Repentance is real (Katie-Toul)

This week has really taught me that repentance is real, even when we somehow seem to make the same mistakes over and over. 

Let me give you an example. In order to say goodbye to Soeur Evans, our ami Gérard took us out to chocolate (do people even do that?!). Literally he took us to a chocolatier and bought us...chocolate...haha. Now, on my mission I have had several encounters with the word of wisdom, but each time Heavenly Father has been incredible forgiving and understanding. Yes, I drank tea--but not on purpose! Yes, I drank champagne that supposedly wasn't champagne--but not on purpose! This time was a little different. Apparently France thinks it's tasty to put alcohol in chocolate...like, a ball of chocolate with alcohol filling the hollow part. Um. But I didn't know that...so I stick a pistache-chocolate flavored giant ball in my mouth and...yeah, gross is an understatement. BUT, to be fair, I didn't know and neither did Gérard. Thank goodness. I did learn two wonderful lessons from that experience: Heavenly Father is really understanding dad, and I'm going to be more careful with chocolate here in the future ;)

But! Besides that, the week was great! Soeur Evans left after a small-ish, slightly teary goodbye at the gare, and that same day I received my new companion Soeur Johns! Here's a rule with my mission so far: Always simple last names, and always from Utah. Voilà quoi. (So there you go.) But she's incredible and I absolutely love her so far. She just came from the glorious, beautiful bretagne city of Rennes, all the way across the country. Let's just say Toul is a tiny bit different...especially our mere 36 members that were there onSsunday versus her 149 members that she said goodbye to. Culture shock anybody? A little. But we've been getting used to it (okay, SHE has been. I'm used to it). And it's been good fun :)

Here's a scripture that I have just LOVED this week: Moroni 10:32-33. It talks about becoming perfected in Christ. In French it is absolutely beautiful the way it is worded. It says that in Christ, we are rendered perfect. It is HIM that helps us become perfect. We always start by asking the member or ami if they think it is possible to become perfect. The answer is always the same: no. It's not. Not alone, anyway. But Christ makes it possible for us to become perfect. In fact, it is a real miracle, us becoming perfect. And the verse ends with how because of this miracle, we will not be able to deny the power of God. That is how great of a miracle it is. I LOVE that. I have seen God giving me so many opportunites to grow and become more like Christ with every passing day. Know that I LOVE being a missionary. I love it. I see miracles every day. And the difference between when I see them and when I don't is that when I see them, it's because I was looking for them.

I love you all! Thank you for the support and the love!

Love,

Soeur Katie Pettingill

Soeur Evans and a lot of our members in a goodbye pic :)

Me and Soeur Johns! we made a Rhubarb tarte. cool huh?

This is the shirt our branch président wears when his daughters have boys around. HAH
Translation:
Rules for dating my daughter:
1.  Have above average qualities.
2.  She's my princess but not your conquest.
3.  Understand that I do not like you.
4.  I am everywhere.
5.  Bring her home 30 minutes early.
6.  If you are nice to her, I may perhaps be nice to you someday.
7.  If you lie, I will eventually know.
8.  Hurt her, I hurt you.
9.  Have a good lawyer.
10.  I don't care if I end up in prison.