November 2. 2009

Ok. Sorry about last week. It was a crazy day and I am lucky I got an email in at all. This week is a lot less stressful in some ways.
So the package was great. We are reaping the benefits for sure. We have crock pot every day and it really makes the cold easier to handle. The soup is so good and the other day I just put in some chicken, broth, carrots and potatoes and we had a casserole of sorts. It was good. We are going to have a district fast next week so I will make the enchiladas for that. I am SO SO SO ex cited. I am going to make ranch bowtie casserole this week. It has been nice to have real food.
We have had a lot of members ask to feed us lately. That is bad because just the French are known for being thin the bleg are known for being not so thin. They are the creators of the perfect french-fries and every meal has potatoes and beef. A little less healthy but very very good.
I am so proud of Josh. That is great. I am sure he is doing well. I am glad that Jake is having fun with Whitney and Danelle. They are fun girls. He is only taking 2 classes?
So, a fun story! Yesterday we were contacting and a lady was going to close the door on us but she said something about being from Spain. I asked her where she was from. She is from the North. Je suis Basque! So she kept the door open. Then as we talked she told us how her husband is sick, he son is depressed and how she is having a hard time. It is crazy how just making a small connection with someone really helps them trust us more. We are going back over this week. She is so great.
Tell soeur Orton that she is missed. The members are sad but they are happy to talk with her on facebook. I talked to her old companion last night and they are doing ok. Liege is doing well.
It was a hard week but now it is a new transfer, a new planner, new msf money and I and sure that more miracles are on their way.
Je vous aime.

October 25, 2009

This will be a short one. I think u got Elder Petersons email. I dont know what it said but we found time to write.
My exchange with soeur orton was so great. I learned a TON. She is amazing and I hope I can become like her one day.
I get to stay in my CHARLEROI! I dont think you can understand how happy I am. I asked president to leave me here... he said no but that he was glad that I like it.
Claudia and Jimmy are the newest members of the ward. I love them. They are great and the bapteme was great. Elder Peterson Baptized I gave the talk on the bapteme and the fam wery did the rest. Oh, I played the violin and the missionaries sang.
Everyone thinks I am latin. I dont know why but at least once a day some one asks me or they speak spanish to me...
My new cousin is sure cute! that is great that everyone is happy and healthy.
Is anyone saving my emails? I hope so I want to read through them one day.
soeur orton is not happy to go home but shes ok... I cried more than she did. I miss her already.

October 18, 2009

Well. Another Pday on a French Computer.. I am stqrting to get used to it now. I am in Brussles. We were in Brough today and now the sisters are meeting at 5h30 for exchanges. I will be with.... SOEUR ORTON! I couldnt believe it! So I will be in Liege for a few days.

I got a great coat. I am warm. I need scarves but I will hold out for now.

A lot happened this week, but I dont know where to start. We FINALLY got our apartment painted. It is now Utah Jazz blue. I love it!

The LEpine baptem is this week! Their interviews went well. A lot of our week was taken up by things like Painting and interviews but it is all stuff that we had to do. This week is taken over by exchanges and Zone conference.

I will be REALLY sad if I leave Charleroi. I love that city. I can now communicate with the members and so I dont want to leave yet.... I also really like Soeur Bagwell so I just hope I can stay put and not have a new companion for a bit.

Sorry this letter isnt great. It has been a long couple of days. I am loving every minute.

Love you all
Soeur Hulet

October 11, 2009

So… working in two wards is over, kinda. We had interviews and President said that we are assigned to Ch1 and not Ch2, but if we have time we can work with them… he said at the most we should be going up there 1 time a month. It is very different than back home. The Elders and Sisters in Utah, and in a lot of the states have cars so they can be in multiple wards and stakes, but I have an area the size of Iron County and only have a very touchy bus system and it would take about 8 hours to walk to the other ward from our house. That is a lot of time wasted… also, I know that they will be closing a few of the Elders equipes so I am guessing that soon we will loose the CH1 Elders and only have 4 of us in Charleroi, I hope that doesn’t happen…
Well, our DMP and bishop are amazing. Yeah, don’t worry… they totally went to visit the fam Lafinure just to see how they are doing. That is the most wonderful thing I have ever heard. Yeah, they are amazing!
The Lafinures are not doing too hot. The Bishop thinks that he is going to die soon. We have a RDV with them in a few hours so hopefully we can get talk to them. I am worried but they need to have an eternal view in their lives more than ever now… The date for bap is still set for Nov 7,
The L’epines are AMAZING. Claudia and Jimmy are set for Oct 24 and the girls just need a little more time. I love them. We talked about Tithing and fasting on Saturday. Claudia came to church with her envelope all sorts of happy. She has a lot of faith and she works to really understand the gospel. I think she knows more than me now!
We found some pretty neat people doing area book finding. We have RDVs set and they were really happy that we called. 2 of them had bap dates but for one reason or another they didn’t go through with it. We’ll see how it goes.
It is now cold here. Really cold. The rain is REALLY cold. I didn’t know I could be this cold…. And it’s only October! But the colors on the trees are really pretty and it doesn’t rain in the mornings as much.
I want to see the colts! Send pics!
Elder Avitia is shot with dark skin and black hair? Why? He’s from Texas. I wrote him today. WHY?
1. Is everything going well? Yes.
2. Did you get the package yet? Nope. If you send it to the mission home then I will get it at Zone conference or interviews because I am in the middle of nowhere and so no one comes here to bring us stuff.
3. Are you well? All Aces
4. What have you been doing? Working hard
5. Did you get a coat? GET ONE! I did not
6. How is the French? Funny story ! On Saturday we were meeting the Wery’s at the church to go to the L’Epines to teach with them and the Elders came with Patrick, a member, to teach there at the church and so everyone was talking and I asked Sœur Wery a question and we chatted for a minute and then it hit me that I speak French… Not well, but I do… That was weird. I wish I could have not spoken French yesterday in Sunday school the teacher got a little crazy… but it was funny. I am also writing Thankyou notes to ppl in French when they work with us or feed us or what not.. That helps,
7. Is the food good? Yep !Esspecially when members make it… Jake- what did you eat, other than pasta and frozen pizza ?
8. How is Suzanne? I haven’t heard from her. I sent her a letter last transfer, so I should hear from her soon. She’s training and really busy !

Did Dusty get the card I sent him ? did you get your card for your birthday ? I never heard about it. If you see Jill ask her if she got my card for her birthday… I wrote Anne a letter and sent it to the MTC, I hope she gets it.
Love you all !
Sœur Hulet

September 21, 2009

Things are good here. It’s been a crazy week! I’m still in Charleroi. It’s great. The days have been warm and the evenings are getting cooler, but everyone says it’s hotter than normal. Soeur Bagwell is great! She’s from California and it’s different living with an American! Haha. I do miss Soeur Santos a lot though…
So, so weird things that happened this week… On Soeur Bagwell’s first day we were at our bus stop and a New Orleans Jazz Marching band came walking down the street. The Trumpeter was REALLY good. I thought of Jake and Josh. They would have Loved it! I thought it was neat. Yesterday, when we were porting, we knocked on a door and a older gruff looking man answered. We started talking to him and Soeur Bagwell asked him if he believed in God. He got all crazy and started shouting about how he was a communist…. I had to hold back laughing. He was making a scene and I really thought we’d just have to walk away. He said that God never helps him so there is no God, Soeur Bagwell told him that maybe God sent us to help him and that’s when he shouted something in a language closer to something Jake would understand and slammed the door… That was… unusual. Today on the way to emails a man asked us to help him with the ATM, we tried and he kept yelling at us because he didn’t know his pin. He kept telling me that I didn’t know how to use the machine so I used it and successfully took out my grocery money and then he asked me to do it again for him. I tried but he still didn’t know his code so he said something in Dutch and asked someone else. As we walked away we overhear the same conversation going on with the other person trying to help him. Weird things are happening this week.
I feel a little stressed. I don’t know the city as well as I’d like, I don’t know the language even half as well as I’d like and to top it all off we just got assigned to both wards in the city and so our work doubled, but the day still only has 24 hours in it. I don’t know how it’ll work out, but I know it will.
We can now afford food! We just found out that the grocery store across the street is the most expensive in town so now we are going to go shopping with the elders today. They say that they were spending the same amount on food that Sr Santos and I did for all 4 of them and sr. santos and I didn’t eat anything b/c everything is too expensive. We will still buy our water by our house b/c we don’t want to carry it across town.

September 14, 2009

How’s life? I hope that every one is safe and happy. How’s the swine flu? I guess it’s coming back… everyone keeps talking about it and the NEW DMP’S wife made a fuss.
That’s right! We have a DMP and he’s amazing! We have a ward mission plan! We have ward missionaries being called and they have an outline from PREACH MY GOSPLE of their responsiblilites that the new DMP made. He’s a lot like dad and he gets things done, so that’s so good.
The sad news…. Soeur santos leaves in 2 days. I helped her pack last night and I just helped her send her travle plans to her family… AH… Last night Soeur Frich(the french sister in Lille) called to tell us she’s training again(she is with Soeur Curran my MTC comp) and that soeur Curran is going to Duncurk, the city that was supposed to close so that meant that one of the dunkurck sister was leaving… and had a feeling she’d come here and this morning Elder Lamoreaux called to tell me that Soeur Bagwell is coming! I am excited, but a little sad. She’s the ONLY sister that is in this mission that I don’t know at all. A little exciting!
We have 5 bap dates set, and we’re going to be extending 5 more in the next week. If all goes well- we could have 10 bap in October. We’re praying and trying to be really obedient so that happenes.
I loved the news of the stock show, Josh sounds so responsible clipping and washing all by himself. How’s school going for him? Is he loving his senior year? I sure did. I’m so glad that Jake is going to the firesides and having fun with his friends at Starbucks. It almost sounds like something I’d do. Haha I wish I could have seen some of my old co workers faces that day.
Holy cow mom! A Million people came to the reunion! Parker’s picture looks SO nice!Lyd looks so cute and so does Graham!
Hannah at curves is amazing! Hiking zions at that age! She’s amazing! I loved talking to her, tell her hi. Tell Boyd Goodwin hi for me. He’s a good kid. Did Shelly get the pic of Bryce?
Soeur Orton is going to Leige. I’m happy for her. She’s going to serve with a sister that was in the 176 ward at BYU with me and she’s training. I think she’ll train soeur Powers because they are a lot alike. She’s great . I get to see Soeur Orton a lot but now not as much because she’ll be in a little city and so will I. I will see her a few times before she goes home though. Are there any pics of me on the blog. I have no idea what’s on there, but soeur brubaker is sure cute for doing that
It’s been a hard week. We’ve found a lot of single men that are interested in hearing more. We get their addresses and numbers and tell them that the Elders will call them. They still seem interested even after that, so that’s good ! The Elders are so busy that I don’t think they’ll have time to call until after transfers on Wed. But I’m glad that people are willing to listen !
I tried to send pics; but they didn't work. sorry! I'm sad I didn't get to write individuals! I hope I'll have time next week!
Love,
Soeur Hulet

September 8, 2009

We are so busy! Ah! Transferes are next week!!! I am kind of freaking out. I don’t know who will come here. The elders think I’ll train the new native french sister. I laughted at them and said that it’d be a snowy day in Brazil before that happens! I may have to chain Soeur Santos to a chair and not let her go home! Family Lafinure set a bapteme date! Whoot! All five will fair le bapteme on Oct 3. They’re so great! I love them a lot. They are so cute. We have another family, Family L’pine. They are so cool! It’s a single mom, a son and 2 daughters. All are reading the BOM on their own and reading the “assignments” We give them together at night when they have family prayer! They’re great! The mom is already in Alma 30 and she started last MONDAY! Yea! I know! They’re amazing! Last night, Jimmy asked us if he could serve a mission and when! We told him that he had to be a member first and then he had to be 19, he was excited to hear that it’s really that simple! He’s so great! One daughter is being too cool for us, but sometimes she forgets because she actually does like us and trys hard not to. Haha, she’s cute and she’ll come around- she’s just being 13.
Here’s a quick french lesson
“Il ne faut jamais dire ‘fontaine, je ne boirai pas de ton eau’ “(never say never)
“La plus belle fille du monde ne peut donner que ce qu’elle a… “ (We can’t give something we don’t have)
“On ne fait pas d’ometette sans casser de oufs…” Just translate that one,it is funny
“C’est l’hopital qui se moque de la charite.” Don’t be hypicritical
“l’enfer est pave de bonnes intentions” the path to hell is paved with good intentions
This one is for dad- comne on fait son lit on se couche” You’ve made your bed, sleep in it
We had a member named patrick come to district meeting and help us with some french, then we had some centers and we did some practicing writing in French, defining words in French and then Patrick worked with each of us a bit on pronuciation. I love my district. They’re great! We call Patrick the One… that’s because he’s one of the 3 nephites . He randomly drives by when we need a ride, he has a spare key to the Elder’s apartment when they are locked out and he’s always willing and available to go on splits or be a member present at a lesson for the Elders… He’s so great! He really tries to help me with my french. A lot of the members do. I forgot my cord for my camera or I’d send some more pictures. Marie made a sound clip for you. She’s the one who was bap 2 weeks ago. She LOVES to come out with us- even to go door to door! She’s great!

Well, if you want to send a hand held GPS with Belguim and France loaded on it… that’d be great. I’m constantly lost. A lot of the Elders in Brussels and Lille buy them over here, Elder Dousette is really worried about me and says I need one but I don’t want to spend that much money.
Well, I have to run !
Love you !
Sœur Hulet