International Balloon Festible- the Hills are alive

service project and activities

Final exam night for January Institute classes

Last night all the classes combined to receive the final exam in the Institute which was open book and scripture mastery, all three classes together, with English and french copies. It included application type questions which I cant release hiere because not all have taken it. In fact I was preparing for over thirty (I had baked thirty potatoes for the potatoes bar after the exam) and only 12 took the exam. I was really surprised and asked several people today about it, Not one was suprised, They dont take it as serious here. There are three classes, meeting one on wednesday, two on thursday. Only one of our english students showed.for the exam. But good news we have 4 or more baptism set up on Sunday, They are from Nigeria, Cameron, and Iran. We still have not had any french converted while we are here.. I wonder why. We have changes on our mission bondaries happening this Sunday which dont effect us in a hugh was but will tell you more after Sunday. Tongiht I am teaching Dance,, the swing and cha cha. BON Soiree and Bisous

Downtown Geneva Shopping with Eliane

While Jim was going to the Stake Priesthood meeting Eliane (french neighbor) and I went downtown, As we drove through alot of construction she comment (of course almost all French), Where are all the strawberry fields? I told her about Woodland Hills and how there used to be fields there. We are both love the nature and fields. When we got to Geneva we were looking for not sure of the spelling, but it is fabric to make curtains. What is found that she liked was $79.00 a meter (like a yard) (Euros are about the same as $)!! She didnt buy any thing yet! Then we looked for the homeopathic pharmacy which was even more intersting. They took Jims tea and copied the ingrediance and we picked it up today. They eliminate the middle man or should I say Doctor!. Eliane talks to everyone, and everyone says Bonjour ....Bonne journee, Very potite, friendly, She'll pull over and ask someone walking down the street for directions, Now, either she is not typical or you can see why we are such good friends!. As should as she recovers totaly from her second surgury she will teach art in Africa, Senegal,which is french speaking, Amazing! One of the things I learned with her is , the french have many many words for the word love but the German only have one! The french have many sweet words of enderment, she asked That is how we got into the discusion about sweetheart and love. I am learning so much more when I spend time with the French people and truely love them. We have been studying french histoire again so that we can better undestand the culture, So, those who are is school will please keep paying attention to history class, The beginning of man kind and the development of different cultures and countries, amazing. This is long and philosophical (SP?) Who cares? I do! because I love people and want to be able to understand them better. In order to turn peoples heart to God we need to love them first. Reply Forward

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Talking to the Neighbors

Today, as usual, I awoke early and went down to walk and ended up talkig to two neighbors, One has a dog and knows a little English, The other is from England and is LSD, used to live in Detroit, her Husand is French and looking for work, It is hard every where for work. Alot of YSA are looking and Geneva is a very popular place to want to work, especially for out of towners. .Anyways after Jim got up ( 2 hours after me), we went looking for the public library whiich, of course was closed on tuesdays! ,but we found another thrift store and this own really is a thrift, everyting in it is 2E, a little over 2 dollars, I got a pair of jeans, We only brought missionary clothes, black, brown ,and gravy and now we are bored with no color and the Institute is more lay back. I did not bring Jeans. but, while in the mission home the rules have changed a little and seniors have it easier, but the list said NO JEANS,and now The Seniors are wearing them on P day. We also found a second main sportin good store and Jm bought swim fins, so he can be faster the water. we havent been swimming since before christmas as to my Shingles,but we are getting ready. The mornings are usually spent preparing for the Institute but each morning I go for a marche and try out more french. I talk to all the dogs, cats, and chevals and even they arent quite sure what I am saying. It looks like I need to hit the vocabulary some more. Love to all

Activity at the Institute

I worked hard on getting the Speeding night off on a good foot by talking about virtues, good ideas of dates, and values. I had many virtues on the board and encouraged them to chose two to work on as New years resolutions, to better themselves After all that, they had a good time. I used a cow bell (one of my finds to remind me of all the happy cows here) which I would ring after 3 minutes and a suggestion of a topic, like, what is your favorite... holiday? then rotate. After we came together and talked about .., how eveyone has good qualities We should remember and, record one each day in a journal, Afterwards we had food and music. And all in French!! I am still recooperation from Shingles and the late nights. We are trying to sleep in and even have gone as late as 8>00, but not very often. The people here take two hours for lunch and eat a very late long dinner, not at all the way we are used to. So this week we are doing a service project of repairing hymn books and making scarves for the homeless.. Since I have been sick I have made 7. I feel like my MOM..in a good way, but when I looked in the mirroir today I looked like her with my hair up and my puffy face, so it is good and bad, Hope all are keeping warm. we are having nice weather here.

yes, I got the ZONA (shingles)

We have been at a slower pace the last few days, slow enough for me to finish 3 scarves and watch Holiday with Cameron DIaz, If you havent seen itshe is my french friend( I gave her a scarve I made), then today she gave me a box from germany for my jewlery and some local whipped honey. She is amazing because she just keeps on giving all the time. I told her that usually I wear alot of jewelry but \i am a MISSIONARY. (I had prayied about talking to her about the church before I saw her and I talk about family and the Insititute alot ) She is a very giving person and I pray that I can continue to share love to her. LAst night we had an inactive sister come and \i stayed for 4b hours. She was very shy. I taught her how to knit, She kept staying, about Soiree Famille and when |I asked her about her family and she found out that my last name wasd LUND she opened up. She is originally from Sweden and talked and talked after that. Then after FHE is totally opened up and beat up the ELders in ping pong. Pray for Emma