learned this past week is the priesthood. I finally understand it. It only took 19 years, but whatever. Sheri Dew talked to us about Priesthood keys, Priesthood authority, and Priesthood Power. Priesthood keys are the way the Lord's power is dispersed. I have the authority (because of my calling) to access the power that flows though my Mission president's keys. Power is available to everyone who partakes of ordinances worthily. IT'S SO AWESOME!

Another awesome moment is a little more personal. So, I will just say that if you get the chance look up Souviens-Toi [English translation here taken from another kid on his mission to Belgium... hopefully that's not creepy, but he even gives a bit of the history at the beginning, which I find super interesting... so there you go], it's a French lullaby in the French Hymn Book. It has one of the most amazing messages in it.

Desole [Sorry], I am all over the place. Talking about the language now... It was either Elder Bednar or Oaks, I can't remember. But, they said that we need to ask our family to pray for us to have access to the gift of tongues. Pray morning and night for me, s'il vous plait [please]. I know I do, and I am working hard. I received a promise in my blessing when I was set apart that I would be able to learn the language quickly. I'm working hard so that I can. I can see the gift of tongues in my life already, but I know I will need all the help I can get next week...in Paris...holy poop.

I have been working on memorizing scriptures and fun stuff comme ca. A lot of the grammar is making sense, there is a lot that doesn't make sense still. I still speak better French in my head than what comes out of my mouth. I love it though. It really is becoming a pretty language. I had personal help the other day with a ZRT [asked me husband and we don't even know what this is] just on pronunciation. That was awesome! I realized that I had been saying things wrong my whole life, but whatever! Just a fun fact: Aujourd'hui is today, and I have been saying it (ah-jahd-wee) for who knows how long. Saturday I learned that it is actually (oh-jaud-hwee) IDK if you all can see the difference, but oh well.

This morning, since it is our last P-day here, and our last opportunity to go to a temple for the next 18-24 months, my district decided to do Initiatories, an endowment session, and Sealings. I woke up at 4:30 this morning, got to the temple at 5:30 and then left at 11. IT WAS AWESOME. Definitely, the best four hours I have spent. I think it is so cool how you can go from feeling fear to extreme peace in like two seconds. I sat there and thought about how scared I was to go to a new country, speaking a new language, and not knowing anybody there. As soon as I finished the thought, I heard, "It will be okay." I am protected. I am in les mains du Seigneur [in God’s hand]. I know that if I follow the rules, and trust in the Lord, all will be well.

Christmas Lights

Matchy-matchies

 

Awkward missionary photo with the two "Frenchies"

[Story behind the face: Basically, it's a District tradition that every girl has to wear this green shirt at least once. This was Caytee's day, and she is apparently loving it so much.]

I love you all! Tomorrow, Soeur Ulrich and I are doing a teaching demonstration for all the new missionaries. Holy Poop! Crazy, huh? Wish me luck! 

[Second email down. I’m probably not putting near enough thought into these, but then, Caytee was very brief in these last two… So I guess I shouldn’t feel too bad.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact any of the Chisholms. You can also turn to any Mormon in your area, especially those Mormon missionaries. They’re always willing and happy to help.]