Feb 10 2014

Well I will no longer be following proper rules of grammar--this key board is french and differs in some funny ways and my fingers feel spazy while typing but i fear that by the time I get home I won’t' know how to use the english ones anymore:)   Anyways, things are going well here:)   I made lots of friends in all of the different airports, and even had a lovely breakfast in the airport in south africa with a kind old man from canada who had been in ghana on a mission trip and was going to maui i believe to visit his son:) 

Had a rather exciting time at the airport in Reunion--for whatever reason when I landed in mauritius instead of having a three hour layover like it said on my ticket I got personally and brisquly escorted to the next plane and consequently arrived in La Reunion three hours early.   That wasn’t a problem.  I went up to the information desk (turns out they only spoke french so i was lucky I knew enough to get by) and asked to call the number I had for the mission home in madagascar--but they said their phones could only call in La Reunion.  So I went to the international payphone but my card would"t work.... I thought oh well, waiting is fine and I had things I could do (journaling; reading, etc).   But the airport workers got a little crazy/anxious.  It turns out the airport completely closes at 10:30pm so they were trying so hard to find me a place to go.  I could tell that they thought I was literally crazy -- an american with no phone, no number in La Reunion to call, no names of anyone here, no address, I didn't even know the city I was going to... They were trying to call any Mormons they knew to come get me.   In the end just as they were calling a hotel to reserve me a room, the Madson's (the senior couple on the island) showed up to get me:)

I am in St. Pierre now (it is the first time sisters have been in the city for a long time -- there are also two sets of elders here).   I have two trainers (Soeur Berchel from Toulouse, France, and Soeur Packer from the U.S.).  The apartment is new so the first night I slept on the floor which was exciting:)   I had my opening interview with the mission president over skype and will meet him next week. 

Our branch has about 200 members on record and only 40 regulars which is sad.  Until a few weeks ago it had been four years since the branch had had a baptism:O  the island as a whole had 23 last year and before that the most it had been in years and years was ten -craziness!!!! but that’s ok I’m ready to work:)  My companions are awesome, and things have been going well. I didn't want to have two but I got over myself and I am glad one is a native french speaker.  They work hard, are obedient, clean, friendly, and good teachers so it is awesome.  They are new to each other and last night I was able to help resolve some conflicts between them which was super cool!!! It is always cool to be a peacemaker and it surprises me a little because I had so many problems with temper and whatnot myself when I was little.  I love you and my time is up!!!! but they are happy to have me and say they love my energy :)

As I think some of you know it is like summer here and it turns out that St. Pierre is as hot as it can get (good thing I like to be warm:)  It is sort of interesting to literally be sweating every moment of the day and the entirety of the night (I laughed to myself and said good thing i used to sleep with so many blankets I'd sweat it was preparing me for this;)  Anyways the island is gorgeous and the people are kind.  I will give a story or two next week.  But in closing, for my mom;), I am in good health and eating well and drinking lots:)  I love you all and I will write next week:) !!!!!

--Soeur Wilson